Patent Publication Number: US-9409681-B2

Title: Container, closure, and package

Description:
The present disclosure is directed to packages and, more particularly, containers, and closures for containers. 
     BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     Container closures include crimpable closures, for example, securable to crown finishes of bottles. U.S. Pat. No. 3,494,093 illustrates an example crimp-type closure. Container closures also include threadable closures, for example, securable to threaded finishes of bottles. U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,789,719 and 4,337,678 illustrate examples of thread-type closures. 
     A general object of the present disclosure, in accordance with one aspect of the disclosure, is to provide a closure that is resealable to a container, is relatively comfortable to remove, and permits pressure in the container to be relieved before the closure is disengaged from the container, and to provide a container that has a crown finish that provides good “lip-feel” to one who consumes product directly from the container. 
     The present disclosure embodies a number of aspects that can be implemented separately from or in combination with each other. 
     A closure for a container having a neck with an external bead in accordance with one aspect of the disclosure includes an inner shell and an outer shell coupled to the inner shell. The inner shell includes an inner shell base wall having a central passage, and an annular skirt extending axially from the base wall radially outward of the central passage and having an outer surface and at least one external thread segment projecting from the outer surface. The outer shell includes an outer shell base wall, a plug seal extending axially from the base wall through the central passage of the inner shell base wall, and an annular outer skirt extending axially from the base wall radially outward of the plug seal and having at least one internal thread segment for threaded engagement with the at least one external thread segment of the inner shell. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, there is provided a container that includes a body, a shoulder extending from the body, and a neck extending from the shoulder. The neck includes an axial outward end surface, an inner annular sealing surface axially spaced from the axial outward end surface, an inner annular relief axially between the annular sealing surface and the axial outward end surface and having a larger diameter than that of the inner annular sealing surface, an outer annular bead axially between the shoulder and the axial outward end surface and axially overlapping the inner annular relief, wherein the outer annular bead includes a radial outer surface, an axial outward surface, and an axial inward surface. The neck also includes an outer annular relief axially between the shoulder and the outer annular bead. 
     In accordance with a further aspect of the disclosure, there is provided a closure for a container having a mouth surrounded by an external bead. The closure includes an inner shell having an annular skirt with external thread segments and a plurality of angularly spaced grip petals, and an outer shell having an annular skirt with internal thread segments for threaded engagement with the external thread segments on the inner shell such that an edge of the skirt on the outer shell engages the grip petals and hooks the grip petals over the external bead upon tightening of the outer shell over the inner shell. 
     In accordance with an additional aspect of the disclosure, there is provided a closure inner shell that includes an inner shell base wall having a central passage, and an annular skirt extending axially from the base wall radially outward of the central passage and having an outer surface and at least one external thread segment projecting from the outer surface. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The disclosure, together with additional objects, features, advantages and aspects 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 package in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure, illustrated with a closure according to an illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure that is applied to a container according to an illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  is a fragmentary exploded perspective view of the package of  FIG. 1 , illustrating the closure exploded away from the container; 
         FIG. 3  is a fragmentary, perspective, cross-sectional view of the package illustrated in  FIG. 2 , taken along line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is an enlarged view of the package illustrated in  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a fragmentary perspective view of the package of  FIG. 1 , illustrated with the closure being removed from or applied to the container; 
         FIG. 6  is a fragmentary, perspective, cross-sectional view of the package illustrated in  FIG. 5 , taken along line  6 - 6  of  FIG. 5 ; and 
         FIG. 7  is a fragmentary, exploded, perspective, cross-sectional view of the package of  FIG. 1 , illustrated with the closure removed from the container. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a package  10  including a container  12 , and a closure  14  coupled to the container  12 . The package  10  includes a longitudinal axis A along which the container  12  generally extends, also along which the closure  14  may be applied to and removed from the container  12 , and about which a portion of the closure  14  may be rotated. In one embodiment, the package  10  may include a beverage package, and may be used to contain pressurized liquid, for example, carbonated beverages, like beer, soda, etc. Accordingly, the package  10  may be a closed beer bottle, closed soda bottle, or the like. In other embodiments, the package  10  may include any other suitable type of closed container for any suitable purpose. As used herein, directional words such as top, bottom, upper, upward, downward, lower, radial, circumferential, lateral, longitudinal, transverse, vertical, horizontal, and the like are employed by way of description and not necessarily limitation. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 2 and/or 3 , the container  12  may be of one-piece integrally formed construction, preferably glass, plastic, or metal construction. (The term “integrally formed construction” does not exclude one-piece integrally molded layered glass constructions of the type disclosed for example in U.S. Pat. No. 4,740,401, or one-piece glass or metal bottles to which other structure is added after the bottle-forming operation.) The container  12  may be fabricated in press-and-blow or blow-and-blow glass container manufacturing operations, in a plastic injection and/or blow molding operation, in a metal drawing operation, or in any other suitable manner. The container  12  includes a base (not shown) on which the container  12  may be supported, a body  16  extending axially from the base, a shoulder  18  extending radially and axially from the body  16 , and a neck  20  extending axially from the shoulder  18 . As used herein, the term axial includes oriented generally along a longitudinal axis of the closure, container, or package and may include but is not limited to a direction that is strictly parallel to the axis. The neck  20  includes a lip or axial outward end surface  22  ( FIG. 3 ), an outer annular bead  24  axially between the shoulder  18  and the axial outward end surface  22  and including a radial outer surface  26 , an axial outward surface  28  that may be the same as or coplanar with the axial outward end surface  22  of the neck  20 , an axial inward surface  30 , and an outer annular reduced diameter portion or relief  32  axially between the shoulder  18  and the outer annular bead  24 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 3 , the neck  20  also may include an inner annular sealing surface  34  axially spaced from the axial outward end surface  22 , and an inner annular relief  36  axially between the inner annular sealing surface  34  and the axial outward end surface  22  and having a larger diameter than that of the inner annular sealing surface  34 . The annular relief  36  may axially overlap the outer annular bead  24  and may include an annular surface  36   a  and a tapered surface  36   b  between the annular surface  36   a  and the sealing surface  34 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2 and/or 3 , the container  12  also may include one or more reliefs  38  in the radial outer surface  26  of the outer annular bead  24  and axially extending through the axial outward surface  28  of the outer annular bead  24 . The relief(s)  38  also may axially extend through the axial inward surface  30  of the bead  24 . The neck  20  also may include a mouth  29  ( FIG. 3 ) between the axial outward surface  22  and the inner annular relief  36 . The bead  24  may be relatively tall for good “lip feel”. For example, the axial height or length of the bead  24  may be at least 0.080″ in axial length. In another embodiment, the relief  38  and the lug  58  could be reversed, such that the lug  58  could be carried on the container neck and the relief  38  could be carried by the closure shell. The axial outward surface  22 , the bead  24 , and the mouth  29  may be referred to as the “finish” of the container  12 . The finish also may include corresponding one or more interior portions of the neck  20 , for example, the inner annular relief  36  and at least a portion of the sealing surface  34 . 
     The closure  14  is a multi-piece closure and, in particular, may be a two-piece closure, for example, including only two shells. The closure  14  includes an inner shell  40 , and an outer shell  42  coupled to the inner shell  40 . The inner shell  40  secures directly to the container  12 , and the outer shell  42  secures directly to the inner shell  40  and sealingly engages directly with the container  12 . The inner and outer shells  40 ,  42  may be composed of any suitable plastic(s) and may be injection molded, compression molded, or produced in any other suitable manner. 
     The inner shell  40  includes an inner shell base wall  44  extending transversely with respect to the axis A having a central passage  46  with an inner diameter, and an annular skirt  48  extending axially from the base wall  44  radially outward of the central passage  46 . As used herein, the term transverse may mean disposed at some angle with respect to a longitudinal axis of the closure, container, or package and along any direction intersecting the closure, container, or package, and may include but is not limited to a radial direction. The skirt  48  ( FIG. 2 ) includes an upper or first axial end  50  at the base wall  44 , a lower or second axial end  52 , and inner and outer surfaces  54 ,  56  extending therebetween. The skirt  48  also includes one or more internal lugs  58  ( FIG. 2 ) projecting from the inner surface  54  for registration in the corresponding reliefs  38  ( FIG. 2 ) of the container  12  to radially restrain the inner shell  40  on the container  12 . The skirt  48  further includes one or more external thread segments  60  projecting from the outer surface  56 . As used herein, the term thread segment includes whole, partial, multiple, and/or an interrupted thread and/or thread segment. 
     The inner shell  40  also includes a plurality of petals  62  extending from the annular skirt  48 , for example from the axially lower end  52 , for gripping a corresponding portion of the container  12 . The petals  62  are angularly or circumferentially spaced from one another, are circumferentially adjacent to one another with circumferential spaces  63  therebetween, and extend axially and radially outwardly in a free state of the inner shell  40 . The petals  62  may include two or more petals, for example, four, six, eight, ten, twelve petals, or any other suitable quantity of petals. The petals  62  may include adjacent circumferential side surfaces  64  ( FIG. 2 ), radially inner and outer surfaces  66 ,  68 , and frustoconical surfaces  70  ( FIG. 3 ) extending between the axially lower end  52  of the inner shell annular skirt  48  and the radially outer surfaces  68 . The skirt  48  also may include radially inner incurvate surfaces  72  adjacent the axially lower end  52  of the skirt  48  and establishing a thinned wall  74  connecting the petals  62  to the lower end  52  of the skirt  48 , and a radially inward facing shoulder  76  and an axially outward facing shoulder  78 . The axially outward facing shoulder  78  may be tapered from the radially inward surface  66  upward to the radially inward facing shoulder  76 . The shoulders  78  of the petals  62  engage the axial inward surface  30  of the outer annular bead  24  to retain the closure  14  on the container  12 . The shell  40  may be molded so that the petals  62  extend axially and radially outwardly from the annular skirt  48  in a rest or free state, for example, as shown in  FIG. 2 . Accordingly, the petals  62  may be flexible radially inwardly and may have memory in that they resiliently return radially outwardly to their molded rest state. 
     The outer shell  42  includes an outer shell base wall  80 , an annular inner skirt  82  extending axially from the base wall  80  through the central passage  46  of the inner shell  40  base wall  44  to retain the inner shell  40  to the outer shell  42 , and an annular outer skirt  84  extending axially from the base wall  80  radially outward of the inner skirt  82  and having one or more internal thread segments  86  for threaded engagement with the external thread segment(s)  60  of the inner shell  40 . The annular inner skirt  82  also may serve as an annular seal wall or plug seal for sliding contact or engagement with the annular sealing surface  34  of the container neck  20  when the closure  14  is applied to the container  12 . The inner skirt  82  includes an annular wall  88  having an outer surface  90  with an outer diameter less than the inner diameter of the central passage  46 . The inner skirt  82  also includes an annular enlargement  92  extending radially outwardly from the annular wall  88  and having an outer surface  94  with an outer diameter greater than the inner diameter of the central passage  46 . The base wall  44  of the inner shell  40  is axially retained between the outer shell base wall  80  and the annular enlargement  92 , which may be an annular seal. 
     The container  12  may be sealed by the closure  14  by engagement of the plug seal of the outer shell  42  with the inner annular sealing surface  34  of the container neck  20 . The container  12  also may be sealed by the closure  14  by engagement of the base wall  44  of the inner shell  40  with the lip  22  of the container neck  20 , and/or by engagement of the inner surface  58  of the annular skirt  48  of the inner shell  40  with the outer surface  26  of the annular bead  24  of the container neck  20 . 
     As best shown in  FIG. 4 , the inner skirt  82  further may include a frustoconical or tapered surface  95  that may extend radially inwardly from the outer surface  94  and that may intersect an axial end surface  93  of the skirt  82 . The skirt  82  also may include one or more vent channels or reliefs  96 , for example, in the outer surface  94 , to cooperate with the inner annular relief  36  of the container neck  20  to establish a pressure relief or vent path when the closure  14  is being removed from the container  12 . The reliefs  96  also may intersect the tapered surface  95  wherein axially lower portions of the reliefs  96  are axially open and axially upper portions of the reliefs  96  are closed by the outer surface  94  of the annular enlargement  92 . The outer skirt  84  of the outer shell  42  includes an axially lower end or edge  98  and a radially inner surface  99  adjacent to the edge  98  to engage the petals  62  of the inner shell  40  and fold or hook the petals  62  over the container neck external bead  24  when the closure  14  is being applied to the container  12  such that the outer shell  42  is being tightened to the inner shell  40 . The edge  98  may axially engage the tapers  70  to gradually fold the petals  62  into engagement with the container bead  24 . 
     In use, the closure  14  may be assembled or preassembled and then applied to the container  12 . For example, the annular inner skirt  82  of the outer shell  42  may be resilient and interference fit through the central passage  46  of the base wall  44  of the inner shell  40  so as to assemble the inner shell  40  to the outer shell  42 . Then, the assembled closure  14  may be located over the container neck  20  wherein the annular inner skirt  82  of the outer shell  42  is inserted into the mouth  29  of the container neck  20 , the petals  62  are located around the container neck  20 , and the internal lugs  58  of the inner shell  40  are located in the corresponding reliefs  38  in the container neck  20 . Thereafter, the outer shell  42  may be rotated relative to the inner shell  40  so that the internal threads  86  of the outer shell  42  threadingly engage the external threads  60  of the inner shell  40 . Next, rotation of the outer shell  42  continues such that the annular outer skirt  84  of the outer shell  42  engages the petals  62  to fold or hook the petals  62  over the external bead  24  of the container neck  20  upon tightening of the outer shell  42  to the inner shell  40 . Accordingly, the closure  14  is fastened and sealed to the container  12 . More particularly, the outer shell  42  fastens to the inner shell  40  to cause fastening of the inner shell  40  to the container  12  while the inner skirt  82  of the outer shell  42  seals to the container  12 . 
     Also in use, the closure  14  may be removed from the container  12 . For example the outer shell  42  may be rotated to threadingly disengage the internal thread segments  86  of the outer shell  42  from the external thread segments  60  of the inner shell  40 . As the outer shell  42  is unscrewed from the inner shell  40 , the inner skirt  82  slides axially along the sealing surface  34  of the container  12  and the relief(s)  96  in the inner skirt  82  axially overlap with the inner annular relief  36  of the container neck  20  at a desired spacing between the shells  40 ,  42  and thereby cooperate to establish a vent path to vent the container  12  to atmosphere before the petals  62  of the inner shell  40  completely disengage from the container neck bead  24 . Accordingly, there may be some lost motion (axially) as the outer shell  42  moves axially relative to the container  12  but the inner shell  40  initially remains axially stationary with respect to the container  12 . As shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , as the outer shell  42  continues to be unscrewed from the inner skirt  40 , the outer skirt  84  of the outer shell  42  moves away from the petals  62  to allow the resilient petals  62  to resiliently unfold or return to their free state in which they extend axially and radially outwardly from the annular skirt  48  of the inner shell  40  and thereby release from the container  12 . The inner shell lugs  58  cooperate with the reliefs  38  in the container bead  24  to prevent the inner skirt  40  from rotating relative to the container  12  as the outer shell  42  is unscrewed from the inner shell  40 . As also shown in  FIG. 6 , the annular inner skirt  82  disengages from the inner sealing surface  34  of the container neck  20 . Accordingly, the closure  14  can be pulled away from the container  12  as shown in  FIG. 7 , wherein a pulling force exerted on the outer shell  42  causes the inner shell  40  to be pulled away from the container  12  by way of the coupling between the outer shell  42  and the inner shell  40 . Thereafter, the closure  14  may be reapplied and resealed to the container  12 . 
     Accordingly, the package  10  includes a container neck without threads, but includes a closure that operates in a familiar screw-on, screw-off manner. 
     There thus has been disclosed a package, container, and closure, that fully satisfy all of the objects and aims previously set forth. The disclosure has been presented in conjunction with several illustrative embodiments, and additional modifications and variations have been discussed. Other modifications and variations readily will suggest themselves to persons of ordinary skill in the art in view of the foregoing discussion. The disclosure is intended to embrace all such modifications and variations as fall within the spirit and broad scope of the appended claims.