Patent Application
20090032488
The present disclosure relates to a stopper with threaded closure for threaded engagement with a container neck finish and to a package that includes such a closure.
Stopper or plug-type closures, including natural or synthetic cork, when used in combination with carbonated and non-carbonated beverages, provide a “popping” sound when removed from the container that adds ceremony to the occasion. However, conventional stopper-type closures typically require tools such as a corkscrew to remove the closure and can be difficult to remove under the best of circumstances. Conventional closures also can be pushed up and/or out of the container neck finish by fermentation carbonization breaking the seal of the package. Conventional closures also can allow oxygen to enter the container through the stopper and/or at the interface of the stopper and the inside surface of the neck finish. A general object of the present disclosure is to provide a closure for assembly to a container neck finish, and to provide a package that includes such a closure, that is easy to remove from the container neck finish and provides the ceremonial popping when the package is opened, and/or offers opportunity for greater sealing, tamper evidence and/or barrier properties as needed by a particular beverage product.
The present disclosure embodies a number of aspects that can be implemented separately from or in combination with each other.
A closure in accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure includes a plastic shell having a base wall and a skirt with at least one internal thread segment for threaded engagement with at least one external thread segment on a container neck finish. A stopper is secured to the base wall within the skirt and has an outer surface for sliding fit within the inside diameter of the container neck finish. An annular seal is disposed on the base wall surrounding the stopper within the skirt for sealing engagement with an end surface of the container neck finish. The closure can readily be removed from the container neck finish by unthreading the closure shell, which will move the stopper up the finish and remove the closure from the container neck finish with a final completing pull by the consumer. The sliding fit between the cylindrical external surface of the stopper and the inside diameter of the neck finish is sufficiently tight to provide a popping sound as the closure is removed from the neck finish. The threaded closure provides the benefits of an improved seal and stopper retention when used with carbonated or fermented beverages. The stopper preferably is of synthetic resin construction, and can include active and/or passive barrier resins to retard migration of gases, water vapor and/or flavorants. The closure can provide tamper evidence if desired.
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:
Closure 12 includes a plastic closure shell 20 having a base wall 22 and a skirt 24. Base wall 22 preferably is circular, and skirt 24 preferably is a cylindrical skirt extending from the peripheral edge of base wall 22. Skirt 24 has one or more internal thread segments 26 for threaded engagement with external thread segments 18 on container neck finish 14. A tamper band 28 or other tamper-indicating means optionally can be frangibly connected to an edge of skirt 24 remote from base wall 22 for engagement with an external bead 30 or the like on neck finish 14 for at least partially separating band 28 from skirt 24 and thereby indicating that package 10 has been opened. Tamper band 28 or other tamper-indicating means, when provided, may be of any suitable construction. Additional or alternative tamper evidence can be employed as desired.
A plug or stopper 32 is secured to the undersurface of base wall 22 within skirt 24, preferably concentrically with skirt 24. Stopper 32 can be secured to closure shell base wall 22 by adhesive, spin-welding or other suitable means. Stopper 32 has a external surface 34 in sliding sealing engagement with the inside diameter of neck finish 14. External surface 34 preferably is substantially cylindrical and can have a slight taper. Stopper 32 can be solid, porous or multilayer, and can be of natural cork or synthetic resin material. Stopper 32 preferably is of synthetic resin construction. Synthetic resin stoppers are disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,221,451 and 6,911,171. An annular seal is disposed on base wall 22 surrounding plug 32 within skirt 24. In the embodiments of
The primary seal of package 10 is between annular gasket 36 (or gasket 36a in
There thus have been disclosed a closure and a package that fully achieve all the objects and aims previously set forth. The disclosure has been presented in conjunction with 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.
