Dual seal closure and package
A closure for sealing engagement with a container neck finish having at least one external thread segment includes a base wall having a skirt with at least one internal thread segment for engagement with the at least one external thread segment to thread the closure onto the container neck finish. A first flexible resilient annular wall extends from the base wall within the skirt and is positioned for sealing engagement with an inside surface of the container neck finish when the closure is threaded onto the neck finish. A second flexible resilient annular wall extends from the base wall between the first annular wall and the skirt, and is positioned for sealing engagement with an outside surface of the container neck finish when the closure is threaded onto the container neck finish. A circumferential series of external first axial ribs are on the first annular wall and a circumferential series of internal second axial ribs are on the second annular wall. The first and second series of ribs angularly alternate around the first and second annular walls, and function both to stiffen the first and second annular walls and to limit penetration of the container neck finish between the first and second annular walls.
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The present disclosure relates to a linerless closure for sealing engagement with a container neck finish, and more particularly to a closure and a package in which the closure is adapted for sealing engagement with both the inside surface and the outside surface of the container neck finish.
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSUREA general object of the present disclosure is to provide a linerless closure having features for sealing engagement with both the inside surface and the outside surface of a container neck finish when the closure is threaded onto the container neck finish, and to provide a package that includes such a closure threaded onto a container neck finish.
The present disclosure embodies a number of aspects that can be implemented separately from or in combination with each other.
A closure for sealing engagement with a container neck finish having at least one external thread segment, in accordance with a first aspect of the present disclosure, includes a base wall having a skirt with at least one internal thread segment for engagement with the at least one external thread segment to thread the closure onto the container neck finish. A first flexible resilient annular wall extends from the base wall within the skirt and is positioned for sealing engagement with an inside surface of the container neck finish when the closure is threaded onto the neck finish. A second flexible resilient annular wall extends from the base wall between the first annular wall and the skirt, and is positioned for sealing engagement with an outside surface of the container neck finish when the closure is threaded onto the container neck finish. A circumferential series of external first axial ribs are on the first annular wall and a circumferential series of internal second axial ribs are on the second annular wall. The first and second series of ribs angularly alternate around the first and second annular walls, and function both to stiffen the first and second annular walls and to limit penetration of the container neck finish between the first and second annular walls. There preferably is an annular internal shoulder on the skirt adjacent to the base wall having a convex radially inwardly facing surface for engagement by the second annular wall when a container neck finish is received between the annular walls both to limit outward flexure of the second annular wall and to hold the second annular wall into sealing engagement with the outside surface of the container neck finish.
The disclosure, together with additional objects, features, advantages and aspects thereof, will best be understood from the following description, the appended claims and the accompanying drawings, in which:
A first flexible resilient annular wall 40 extends from base wall 30 within skirt 32, and a second flexible resilient annular wall 42 extends from base wall 30 between wall 40 and skirt 32. In the package of
When closure 22 is threaded onto container neck finish 24 as shown in
An annular internal shoulder 51 preferably is provided on skirt 32 adjacent to base wall 30. Annular internal shoulder 51 preferably has a convex radially inwardly facing surface 52 opposed to wall 42. Outward flexure of wall 42, as closure 22 is threaded onto neck finish 24, brings wall 42 into opposed abutment with convex surface 52 of shoulder 51. Surface 52 and shoulder 51 thus hold wall 42 in sealing engagement with outside surface 47 of neck finish 24. The convex surface 52 provides a point contact seal which causes a seal at the tip of the radius on surface 52 and has clearance, no interference with the bottle, both above and below the radius. This clearance reduces the surface contact with the bottle which reduces the torque required to apply and remove the closure. Shoulder 51 preferably is spaced from base wall 30 so that corner surface 52 presses wall 42 into sealing engagement with a radially outwardly facing surface adjacent to the open end of neck finish 24.
In additional exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure illustrated in
The closure 66 in
There thus have been disclosed a closure and a package that fully satisfy all of the objects and aims previously set forth. Closure 22 and package 20 have particular utility for cold soft drink (CSD) applications, although other applications are envisioned. The disclosure has been presented in conjunction with several exemplary embodiments, and additional modifications and variations have been discussed. Other modifications and variations readily will suggest themselves to persons of ordinary skill in the art in view of the foregoing description. The disclosure is intended to embrace all such modifications and variations as fall within the spirit and broad scope of the appended claims.
Claims
1. A closure for sealing engagement with a container neck finish having at least one external thread segment, which includes:
- a base wall having a skirt with at least one internal thread segment for engagement with the at least one external thread segment to thread the closure onto the container neck finish,
- a first flexible resilient annular wall extending from said base wall within said skirt and positioned for sealing engagement with an inside surface of the container neck finish when the closure is threaded onto the container neck finish,
- a second flexible resilient annular wall extending from said base wall between said first annular wall and said skirt and positioned for sealing engagement with an outside surface of the container neck finish when the closure is threaded onto the container neck finish, and
- a circumferential series of external first axial ribs on said first annular wall and a circumferential series of internal second axial ribs on said second annular wall, said first and second series of axial ribs angularly alternating around said first and second annular walls and functioning both to stiffen said first and second annular walls and to limit penetration of the container neck finish between said first and second annular walls.
2. The closure set forth in claim 1 including an annular internal shoulder on said skirt adjacent to said base wall to limit outward flexure of said second annular wall.
3. The closure set forth in claim 2 wherein said annular internal shoulder has a convex radially inwardly facing surface opposed to said second annular wall.
4. The closure set forth in claim 1 wherein said first annular wall has a radially outwardly facing surface with a convex annular bead positioned for sealing engagement with the inside surface of the container neck finish when the closure is threaded onto the container neck finish.
5. The closure set forth in claim 1 wherein said first annular wall has a conical radially inwardly facing surface positioned for sealing engagement with the container neck finish when said closure is threaded onto the container neck finish.
6. The closure set forth in claim 1 wherein said first and second axial ribs have radial dimensions such that said ribs overlap each other circumferentially between said annular walls.
7. A closure for sealing engagement with a container neck finish having at least one external thread segment, which includes:
- a base wall having a skirt with at least one internal thread segment for engagement with the at least one external thread segment to thread said closure onto the container neck finish,
- a first flexible resilient annular wall extending from said base wall within said skirt and positioned for sealing engagement with an inside surface of the container neck finish when the closure is threaded onto the container neck finish,
- a second flexible resilient annular wall extending from said base wall between said first annular wall and said skirt and positioned for sealing engagement with an outside surface of the container neck finish when the closure is threaded onto the container neck finish, and
- an annular shoulder on said skirt adjacent to said base wall with a convex radially inwardly facing surface opposed to said second annular wall and positioned for engagement by said second annular wall when said closure is threaded onto the container neck finish and said neck finish is received between said annular walls for holding said second annular wall in sealing engagement with the outside surface of the container neck finish.
8. The closure set forth in claim 7 including a circumferential series of external first axial ribs on said first annular wall and a circumferential series of internal second axial ribs on said second annular wall, said first and second series of axial ribs angularly alternating around said first and second annular walls and functioning both to stiffen said first and second annular walls and to limit penetration of the container neck finish between said first and second annular walls.
9. The closure set forth in claim 7 including a circumferential series of radial ribs extending along said base wall between said first and second annular walls and positioned for engagement by a container neck finish received between said first and second annular walls to limit penetration of the neck finish between said walls.
10. The closure set forth in claim 7 including an annular shoulder on said base wall extending radially between said first and second annular walls for engagement by a container neck finish received between said annular walls to limit penetration of the neck finish between said walls.
11. The closure set forth in claim 7 wherein said first annular wall has a radially outwardly facing surface with a convex annular bead positioned for sealing engagement with the inside surface of the container neck finish when the closure is threaded onto the container neck finish.
12. The closure set forth in claim 7 wherein said first annular wall has a conical radially outwardly facing surface positioned for sealing engagement with the inside surface of the container neck finish when said closure is threaded onto the container neck finish.
13. A package that includes a container having a neck finish with at least one external thread segment and a closure threaded onto said neck finish, said closure including:
- a base wall having a skirt with at least one internal thread segment engaged with said at least one external thread segment on said neck finish,
- a first annular wall extending from said base wall within said skirt in sealing engagement with an inside surface of said neck finish,
- a second annular wall extending from said base wall between said first annular wall and said skirt in sealing engagement with an outside surface of said neck finish, and
- a circumferential series of external first axial ribs on said first annular wall and a circumferential series of internal second axial ribs on said second annular wall, ribs of said first series being angularly disposed between ribs of said second series around said axial walls, said neck finish being engaged by said ribs such that said ribs limit penetration of said neck finish between said first and second annular walls.
14. The package set forth in claim 13 including an annular internal shoulder on said skirt adjacent to said base wall and having a convex radially inwardly facing surface engaged by said second annular wall to hold said second annular wall in sealing engagement with said outside surface of said neck finish.
15. The package set forth in claim 13 wherein said first annular wall has a radially outwardly facing surface with a convex annular bead in sealing engagement with said inside surface, of said neck finish.
16. The package set forth in claim 13 wherein said first and second series of ribs have radial dimensions such that said ribs overlap each other circumferentially between said walls.
17. A package that includes a container having a neck finish with at least one external thread segment and a closure threaded onto said neck finish, said closure including:
- a base wall having a skirt with at least one internal thread segment engaged with said at least one external thread segment on said neck finish,
- a first annular wall extending from said base wall within said skirt in sealing engagement with an inside surface of said container neck finish,
- a second annular wall extending from said base wall between said first annular wall and said skirt in sealing engagement with an outside surface of said neck finish, and
- an annular shoulder on said skirt adjacent to said base wall with a convex radially inwardly facing surface engaged by said second annular wall and holding said second annular wall in sealing engagement with said outside surface of said neck finish.
18. The package set forth in claim 17 wherein said closure includes a circumferential series of external first axial ribs on said first axial wall and a circumferential series of internal second axial ribs on said second annular wall, with ribs of said first series angularly alternating with ribs of said second series, said ribs being engaged by said neck finish and limiting penetration of said neck finish between said first and second annular walls.
19. The package set forth in claim 17 wherein said closure includes a circumferential series of radial ribs extending along said base wall between said first and second annular walls, said ribs being engaged by said container neck finish and limiting penetration of said container neck finish between said first and second annular walls.
20. The package set forth in claim 17 wherein said closure includes an annular shoulder on said base wall extending between said first and second annular walls and engaged by said neck finish to limit penetration of said neck finish between said first and second annular walls.
21. The package set forth in claim 17 wherein said first annular wall on said closure has a radially outwardly facing surface with a convex annular bead in sealing engagement with said inside surface of said neck finish.
Type: Application
Filed: Oct 13, 2006
Publication Date: May 15, 2008
Applicant:
Inventors: Timothy J. Fuchs (Perrysburg, OH), Carl R. Smith (Perrysburg, OH)
Application Number: 11/581,140
International Classification: B65D 53/00 (20060101);