PLASTIC CLOSURE AND RELATED CONTAINER FINISH

Abstract: Improvement in the neck finish (12) of a container (10) and skirt (26) of a cooperating closure (14) to eliminate or substantially reduce squaring which exists in present closure-neck, finish arrangements. The neck finish is constructed so as to control the torque required to apply the closure after it has been seated, thereby holding to a maximum the pressures which normally effect squaring. At the same time, the neck finish is provided with a supporting surface (36) engageable by the closure skirt so as to permit supporting of the closure skirt against the undesired squaring.

Description: PLASTIC CLOSURE AND RELATED CONTAINER FINISH This invention relates in general to new and useful improvements in .containers and closure caps therefor, and more particularly to a container neck finish of the type having thread segments and a plastic closure cap having lugs thereon for engaging the thread segments. Multi-lugged closures are notorious for squar¬ ing (i.e. bulging at the-points of closure lug and container thread contact) , creating a chord between the lugs when applied to the associated container. . In accordance with this invention, squaring is eliminated or at least greatly reduced by providing the neck finish with a radially outwardly projecting supporting surface below the thread segments which is tightly engaged by a lower portion of the closure skirt. Further/ this lower portion may be reinforced by a thickening of the skirt wall. Another feature of the invention is to provide the neck finish thread segments with lower terminal por¬ tions which are generally horizontal or which lie in a plane disposed normal to the axis of the neck finish. Another feature of the invention to prevent or substantially reduce squaring is to restrict the amount of tension that may be placed on the skirt by providing stops engageable by the closure lugs so as to limit the rotational movement of the closure relative to the neck finish. In a preferred embodiment of the invention/ the heck finish will have a supporting surface in the form of a continuous annular bead, the thread segments will have lower terminal portions which are generally parallel to the sup¬ porting surface defining bead, and the stops will extend between the lower terminal ends of the thread segments and the supporting surface defining bead. In addition, the contact angle on the underside of each thread segment and the top surface of a cooperating lug is minimized (retained between 0 and 10°) to keep a lug from riding over a container thread segment. With the above and other objects in view that will hereinafter appear, the nature of the invention will be more clearly understood by reference to the following detailed description, the appended claims, and the several views illustrated in the accompanying drawings. IN THE DRAWINGS: Figure 1 is an exploded fragmentary elevational view of an upper part of a container including its neck finish and an associated closure with the closure being in diametrical vertical section. Figure 2 is a plan view of the container and closure in assembled relation with parts of the closure being broken away. Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view showing the closure initially applied to the neck finish with the lugs resting on the thread segments. Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view similar to Figure 3, and shows the closure fully applied to the container. Figure 5 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional vie -taken generally along the line 5-5 of Figure 4, and shows the lug " engaging the stop of the neck finish. Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will, be seen that the invention relates to a container 10 having a neck finish 12 to which there is applied a closure 14. The illustrated container is formed of glass, but may be formed of other materials including plastics and metal. The material from which the container 10 is formed is not a part of this invention. The neck finish 12 includes a neck 16 defining an internal pouring throat 18. The neck finish 12 includes a terminal end portion 20 against which the closure 14 seal The neck finish 12 customarily includes thread' segments 22 which project radially outwardly from the outer surface of the neck 16. The neck finish 12 so far describe is conventional. The closure 14 is preferably formed of a plasti material and includes an end wall 24 and a depending skirt 26. In the illustrated embodiment, the end wall 24 includes a relatively thick central panel portion 28 which is joined to the skirt 26 by a readily deformable annular sealing por¬ tion 30 which is materially thinner than the end panel 28 and the skirt 26. The skirt 26.has integrally formed on the inner surface thereof radially inwardly projecting, circumferentia ly spaced lugs 32. The lugs 32 are engageable beneath the thread segments 22 to secure the closure 14 on the neck finish 12. As is best shown in Figure 4, when the closure 14 is applied, the annular portion 30 of the end wall 24 engages the terminal sealing surface 20 and is deflected axially upwardly, thereby to assure a tight seal. It is to be understood, however, that features of the invention to be described in detail hereinafter may also be advantageousl utilized in conjunction with a closure wherein the end wall 24 is of a constant thickness. The neck finish 12 and the closure 14 are specifically constructed so as to eliminate or substantially reduce squaring of the closure side wall or skirt when applied to the neck finish 12. A number of features are involved in the modification of the neck finish and the closure to effect the elimination or substantial reduction of the aforementioned squaring. First of all, axially below the lower terminal ends of the thread segments 22, the neck finish 12 includes a radially outwardly projecting bead 34 which defines an outer support surface 36. The bead 34 is preferably . O:.IPI continuous. The purpose of the bead 34 is to support the lower portion of the skirt 26. As is best shown in Figure 4, the skirt 26 has a lower radially inner surface 38 of a di¬ ameter which substantially corresponds to the diameter of the support surface 36 so that when the closure 14 is applied to the neck finish 12, the skirt surface 38 will snugly en¬ gage the support surface 36 and maintai the circular con¬ figuration of the lower part of the skirt 26. This, in turn, will support the skirt 26 against the customary squaring. If desired, the inner surface of the skirt 26 at " its lower end may be relieved as at 40 to facilitate the aligning of the skirt 26 radially with respect to both the thread segments 22 and the bead 34. Also, if desired, the lower part of the skirt 26 may be radially outwardly thickened as at 42 so as to strengthen the lower portion of the skirt 42 and thus resist squaring above the surface 38. The resultant squaring of the closure skirt is in part due to an overcamming of the skirt downwardly by continued rotation of the closure relative to the neck finish after a seal has been formed between the closure and the sealing surface 20. In order to provide for the automatic restriction of this axially downward camming of the closure 14, the threads 22 are modified so that they have terminal end portions 44 which are horizontal, or more specifically which lie in a plane disposed normal to the axis of the neck 16. Thus, when a lug 32 begins to engage the thread segment portion 44, no further axially downward camming of the closur 14 is effected by the further rotation of the closure relativ to the neck finish. Next, in order to restrict threading of the clo¬ sure onto the neck finish 12, the neck finish 12 is provided with a stop 46 which is associated with each of the thread segments 22 for engagement by a respective lug 32. The stop 46 is in the form of a vertical continuation of the horizonta portion 44 of each thread segment 22, with the stop 46 con¬ tinuing into the bead 34, as is best shown in Figure 1. As i — 3 — clearly shown in Figure 5, after a leading portion of a typical . lug 32 engages beneath a thread segment horizontal portion 44, and rotation of the closure is continued, the lug 32 will engage the stop 46 and prevent further rotation of the closure relative to the container. In the illustrated embodiment of the closure 14 the skirt 26 has an upper portion thereof above the lugs 32 which presents a cylindrical internal surface 48 which is of the same diameter as the external surfaces of the thread segments 22 so as further to support the skirt 26 and pre¬ vent squaring. In the illustrated embodiment of the inven¬ tion, the thread segments 22 project radially outwardly fro the neck 16 the same distance as the bead 34 and thus the surface 48 is of the same diameter as the surface 38. Each thread segment 22 is provided with an unde surface 50 against which an upper surface 52 of a cooperat¬ ing lug bears. In the illustrated embodiment of the inven¬ tion, the surfaces 50 and 52 are both disposed parallel to - plane disposed normal to the axis of the neck 16. In accor ance with this invention, it is feasible for the surfaces t slope relative to a plane normal to the neck axis, with the slope being a minimal slope and not to exceed 10°. It will be readily apparent from the foregoing that the undesirable squaring which exists in previous closure-neck finish combinations is eliminated or substan¬ tially reduced by a combination of the modifications in the closure and the neck finish. By providing the horizontal thread segment portions 44 and the stops 46, the maximum camming effect is controlled and thus the pressures tending to effect squaring are held to a preselected maximum. At the same time, the skirt 26 of the closure is supported against squaring primarily by the coacting support surface 36 of the bead 34 and the surface 38 of the closure skirt 26 and secondly by the coacting supporting of the skirt 26 by its upper internal surface 48 engaging the outer surfaces of the thread segments 22. The tendency of the lugs to ride radially outwardly relative to the thread segments is eliminate or substantially reduced by holding the angle of the contacting surfaces to a plane normal to the neck axis between 0 and 10°. By maintaining the upper portion of the skirt 26 cylindrical as opposed to permitting it being squared, the end wall 24 of the closure remains taut or generally drum¬ like. It will be readily apparent from Figure 3 that the modifications in the closure and the neck finish in no way prevent the automatic alignment of the closure skirt with the neck finish as is required for the automatic machine application of the closure to the container. Although only a preferred embodiment of the neck finish and closure skirt construction has been specifically illustrated and described herein, it is to be understood that minor variations may be made in the neck finish and the closure without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims: I claim: 1.. A closure and neck finish combination, said neck finish having a terminal sealing surface and including plurality of thread segments projecting radially from a con¬ tainer neck, said closure being formed of a plastic material and including an end panel for sealing engagement with said terminal sealing surface and a depending skirt, said skirt having radially inwardly directed lugs for underlying said thread segments and retaining said closure on said neck finish; the improvement comprising said neck finish includ¬ ing a support surface on said neck below said thread seg¬ ments, and said skirt having an internal surface area for engaging said support surface for preventing distortion of said skirt due to the loading of said lugs. 2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said support surface is annular in section and said thread seg¬ ments have radial outer surfaces of substantially the same diameter as said support surface. 3. The combination -of claim 1 wherein said skirt has a substantially continuous inner cylindrical surface with the exception of said lugs and including said support surxace 4. The combination of claim 3 wherein said skirt is radially outwardly relieved below said support surface for initially centering said skirt relative to said neck finish. 5. The combination of claim 1 wherein said neck above and below said thread segments has a radially outer diameter generally corresponding to the radial inner diameter of saidlags. 6. The combination of claim 1 wherein said thread segments and said lugs have mating surfaces sloping at a maximum angle of 10° to the axis of said neck. 7. The combination of claim 1 wherein said support surface is defined by a radially outwardly projecting bead. S. The combination of claim 1 wherein said thread segments have lower terminal portions lying in a plane disposed normal to the axis of said container. 9. The combination of claim 1 wherein said thread segments have lower terminal portions lying in a plane disposed normal to the axis of said container, and there being an axially extending stop extending between the lower end of each thread segment and said support -surface for engagement by said lugs to limit rotation of said closure relative to said container. 10. The combination of claim 1 wherein there is an axially extending stop extending between the lower end of each thread segment and said support surface for engage¬ ment by said lugs to limit rotation of said closure relative to said container. 11. A closure, said closure being formed of a plastic material and including an end panel and a depending skirt, said closure being particularly adapted for use with a container neck finish having plural thread segments and having projecting from said skirt radially inwardly lugs for cooperating engagement"with container thread segments to retain said closure on a container in sealed engagement; said closure being improved by said skirt having below said ' lugs an internal surface area for engaging a container neck finish supporting area to prevent squaring of said skirt due to loading said lugs in the application of said closure to a container. 12. A closure according to claim 11 wherein said lugs have outer bases integral with said skirt, and said internal surface area being of substantially the same diamete as that of said lug bases. 13. A closure according to claim 11 wherein said skirt above said lugs being of the same internal diameter as said internal surface area. 14. A container neck finish comprising a generall cylindrical neck having formed on the exterior thereof radi¬ ally outwardly projecting plural thread segments, and said neck having projecting radially outwardly therefrom a support surface for supporting a closure skirt lower portion against radially inward displacement such as squaring. ^& OrfVPI 15. A container neck finish according to claim together with an axially extending stop on said neck extend ing between a lower end of each of said thread segments and said support surface for engaging closure lugs and limiting the rotation of an applied closure relative to said neck finish. 16. A container neck finish according to claim 1 wherein the lower end of each thread segment lies in a plane normal to the axis of said neck to limit the drawing down of an associated closure. 17.. A container neck finish according to claim 1 wherein the lower end of each thread segment lies in a plane normal to the axis of said neck to limit the drawing down of an associated closure.

Inventors: BANICH JOHN N, ZIPPER DONALD H
Applicants: CONTINENTAL GROUP, CONTINENTAL GROUP INC
Application year: 1982
Main classification: B65D41
IPC codes: B65D41