Low weight closure having an improved gripping surface

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11584569-B2
Application number	US-201916537250-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 9, 2019
Priority date	Mar 7, 2017
Publication date	Feb 21, 2023
Grant date	Feb 21, 2023

Abstract

A closure includes a top panel and a corner section connecting an outer periphery of the top panel with a downwardly extending annular skirt. A plurality of gently curved ridges are spaced about the outer perimeter of the closure. The ridges generally extend from a lower portion of the skirt and around the corner section, with the upper ends of the ridges terminating proximate the top panel outer periphery. A plurality of knurls extend radially outwards from the midpoints of the ridges along the skirt of the closure. The configuration, arrangement, and spacing of the ridges and knurls about the closure provide an enhanced grip and feel, allowing for easier twist-off of the closure from a container. The closure may be used interchangeably with existing capping chucks used to apply conventional closures without requiring any modification to the capping chucks to apply the closures to containers during a capping process.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of applying a closure to a container comprising:
providing a closure comprising:
an annular skirt centered about a vertical axis;
a plurality of projections each having an outer surface parallel to the vertical axis and extending radially outward from an outer surface of the annular skirt;

providing a capping chuck having a serrated interior surface defined by a plurality of teeth, wherein the number of teeth forming the serration is greater than the number of projections; and
applying the closure to a container using the chuck.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the number of teeth is three times greater than the number of projections.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein each projection has a terminal outer surface, and wherein a radius of curvature within a first section of the annular skirt is between 0.020 inches and 0.050 inches.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein a radius of curvature within a second section of the annular skirt is between 0.050 inches and 0.100 inches, and wherein the second section is closer to the terminal outer surface than the first section.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein a radius of curvature within a third section of the annular skirt is between 0.005 inches and 0.020 inches, and wherein the third section is closer to the terminal outer surface than the second section.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein a radius of curvature of the terminal outer surface is between 0.005 inches and 0.010 inches.

7. A method of applying a closure to a container comprising:
providing a closure comprising:
an annular skirt centered about a vertical axis; and
a plurality of projections each having an outer surface parallel to the vertical axis and extending radially outward from an outer surface of the annular skirt, wherein each projection defines a terminal outer surface, a first section, a second section, and a third section, the third section being closer to the terminal outer surface than the second section, and the first section being closer to the terminal outer surface than the second section;

providing a capping chuck having a serrated interior surface defined by a plurality of teeth, wherein the number of teeth forming the serration is greater than the number of projections, wherein the second section of each projection has a first width as measured along a circumferential direction of the closure and adjacent teeth define a second width as measured along a circumferential direction of the chuck, and wherein the first and second widths being substantially the same such that each of the second sections is configured to be located in between adjacent teeth of the chuck when the closure is positioned within the chuck; and
applying the closure to a container using the chuck.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the closure further comprises a generally horizontally extending sealing element located between a top and bottom of the structure.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein a width of the first section as measured in a circumferential direction is greater than the first width of the second section.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein a width of the third section as measured in a circumferential direction is equal to the width of the first section.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the chuck is formed with 135 teeth and the closure is formed with forty-five knurls.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the knurls each have a midpoint and are spaced evenly about the closure, such that the midpoints of adjacent knurls are spaced 8 degrees from one another as measured from a center of the closure.

13. A method of applying a closure to a container comprising:
providing a closure comprising:
an annular structure centered about a vertical axis and having a top wall and an outer surface having a circumference;
a corner section proximate an outer periphery of the top wall;
a plurality of ridges spaced around the outer surface, each ridge comprising a knurl extending radially outwards from the respective ridge;
providing a capping chuck having a serrated interior surface defined by a plurality of teeth, wherein the number of teeth forming the serration is greater than the number of ridges; and
applying the closure to a container using the chuck.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein each ridge extends along the corner section and towards the top wall.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the plurality of ridges creates a gripping surface along the corner section.

16. A method of applying a closure to a container comprising:
providing a closure comprising:
a top wall;
a skirt extending downward from and perpendicular to the top wall having an outer surface having a circumference; and
a plurality of ridges spaced around the circumference of the outer surface, each ridge comprising a knurl extending radially outwards from the respective ridge;

providing a capping chuck having a serrated interior surface defined by a plurality of teeth, wherein the number of teeth forming the serration is greater than the number of ridges; and
applying the closure to a container using the chuck.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the number of knurls and ridges ranges from ⅓ to ⅕ of the number of teeth.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the knurls are located in a position corresponding to the ribs along an outer perimeter of the closure.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein each projection has a terminal outer surface, and wherein a radius of curvature within a first section of the annular skirt of at least 0.020 inches, and wherein a radius of curvature within a second section of the annular skirt is at least between 0.050 inches, and wherein the second section is closer to the terminal outer surface than the first section.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the each knurl fits within a serration formed on the chuck.

Assignees

• Silgan White Cap LLC

Inventors

• Neputy Darren

Classifications

• B67B3/20

  by applying and rotating preformed threaded caps (forming threads in situ by resilient deforming means B67B3/16, by rotary capping heads B67B3/18) · CPC title

• B65D41/005

  with integral sealing means (B65D41/02 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B65D41/3447

  the tamper element being integrally connected to the closure by means of bridges · CPC title

• B65D41/0485 Primary

  with means specially adapted for facilitating the operation of opening or closing · CPC title

• B65B7/2835

  applying and rotating preformed threaded caps (for bottles or jars B67B3/20) · CPC title