Metal closure and seal combination for maintaining the shape of a plastic container neck
First Claim
1. A metal closure comprising:
- a circular, closure panel having an internal surface extending to a periphery;
a concentric channel extending from the periphery along an angled wall into a parallel wall generally parallel to the closure panel, the parallel wall extending into a first rounded wall having a center of radius within the closure, wherein the parallel wall is offset from the closure panel by a first distance;
a concentric flange extending from the first rounded wall into a second rounded wall having a center of radius external to the closure into a transition wall which extends into a third rounded wall having a center of radius within the closure, wherein the transition wall is generally parallel with the closure panel and the parallel wall, and a plane passing through the transition wall is displaced further from the parallel wall than from the closure panel, wherein the first rounded wall transitions into the second rounded wall at a second distance from the periphery, the second distance being at least 2 times as large as the first distance;
a cylindrical skirt extending from the third rounded wall; and
a resilient polymeric material located in the concentric channel.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A closure that includes a top panel and a skirt extending downwardly from a peripheral edge of the top panel is provided. The skirt terminates in a plurality of spaced thread engagement flanges for engaging the thread of the neck of a container. The closure includes a polymer-filled channel which connects the top panel to the skirt. When engaged with the threaded neck of a container, the neck is forced into the channel and engaged by the polymer so that the channel and polymer provide lateral rigidity to the neck. This rigidity prevents the neck from deflecting from the forces resulting between the threads and thread engagement lugs when the forces therebetween are increased to the level required to adequately seal the closure to the container.
-
Citations
24 Claims
-
1. A metal closure comprising:
-
a circular, closure panel having an internal surface extending to a periphery; a concentric channel extending from the periphery along an angled wall into a parallel wall generally parallel to the closure panel, the parallel wall extending into a first rounded wall having a center of radius within the closure, wherein the parallel wall is offset from the closure panel by a first distance; a concentric flange extending from the first rounded wall into a second rounded wall having a center of radius external to the closure into a transition wall which extends into a third rounded wall having a center of radius within the closure, wherein the transition wall is generally parallel with the closure panel and the parallel wall, and a plane passing through the transition wall is displaced further from the parallel wall than from the closure panel, wherein the first rounded wall transitions into the second rounded wall at a second distance from the periphery, the second distance being at least 2 times as large as the first distance; a cylindrical skirt extending from the third rounded wall; and a resilient polymeric material located in the concentric channel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
-
-
10. A metal closure comprising:
-
a closure panel having an internal surface extending to a periphery, wherein a vacuum indicating panel is located at the center of the closure panel; a channel surrounding the closure panel and extending from the periphery along an angled wall into a radially extending wall, the radially extending wall extending from the angled wall into a first rounded wall having a center of radius within the closure, wherein the radially extending wall is offset from the closure panel by a first distance; a flange surrounding the channel and extending from the first rounded wall into a second rounded wall having a center of radius external to the closure into a transition wall which extends into a third rounded wall having a center of radius within the closure, wherein the first rounded wall transitions into the second rounded wall at a second distance from the periphery, the second distance being greater than the first distance, an angle between the angled wall and the radially extending wall is between 20 and 75 degrees; a skirt extending downward from the third rounded wall; and a resilient polymeric material located in the channel; wherein the transition wall is generally parallel to the closure panel and the radially extending wall, and a plane passing through the transition wall is displaced from the radially extending wall by a third distance. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
-
-
17. A sealed container comprising:
-
a plastic container including a threaded neck which provides an opening to the container, the neck including internal and external surfaces having a neck thickness that is the distance between the internal and external surfaces, wherein the internal and external surfaces terminate at a sealing edge; and a metal closure including; a closure panel having an internal surface extending to a periphery, wherein a vacuum indicating panel is located at the center of the closure panel, a channel surrounding the closure panel and extending from the periphery along an angled wall into a radially extending wall, the radially extending wall extending from the angled wall into a first rounded wall having a center of radius within the closure, wherein the radially extending wall is offset from the closure panel by a first distance, a flange surrounding the channel and extending from the first rounded wall into a second rounded wall having a center of radius external to the closure into a transition wall which extends into a third rounded wall having a center of radius within the closure, wherein the transition wall is generally parallel to the closure panel and the radially extending wall, and a plane passing through the transition wall is displaced further from the radially extending wall than from the closure panel, wherein the first rounded wall transitions into the second rounded wall at a second distance from the periphery, the second distance being greater than the first distance, a skirt extending downward from the third rounded wall, and a resilient polymeric material located in the channel having a cross-sectional height and a cross-sectional width; wherein the sealing edge is forced into the polymeric material so that the polymeric material engages the sealing edge. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
-
Specification