Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02720147 2010-11-02
ANTI-BACKOFF CLOSURE
CLAIM TO PRIORITY
This application claims priority to U.S. provisional application number
61/257,171 filed November 2, 2009, entitled "Anti-Backoff Closure/Container",
the
contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to closures, containers and combinations
thereof.
More particularly, the invention relates to a closure assembly for use with a
container
and a combination of a closure assembly and a container that includes an anti-
backoff
mechanism along with a tamper evident retention band.
Background Information
Drop lock tamper evident mechanical bands used on containers such as
water/soda
bottles and milk bottles normally spin with the related closure until the band
engages the
retention ring of the bottle. The vertical movement of the closure during
unscrewing of the
closure causes the band to engage the retention ring of the bottle and
ultimately break and
separate from the closure.
High density bottles, such as HDPE bottles used in the dairy sector for
packaging
milk for retail, generally have a very thin sealing area due to the inherent
properties of the
bottle and cap (closure) material. As a result of such thin sealing area, any
vertical
movement of the cap with respect to the bottle may allow leaking of the fluid
contained
therein from the bottle or conversely allow contaminants to enter the bottle.
Such vertical
movement of the cap may commonly occur in known cap and retention ring designs
without any indication (such as through visual indication of a broken
retention band) that
such unsealing of the container has occurred.
Accordingly, there exists a need for an improved cap and bottle combination
that
overcomes the shortcomings of the known designs.
1
CA 02720147 2010-11-02
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
As one aspect of the invention, a closure assembly for use with a container is
provided. The closure assembly comprises: a generally cylindrical cap portion
and an
annular skirt extending from, and frangibly coupled to, the cap portion. The
annular skirt
comprises a number of lugs extending inward from an inner portion of the
annular skirt.
At least one lug of the number of lugs extends circumferentially along the
inner portion
and includes a top portion, a bottom portion and a generally flat portion
extending
therebetween. The generally flat portion is structured to engage a
corresponding portion
extending outward from a neck of the container.
The flat portion of the at least one lug may be oriented generally
perpendicular to
the top portion of the at least one lug. The at least one lug of the number of
lugs may
comprise an inclined front portion opposite the generally flat portion. The
top portion of
the at least one lug of the number of lugs may comprise a generally flat
surface
structured to engage a corresponding portion extending outward from the neck
of the
container. The bottom portion of the at least one lug of the number of lugs
may
comprise a surface generally inclined inward and upward. The annular skirt may
be
frangibly coupled to the cap portion via a number of frangible connection
points. The
annular skirt may be frangibly coupled to the cap portion via a membrane. The
number
of lugs may comprise a plurality of lugs of identical or similar form as the
at least one
lug.
As another aspect of the invention, a closure in combination with a container
is
provided. The combination comprises a container having a neck portion disposed
about
an opening. The neck portion having a number of retention lugs extending
outward
therefrom, at least one retention lug of the number of retention lugs having a
generally
flat portion. The combination further comprises a closure assembly comprising:
a
generally cylindrical cap portion threadedly coupled to the neck portion of
the container
and an annular skirt extending from, and frangibly coupled to, the cap
portion. The
annular skirt comprises a number of lugs extending inward from an inner
portion of the
annular skirt. At least one lug of the number of lugs extends
circumferentially along the
inner portion and includes a top portion, a bottom portion and a generally
flat portion
extending therebetween. The generally flat portion of the at least one lug
cooperatively
engages the flat portion of the at least one retention lug in a manner that
inhibits
2
CA 02720147 2010-11-02
movement of the at least one lug with respect to the at least one retention
lug in a
direction corresponding to removing the cap portion from the neck portion.
The neck portion may comprise a retention ring that extends outward therefrom
and the top portion of the at least one lug may cooperatively engage the
retention ring in
a manner that inhibits movement of the at least one lug with respect to the
retention ring
in a direction corresponding to removing the cap portion from the neck
portion. The
engagement between the generally flat portion of the at least one lug and the
flat portion
of the at least one retention lug may result in separation of the annular
skirt from the cap
portion upon rotation of the cap portion with respect to the container in a
direction
corresponding to removing the cap portion from the container. The rotation may
comprise one degree or less of rotation. The annular skirt may be moveable on
the neck
portion of the container from a first position in which the annular skirt is
coupled to the
cap portion to a second position in which the annular skirt is uncoupled and
spaced a
distance from the cap portion when the cap portion is tightly threadedly
coupled to the
neck portion.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
A full understanding of the invention can be gained from the following
description of the preferred embodiments when read in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings in which:
FIG IA shows an isometric view of a cap and retention ring assembly in
accordance with an embodiment of the invention;
FIG 1B shows a top view of the cap and retention ring assembly of FIG 1 A;
FIG 1 C shows a sectional view of the cap and retention ring assembly of FIG 1
A
as viewed along line 1 C of FIG 1 B;
FIG 1D shows a detailed view of the portion of the interior of the cap and
retention ring assembly as indicated in FIG 1 C;
FIG 2A shows an isometric view of a bottle neck and opening of a container in
accordance with an embodiment of the invention;
FIG 2B shows a detailed view of the portion of the bottle neck as indicated in
FIG 2A;
3
CA 02720147 2010-11-02
FIG 3A shows an isometric view of the combination of the cap and retention
ring
assembly of FIG IA disposed on the bottle neck and opening of FIG 2A in
accordance
with an embodiment of the invention;
FIG 3B shows a side view of the assembly of FIG 3A;
FIG 3C shows a sectional view of the combination of FIG 3A as viewed along
line 3C of FIG 3B; and
FIG 3D shows a detailed view of the portion of the combination as indicated in
FIG 3C.
It is to be appreciated that the figures described above are provided to
increase
understanding of the present invention and are not meant to limit the
invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Directional phrases used herein, such as, for example, left, right, front,
back, top,
bottom and derivatives thereof, relate to the orientation of the elements
shown in the
drawings and are not limiting upon the claims unless expressly recited
therein. Identical
parts are provided with the same reference number in all drawings.
FIGS. lA-1D show a closure assembly 10 in accordance with a non-limiting
embodiment of the present invention. Closure assembly 10 includes a cap 12 and
a
retention ring in the form of an annular skirt 14 extending from cap 12
according to a
non-limiting embodiment of the present invention. Annular skirt 14 is
frangibly coupled
to cap 12 via one or more frangible connection points 15, frangible
membrane(s), or
other suitable mechiansm(s), and includes a number of lugs 16 disposed on an
inward
facing portion 17. As used herein, the nomenclature "(s)" shall be used to
represent one
or more. As also used herein, the term "number" shall mean one or an integer
greater
than one (i.e., a plurality). As shown in the cut view of FIG. 1 C and the
detailed view of
FIG. ID, at least one, and preferably all, of the number of lugs 16 extend
circumferentially a distance d along inward facing portion 17 and include a
generally flat
portion 18 at one end, a generally inclined portion 19 at an opposite end, and
top and
bottom portions 20, 21 between which portions 18 and 19 generally extend. In
the
example embodiment shown in the FIGS., flat portion 18 is oriented generally
parallel to
the axis (not shown) around which closure 10, and thus cap 12, would be
rotated during
installation or removal from a container. It is to be appreciated, however,
that flat
portion 18 may be oriented at other angles with respect to such axis, as long
as such
4
CA 02720147 2010-11-02
angle is not perpendicular to such axis, without varying from the scope of the
present
invention. Top portion 20 preferably comprises a generally flat surface
oriented
generally perpendicular to the axis (not shown) around which closure 10 would
be
rotated during installation and removal. Accordingly, in the example
embodiment
shown, flat portion 18 is oriented generally perpendicular to top portion 20.
Bottom
portion 21 preferably comprises an inclined bottom surface inclined generally
inward
and upward toward cap 12. The general purpose and function of the lugs 16 as
well as
their specific structure is discussed in detail below.
As shown in FIG. 1 C, cap 12 includes a threaded portion 22 on an interior
surface
(not numbered) that is adapted to cooperatively engage a corresponding
threaded portion
of the neck of a container, as will be discussed in further detail below.
FIGS. 2A and 2B show a neck portion 30 and opening 32 of a container 33 (only
partially shown) such as that commonly used for storage of a liquid (e.g.,
without
limitation, milk) in accordance with a non-limiting embodiment of the present
invention.
Neck portion 30 includes a threaded portion 34 having a number of individual
threads 35
disposed at or near the opening 32 that cooperatively engage threaded portion
22 of cap
12 when closure assembly 10 is installed on the container having neck portion
30. Neck
portion 30 further includes a number of retention lugs 36 disposed generally
around neck
portion 30 below the threaded portion 34, and a generally outward protruding
retention
ring 37 disposed therebetween. As shown in FIG 2B, at least one, and
preferably all, of
retention lugs 36 includes a generally flat portion 38. Additionally, each
retention lug
preferably includes an inclined portion 40. Although shown as a generally
triangular
shaped member, it is to be appreciated that one or more of retention lugs 36
could be of
different general shape while still including a flat portion 38 (e.g., without
limitation,
rectangular) without varying from the scope of the present invention.
FIGS 3A-3D show the closure assembly 10 and neck portion 30 previously
described installed together via cooperative engagement of threaded portions
22 (FIG.
IC) and 34 (FIG. 2A). closure assembly 10 is preferably installed on neck
portion 30 via
a rotational installation process in which closure assembly is rotated and
thus tightened
down on neck portion 30. During such installation, lugs 16 move downward on
neck
portion 30 toward the container. As lugs 16 encounter retention ring 37, the
inclined
bottom portion 21 of lugs 16 tend to assist in each of lugs 16 passing over
retention ring
37. In contrast, the generally flat top portion 20 of each lug 16 inhibits
passing of the
5
CA 02720147 2010-11-02
lugs 16 over retention ring 37, such as would attempt to occur if closure
assembly were
to be unscrewed from, and thus moved axially away from, neck portion 30.
After passing retention ring 37, each of the lugs 16 of annular skirt 14
encounter
retention lugs 36 of neck portion 30. As each of lugs 16 encounter retention
lugs 36, the
inclined portion 19 of each lug 16 tends to assist in each of lugs 16 passing
over retention
lugs 36 as closure assembly 10 is rotated onto neck portion 30. Similarly,
when
structured as shown in the FIGS., the inclined portion 40 of each retention
lug 36 tends
to also assist in the passage of each lug 16 thereover. In contrast, the
generally flat
portion 18 of each lug 16 inhibits passing of a lug 16 over a respective one
of the
retention lugs 36, such as would attempt to occur if closure assembly were to
be rotated
in a direction corresponding to removal from neck portion 30.
As shown in the detailed cut view of FIG 3D, when the closure assembly 10 is
threaded and sufficiently tightened down on neck portion 30, the flat 18 of at
least one
lug 16 on annular skirt 14 engages the flat portion 38 of a corresponding one
of the
number of retention lugs 36 on neck portion 30, thus restricting rotational
movement of
closure assembly 10 in a direction that would open the container. Such tight
interaction
between flat 18 and flat portion 38 provides for the annular skirt 14 to break
away from
cap 12 upon slight horizontal (rotational) movement (preferably less than a
degree of
rotation) of cap 12 with respect to neck portion 30, as when cap 12 is
unscrewed from
neck portion 30 upon opening the container. Such quick break away of the
annular skirt
14 resulting from the present invention is in contrast to known designs which
generally
rely on vertical movement of the cap away from the neck portion 30, and as
such
generally require at least 90 degrees of cap rotation before separation of the
annular skirt.
Accordingly, the present invention provides an indication when cap 12 has been
rotated only a small amount relative to neck portion 30 of the container and
thus possibly
compromised the sealed contents. Such indication is provided by the visible
separation
between the annular skirt 14 and cap 12. The separation between the annular
skirt 14
and cap 12 may be magnified by providing an increased spaced region 42 (FIG.
3B) on
neck portion 30 that allows for annular skirt 14 to drop a predetermined
distance (not
numbered) down from cap 12 upon separation from cap 12, even when cap 12 is
disposed at its most tightly threaded position on neck portion 30.
Accordingly, such
separation would still be obvious to an observer even if cap 12 has been
removed (either
partially or completely) and retightened down on the container.
6
CA 02720147 2010-11-02
While embodiments of the invention have been described herein, it will be
appreciated by those skilled in the art that various modifications and
alternatives to those
details could be developed in light of the overall teachings of the
disclosure.
Accordingly, the particular arrangements disclosed are meant to be
illustrative only and
not limiting as to the scope of invention which is to be given the full
breadth of the
claims appended and any and all equivalents thereof.
7
