CLOSURE FOR REFILLABLE CONTAINERS

Abstract

A closure system for refillable containers includes a closure ring with a central opening and an annular skirt with a tab, a flange adjacent to the central opening and an annular recess between the flange and a wall of the closure ring; a sealing member having a central portion with a diameter larger than the central opening and an annular flange, the flange fitting within the annular recess, an upper portion fitting within the central opening; a container neck with external screw threads that engage the internal screw threads, a locking ring with a notch defined by at least one ramp adjacent to the notch, the notch configured to accept and hold the tab as the closure ring is screwed onto the container neck; the sealing member compressed between the closure ring and the container neck when the closure ring is screwed onto the container neck.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure is directed to container closures and, more particularly, to a closure for refillable containers.

BACKGROUND

Conventional refillable containers are prone to leaking when inverted and being coupled within a dispensing system. Additionally it is often unclear when these containers are securely closed, and failure to completely close the container can cause additional spills.

SUMMARY

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a closure system for refillable containers includes a closure ring having internal screw threads; a central opening at an upper end of the closure ring with a first diameter; an annular skirt at a lower end of the closure ring, the skirt further comprising a tab and one or more slots adjacent to the tab; a flange adjacent the upper opening; and an annular recess between the flange and a wall of the closure ring; a sealing member with a central portion having a second diameter greater than the first diameter; an upwardly extending annular flange adjacent to a perimeter of the central portion, the upwardly extending annular flange configured to fit within the annular recess of the closure ring; and an upper portion having a third diameter configured to fit within the first diameter of the central opening; a container neck with external screw threads configured to engage the internal screw threads of the closure ring; a locking ring extending at least partially around the container neck and comprising a notch therein with at least one ramp adjacent to the notch, the notch being configured to accept and hold the tab as the closure ring is screwed on to the container neck; and wherein when the closure ring is screwed on to the container neck, the sealing member is compressed between the closure ring and the container neck to form a seal.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a refillable container for use in a dispensing system that includes a cap, the cap having a closure ring with internal screw threads; a central opening at an upper end of the closure ring with a first diameter; an annular skirt at a lower end of the closure ring, the skirt further comprising a tab and one or more slots adjacent to the tab; a flange with a second diameter adjacent the upper opening; and an annular recess between the flange and a wall of the closure ring; a sealing member having a central portion with a third diameter greater than the first diameter; an upwardly extending annular flange adjacent to a perimeter of the central portion, the upwardly extending annular flange configured to fit within the annular recess of the closure ring; an upper portion with a fourth diameter configured to fit within the first diameter of the central opening and larger than the second diameter; and wherein the upper portion of the sealing member is captured between the flange and the upper end of the closure ring; and a container body having a container neck, the container neck having external screw threads configured to engage the internal screw threads of the closure ring; and a locking ring extending at least partially around the container neck and having a notch therein with at least one ramp adjacent to the notch, the notch being configured to accept and hold the tab as the closure ring is screwed on to the container neck.

These aspects are merely illustrative of the innumerable aspects associated with the present disclosure and should not be deemed as limiting in any manner. These and other aspects, features and advantages of the present disclosure will become apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the referenced drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Reference is now made more particularly to the drawings, which illustrate the best presently known mode of carrying out the disclosure and wherein similar reference characters indicate the same parts throughout all views.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view a closure system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure as applied to a container.

FIG. 2 is a perspective-section view of the closure system and container of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the closure system of FIG. 1 in an unlocked position.

FIG. 4 is a side-section view of the closure system of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the closure system of FIG. 1 in an unlocked position.

FIG. 6 is a side-section view of the closure system of FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a top perspective view of a closure ring of the closure system of FIG. 1.

FIG. 8 is a bottom perspective view of the closure ring of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a side-section view of the closure ring of FIG. 7.

FIG. 10 is a top perspective-section view of the closure ring of FIG. 7.

FIG. 11 is a bottom perspective-section view of the closure ring of FIG. 7.

FIG. 12 is a top perspective view of a sealing member of the closure system of FIG. 1.

FIG. 13 is a side-section view of the sealing member of FIG. 12.

FIG. 14 is a bottom perspective view of the sealing member of FIG. 12.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a top portion of a container having a neck configuration suitable for use with the closure system of FIG. 1.

FIG. 16 is a top view of the container of FIG. 15.

FIG. 17 is a side view of the container of FIG. 15.

FIG. 18 is a front view of the container of FIG. 15.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following description of technology is merely exemplary in nature of the subject matter, manufacture and use of one or more inventions, and is not intended to limit the scope, application, or uses of any specific invention claimed in this application or in such other applications as may be filed claiming priority to this application, or patents issuing therefrom. The following definitions and non-limiting guidelines must be considered in reviewing the description of the technology set forth herein.

The headings and sub-headings used herein are intended only for general organization of topics within the present disclosure and are not intended to limit the disclosure of the technology or any aspect thereof. In particular, subject matter disclosed in the “Background” may include novel technology and may not constitute a recitation of prior art. Subject matter disclosed in the “Summary” is not an exhaustive or complete disclosure of the entire scope of the technology or any embodiments thereof. Classification or discussion of a material within a section of this specification as having a particular utility is made for convenience, and no inference should be drawn that the material must necessarily or solely function in accordance with its classification herein when it is used in any given composition.

The citation of references herein does not constitute an admission that those references are prior art or have any relevance to the patentability of the technology disclosed herein. All references cited in the “Detailed Description” section of this specification are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

The description and specific examples, while indicating embodiments of the technology, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the technology. Moreover, recitation of multiple embodiments having stated features is not intended to exclude other embodiments having additional features, or other embodiments incorporating different combinations of the stated features. Specific examples are provided for illustrative purposes of how to make and use the apparatus and systems of this technology and, unless explicitly stated otherwise, are not intended to be a representation that given embodiments of this technology have, or have not, been made or tested.

As used herein, the word “include,” and its variants, is intended to be non-limiting, such that recitation of items in a list is not to the exclusion of other like items that may also be useful in the materials, compositions, devices, and methods of this technology. Similarly, the terms “can” and “may” and their variants are intended to be non-limiting, such that recitation that an embodiment can or may comprise certain elements or features does not exclude other embodiments of the present technology that do not contain those elements or features.

“A” and “an” as used herein indicate “at least one” of the item is present; a plurality of such items may be present, when possible. “About” when applied to values indicates that the calculation or the measurement allows some slight imprecision in the value (with some approach to exactness in the value; approximately or reasonably close to the value; nearly). If, for some reason, the imprecision provided by “about” is not otherwise understood in the art with this ordinary meaning, then “about” as used herein indicates at least variations that may arise from ordinary methods of measuring or using such parameters. In addition, disclosure of ranges includes disclosure of all distinct values and further divided ranges within the entire range.

FIGS. 1-18 illustrate an embodiment of a closure system 10 according to the present disclosure. The system includes a closure ring 20 and a flexible sealing member 50 as well as features incorporated into a neck 102 of a container 100 that are configured to coordinate with one another to create a secure but removable closure to allow spill and leak resistant inverted operation of the container within a dispensing system while also providing for convenient removal of the closure 10 for refilling of the container 100 and visual confirmation of secure closure of the container 100 for a customer.

The closure ring 20 and sealing member 50 cooperate to form an adaptable and flexible seal with the neck 102 of the container 100. The closure ring 20 is provided with an upper opening 24 to accommodate the sealing member 50. The sealing member 50, which may be disc shaped, includes a central portion 52 that has a larger diameter than an upper portion 56 and a lower flange 62. The upper portion 56 may have a diameter that generally conforms with a diameter of the upper opening 24. A transition section 60 connects the central portion 52 and upper portion 56. The transition section 60 narrows in diameter toward the upper portion 56 and at its upper end is provided with a smaller diameter than the upper portion 56, thereby forming an undercut immediately beneath the circumference of the upper portion 56, as can be seen in FIG. 13.

The closure ring 20 is correspondingly provided with a flange 26 extending into the upper opening 24 of the closure ring 20 and an annular recess 28 positioned outward of the flange 26. These features cooperate with the sealing member 50 to secure the sealing member 50 between the closure ring 20 and the container neck 102 when the closure ring 20 is screwed onto the container neck 102. When the sealing member 50 is pushed through the interior of the closure ring 20 from the bottom, the circumference of the upper portion 56 initially engages the flange 26. Upon exertion of additional upward force on the sealing member 50, it resiliently deforms, allowing the upper portion 56 to pass through upper opening 24. As the sealing member 50 rebounds to its original shape, the flange 26 of the closure ring is captured in the undercut of the transition section 60 of the sealing member 50 to secure the sealing member 50 in place. The center portion 52 of the sealing member 50 is provided with an upwardly extending annular flange 54 that coordinates with the annular recess 28 of the closure ring 20 when pressure is exerted on the sealing member 50 when compressed against the top of the container neck 102 as described in more detail below.

The closure ring 20 is provided with internal threads 36. In the illustrated embodiment, the internal threads 36 have four leads to reduce the amount of rotation required to fully close the closure 10 onto the container neck 102. Below the internal threads 36, the closure ring 20 transitions to a skirt 30 that may have a larger diameter than the remainder of the closure ring 20. The skirt 30 includes at least one tab 32. The skirt 30 may include have slots 34 on either side of the tab 32 to allow the tab 32 to flex relative to the rest of the skirt 30.

The container neck 102 is provided with features that coordinate with the internal threads 36 and tab 32 of the closure ring 20. The container neck 102 has external threads 104 with a pitch and number of leads corresponding to that of the internal threads 36 of the closure ring 20. The lower portion of the neck 102 may be provided with a locking ring 106. The locking ring 106 extends only partially around the periphery of the lower portion of the neck 102 and has a diameter that varies as it extends around the lower portion of the neck 102. More particularly, the locking ring 106 is interrupted at least at one notch 108 around its circumference. The number of notches 108 may correspond with the number of tabs 32 on the closure ring 20.

Along part of the circumference of the locking ring 106, its radius is approximately the same as the lower portion of the container neck 102, in particular, opposite the notch 108, as can be most clearly seen in FIG. 16. However, the radius of the locking ring 106 gradually increases along its circumference towards the notch 108 in the form of one or more ramps 110 that lead to the notch 108. In the illustrated embodiment, ramps 110 are provided on either side of the notch 108. The ramps 110 terminate at a notch shoulder 112 that leads into the notch 108. The notch shoulder 112 may be rounded to facilitate the tab 32 passing back over the shoulder 112 in a counterclockwise direction to unlock and open the closure 10 as described below.

The container opening at the top of the container neck 102 is preferably provided with an inner diameter that cooperates with the lower flange 62 of the sealing member 50 such that the lower flange 62 may be slightly inserted into the container opening as part of the seal between the sealing member 50 and the container neck 102.

FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate the closure 10 in a slightly raised position, while FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate the closure 10 in a fully closed and “locked” position. The slightly raised position occurs when the closure ring 20 has been threaded onto the container neck 102 to a point short of where the tab 32 has passed over the ramp 110 and into the notch 108. As shown most clearly in FIG. 4, the sealing member 50 may not be fully seated and compressed against the top of the container neck 102 by the closure ring 50. This may in part, be a result of usual tolerancing of the manufacturing process for the components. Therefore, in this position, it is possible that this or any standard closure could still leak fluid from the container 100. Because some of the products with which embodiments of the present disclosure may be used require inverted use of the container 100, any such leaking may be particularly problematic.

To avoid leakage and visually confirm to a user that the closure 10 is fully closed in embodiments of the present disclosure, the closure ring 20 is further screwed onto the container neck 102 until the tab 32 engages the ramp 110, which causes the tab 32 to flex outwardly. As the tab 32 passes over the notch shoulder 112 and into the notch 108, the suddenly narrower radius allows the tab 32 to rebound to its natural position, which positions the tab 32 within the notch 108. The end walls of the ramps 110 prevent further movement of the tab 32—and therefore the closure ring 20 as a whole. In this position, any play among the container neck 102, sealing member 50, and closure ring 20 is eliminated as the sealing member 50 is compressed against the container neck 102 by the closure ring 20. The positioning of the tab 32 within the notch 108 secures the closure ring 20 in this fully closed position relative to the container neck 102, ensuring that the sealing member 50 remains fully seated against the container neck 102. It also serves as visual confirmation to the user that the package is fully sealed against unintended leakage. Visual confirmation may be further enhanced by application of a visual indicator 114, such as a lock symbol, below or elsewhere adjacent to the notch 108 on the container 100 or container neck 102. In a preferred embodiment, the visual indicator 114 is aligned with the notch 108 such that the tab 32 is aligned with the visual indicator 114 when the closure 10 is fully closed.

While the closure ring 20 is temporarily secured by virtue of the tab 32 being trapped within the notch 108, the configuration does still allow for the closure ring 20 to be unscrewed from the container neck 102. The rounded nature of the notch shoulder 112 will allow the tab 32 to pass back over the notch shoulder 112 and onto the ramp 110 in a counterclockwise direction with application of an increased amount of rotational force sufficient to flex the tab 32 outwardly once again as it passes over the notch shoulder 112. Once the tab 32 passes back over the notch shoulder 108 and onto the ramp 110, only a minimal amount of force is required to finish unscrewing and removing the closure ring 20 from the container neck 102, thereby allowing the sealing member 50 to be removed, for example, to refill the container 100.

The preferred embodiments of the disclosure have been described above to explain the principles of the invention and its practical application to thereby enable others skilled in the art to utilize the invention. However, as various modifications could be made in the constructions and methods herein described and illustrated without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the foregoing description or shown in the accompanying drawings, including all materials expressly incorporated by reference herein, shall be interpreted as illustrative rather than limiting. Thus, the breadth and scope of the present invention should not be limited by the above-described exemplary embodiment but should be defined only in accordance with the following claims appended hereto and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A closure system for refillable containers, comprising: a closure ring comprising: internal screw threads;a central opening at an upper end of the closure ring with a first diameter;an annular skirt at a lower end of the closure ring, the skirt further comprising a tab and one or more slots adjacent to the tab;a flange adjacent the upper opening; andan annular recess between the flange and a wall of the closure ring;a sealing member comprising; a central portion having a second diameter greater than the first diameter;an upwardly extending annular flange adjacent to a perimeter of the central portion, the upwardly extending annular flange configured to fit within the annular recess of the closure ring; andan upper portion having a third diameter configured to fit within the first diameter of the central opening;a container neck comprising: external screw threads configured to engage the internal screw threads of the closure ring;a locking ring extending at least partially around the container neck and comprising a notch therein with at least one ramp adjacent to the notch, the notch being configured to accept and hold the tab as the closure ring is screwed on to the container neck; andwherein when the closure ring is screwed on to the container neck, the sealing member is compressed between the closure ring and the container neck to form a seal.

2. The closure system for refillable containers of claim 1, wherein the container neck further comprises a visual indicator in alignment with the notch.

3. The closure system for refillable containers of claim 1, wherein each ramp contains a notch shoulder on an end adjacent to the notch, the notch shoulder being rounded.

4. The closure system for refillable containers of claim 1, wherein a transition section of the sealing member connects the central portion to the upper portion, the transition section having a fourth diameter that is smaller than the third diameter to form an undercut.

5. The closure system for refillable containers of claim 4, wherein the flange is captured in the undercut of the transition section when the sealing member is engaged with the closure ring.

6. The closure system for refillable containers of claim 1, wherein the sealing member includes a lower flange, the lower flange extending downwardly from the central portion and configured to fit within an opening of the container neck.

7. The closure system for refillable containers of claim 1, wherein the flange has a fourth diameter, that is smaller than the third diameter.

8. The closure system for refillable containers of claim 7, wherein the sealing member comprises a resiliently deformable material.

9. The closure system for refillable containers of claim 1 wherein the internal screw threads have four leads.

10. A refillable container for use in a dispensing system, comprising: a cap, the cap further comprising: a closure ring comprising: internal screw threads;a central opening at an upper end of the closure ring with a first diameter;an annular skirt at a lower end of the closure ring, the skirt further comprising a tab and one or more slots adjacent to the tab;a flange with a second diameter adjacent the upper opening; andan annular recess between the flange and a wall of the closure ring;a sealing member comprising: a central portion with a third diameter greater than the first diameter;an upwardly extending annular flange adjacent to a perimeter of the central portion, the upwardly extending annular flange configured to fit within the annular recess of the closure ring;an upper portion with a fourth diameter configured to fit within the first diameter of the central opening and larger than the second diameter; andwherein the upper portion of the sealing member is captured between the flange and the upper end of the closure ring; anda container body having a container neck, the container neck further comprising; external screw threads configured to engage the internal screw threads of the closure ring; anda locking ring extending at least partially around the container neck and having a notch therein with at least one ramp adjacent to the notch, the notch being configured to accept and hold the tab as the closure ring is screwed on to the container neck.

11. The refillable container for use in a dispensing system of claim 10, wherein the container neck each include a visual indicator in alignment with the notch.

12. The refillable container for use in a dispensing system of claim 10, wherein each ramp contains a notch shoulder on an end adjacent to the notch, the notch shoulder being rounded.

13. The refillable container for use in a dispensing system of claim 10, wherein a transition section connects the central portion to the upper portion, the transition section having a fifth diameter that is smaller than the third diameter to form an undercut.

14. The refillable container for use in a dispensing system of claim 13, wherein the flange is captured in the undercut of the transition section when the sealing member is engaged with the closure ring.

15. The refillable container for use in a dispensing system of claim 10, wherein more force is required to dislodge the tab from the notch that to otherwise unscrew the closure ring from the container neck.

16. The refillable container for use in a dispensing system of claim 10, wherein the sealing member includes a lower flange, the lower flange extending downwardly from the central portion and configured to fit within an opening of the container neck.

17. The refillable container for use in a dispensing system of claim 10, wherein the sealing member comprises a resiliently deformable material.

18. The refillable container for use in a dispensing system of claim 10, wherein the internal screw threads have four leads.