Container closure and preform

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10526113-B2
Application number	US-201515746845-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 23, 2015
Priority date	Jul 23, 2015
Publication date	Jan 7, 2020
Grant date	Jan 7, 2020

Abstract

A container closure system comprises a container 100 comprising a neck 120 having an outer surface, the neck including a plurality of snap ring segments 140 alternating with a plurality of snap ring voids 160 positioned around a circumference of the outer surface. The length of the circumference at which snap ring voids exist is 25% or more of the total length of the circumference. The plurality of snap ring segments is positioned at regular increments around a circumference of the outer surface. The system further includes a cap 14 comprising, among other things, a base 26 that comprises a plurality of snap prongs 16 arranged so as to engage and disengage the plurality of snap ring segments when the cap is rotated on the neck of the container. The plurality of snap prongs are configured to hold the cap on or release the cap from the container.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A container closure system, comprising:
a container comprising a neck having an outer surface, the neck including a plurality of snap ring segments alternating with a plurality of snap ring voids positioned around a circumference of the outer surface, the length of the circumference at which snap ring voids exist being 25% or more of the total length of the circumference, wherein the plurality of snap ring segments are positioned at regular increments around a circumference of the outer surface, the increments being measured from the midpoint of each of the snap ring segments on the circumference of the outer surface; and
a cap comprising a skirt with an orifice positioned therein, a plug assembly for blocking and unblocking the orifice, and a base extending from the skirt and surrounding the orifice, the base comprising a plurality of snap prongs arranged so as to engage and disengage the plurality of snap ring segments when the cap is rotated on the neck of the container, the plurality of snap prongs configured to hold the cap on the container when engaged with the plurality of snap ring segments and to release the cap from the container when the plurality of snap prongs are disengaged from the plurality of snap ring segments;
wherein the plurality of snap ring segments comprise a first snap ring segment positioned adjacent to a second snap ring segment, a first portion of the outer surface extending between the first and second snap ring segments; and a third snap ring segment positioned adjacent to a fourth snap ring segment, a second portion of the outer surface extending between the third and fourth snap ring segments, wherein a side of the first snap ring segment, a side of the second snap ring segment and the first portion of the outer surface form a first planar surface, and wherein a side of the third snap ring segment, a side of the fourth snap ring segment and the second portion of the outer surface form a second planar surface, the first planar surface opposing the second planar surface.

2. The container closure system of claim 1 , wherein each of the snap ring voids extend a length of an arc along the circumference, the length of all of the snap ring voids being approximately equal.

3. The container closure system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of snap ring segments are positioned at 65° to 125° increments around the circumference of the outer surface, the increments being measured from the midpoint of each of the snap ring segments on the circumference of the outer surface.

4. The container closure system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of snap ring segments form a radially asymmetrical pattern on a circumference of the outer surface.

5. The container closure system of claim 1 , wherein the number of snap ring segments is equal to the number of snap prongs.

6. The container closure system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of snap ring segments each have a beveled top face that comprises a first side that extends from the outer surface to a distal end, a second side that is opposite the first side and extends from the outer surface to a distal end, and a third side that extends between the distal end of the first side and the distal end of the second side, the first side intersecting the third side at a first angle and the second side intersecting the third side at a second angle.

7. The container closure system of claim 6 , wherein the first angle and the second angle range from about 45° to about 135°.

8. The container closure system of claim 1 , wherein the skirt further comprises a wave shaped rim and the container comprises a recess having a wave shape corresponding to the wave shaped rim, so that twisting the cap about a radial axis of the neck results in a cammed leverage action between the cap and the container that applies a force to the cap tending to remove the cap from the container.

9. A preform for use in a blow mold process, the preform comprising:
a plastic tube comprising a neck having an outer surface, the neck including a plurality of snap ring segments alternating with a plurality of snap ring voids positioned around the outer surface, the length of a circumference at which snap ring voids exist being 25% or more of the total length of a circumference, wherein the plurality of snap ring segments are positioned at regular increments around the circumference of the outer surface, the increments being measured from the midpoint of each of the snap ring segments on the circumference of the outer surface;
wherein the plurality of snap ring segments comprise a first snap ring segment positioned adjacent to a second snap ring segment, a first portion of the outer surface extending between the first and second snap ring segments; and a third snap ring segment positioned adjacent to a fourth snap ring segment, a second portion of the outer surface extending between the third and fourth snap ring segments, wherein a side of the first snap ring segment, a side of the second snap ring segment and the first portion of the outer surface form a first planar surface, and wherein a side of the third snap ring segment, a side of the fourth snap ring segment and the second portion of the outer surface form a second planar surface, the first planar surface opposing the second planar surface.

10. The preform of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of snap ring segments are positioned at 90° increments around the circumference of the outer surface, the increments being measured from the midpoint of each of the snap ring segments on the circumference of the outer surface.

11. The preform of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of snap ring segments form a radially asymmetrical pattern on a circumference of the outer surface.

12. A container closure system, comprising:
a container comprising a neck having an outer surface, the neck including a plurality of snap ring segments alternating with a plurality of snap ring voids positioned around a circumference of the outer surface, the length of the circumference at which snap ring voids exist being about 60 to about 75% of the total length of the circumference; and
a cap comprising a skirt with an orifice positioned therein, a plug assembly for blocking and unblocking the orifice, and a base extending from the skirt and surrounding the orifice, the base comprising a plurality of snap prongs arranged so as to engage and disengage the plurality of snap ring segments when the cap is rotated on the neck of the container, the plurality of snap prongs configured to hold the cap on the container when engaged with the plurality of snap ring segments and to release the cap from the container when the plurality of snap prongs are disengaged from the plurality of snap ring segments;
wherein the plurality of snap ring segments comprise a first snap ring segment positioned adjacent to a second snap ring segment, a first portion of the outer surface extending between the first and second snap ring segments; and a third snap ring segment positioned adjacent to a fourth snap ring segment, a second portion of the outer surface extending between the third and fourth snap ring segments, wherein a side of the first snap ring segment, a side of the second snap ring segment and the first portion of the outer surface form a first planar surface, and wherein a side of the third snap ring segment, a side of the fourth snap ring segment and the second portion of the outer surface form a second planar surface, the first planar surface opposing the second planar surface.

Assignees

• Colgate Palmolive Co

Inventors

• Toh Kiat-Cheong

Classifications

• B65D1/0246

  Closure retaining means, e.g. beads, screw-threads · CPC title

• B65D2501/0081

  Bottles of non-circular cross-section · CPC title

• B65D41/17 Primary

  push-on and twist-off · CPC title

• B65D47/08

  having articulated or hinged closures {(B65D55/16 takes precedence)} · CPC title