Patent EA-003682-B1 (EA)
Title: Container closure system
Inventor: PITASSI JAMES L
IPC: B65D41/17
Filed: 2000-09-13
Abstract: 1. A container closure system comprising: a container having a generally oval-shaped opening in one end thereof, said opening having a major axis, a minor axis, and an outer peripheral rim; a cap having a top wall and a skirt depending from said top wall, said skirt having an inner surface of substantially rectangular cross-section, said skirt defining an interior surface of said cap, said interior surface including a plurality of rim-engaging members; said outer peripheral rim including cap-engaging portions at the major and minor axes of said outer peripheral rim, said first plurality of rim-engaging members having their longitudinal axis parallel to said rim; said rim and said plurality of rim-engaging members being in an engaged relationship when said cap is in a closed position over the opening in the container, and wherein said rim and said plurality of rim-engaging members will be in a disengaged relationship when said cap is twisted less than 45 with respect to the vertical axis of said container, thereby releasing said cap from said container. 2. The container closure system of claim 1 wherein said rim-engaging members comprise four ridges on said interior surface of said cap, said ridges being located opposite the major and minor axes of said opening in said cap when said container is closed. 3. The container closure system of claim 1 wherein said rim-engaging members comprise four grooves in said interior surface of said cap, said grooves being located opposite the major and minor axes of said opening in said cap, said grooves being disposed to engage portions of said rim at the major and minor axes of said opening when said container is closed. 4. The container closure system of claim 1 wherein said cap-engaging portions comprise four ribs located on the major and minor axes of said outer peripheral rim of said opening. 5. A container closure system comprising: a container having a generally oval-shaped opening in one end thereof, said opening having a major axis, a minor axis, and an outer peripheral rim; a cap having a top wall and a skirt depending from said top wall, said skirt having an inner surface of substantially rectangular cross-section, said skirt defining an interior surface of said cap, said interior surface having four separate ridges; said peripheral outer rim including cap-engaging portions at the major and minor axes of said outer peripheral rim, said ridges having their longitudinal axis parallel to said rim; said rim and said ridges being in an engaged relationship when said cap is in a closed position over the opening in the container, and wherein said rim and said ridges will be in a disengaged relationship when said cap is twisted less than 45 degree with respect to the vertical axis of said container, thereby releasing said cap from said container. 6. The container closure system of claim 5 wherein said rim includes ribs disposed on said rim at opposite axes of said opening and its peripheral rim, said ribs having their longitudinal axis parallel to said rim. 7. The container closure system of claim 5, wherein, when said cap is in the closed position, said ridges are positioned below said cap-engaging portions. 8. The container closure system of claim 7, wherein said ridges are coplanar and said cap-engaging portions are coplanar. 9. The container closure system of claim 7 wherein said cap-engaging members comprise a plurality of ribs disposed on said rim. 10. The container closure system of claim 5, wherein said ridges have respective lengths of approximately one-sixth to one-tenth of the inner surface portion length on which said plurality of ridges are respectively disposed, and said cap-engaging portions have substantially uniform respective lengths approximately equal to the longer of the respective lengths of said ridges. 11. The container closure system of claim 5, wherein said ridges are disposed approximately at the center of respective portions of said inner surface, said respective inner surface portions combining to form said interior surface of said cap. 12. The container closure system of claim 5, wherein said container and said cap consist essentially of a thermoplastic polymer. 13. The container closure system of claim 5, wherein said cap is twisted with respect to a vertical axis of said cap and container. 14. The container closure system of claim 5, wherein said container comprises a main body portion and a neck portion attached to an upper end of the main body portion, the neck portion terminating to form the peripheral rim. 15. The container closure system of claim 14, further comprising a sloped surface connecting the neck portion to the main body portion. 16. The container closure system of claim 15, wherein upon twisting the cap to the open position, an edge of the skirt contacts the sloped surface causing the cap to move in a direction away from the container main body. 17. The container closure system of claim 16, wherein the main body has a substantially rectangular cross-section in a horizontal plane and the neck portion has a substantially oval cross-section in a horizontal plane. 18. The container closure system of claim 5, wherein said cap is twisted with respect to said container to no more than approximately 5-20 degrees to release said cap from said container.