Abstract: A linerless closure of one-piece integrally molded plastic construction includes a base wall and a cylindrical skirt for attaching the closure to a container neck finish. First and second circumferentially continuous annular walls extend from the base wall at positions radially inward from the skirt. The first and second annular walls are spaced from each other to receive an end portion of the container neck finish when the closure is applied to the neck finish. At least one of the annular walls has a circumferentially continuous annular projection extending toward the opposing annular wall. The annular projection is axially flexible for bending and folding toward the base wall and toward the at least one annular wall in sealing engagement with the end portion of the container neck finish when such end portion is received between the annular walls.

Abstract: An apparatus for inverting the stop flange on a tamper-indicating closure, from an axially outwardly oriented position as molded to an axially inwardly oriented position for use, includes a support base for supporting the closure such that the stop flange as molded is spaced from and oriented away from the support base. A pedestal is movably carried by the support base at a position spaced from the support base. A locator ring is carried by the pedestal and movable with the pedestal to engage the stop flange on a closure carried by the support base and to bend the stop flange radially inwardly. An inversion ring moves through the locator ring to engage and invert the stop flange that is bent radially inwardly by the locator ring.

Abstract: A package includes a container having a neck finish with at least one left-hand external thread segment, a fitment having at least one left-hand internal thread segment for threaded receipt over the container neck finish and at least one right-hand external thread segment, a closure having at least one right-hand internal thread segment for removable receipt over the fitment, and a handle attached to the container by the fitment. The container neck finish preferably has a transfer ring, and the handle preferably has a collar received over the transfer ring and held in place by the fitment. The transfer ring and the collar preferably have opposed flats to prevent rotation of the handle with respect to the transfer ring. The collar and the fitment preferably have opposed cam lugs that permit threading of the fitment onto the container neck finish over the collar but prevent unthreading of the fitment from the neck finish so that the fitment and handle are permanently attached to the container neck finish.

Abstract: A tamper-indicating closure for a beverage package includes a base wall having a peripheral skirt with at least one internal thread for securing the closure to a container. A tamper-indicating band is frangibly connected to an edge of the skirt, and a stop flange extends axially and radially from an edge of the band for abutment with a stop bead on the container finish. A plurality of circumferentially spaced drain openings extend axially through the juncture of the band and the flange. A plurality of circumferentially spaced channels extend axially through the internal thread on the closure skirt, with at least some of the channels being axially aligned with the drain openings. The stop bead on the container is in the form of a plurality of circumferentially spaced bead segments separated from each other by circumferential gaps.

Abstract: A child-resistant package includes a container having a finish with at least one external thread, at least one axial lug on a shoulder spaced from the thread and an external abutment on the finish adjacent to the lug. A closure of integrally molded plastic construction includes a base wall, a peripheral outer wall, and an inner wall spaced from the outer wall and having at least one internal thread for securement to the container finish. The outer wall has diametrically opposed gaps, and the inner wall extends axially in radial alignment with the gaps for circumferential abutment with the at least one lug on the container. The inner wall is flexible inwardly for clearing the lug between the lug and the external abutment, and for permitting removal of the closure from the container finish. The external abutment preferably is in the form of an external bead that extends circumferentially around the finish in alignment with an edge of the lug.

Abstract: A compression molding machine includes a wheel mounted for rotation around a horizontal axis and a plurality of angularly spaced molds disposed around the wheel. Each of the molds includes a first mold segment and a second mold segment disposed radially outwardly of the first mold segment. Each of the second mold segments is movable radially with respect to the associated first mold segment between a radially inner closed position with the first mold segment for compression molding a plastic article, and a radially outer open position spaced from the associated first mold segment for removing a molded article from the mold and placing a mold charge into the mold.

Abstract: A dispensing closure includes a closure shell of one-piece integrally molded plastic construction having a base for securement to a container neck finish and a lid coupled by a hinge to the base. The base has a deck, a recess extending across the deck from a point adjacent to the hinge, and a dispensing opening in the recess. The lid has a base portion for receipt in the recess in the closed position of the lid and a tongue at an end of the lid remote from the hinge. A latch on the base in the recess engages the tongue on the lid releasably to hold the lid in the closed position. The latch preferably comprises a snap latch that includes an internal bead on the tongue and an external latch element in the recess over which the internal bead is received in the closed position of the lid. The base preferably includes a ledge in the recess against which the tongue abuts, and a pair of ribs for frictionally holding the tongue against the body.

Abstract: A machine for compression molding plastic articles includes a turret constructed for rotation around a vertical axis. A first array of compression molds and a second array of compression molds are mounted on the turret for movement through respective first and second mold paths as the turret rotates around the vertical turret axis. A first mold charge placement mechanism is disposed adjacent to the first path for placing mold charges into molds of the first array in sequence as the turret rotates. A second mold charge placement mechanism is disposed adjacent to the second path for placing mold charges into molds of the second array in sequence as the turret rotates and independently of the first mechanism. The first and second mold paths may be spaced from each other radially of the turret axis and/or longitudinally of the turret axis.

Abstract: An apparatus for placing a mold charge into a mold of a compression molding machine includes a carrier mounted for rotation around a first axis, at least one arm mounted on the carrier for rotation around a second axis at an angle to the first axis, and a mold charge pick-up cup on the arm for receiving a mold charge, transporting the mold charge and placing the mold charge into a mold of the compression molding machine. A cam is carried in stationary position adjacent to the carrier surrounding the first axis, and a cam follower is operatively coupled to the arm in engagement with the cam for rotating the arm and the mold charge pick-up cup around the second axis as the carrier is rotated around the first axis.

Abstract: An apparatus for placing a mold charge into a cavity includes a pair of hubs mounted for rotation around parallel axes, a link connected between the hubs at positions off-center relative to the parallel axes and a blade connected to the link. Rotation of the hubs causes the blade to travel in an elliptical path relative to an extrusion orifice to cut mold charges from the orifice and place the mold charges into cavities passing beneath the blade. The apparatus preferably includes a drive member that simultaneously rotates both of the hubs to drive the blade relative to the extrusion orifice and cavities. The blade preferably includes an arm that extends into a cavity to place a mold charge into the bottom of the cavity for consistent and accurate placement of the mold charges from one cavity to the next.

Abstract: A plastic closure includes a plastic closure shell having a base wall with a central opening, a skirt for securing the closure to a container neck finish, and an internal ledge on the skirt adjacent to but spaced from the base wall. A plastic disk is retained within the closure shell. The disk includes a plurality of axially extending spacer elements, preferably in the form of angularly spaced circumferentially aligned bead segments around a peripheral portion of the disk, to engage an underside of the base wall and space the disk from the base wall of the shell. Angular gaps between the spacer elements permit flow of fluid from the central opening, between the base wall and the disk and through the gaps. A periphery of the disk is disposed between the internal ledge on the skirt and the base wall of the shell to capture the disk such that the disk is free to rotate within the shell. A resilient sealing liner is molded onto an underside of the disk for sealing engagement with the container neck finish.

Abstract: A child-resistant compact for dispensing product on blister cards including a first portion having a first cover hinged to a first clamp, a second portion having a second cover hinged to a second clamp, and means connecting the first and second clamp to each other, both to clamp at least one blister card between the clamps and to position the first and second covers to form a closable cavity for enclosing the at least one blister card. Also, a first child-resistant latch includes a first latch arm extending from one of the first and second covers remote from the clamps and a corresponding first latch engagement feature on the other of the first and second covers for engagement with the first latch arm.

Abstract: A system for molding dispensing valves includes first and second mold sections, at least one of which is movable with respect to the other between a closed position in which the mold sections form a plurality of dispensing valve mold cavities, and an open position in which the mold sections are spaced from each other and the mold cavities are open along a mold parting line. A transfer mechanism is movable between the first and second mold sections in the open positions of the mold sections for receiving molded valves from the cavities and transferring the valves from between the mold sections.

Abstract: A tamper-indicating closure includes a plastic shell having a base wall with an annular skirt, at least one internal thread segment on the skirt, a tamper band frangibly connected to the skirt, and a circumferential array of angularly spaced flexible resilient ratchet wings extending counterclockwise from an inner surface of the tamper band at an angle to the inner surface. A flexible resilient sealing liner on the base wall within the skirt has a conical sealing surface that faces radially outwardly toward the skirt and axially away from the base wall. The conical sealing surface is resiliently engageable with a trim flange of a container to which the closure is applicable so that the tamper band separates from the annular skirt before loss of sealing engagement between the liner and the trim flange.

Abstract: An apparatus for placing mold charges into a mold of a compression molding machine includes a carrier, an arm pivotally mounted on the carrier and a mold charge pick-up cup on the arm at a position spaced from the carrier. The arm is pivotal on the carrier between a first position at which the arm is positioned to deposit a mold charge into a mold and a second position at which the mold charge pick-up cup is disposed to transport the mold charge. The carrier preferably is mounted for rotation around an axis. In some embodiments, a cam mechanism is coupled to the arm to pivot the arm as a function of rotation of the carrier. A spring may be coupled between the arm and the carrier for biasing the arm toward one of the first and second positions of the arm. In another embodiment, an actuator is carried by the carrier and coupled to the arm to pivot the arm with respect to the carrier. The arm preferably includes a passage for selective application of air and/or vacuum to the mold charge pick-up cup.

Abstract: A child-resistant compact for dispensing product on blister cards includes a first portion having a first panel hinged to a first clamp for capturing an end of a first blister card, and a second portion having a second panel hinged to a second clamp for capturing an end of a second blister card. The first and second clamps are connected to each other such that the first and second panels form a chamber for enclosing the blister cards. At least one child-resistant latch is on the periphery of the panels for opening one or both panels with respect to the clamps for access to the blister cards.

Abstract: A dispensing closure, in accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure, includes a closure shell of plastic construction having a skirt for mounting on a container neck finish. An insert of plastic construction different from and more rigid than the shell includes a mid portion mounted to the shell, a base with the skirt for sealing engagement with a container neck finish when the closure is mounted on the neck finish, a tip extending from the mid portion and a through-passage for dispensing product from within the container. An overcap is provided for removable receipt over the tip, and preferably is of one-piece integrally molded construction with the shell and flexibly tethered to the shell. The base of the insert preferably is constructed for sealing engagement with the inside surface of the container neck finish, the end surface of the container neck finish and/or the outside edge of the container neck finish.

Abstract: A closure and container constitute a child-resistant package. The container has a finish with an open mouth, at least one external thread adjacent to the open mouth, and at least one external radial projection on a side of the at least one external thread that is spaced from the open mouth. The closure has a base wall, a skirt with at least one internal thread adjacent to the base wall for engagement with the at least one external thread to thread the closure onto the finish, at least one internal locking lug spaced from the base wall, and an annular wall extending from the base wall at a position spaced radially inwardly from the skirt for resilient internal engagement with the open mouth of the container.

Abstract: A dispensing valve includes an annular ring of relatively rigid molded plastic construction and a flexible resilient valve element integrally molded with the ring. The ring and the valve element have at least one mechanical interlock to secure the valve element to the ring as the valve element is molded onto the ring. In some embodiments of the disclosure, the mechanical interlock includes openings in an inner periphery of the ring and pegs on the outer periphery of the valve element that are molded into the openings as the valve element is molded onto the ring.