Patent Publication Number: US-2015069074-A1

Title: Fitment system

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/876,938 entitled Gravity Bottle Cap, filed on Sep. 12, 2013, the content of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to container fitments. More particularly, a system of caps, covers, fitments, or other devices are provided that are adaptable for varying sized container necks and styles, and for controlling the outflow of contents of a container. Still more particularly the system may be configured for supporting and/or balancing a container above the fitment such as in an inverted orientation. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Flowable products packaged in containers work well when the container is relatively full. Generally, these containers are configured to stand up on the bottom side, with the container cap or pump facing upward. In this basic storage configuration, gravity causes the flowable product within the container to settle in the bottom of the container. A user may typically attempt to invert the container in order to cause the flowable product therein to flow toward the container cap and urge the desired amount of flowable product out of the container cap for use. 
     As the amount of flowable product diminishes within the container, it becomes more and more difficult, taking longer periods of time, to obtain a desired amount of flowable product from the container through the container cap or pump, which are commonly prone to premature failure, thus, leaving product stranded in the bottom of the container. Some containers have been designed to rest in an inverted position, i.e., container cap side down, in order to force the flowable product against the container cap through gravitational force. This allows the user to simply pick up the container and immediately dispense the flowable product therein without having to wait for the flowable product to flow down the sides of the container toward the container cap. 
     However, most known containers do not have the ability to be stored in this inverted position. In addition, inverting the current range of container sizes, with varying container neck sizes and varying cap/pump configurations, is not possible given the current state of the art. Applicant is unaware of any device or system that will accommodate the variety of container neck sizes and styles in order to provide a stable inversion of the container. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In one embodiment, a fitment system for a neck of a container may include a fitment. The fitment may include a base portion with a top and a bottom and a threaded bore extending upward into the base portion from the bottom to a bore bottom configured for sealingly engaging a top of the container neck. The fitment may also include a nozzle portion extending from the base portion to a tip and configured for controlling the outflow of content from the container without imparting torsional forces on the fitment. The fitment may also include a support portion extending from the base portion to a distal end arranged at or beyond the tip, the support portion being configured for supporting the container in an inverted position. In some embodiments, the fitment system may also include an adaptor configured for reducing or enlarging the diameter of the fitment for use with containers having smaller or larger container necks. 
     A device and system and method for allowing stable inversion of virtually any necked flexibly resilient container with flowable product therein for purposes of facilitating quick and full release of the flowable product through the container cap when desired. An adaptor system allows for varying sizes of container necks and styles to be accommodated by the present invention. The present invention allows for stable inverted storage of the container with flowable product therein, staging the flowable product against the container cap for quick release when the user desires. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a fitment, according to some embodiments. 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the fitment of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a side view of the fitment of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a bottom view of the fitment of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  is a side view of the fitment of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 6  is a top view of the fitment of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional side view of the fitment of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the fitment of  FIG. 1  with the cap removed. 
         FIG. 9  is a bottom view of the fitment of  FIG. 8 . 
         FIG. 10  is a side view of the fitment of  FIG. 8 . 
         FIG. 11  is a top view of the fitment of  FIG. 8 . 
         FIG. 12  is a side view of the fitment of  FIG. 8 . 
         FIG. 13  is a cross-sectional side view of the fitment of  FIG. 8 . 
         FIG. 14  is a perspective view of a cap of the fitment of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 15  is a bottom view of the cap of  FIG. 14 . 
         FIG. 16  is a side view of the cap of  FIG. 14 . 
         FIG. 17  is a top view of the cap of  FIG. 14 . 
         FIG. 18  is a side view of the cap of  FIG. 14 . 
         FIG. 19  is a side cross-sectional view of the cap of  FIG. 14 . 
         FIG. 20  is a perspective view of a seal of the fitment of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 21  is a top/bottom view of the seal of  FIG. 20 . 
         FIG. 22  is a side view of the seal of  FIG. 20 . 
         FIG. 23  is a side cross-sectional view of the seal of  FIG. 20 . 
         FIG. 24  is a perspective view of the fitment of  FIG. 1  together with and adaptor. 
         FIG. 25  is an exploded view of the fitment and adaptor of  FIG. 24 . 
         FIG. 26  is a side view of the fitment and adaptor of  FIG. 24 . 
         FIG. 27  is a bottom view of the fitment and adaptor of  FIG. 24 . 
         FIG. 28  is a side view of the fitment and adaptor of  FIG. 24 . 
         FIG. 29  is a top view of the fitment and adaptor of  FIG. 24 . 
         FIG. 30  is a side cross-sectional view of the fitment and adaptor of  FIG. 24 . 
         FIG. 31  is a perspective view of the adaptor of  FIG. 24 . 
         FIG. 32  is a side view of the adaptor of  FIG. 31 . 
         FIG. 33  is a bottom view of the adaptor of  FIG. 31 . 
         FIG. 34  is a side view of the adaptor of  FIG. 31 . 
         FIG. 35  is a top view of the adaptor of  FIG. 31 . 
         FIG. 36  is a side cross-sectional view of the adaptor of  FIG. 31 . 
         FIG. 37  is a perspective view of a seal of the fitment and adaptor of  FIG. 24 . 
         FIG. 38  is a top/bottom view of the seal of  FIG. 37 . 
         FIG. 39  is a side view of the seal of  FIG. 37 . 
         FIG. 40  is a side cross-sectional view of the seal of  FIG. 37 . 
         FIG. 41  is a perspective view of another embodiment of a fitment similar to that of  FIG. 1  and having an adaptor. 
         FIG. 42  is an exploded view of the fitment and adaptor of  FIG. 41 . 
         FIG. 43  is a side view of the fitment and adaptor of  FIG. 41 . 
         FIG. 44  is a bottom view of the fitment and adaptor of  FIG. 41 . 
         FIG. 45  is a side view of the fitment and adaptor of  FIG. 41 . 
         FIG. 46  is a top view of the fitment and adaptor of  FIG. 41 . 
         FIG. 47  is a side cross-sectional view of the fitment and adaptor of  FIG. 41 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The present application, in one or more embodiments, discusses a fitment system usable to invert a flexibly resilient container to simplify access to the trailing contents of the container and adaptable for use with containers having different neck diameters and styles. For example, the system may include a fitment adapted for use with a relatively large container neck. This fitment may be substantially cup-shaped with an internal diameter sized to receive the large container neck and having internal threads for threading onto the container neck. This relatively large fitment may include a system of struts or braces radiating from it such that, when the fitment is secured to the container neck, the fitment may stably support the respective container in an inverted position. The system may also include a series of adaptors or inserts. The adaptors or inserts may be used to downsize the internal thread diameter of the fitment such that container necks with smaller diameters may be accommodated. A series of inserts may be provided where each is adapted to downsize the large fitment to one of several different sizes. For example, the adaptors may thread within the fitment and may have a threaded inner bore with a diameter adapted for a smaller sized container neck. 
     The system may be advantageous for accessing the trailing contents of a container. Also, the system may be advantageous for use with containers not amenable to standing upright in any orientation. For example some soft-side containers for content such as toothpaste, ointments, creams, and other content may typically be placed in a medicine cabinet or on a shelf in a lying position. The present system may be used to allow these containers to be placed in an upright position allowing such containers to be more easily organized and maintained, while in some cases depending on the viscosity and other properties of the contents, also helping to move the contents toward the outlet of the container. In some cases, the system may be provided by the product manufacturer together with the product and in other cases, the system may be purchased by a consumer and used to replace the caps that are provided on the products. In either case, the system may be removable and reusable with multiple bottles or product containers throughout its life. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1-23 , a fitment  100  in the form of a container cap is shown. The fitment  100  may be configured for securing to a threaded or other type of neck of a bottle or other container and for supporting the bottle or container in an inverted position. The fitment  100  may also allow the contents of the container to be selectively or controllably delivered from the container by actuation of a nozzle, for example. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the fitment  100  may include a base portion  102 , a nozzle portion  104 , and a support portion  106 , each of which are described in more detail below. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 3-13 , the base portion  102  may be configured for securing to a neck of a bottle or container. The base portion  102  may have a top  108  and a bottom  110 . The base portion  102  may include a bore  112  extending upward from the bottom  110  into the base portion  102 . The bore  112  may extend into the base portion  102  to a bore bottom  114  defining the depth of the bore  116  measured from the bottom  110  of the base portion  102  to the bore bottom  114 . The bore  116  may be substantially cylindrically shaped defining a cylindrical bore wall having a bore diameter  118 . The internal wall of the bore  116  may include threads arranged thereon and adapted to engage threads on a container neck, for example. In some embodiments, the diameter  118  of the bore  116  may range from approximately 20 mm to approximately 50 mm or from approximately 30 mm to approximately 40 mm or a diameter of approximately 38 mm or, more precisely, 38.2 mm may be provided. Still other diameters  118  may be provided and adapted for matching and/or accommodating a particular neck size or diameter. 
     In other embodiments, the base portion  102  may be adapted for a snap-type engagement with a container neck and may include a cylindrically extending rib or recess adapted to engage a cylindrically extending recess or rib on a container neck. It is to be appreciated that a rib on the inside surface of the bore  112  may snap over a rib on a container neck or a rib on the inside surface of the bore  112  may engage a recess on a container neck. In other embodiments, a rib on a container neck may engage a recess on the inside surface of the bore  112 . Still other snapping engagements including multiple ribs and/or recesses may be provided. 
     The bore bottom  114  may be adapted to seat tightly against the upper annular surface of the container neck to create a seal to resist leakage of contents from the container into and along the bore  112 . In some embodiments, for example, the bore bottom  114  may be a substantially annularly shaped surface arranged substantially perpendicular to the bore wall. Still further, in some embodiments, a gasket  113  such as the annular piece of resilient material shown in  FIGS. 20-23  may be provided on the bore bottom  114  to increase the ability of the base portion  102  to seal against the upper annular surface of the container neck. In addition, the bore depth  116  may be selected such that it is sufficiently large to allow the threads arranged thereon to securely engage those of the container neck. However, the bore depth  116  may also be selected to be sufficiently short such that the bottom  110  of the bore  112  is drawn into a sealing seated engagement with the upper annular surface of the container prior to the bottom  110  of the base portion  102  engaging a shoulder of the container near the base of the container neck. In some embodiments, for example, the bore depth  116  may be selected to range from approximately 5 mm to approximately 30 mm, or from approximately 8 mm to approximately 12 mm or approximately 10 mm. For example, in some embodiments, thread finishes of approximately 400, or approximately 410, or approximately 415, as described/defined by the Glass Packaging Institute, may be provided and/or accommodated. Still other thread finishes may be provided. It is to be appreciated that the gasket may “take-up” some of the bore depth  116  and, as such, the bore depth  116  may be adjusted (i.e., increased or decreased) to accommodate the gasket thickness such that the overall depth  116  of the bore  112  may be equal to a working depth approximating the mentioned bore depth dimensions plus a gasket thickness. 
     The outer portion of the base  102  may also be substantially cylindrical with an outer diameter and establishing a wall thickness equal to the outer portion diameter less the bore diameter  118  and accounting for two walls on each side of the base portion  102 . In some embodiments, the outer diameter of the base may range from approximately 30 mm to approximately 50 mm or from approximately 35 mm to approximately 45 mm or a diameter of approximately 41 mm may be provided. In other embodiments, the outer portion of the base portion  102  may be substantially square, triangular, octagonal, hexagonal, or other shapes may be provided. In some embodiments, the outer portion of the base portion  102  may be shaped to support and/or accommodate particular aspects of the support portion  106  described below. For example, where four support braces are provided, a square outer portion may be provided allowing for each brace to extend from a corner of the base portion  102 , for example. Still other shapes and sizes of the outer portion may be provided. The base portion  102  may have a height greater than the bore depth  116  defining a thickness of the top portion  108  of the base portion  102 . The top portion  108  of the base  102  may be flat or, as shown, it may be conically shaped to accommodate the nozzle portion  104  described below. 
     In some embodiments, the base portion may be adapted for child-resistant attachment to the resilient container or bottle. For example, in some embodiments, a stop or catch may be provided on the base that is adapted to engage a top portion of a bottle or resilient container. For example, some bottles or resilient containers may include tabs or stops to engage corresponding tabs or stops on the inside of the cap. In order to remove the cap, the cap may be deformable such that when squeezed, the tabs on the inside of the cap clear those on the bottle allowing the cap to turn and/or unscrew. The base portion  102  may include same or similar tabs adapted to engage these tabs on the bottle. Still other types of child-resistant mechanisms may also be provided. In addition, other aspects of the system may be made to be child-resistant such as the cap discussed in more detail below. 
     The nozzle portion  104  may be arranged at or near the top  108  of the base portion  102  and may be configured for selectively receiving, passing through and/or controlling the outflow of the contents of a bottle or container. The nozzle portion  104  may extend abruptly through the bore bottom  114  as shown including a central throat  126 . In other alternative embodiments, the nozzle portion  104  may include a recessed mouth area in the bottom  114  of the bore  112  that is adapted to receive and funnel the contents toward a center of the base portion  102 . The recessed mouth, for example, may be inset into the bottom  114  of the bore  112  at a circular edge defining an inner edge of the annular seat surface at the bottom  114  of the bore  112 . From this circular edge, the recessed mouth may extend radially inward with a conical surface to the central throat  126 . In either or other embodiments, the central throat  126  may extend through the base portion  102  forming an opening through which the contents of the container may flow out of the fitment  100 . The throat  126  may be formed by a cylindrical throat wall or a throat  126  with a different cross-sectional shape, such as square, triangular, round, or another shape may be provided. The cylindrical throat wall may be formed by the top portion  108  of the base portion  102  as the throat  126  extends through the top portion  108  and the cylindrical throat wall may extend above the top  108  of the base portion  102  forming a cylindrical pedestal  132  above the top portion  108 . In some embodiments, the base may have a height from the bottom  110  of the base  102  to a point where the cylindrical pedestal extends upward may range from approximately 10 to 20 mm or from approximately 12 to 17 mm the height may be approximately 15 mm. In some embodiments, the internal throat diameter may range from approximately 10 to 20 mm or from approximately 12 to 17 mm or the internal throat diameter may be approximately 15 mm. 
     In some embodiments, a nozzle plug  128  may be provided for a push pull top to be provided. For example, as shown in  FIGS. 9 ,  11 , and  13 , a plurality of braces  130  may extend inward from the throat wall to support a plug  128  extending longitudinally along the throat  126 . The plug  128  may extend upward through the throat  126  and may protrude slightly out the top  108  of the throat  126  as shown in  FIGS. 10 and 12 . This plug  128  may seal a center hole on a push/pull top  133  such as the one shown in  FIGS. 14-19  and/or similar to that found on a common water bottle, for example. As shown in  FIGS. 10 and 12 , the plug  128  may extend beyond the end of the cylindrical pedestal  132  by a distance approximating the thickness of a flanged portion of a push/pull top  133  thereby allowing for a flush finish when such a push/pull top  133  is in the closed position. It is to be appreciated that one of many types of open and closing devices may be used together with the nozzle portion  104 . In some embodiments, a push/pull top  133  may be provided as described. In other embodiments, a flip top may be provided or a disc top or a membrane top may be provided. In still other embodiments, a slide top or a friction cap may be provided. The particular listed options for a top may be unique in that they avoid imposing torsional forces (i.e., torsion free tops) on the threads of the fitment  100  when they are actuated. That is, for example, where a twist-type top is used, opening the top may impose loosening torque on the fitment  100 , which may be particularly problematic when the top is stuck, for example, because higher loosening torque may be applied by the user to free the top thereby having a tendency to loosen the fitment  100 . If this loosening disrupts the communication between the container neck and the fitment, an unrealized leaking condition may then develop. It is also to be appreciated that the top described may be unique by being actuatable apart from and relative to the support portion  106 , which is to say that the top may be actuated without rotating or otherwise engaging or involving the support portion  106 . 
     The support portion  106  may be configured to support and/or balance the container when the fitment  100  is secured to a container. As shown in  FIGS. 1-13 , the support portion  106  may extend upwardly from the top portion  108  of the base  102 . The support portion  106  may extend upward from the base  102  sufficiently to be at least flush with the top of the nozzle portion  104  (i.e., top of imbalance features  135  of cap described below) when the top is in a closed position. As such, the support portion  106  may be effective to isolate the nozzle portion  104  from a load bearing condition such that the weight of the bottle is carried by the support portion  106  and the weight of the container and/or contents may not induce load to pass through the nozzle portion  104 . 
     In some embodiments, the support portion  106  may be particularly sized and adapted to extend upward from the base  102  such that the support portion  106  stops short of the nozzle portion  104  when the top is in an open condition, but extends beyond the nozzle portion  104  when the top is in a closed position. This approach may be advantageous to indicate to the user that the fitment  100  is open when a user attempts to place the container on the fitment  100  in the open condition. In some embodiments, if the nozzle portion  104  is open when the user attempts to place the container in an inverted position, the nozzle portion  104  may naturally close as the user sets the container on a surface, thereby preventing leaks or unwanted spills when inverting the container. In other embodiments, where the nozzle is more resistant to closing, the position of the nozzle portion  104  relative to the support portion may cause the container to be unstable if a user attempts to place it in an inverted position with the nozzle open because the support portion  106  stops short of the open nozzle portion  104 . For example, as shown in  FIGS. 14-19 , a cap  133  with a pair of imbalance features  135  may be provided. The imbalance features  135  may help to avoid balancing of the container on the nozzle portion  104  alone, but instead may induce tipping. This may cause the user to perceive an unstable condition encouraging the user to press down on the container to close the cap  133  and engage the support portion  106  of the device. In the embodiment shown, the imbalance features  135  may include a double-radiused edge following the contour of the cap  133  when viewed from above as in  FIG. 17  and following a similar radius as the feature rises from the top of the cap  133  and returns to the top of the cap as shown in  FIGS. 16 and 19 . In other embodiments, other geometries for the imbalance feature  135  may also be provided. For example, pin like protrusions, bulbs, prongs, beads, posts, or other surface elevated structures may be provided to create instability when the container is placed on the cap. In other embodiments the surface of the cap may be radiused or otherwise shaped to avoid a flat balanceable surface. 
     In some embodiments, the support portion  106  may be approximately 20 to 40 mm high from the bottom of the base to the top of the support portion or approximately 25 to 35 mm or approximately 33 mm of height may be provided. In some embodiments, the nozzle portion may range from approximately 20 mm to 40 mm high from the bottom of the base to the top of the nozzle portion or approximately 25 to 35 mm or a height of approximately 30 mm may be provided when the cap is in a closed position. In some embodiments, the cap of the nozzle portion may have a diameter ranging from approximately 15 to 45 mm or approximately 25 to 35 mm or approximately 30 mm. 
     As shown, the support portion  106  may include a plurality of struts  134  secured to the base portion  102  and extending upwardly therefrom. In some embodiments, the struts  134  may extend from the top portion  108  of the base  102 . However, in other embodiments, as shown, the struts  134  may extend from the sidewall of the base portion  102 . Depending on the size of the outer portion of the base  102  of the fitment  100 , the struts  134  may also extend outwardly in an effort to establish a wider stance and provide for a more stable condition when supporting a bottle or container. In extending upwardly and outwardly, the struts  134  may define a substantially conical, pyramidal, or other divergent shape. It is to be appreciated that, as shown, three struts  134  may be provided. However, a number larger than three may also be provided and, in some embodiments, where, for example, the struts  134  include a relatively substantial width across the base portion (e.g., segments of a cone), two struts  134  may be provided. In still other embodiments, a single cone-shaped strut  134  that extends the full radial circumference around the fitment  100  may be provided. Still other geometries of struts  134  may be provided such that three-dimensional balancing support may be provided to the attached bottle or container. In some embodiments, the struts  134  may extend to a distal end and the ends together may fall on a diameter ranging from approximately 20 mm to approximately 200 mm or from approximately 50 mm to approximately 150 mm or a diameter of approximately 78 mm or 81 mm may be provided. As shown, the struts  134  may be substantially channel-shaped and the distal end may, thus, be u-shaped like the cross-sectional shape of the channel. In other embodiments, the distal ends may be terminated with a flat surface, a rounded surface, pointed surface, or other shape. In some embodiments, the rounded surface on the distal end may be advantageous in working with the imbalancing features to avoid a balanced condition when the cap or other flow controlling feature of the fitment is in the open position. 
     The struts  134  may extend upward to a distal end  136 . The several distal ends  136  of the struts  134  may define a support plane. In some embodiments, the several distal  136  ends may define a plane that is substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis  138  (see  FIG. 2 ) of the fitment  100  and/or the container. That is, for example, the bore  112  of the fitment  100  and the nozzle portion  104  may share a central longitudinal axis  138  that may be in line with a longitudinal axis of the container neck. The plane of the several distal ends  136  of the struts  134  or other support portion elements may define a plane that is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis  138 . In addition, the distal ends  136  of the struts  134  may include an etched surface or a sticky or gripping surface or a pad may be provided to resist lateral motion of the bottle or container across a surface, for example. 
     Referring in more detail to  FIGS. 14-19 , a cap  133  for controlling the flow of material from the nozzle portion  104  is shown. In this embodiment a cap  133  having an outer cylindrical wall  137  and an inner cylindrical wall  139  is shown. The outer wall is sized and shaped to receive the pedestal  132  of the nozzle portion  104  therewithin and the inner cylindrical wall  139  is sized and shaped to fit within the pedestal  132  of the nozzle portion  132 . A top  141  is provided across the top of both of the outer and inner cylindrical walls  137 ,  139  for sealingly engaging the top annular surface of the pedestal  132 . The top  141  may include a hole in the center for allowing content from the container to flow through and/or to engage the plug  128  on the nozzle portion  104  when the cap  133  is closed. In addition, the cap  133  may include the imbalance features  135  described above. The outer cylindrical wall  137  of the cap  133  may also include one or more windows  143  or access openings for seeing, flushing, and/or otherwise cleaning between the outer cylindrical wall  137  of the cap  133  and the pedestal  132  if content or debris were to become trapped in this area. 
     In some embodiments, in addition to the base portion  102  having child-resistant features, the cap  133  may also have such features. For example, the cap  133  may be secured to the nozzle  104  with protrusions from the nozzle  104  which push through the nozzle  104  and are depressed in order for the cap  133  to pull open. In some embodiments, the protrusions may be spring loaded or otherwise resilient so as to snap into position when the cap  133  is closed. In other embodiments, a clip may extend across the cap  133  holding the cap  133  closed unless and until the clip is removed or deformed out of the way. In some embodiments, the clip may require some force to be removed or deformed. Still other features or mechanisms may be provided to create a child-resistant cap. In some embodiments, the child-resistant feature may be provided and may be actuatable by the user without imparting torsion on the cap or the fitment as a whole, which may tend to loosen the fitment&#39;s engagement with the resilient container. 
     It is to be appreciated that the described fitment  100  may be used with a suitable container without the adaptors  140  described below. That is, where the diameter of the bore  112  of the fitment  100  matches that of a bottle or container, the fitment  100  may be used with such a bottle or container and without the below adaptors  140 . However, where a bottle or container includes a container neck diameter smaller than the diameter of the bore  112  of the fitment  100 , an adaptor  140  may be provided to reduce the inner diameter of the bore  112  of the fitment  100  to a diameter matching that of the container. In other embodiments, one or more fitments  100  having different diameters may be provided to accommodate a wide range of container neck sizes. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 24-25 , the fitment  100  of  FIGS. 1-23  is shown with an adaptor  140 . Several views of the fitment  100  with the adaptor  140  are shown in  FIGS. 26-30 . In  FIGS. 31-36 , the adaptor  140  is shown. The adaptor  140  may be configured to threadably and sealingly engage the bore  112  of the fitment  100  and, as such, the adaptor  140  may include a cylindrical and threaded outer surface with a diameter substantially matching that of the inner diameter of the bore  112 . The adaptor  140  may include a bottom  142  and a top  144 , where the top  144  of the adaptor  140  is configured for sealingly engaging the bore bottom  114  of the fitment  100 . In some embodiments, the annular gasket, washer, or seal  113  of the fitment  100  may be provided to aid in sealingly engaging the fitment  100  with the top  144  of the adaptor  140 . Like the fitment  100 , the adaptor  140  may include a threaded bore  146  with a diameter  147  extending into the adaptor  140  from the bottom  142  of the adaptor  140  to a bore bottom  148  defining an adaptor bore depth  150  where the bore bottom  148  is adapted to be sealingly engaged by the top annular surface of the bottle or container. Like the fitment  100 , an annular gasket, washer, or seal  145 , as shown in  FIGS. 37-40  may be provided to assist in sealing the top of the container to the bore bottom  148  of the adaptor  140 . Also, like the fitment  100 , the bore depth  150  and/or working depth (i.e., bore depth less gasket thickness) may be selected to suitably engage the container neck without encountering the shoulder on a container and the same or similar working depths and/or bore depths as described with respect to the fitment  100  may be provided. 
     The adaptor  140  may also include an outward extending flange  152  at its bottom end  142  where the flange  152  has an inner diameter substantially equal to the bore diameter  147  and the flange  152  has an outer diameter substantially equal to the outer diameter of the fitment  100 . In some embodiments, the outer peripheral edge of the flange  152  may include a knurled, textured, toothed, or otherwise roughened surface allowing a user to grip the adaptor  140  relative to the fitment  100  to tighten and/or loosen the adaptor  140  in the fitment  100 . 
     It is to be appreciated, and with reference to  FIGS. 30 and 36 , that the adaptor  140  may have a height measured from bottom  142  to top  144  equal to the bore depth  116  of the fitment  100  plus a gap dimension  149  between the bottom of the fitment  100  and the flange  152  plus the thickness of the flange  152  of the adaptor. In some embodiments, the gap  149  may range from approximately 0 mm (i.e., no gap) to approximately 10 mm or from approximately 0.5 mm to approximately 1.5 mm or a gap of approximately 1 mm may be provided. Still other gap dimensions inside or outside the ranges mentioned may be provided. In some embodiments, the thickness of the flange  152  may range from approximately 1 mm to approximately 10 mm or from approximately 2 mm to approximately 5 mm or approximately 3.5 mm. Still other flange thicknesses inside or outside the thicknesses mentioned may be provided. In addition, the thickness of the top portion  144  of the adaptor  140  beyond the bore depth  150  of the adaptor  140  may be substantially equal to or similar to the flange thickness such that the bore depth  150  of the adaptor  140  may be substantially equal to the bore depth  116  of the fitment  100  allowing for the same advantages of avoiding encountering the shoulder of a container neck before a fully seated connection is established, for example. Moreover, as the adaptor  140  is threaded into the fitment  100 , the top  144  of the adaptor may engage the sealing gasket or bore bottom of the fitment  100  and the gap dimension  149  may help to avoid premature engagement of the flange  152  with the bottom of the fitment  100  before a seated condition of the adaptor is achieved. In other embodiments, where the gap  149  is not provided, the top of the adaptor may become seated in the bore bottom of the fitment simultaneously with the engagement of the flange  152  with the bottom of the fitment. 
     The adaptor  140  may also include an opening  154  in the top portion  144  of the adaptor  140  for passing through of content from the bottle or container. The opening  154  may have a diameter equal to or slightly larger than the throat diameter of the fitment  100  so as to avoid further restricting the flow of content through the throat  126 . In other embodiments, the opening diameter may be smaller than the throat diameter. 
     It is to be appreciated that an adaptor simply including an outer threaded surface and a smaller diameter inner threaded surface may be provided. That is, such an adaptor may not have a bore bottom, but instead may have a bore extending all the way through the adaptor and the adaptor may not include the flange. However, such an adaptor may be difficult and messy to remove from the fitment  100  because a user may need to access the inside of the adaptor to cause it to unscrew from the fitment  100 . Still further, if a flange is provided for purposes of inserting and removing the adaptor (i.e., but still without a bore bottom), the bore depth from the bottom of the adaptor to the sealing surface increases and may cause the bottom of the system to encounter a shoulder on a container neck before the bore bottom of the fitment  100  seatingly engages the top annular surface of a container neck. Accordingly, the adaptor  140  having a top  144  and a flange  152  may be advantageous due to its ability to be easily removed while not adding to the working depth of the bore. 
     Additional adaptors that are the same or similar to the adaptor  140  may be provided where the adaptor bore diameter is different to accommodate smaller diameter container necks, for example. The inner diameter of each adaptor may be sized and shaped in complementary fashion to allow threaded engagement with threaded container necks that are smaller than the fitment&#39;s bore diameter  118 . In some systems, three adaptors with successively smaller inner diameters may be provided. For example, a first adaptor with inner diameter which is less than the inner diameter  118  of the fitment may be provided. In addition, a second adaptor with and inner diameter which is less than inner diameter  118  and the inner diameter of the first adaptor may also be provided. Still further, a third adaptor with an inner diameter which is less than the inner diameter  118  and the inner diameters of the first and second adaptors may also be provided. In some embodiments, for example, based on plastic container standards, the several inner diameters of the adaptors may include 33 mm, 28 mm, and 24 mm, (or more particularly 33.2 mm, 28.2 mm, and 24.3 mm) while the fitment inner diameter  118  may be 38 mm (or more particularly 38.2 mm) Additional adaptors may be provided. 
     Some examples are listed below for various adaptor sizings: 
     The fitment inner diameter  118  may be approximately 38 mm and may be suitable to accommodate, e.g., a gallon container such as car wash soap or creamy salad dressing; 
     The first adaptor inner diameter may be approximately 33 mm and may be suitable to accommodate a typical container of honey or barbeque sauce; 
     The second adaptor inner diameter may be 28 mm and may be suitable to accommodate typical containers of shampoo, conditioner, body lotion and the like. This dimension may be most common in the marketplace; 
     The third adaptor inner diameter may be approximately 24 mm and may be suitable to accommodate smaller containers of lotion and the like. 
     The number of adaptors illustrated and described, as well as the dimensions of same are examples and nothing should be construed as limiting the sizes of the fitment or the adaptors to the sizes shown. Additional adaptors may be provided with differing dimensions, i.e., inner diameters and overall lengths (or working depths) than described. Each of these variations are well within the scope of the present invention. 
     For example, an adaptor with a 32 mm bore diameter may be provided for a particular container type such as, for example, a Hershey&#39;s® syrup bottle. In other embodiments, as shown in  FIGS. 41-47 , an adaptor  240  with, for example, a 35.2 mm bore diameter may be provided. This embodiment may also include a working depth greater than 10 mm. Still other embodiments with other dimensions and/or sizes may be provided and remain within the scope of the present disclosure. It is to be appreciated that while the fitment of  FIGS. 41-47  may be slightly different (i.e., no imbalance features on the cap), the adaptor shown in these figures may be provided with such a fitment or with the fitment shown in the earlier figures. Still further, the earlier described adaptors may be provided with the type of fitment shown in the present FIGS.  41 - 47 . It is to be appreciated that the permissive “may” used in the present application is intended to allow the fitment and/or the adaptors to include one or more of the described features and the figures should not be construed to require any feature. 
     An alternative to the above configuration may comprise the various adaptors being nestable, with the base cap serving to threadingly engage the largest inner diameter adaptor and wherein that adaptor is capable of threaded engagement of the next smallest inner diameter adaptor and so on. In this configuration, the outer diameters of the adaptors may become successively smaller, matching or complementary with the inner diameter of the element with which the threaded outer wall of the adaptor is threadingly engaged. This threaded nesting engagement may be continued until the proper inner diameter size of the adaptor is reached in order to accommodate the particular container neck size of interest. 
     It is to be appreciated that while the adaptors described herein have been for purposes of reducing the inner diameter of the bore of the fitment  100 , adaptors that allow for placement of the fitment  100  on larger containers may also be provided. For example, an adaptor having a first portion for threadably engaging the bore of the fitment may be provided and a second portion extending out the bottom the fitment and having a belled or otherwise enlarged shape may be provided with a bore larger than the fitment bore. In other embodiments, the fitment may be provided with threads on an outer surface for purposes of securing an enlarging adaptor. In this embodiment, the enlarging adaptor may include a first bore having a diameter similar to the outside diameter of the fitment allowing it to be threaded onto the fitment and a second bore larger than the first may also be provided for threadably engaging a container neck. Still other systems for adapting the fitment for use with larger container necks may be provided. 
     While the present disclosure has been described with reference to various embodiments, including preferred embodiments, it will be understood that these embodiments are illustrative and that the scope of the disclosure is not limited to them. Many variations, modifications, additions, and improvements are possible. More generally, embodiments in accordance with the present disclosure have been described in the context of particular embodiments. Functionality may be separated or combined in blocks differently in various embodiments of the disclosure or described with different terminology. These and other variations, modifications, additions, and improvements may fall within the scope of the disclosure as defined in the claims that follow.