Linerless Closure

Abstract: A plastic linerless sealing closure comprises a plastic closure (14) having a base wall (15) and a peripheral skirt (16) with threads (17) on the skirt adapted to engage the threaded finish of a container, the closure including an annular flexible flange (20) that extends downwardly from the underside of the base wall (15) and radially inwardly of the closure, the annular flexible flange (20) having a smooth continuous frusto-conical surface (21) which in use faces the finish and a free edge (24), the width and position of the flange (20) being such that the free edge (24) thereof normally extends beyond the inner edge (22) of the finish and the sealing engagement being normally intermediate the free edge (24) of the flange and the base wall (15), the flange being capable of flexing intermediate the free edge and the portion adjacent the base wall such that the free edge may move toward the base wall and such that the flange is capable of flexing differentially about the periphery of the flange. The closure may be used on plastics containers, the differentially flexible flange compensating for sealing imperfections in the container finishes.

Description: This invention relates to a linerless sealing closure for a plastic container/closure package. When plastic containers are utilized to retain liquids such as oil or water, it has been found that it is necessary that the closure utilized with the container have a separate liner in order to provide an adequate seal. The problem of sealing is made even more complex where the plastic container is made by closing molds about a tube of molten plastic material and blowing the tube followed by thereafter cutting and trimming the portion of the tube that has been blown into a finish to provide a sealing surface on the upper end of the finish. The trimming process often results in variation in the plane of the finish at circumferentially spaced points along the sealing surface as well as non-uniformity in a radial direction. The trimming process can result in variations in height circumferentially of the finish, known as "trim slant". The trimming can also result in the top surface being inclined rather than being perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the container. In addition, in such a molding process wherein the tube is extruded variations in diameter of the finish can occur circumferentially known as "ovality". Each of these conditions can result in failure of the seal so that it has been thought to be necessary to utilize a sealing liner in the closure. Sealing on such a container is also made more difficult due to variations or imperfections in the seam produced adjacent the juncture of the closed molds. Various patents have been proposed including flanges extending radially outwardly and inwardly as shown in United States Patent 3,053,406, 3,067,900, 3,255,909, 3,393,818, 3,802,590, 4,069,937, 4,196,818, 4,220,250, 4,398,645, 4,442,947, 4,450,973, 4,598,835, 4,739,893 and 4,872,304, and in FR-A-1 213 812 and FR-A-1 187 260. As far as the present inventor is aware, none of these patents has been directed to the problems of the present invention or resulted in a satisfactory package for liquids. Prior patents directed to preventing the difficulties caused by imperfections in the container sealing surface include US-A-3 817 418 and EP-A-0 170 435. In the former the neck of the container is deformed into sealing contact with a sealing rib formed on the inside of the cap skirt, above the threads; and in the latter a plurality of flanges downwardly extending from the inside of the top of the closure ensures sealing contact between the container neck and at least one of the flanges. European Patent Application No. 93303203.9, from which this application is divided, has as an object to provide a package comprising a plastic container made by the aforementioned process which does not require a separate liner and utilizes a linerless sealing closure system which compensates for any unevenness and out-of-round top surfaces on the finish of the container; and which container package is capable of packaging oil, water or similar fluids. In accordance with the invention of the said application, there is provided a plastic container and closure package with a linerless sealing closure system comprising a plastic container having a threaded finish for receiving a closure having a base wall and an internal skirt with complementary threads on the skirt. The plastic container is made by a process wherein a tube of molten plastic is inflated and blown to form the container and thereafter the tube is trimmed to form the sealing surface of the finish of the container. The closure includes an annular flange that extends downwardly from the underside of the base wall of the closure and radially inwardly of the closure for engagement with the sealing surface on the container. The annular flange includes a smooth continuous frustoconical surface that faces the finish of the container and engages the inner edge at the juncture of the top surface and inside surface of the finish of the container. An annular stop may extend axially from the underside of the base wall of the closure to limit the flexing of the annular flange. The width of the flange is such that the free edge thereof normally extends beyond the inner edge of the finish surface and the sealing engagement is normally intermediate the free edge of the flange and the base wall, the flange being capable of flexing differentially about its periphery to accommodate the various imperfections of the finish. The present invention is directed to the closure of the container-closure package of European Patent Application No. 93303203.9. According to the present invention there is provided a plastic linerless sealing closure comprising all the features of claim 1. In the accompanying drawings, which are given for the purpose of illustrating the invention, Fig. 1 is a fragmentary sectional view on an enlarged scale of a container package including a closure embodying the invention; Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view on an enlarged scale of a portion of the package shown in Fig. 2; Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view of a portion of the closure before application to the container; Fig. 4, 5 and 6 are fragmentary sectional views of closure packages which show the manner in which the closure compensates for variations in height and non-perpendicular surfaces on the finish of the container; and Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 3 of a modified form of closure that can be used in the container package. As shown in the drawings, a plastic container closure package 10 with a linerless sealing closure system comprises a plastic container 12 having an external threaded finish 13 for receiving a plastic closure 14 which has a base wall 15 and an integral skirt 16 with complementary threads 17 on the skirt 16. The plastic container 12 is made by a process wherein a tube of molten plastic is extruded, blow molds are closed over the tube and the tube is blown to form the container. Thereafter the tube finish or neck of the container is trimmed to form the sealing surface of the finish of the container. The trimming process can result in variations in height circumferentially of the finish, known as "trim slant". The trimming can also result in the top surface being inclined rather than being perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the container. In addition, in such a molding process wherein the tube is extruded variations in diameter of the finish can occur circumferentially known as "ovality". Each of these conditions can result in failure of the seal so that previously it has been thought to be necessary to utilize a sealing liner in the closure. Sealing on such a container is also made more difficult due to variations or imperfections in the seam produced adjacent the juncture of the closed molds. The trimmed container is intended to provide a top surface 18 which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the container 12. The closure 14 includes an annular flange 20 that extends downwardly from the underside of the base wall 15 of the closure 14 and radially inwardly of the closure 14 for engagement with the container 12. The annular flange 20 includes a smooth continuous frustoconical surface 21 that faces the finish 13 of the container 12 and is designed to engage the inner edge 22 at the juncture of the top surface 18 and inner surface 23 of the finish 13. The flange 20 includes a free annular edge 24 that is rounded at least at the portion facing the finish 13. The width of the flange 20 is such that the free edge 24 thereof normally extends beyond the top surface 18 into sealing engagement intermediate the free edge 24 and the other end of the flange 20 extending from the underside of the base wall 15. The flange 20 has its greatest thickness adjacent the base wall 15 and tapers and converges toward the free edge 24. An annular stop 25 extends axially from the underside of the base wall 15 of the closure 14 to limit the flexing of the annular flange 20. The container and closure are preferably made of high density polyethylene but may also be made of other plastics such as other polyethylenes or polypropylenes. The closure 14 also preferably includes a tamper indicating band B connected to the skirt 16 along a weakened line L, such as shown in United States application Serial No. 07/386,391 filed July 27th 1989 (US-A-5090788). The closure system of the invention will accommodate for unevenness and out-of-round conditions in the sealing surfaces of plastics containers. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the level or axial distance between one side of the container top surface as at 18a and that of the other side 18b, from which it differs, is known as trim slant; the differential flexing along the periphery of the flange 20 accommodates for the variation in height of the top surface 18. As shown in FIG. 5, if the top surface 18c is cut so that it is inclined on one side so that it tapers downwardly and axially inwardly, the flange 20 will also accommodate such situations or variation. If, as shown in FIG. 6, the top surface 18d is tapered in the opposite direction from that shown in FIG. 5, the annular flange 20 will also provide a proper seal. If there is a variation in out-of-round condition of the finish, the ability of the flange 20 to engage at various portions along its width will accommodate and provide the satisfactory seal under those conditions. It has been found that in tests as represented by the following, a plastic container package with the linerless sealing closure system of the invention effectively seals the package where the contents are, for example, liquids such as motor oil or water and the like. In the form shown in FIG. 7, the flange 20a has a partial rounded free edge 24a facing the finish 13 to facilitate manufacture. It can thus be seen that the closure of the invention, with its differentially flexible sealing flange, effectively compensates for trim slant, non-perpendicularity of the top surface of the finish and ovality of the finish. In addition since the sealing is designed to occur at the inner edge of the juncture of the top surface and inside surface of the finish, the problems of sealing at the seam of the container are obviated. Furthermore since the seal is at the inner edge of the finish, the liquid is kept from the seal area. The closure will provide a satisfactory seal even though the container can vary from the ideal as indicated in the following representative measurement of diameters, ovality and trim slant of 914 gm (32 oz) high density polyethylene bottles from different cavities made by the extrusion, blow and trim process heretofore described: A B Diameter (cms) Ovality (cms) Min. / Max aver ovality aver ovality Trim Slant 2.47 / 2.52 2.49 0.051 2.79 0.041 0.046 2.45 / 2.50 2.48 0.051 2.78 0.036 0.041 2.46 / 2.51 2.49 0.058 2.78 0.051 0.051 2.47 / 2.50 2.49 0.038 2.79 0.030 0.053 2.48 / 2.51 2.50 0.038 2.79 0.038 0.051 2.46 / 2.51 2.49 0.046 2.78 0.046 0.051 2.46 / 2.49 2.48 0.023 2.77 0.025 0.051 2.45 / 2.48 2.47 0.033 2.77 0.030 0.051 2.45 / 2.48 2.47 0.036 2.77 0.041 0.056 2.42 / 2.49 2.46 0.066 2.76 0.046 0.038 2.46 / 2.49 2.47 0.036 2.78 0.038 0.048 2.44 / 2.49 2.47 0.051 2.78 0.041 0.041 2.44 / 2.49 2.46 0.051 2.78 0.043 0.071 2.44 / 2.50 2.47 0.061 2.78 0.058 0.066 2.43 / 2.50 2.47 0.061 2.78 0.048 0.071 2.43 / 2.46 2.44 0.033 2.77 0.025 0.069 2.44 / 2.48 2.46 0.041 2.77 0.028 0.041 2.44 / 2.47 2.45 0.030 2.77 0.028 0.053 Tests performed on container packages with motor oil utilizing prior art closures with a liner as a standard or contest and container packages for oil embodying the invention show no leakage within 24 hours or one week when cases containing such packages were inverted and stood on pallets under warehouse conditions. It can thus be seen that by using the closure of the invention there has been provided a package including a plastic container made by the aforementioned process which does not require a separate liner but instead utilizes a linerless sealing closure system which will compensate for any unevenness and out-of-round surfaces on the finish of the container; and which container package will be capable of packaging oil, water and similar fluids.

Claims: A plastic linerless sealing closure (14) adapted for use in a plastic container (12) and closure package for liquids with a linerless sealing closure system wherein the plastic container (12) of the package has an external threaded finish (13) for receiving a closure, and the finish has an upper end axially above the thread with a substantially flat top surface (18), an outer surface and an inner surface, the outer surface and inner surface each intersecting the top surface respectively to define therewith an outer edge and an inner edge (22), and wherein the plastic container finish may have at least one variation including a variation in height circumferentially of the top surface of said finish, a variation in inclination of the top surface of said finish, a variation in out-of-round, a variation in ovality of said finish, and a variation in a mold seam formed by closed molds used in making the container, the plastic closure (14) having a base wall (15) and a peripheral skirt (16) with threads (17) on the skirt adapted to engage the threaded finish of the container, said closure base wall having an underside, said closure (14) including an annular flexible and resilient flange (20) that extends downwardly from the underside of the base wall (15) and radially inwardly of the closure skirt (16), and an annular stop (25) that extends axially downwardly from the underside of the base wall for limiting flexing of said flange, said annular flexible flange (20) having a smooth continuous frusto-conical surface (21) which in use faces said finish and which terminates in a free edge (24), the portion of said flange (20) adjacent the base wall (15) of the closure being adapted to overlie the top surface of the finish when said closure is threadably received on the container finish and the flange (20) being constructed normally to be out of contact with the base wall and said stop (25) in the free state condition of said flange, and for engaging the inner edge (22) of the container finish to provide sealing engagement with such inner edge when the closure is fully applied by threading the closure onto the container, such that the flange (20) is constructed to be free of any contact with the outer edge of the finish at all times wherein a variation in the molding seam may interfere with sealing, and said flange (20) being adapted to constitute the sole sealing engagement with said upper end of the container finish (13) when the closure is so fully applied onto the container and adapted to then accommodate any such variations in height and inclination in the top surface of the container finish, out-of-round and ovality of the container finish, and imperfections in the seam produced in the finish adjacent the juncture of closed molds used in making the container, the width and position of the flange (20) being such that the free edge (24) thereof normally extends beyond the inner edge (22) of the container finish and the sealing engagement is normally intermediate the free edge (24) of said flange and said base wall (15) when the closure is fully applied onto the container, said flange (20) being capable of resiliently flexing intermediate the free edge (24) and the portion adjacent the base wall (15) such that the free edge may move toward the base wall and such that the flange is capable of flexing differentially about the periphery of the flange while being applied onto the container, such that if there is a variation in which the height of the top surface of the container finish (13) varies circumferentially, the flange (20) is adapted to flex differentially about the periphery of the flange, and such that if there is variation in the top surface of the container finish (13) being inclined downwardly and inwardly on one side, the flange (20) is adapted to flex differentially about the periphery of the flange, and such that if there is a variation in the top surface of the finish (13) being inclined downwardly and outwardly, the flange (20) is adapted to flex differentially about the periphery of the flange, and such that if there is a non-uniformity or variation in a radial direction in the finish (13) such as being out-of-round or having ovality, the flange (20) is adapted to flex differentially to engage the inner edge of the finish at different portions of its width, and so that the closure (14) is adapted effectively and sealably to accommodate any such variations in height and inclination of the top surface of the finish due to trimming and any such variations in out-of-round or ovality of the finish or imperfections in the same produced adjacent a juncture of closed molds used in making the container, wherein the free edge (24) of such flange (20) underlies said stop (25) such that said stop provides an end limit to the range of the flexing of said annular flange toward said closure base wall, and wherein said flange (20) has its greater width in cross section radially of said closure adjacent the base wall (15) of the closure and has frustoconical sides converging toward the free edge (24) of said flange such that said flange continuously tapers in cross section. A plastic closure as claimed in claim 1 wherein said free edge (24) of said flange is rounded at least along a portion thereof facing said finish. A plastic closure as claimed in claim 2 wherein the free edge (24) of said flange is rounded. A plastic closure as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3 wherein said closure is made of high density polyethylene.

Inventors: GREGORY JAMES L, GREGORY, JAMES L.
Applicants: OWENS ILLINOIS CLOSURE INC, OWENS-ILLINOIS CLOSURE INC.
Application year: 1993
Main classification: B65D41
IPC codes: B65D41