Abstract:
The present invention is directed to a bottle neck finish and a tamper resistant bottle cap that satisfy the need to retain the ratchet ring in place after the bottle cap has been removed from the bottle. Specifically, the present inventions incorporate features onto one or both of a bottle neck and a threaded cap having a frangibly connected ratchet ring. In one embodiment of the present invention, the claimed features create frictional engagement between the ratchet ring and the bottle neck. The frictional resistance effectively prevents the ratchet ring from falling off the bottle neck when the user pours the contents of the bottle. In another embodiment, the claimed features create an interference between the ratchet ring and the bottle neck. The interference prevents the ratchet ring from falling off the bottle neck.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     This invention relates to containers with closure devices, and in particular, relates to the neck finish of a blow molded bottle adapted for use with a cap having a ratchet ring. The neck is formed with at least one projection for retaining the ratchet ring when the cap is removed. In the alternative, this invention relates to a ratchet ring for a screw cap adapted to engage with the neck of a blow molded bottle to prevent the ratchet ring from falling off of the bottle when the contents are poured.  
         [0002]     Blow molded bottles have been used in conjunction with injection molded caps for many years. Generally, two types of bottle caps are available for blow molded bottles, push-on caps and thread-on caps. Push-on caps are installed by aligning the cap with the opening of a bottle and simply applying an axial force to the top of the cap. Thread-on caps generally require that the cap and bottle be aligned and that a rotative force be applied to the cap.  
         [0003]     There are generally two types of thread-on caps, both have rings depending from the cap, but the ring in one type is offset from the cap; i.e. the ring has a larger diameter than the cap. With this type of design the ring is offset from the cap, allowing the ring and frangible connections to be molded with a two plate mold. Conversely, the other design of threaded caps must be molded with side action, which is a much more complex process with moving parts. This invention generally relates to thread-on caps with offset rings.  
         [0004]     One of the problems associated with those types of injection molded caps relates to the tamper-evident connection which must be created between the bottle cap and bottle. One method of forming that tamper-evident connection is to use an offset ring having ratchet teeth; i.e. a ratchet ring. The ratchet ring has internal teeth for engagement with the bottle neck, which has external teeth. When the bottle cap is screwed on the bottle neck, the ratchet teeth of the bottle cap ride over the mating ratchet teeth on the bottle neck, thereby enabling the bottle cap to be fully tightened on the bottle neck. However, when a user attempts to unscrew the bottle cap using low-to-medium twisting force, the ratchet teeth of the bottle cap positively engage the mating ratchet teeth of the bottle neck, thereby preventing unthreading and unsealing of the cap. When higher levels of twisting force are applied to the bottle cap in the direction of unscrewing, the ratchet ring breaks away from the bottle cap and the bottle cap may be unscrewed from the bottle neck. In this manner, breakage of the connection between the ratchet ring and the bottle cap serves as visual evidence that the bottle has been opened.  
         [0005]     While the use of a bottle neck with ratchet teeth in combination with a bottle cap having a tamper evidencing ring provides for an acceptable tamper-evident connection, this combination does have its limitations. After removing the cap for the first time, effectively breaking the frangible connection between the cap and the ratchet ring, users sometimes forget to remove the ratchet ring from the bottle neck before pouring the contents into a glass. Subsequently, the ratchet ring will fall into the user&#39;s glass when the contents are poured. With respect to single use bottles which users drink from directly, the ratchet ring will fall into the user&#39;s face when they attempt to take a sip from the bottle. Such results are undesirable for convenience of use and hygienic reasons.  
         [0006]     For the foregoing reasons, there is a need for an improved neck finish which is adapted to retain the ratchet ring in place on the bottle neck when the user pours the contents after removing the cap. There is a further need for an improved ratchet ring which is adapted to hold itself in place on the bottle neck when the user pours the contents after removing the cap.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007]     The present invention is directed to a bottle neck finish and a tamper resistant bottle cap that satisfy the need to retain the ratchet ring in place after the bottle cap has been removed from the bottle. Specifically, the present inventions incorporate features onto one or both of a bottle neck and a threaded cap having a frangibly connected ratchet ring. In one embodiment of the present invention, the claimed features create frictional engagement between the ratchet ring and the bottle neck. The frictional resistance effectively prevents the ratchet ring from falling off the bottle neck when the user pours the contents of the bottle. In another embodiment, the claimed features create an interference between the ratchet ring and the bottle neck. The interference prevents the ratchet ring from falling off the bottle neck.  
         [0008]     Although not necessary, it is generally preferred that the ratchet ring be easily removed by the user. Spilled liquids such as milk can dry between the ratchet ring and the bottle neck to form unsightly crust which could fall into the user&#39;s glass upon the next use. Thus, in multi-use bottles, it is advantageous for the user to be able to remove the ratchet ring to prevent crust build-up. In contrast, it may be beneficial to have a stronger engagement between the bottle neck and the ratchet ring for single use applications. Single use bottles are generally used while on-the-go and away from home where garbage cans are not always readily available. Thus, if the ratchet ring were easily removed on a single use bottles, users would be more likely to improperly dispose of the ratchet ring.  
         [0009]     In a first embodiment of the present invention, features are incorporated into a bottle neck finish. The bottle neck of the present invention is preferably adapted for use with standard bottles caps having standard ratchet rings, although the present invention is not limited as such. The bottle neck generally includes an opening at its upper end for pouring of contents, a generally cylindrical exterior surface having threads for retaining a bottle cap, a circumferential ratchet portion below the threads, and a circumferential transfer ring below the ratchet portion. The ratchet portion includes ratchet teeth which are capable of meshing with a matching set of ratchet teeth on a bottle cap. The bottle neck of the present invention also includes a projection which is adapted to engage the ratchet ring of the bottle cap. The projection can be adapted to engage the ratchet ring by friction and/or interference.  
         [0010]     To engage the ratchet ring by friction, the projection contacts an inner surface of the ratchet ring when the bottle cap is fully threaded onto the bottle neck. The contact point between the projection and the ratchet ring can occur at any inner surface of the ratchet ring, including the peaks of the ratchet teeth or the valleys between adjacent ratchet teeth. This contact biases the ratchet ring outward to induce tension in the ratchet ring, providing a tight fit between the ratchet ring and the bottle neck. The tight fit creates frictional engagement between the ratchet ring and the bottle neck, preventing the ratchet ring from falling off of the bottle when the contents are poured. To engage the ratchet ring by interference, the projection contacts an upwardly facing surface of the ratchet ring when the ratchet ring moves axially on the bottle neck, effectively preventing the ratchet ring from falling off of the bottle neck.  
         [0011]     In a second embodiment, the projection of the present invention is formed on the ratchet ring. In a similar fashion as above, the projection can be adapted to engage the bottle neck by friction and/or interference. To engage the bottle neck by friction, the projection contacts any outer surface of the bottle neck. To engage the bottle neck by interference, it may be necessary to form a corresponding feature on the bottle neck to allow for the interference. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]     These and other features, aspects, objects, and advantages of the inventions described and claimed herein will be become better understood upon consideration of the following detailed description, appended claims and accompanying drawings where:  
         [0013]      FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of a bottle cap and bottle neck made in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0014]      FIG. 2  is a top view of the bottle neck with the cap removed and the ratchet ring held in place;  
         [0015]      FIG. 3  is a side view of the bottle neck;  
         [0016]      FIG. 4  is a side view of the bottle neck with a partial cut-away showing the cross section of the bottle neck and a standard cap;  
         [0017]      FIG. 5  is a side view of the bottle neck with a partial cut-away showing the cross section of the bottle neck and a first embodiment of a modified cap;  
         [0018]      FIG. 6  is a side view of a second embodiment of a modified cap a partial cut-away showing the inside surface of the bottle cap&#39; and  
         [0019]      FIG. 7  is a top view of a bottle neck with the second embodiment of a modified cap installed. 
     
    
       [0020]     It should be understood that the drawings are not necessarily to scale and that the embodiments are sometimes illustrated by graphic symbols, phantom lines, diagrammatic representations and fragmentary views. In certain instances, details which are not necessary for an understanding of the inventions described and claimed herein or which render other details difficult to perceive may have been omitted. It should be understood, of course, that the inventions described herein are not necessarily limited to the particular embodiments illustrated herein.  
         [0021]     Like reference numerals will be used to refer to like or similar parts from Figure to Figure in the following description of the drawings.  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0022]      FIG. 1  generally depicts a preferred embodiment of the bottle neck  14  of the present invention that is adapted for use with a standard bottle cap  2  having a ratchet ring  8 . A standard bottle cap  2  having a ratchet ring  8  is described herein, although the bottle neck  14  of the present invention is not limited to use with such cap. The bottle cap  2  shown in  FIG. 1  has a circular cover  4 , a skirt  6  depending from the peripheral edge  5  of the cap, and a ratchet ring  8  which is frangibly attached below the skirt  6 . The bottle cap  2  has at least one thread on the inside surface of the depending skirt  6 , for engagement with corresponding threads  22  on the bottle neck. The ratchet ring  8  includes a plurality of ratchet teeth  12 , every other one of which are frangibly attached to a plurality of semi-circular outwardly directed tabs  10  which are equally spaced around the periphery of the skirt  6 . For further details regarding the bottle cap  2 , see U.S. Pat. No. 6,003,701 which is incorporated herein by reference.  
         [0023]     The bottle neck  14  of the present invention is generally positioned at the top of the body  32  of a blow-molded bottle  34  and is formed of a generally cylindrical exterior surface  20 . At the top edge of the exterior surface  20  is a lip  18  which defines an opening  16 . The lip  18  is generally inwardly directed to form a sealing surface for sealing with the bottle cap  2 . A liner, while not shown, may be placed between the cap  2  and lip  18  for purposes such as to enhance sealing of the bottle or to provide a second level of tamper-evidency. The exterior surface  20  includes at least one, and preferably four, threads  22  which engage threads on the inside surface of the cap skirt  6 .  
         [0024]     The bottle neck  14  further includes at least one, and preferably two, ratchet portions  24  having at least one, and preferably a plurality of ratchet teeth  26 . The two ratchet portions  24  are located diametrically opposite each other on the exterior surface  20  below the threads  22 . The bottle neck  14  includes at least one projection  28  for engagement with the ratchet ring  8 . The bottle neck  14  also includes a circumferential “bumper roll” or transfer ring  30  located below the ratchet portions  24  and projections  28  to facilitate gripping the bottle during the filling operation and grabbing the bottle during the loading of the bottle into a shipping container.  
         [0025]     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , a top view of the bottle neck  14  is shown in frictional engagement with the ratchet ring  8  with the bottle cap  2  removed.  FIG. 2  shows best how the ratchet ring  8  engages with the external ratchet teeth  26  of the bottle neck  14 . The ratchet ring  8 , being preferably made of low density plastic, is flexible enough such that the internal teeth  12  ride over the external teeth  26  when clockwise force is applied to the ratchet ring  8 . However, when counter-clockwise force is applied the ratchet ring  8 , the peaks  9  of the internal teeth  12  positively engage with the external teeth  26  effectively preventing rotation of the ratchet ring  8 .  FIG. 2  also demonstrates the frictional engagement of the present invention. The projections  28  extend outwardly from the external surface  20  and contact a portion of the inside surface  11  of the ratchet ring  8 . In the preferred embodiment, the projection  28  is formed as an elongated lip which contacts at least one, and preferably a plurality of internal teeth  12  at the tips  9 , although the invention is not limited as such. For example, the projection  28  could be short and thus engage the inside surface  11  of the ratchet ring  8  between adjacent teeth  12 .  
         [0026]     Turning now to  FIG. 3 , a side view of the preferred bottle neck  14  is shown. The external surface  20  of the bottle neck is shown to be generally cylindrical in shape with a generally flat step  36  formed below the threads  22 . Preferably, the projection  28  and the ratchet portions  24  are formed on the stepped out portion  38  of the external surface  20 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , a partial cut-away view of the bottle neck, the cross-section of the projection  28  is preferably triangular in shape, with the top surface  40  of the projection  28  generally parallel to and extending from the step  36 . In an alternate embodiment, the projection  28  may have a chamfered top surface  40  to facilitate application of the bottle cap  2  to the bottle neck  14 .  
         [0027]      FIG. 4  also demonstrates the frictional engagement between the bottle neck  14  and the ratchet ring  8 . The projection  28  is shown contacting the tip  9  of an external tooth  12  forcing the ratchet ring  8  outwardly away from the bottle neck  14  and inducing normal forces between the contacting surfaces of the ratchet ring  8  and projection  28 . When a user attempts to pour the contents of the bottle  34 , the gravitational force on the ratchet ring  8  is not sufficient to exceed the static frictional force, preventing the ring  8  from falling off of the bottle neck  14 .  
         [0028]      FIG. 5  demonstrates the interference engagement between the bottle neck and the ratchet ring  8 . When a bottle cap  2  having a ratchet ring  8  is applied to the bottle neck, the projection  28  is positioned between the bottle cap  2  and the ratchet ring  8 . When the contents of the bottle  34  are poured, gravitational forces cause the ratchet ring  8  to move axially along the bottle neck  14 . However, the projection  28  prevents the ratchet ring  8  from falling off by contacting an upper surface of the ratchet ring  42 .  
         [0029]     It may be necessary to modify the standard cap  2  described herein to allow for an interference engagement between the bottle neck  14  and ratchet ring  8 . The ratchet ring  8  of the standard cap  2  is generally placed nearly flush against the bottom edge  44  of the cap  2 , as shown in  FIG. 4 . Such flush placement of the ratchet ring  8  would prevent the projection from extending between the cap  2  and the ring  8 . Accordingly, in a first embodiment to the modified cap  2 , as shown in  FIG. 5 , elongated frangible connections  46  are utilized to increase the gap between the ratchet ring  8  and the bottle cap  2 . Whereas the prior art connections extend between the outwardly extending tabs and the internal ratchet teeth  12 , the frangible connections  46  of the present invention preferably extend between the outwardly extending tabs  10  and the upper surface  42  of the ratchet ring at approximately the interface  48  between the internal teeth  12  and the ratchet ring band  50 . The frangible connection  46  must be moved outwardly to prevent interference between the frangible connection  46  and the projection  28  when the cap  2  is applied to the bottle neck  14 .  
         [0030]     A second embodiment of the modified bottle cap  2  is depicted in  FIG. 6 .  FIG. 6  is a side view of the bottle cap  2  with a partial cut away showing the inside surfaces of the bottle cap  2  and ratchet ring  8 . The ratchet ring  8  is maintained nearly flush to the bottom surface  44  of the bottle cap  2 , but is characterized in that at least one portion of the band  50  is stepped down. As before, every other ratchet tooth  12   a  is frangibly attached to the tabs  10  by frangible connections  46 . However, the band  50  has at least one stepped-down portion  56 , each of which are preferably characterized by two ramped segments  52  and a top surface  54 . There is at least one stepped down tooth  12   b  placed on the inside surface of the stepped-down portion  56 , each having a height “b.” The remaining teeth  12   a  have a height “a” which is greater than height “b.” Therefore, a gap is formed between the bottom surface  44  of the cap  2  and the top surface  54  of the stepped-down portion  56  to facilitate engagement between the teeth  12   b  and the projection  28  by interference.  
         [0031]     Turning now to  FIG. 7 , a top view of the bottle neck  14  is shown with the second embodiment of the modified bottle cap  2  installed.  FIG. 7  shows every other ratchet tooth  12   a  frangibly connected  46  to the tabs  10  of the bottle cap  2 . While only one stepped down tooth  12   b  is necessary, it is preferable that every fourth tooth is a stepped-down tooth  12   b,  as shown in the Figure. Preferably, and as shown in  FIG. 7 , there are two projections  28  which have a length appropriately sized and located to engage only with the top surface of two of the stepped-down teeth  12   b.  Special attention may be necessary during application of the bottle cap  2  to the bottle neck  14  to ensure that the projections  28  are appropriately aligned with the stepped-down portions  56 .  
         [0032]     While the projections  28  described herein is preferred to be located on the bottle neck  14 , in an alternative embodiment, the projection  28  may be located on the inside surface of the ratchet ring  8 . The projection would engage with any portion of the outside surface of the bottle neck  14 , including the external surface  20  (which includes the stepped out portion  38 ) and the ratchet portions  24 , by friction or interference.  
         [0033]     The projections  28  of the present invention, whether located on the bottle neck  14  or on the ratchet ring  8 , are not limited to any particular shape or location. Preferably, and as shown in  FIG. 1 , there are two projections  28  which are formed as lips which extend outward from the bottle neck  14 . The projections  28  preferably share a common cross-sectional plane as the ratchet portions  24 , of which there are preferably two portions. However, the projection  28  may be above or below the ratchet portion. Preferably, the ratchet portions  24  and the projections  28  alternate around the periphery of the bottle neck, with the two projections  28  diametrically opposite each other and the ratchet portions  24  diametrically opposite each other. Alternatively, the projection  28  can be incorporated into the ratchet portions  24  on the bottle neck or into the ratchet ring  8 . For example, the projection  28  can be incorporated into one or more of the ratchet teeth  26  or  12  on either the bottle neck or the ratchet ring, respectively. The projection  28  can also take form as an enlarged ratchet tooth  26  or  12 , either on the bottle neck or on the ratchet ring, respectively. Alternatively, the projection  28  can be incorporated into one or more of the valleys between the ratchet teeth  26  or  12  on either the bottle neck or the ratchet ring, respectively, by decreasing the depth of the valley.  
         [0034]     Although the inventions described and claimed herein have been described in considerable detail with reference to certain preferred embodiments, one skilled in the art will appreciate that the inventions described and claimed herein can be practiced by other than the preferred embodiments, which have been presented for purposes of illustration and not of limitation. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description of the preferred embodiments contained herein.