Abstract: The neck of a container has a smooth seal surface engaged by the inner skirt or plug of a cap. Such surface is free of trim and parting line flaws which are characteristic of blow-molded jars because the surface is formed in such a way that the seal surface is not in contact with mold parting lines and further the trim (excess plastic) of the neck is located away from the sealing surface. In one form of the disclosure, above the sealing surface the neck wall slants outward and then bends upward-inward in a short, tapered stretch which engages the underside of the cap disk to compress against the disk or a liner or foil. Other forms of seal surfaces are disclosed. The exterior of the neck is formed with screw threads which engage threads on the interior of the outer skirt of the cap. Caps suitable for combination with the neck, methods of forming the neck and mold apparatus for forming the neck are also disclosed.

Abstract: A bottle cap (10) having a top panel (12) with an inner skirt (16) and an outer skirt (14) having an exterior bead (24) at the bottom edge thereof. Exterior bead (24) includes an inward projection as well. Outer skirt (14) has a reduced thickness in order to reduce the mass of the cap and exterior bead (24) provides sufficient de-ovalization support to keep skirt 14 cylindrical in shape.

Abstract: A fitment for use as a pour spout for a paper carton or flexible bag for liquids and powders has a flange which may be welded around a hole in the carton or bag. A spout projecting outward from the flange is provided with a removable membrane integral with the interior of the spout. Preferably the membrane is concave. A horizontally disposed pull ring is attached to the membrane by a connector so that pulling the ring removes the membrane by fracturing the tear line at the juncture of the outer edge of the membrane and the projection. A cap snaps over the spout and may be removed by unscrewing the complementary threads on cap and spout. Optionally, a tamper-evidencing band frangibly connected to the lower edge of the cap skirt engages the exterior of the spout so that the cap cannot be removed without breaking the frangible connection. Various means for detachably securing the fitment to a spud during delivery of the fitment from a chute to the interior of a carton are disclosed.

Abstract: A tamper-evident, snap-on, screw-off closure is used with a specially shaped container neck. The neck has double lead external threads and, below the threads, a conical wall having external ratchet teeth. The closure has an upper skirt having internal threads mating with the neck threads. A conical lower skirt is connected to the upper skirt by a plurality of frangible bridges. The lower skirt has internal ratchet teeth to mate with the neck ratchet teeth. The cap skirt threads are double pitch and slightly over 360° in length. When the cap is applied to the neck it snaps on in two stages. The lower skirt has a tear tab which, when pulled, fractures the lower skirt on a vertical line. Continued pulling on the tab sequentially fractures the bridges.

Abstract: The neck of a container has a smooth seal surface engaged by the inner skirt or plug of a cap. Such surface is free of trim and parting line flaws which are characteristic of blow-molded jars because the surface is formed in such a way that the seal surface is not in contact with mold parting lines and further the trim of the neck (excess plastic) is located away from the sealing surface. In one form of the disclosure, above the sealing surface the neck wall slants outward and then bends upward-inward in a short, tapered stretch about 18° to the horizontal which engages the underside of the cap disk to compress against the disk or a liner or foil. In another form of the invention, above the seal surface the neck extends outward and then upward and then inward in a flange which is trimmed along a line which has a circumference no less than the circumference of the seal surface. The exterior of the neck is formed with shoulders which engage over locking beads on the interior of the outer skirt of the cap.

Abstract: A mold for injection molding of a plastic bottle cap has a cavity which defines the outside slope of the top and skirt of the cap. A core and a core insert fixed to the top of the core define the inside of the cap and constitute a single, non-moving part. A tapered stripper ring below the cavity engages the base of the cap skirt. After the cap has been injected through a hot tip in the cavity, the cavity is retracted. The stripper ring is then elevated relative to the core by means of ejector pins. As this is proceeding, air is released under the top of the cap to break vacuum tending to hold the cap on the cap insert. The cap is thus ejected from the mold. A reduced cycle time is achieved. The wall thickness of the cap may be reduced, thus reducing material cost.

Abstract: A tamper-evident, snap-on, screw-off closure is used with a specially shaped container neck. The neck has double lead external threads and, below the threads, a conical wall having external ratchet teeth. The closure has an upper skirt having internal threads mating with the neck threads. A conical lower skirt is connected to the upper skirt by a plurality of frangible bridges. The lower skirt has internal ratchet teeth to mate with the neck ratchet teeth. The cap skirt threads are double pitch and slightly over 360° in length. When the cap is applied to the neck it snaps on in two stages. The lower skirt has a tear tab which, when pulled, fractures the lower skirt on a vertical line. Continued pulling on the tab sequentially fractures the bridges.

Abstract: A fitment for use as a pour spout for a paper carton or flexible bag for liquids and powders has a flange which may be welded around a hole in the carton or bag. A spout projecting outward from the flange is provided with a removable membrane integral with the interior of the spout. Preferably the membrane is concave. A horizontally disposed pull ring may be attached to the membrane by a connector so that pulling the ring removes the membrane by fracturing the tear line at the juncture of the outer edge of the membrane and the projection. A cap snaps over the spout and may be removed by unscrewing the complementary threads on cap and spout. Optionally, a tamper-evidencing band frangibly connected to the lower edge of the cap skirt engages the exterior of the spout so that the cap cannot be removed without breaking the frangible connection. Various means and methods for detachably securing the fitment to a spud or holder during delivery of the fitment from a chute to the interior of a carton are disclosed.

Abstract: A closure cap (210) including a tamper-indicating band (218) with an inwardly and upwardly turned retaining rim (224) having ramp elements (226), and the neck (240) of a bottle includes corresponding ramp elements (244).

Abstract: A bottle cap has a tab formed with internal gripping features which engage mating features on the bottle neck to retain the cap in place until a portion of the skirt is torn. A tab extends from below the bottom edge of the cap. At least one vertical score lines extends up from the bottom edge of the skirt. In one form of the invention, there are two vertical score lines, one on each side of the tab and one preferably extending higher than the other. A rib is formed on either external side edge of the tab and extending partially upward on the exterior of the skirt. The tab angles outward relative to a downward projection of the skirt.

Abstract: Dust covers enclose the upper end of the push-pull bottle cap, the spout cap and the seal which projects through the central hole in the spout cap. The cap is formed with a neck over which the lower end of the dust over fits. The interior of the cover is formed with a plurality of short thread sections (e.g., eight). Above the thread sections is a circumferential locking bead. The cap neck is formed with a plurality of short protrusions (e.g., four) which mesh with the cover thread sections and a circumferential groove above the protuberances into which the locking bead seals. The cover may be pushed down without rotation to seat on the neck and also may be pulled up without rotation for removal. Alternatively, the cover may be twisted on or off, the protuberances meshing with the thread sections when the cover is in closed position its interior is sealed from entry of "wash down" water.

Abstract: A fitment for use as a pour spout for a paper carton or flexible bag for liquids and powders has a flange which may be welded around a hole in the carton or bag. A spout projecting outward from the flange is provided with a removable membrane integral with the interior of the spout. Preferably the membrane is concave. A horizontally disposed pull ring is attached to the membrane by a connector so that pulling the ring removes the membrane by fracturing the tear line at the juncture of the outer edge of the membrane and the projection. A cap snaps over the spout and may be removed by unscrewing the complementary threads on cap and spout. Optionally, a tamper-evidencing band frangibly connected to the lower edge of the cap skirt engages the exterior of the spout so that the cap cannot be removed without breaking the frangible connection. Various means for detachably securing the fitment to a spud during delivery of the fitment from a chute to the interior of a carton are disclosed.

Abstract: A container, preferably of small capacity, such as a school milk plastic bottle, has a neck having an in-turned lip flange, a vertical surface spaced below the lip flange and an external shoulder below the vertical surface. A second external shoulder below the first-mentioned shoulder is preferably slanted upwardly-outwardly. A cap for the neck has a top and a skirt depending from the top formed with internal bead segments which snap under the first mentioned shoulder. The lower edge of the skirt fits tightly against the second shoulder to prevent the fingernails from being used to overcome the tamper-evident feature of the cap. A tear tab (preferably chevron-shaped in cross-section) depends from the skirt. An external, vertical scoreline adjoins the tab and at its upper end is adjacent a second scoreline which is formed on the interior of the top. Pulling the tab tears the skirt from the top for about 342.degree. of its circumference.

Abstract: Bottle necks for screw-off caps are provided with external threads to mesh with internal cap threads and external ratchet teeth to engage internal cap ratchet teeth. When the neck is formed of a rigid material (e.g., PET), the sharp corners of the intersecting flanks of the teeth are hazardous. To reduce the chance of injury, in accordance with this invention the corners are rounded off in a radius having its center offset from the intersection of the working flank of the tooth and the minor ratchet diameter without detrimentally reducing the length of the working flanks. Ratchet teeth are usually located in one of two diametrically disposed quadrants. The first or transition tooth of each quadrant has a greater radius than that of subsequent teeth and its center is inset toward the neck axis.

Abstract: A method of washing bottles employs a conveyor which advances the bottles intermittently from station to station. The bottle is supported inverted stationary at a first position where a first stream of fluid is directed upward under pressure directly into the open neck of the bottle to clean the interior of the bottle. At the same station a second stream of fluid is directed under pressure downward against the bottom to counter balance the force of the first stream of fluid.

Abstract: The neck of a container has a smooth seal surface engaged by the inner skirt or plug of a cap. Such surface is free of trim and parting line flaws which are characteristic of blow-molded jars because the surface is formed in such a way that the seal surface is not in contact with mold parting lines and further the trim (excess plastic) of the neck is located away from the sealing surface. In one form of the disclosure, above the sealing surface the neck wall slants outward and then bends upward-inward in a short, tapered stretch about 18.degree. to the horizontal which engages the underside of the cap disk to compress against the disk or a liner or foil. Other forms of seal surfaces are disclosed. The exterior of the neck is formed with shoulders which engage over locking beads on the interior of the outer skirt of the cap. Caps suitable for combination with the neck, methods of forming the neck and mold apparatus for forming the neck are also disclosed.

Abstract: A tamper-evident closure and container neck. The closure has a top and a skirt depending from the top having at least one engagement member on the interior of the skirt which cooperates with at least one engagement member on the neck to retain the closure on the container neck. The closure includes a tab to facilitate removal of the closure from the container neck. The tab includes a longitudinal axis and wall portions extending outwardly from the axis and terminating in a plane spaced from the longitudinal axis for reinforcing the tab. Frangible sections prevent removal of the cap from the neck so long as the frangible sections are intact.

Abstract: A tamper-evidencing, snap-on, screw-off closure is used with a specially shaped container neck. The neck has a neck stretch with multiple neck threads and a locking wall below the neck stretch with a plurality of external teeth. The closure has an upper skirt with multiple closure threads which mate with the neck threads and a tamper-evidencing band with a plurality of internal teeth shaped and positioned to engage the external teeth. The teeth are shaped to guide the teeth into side-by-side interengage during axial application of the cap to the neck.

Abstract: A fitment comprising a pouring spout having a peripheral flange at one end and a closure at a second end is attached to a paperboard carton formed with a hole in a side panel. The carton is moved intermittently along a conveyor, such as that used in a filling machine. An arm having a spud oscillates about a horizontal axis parallel to the conveyor. The arm is pivoted to down position as the carton reaches the fitment attaching station so that the fitment enters the open end of the carton with the spud aligned with the carton hole. The arm is mounted on a first carriage which reciprocates horizontally in a first direction to project the closure through the hole until the flange abuts the inside of the carton panel. An ultrasonic welding horn is mounted on a second carriage which reciprocates in alignment with the first carriage in a second direction opposite the first direction. The horn welds the fitment flange to the inside of the carton panel.

Abstract: A thin-walled, wide mouth molded plastic container is provided with a tamper evident band initially molded as a straight-walled cylinder spaced outwardly of the lip of the container and connected thereto by a frangible horizontal bridge. The upper edge of the cylindrical band extends above the level of the container lip. Subsequent to molding and preferably before capping, the band is curled inward by application of a curling tool. The container lid is axially applied, the outer edge of the lid displacing the curled band outward. The resilience of the band and bridge permits outward deflection and immediate restoration of the curl to its initial position. The curl prevents removal of the lid without fracture of the bridge and removal of the tamper-evident band.