Abstract: A container neck is used with a tamper-evident, snap-on, screw-off closure. The neck has a multiple of four first helical threads on a neck stretch portion, and at least one external ratchet tooth on a locking wall portion below the neck stretch. The closure has an upper skirt having second helical threads mating with the first helical thread of the neck and a lower skirt with at least one internal ratchet tooth shaped and positioned to engage the external ratchet tooth when the closure is applied to the neck. The teeth formed on the skirt interior and neck exterior are arranged to provide at least one circumferentially extending stretch of the tamper-evident band where the teeth are not engaged. A line of weakness extending vertically through the disengaged stretch of the tamper-evident band is ruptured when the closure is unscrewed from the neck. The number of helical threads is preferably eight and, in any event, a multiple of four.

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.degree. 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 the 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 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 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. A spout projecting outward from the flange is provided with a removable membrane integral with an inward projection positioned on the interior of the spout approximately midway of its height. 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. 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 fragible connection.

Abstract: A closure cap (10) including a tamper-indicating band (18) with an inwardly and upwardly turned retaining rim (24) having alternately positioned flutes, such as pleats (28) and arcuate portions (30). The pleats (28) are pleated radially outwardly of arcuate portions (30).

Abstract: A two-piece cap for a water bottle comprises a main cap which has an annular top disk formed with a depending central well having three levels, each of a slightly smaller diameter. The main cap skirt which depends from the periphery of the top disk has an upper cylindrical portion formed with a truncated internal screw thread which merges into a horizontal bead extending about 180.degree. around the interior of the cap and terminates in a reverse thread portion which extends upward to merge with the leading edge of the truncated screw thread. Below the upper skirt portion is a downward-outward slanted conical portion merging with a lower cylindrical skirt portion having an internal locking bead. A first vertical score line extends from the bottom edge of lower skirt portion to the upper edge of the slanted portion. A second vertical score line, spaced a short distance from the first vertical score line, extends from the bottom edge of the lower skirt portion to the top disk.

Abstract: A tamper-evident, snap-on, screw-off closure which is used with a specially shaped container neck is provided with a foil liner. Once the closure is applied to the neck, the foil liner is sealed to the neck of the container. The foil liner includes a tab for removal of the seal disc from the neck. The closure is characterized by the absence of a second liner between the top of the cap and the foil liner. The closure, neck and the foil liner are formed to inhibit adherence of the tab to the cap interior and the neck exterior.

Abstract: A two-piece cap for a water bottle comprises a main cap which has an annular top disk formed with a depending central well having three levels, each of a slightly smaller diameter. The main cap skirt which depends from the periphery of the top disk has an upper cylindrical portion formed with a truncated internal screw thread which merges into a horizontal bead extending about 180.degree. around the interior of the cap and terminates in a reverse thread portion which extends upward to merge with the leading edge of the truncated screw thread. A first vertical score line extends from the bottom edge of lower skirt portion to the upper edge of the slanted portion. A second vertical score line, spaced a short distance from the first vertical score line, extends from the bottom edge of the lower skirt portion to the top disk. A plug having a closed bottom and a smooth exterior fits into the bottom of the well.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for sealing a container with a cap and a seal member which is adhered to the neck. The seal member is inserted into the cap before the cap is applied to the neck by moving the cap in an axially downward direction relative to the neck to substantially seat the cap on the neck so that the cap cannot be removed without unscrewing the cap. The seal member is firmly held against the neck by the cap while the seal disc is adhered to the neck. In one modification, a pressure application applies a downward directed force to urge the cap against the neck while the seal disc is adhered to the neck. In another modification, the cap is tightened onto the neck at a fine adjustment station to eliminate gaps between the underside of the cap and the neck before the seal disc is adhered to the neck.

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. A spout projecting outward from the flange is provided with a removable membrane integral with an inward projection positioned on the interior of the spout approximately midway of its height. 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. 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 fragible connection.

Abstract: As an open upper end apertured panel carton is conveyed to the fitment application stage of a filling line, a ramp raises the carton to a predetermined elevation. A rotary anvil having spuds on which fitments are applied which lowers a fitment inside the carton is indexed into precise angular position by an apertured collar fixed to the anvil sleeve, mating with a stationary pin. The sleeve on which the anvil is mounted is moved longitudinally so that the spout end of the fitment extends out through the aperture in the carton panel and a peripheral flange on the opposite end of the fitment engages the inside of the apertured panel. As a welding horn moves into position, extending fingers engage the loading and trailing sides of the carton to horizontally align the carton. Thus the aperture in the carton is vertically and horizontally aligned and the fitment is aligned with the aperture in the carton. The fitment flange is welded to the interior of the carton.

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 fitment attachment apparatus installed at a station along a filler line is substantially completely mounted on a single casting attached to the bed of the machine. As an open upper end, apertured panel carton is conveyed to the station, a rotary anvil having spuds on which fitments are applied lowers a fitment inside the carton. The anvil is moved axially so that the spout end of the fitment extends out through the aperture in the carton panel and a peripheral flange on the opposite end of the fitment engages the inside of the aperture panel. The anvil shaft carries a driven sprocket on one end which is connected by a side-flex chain to a drive sprocket which turns in timed relation to the intermittent carton conveyor chain. The sleeve on which the anvil is mounted is indexed into precise angular position by an apertured collar fixed to the anvil sleeve mating with a stationary pen. Hence the fitment is accurately located in line with the carton despite flexing of the drive chain.

Abstract: A tamper-evident, snap-on, screw-off closure is used with a specially shaped container neck. The neck has at least one first helical thread on an upper neck stretch portion, and a first tamper-evident structure having a first locking member. The closure has an upper skirt having at least one second helical thread mating with the first helical thread of the neck. The closure includes a second tamper-evident structure having a second locking member shaped and positioned to engage the first locking member when the closure is applied to the neck.

Abstract: An internal fitment has a bottom peripheral flange adapted to be ultrasonically welded or otherwise attached to a panel of a paperboard carton surrounding a hold in such panel. Above the flange is a spout which converges upwardly and has a cylindrical external locking bead. Above the spout is an outward slanted tear band and above the tear band is a reclosure cap having a top, a depending skirt formed with internal interrupted beads and a plug. The tear band is connected to the spout and cap by thin horizontal tear lines. A finger grip tab extends outwardly of downward with respect to the tear band so that the consumer may conveniently grip the tab, pulling it circumferentially around the spout to separate the tab from both spout and cap. The cap is dimensioned so that the skirt fits over the outside of the spout, the beads detachably locking under the locking bead. The plug seals against the inside of the spout to prevent spillage.

Abstract: A plastic container closure has a skirt which is connected to a tamper-evidencing band by frangible bridges, all molded in a single unit. Where the closure is a cap for a container neck, there is at least one retaining means on the skirt and another on the band. The neck has two retaining means which cooperate with those on the cap to prevent upward movement of the cap without fracture of the bridges. To reduce the likelihood of unintentional fracture of the bridges, particularly during installation of the cap on the neck, plural ejection bumpers of extended arcuate lengths are located on the top edge of the band and or from the bottom edge of the skirt and the bridges are located between the bumpers. This snap lock ring functions to replace the conventional retaining means located centrally of the band. The invention is applicable to tamper-evidencing bands of closures and of push/pull closures of sports-type cap spouts.

Abstract: A novel snap on pull off tamper indicating cap and neck configuration for containers, the cap having a top with an annular depending wall on its peripheral edge and seven circumferentially spaced continuous spiral thread configurations on the inner surface of the annular depending wall. A removable tear skirt with continuous opposing groups of ratchet teeth on its inner surface depends from the outer peripheral edge of an out-turned flange on said annular wall. An inturned continuous annular rib on said annular depending wall engages on and deforms the neck configuration. The tear skirt is joined to the flange with multiple frangible connections from the ratchet teeth, a pull tab on the tear skirt with frangible lines requiring removal of the tab and tear skirt from the cap before the cap can be rotated.

Abstract: Two cap modifications are disclosed for use on water bottles to be installed in water dispensers. A central conical well in the top of the cap is formed with a scoreline. When the bottle is lowered into a dispenser, a probe of the dispenser enters the well and causes it to split along the scoreline. When the bottle is raised, the well substantially returns to initial condition, inhibiting spillage of any liquid remaining in the bottle.

Abstract: A tamper-evident thermoplastic fitment having a spout and a closure for said spout are welded to a polymer-coated paperboard container or to a flexible plastic container. The fitment and closure are initially molded simultaneously but with a substantial space between the two pans interconnected by an elongated runner which conducts molten plastic from the closure to the fitment. Upon retraction of the core of the mold, the closure is pulled into the spout until shoulders on the parts engage, whereupon the closure is stripped from the mold core. The runner comprises a tear tab which slides through an apertured space on the closure. When the parts engage tangs on the tear tab engage the space, making the assembly tamper-evident. The fitment has a flange which may be welded or otherwise secured to the container. The tab may be pulled by the consumer to open the container. The closure may be unscrewed from the spout or otherwise disengaged.

Abstract: A tamper-evident, snap-on, screw-off closure which is used with a specially shaped container neck is provided with a foil liner. Once the closure is applied to the neck, the foil liner is sealed to the neck of the container. The foil liner includes a tab for removal of the seal disc from the neck. The closure is characterized by the absence of a second liner between the top of the cap and the foil liner. The closure, neck and the foil liner are formed to inhibit adherence of the tab to the cap interior and the neck exterior.