With Means To Prevent Unintentional Rotation In Closure Releasing Direction Patents (Class 215/330)
  • Publication number: 20040035818
    Abstract: The invention provides a container closure (2) assembly comprising: a container neck (1) having side walls defining an opening at one end thereof and a lip (5) extending around the opening, wherein an inner surface (7) of the side walls proximate to said lip (5) is inwardly tapered; a closure (2) for said neck (1), the closure (2) having a base portion (3) and a skirt portion; a first screw thread on the neck (1); a second screw thread on an inner surface (7) of the skirt of the closure (2); said first and second screw threads being configure to enable a user to secure, remove and resecure the closure (2) into a sealing position on the neck (1) by rotation of the cap on the neck (1); a sealing plug (8) extending from said base portion (3) of the closure (2) inside and substantially concentric with said skirt portion of the closure (2), wherein the sealing plug (8) comprises a plurality of circumferential sealing ribs (9) on an outer surface of said sealing plug (8) for engagement with said inner surface (7) o
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2003
    Publication date: February 26, 2004
    Inventor: Roger Milner King
  • Patent number: 6695160
    Abstract: A container finish comprising a helical load carrying member which transmits downward force from the top wall of a closure to the threads of a container to prevent seal failure under stacking load conditions. The helical load carrying member is preferably located on a container neck, parallel to a primary thread. In the alternative the helical load carrying member may be located on a closure finish.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Assignee: Rexam Medical Packaging Inc.
    Inventors: Brian K. Culley, C. Edward Luker, Gary V. Montgomery
  • Patent number: 6640987
    Abstract: A child resistant closure and container according to the present invention include a container having a neck with an engagement mechanism such as an external thread. The container also includes at least one container lug, and preferably a pair of lugs disposed on opposite sides of the container. The child resistant closure includes a top wall with at least one skirt depending from the top wall. Locking teeth are disposed in a set on the inner surface of the skirt, with the locking teeth being arranged circumferentially around a portion of the inner surface, and the locking teeth being arranged axially offset from one another. The closure may also include a thinned-out region in the vicinity of the locking teeth to facilitate deformation of the closure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2003
    Assignee: Kerr Group, Inc.
    Inventor: John A. Vassallo
  • Publication number: 20030160020
    Abstract: A closure and container combination has in which anti-backoff capability the closure includes a top wall and a depending annular skirt having closure threading formed on an inner surface of the skirt. The closure threads mate with threads on the container. One or more anti-backoff members are formed on the inner surface of the skirt and/or the outer surface of the container neck and arranged and configured to frictionally engage the mating threading between the anti-backoff member and the threading to resist movement of the closure once secured onto the neck of the container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2002
    Publication date: August 28, 2003
    Inventor: Jack S. Oh
  • Publication number: 20030146185
    Abstract: A closure for a fitment is provided with an outer side wall extending downwardly therefrom and spaced from an inner sealing ring wherein the outer side wall adjacent the top wall is provided with a plurality of spaced inwardly extending ribs, adapted for embedding into a lip at the outlet of a fitment neck.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2002
    Publication date: August 7, 2003
    Inventors: James A. Francois, William J. Shankland, Chris W. Winstead, C. Edward Luker
  • Publication number: 20030146183
    Abstract: A closure-container package is shown and described comprising a container having a shoulder and a neck extending upward from the shoulder and having an external thread extending helically about the neck, a closure having a top wall and skirt depending from a peripheral edge of the skirt, the skirt having an internal thread mating with the external thread of the container neck, the closure having a rotary seal depending from the closure, the closure and container each having at least one on-direction stop mechanism operably engaged, the closure-container package having a child resistance feature and, the closure having a tamper indicating band with ratchets on an interior surface engaging ratchets on the container neck.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2002
    Publication date: August 7, 2003
    Applicant: Rexam Medical Packaging Inc.
    Inventor: Gary V. Montgomery
  • Publication number: 20030121877
    Abstract: A child-resistant closure and container package includes a container having a finish with an external thread and pockets in the thread. A closure has a base wall, a peripheral skirt with an internal thread and lugs on the internal thread for receipt in the pockets, and a spring element on the base wall for engagement with the container finish to bias the closure away from the container finish and resiliently urge the lugs into the pockets. A liner is urged by the spring element into engagement with the container finish. The liner may include a base with metal and plastic layers for induction-welded sealing engagement with the finish such that, upon removal of the closure, the metal and plastic layers remain secured to the finish and the liner base is removed with the closure. The metal and plastic layers may be removed by a user for access to the contents of the container, and the liner base continues to serve as a package seal during use of the package.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2001
    Publication date: July 3, 2003
    Inventors: Brian J. Brozell, Robert A. Perry
  • Patent number: 6450352
    Abstract: The present invention is a child-resistant push and twist locking container. It includes a squeeze tube container having a neck and a dispensing orifice at an outer end of the neck, and the neck has one of a locking track and a locking lug. There is also a cap having at least three components and being assembled to cooperate with each other. This cap includes an outer shell having a sidewall and a top, the outer shell being adapted to receive and contain an inner top, a spring mechanism and an inner collar member; an inner top inserted into the outer shell and including a sealing liner for sealing the container; and, an inner collar member fixedly inserted into the outer shell and having the other of the locking track and the locking lug.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2002
    Inventor: Stuart W. DeJonge
  • Patent number: 6439411
    Abstract: A container closure system comprises a container having an opening zone (21) with a threaded neck (22). A closure cap (23) can be screwed on the threaded neck (22). A warranty element comprises an annular base body (25) with engagement means which can engage matching engagement means (38) in the opening zone (21) of the container. The warranty element also comprises one or more indicator elements (27) shaped as circle segments and linked each by a predetermined breaking strip to the base body (25). The closure cap (23) has at least one axial projection (34) which can be inserted between the ends of the indicator elements (27) shaped as circle segments or between the ends of two adjacent indicator elements (27) in order to secure the indicator elements (27) against rotation to the closure cap (23). When the closure cap (23) is unscrewed, these axial projections (34) break the predetermined breaking strips, separating the indicator elements (27) shaped as circle segments from the base body (25).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2002
    Assignee: H. Obrist & Co., AG
    Inventor: Werner Schwarz
  • Patent number: 6398050
    Abstract: A liquid container with opposed openings has a smaller neck and larger base, with correspondingly sized openings and caps. The base cap includes a receptacle, for installing over the cap of the smaller diameter container end. The smaller diameter cap includes an outwardly extending non-circular flange, which engages the correspondingly shaped receptacle in the larger base end cap. The base cap receptacle also has a circular second, innermost area. The base cap receptacle is aligned with the flange of the smaller diameter cap and rotated ninety degrees, to misalign the two non-circular shapes and lock the smaller diameter cap flange within then innermost portion of the base cap receptacle. This permits the container to be inverted with the smaller diameter end downward, the larger diameter cap to be removed and installed on the now lowermost smaller diameter cap, and the contents dispensed from the uppermost larger diameter end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Inventor: Vincent M. Allora
  • Patent number: 6367641
    Abstract: The invention concerns a device for dispensing a fluid product designed for being screwed on a threaded neck of a fluid product reservoir, the device including a threaded fixing element for being in threaded engagement with the threaded neck of the reservoir for fixing the dispensing device on the reservoir neck. The invention is characterized in that a unidirectional driving member is provided covering the fixing element so as to prevent any access to the fixing element when it is screwed on the reservoir neck, such that the fixing element cannot be unscrewed by rotation of the unidirectional driving member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2002
    Inventors: Firmin Garcia, Denis Croibier
  • Patent number: 6347716
    Abstract: A flip top closure has a tamper evident flap and is used on a container with a neck and an opening therein. the neck has an outer surface with retaining means for the closure thereon. The closure has two sections that are hinged to one another and with each section having a lip extending along an edge thereof. When the closures are in a closed position, the two lips form a continuous line of contact with one another and a flap extends across the line of contact. The flap is connected to one section by ultrasonic spot welding. The flap is severable from either or both sections. When the closure is opened the flap separates from one of the sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2002
    Assignee: Pano Cap (Canada) Limited
    Inventors: Karl H. Nofer, Jozef Krajnc
  • Publication number: 20020011458
    Abstract: A closure for use on a container having an externally threaded neck is disclosed wherein an inner surface of a downwardly depending skirt portion of the closure cap includes a helical thread having a flat upper surface with a lower thread profile having a first depth greater than an upper thread profile of a second depth. The helical thread of the closure tapers into the sidewall of the closure skirt. The closure is provided with a seal integral with the inner surface of the skirt, spaced from a top wall of the closure, and retained at a lowermost point along the downwardly depending skirt by a bead.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2001
    Publication date: January 31, 2002
    Inventor: William Douglas Sprick
  • Patent number: 6296130
    Abstract: Screw on caps for bottles that have an anti back off feature formed on a hinged tab of the cap engaging detent teeth below the threads on the bottle. The hinge has a unique configuration that enables the tab to snap into and hold a gripping position while avoiding temporary distortion or creep. The detent teeth are particularly suited for use with blow molded bottles and are capable of restraining a cap within a small angle of a fully tightened position to avoid any significant back off and potential leakage. In one embodiment, the anti back off feature is provided in a child resistant cap while in another embodiment this feature is provided in a simpler continuous thread cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2001
    Assignee: Weatherchem Corporation
    Inventors: Michael J. Forsyth, Charles A. Webster, Douglas S. Martin, James P. Black, Bradford R. Seaman
  • Publication number: 20010013478
    Abstract: A packaging container for photosensitive film has a detent locking and unlocking feature that provides light-tight closure of the container compartment to protect the product from the penetration of light. A protuberance formed in the container compartment interlocks with a notch formed in the closure for preventing axial movement of the closure. The interlocked protuberance and notch form the light-tight packaging container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 1999
    Publication date: August 16, 2001
    Inventor: EDGAR G. EARNHART
  • Patent number: 6227391
    Abstract: A container closure assembly that includes a container neck having an opening and a closure for the container neck, wherein the closure has a base portion and a skirt portion. A first screw thread on one of the container neck and the closure, the first screw thread comprising one or more first thread segments and a second screw thread on the other of the container neck and the closure, the second screw thread having a plurality of second thread segments, each of the second thread segment including upper and lower thread surfaces. A seal that forms a seal between the container neck and closure when the closure is screwed down on the container neck. Mutually engageable elements on the container neck and closure to block or restrict rotation of the closure in an unscrewing direction beyond an intermediate position when the closure is under an axial pressure in a direction emerging from the container neck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2001
    Assignee: Beeson and Sons Limited
    Inventor: Roger Milner King
  • Patent number: 6223919
    Abstract: The present invention relates to plastic tubes, and in particular to those which have a locking mechanism which comprises a locking cam and a latching cutout and which permits reliable latching of the tube cap to the tube. The invention also relates to plastic tubes which have a sealing strip which is constructed on the tube cap and, in accordance with the invention, can assume specific preferred embodiments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Inventor: Hans Kuehn
  • Patent number: 6202869
    Abstract: A child-resistant/senior-friendly container includes a cap assembly having a retainer that is adapted to thread onto the container, and an outer skirt loosely fitted around the retainer. The skirt includes at least one grasping member which is pivotal between a disengaged position wherein the skirt may freely rotate with respect to the retainer and an engaged position wherein the skirt engages the retainer. In the engaged position, both the skirt and the retainer may be rotated and removed from the container. The retainer cannot be rotated when the grasping member is located in the disengaged position. A handle may be attached to the skirt, between two opposing and pivotal grasping members so provide leverage in rotating the cap from the container when the grasping members are in the engaged position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2001
    Inventor: Scott L Sullivan
  • Patent number: 6182822
    Abstract: An assembly includes a first element provided with a snap-fitting bead; and a second element having a snap-fitting lip, capable of passing over the snap-fitting bead so as to allow the second element to be mounted on the first element so that it can rotate freely. The assembly includes structure for allowing the snap-fitting lip to pass over the snap-fitting bead when the assembly is fitted together. By rotating the first element with respect to the second, the structure for allowing the lip to pass over the snap-fitting bead is inoperative for taking the assembly apart.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2001
    Assignee: L'Oreal
    Inventor: Nicolas Albisetti
  • Patent number: 6123212
    Abstract: A closure for a container having carbonated or otherwise pressurized contents includes a top wall portion, and an annular depending skirt portion. An internal thread formation mates with a like thread formation of an associated container. To facilitate gas venting during closure removal, the container includes a plurality of axially extending vent grooves. Release of gas pressure during closure removal is facilitated by providing the closure with at least one, and preferably a plurality of rotation-inhibiting projections positioned adjacent to the internal thread formation. The projections interferingly engage with the vent grooves of the associated container, thus providing increasing frictional drag during closure removal to permit dissipation of gas pressure from within the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2000
    Assignee: Alcoa Closure Systems International
    Inventors: Mark N. Russell, Mark A. Powell
  • Patent number: 6109466
    Abstract: An interference threaded closure assembly includes a container and a cap. The container has a neck portion extending therefrom, the neck portion forming an opening and having on an outer surface screw threads and at least one interference bead on the screw threads. The cap has on an inner surface screw threads and a seal for releasably engaging the opening of the neck portion to form a leak free seal. The interference bead of the screw threads engages the screw threads of the cap to create an interference fit when the screw threads are threadably engaged, thereby maintaining the leak free seal of the seal within the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2000
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventor: Frank Leslie Carrier
  • Patent number: 6109467
    Abstract: A closure arrangement of a container has fill socket with an inner thread and a closure cap with a cylindrical base body having an outer thread matching the inner thread of the fill socket of the container. The cylindrical base body has an annular flange adjacent to the outer thread. An annular seal, connected to one side of the annular flange facing the outer thread, is provided for sealingly resting on the rim of the fill socket when the closure cap is threaded into the fill socket. The outer thread has a resilient tongue extending in the circumferential direction of the cylindrical body and has a radial projection cooperating with the abutment of the matching inner thread. The radial projection, when the closure cap is threaded into the fill socket, catches in a catch position behind the abutment before a fully closed position of the closure cap in the fill socket is reached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2000
    Assignee: Andreas Stihl AG & Co.
    Inventors: Harald Schliemann, Hans Nickel, Michael Marz, Savino Petruzzelli, Matthias Fleischer, Siegfried Wilhelm
  • Patent number: 6105801
    Abstract: The present invention is directed towards a closure and container combination wherein the container has a collapsible neck finish. The collapsible neck finish consists of an upwardly extending neck having outwardly extending threads thereon and located above the threads is a spring bead, the spring bead having an outwardly bulged portion and an inwardly bulged portion. The closure for the combination has a retaining bead formed just below the top wall, the area in between receiving the spring bead of the container. The container and closure combination have interlocking structures comprised of locking lug and stop member on the container neck forming a recess therebetween which receives a locking tab on the lower periphery of the side wall of the closure. The interlocking structure is so formed that when the locking tab is located between the locking lug and stop member, the spring bead is firmly held in place below the top wall of the closure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2000
    Assignee: Rexam Medical Packaging, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey C. Minnette
  • Patent number: 6102223
    Abstract: A child resistant cap including relatively thin threads which, when the cap is in a relaxed condition, are spaced from the bottle neck, said spacing permitting the cap to be squeezed inward at points on opposite sides of the cap so that the cap responds to the squeezing by expanding outward at points ninety degrees from the squeezing points so that stops on the cap at the cap expanding location will miss the stops normally engaged when in a relaxed condition, thereby permitting the cap to be removed from the bottle. The cap may also include a guide ring in the cap interior to guide the cap over the bottle neck to help ensure that the cap is centered on the bottle opening. The cap may include pressure pads on the cap skirt outside near the cap bottom showing the user where to press and stiffening the portion of the cap where pressure is to be applied. And, the cap may include a tamper indicating ring which will separate from the cap the first time the cap is removed from the bottle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2000
    Assignee: Rexam Plastics, Inc.
    Inventor: Gary V. Montgomery
  • Patent number: 6095358
    Abstract: An anti-creeping cap to prevent the self unscrewing of a cap from a container used for edible products. The cap has an internal screw thread and multiple spaced engagement ribs extending from a secondary depending annular flange that correspondingly engaged to a number of registering projections extending from the neck finish of the container. Moderate torsional rotation input force is required to disengage the registering projections from grooves formed between the ribs which is accomplished by the flexation of the flange for cap removal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2000
    Inventor: Michael Marino
  • Patent number: 6076689
    Abstract: A child resistant adult friendly container and closure device is provided with a pivot arm on the container which engages a detent on the closure. The pivot arm carries on one end a press tab and on an opposite end a locking lug. The locking lug engages with the detent to prevent the closure from being rotated in an opening direction. To open the closure, the press tab is manually depressed, causing the pivot arm to pivot about a point on the container such that the locking lug disengages from the detent on the closure. The closure can thus be unscrewed in a opening direction to obtain the contents of the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2000
    Assignee: Kerr Group, Inc.
    Inventor: John A. Vassallo
  • Patent number: 6056136
    Abstract: A closure for press-on application to, and rotational removal from, a container having a cylindrical neck which includes a plurality of vertically spaced helical threads formed in the outer surface thereof in generally parallel relationship to each other. A flexible cylindrical skirt, preferably composed of a polyolefin such as polypropylene, includes a plurality of radially inwardly projecting spaced lugs that are circumferentially disposed around the inner cylindrical skirt surface and axially spaced therefrom for engagement with the threads on the cylindrical neck of the container. The lugs are composed of a deformable plastic material and are sized so that when the closure is applied to the container, an interference fit is provided between at least some of the lugs and at least some of the threads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2000
    Assignee: White Cap, Inc.
    Inventors: James Taber, Benjamin Mann, Mark Petersen
  • Patent number: 6047840
    Abstract: A molded, back-off resistant closure for use with an associated container having a neck portion and at least one outwardly projecting ratchet formation includes a generally circular top wall portion and a skirt portion depending from the top wall portion. The skirt includes an inner wall and an outer wall and defines a lower wall portion. The skirt terminates in an edge and includes a thread formation formed in the inner wall for matingly engaging the neck portion of the container. The closure includes a plurality of lugs recessed from the edge and extending radially inwardly from the lower wall and longitudinally along the lower wall portion a distance so as to not touch the edge. The lugs extend outwardly and downwardly such that at least one of the lugs can engage the at least one outwardly projecting ratchet formation on the container neck portion when the container and closure are engaged with one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2000
    Assignee: Phoenix Closures, Inc.
    Inventors: David N. Moore, Richard J. Petro
  • Patent number: 6015054
    Abstract: The invention provides container closure assemblies, especially for carbonated beverage containers, having substantially helical second thread segment (20) with a profiled lower thread surface (24). The profiled lower thread surface (24) includes a first, lower region (28) with a low pitch and a second region (30) with a steep pitch. The thread (20) may also include a step feature (32) to block unscrewing of the closure at an intermediate position where gas venting can take place, and a third region (34) of the said lower surface having a low pitch adjacent to the step. The closures are easy to apply and remove, and do not blow off unpredictably or uncontrollably under pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2000
    Assignee: Beeson and Sons Limited
    Inventors: Roger Milner King, Witney Milner King
  • Patent number: 6006930
    Abstract: For improving the venting behavior of containers with beverages containing carbon dioxide, a container finish (1) and a closure (11) is provided with a twin-start thread. The thread comprises in each case two threads (3, 13) which extend over an angle of 240.degree. to less than 360.degree., preferably 280.degree., and which are arranged so as to be displaced at 180.degree.. In this way, initial or first sections (5), in which the threads (3) overlap each other vertically, are formed on the outside surface (2) of the container finish (1), as well as second sections (6) in which, vertically, only one thread (3) is arranged. On the inside surface (12) of the closure (11), initial or first sections (15) are formed in which the threads (13) overlap each other vertically, as well as second sections (16) in which, vertically, only one thread (13) is arranged. In each of the sections (5, 6, 15, 16), at least one venting recess (4, 14) is arranged per thread, said venting recess interrupting the threads (3, 13).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1999
    Assignee: Crown Cork AG
    Inventors: Lino Dreyer, Richard Jauslin
  • Patent number: 5992659
    Abstract: A tamper evident flip top pouring closure is designed for use with a corresponding container. A tamper evident flip top pouring closure and container in combination has a closure with a screw thread thereon together with interlocking means and a container with the corresponding screw thread and corresponding interlocking means. The interlocking means prevents the removal of the closure from the container once the closure is installed on the container. The interlocking means on the closure are a series of tabs that are connected to the closure and extend inward at an angle. The interlocking means on the closure are two sets of saw-teeth having a gentle slope on one side and a steep slope on another side. The closure is then installed on the container and cannot be removed because the tabs abutt a steep slope of the saw-teeth and will not override the saw-teeth in a reverse direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1999
    Assignee: Pano Cap (Canada) Limited
    Inventors: Karl H. Nofer, Jozef Krajnc
  • Patent number: 5992656
    Abstract: A plastic tube with a tubular tube body which is connected through a shoulder to a neck having an external thread and with a screw cap which can be screwed with an internal thread onto the external thread of the neck. The shoulder is injection molded onto the corresponding end of the tube body, wherein the shoulder and the externally threaded neck are constructed in one piece. The shoulder and the adjacent end of the tube body have a polygonal cross-section and the same polygonal cross-section continues over the length of the tube body. At least two side surfaces of the tube body extend from this transition point essentially plane or with a straight surface toward the end of the tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1999
    Assignee: CEBAL Verpackungen GmbH
    Inventors: Francois Dujardin, Richard Frohling
  • Patent number: 5988412
    Abstract: A cap having a top wall and at least one circumferentially extending sidewall having an inner surface with internal threads therealong and a terminating bottom edge of the sidewall defining an open end opposite to the top wall. The terminating edge is provided with an inwardly extending locking lug for engaging with an outwardly extending tab on a threadable neck of a container. The cap may be of double wall construction with an outer wall and an inner wall spaced therefrom wherein the threadable connections for the neck of a container are on the inner surface of the inner wall and the locking lug is on the terminating edge of the outer wall. A window is also provided along the terminating edge of the outer wall, the window being in visible alignment with the locking tab.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1999
    Assignee: Rexam Plastics, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey C. Minnette, Clayton L. Robinson
  • Patent number: 5947310
    Abstract: A combination bottle and screw closure for containing wine therein. The bottle includes internally disposed threads within a lower portion of the neck of the bottle for receiving the external threads of the lower end of a screw closure which is inserted into the opening of the bottle and rotated for securement therein. The positioning of the threads in the lower portion of the neck of the bottle affords a smooth and consistent pour of the wine from the bottle. In an alternative embodiment, the opening of the bottle and the screw closure are provided with a tamper resistant features to prevent opening of the bottle by a child. In a third embodiment, an insert and complementary screw closure are provided for retrofitting existing wine bottles not having internally disposed threads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1999
    Inventor: David C. Wagner
  • Patent number: 5944214
    Abstract: The combination of a reusable lid and a container, the lid being provided with external threads and the container being provided with internal threads adjacent its upper end for mating with said external threads. The lid is assembled to the container by engagement of the external and internal threads on the lid and container respectively. Preferably the lid has a sealing ring disposed adjacent to the underside of an outer peripheral ledge for engagement with a selected portion of the container, so as to tightly seal off the contents of the container. A latch element is formed on the lid for engagement with a cooperating catch element formed on the container. The latch element prevents removal of the lid from the container until the latching element is released from the catch element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1999
    Assignee: Plastican, Inc.
    Inventors: Rino Conti, Gorm Bressner
  • Patent number: 5941402
    Abstract: A child resistant closure apparatus is provided that is easily opened by the aged and infirm. The child resistant closure apparatus has a container having a push-tab locking device that locks into place in a series of sawtooth projections on an inner surface of a closure. The closure is rotatably screwed onto the container whereby the push-tab locking device locks into one sawtooth projection. Screwing torque in the direction which would disengage the closure from the container is not possible unless the push-tab locking device is manipulated so that an end of a flexible arm is removed from the sawtooth projection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1999
    Assignee: Kerr
    Inventor: Dave Krueger
  • Patent number: 5915579
    Abstract: A container has a neck formed with projections and a closure assembly for attachment to the neck and movable between a fully released position and a fully closed position. The closure assembly includes a screw cap and an index ring which serves as tamper-evident safety mechanism and is connected to the screw cap via several thin bridge portions forming predetermined breaking points and torn off when the screw cap is released from its fully closed position for the first time for the first time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1999
    Assignee: Mauser Werke GmbH
    Inventors: Dietmar Przytulla, Alfons Mulder, Khaled Atta
  • Patent number: 5913434
    Abstract: The present invention provides a retortable container which has an engagement ridge (19), of an outer diameter D.sub.1 smaller than an inner diameter D.sub.2 of a thread of a cap (20), formed on the outer circumference of the neck (13) near the top face thereof and an engagement portion (26) having an engaging hook (26a), capable of engaging with the engagement ridge (19) of the neck (13) under the condition that engagement of the neck (13) and the cap (20) is completed, being formed integrally therewith on the bottom surface of the top wall (21) of the cap (20), whereas the engagement portion (26) is formed in a shape of cylinder having a wall thickness smaller than the wall thickness of the circumferential wall (28) of the cap (20), and the engaging hook (26a) protrudes in an annular shape inwardly from the open bottom end of the engagement portion (26).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 22, 1999
    Assignees: Otsuka Pharamaceutaical Co., Ltd., Daiwa Can Company
    Inventors: Akio Fukuhara, Tsuyoshi Yoshioka, Yukihiro Takao
  • Patent number: 5908125
    Abstract: A child-resistant bottle and screw-on cap combination that is relatively easy to open for elderly persons with limited dexterity. The cap has a construction that is particularly suited for use with extrusion blow-molded bottles. The cap and bottle locking structures afford reliable performance even when the bottle is formed of relatively soft, inexpensive thermoplastic material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 1, 1999
    Assignee: Weatherchem Corporation
    Inventor: Ovidiu Opresco
  • Patent number: 5893475
    Abstract: A tamperproof container 1 has a main body portion 2 with an opening 3 and a closure 4. The closure 4 is releasably engageable with the neck portion 5 of the body portion 1. One or more tamperproof indicators 10 have leg portions 11 engageable within respective of apertures 12 around a peripheral ledge 13 of the closure 4. Rotation of the closure 4 relative to the neck 5 will result in the legs 11 engaging with a respective abutment 15 provided on a shoulder 14 of the body portion 2 breaking off the legs 11 and showing that the closure 4 has been removed or an attempt to do so has been made.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 13, 1999
    Assignee: Sprintquip NZ Limited
    Inventor: Anthony Gerard May
  • Patent number: 5884790
    Abstract: A self-braking closure cap for a container, such as a soft drink container, of the type that has a threaded finish portion with at least one raised thread defined thereon includes a top wall portion and a side wall portion having a substantially cylindrical inner surface. The inner surface has at least one raised helically oriented thread defined thereon that has a predetermined pitch. Advantageously, a restrictor is provided for frictionally resisting unscrewing of the closure cap from a container finish portion by bearing primarily against one side of one of the raised threads of the finish portion. Since the braking is achieved by frictional engagement having a significant axial force component, instead of a radial force component, braking can be achieved with a minimum of radial force being exerted on the closure. This preserves the stripping torque value of the closure at an acceptable level without the need to add additional material to reinforce the closure against deformation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1999
    Assignee: Crown Cork & Seal Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas M. Seidita
  • Patent number: 5881907
    Abstract: The top (2) of a sheet metal container (1) for the transportation and storage of liquids has a central fill opening (3) which is edged by a neck (5) which is perpendicular to the top surface (4) of the container. A plastic or metal ring (6) with an external thread (7) is pressed down against the top surface (4) by the upper edge (8) of the neck (5). The neck is swaged outwardly. The threaded ring (6) is protected against rotation by form-fit connections on the neck (5). A plastic screw cap (11) into which a disc-shaped insert (12) of special steel is pressed, is screwed onto the threaded ring (6). Between the outside edge (13) of the cap insert (12) and a ring projection (14) of the latter, an annular groove (15) for holding a gasket (16) is molded into the insert, and by this gasket (16) the screw cap (11) is sealed against the upper edge (8) of the neck (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 16, 1999
    Assignee: Schutz-Werke GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Udo Schutz
  • Patent number: 5845798
    Abstract: An anti-backoff closure assembly includes a container and a cap. The container has a neck portion forming an opening and having a protrusion and screw threads on an outer surface of the neck portion. The cap has on an inner surface a second protrusion, grooves, and a seal for releasably engaging the opening of the neck portion to form a leak free seal. The first and second protrusions engage to create an interference fit when the screw threads and the grooves are threadably engaged. Upon engagement, the second protrusion deforms the first protrusion sufficiently to form an indentation on the first protrusion that resists backoff as the pressure between the screw threads and the grooves is reduced as a result of plastic relaxation, thereby maintaining the leak free seal of the seal within the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1998
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventor: Frank Leslie Carrier
  • Patent number: 5829613
    Abstract: A container closure system comprising a threaded cap and a threaded neck wherein the cap is affixed to the neck by direct axial application so that the mating threads slip past one another and into engagement. The cap further includes sealing means to capture and constrict the outer diameter of the neck, and valve means to plug the container opening in the neck and expand the outer diameter of the neck, so that the sealing means and valve means cooperate to improve sealing of the cap and neck. The cap and neck further include tamper-indication means to prevent removal of the cap without activation thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1998
    Assignee: Superseal Corporation
    Inventors: Emanuel Erick Wohlgemuth, Charles Hogan
  • Patent number: 5826741
    Abstract: In a reservoir having a screw cap for nail enamel, mascara or the like, with a view to attaining a defined final position in the screwing process and reliable closing that is impermeable to liquids and gas-tight, manufacturing tolerances of the reservoir, as occur in particular with glass reservoirs, being taken into account, it is provided that on the upper side of an annular collar (11) of the reservoir (1), provision is made for at least one projection (12) which extends over a certain angle at circumference (.beta.1, .beta.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1998
    Assignee: Georg Karl Geka-Brush GmbH
    Inventors: Norbert Dumler, Gunter Bachmann
  • Patent number: 5810497
    Abstract: In a screw cap reservoir, in particular for a cosmetic such as nail enamel, comprising a neck having an external thread on which to screw the internal thread of the screw cap, an encircling shoulder being formed on the neck in the portion below the external thread, this shoulder having at least one stop in the form of a projection which, extending over a certain angle at circumference, projects upwards from the annular shoulder, and stop recesses being provided on the lower edge of the screw cap, which cooperate with the stop projections and which snap-engage with the stop projections when the screw cap is screwed on so that the screw cap is arrested in a defined final position by resistance to return motion, it is provided, with a view to achieving a defined closing condition accompanied by a pronounced click effect, that in a portion approximately above each stop recess, the peripheral surface of the screw cap is provided with a recess tapering the wall thickness or breaching the wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1998
    Assignee: georg karl geka-brush GmbH
    Inventors: Gunter Bachmann, Norbert Dumler, Werner Fischer, Dieter Wolfsgruber
  • Patent number: 5806698
    Abstract: A device according to which the closing or plugging operation of tubes with a finger cot (11) area of the cap (2, 3) centered with the main printing on the tube (1), is carried out thanks to the combination of a latch (7) on the tube and a stop catch (10) on the cap, with the latter being in the shape of a transversal U-shaped cross-section with unequal arm. Having duly referenced both the latch and the stop catch, turning of the cap causes the final locking of the latch in the interior of the stop catch, without any additional complements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1998
    Assignee: Tuboplast Hispana, S.A.
    Inventor: Antonio Aguirrezabal
  • Patent number: 5803287
    Abstract: A consumer friendly package including a plastic closure having multiple threads which engage multiple threads on the finish of a plastic container. The closure has at least one and preferably four radially inwardly extending lugs that engage a radial abutment on the finish of the container to provide an audible click when the closure is fully applied. The finish of the container is provided with at least one, preferably two axial projections that extend downwardly from the threads on the finish and are engaged by the threads on the closure to retard back-off of the closure and eliminate the effects upon sealing of stack up between the tolerances of manufacture of the finish, closure and liner in the closure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1998
    Assignee: Owens-Illinois Closure Inc.
    Inventor: Maximillian Kusz
  • Patent number: 5794803
    Abstract: A child-resistant closure and dispensing container package in which the measuring cup has a second, exterior annular wall forming threads engageable with threads on the neck of a container and child-resistant lock means at a lower portion of the wall engageable with complementary lock means on the container in a locked position to prevent unthreading of the closure from the container until the annular wall is deflected to move the complementary lock means out of engagement with each other to permit rotation of the closure in an unthreading direction. Also a seal is provided to prevent leakage during unthreading movement of the closure between fully closed and a locked position of the closure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1998
    Assignee: Rexam Closures, Inc.
    Inventor: William Douglas Sprick
  • Patent number: RE38399
    Abstract: A child resistant cap including relatively thin threads which, when the cap is in a relaxed condition, are spaced from the bottle neck, said spacing permitting the cap to be squeezed inward at points on opposite sides of the cap so that the cap responds to the squeezing by expanding outward at points ninety degrees from the squeezing points so that stops on the cap at the cap expanding location will miss the stops normally engaged when in a relaxed condition, thereby permitting the cap to be removed from the bottle. The cap may also include a guide ring in the cap interior to guide the cap over the bottle neck to help ensure that the cap is centered on the bottle opening. The cap may include pressure pads on the cap skirt outside near the cap bottom showing the user where to press and stiffening the portion of the cap where pressure is to be applied. And, the cap may include a tamper indicating ring which will separate from the cap the first time the cap is removed from the bottle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2004
    Assignee: Rexam Medical Packaging Inc.
    Inventor: Gary V. Montgomery