Closure having raised sidewall display elements

• US 6,382,440 B1
• Filed: 03/10/2000
• Issued: 05/07/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Closure Systems International Incorporated (Rank Group Limited)
• Original Assignee: Alcoa Closure Systems International Incorporated (Howmet Aerospace, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hennessy, Thomas P., Tsai, Chon, Brant, Jeffrey E., Laveault, Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): NEWHOUSE, NATHAN JEFFREY
• Application Number:
  US09/522,549
• Time in Patent Office: 788 Days
• Field of Search: 220/288, 215/230, 215/329, 215/365, 215/367, 206/459.1, 534/90, 533/17, 533/315, 403/07, 403/11, 434/113, 434/114
• US Class Current: 215/230
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2251/023 Ribs or recesses
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 51/245 provided with decoration, information or contents indicating devices, labels B65D81/366 takes precedence

Abstract

A closure includes a plurality of decorative display elements arranged at regular intervals around an outside surface of the closure, the decorative display elements, and gaps between the display elements, serving as engagement locations for a chuck to rotate the closure. According to one aspect of the invention, the display elements are peaked upwardly from an open bottom end of the closure, having wider base ends than distal ends, and the gap formed between the elements is tapered in a downward direction. In one embodiment, the display elements are stepped in profile having different levels of raised planes providing a three dimensional decorative display. The regularly spaced decorative elements also provide an enhanced gripping surface for the fingers of a consumer.

Claims

1. A closure comprising:

an end wall; and

a sidewall depending from said end wall, said sidewall having a raised decorative display,

wherein said display comprises a stepped profile having a first region adjacent an open end of said sidewall, and a second region, stepped from said first region on a side of said first region away from said open end.

2. The closure according to claim 1, wherein said raised display has an outside surface with multiple radial extents.

3. The closure according to claim 1, wherein said raised decorative display comprises display elements arranged at regularly spaced intervals around a circumference of said sidewall.

4. The closure according to claim 3, wherein each said display elements include a first region having a first radial extent, and a second region having a second radial extent less than said first radial extent.

5. The closure according to claim 3, wherein said display elements comprise peaked shapes.

6. The closure according to claim 3, wherein display elements are spaced to form gaps between adjacent display elements, said gaps sized and shaped to be engaged by an application chuck.

7. A method of tuning a closure, comprising the steps of:

gripping the closure with a chuck;

providing that the closure has a raised decorative display, said display comprising a stepped profile having a first region adjacent an open end of said closure, and a second region stepped from said first region on a side of said first region away from said open end;

turning said closure with said chuck by exerting tangential force on said decorative display.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein said step of providing said closure is further defined in that said decorative display comprises regularly spaced display elements having gaps between adjacent display elements,

at least one of said gaps being sized to receive a gripping portion of said chuck to turn said closure.

9. A closure for a bottle finish, comprising:

an end wall; and

a sidewall depending from said end wall, said sidewall having a substantially smooth surface with raised decorative display elements extending from said substantially smooth surface and forming gaps at regular intervals around a circumference of said sidewall, said gaps having a circumferential width sufficient for receiving a finger element of a chuck for turning said closure,

wherein said decorative display elements comprise tapered shapes having angularly disposed sides, and said display elements are joined together at base ends thereof, wherein said display elements have a stepped radial thickness, stepped in decreasing thickness in an axial direction away from said open end.

10. The closure according to claim 9, wherein said closure includes less than 20 gaps.

11. The closure according to claim 10, wherein said closure includes less than 10 gaps.

12. A closure comprising:

an end wall; and

a sidewall depending from said end wall, said sidewall having a raised decorative display, wherein said raised display has an outside surface with multiple radial extents, and said radial extents are stepped, decreasing in an axial direction away from an open end of said sidewall.

13. A closure for a bottle finish, comprising:

an end wall;

a sidewall depending from said end wall, said sidewall having a substantially smooth surface with raised decorative display elements extending from said substantially smooth surface and forming gaps at regular intervals around a circumference of said sidewall, said gaps have a circumferential width sufficient for receiving a finger element of a check for turning said closure,

wherein said display elements have a stepped radial thickness stepped in decreasing thickness in an axial direction away from said open end.

14. The closure according to claim 13, wherein said decorative display elements comprise tapered shaped having angularly disposed sides.

15. The closure according to claim 13, wherein said display elements are joined together at base ends thereof.