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 DISCLOSURE
A 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.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
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:
FIG. 1 is a fragmentary sectional view of a closure and container package in accordance with a first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;
FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view on an enlarged scale of the portion of FIG. 1 within the area 2;
FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view which is similar to that of FIG. 2 but taken from a position angularly spaced from that of FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the closure in the package of FIGS. 1-3 as molded;
FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along the line 5-5 in FIG. 4;
FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view that illustrates a closure in accordance with a second exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;
FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to that of FIG. 2 but illustrating a package in accordance with a third exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;
FIG. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view that illustrates the closure in the package of FIG. 7;
FIG. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to that of FIG. 2 but illustrating a package in accordance with a fourth exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; and
FIG. 10 is a fragmentary sectional view that illustrates the closure in the package of FIG. 9.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
FIGS. 1-3 illustrate a package 20 in accordance with a first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure as including a closure 22 threaded onto the neck finish 24 of a container 26. Container 26 can be of glass or plastic construction, and neck finish 24 includes one or more external thread segments 28. (The term “thread segments” is employed in its usual broad sense as including both continuous and discontinuous threads, and both single and multiple external threads on neck finish 24 and/or internal threads on closure 22.) Closure 22 preferably is of molded plastic construction and includes a base wall 30 of any suitable geometry, of which a substantially flat geometry is illustrated by way of example only. A skirt 32 has one or more internal thread segments 34 for engagement with external thread segments 28 on neck finish 24 when closure 22 is threaded onto container 26. Closure 22 may optionally include tamper-indicating means, such as a tamper band 36 frangibly connected to skirt 32 and a stop element such as a flange 38 for engagement with a stop element or bead 39 on neck finish 24. Other types of tamper-indicating means can be employed or, less preferably, the tamper-indicating means can be excluded.
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 FIGS. 1-3 and the corresponding closure 22 of FIGS. 4 and 5, first annular wall 40 has a circumferentially continuous convex external bead 44 for sealing engagement with the inside surface 46 of neck finish 24, as shown in FIGS. 1-3. The inside surface of annular wall 40 may be substantially cylindrical as molded (FIG. 4). Second annular wall 42 preferably is substantially cylindrical as molded. A circumferential series of external angularly spaced first axial ribs 48 extend along the radially outer surface of first annular wall 40 from base wall 30 to a position spaced from the base wall, but not extending onto bead 44. A circumferential series of internal angularly spaced second axial ribs 50 extend along the radially inner surface of second annular wall 42 from base wall 30 to a position spaced from the base wall. As best seen by comparing FIGS. 2 and 3, first ribs 48 and second ribs 50 preferably have substantially identical axial lengths. As best seen in FIG. 5, first ribs 48 and second ribs 50 angularly alternate with each other around annular walls 40,42. That is, axial ribs 48,50 are angularly staggered around the space between annular walls 40,42. As also best seen in FIG. 5, the radial dimensions of ribs 48,50 preferably are such that the ribs overlap each other in the circumferential direction. The radial dimensions of ribs 48, 50 preferably are equal to at least one-half of the as-molded separation between walls 40, 42.
When closure 22 is threaded onto container neck finish 24 as shown in FIGS. 1-3, bead 44 on first annular wall 40 engages inside surface 46 of the container neck finish and wall 40 is flexed radially inwardly by engagement with the container neck finish. In the same way, second annular wall 42 engages and is flexed outwardly by outside surface 47 of neck finish 24. As closure 22 is fully threaded onto neck finish 24, the end face of neck finish 24 is brought into opposed abutment with the axial ends of ribs 48,50. Ribs 48,50 not only function to stiffen respective walls 40,42 but also limit penetration of neck finish 24 between walls 40,42. The package has dual seals composed of engagement of first wall 40 against inside neck finish surface 46 and engagement of second wall 42 against outside neck finish surface 47.
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 FIGS. 6-10, reference numerals identical to those employed in FIGS. 1-5 indicate correspondingly identical or related components.
FIG. 6 illustrates a closure 54 having a first flexible resilient annular wall 56 with a conical radially inwardly facing surface 58 but without bead 44 (FIGS. 1-4). A second conical surface 60 extends from surface 58 for guiding the inside edge of container neck finish 24 between walls 56,42 and at the same time flexing wall 56 radially inwardly. In the embodiment of FIG. 6, walls 56,42 have axial ribs 48,50 as in the embodiment of FIGS. 1-5 and annular internal shoulder 51 has convex surface 52 for engagement by annular wall 42 as previously described.
FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate a closure 62 in which first annular wall 56 is the same as in FIG. 6 and second annular wall 42 is the same as in FIGS. 1-6. An annular shoulder or abutment 64 is formed on base wall 30 and extends radially between walls 56,42. In full threaded assembly with container 26 as illustrated in FIG. 7, the end of container neck finish 24 abuts shoulder 64, which thus serves to limit penetration of neck finish 24 between walls 56,42.
The closure 66 in FIGS. 9 and 10 has a first or inner annular wall 40 and a second or outer annular wall 42, which preferably abuts convex annular surface 52 on internal shoulder 51 when threaded onto neck finish 24 as previously described. A circumferential array of radially extending angularly spaced ribs 67 extend along the underside of base wall 30 between and interconnecting walls 40,42. Ribs 66 are engaged by the end surface of neck finish 24 when closure 66 is fully threaded onto the neck finish, so that ribs 67 function to limit penetration of neck finish 24 between walls 40,42. It will be appreciated that closure 66 in FIGS. 9 and 10 could employ an inner annular wall 56 of the type illustrated in FIGS. 6-8, and that closures 54,62 in FIGS. 6-8 could employ an inner annular wall 40 as in FIGS. 9-10.
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.
Patent Application
20080110851
