Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6659297
-
Patent Number
6,659,297
-
Date Filed
Wednesday, November 28, 200123 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, December 9, 200321 years ago
-
Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
- Young; Lee
- Eloshway; Niki M.
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 215 252
- 215 307
- 215 253
- 215 258
- 215 329
- 215 330
- 215 331
- 215 901
- 215 902
- 215 44
- 215 40
- 220 303
- 220 3661
- 220 3671
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
A tamper-indicating closure for a beverage package includes a base wall having a peripheral skirt with at least one internal thread for securing the closure to a container. A tamper-indicating band is frangibly connected to an edge of the skirt, and a stop flange extends axially and radially from an edge of the band for abutment with a stop bead on the container finish. A plurality of circumferentially spaced drain openings extend axially through the juncture of the band and the flange. A plurality of circumferentially spaced channels extend axially through the internal thread on the closure skirt, with at least some of the channels being axially aligned with the drain openings. The stop bead on the container is in the form of a plurality of circumferentially spaced bead segments separated from each other by circumferential gaps. Liquid product may readily drain from between the container finish and the closure skirt through the axial channels in the closure thread, through the drain openings at the juncture of the closure flange and band, and through the gaps between the stop bead segments on the container finish. The container finish may also have a support flange with drain channels or slots aligned with the gaps in the bead.
Description
The present invention is directed to beverage packages, and more particularly to closures and containers for such packages, and to methods of manufacturing such closures and containers. Preferred aspects of the invention relate to improved drainage of product from between the container finish and the closure skirt after filling and capping the container.
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
It is conventional to form a tamper-indicating closure having a band connected to a skirt by integral frangible means, such as frangible bridges or a frangible web. The band has a stop element (e.g., a flange or a bead) that engages a bead on the container finish to resist unthreading of the closure, so that removal of the closure ruptures the frangible means that connect the band to the skirt. U.S. Pat. Nos. Re33,265, 4,322,009 and 4,432,461, assigned to an assignee of the present application, disclose tamper-indicating closures of this character, in which the tamper-indicating band is completely severed from the closure skirt and remains on the container upon removal of the closure from the container. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,295,600 and 6,224,802, also assigned to an assignee of the present application, disclose tamper-indicating closures in which the tamper-indicating band remains connected to the closure skirt and is removed from the container with the closure.
Although tamper-indicating closures and packages of the types disclosed in the noted patents have enjoyed substantial commercial acceptance and success, further improvements remain desirable. For example, problems are encountered when employing this type of closure in so-called wet finish applications, in which liquid may spill during or after the filling operation onto the outside surface of the container so as to be disposed between the container finish and the closure skirt after capping. Wet finish situations of this type are encountered during, for example, hot-fill, cold-fill and aseptic-fill situations, in which the containers are filled close to the brim or to overflow prior to capping. Wet finish situations can also be encountered during filling operations in which liquid may drip from the filling machinery onto the container finish. In wet finish situations of this type, problems are encountered in connection with draining and drying of the area between the outside surface of the container finish and the inside of the closure skirt—i.e., between the threads on the container finish and skirt, and around the tamper-indicating band and the stop element. Liquid trapped within this area can result in growth of mold or mildew, and when dry undesirably increases the torque required for removal of the closure from the container.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,119,883 and 6,152,316, assigned to an assignee of the present application, disclose tamper-indicating closures in which drain openings are provided at the juncture of the tamper-indicating band and the stop flange—i.e., through the stop flange adjacent to the band, through the band adjacent to the stop flange, or through the hinge portion in both the stop flange and the tamper-indicating band. A plurality of these drain openings, disposed in a circumferentially spaced array around the closure, improve product drainage in the area of the tamper-indicating band and the stop flange. U.S. Pat. No. 6,253,940, assigned to an assignee of the present application, illustrates a closure having drain openings at the juncture of the stop flange and the band, and openings in a flared portion of the closure skirt for admitting flushing solution. This helps flush liquid from between the container finish and the closure in the area of the stop flange and the tamper-indicating band.
It is a general object of the present invention to provide a closure and/or a container and/or a closure and container package that is/are specifically constructed to improve liquid product drainage from between the container finish and the closure in wet finish and other similar situations. Another and related object of the invention is to provide a method of manufacturing such a closure and/or container.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention involves a number of aspects that may be implemented from, or more preferably in combination with each other.
In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, a tamper-indicating closure of integrally molded plastic construction includes a base wall having a peripheral skirt with at least one internal thread for securing the closure a container, a tamper-indicating band frangibly connected to an edge of the skirt, a stop element extending axially and radially from the band remote from the skirt, a plurality of circumferentially spaced drain openings extending through the band and/or the stop element, and a plurality of circumferentially spaced channels or grooves extending axially through the internal thread within the closure skirt. At least some of these channels or grooves are axially aligned with drain openings at the hinge portion of the stop flange to promote drainage of liquid through the channels and through the drain openings. The drain openings are preferably uniformly circumferentially spaced around the closure, while the channels or grooves through the internal thread are preferably non-uniformly spaced and clustered at the lead-in of the thread. The preferred embodiments of the invention include double threads having diametrically opposed lead-ins, with the axial channels or grooves being clustered at lesser spacing from each other adjacent to the thread lead-ins.
A beverage container in accordance with another aspect of the invention includes a cylindrical finish having an open mouth, at least one external thread for securing a closure to the finish, an external circumferential stop bead on a side of the thread remote from the container mouth, and an external support flange on a side of the bead remote from the mouth. The stop bead includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced bead segments that are separated from each other by circumferential gaps. A plurality of circumferentially spaced drain elements on the support flange are each axially aligned with a corresponding gap in the stop bead. Fluid may thus freely drain along the external surface of the container finish through the gaps in the stop bead and the drain elements on the support flange. The drain elements on the support flange in one preferred embodiment in accordance with this aspect of the invention take the form of drain grooves on a surface of the support flange axially facing the stop bead. Each groove has a bottom surface that is angulated radially outwardly and axially downwardly away from the bead. The drain elements in accordance with another embodiment of this aspect of the invention comprise drain slots that extend axially through the support flange. The finish preferably has an outer circumferential wall surface, with the external thread, the external bead and the external support flange extending radially outwardly from this wall surface. The gaps in the stop bead and the slots through the support flange are formed by corresponding portions of the wall surface. Thus, fluid may readily flow through these gaps and slots. In the preferred embodiments of the invention, the container is of integrally molded plastic construction, although this aspect of the invention may also readily be implemented in containers of glass construction, for example.
A container and closure package in accordance with another aspect of the invention includes a container having a finish with at least one external thread and an external bead disposed beneath the thread. The closure includes a base wall having a peripheral skirt with at least one internal thread for securing the closure to the external thread on the container finish, a tamper-indicating band frangibly connected to an edge of the skirt, and a stop element extending from the band for abutment with the bead on the container finish. Drain openings are provided in the stop element and/or the band. A plurality of circumferentially spaced axial channels or grooves extend along the inside of the skirt through the internal thread, at least some of which are in axial alignment with drain openings.
A closure and container package in accordance with a further aspect of the invention includes a container having a finish with at least one external thread, an external circumferential bead defined by a plurality of circumferentially spaced bead segments separated from each other by circumferential gaps, an external flange on a side of the bead remote from the thread, and a plurality of circumferentially spaced drain elements on the flange and each axially aligned with a corresponding gap in the bead. The closure includes a base wall having a peripheral skirt and at least one internal thread for affixing the closure to the external thread on the container finish. A tamper-indicating band is frangibly connected to the skirt, and a stop element extends from the band for abutment with the bead on the container finish. Drain openings may be provided, but need not necessarily be provided in accordance with this aspect of the invention, in the stop element and/or the tamper-indicating band.
In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention, a method of making a tamper-indicating closure contemplates integrally molding the closure of plastic as molded construction that includes a base wall having a peripheral skirt with at least one internal thread for affixing the closure to a container, a tamper-indicating band frangibly connected to an edge of the skirt, a stop element extending from the band, and a plurality of circumferentially spaced drain openings extending through the band adjacent to the stop element, through the stop element adjacent to the band, or through both the element and the band. The step of molding the closure is such that a plurality of circumferentially spaced channels or grooves are formed extending axially through the internal thread, with at least some of the grooves being axially aligned with drain openings in the stop element and/or band.
A method of making a beverage container in accordance with a further aspect of the present invention includes integrally molding a container having a cylindrical finish with an open mouth, at least one external thread, an external circumferential bead on a side of the thread remote from the mouth and an external circumferential flange on a side of the bead remote from the thread. The step of molding the container is such that the bead comprises a plurality of circumferentially spaced bead segments separated from each other by circumferential gaps, and the flange includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced drain elements each axially aligned with a corresponding gap in the bead. These drain elements preferably include drain grooves or slots in the external flange. The bead segments are preferably of uniform circumferential dimension and at uniform circumferential spacing. The container is preferably of molded plastic construction, although this aspect of the invention may also be implemented in glass containers, for example.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention, together with additional objects, features and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description, the appended claims and the accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1
is a fragmentary perspective view of a closure and container package in accordance with one presently preferred embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 2
is a fragmentary sectional that illustrates the container finish and closure
20
in the package of
FIG. 1
;
FIG. 3
is a partially sectioned side elevational view of the closure in the package of
FIGS. 1 and 2
as molded—i.e., before stop flange inversion;
FIG. 4
is a bottom plan view of the closure illustrated in
FIG. 3
;
FIG. 5
is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along the line
5
—
5
in
FIG. 4
;
FIG. 6
is a developed elevational view of the inside circumference of the closure illustrated in
FIGS. 3-5
;
FIG. 7
is a partially sectioned elevational view similar to that of
FIG. 3
but showing a closure in accordance with a modified embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 8
is a bottom plan view of the closure illustrated in
FIG. 7
;
FIG. 9
is a developed elevational view of the inside circumference of the closure in
FIGS. 7 and 8
;
FIG. 10
is a fragmentary perspective view of the container finish in the package of
FIGS. 1 and 2
;
FIG. 11
is a fragmentary side elevational view of a container having a finish in accordance with another aspect of the present invention;
FIGS. 12
,
13
and
14
are fragmentary sectional views taken substantially along the respective lines
12
—
12
,
13
—
13
and
14
—
14
in
FIG. 11
;
FIG. 15
is a developed elevational view of the outside surface of the container finish in
FIG. 11
; and
FIG. 16
is a fragmentary elevational view that illustrates a modification to the embodiment of FIG.
11
.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
FIGS. 1 and 2
illustrate a closure and container package
20
in accordance with one presently preferred embodiment of the invention as comprising a closure
22
secured to the finish
24
of a container
26
. Closure
22
includes a base wall
28
from which a peripheral skirt
30
extends. At least one internal thread
32
extends around the inside surface of closure skirt
30
. A tamper-indicating band
34
is connected by frangible means
36
to the free edge of skirt
30
remote from base wall
28
. Frangible means
36
may comprise frangible bridges or a frangible membrane in the closure as molded and/or scored into the closure after molding. A stop flange
38
extends axially and radially from the lower edge of tamper-indicating band
34
, being connected thereto by a hinge portion
40
. (Directional words such as “axially” and “radially” are employed for purposes of description and not limitation, and are taken with respect to the central axis of the closure when a closure is being discussed or the central axis of the container finish when the container finish is being discussed. Directional words such as “upward” and “downward” are taken with respect to the upright orientation of the package and components illustrated in the drawings.) Container
26
includes a body
42
for containing a beverage product and from which cylindrical finish
24
extends. Finish
24
has an open mouth
44
, at least one external thread
46
engaged by internal thread
32
on closure skirt
30
to secure closure
22
to container
26
, and a radially outwardly extending external stop bead
48
on the opposite side of thread
46
from mouth
44
. Bead
48
has an axially facing shoulder
50
that is engaged by an opposing end of flange
38
when closure
22
is in position on container
26
. Abutment of flange
38
against bead
48
causes rupture of frangible means
36
as closure
22
is unthreaded from container finish
28
so that band
34
indicates tampering with the closure. A liner
52
may be secured or otherwise disposed on the inner surface of closure base wall
28
for sealing engagement with the upper edge of finish
24
to seal the contents of the container. Alternatively, but less preferably, the closure may be a linerless closure with sealing means of conventional type.
Closure
22
is illustrated in greater detail in
FIGS. 3-6
. A plurality of channels or grooves
54
extend axially along the inside surface of closure skirt
30
through internal thread
32
. More specifically, and as best seen in
FIGS. 4 and 6
, thread
32
comprises a double thread
32
a,
32
b
each having an associated lead-in disposed adjacent to base wall
28
. In the illustrated embodiment, there are eight circumferentially spaced channels
54
a
-
54
h
extending through threads
32
a,
32
b,
with the circumferential spacing between and among the channels being non-uniform around the inside surface of the closure skirt. Channels
54
a,
54
b,
54
c
are clustered adjacent to the lead-in of thread
32
a,
while channels
54
e,
54
f,
54
g
are clustered adjacent to the lead-in of thread
32
b.
Channels
54
d
and
54
h
are spaced from the thread lead-ins, and are at greater circumferential spacing from channel groups
54
a
-
54
c
and
54
e
-
54
g
than the channel spacing within the respective groups. In a 43 mm embodiment of closure
22
, channel
54
a
is 15° from full start of thread
32
a,
channel
54
b
is 30° from channel
54
a,
and channel
54
c
is 30° from channel
54
b.
Channel
54
d
is at 50° spacing from channel
54
c
, and channel
54
e
is at 70° spacing from
54
d.
Channels
54
e,
54
f,
54
g
and
54
b
are diametrically opposite channels
54
a,
54
b,
54
c
, and
54
d
respectively. As best seen in
FIG. 5
, each channel
54
is slightly indented into the inside surface of closure sidewall
30
. In the illustrated 43 mm embodiment of the invention, this indentation is in the range of 0.012 to 0.014 inches, and channels
54
each have a tangential dimension of 0.125±0.007 inch.
A circumferential array of axial drain openings
56
are formed at the juncture of stop flange
38
and tamper-indicating band
34
, either entirely within the stop flange, entirely within the band, or partially within both the flange and the band as illustrated in the drawings. As best seen in
FIGS. 4 and 6
, there are eight drain openings
56
a
-
56
h
in the illustrated embodiment of the invention at uniform 45° spacing from each other. Channels
54
b,
54
d,
54
f
and
54
h
are axially aligned with corresponding drain openings
56
b,
56
d,
56
f
and
56
h.
The remaining channels and drain openings are not axially aligned in the illustrated embodiment of the invention. Channels
54
a,
54
b,
54
c
and channels
54
e,
54
f,
54
g
are clustered in the areas of dual-thread overlap because of the need for enhanced drainage in this area. In a single-thread closure, channels
54
a
-
54
h
can be uniformly spaced around the closure and all axially aligned with associated drain openings
56
a
-
56
h.
Drain openings
56
in the illustrated embodiment of the invention have a radial dimension of 0.030 and a tangential dimension of 0.125±0.007 inch. Closure
22
is preferably of integrally molded plastic construction such as polypropylene. Channels
54
and drain openings
56
are molded into the closure, and frangible means
36
is either molded into the closure or scored into the closure in an after-molding operation.
After filling of container
26
with a beverage, closure
22
is applied to the container finish in a conventional capping operation. Any liquid product disposed on the external surface of the container finish can drain through channels
54
that extend through the closure internal thread(s). In this connection, recessing of the channels into the closure skirt, as illustrated in
FIG. 5
, promotes drainage of the liquid past the external thread(s) on the container finish. The liquid may then drain downwardly between flange
38
and band
34
, and thence through drain openings
56
. In this connection, it will be appreciated that alignment of channels
54
b,
54
d,
54
f
and
54
h
with corresponding drain openings
56
b,
56
d,
56
f
and
56
h
helps promote this liquid drainage.
FIG. 10
illustrates container finish
24
in accordance with another aspect of the invention. Finish bead
48
is not circumferentially continuous in
FIG. 10
, but rather comprises a plurality of external bead segments
48
a
-
48
f.
These bead segments are circumferentially spaced from each other by gaps, such as gaps
58
b,
58
c,
58
d
in FIG.
10
. In this embodiment, finish
24
has a generally cylindrical outer surface from which dual external thread
46
a,
46
b
and segmented external bead
48
a
-
48
f
radially extend. Gaps
58
b
-
58
d
are continuations of the outer finish wall surface between the bead segments. Thus, in this embodiment, fluid that flows from between the finish outer surface and the skirt inner surface, such as through channels
54
on the skirt inner surface and/or corresponding channels on the finish outer surface, can flow through the gaps or spaces
58
b
-
58
d
between segments of bead
48
. This finish configuration greatly facilitates fluid drainage. Exemplary dimension for bead segments
48
a,
etc. and gaps
58
b,
etc., for an exemplary 48 mm embodiment of the invention, are given in connection with
FIGS. 11-15
. A container embodying the segmented stop bead configuration of
FIG. 10
is preferably of molded plastic construction such as PET. Alternatively, this aspect of the invention can be implemented in otherwise conventional glass containers.
FIGS. 7-9
illustrate a closure
60
in accordance with a modified embodiment of the invention. In
FIGS. 7-9
(and
10
-
16
), elements identical or similar to those in
FIGS. 2-6
are indicated by correspondingly identical reference numerals. The primary difference between closure
60
in
FIGS. 7-9
and closure
22
in
FIGS. 2-6
is that no drain openings
56
are provided in stop flange
38
and/or band
34
. Thus, closure
60
of
FIGS. 7-9
is particularly well suited for use in conjunction with the container finish illustrated in
FIG. 10
, in which drain passages are provided between segments of the finish bead.
FIGS. 11-15
illustrate a container
70
in accordance with one embodiment of another aspect of the invention. Container
70
includes a body for holding a beverage, and a cylindrical container finish
74
. Finish
74
includes a pair of external threads
46
a,
46
b
for securing a closure to the container finish, an external stop bead
48
, also known as an A bead, and an external support flange
82
also known as a support ledge or capping flange. Container finish
74
, including support flange
82
, is typical of injection blow molded containers. Stop bead
48
comprises a plurality of circumferentially spaced bead segments
48
a
through
48
j,
which are spaced from each other by inter-segment gaps
58
a
-
58
j.
Bead
48
, defined by bead segments
48
a
-
48
j
and intervening slots or gaps
58
a
-
58
j,
is disposed in a plane perpendicular to the finish axis on a side of threads
48
a,
48
b
remote from the container mouth, and function in cooperation with a stop bead or a stop flange on a closure to provide the tamper-indicating function previously described. Support flange
82
is circumferentially continuous in the embodiment of
FIGS. 11-13
in a plane parallel to bead
48
, and has an upper surface facing in the direction of bead
48
. The upper surface of flange
82
has a plurality of circumferentially spaced drain channels or grooves
82
a
through
82
j.
The number of drain grooves
82
a
-
82
j
is preferably identical to the number of slots
58
a
-
58
j
in bead
48
, and each flange groove
82
a
-
82
j
is axially aligned with a corresponding bead slot
58
a
-
58
j.
Each groove
82
a
-
82
j
has a bottom surface at an axially downward and radially outward angle with respect to the container finish axis to promote drainage of liquid from the grooves. Thus, any liquid on the external surface of finish
74
can readily drain through bead slots
58
a
-
58
j
and correspondingly aligned flange grooves
82
a
-
82
j.
The container
70
illustrated in
FIGS. 11-15
(and the container in
FIG. 10
) is blow molded in a two-piece mold that forms a parting line PL. Bead segments
48
a
-
48
j
and bead spaces
58
a
-
58
j,
and slots
82
a
-
82
j
in
FIG. 14
, are oriented at angles to parting line PL to facilitate mold separation, as best seen in
FIGS. 13-14
. As a design starting point, segments
48
a
-
48
j
have equal tangential dimension, spaces
58
a
-
58
j
have equal tangential dimension and slots
82
a
-
82
j
have tangential dimensions corresponding to spaces
58
a
-
58
j.
These dimensions are then varied to facilitate mold parting. By way of example for a 43 mm embodiment, segments
48
e
and
48
j
at parting line PL may have a tangential dimension of 0.378 inch, and spaces
58
b,
58
g
at right angles to parting line PL may have tangential dimensions of 0.202 inch. All of the spaces
58
a
-
58
j
extend radially from the cylindrical outer surface of the finish to the outer edges of the bead segments. Angularly of the finish axis, spaces
58
a
-
58
j
have dimensions of 14.2° (spaces
58
a,
58
c,
58
f
and
58
h
), 15° (spaces
58
b
and
58
g
) and 17.130 (spaces
58
d,
58
e
,
58
i
and
58
j
). Segments
48
a
-
48
j
have dimensions of 28° (segments
48
e
and
48
j
), 17.5° segments
48
a
48
d,
48
f
and
48
i
), and 19.52° (segments
48
b,
48
c,
48
g
and
48
h
). The angular dimension of each channel or groove
82
a
-
82
j
may be slightly larger than the angular dimension of the slots. The bottom surface of each groove
82
a
-
82
j
has a downward angle of 5° in the illustrated embodiment. In the illustrated embodiment, grooves
82
a
-
82
j
have angular dimensions of 11°20′ (grooves
82
b
and
82
g
), 12°21′ (grooves
82
a,
82
c,
82
f
and
82
h
), and 18°20′(grooves
82
d,
82
e,
82
i
and
82
j
).
FIG. 16
illustrates a modification
90
to the embodiment of
FIGS. 11-13
, in which the container finish
92
has external threads
46
a,
46
b
and segmented bead
48
as previously described. The support flange
94
in the embodiment of
FIG. 11
has circumferentially spaced spaces or gaps
94
a,
94
b,
etc., each of which is axially aligned with a corresponding space or gap
58
a,
58
b,
etc. in stop bead
48
. As in the embodiment of
FIG. 10
, each gap
58
a,
58
b,
etc. in
FIGS. 11-16
, and each gap
94
a,
94
b,
etc. in
FIG. 16
comprises a continuation of the cylindrical outer wall surface of the container finish.
There have thus been disclosed a closure, a container, a closure and container package, and methods of making the closure and container that fully satisfy all of the objects and aims previously set forth. A number of modifications and variations have been discussed in connection with the presently preferred embodiments of the invention. Other modifications and variations will readily suggest themselves to persons of ordinary skill in the art in view of the foregoing discussion. For example, the preferred embodiments of the closure include a stop element in the form of a flange
38
. However, the stop element may comprise a radial bead, as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,322,009, in accordance with the broadest aspects of the invention. The invention is by no means limited to the described
43
mm embodiments of the invention, or to the exemplary dimensions disclosed in connection therewith. The invention is intended to embrace all such modifications and variations as fall within the spirit and broad scope of the appended claims.
Claims
- 1. A tamper-indicating closure of integrally molded plastic construction, which comprises:a base wall having a peripheral skirt with at least one internal thread for affixing the closure to a container, a tamper-indicating band frangibly connected to said skirt, a stop element extending from said band, a plurality of circumferentially spaced drain openings extending axially through said stop element or through said band or through both said band and said stop element, and a plurality of circumferentially spaced channels extending axially along said skirt through said internal thread, at least some of said channels being axially aligned with said drain openings, said drain openings being uniformly circumferentially spaced around said closure, and said channels being non-uniformly circumferentially spaced around said closure, said internal thread having a lead-in adjacent to said base wall, and said channels being at lesser circumferential spacing from each other at said lead-in than spaced from said lead-in.
- 2. The closure set forth in claim 1 wherein said at least one internal thread comprises a double thread having diametrically opposed lead-ins, and wherein said channels are at lesser spacing from each other at said diametrically opposed lead-ins than spaced from said lead-ins.
- 3. The closure set forth in claim 1 wherein said stop element comprises a stop flange that extends axially and radially from an end of said band remote from said skirt, said drain openings being disposed at a juncture of said flange and said band.
- 4. A beverage container that comprises:a body for holding a beverage and a cylindrical finish extending from said body, said finish including: an open mouth, at least one external thread for securing a closure to said finish, an external circumferential stop bead on a side of said thread remote from said mouth for cooperating with tamper-indicating means on a closure secured to said finish, said bead comprising a plurality of circumferentially spaced bead segments separated from each other by circumferential gaps, an external support flange spaced from said bead on a side of said bead remote from said mouth, and a plurality of circumferentially spaced drain elements on said flange, each of said elements being axially aligned with a corresponding gap in said stop bead.
- 5. The container set forth in claim 4 wherein said drain elements comprise drain grooves in a surface of said flange axially facing said bead, each groove having a bottom surface that is angulated radially outwardly and axially away from said bead.
- 6. The container set forth in claim 4 wherein said drain elements comprise drain slots extending axially through said flange.
- 7. The container set forth in claim 6 wherein said finish has an outer cylindrical wall surface, said external thread, said stop bead and said external support flange extending radially outwardly from said wall surface, said gaps in said stop bead and said slots through said support flange comprising portions of said wall surface.
- 8. A beverage container that comprises:a body for holding a beverage and a cylindrical finish extending from said body, said finish including: an open mouth, at least one external thread for securing a closure to said finish, an external circumferential stop bead on a side of said thread remote from said mouth, said bead comprising a plurality of circumferentially spaced bead segments separated from each other by circumferential gaps, an external support flange on a side of said bead remote from said mouth, and a plurality of circumferentially spaced drain elements on said flange, each of said elements being axially aligned with a corresponding gap in said stop bead, said drain elements comprising drain grooves in a surface of said flange axially facing said bead, each groove having a bottom surface that is angulated radially outwardly and axially away from said bead.
- 9. A package that comprises a container having a finish with at least one external thread and an external bead disposed beneath said thread, and a closure that includes:a base wall having a peripheral skirt with at least one internal thread for securing said closure to said external thread on said container finish, a tamper-indicating band frangibly connected to an edge of said skirt, a stop element on said band for abutment with said bead on said finish, a plurality of circumferentially spaced openings extending axially through said stop element or through said band or through both said stop element and said band, and a plurality of circumferentially spaced channels extending axially along said skirt through said internal thread, at least some of said channels being axially aligned with said drain openings, said drain openings being uniformly circumferentially spaced around said closure, and said channels being non-uniformly circumferentially spaced around said closure, said internal thread having a lead-in adjacent to said base wall, and said channels being at lesser circumferential spacing from each other at said lead-in than spaced from said lead-in.
- 10. The package set forth in claim 9 wherein said at least one internal thread comprises a double thread having diametrically opposed lead-ins, and wherein said channels are at lesser spacing at said diametrically opposed lead-ins than spaced from said lead-ins.
- 11. The package set forth in claim 9 wherein said stop element comprises a stop flange that extends axially and radially from an end of said band, said drain openings being disposed at a juncture of said flange and said band.
- 12. A package that comprises a container having a finish with at least one external thread and an external bead disposed beneath said thread, and a closure that includes:a base wall having a peripheral skirt with at least one internal thread for securing said closure to said external thread on said container finish, a tamper-indicating band frangibly connected to an edge of said skirt, a stop element on said band for abutment with said bead on said finish, a plurality of circumferentially spaced openings extending axially through said stop element or through said band or through both said stop element and said band, and a plurality of circumferentially spaced channels extending axially along said skirt through said internal thread, at least some of said channels being axially aligned with said drain openings, said external bead on said finish comprising a plurality of circumferentially spaced bead segments separated from each other by circumferential gap, said finish having a cylindrical outer wall surface, said external thread and said external bead segments extending radially outwardly from said surface, said gaps comprising portions of said wall surface, said finish further including an external support flange beneath said bead and a plurality of circumferentially spaced drain elements on said flange, each of said drain elements being axially aligned with a corresponding gap in said bead.
- 13. The package set forth in claim 12 wherein said drain elements comprise drain grooves in a surface of said flange axially facing said bead, each groove having a bottom surface that is angulated radially outwardly and axially away from said bead.
- 14. The package set forth in claim 12 wherein said drain elements comprise drain slots extending axially through said flange.
- 15. The package set forth in claim 14 wherein said finish has an outer cylindrical wall surface, said external thread, said stop bead and said external support flange extending radially outwardly from said wall surface, said gaps in said stop bead and said slots through said support flange comprising portions of said wall surface.
- 16. A closure and container package that comprises:a container having a cylindrical finish with an open mouth, at least one external thread, an external circumferential bead defined by a plurality of circumferentially spaced bead segments separated from each other by circumferential gaps, an external support flange spaced from said bead on a side of said bead remote from said mouth, and a plurality of circumferentially spaced drain elements on said support flange each axially aligned with a corresponding gap in said bead, and a closure that includes a base wall having a peripheral skirt with at least one internal thread for securing said closure to said external thread on said container finish, a tamper-indicating band frangibly connected to an edge of said skirt, and a stop element extending from said band for abutment with said bead.
- 17. The package set forth in claim 16 wherein said drain elements comprise drain grooves in a surface of said flange axially facing said bead, each groove having a bottom surface that is angulated radially outwardly and axially away from said bead.
- 18. The package set forth in claim 16 wherein said drain elements comprise drain slots extending axially through said flange.
- 19. The package set forth in claim 18 wherein said finish has an outer cylindrical wall surface, said external thread, said stop bead and said external support flange extending radially outwardly from said wall surface, said gaps in said stop bead and said slots through said support flange comprising portions of said wall surface.
- 20. The package set forth in claim 16 wherein said closure includes a first plurality of circumferentially spaced channels extending axially through said internal thread and a second plurality of circumferentially spaced drain openings extending through said stop element, at least some of said channels being axially aligned with said drain openings.
- 21. The package set forth in claim 20 wherein said drain openings are uniformly circumferentially spaced around said closure, and said channels are non-uniformly circumferentially spaced around said closure.
- 22. The package set forth in claim 21 wherein said internal thread has a lead-in adjacent to said base wall, and wherein said channels are at lesser circumferential spacing from each other at said lead-in than spaced from said lead-in.
- 23. The package set forth in claim 22 wherein said at least one internal thread comprises a double thread having diametrically opposed lead-ins, and wherein said channels are at lesser spacing from each other at said diametrically opposed lead-ins than spaced from said lead-ins.
US Referenced Citations (38)
Foreign Referenced Citations (3)
Number |
Date |
Country |
1048584 |
Feb 2000 |
EP |
4339773 |
Nov 1992 |
JP |
10152156 |
Jun 1998 |
JP |