Abstract:
A plug-type closure for use with internally threaded containers. The container includes a container body and a neck defining an internal thread. The closure includes a cap body having an annular wall extending outwardly from the cap body, configured to shroud the neck of the container. The closure further includes a generally cylindrical plug body operatively attached to and extending outwardly from the cap body. The plug body includes a thread that engages with the corresponding internal thread of the container neck to provide a leak-resistant seal.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to closures or stoppers for containers, and more specifically to closures for beverage containers. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Many types of container closures exist for glass and plastic bottles. One type of bottle closure is a metal cap, which is crimped onto the top of a glass bottle and requires a bottle opener to remove it. Another type of bottle closure is a cap that screws onto the neck of a bottle. These caps include internal threads that mate with external threads on the neck of the bottle. Generally, these bottle caps seal the opening of a bottle by coming into contact with the top of the bottle neck and covering the opening of the bottle. 
     It is known that some screw-on bottle closures are made of a unitary construction. It is further known that other types of screw-on bottle closures include a spout containing an orifice for dispensing liquid. The spout may be pulled away from the closure to open the orifice, or the spout may be rotated upwards to open the orifice. The screw-on closures may also include a detachable tamper-evident ring. The above-mentioned bottle closures may be single use or reusable. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     One exemplary aspect of the invention is a novel plug-type closure having external threads for use with a corresponding container having internal threads. The closure may include a cap body and an annular wall extending outwardly from the cap body. The annular wall may be configured to shroud an outside surface of a container neck, to protect, and prevent contamination of, that container neck and of the contents inside a container. The closure may include a plug body formed integral with or operatively attached to the cap body. The plug body may include external threads adjacent the cap body which may extend downwardly on the plug body. The external threads of the plug body are configured to mate with corresponding internal threads of a container neck, thereby providing a leak-resistant seal between the closure and an internally threaded container. 
     Another aspect of the invention is the combination of the above plug-type closure and a container having internal threads in the container neck. The container may include a container body and a neck terminating in an opening. The internal threads in the container neck may be adjacent the opening of the container and may extend into the container. The internal container threads are capable of engaging the external threads of the plug body and providing a leak-resistant seal between the closure and the container. The container may include external threads configured to mate with the annular wall of the closure, providing a secondary seal and further protecting contamination of the container and its contents. 
     The invention has several advantages over known closures, including the efficient use of material, which reduces manufacturing costs. The invention also allows for light weight finishes and efficient use of finish material. The corresponding bottle or container may also be constructed of a light weight material, further reducing material costs. 
     Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon review of the following detailed description, claims and drawings in which like numerals are used to designate like features. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a partial side view of a container and depicting the neck and a portion of the body of the container. 
         FIG. 2  is an isometric view of the container neck illustrating the internal threads and external threads on the neck of the container. 
         FIG. 3  is an isometric cross-sectional view further illustrating the container neck. 
         FIG. 4  is an isometric cross-sectional view of an exemplary closure. 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional side view of the closure illustrating one embodiment of the plug body. 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional side view of the closure illustrating an alternative embodiment of the plug body. 
         FIG. 7  is an isometric cross sectional view of the closure engaged with the container neck. 
         FIG. 8  is an isometric view illustrating the container neck and a partial cross-section of the closure engaged with the container neck. 
         FIG. 9  is an isometric cross-sectional view of the closure shrouding the container neck. 
         FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional side view of the closure engaged with the container. 
     
    
    
     Before the embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of “including” and “comprising” and variations thereof is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items and equivalents thereof. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The invention may be embodied in many forms.  FIG. 1  illustrates a portion of a container  6  that may define a neck  8  and a container body  10 . The neck  8  may further define a top end  12  forming an opening  14 . The container  6  may define one or more external rings  16 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , which depicts a cross-sectional view of the container neck  8 , an internal thread  30  may be configured within the opening  14  of the neck  8 . The internal thread  30  may be configured to receive the closure of the invention, as described below. The internal thread  30  may start at the top end  12  and extend into the container neck  8  any desired distance. The container  6  may be made of any suitable material for containing a beverage, including glass or plastic. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the neck  8  may include a plurality of internal threads  30   a ,  30   b . The plurality of internal threads  30   a ,  30   b  may start at the top end  12  and extend into the container neck  8  any desired distance. The neck  8  may include one or more external rings  16  on an outer surface of the neck  8 . The neck  8  may further include an external ledge  18 , which may aid in preventing fluid from the container  6  from dripping down the outer surface of the container  6 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , illustrating a cross-sectional view of an exemplary closure  20 , the closure  20  may include a cap body  22 , an annular wall  24  extending from the cap body  22 , and an annular plug body  26  concentrically positioned inward of the annular wall  24  and extending from the cap body  22 . The cap body  22  may define a generally planar inner surface  28  configured to abut the top end  12  of the container  6 . The wall  24  may define other suitable configurations other than an annular configuration. 
     The plug body  26  may encompass different configurations. For example, as shown in  FIG. 5 , illustrating the plug body  26 , closure  20 , and container neck  8 , the plug body  26  may be a solid piece of material. Alternatively, the plug body  26  may be hollow, or the plug body  26  may be a concentric ring extending outwardly from the generally planar inner surface  28  of the cap body  22 , as depicted in  FIG. 4 . 
     The closure  20  may be positioned onto the container body  10  as illustrated in  FIG. 10  depicting a cross-sectional view of a partial container  6  and a cross-sectional view of a closure  20 . Referring to  FIG. 6 , showing a cross-sectional view of the container neck  8  and the closure  20 , the annular wall  24  of the closure  20  may be positioned near the edges of the cap body  22  and extend outwardly any desired distance so as to cover the opening  14  and neck  8  of the container  6  once the closure  20  is threaded to container  6  and to shroud the outer surface of the neck  8 . The annular wall  24  may protect the neck  8  of the container  6  and further prevent contaminants from entering the opening  14 . The annular wall  24  may contact or abut a portion of the container  6 , such as the external ring  16  of the neck  8  or the external ledge of the container  6 , to further aid in sealing the container. In an alternative embodiment, the annular wall  24  may contact and engage the outer surface of the neck  8 . Alternatively, the annular wall  24  may be spaced apart from the outer surface of the neck  8 , as depicted in  FIG. 7 . 
     It is contemplated that the outer surface of the annular wall  24  may define any suitable configuration that facilitates the removal of the closure  20  from the container. For example, the outer surface of the annular wall  24  may be smooth, as illustrated in  FIG. 8 . Alternatively, the outer surface of the annular wall  24  may be textured. The outer surface of the annular wall  24  may also define a plurality of ridges  55 , as depicted in  FIG. 7 , or gripping elements  55 , as shown in  FIGS. 4 ,  9 , to facilitate the removal of the closure from the container  6 . Additionally, a tamper-evident ring, not shown, may be operatively attached to and removable from the bottom edge of the annular wall  24 . 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 5 ,  6 , and  7 , the plug body  26  may be generally annular and may extend outwardly from the cap body  22 . The plug body  26  may include an external thread  40  positioned on the outer surface of the plug body  26  for engagement with the internal thread  30  of the container  6 , as shown in  FIGS. 6 ,  7 . The external thread  40  of the plug body  26  may be adjacent the generally planar inner surface  28  of the cap body  22 , as illustrated in  FIG. 3 . The external thread  40  may extend the length of the plug body  26  or may extend a partial distance on the plug body  26 . As best illustrated in  FIGS. 6 ,  7 ,  8 , and  9 , the engagement of the external thread  40  of the plug body  26  with the internal thread  30  of the container neck  8  creates a leak-resistant seal, thereby preventing fluid from exiting the opening  14  of the container  6 , and preventing contaminants from entering the container  6 . 
     In one embodiment, the plug body  26  may be operatively attached to the cap body  22 . In another embodiment, the plug body  26  may be formed as a unitary construction with the cap body  22 , as well as with the annular wall  24 . The closure  20  may be made of any suitable material for use with beverage containers, including materials such as plastic, rubber or the like. 
     It should be understood that the closure  10  may be used with any type of container  6  in which it is desired to close and seal the opening  14  of the container  6 . Consequently, the container  6  and the container body  10 , partially depicted in  FIGS. 1 ,  10 , may define numerous shapes and configurations, all of which may be used with the invention. 
     Variations and modifications of the foregoing are within the scope of the present invention. It should be understood that the invention disclosed and defined herein extends to all alternative combinations of two or more of the individual features mentioned or evident from the text and/or drawings. All of these different combinations constitute various alternative aspects of the present invention. The embodiments described herein explain the best modes known for practicing the invention and will enable others skilled in the art to utilize the invention. The claims are to be construed to include alternative embodiments to the extent permitted by the prior art. 
     Various features of the invention are set forth in the following claims.