Closure and container and combination thereof with anti-backoff member

• US 6,913,157 B2
• Filed: 02/26/2002
• Issued: 07/05/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Berry Plastics Corporation (Berry Global Group Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Delta Plastics, Inc. (Ball Corporation)
• Inventors: Oh, Jack S.
• Primary Examiner(s): HYLTON, ROBIN ANNETTE
• Application Number:
  US10/083,001
• Publication Number:
  US 20030160020A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,225 Days
• Field of Search: 215/329, 215/330, 215/331, 220/293, 220/296
• US Class Current: 215/330
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 41/04 Threaded or like caps or cap-like covers secured by rotation

Abstract

A closure and container combination has in which anti-backoff capability the closure includes a top wall and a depending annular skirt having closure threading formed on an inner surface of the skirt. The closure threads mate with threads on the container. One or more anti-backoff members are formed on the inner surface of the skirt and/or the outer surface of the container neck and arranged and configured to frictionally engage the mating threading between the anti-backoff member and the threading to resist movement of the closure once secured onto the neck of the container.

Claims

1. A closure for use with a container having a neck portion and container threading formed thereon, comprising:

a top wall;

an annular skirt depending from the top wall and having closure threading formed on an inner surface thereof configured and arranged to threadably engage the container threading; and

at least one flexible anti-backoff member extending circumferentially on the skirt in a region of the closure threading and being arranged and configured to deflect and frictionally engage the container threading between the anti-backoff member and the closure threading to resist movement of the closure once secured onto the neck of the container;

wherein a lead angle of the at least one anti-backoff member is different from a lead angle of the closure threading;

wherein the at least one anti-backoff member forms an integral extension of a portion of the closure threading.

2. The closure of claim 1 wherein a width of the at least one anti-backoff member is greater than a thickness thereof, the width being measured generally perpendicular to the skirt from a root of the anti-backoff member adjacent to the skirt to a distal end of the anti-backoff member and the thickness being measured at the root of the anti-backoff member generally parallel to the skirt.

3. The closure of claim 1 wherein the at least one anti-backoff member is oriented generally parallel to the top wall of the closure.

4. The closure of claim 1, wherein the at least one anti-backoff member forms an integral extension of an uppermost portion of the closure threading.

6. The closure of claim 1, wherein the closure threading is segmented into a plurality of circumferentially spaced closure threading groups, and wherein at least one of the closure threading groups has the at least one anti-backoff member associated therewith.

7. The closure of claim 6, wherein the at least one anti-backoff member forms an integral extension of a portion of the closure threading in at least one of the closure threading groups.

8. The closure of claim 7, wherein the at least one anti-backoff member is oriented generally parallel to the top wall of the closure.

9. The closure of claim 6, wherein the at least one anti-backoff member forms an integral extension of an uppermost portion of the closure threading in at least one of the closure threading groups.

10. The closure of claim 9, wherein the at least one anti-backoff member is oriented generally parallel to the top wall of the closure.

11. The closure of claim 1, wherein the at least one anti-backoff member has a depth relative to an inner surface of the annular skirt that exceeds a depth of the closure threading relative to the inner surface of the annular skirt.

5. A closure for use with a container having a neck portion and container threading formed thereon, comprising:

a top wall;

an annular skirt depending from the top wall and having closure threading formed on an inner surface thereof configured and arranged to threadably engage the container threading; and

at least one anti-backoff member extending circumferentially on the skirt in a region of the closure threading and being arranged and configured to frictionally engage the container threading between the anti-backoff member and the closure threading to resist movement of the closure once secured onto the neck of the container;

wherein an angular inclination of the at least one anti-backoff member is different from an angular inclination of the closure threading, and the at least one anti-backoff member forms an integral extension of an uppermost portion of the closure threading and is oriented generally parallel to the top wall of the closure.

12. A closure for use with a container having a neck portion and container threading formed thereon, comprising:

a top wall;

an annular skirt depending from the top wall and having closure threading formed on an inner surface thereof configured and arranged to threadably engage the container threading, the closure threading being segmented into a plurality of circumferentially spaced closure threading groups;

a plurality of anti-backoff members each formed in a region of the closure threading in at least one of the closure threading groups, extending circumferentially on the skirt and being arranged and configured to frictionally engage the container threading between the anti-backoff member and the closure threading to resist movement of the closure once secured onto the neck of the container;

wherein an angular inclination of the at least one anti-backoff member is different from an angular inclination of the closure threading.

13. The closure of claim 12, wherein the plurality of anti-backoff members form integral extensions of a portion of the closure threading in at least one of the closure threading groups.

14. The closure of claim 13, wherein the plurality of anti-backoff members are oriented generally parallel to the top wall of the closure.

15. The closure of claim 12, wherein the plurality of anti-backoff members form integral extensions of an uppermost portion of the closure threading in at least one of the closure threading groups.

16. The closure of claim 15, wherein the plurality of anti-backoff members are oriented generally parallel to the top wall of the closure.

17. A closure for use with a container having a neck portion and container threading formed thereon, comprising:

a top wall;

an annular skirt depending from the top wall and having closure threading formed on an inner surface thereof configured and arranged to threadably engage the container threading; and

a plurality of anti-backoff members formed in a region of the closure threading and being arranged and configured to frictionally engage the container threading between the anti-backoff member and the closure threading to resist movement of the closure once secured onto the neck of the container;

wherein the closure threading is segmented into a plurality of circumferentially spaced closure threading groups, and wherein at least one of the closure threading groups has at least one of the anti-backoff members associated therewith;

wherein the plurality of anti-backoff members are formed in a region of the closure threading in at least one of the closure threading groups;

wherein each of the plurality of anti-backoff members has a depth relative to an inner surface of the annular skirt that exceeds a depth of the closure threading relative to the inner surface of the annular skirt.

18. A closure for use with a container having a neck portion and container threading formed thereon, comprising:

a top wall;

an annular skirt depending from the top wall and having closure threading formed on an inner surface thereof configured and arranged to threadably engage the container threading; and

at least one anti-backoff member formed as an integral extension of a portion of the closure threading and extending in a circumferential direction about the annular skirt, the at least one anti-backoff member being arranged and configured to frictionally engage the container threading in an axial direction on the skirt between the anti-backoff member and the closure threading to resist movement of the closure once secured onto the neck of the container;

wherein a lead angle of the at least one anti-backoff member is different from a lead angle of the closure threading.

20. The closure of claim 18, wherein the closure threading is segmented into a plurality of circumferentially spaced closure threading groups, and wherein at least one of the closure threading groups has at least one of the anti-backoff members associated therewith.

21. The closure of claim 20, wherein the at least one anti-backoff member forms an integral extension of a portion of the closure threading in at least one of the closure threading groups and extends in a circumferential direction about the annular skirt.

22. The closure of claim 21, wherein the at least one anti-backoff member is oriented generally parallel to the top wall of the closure.

24. The closure of claim 20 further comprising a plurality of anti-backoff members formed in at least one of the closure threading groups.

25. The closure of claim 24, wherein the plurality of anti-backoff members are oriented generally parallel to the top wall of the closure.

19. A closure for use with a container having a neck portion and container threading formed thereon, comprising:

a top wall;

an annular skirt depending from the top wall and having closure threading formed on an inner surface thereof configured and arranged to threadably engage the container threading; and

at least one anti-backoff member formed as an integral extension of a portion of the closure threading and extending in a circumferential direction about the annular skirt, the at least one anti-backoff member being arranged and configured to frictionally engage the container threading in an axial direction on the skirt between the anti-backoff member and the closure threading to resist movement of the closure once secured onto the neck of the container;

wherein the at least one anti-backoff member is oriented generally parallel to the top wall of the closure.

23. A closure for use with a container having a neck portion and container threading formed thereon, comprising:

a top wall;

an annular skirt depending from the top wall and having closure threading formed on an inner surface thereof configured and arranged to threadably engage the container threading; and

at least one anti-backoff member formed as an integral extension of a portion of the closure threading and extending in a circumferential direction about the annular skirt, the at least one anti-backoff member being arranged and configured to frictionally engage the container threading between the anti-backoff member and the closure threading to resist movement of the closure once secured onto the neck of the container;

wherein the at least one anti-backoff member has a depth relative to an inner surface of the annular skirt that exceeds a depth of the closure threading relative to the inner surface of the annular skirt;

wherein a lead angle of the at least one anti-backoff member is different from a lead angle of the closure threading.

26. A closure for use with a container having a neck portion and container threading formed thereon, comprising:

a top wall;

an annular skirt depending from the top wall and having closure threading formed on an inner surface thereof configured and arranged to threadably engage the container threading; and

a plurality of anti-backoff member search formed as an integral extension of a portion of the closure threading and extending in a circumferential direction about the annular skirt, each anti-backoff member being arranged and configured to frictionally engage the container threading between the anti-backoff member and the closure threading to resist movement of the closure once secured onto the neck of the container;

wherein the closure threading is segmented into a plurality of circumferentially spaced closure threading groups, and wherein at least one of the closure threading groups has at least one of the anti-backoff members associated therewith;

wherein each of the plurality of anti-backoff members has a depth relative to an inner surface of the annular skirt that exceeds a depth of the closure threading relative to the inner surface of the annular skirt;

wherein a lead angle of each of the anti-backoff members is different from a lead angle of the closure threading.

27. A closure and container assembly, comprising:

a container having a neck portion and container threading formed thereon;

a closure having a top wall, an annular skirt depending from the top wall and having closure threading formed on an inner surface thereof configured and arranged to threadably engage the container threading; and

at least one anti-backoff member formed as an integral extension of a portion of the closure threading and extending in a circumferential direction about the annular skirt, the at least one anti-backoff member being arranged and configured to frictionally engage the container threading in an axial direction on the skirt between the anti-backoff member and the closure threading to resist movement of the closure once secured onto the neck of the container;

wherein a lead angle of the at least one anti-backoff member is different from a lead angle of the closure threading.

28. The assembly of claim 27 wherein a width of the at least one anti-backoff member is greater than a thickness thereof, the width being measured generally perpendicular to the skirt from a root of the anti-backoff member adjacent to the skirt to a distal end of the anti-backoff member and the thickness being measured at the root of the anti-backoff member generally parallel to the skirt.

29. The assembly of claim 27 wherein the anti-backoff member is formed on the neck portion of the container and the thickness of the anti-backoff member is generally constant.

30. The assembly of claim 27 wherein the anti-backoff member is formed on the annular skirt of the closure and the thickness of the anti-backoff member is generally constant.

31. The combination of claim 27 wherein the at least one anti-backoff member is generally planar and oriented generally parallel to the top wall when the closure is secured onto the neck of the container.

32. The assembly of claim 27 wherein the at least one anti-backoff member is flexible and deflects when engaged with the container threading.