Anti-Backoff Closure
The invention generally relates to a closure assembly for use with a container. The closure includes a generally cylindrical cap portion and an annular skirt extending from, and frangibly coupled to, the cap portion. The annular skirt includes a number of lugs extending inward from an inner portion of the annular skirt. At least one lug of the number of lugs extends circumferentially along the inner portion and includes a top portion, a bottom portion and a generally flat portion that extends therebetween. The generally flat portion is structured to engage a corresponding portion that extends outward from a neck of the container.
This application claims priority to U.S. provisional application No. 61/257,171 filed Nov. 2, 2009, entitled “Anti-Backoff Closure/Container”, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to closures, containers and combinations thereof. More particularly, the invention relates to a closure assembly for use with a container and a combination of a closure assembly and a container that includes an anti-backoff mechanism along with a tamper evident retention band.
2. Background Information
Drop lock tamper evident mechanical bands used on containers such as water/soda bottles and milk bottles normally spin with the related closure until the band engages the retention ring of the bottle. The vertical movement of the closure during unscrewing of the closure causes the band to engage the retention ring of the bottle and ultimately break and separate from the closure.
High density bottles, such as HDPE bottles used in the dairy sector for packaging milk for retail, generally have a very thin sealing area due to the inherent properties of the bottle and cap (closure) material. As a result of such thin sealing area, any vertical movement of the cap with respect to the bottle may allow leaking of the fluid contained therein from the bottle or conversely allow contaminants to enter the bottle. Such vertical movement of the cap may commonly occur in known cap and retention ring designs without any indication (such as through visual indication of a broken retention band) that such unsealing of the container has occurred.
Accordingly, there exists a need for an improved cap and bottle combination that overcomes the shortcomings of the known designs.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONAs one aspect of the invention, a closure assembly for use with a container is provided. The closure assembly comprises: a generally cylindrical cap portion and an annular skirt extending from, and frangibly coupled to, the cap portion. The annular skirt comprises a number of lugs extending inward from an inner portion of the annular skirt. At least one lug of the number of lugs extends circumferentially along the inner portion and includes a top portion, a bottom portion and a generally flat portion extending therebetween. The generally flat portion is structured to engage a corresponding portion extending outward from a neck of the container.
The flat portion of the at least one lug may be oriented generally perpendicular to the top portion of the at least one lug. The at least one lug of the number of lugs may comprise an inclined front portion opposite the generally flat portion. The top portion of the at least one lug of the number of lugs may comprise a generally flat surface structured to engage a corresponding portion extending outward from the neck of the container. The bottom portion of the at least one lug of the number of lugs may comprise a surface generally inclined inward and upward. The annular skirt may be frangibly coupled to the cap portion via a number of frangible connection points. The annular skirt may be frangibly coupled to the cap portion via a membrane. The number of lugs may comprise a plurality of lugs of identical or similar form as the at least one lug.
As another aspect of the invention, a closure in combination with a container is provided. The combination comprises a container having a neck portion disposed about an opening. The neck portion having a number of retention lugs extending outward therefrom, at least one retention lug of the number of retention lugs having a generally flat portion. The combination further comprises a closure assembly comprising: a generally cylindrical cap portion threadedly coupled to the neck portion of the container and an annular skirt extending from, and frangibly coupled to, the cap portion. The annular skirt comprises a number of lugs extending inward from an inner portion of the annular skirt. At least one lug of the number of lugs extends circumferentially along the inner portion and includes a top portion, a bottom portion and a generally flat portion extending therebetween. The generally flat portion of the at least one lug cooperatively engages the flat portion of the at least one retention lug in a manner that inhibits movement of the at least one lug with respect to the at least one retention lug in a direction corresponding to removing the cap portion from the neck portion.
The neck portion may comprise a retention ring that extends outward therefrom and the top portion of the at least one lug may cooperatively engage the retention ring in a manner that inhibits movement of the at least one lug with respect to the retention ring in a direction corresponding to removing the cap portion from the neck portion. The engagement between the generally flat portion of the at least one lug and the flat portion of the at least one retention lug may result in separation of the annular skirt from the cap portion upon rotation of the cap portion with respect to the container in a direction corresponding to removing the cap portion from the container. The rotation may comprise one degree or less of rotation. The annular skirt may be moveable on the neck portion of the container from a first position in which the annular skirt is coupled to the cap portion to a second position in which the annular skirt is uncoupled and spaced a distance from the cap portion when the cap portion is tightly threadedly coupled to the neck portion.
A full understanding of the invention can be gained from the following description of the preferred embodiments when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
It is to be appreciated that the figures described above are provided to increase understanding of the present invention and are not meant to limit the invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTSDirectional phrases used herein, such as, for example, left, right, front, back, top, bottom and derivatives thereof, relate to the orientation of the elements shown in the drawings and are not limiting upon the claims unless expressly recited therein. Identical parts are provided with the same reference number in all drawings.
As shown in
After passing retention ring 37, each of the lugs 16 of annular skirt 14 encounter retention lugs 36 of neck portion 30. As each of lugs 16 encounter retention lugs 36, the inclined portion 19 of each lug 16 tends to assist in each of lugs 16 passing over retention lugs 36 as closure assembly 10 is rotated onto neck portion 30. Similarly, when structured as shown in the FIGS., the inclined portion 40 of each retention lug 36 tends to also assist in the passage of each lug 16 thereover. In contrast, the generally flat portion 18 of each lug 16 inhibits passing of a lug 16 over a respective one of the retention lugs 36, such as would attempt to occur if closure assembly were to be rotated in a direction corresponding to removal from neck portion 30.
As shown in the detailed cut view of
Accordingly, the present invention provides an indication when cap 12 has been rotated only a small amount relative to neck portion 30 of the container and thus possibly compromised the sealed contents. Such indication is provided by the visible separation between the annular skirt 14 and cap 12. The separation between the annular skirt 14 and cap 12 may be magnified by providing an increased spaced region 42 (
While embodiments of the invention have been described herein, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various modifications and alternatives to those details could be developed in light of the overall teachings of the disclosure. Accordingly, the particular arrangements disclosed are meant to be illustrative only and not limiting as to the scope of invention which is to be given the full breadth of the claims appended and any and all equivalents thereof.
Claims
1. A closure assembly for use with a container, the closure assembly comprising:
- a generally cylindrical cap portion; and
- an annular skirt extending from, and frangibly coupled to, the cap portion, the annular skirt comprising a number of lugs extending inward from an inner portion of the annular skirt, at least one lug of the number of lugs extending circumferentially along the inner portion and including a top portion, a bottom portion and a generally flat portion extending therebetween, the generally flat portion being structured to engage a corresponding portion extending outward from a neck of the container.
2. The closure assembly of claim 1 wherein the flat portion of the at least one lug is oriented generally perpendicular to the top portion of the at least one lug.
3. The closure assembly of claim 1 wherein the at least one lug of the number of lugs comprises an inclined front portion opposite the generally flat portion.
4. The closure assembly of claim 1 wherein the top portion of the at least one lug of the number of lugs comprises a generally flat surface structured to engage a corresponding portion extending outward from the neck of the container.
5. The closure assembly of claim 1 wherein the bottom portion of the at least one lug of the number of lugs comprises a surface generally inclined inward and upward.
6. The closure assembly of claim 1 wherein the annular skirt is frangibly coupled to the cap portion via a number of frangible connection points.
7. The closure assembly of claim 1 wherein the annular skirt is frangibly coupled to the cap portion via a membrane.
8. The closure assembly of claim 1 wherein the number of lugs comprises a plurality of lugs of identical or similar form as the at least one lug.
9. A closure in combination with a container, the combination comprising:
- a container having a neck portion disposed about an opening, the neck portion having a number of retention lugs extending outward therefrom, at least one retention lug of the number of retention lugs having a generally flat portion; and
- a closure assembly comprising: a generally cylindrical cap portion threadedly coupled to the neck portion of the container; and an annular skirt extending from, and frangibly coupled to, the cap portion, the annular skirt comprising a number of lugs extending inward from an inner portion of the annular skirt, at least one lug of the number of lugs extending circumferentially along the inner portion and including a top portion, a bottom portion and a generally flat portion extending therebetween, the generally flat portion of the at least one lug cooperatively engaging the flat portion of the at least one retention lug in a manner that inhibits movement of the at least one lug with respect to the at least one retention lug in a direction corresponding to removing the cap portion from the neck portion.
10. The combination of claim 9 wherein the neck portion comprises a retention ring extending outward therefrom and wherein the top portion of the at least one lug cooperatively engages the retention ring in a manner that inhibits movement of the at least one lug with respect to the retention ring in a direction corresponding to removing the cap portion from the neck portion.
11. The combination of claim 9 wherein the engagement between the generally flat portion of the at least one lug and the flat portion of the at least one retention lug results in separation of the annular skirt from the cap portion upon rotation of the cap portion with respect to the container in a direction corresponding to removing the cap portion from the container.
12. The combination of claim 11 wherein the rotation comprises one degree or less of rotation.
13. The combination of claim 9 wherein the annular skirt is moveable on the neck portion of the container from a first position in which the annular skirt is coupled to the cap portion to a second position in which the annular skirt is uncoupled and spaced a distance from the cap portion when the cap portion is tightly threadedly coupled to the neck portion.
Type: Application
Filed: Nov 2, 2010
Publication Date: May 5, 2011
Inventor: Charles J. Long (New Castle, PA)
Application Number: 12/917,831
International Classification: B65D 55/02 (20060101);