The present disclosure relates generally to the field of closures for containers. The present disclosure relates specifically to a closure for a container having a safety mechanism to more securely couple the closure to the container.
According to one embodiment of the invention, a closure includes a roll-on cap and an overcap. The roll-on cap includes a top panel, a vertical axis around which the top panel is centered, and a cylindrical wall that extends from the top panel. The cylindrical wall defines an inner surface that faces towards the vertical axis and an opposing outer surface that faces away from the vertical axis. The roll-on cap also includes an interface portion of the outer surface. The roll-on cap also includes a first diameter of the interface portion with respect to the vertical axis, the first diameter being a maximum diameter of the interface portion. The overcap is configured to be placed over the roll-on cap. The overcap includes a top panel, a cylindrical wall. The cylindrical wall extends from an outer periphery of the top panel, and the cylindrical wall defines an inner surface that faces towards the vertical axis. The overcap includes an interface portion of the inner surface, the interface portion of the overcap being configured to selectively interface with the interface portion of the cap. The overcap includes a second diameter of the interface portion with respect to the vertical axis, and the second diameter is less than the first diameter. The overcap includes a biasing element that biases the interface portion of the overcap a distance from the interface portion of the cap.
According to another embodiment of the invention, a closure combination includes a container, a roll-on cap and a cap. The container includes an internal volume of the container, a container neck that defines an opening, the opening providing fluid communication between the internal volume of the container and an exterior of the container, and a vertical axis around which the container neck is centered. The roll-on cap is rolled on to the container neck. The roll-on cap includes a top panel, a cylindrical wall that extends from the top panel, the cylindrical wall defining an inner surface that faces towards the vertical axis and an opposing outer surface that faces away from the vertical axis, an interface portion of the outer surface, and a first diameter of the interface portion with respect to the vertical axis. The first diameter is a maximum diameter of the interface portion. The overcap is configured to be placed over the roll-on cap. The overcap includes a top panel, a cylindrical wall extending from an outer periphery of the top panel, the cylindrical wall defining an inner surface that faces towards the vertical axis, an interface portion of the inner surface, the interface portion of the overcap is configured to selectively interface with the interface portion of the cap, a second diameter of the interface portion, the second diameter being less than the first diameter, and a biasing element that biases the interface portion of the overcap away from the interface portion of the cap.
According to another embodiment of the invention, a closure includes a roll-on cap and a cap. The roll-on cap includes a top panel, a vertical axis around which the top panel is centered, a cylindrical wall that extends from the top panel, the cylindrical wall defining an inner surface that faces towards the vertical axis and an opposing outer surface that faces away from the vertical axis, and an interface portion. The overcap includes a top panel, a cylindrical wall extending from an outer periphery of the top panel, the cylindrical wall defining an inner surface that faces towards the vertical axis, an interface portion, the interface portion of the overcap is configured to selectively interface with the interface portion of the cap, and a biasing element that biases the interface portion of the overcap away from the interface portion of the cap. The the overcap is configured such that rotation of the overcap only causes rotation of the cap when the interface portion of the overcap interfaces with the interface portion of the cap.
In one embodiment, a closure includes a roll-on cap and an overcap. The roll-on cap includes a top panel, a vertical axis around which the top panel is centered, a cylindrical wall that extends from the top panel, the cylindrical wall defines an inner surface that faces towards the vertical axis and an opposing outer surface that faces away from the vertical axis, an interface portion of the outer surface, and a first diameter of the interface portion, the first diameter being the maximum diameter of the interface portion. The overcap includes a top panel, a cylindrical wall extending from an outer periphery of the top panel, the cylindrical wall defining an inner surface that faces towards the vertical axis, an interface portion of the inner surface, the interface portion of the overcap being configured to selectively interface with the interface portion of the cap, a second diameter of the interface portion, the second diameter being less than the first diameter, and a biasing element that biases the interface portion of the overcap away from the interface portion of the cap. In a specific embodiment the cap includes a material that includes aluminum. In a specific embodiment, the top panel defines a disc shape, and the overcap includes a central portion that interfaces against the top panel of the cap, and the biasing element couples the central portion to the top panel of the overcap.
According to another embodiment, a combination includes a container, a roll-on cap and an overcap. The container includes an internal volume of the container, a container neck that defines an opening providing fluid communication between the internal volume of the container and an exterior of the container, and a vertical axis around which the container neck is centered. The roll-on cap is rolled on to the container neck. The roll-on cap includes a top panel, a vertical axis around which the top panel is centered, a cylindrical wall that extends from the top panel, the cylindrical wall defining an inner surface that faces towards the vertical axis and an opposing outer surface that faces away from the vertical axis, an interface portion of the outer surface, and a first diameter of the interface portion, the first diameter being the maximum diameter of the interface portion. The overcap includes a top panel, a cylindrical wall extending from an outer periphery of the top panel, the cylindrical wall defining an inner surface that faces towards the vertical axis, an interface portion of the inner surface, the interface portion of the overcap being configured to selectively interface with the interface portion of the cap, a second diameter of the interface portion, the second diameter being less than the first diameter, and a biasing element that biases the interface portion of the overcap away from the interface portion of the cap.
Additional features and advantages will be set forth in the detailed description which follows, and in part will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the description or recognized by practicing the embodiments as described in the written description and claims hereof, as well as the appended drawings. It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary.
The accompanying drawings are included to provide further understanding, and are incorporated in, and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate one or more embodiments and together with the description serve to explain principles and operation of the various embodiments.
This disclosure provides a description of one or more closures with safety mechanisms to increase the difficulty in removing the closure from the container to which the closure is coupled. The one or more closures described herein may be used with roll-on pilfer proof (ROPP) caps, with metal caps, such as aluminum caps, and/or aluminum ROPP caps. The closure includes a safety mechanism to increase the difficulty of removing the closure from the container.
Turning to
Cap 80 includes a top panel 82, which is centered around rotational axis 8. Cap 80 includes cylindrical wall 84, which extends downward from a periphery of top panel 82. Cylindrical wall 84 defines an inner surface 86, which faces towards rotational axis 8, and an opposing outer surface 88 that faces away from rotational axis 8. Outer surface 88 of cap 80 includes an interfacing portion, such as a plurality of protrusions, shown as knurls 90. In a specific embodiment, each of knurls 90 extends radially away from the rotational axis 8. In a specific embodiment, knurls 90 extend along a primary longitudinal axis 91 that extends vertically and/or is parallel to the rotational axis 8.
Overcap 20 is configured to be placed over cap 80. Overcap 20 includes a top panel 22, shown as an annular disc, and a central portion 24 coupled to top panel 22 via a biasing element, shown as arms 32. As will be described in more detail below, arms 32 bias top panel 22 to maintain a distance 58 away from (e.g., a height above) central portion 24 (e.g., an interface portion of cap 80). In a specific embodiment, the central portion 24 is a circular disc centered around center 26 (e.g., axis 8 extends through central portion 24). Central portion 24 interfaces against top panel 82 of cap 80. Cylindrical wall 34 of overcap 20 extends from an outer periphery of top panel 22 of overcap 20. Overcap 20 includes a cylindrical wall including an inner surface facing inwards towards axis 8, such as inner surface 62 of liner 50 of overcap 20. In a specific embodiment, liner 50 extends through axis 8 (e.g., liner 50 is coupled to a bottom of top panel 22 of outer portion 36).
Turning to
Liner 50 includes a top panel 52, shown as an annular disc, a central portion 54 coupled to the top panel 52 via biasing element 74. Central portion 54 is centered on axis 8 at center 56 (e.g., axis 8 extends through central portion 54), and central portion 54 interfaces with top panel 82 of cap 80. Cylindrical wall 60 extends from a periphery of top panel 52.
Turning to
Turning to
Top panel 52 of liner 50 extends distance 58 above central portion 54 of liner 50. Biasing element 74 maintains top panel 52 to be distance 58 above central portion 54, except when a force is exerted on overcap 20 and/or liner 50 to open closure 10 (described in more detail below).
Top panel 22 of overcap 20 extends height 28 above central portion 24 of overcap 20. Overcap 20 includes a retaining feature, shown as ledge 30, which extend from cylindrical wall 34 inwardly towards axis 8. As will be described in more detail below, ledge 30 interfaces against a bottom of knurls 90 to secure overcap 20 to cap 80.
Turning to
Turning to
Ledge 30 of overcap 20 interfaces with knurls 90 to resist overcap 20 being removed from cap 80. According to one method of producing closure 10, overcap 20 and liner 50 are placed on and around cap 80 via overcap 20 deforming to permit ledge 30 to transit past knurls 90 until ledge 30 are between knurls 90 and the container body.
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
In a specific embodiment, a container combination includes a container and closure 210 affixed to the container. The closure 210 includes the overcap 220 and the cap 280. To rotate cap 280 from the container, the user squeezes overcap 220 until overcap 220 interfaces with cap 280 with sufficient force to permit the user to rotate cap 280. In a specific embodiment, when the user squeezes overcap 220, liner 250 interfaces with cap 280 and outer portion 236 does not. In a specific embodiment, when the user squeezes overcap 220, outer portion 336 interfaces with cap 380 and liner 350 does not. In a specific embodiment, when the user squeezes overcap 220, both outer portion 336 and liner 350 interface with cap 380.
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
It should be understood that the figures illustrate the exemplary embodiments in detail, and it should be understood that the present application is not limited to the details or methodology set forth in the description or illustrated in the figures. It should also be understood that the terminology is for the purpose of description only and should not be regarded as limiting.
Further modifications and alternative embodiments of various aspects of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art in view of this description. Accordingly, this description is to be construed as illustrative only. The construction and arrangements, shown in the various exemplary embodiments, are illustrative only. Although only a few embodiments have been described in detail in this disclosure, many modifications are possible (e.g., variations in sizes, dimensions, structures, shapes and proportions of the various elements, values of parameters, mounting arrangements, use of materials, colors, orientations, etc.) without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of the subject matter described herein. Some elements shown as integrally formed may be constructed of multiple parts or elements, the position of elements may be reversed or otherwise varied, and the nature or number of discrete elements or positions may be altered or varied. The order or sequence of any process, logical algorithm, or method steps may be varied or re-sequenced according to alternative embodiments. Other substitutions, modifications, changes and omissions may also be made in the design, operating conditions and arrangement of the various exemplary embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention.
Unless otherwise expressly stated, it is in no way intended that any method set forth herein be construed as requiring that its steps be performed in a specific order. Accordingly, where a method claim does not actually recite an order to be followed by its steps or it is not otherwise specifically stated in the claims or descriptions that the steps are to be limited to a specific order, it is in no way intended that any particular order be inferred. In addition, as used herein the article “a” is intended to include one or more than one component or element and is not intended to be construed as meaning only one.
For purposes of this disclosure, the term “coupled” means the joining of two components directly or indirectly to one another. Such joining may be stationary in nature or movable in nature. Such joining may be achieved with the two members and any additional intermediate members being integrally formed as a single unitary body with one another, or with the two members and any additional member being attached to one another. Such joining may be permanent in nature or alternatively may be removable or releasable in nature. Various embodiments of the invention relate to any combination of any of the features, and any such combination of features may be claimed in this or future applications. Any of the features, elements, or components of any of the exemplary embodiments discussed above may be utilized alone or in combination with any of the features, elements, or components of any of the other embodiments discussed above.
In various exemplary embodiments, the relative dimensions, including angles, lengths and radii, as shown in the Figures are to scale. Actual measurements of the Figures will disclose relative dimensions, angles and proportions of the various exemplary embodiments. Various exemplary embodiments extend to various ranges around the absolute and relative dimensions, angles and proportions that may be determined from the Figures. Various exemplary embodiments include any combination of one or more relative dimensions or angles that may be determined from the Figures. Further, actual dimensions not expressly set out in this description can be determined by using the ratios of dimensions measured in the Figures in combination with the express dimensions set out in this description. In addition, in various embodiments, the present disclosure extends to a variety of ranges (e.g., plus or minus 30%, 20%, or 10%) around any of the absolute or relative dimensions disclosed herein or determinable from the Figures.
The present application is a continuation of International Application No. PCT/US2021/044281, filed Aug. 3, 2021, which claims priority to and benefit from U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/060,814, filed on Aug. 4, 2020, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
4014449 | Hadley | Mar 1977 | A |
4069935 | Hampel | Jan 1978 | A |
4095717 | Michaelsen | Jun 1978 | A |
4474301 | Davis | Oct 1984 | A |
6085920 | Moretti | Jul 2000 | A |
7815061 | Robinson et al. | Oct 2010 | B1 |
20080164234 | Rho | Jul 2008 | A1 |
20090014404 | Russell | Jan 2009 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country |
---|---|---|
0175444 | Nov 1987 | EP |
10-2006-0017916 | Feb 2006 | KR |
Entry |
---|
International Search Report and Written Opinion for International Application No. PCT/US2021/044281, dated Nov. 26, 2021, 11 pages. |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
20220041350 A1 | Feb 2022 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
63060814 | Aug 2020 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
Parent | PCT/US2021/044281 | Aug 2021 | WO |
Child | 17395174 | US |