Preform and container having thread groove

Abstract

A finish for a plastic container and a preform adapted to be molded into the plastic container. The finish and the preform include an upper portion having a mouth defining an opening into the container. At least one groove is defined around a radial sidewall of the upper portion. The groove slopes gradually downward along the radial sidewall to a terminal end.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a finish of a plastic container constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the finish of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the finish of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the finish taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a preform used for construction of an exemplary plastic container having the finish of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a side view of the preform of FIG. 5 shown with an exemplary molded container in phantom;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the preform taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a top plan view of the preform of FIG. 5; and

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of a closure member or cap having a tamper-evidence band and constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present disclosure, the cap shown assembled onto the container finish shown in FIG. 1.

Claims

1. A plastic container having an upper portion, a body portion extending from said upper portion to a base, said base closing off an end of said container; said upper portion, said body portion and said base cooperating to define a receptacle chamber within said container into which product can be filled, said plastic container comprising: a mouth formed in said upper portion defining an opening into the container; anda radial sidewall of said upper portion defined in part by at least one groove formed therein, said at least one groove sloping gradually downward along said radial sidewall and away from said opening.

2. The container of claim 1 wherein said upper portion further comprises: a radial channel formed adjacent to a lower portion of said radial sidewall.

3. The container of claim 2 wherein a depth of each of said at least one groove is not greater than about 50% to about 60% of a wall thickness measured from an inner diameter of said opening to an outer diameter of each of said at least one groove.

4. The container of claim 1 wherein each of said at least one groove initiates at a groove entrance and slopes gradually downward about 180 degrees to about 220 degrees around said radial sidewall.

5. The container of claim 4 wherein said groove entrance is generally defined at an intersection between an inward sweeping radial lip and an outward sweeping radial lip.

6. The container of claim 5 wherein said inward sweeping radial lip defines an arcuate path having a decreasing radius in a clockwise direction.

7. The container of claim 5 wherein said outward sweeping radial lip defines an arcuate path having an increasing radius in a clockwise direction.

8. A preform adapted to be molded into a plastic container, said preform comprising: an upper portion having a mouth corresponding to an opening into the container; anda radial sidewall of said upper portion defined in part by at least one groove formed therein, said at least one groove sloping gradually downward along said radial sidewall and away from said opening.

9. The preform of claim 8 wherein a depth of each of said at least one groove is not greater than about 50% to about 60% of a wall thickness measured from an inner diameter of said opening to an outer diameter of each of said at least one groove.

10. The preform of claim 8 wherein each of said at least one groove initiates at a groove entrance and slopes gradually downward about 180 degrees to about 220 degrees around said radial sidewall.

11. The preform of claim 10 wherein said groove entrance is generally defined at an intersection between an inward sweeping radial lip and an outward sweeping radial lip.

12. The preform of claim 11 wherein said inward sweeping radial lip defines an arcuate path having a decreasing radius in a clockwise direction.

13. The preform of claim 11 wherein said outward sweeping radial lip defines an arcuate path having an increasing radius in a clockwise direction.

14. The preform of claim 8 wherein a first distance measured between an inner wall surface and an outer wall surface is greater than a second distance measured between an inner diameter of said opening and an outer diameter of each of said at least one groove.

15. The preform of claim 8 wherein a first angle measured between a central longitudinal axis and an inner wall surface is greater than a second angle measured between said central longitudinal axis and an outer wall surface.

16. A plastic container assembly comprising: a plastic container comprising:a finish having a first radial sidewall and formed at an opening into said container; andat least one groove formed in said first radial sidewall, said at least one groove sloping gradually away from said opening; anda closure member adapted to selectively mate with said first radial sidewall of said container, said closure member comprising:a lower portion defining a closure opening;an upper portion defining a cover; anda second radial sidewall extending between said lower portion and said upper portion, said second radial sidewall having an inner surface defined in part by at least one thread formed thereon, said at least one thread adapted to cooperatively engage said at least one groove in an assembled position.

17. The plastic container assembly of claim 16 wherein said second radial sidewall further includes a tamper-evidence band.

18. The plastic container assembly of claim 17 wherein each of said at least one groove initiates at a groove entrance and slopes gradually downward about 180 degrees to about 220 degrees around said first radial sidewall.

19. The plastic container assembly of claim 16 wherein each of said at least one thread initiates at a thread entrance and slopes gradually toward said cover about 160 degrees to about 200 degrees around said second radial sidewall.

20. The plastic container assembly claim 16 wherein a depth of each of said at least one groove is not greater than about 50% to about 60% of a wall thickness measured from an inner diameter of said opening to an outer diameter of each of said at least one groove.

21. The plastic container assembly of claim 16 wherein said closure member is formed of one of a plastic and metal material suitable for thermal processing.