Closure devices

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11198543-B2
Application number	US-201716500610-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 23, 2017
Priority date	Apr 13, 2017
Publication date	Dec 14, 2021
Grant date	Dec 14, 2021

Abstract

A closure ( 1 ) for sealingly closing a container neck ( 11 ) having a tubular body ( 2 ) with a top wall ( 4 ), an annular side wall ( 5 ), an intermediate wall ( 6 ) joining the side wall ( 5 ) to the top wall ( 4 ) and an annular tamper evidence band ( 3 ) frangibly connected to an open end ( 21 ) described by the side wall ( 5 ). The band ( 3 ) includes retaining cams ( 31 ) protruding from its inner surface ( 30 ). Each cam ( 31 ) has a lead-in ramp ( 32 ) for engaging, in use, the flange ( 12 ) of a container neck ( 11 ) as the neck ( 11 ) is introduced into the open end ( 21 ) of the body ( 2 ) and a stop ( 33 ) for engaging the flange ( 12 ) to separate the band ( 3 ) from the body ( 2 ) when the closure ( 1 ) is subsequently removed from the neck ( 11 ). Each lead-in ramp ( 32 ) has a central recess ( 34 ) therein.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A closure for sealingly closing a neck opening of a container, the closure comprising:
a tubular body having a closed end and an open end and an annular tamper evidence band frangibly connected to the open end of the tubular body, the tamper evidence band comprising a plurality of retaining cams each protruding from its inner surface and having a lead-in ramp for engaging, in use, the flange of a container neck as the neck is introduced into the open end of the body and a stop for engaging the flange to separate the tamper evidence band from the body when the closure is subsequently removed from the container, wherein the lead-in ramp of at least one of the retaining cams has a recess therein;
a top wall describing the closed end and an annular side wall depending from the top wall and describing the open end of the body, wherein the top wall comprises an abutment depending therefrom and having an abutment surface for abutting against a top surface of the container neck; and
wherein the abutment comprises a plurality of projections depending from and spaced circumferentially about the top wall, each projection providing part of the abutment surface.

2. A closure according to claim 1 , wherein the recess is in a central portion of the lead-in ramp to define two or more spaced ramp portions for contacting the flange of the container neck.

3. A closure according to claim 2 , wherein at least part of the recess between the ramp portions is contiguous or flush with the inner surface of the tamper evidence band.

4. A closure according to claim 2 , wherein the stop faces the closed end and spans the spaced ramp portions.

5. A closure according to claim 4 , wherein the at least one cam is substantially U-shaped, each ramp portion comprising a ramp surface sloped toward an open end of the tamper evidence band for contacting the flange of the container neck and the stop having a substantially radial surface spanning the spaced ramp portions for engaging the flange.

6. A closure according to claim 2 , wherein each ramp portion has sides that taper from the stop toward an open end of the tamper evidence band.

7. A closure according to claim 2 , wherein the recess comprises a scalloped-out portion formed by removing molding material from the cam.

8. A closure according to claim 1 wherein the side wall comprises threads including two or more turns each having a plurality of interruptions to form axial venting passages, wherein one of the turns includes an uninterrupted portion aligned axially with an interruption in another of the turns.

9. A closure according to claim 1 comprising an intermediate wall between the side wall and the periphery of the top wall, the top wall having a first diameter and the annular side wall having a second diameter larger than the first diameter, the intermediate wall comprising an annular step having a first, axial portion depending from the periphery of the top wall and a second, radial portion joining the lower edge of the first portion to the annular side wall, wherein the radial portion comprises the abutment or the abutment surface.

10. A closure according to claim 9 wherein the abutment comprises a plurality of projections depending from and spaced circumferentially about the radial portion, each projection providing part of the abutment surface.

11. A closure according to claim 10 comprising an inner annular seal depending from an inner part of the radial portion and an outer annular seal depending from an outer or intermediate part of the radial portion, wherein the projections are disposed between and spaced from each of the inner and outer seals.

12. A closure according to claim 10 , wherein each projection tapers from the radial portion to its abutment surface.

13. A closure according to claim 9 comprising a plurality of axial external ribs including first and second ribs, wherein the first ribs are longer than the second ribs.

14. A closure according to claim 13 , wherein the first ribs extend from the top wall toward the base of the side wall and the second ribs extend from the intermediate wall toward the base of the side wall.

15. A closure according to claim 13 , wherein each second rib is between a pair of first ribs.

16. A closure according to claim 1 comprising an extension described from the abutment surface to the top of the top wall and an effective closure height described from the base of the side wall to the top of the top wall, wherein the extension is at least 10% of the effective closure height.

17. A closure according to claim 16 , wherein the extension is at least 25% of the effective closure height.

18. A closure according to claim 16 comprising an overall closure height described from the base of the tamper evidence band to the top of the top wall, wherein the extension is at least 10% of the overall closure height.

19. A closure according to claim 18 , wherein the extension is at least 20% of the overall closure height.

20. A closure according to claim 1 comprising a top wall describing the closed end, an annular side wall depending from the top wall and describing the open end of the body, an intermediate wall between the side wall and the periphery of the top wall and a plurality of axial external ribs, the top wall having a first diameter and the annular side wall having a second diameter larger than the first diameter, the intermediate wall comprising an annular step having a first, axial portion depending from the periphery of the top wall and a second, radial portion joining the lower edge of the first portion to the annular side wall and comprising a plurality of projections depending therefrom and spaced circumferentially thereabout which together provide an abutment surface for abutting against a top surface of the container neck, the side wall comprising threads including two or more turns each having a plurality of interruptions to form axial venting passages, one of the turns including an uninterrupted portion aligned axially with an interruption in another of the turns, wherein the plurality of ribs comprise first ribs extending from the top wall toward the base of the side wall and a second rib between each pair of first ribs, the second ribs being shorter than the first ribs and extending from the intermediate wall toward the base of the side wall.

21. A closure for sealingly closing a neck opening of a container, the closure comprising a top wall and an annular side wall depending from the top wall, the top wall comprising an abutment depending therefrom and including a plurality of projections spaced circumferentially about the top wall which together provide a composite abutment surface for abutting against a top surface of the container neck, the side wall comprising threads including two or more turns each having a plurality of interruptions to form axial venting passages, wherein one of the turns includes an uninterrupted portion aligned axially with an interruption in another of the turns.

22. A closure for sealingly closing a neck opening of a container, the closure comprising a top wall, an annular side wall depending from the top wall, an intermediate wall between the side wall and the periphery of the top wall and a plurality of axial external ribs, the top wall having a first diameter and the annular side wall having a second diameter larger than the first diameter, the intermediate wall comprising an annular step having a first, axial portion depending from the periphery of the top wa

Assignees

• Husky Injection Molding Systems Ltd

Inventors

• Scherer Stephan
• Gottschald Patrick

Classifications

• B65D41/0421

  and combined with integral sealing means contacting other surfaces of a container neck · CPC title

• B65D55/00

  Accessories for container closures not otherwise provided for · CPC title

• B65D51/1605

  whereby the interior of the container is maintained in permanent gaseous communication with the exterior · CPC title

• B65D41/0435 Primary

  with separate sealing elements · CPC title

• B29D99/0096

  Producing closure members for containers, e.g. closure caps or stoppers · CPC title