Closure system with orientation and removal capability

• US 7,621,413 B2
• Filed: 06/09/2006
• Issued: 11/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seaquist Closures Limited (AptarGroup Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Seaquist Closures Limited (AptarGroup Incorporated)
• Inventors: Hickok, Alan P., Miota, Margaret M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Stashick; Anthony
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hicks; Robert J
• Application Number:
  US11/450,531
• Publication Number:
  US 20070284331A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,264 Days
• Field of Search: 215/317, 215/320, 215/331, 215/330, 215/357, 215/356, 215/360, 215/44, 215/43, 215/316, 215/243, 215/237, 215/358, 215/337, 215/318, 220/805, 220/303, 220/296, 220/289, 220/325, 220/836, 220/810, 220/302, 220/301, 220/300, 222/153.09, 222/153.02, 222/153.01, 222/549, D94/49
• US Class Current: 215/329
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 7/285 by deformation of the closure
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2251/04 Orienting or positioning means
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 47/0804 integrally formed with the base element provided with the spout or discharge passage
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49945 by driven force fit

Abstract

A positive orientation container and closure combination is provided. The container includes at least one flange segment having a front and a back face. The container further includes a gap defined by the front face of one of the flange segments and the back face of one of the flange segments. The closure includes a plurality of collar segments. The closure includes at least one collar segment having an engagement face to establish a positive orientation of the closure at a predetermined position.

Claims

1. A positive orientation container and closure combination comprising:

a container having an interior, an opening to the interior, and at least one circumferentially oriented flange segment that extends less than 360 degrees, has a starting end defined by a front face, and has a termination end defined by a back face;

a gap defined by the front face of one of the flange segments and the back face of one of the flange segments, said front face of one of said flange segments extending to an axial outward end of the gap; and

a closure cooperatively associated with the container for closing the opening, the closure comprising a base portion for engaging said container around said container opening and for being closed by a lid, said base portion having a unitary structure and having a plurality of axially extending collar segments which each has an engagement end, each said collar segment being a unitary part of said closure base portion, the closure having a closure orientation structure unitary with said base portion and comprising an engagement face on at least one of the closure collar segments at the engagement end for engaging the front face of one of the container flange segments to establish a positive orientation of the closure at a predetermined position of rotation relative to the container as the closure is rotated relative to the container in an assembly direction; and

further including a closure displacing structure located at the engagement end on one of the collar segments and having a surface slanted relative to the axis of rotation of said closure to engage said flange segment front face at an angle at the axially outward end of the gap and thereby displace the closure axially outwardly relative to the container as the closure is rotated in the assembly direction to allow further rotation of the closure in the assembly direction.

2. A positive orientation container and closure combination comprising:

a container having an interior, an opening to the interior, and at least one circumferentially oriented flange segment that extends less than 360 degrees, has a starting end defined by a front face, and has a termination end defined by a back face;

a gap defined by the front face of one of the flange segments and the back face of one of the flange segments; and

a closure cooperatively associated with the container for closing the opening, the closure comprising a base portion for engaging said container around said container opening and for being closed by a lid, said base portion having a unitary structure and having a plurality of axially extending collar segments which each has an engagement end, each said collar segment being a unitary part of said closure base portion, the closure having a closure orientation structure unitary with said base portion and comprising an engagement face on at least one of the closure collar segments at the engagement end for engaging the front face of one of the container flange segments to establish a positive orientation of the closure at a predetermined position of rotation relative to the container as the closure is rotated relative to the container in an assembly direction; and

wherein the closure collar segments each further include a disengagement end, and wherein the container further comprises at least one ramp to engage the disengagement end of at least one of the collar segments thereby displacing the closure axially outwardly relative to the container as the closure is rotated in a disassembly direction.

3. The combination of claim 2 comprising two of said ramps which each engage the disengagement end of respective collar segments thereby displacing the closure axially relative to the container as the closure is rotated in a disassembly direction.

4. A positive orientation container and closure combination comprising:

a container having an interior, an opening to the interior, and at least one circumferentially oriented flange segment that extends less than 360 degrees, has a starting end defined by a front face, and has a termination end defined by a back face;

a gap defined by the front face of one of the flange segments and the back face of one of the flange segments; and

a closure cooperatively associated with the container for closing the opening, the closure comprising a plurality of axially extending collar segments which each has an engagement end, the closure having a closure orientation structure comprising an engagement face on at least one of the closure collar segments at the engagement end for engaging the front face of one of the container flange segments to establish a positive orientation of the closure at a predetermined position of rotation relative to the container as the closure is rotated relative to the container in an assembly direction; and

wherein (a) the back face of each container flange segment is planar and oriented at an angle oblique to the radius of the container opening and parallel to the rotational axis of the closure, and (b) the closure orientation structure further includes a disengagement face that is on one of said closure collar segments and that is planar and oriented at an angle parallel to the rotational axis of the closure so as to contact said container flange segment back face during disassembly.

5. A positive orientation container and closure combination comprising:

a container having an interior, an opening to the interior, and at least one circumferentially oriented flange segment that projects radically outwardly, extends less than 360 degrees, has a starting end defined by a front face, and has a termination end defined by a back face;

a gap defined by the front face of one of the flange segments and the back face of one of the flange segments; and

a closure cooperatively associated with the container for closing the opening, the closure comprising a plurality of axially extending collar segments which each has an engagement end, the closure having a closure orientation structure comprising an engagement face on at least one of the closure collar segments at the engagement end for engaging the front face of one of the container flange segments to establish a positive orientation of the closure at a predetermined position of rotation relative to the container as the closure is rotated relative to the container in an assembly direction; and

wherein each said closure collar segment has a bottom distal edge and also has a radically inwardly projecting bead adjacent the closure collar segment bottom distal edge, said bead projecting radically inwardly an amount that is sufficient to locate said bead beneath said container flange segments when said closure is installed on said container so that when said closure is subsequently forced axially outwardly then said bead engages said container flange segments to inhibit removal of said closure, and wherein said closure collar segment engagement face projects radically inwardly further than said bead.