US3339773A - Screw closure - Google Patents

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Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D41/00—Caps, e.g. crown caps or crown seals, i.e. members having parts arranged for engagement with the external periphery of a neck or wall defining a pouring opening or discharge aperture; Protective cap-like covers for closure members, e.g. decorative covers of metal foil or paper
  • B65D41/02—Caps or cap-like covers without lines of weakness, tearing strips, tags, or like opening or removal devices
  • B65D41/04—Threaded or like caps or cap-like covers secured by rotation
  • B65D41/0407—Threaded or like caps or cap-like covers secured by rotation with integral sealing means
  • B65D41/0428—Threaded or like caps or cap-like covers secured by rotation with integral sealing means formed by a collar, flange, rib or the like contacting the top rim or the top edges or the external surface of a container neck
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D41/00—Caps, e.g. crown caps or crown seals, i.e. members having parts arranged for engagement with the external periphery of a neck or wall defining a pouring opening or discharge aperture; Protective cap-like covers for closure members, e.g. decorative covers of metal foil or paper
  • B65D41/02—Caps or cap-like covers without lines of weakness, tearing strips, tags, or like opening or removal devices
  • B65D41/04—Threaded or like caps or cap-like covers secured by rotation
  • B65D41/0471—Threaded or like caps or cap-like covers secured by rotation with means for positioning the cap on the container, or for limiting the movement of the cap, or for preventing accidental loosening of the cap

Definitions

• Objects of the invention are to provide: (1) a novel and improved screw closure which effects a tactual indication or signal that is readily felt by the user just prior to the closure attaining its final, stopped position; (2) a closure as in (1) and which has a fast lead, i.e.
• FIG. 1 is a view partly in axial section and partly in side elevation, of the present improved closure mounted on a collapsible tube (shown in part only).
• FIG. 2 is a view partly in axial section and partly in side elevation, of the tubular body member of the closure.
• FIG. 3 is a view partly in axial section and partly in side elevation, of the screw cap member of the closure.
• the improved closure comprises essentially a tubular body member indicated generally by the numeral 10 (see FIG. 2) and a cup-shaped screw cap member designated generally by the numeral 12 (see FIG. 3).
• the body member 10 is shown as being in the form of an adaptor or fitment intended to be attached to the neck of a container, such as the collapsible tube 14 shown in FIG. 1.
• the body member 10 may as well constitute an integral or a permanent part of the container, whether this latter is a collapsible tube, a squeeze bottle, a small vial, or other dispensing container.
• the body member 10 constitutes one basic part of the closure
• the screw cap member 12 constitutes the other part of the closure.
• the body member 10 is press-fitted on the neck (not shown) of the collapsible tube 14, said member and neck having cooperable detent means, such as the annular head 20 and the annular groove 22 of the body member.
• cooperable detent means between the body member 10 and the corresponding portion of the container form no part of the present invention
• the body member 10 comprises a tubular body portion 16 having at its bottom end an annular collar 18 which fits against the conical end of the tube 14 in the manner shown in FIG. 1.
• the tubular body portion 16 On the tubular body portion 16 there are disposed external screw therads 24, 26 which constitute a double thread and, by virtue of this, can have a fast lead.
• the external screw threads 24, 26 are shown as being of I rounded section, and as being of relatively small height whereby they may be easily wiped clean if this becomes necessary or desirable.
• the body portion 16 includes an orifice portion 28 of tapered or frustoconical configuration, there being a discharge passage 30 through the portions 16 and 28.
• the screw cap member 12 has internal screw threads 32, 34 also characterized by a fast lead.
• the internal screw threads 32, 34 are also rounded in section and of small height, and either one or both of the members 10, 12 may be constituted of yieldable molded plastic substance such as polyethylene or the like.
• these threads constitute a somewhat impositive cap shifting means inasmuch as it is possible to force the cap member 12 axially onto the body member 10 with the screw threads becoming slightly distorted and forced laterally past each other.
• the screw threads are not forced past each other in this manner but instead function to axially advance the screw cap 12 onto the body member 10 as the cap is screwed or turned in the usual manner.
• novel detent means are provided in conjunction with the above structure, whereby the user is provided with a tactual indication or signal to. the effect that the closure is fully assembled, this occurring just prior to the termination of the screwing-on movement of the cap member 12.
• the said detent means in addition to providing this tactual indication or signal, also helps to effectively retain the screw cap member 12 in its fully closed position under adverse conditions of use, such as vibration and the like, in spite of the fast lead and rounded configuration of the cooperable screw threads 24, 26 and 32, 34.
• the said cooperable detent means comprises a yieldable part on one of the members 10, 12 this being shown as in the form of a bead formation constituted as internal ridges 38 (see FIG. 3) disposed circumferentially in the member 12 and cooperable with an annular shoulder 40 and annular groove 42 provided on the orifice portion 28 of the body member 10.
• the ridges 38 will ride up on the conical outer surface 44 of the orifice portion 28, thereby tending to initially constrain the said screwing-on movement of the cap.
• the action of the screw threads 24, 26 and 32, 34 will cause the ridges 38 to continue their travel and to be deformed, ultimately forcing the ridges to ride over the annular shoulder 40 of the body member 10, and to occupy the groove 42.
• the constraining action ceases, and the turning of the cap member 12 becomes very easy for the final fraction of a revolution until the members 10, 12 attain the fully assembled condition. This cessation of the constraining action is imparted to the user in the form of a tactual indication or signal, indicating that the cap member 12 has now attained the proper sealing or closing position.
• the invention also provides, in conjunction with the above detent means and screw threads, additional cooperable screw elements on the members 10, 12 which operate shortly after initial unscrewing movement of the cap memher from the said fully assembled condition, and which forcibly axially shift the cap member a distance which is sufificient to positively disengage the cooperable detent means, that is, a distance sufiicient to force the ridges 38 over and past the annular shoulder 40 of the orifice portion 28.
• the said additional cooperable screw elements also are arranged to constitute a positive stop means, by which screwing on of the cap member 12 is forcibly and positively halted when the member attains the fully assembled position on the body member 10.
• the body member 10' is provided with a pair of diametrically opposite wedge or screw elements 48 having sloping upper surfaces 50 and squared ends or abutting end surfaces 52.
• the cap member 12 is provided with a pair of internal, diametrically disposed lugs 54 having abutting side surfaces 56 as seen in FIG. 3. With such organization, the abutting end and side surfaces 52, 56 will be brought into engagement with each other as the cap member 12 attains the fully assembled position on the body member 10, thereby effectively preventing further turning movement of the cap member.
• the lugs 54 will, after a slight initial interval of turning of the closure member 12, ride up on the sloped surfaces or faces 50 of the screw elements 48, causing a positive backing-off movement of the cap member 12 and forcibly shifting the ridges 38 over and past the annular shoulder 40.
• dependence is not had only on the screw threads 24, 26 and 32, 34 to effect removal of the cap member 12 and to force the ridges 38 over the annular shoulder 40.
• the additional screw elements 48 will be effective at least until the ridges 38 have been shifted past the annular shoulder 40, whereupon there no longer exists any restraint tending to prevent unscrewing of the cap member 12.
• the screw threads 24, 26 and 32, 34 will thereafter effectively complete the unscrewing of the cap member, and the fast lead which characterizes the screw threads may be such that the attachment and removal of the cap member 12 is effected by turning the latter through not more than substantially onehalf of a complete revolution.
• the said initial movement of the member 12 facilitates the breaking of glue bonds, crusts and the like which sometimes form between the closure parts, and this is an important feature.
• a second seal is effected between the members 10, 12 prior to the attainment of the fully assembled condition of the said members.
• This second seal comprises cooperable annular sealing elements on the members, in the form of a yieldable annular internal flange 62 in the cap member 12, which cooperates with the top end 64 of the orifice portion 28.
• FIG. 1 shows the fully assembled condition of the members 10, 12. It will be seen that for such condition, the annular shoulder 40 seals against the surface 60, and the flange 62 seals against the top end 64 of the body member. The engagement between the flange 62 and the top end 64 occurs prior to the ultimate attainment of the fully assembled condition, whereby a slight interference exists.
• the yieldability of the flange 62 enables the slight additional amount of movement of the cap member 12 to be effected, until the stop surfaces 52, 56 are brought into engagement with each other.
• the closure construction is extremely simple, and the components may be readily economically molded by conventional molding techniques, in simple mold equipment. The cost of the components is thus held to a desirably low figure. Also, the likelihood of contamination of the screw threads 24, 26 and 32, 34 by the product being dispensed is diminished by locating the discharge orifice of the portion 28 at a distance from the body portion 16.
• a screw closure construction comprising, in combination:
• said body member having external screw threads surrounding the discharge passage, and having an orifice portion beyond said screw threads
• said detent means being so organized as to terminate said constraint prior to the screw cap member attaining its fully screwed-on position representing a fully-assembled condition of the members, thereby providing to the user a tactual indication of such screwed-on position by virtue of an easier ultimate turning action.
• the cooperable detent means comprises an annular shoulder on one member and a bead formation constituting the said yieldable part, said formation being carried out on the other member and snapping past the shoulder before the members attain the fully assembled condition.
• said additional screw elements have a one-way screw action, and have abutting end surfaces which engage each other and constitute a stop to halt the cap member in the fully screwed-on position when the latter is assembled to the body member.
• said screw elements comprise a pair of diametrically opposite wedge formation having squared ends, said formations being carried at the base of the body member.
• sealing elements comprise a yieldable annular flange on the inside of the cap member, engageable with the orifice portion of the body member.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Closures For Containers (AREA)

Description

Claims (1)

Priority Applications (1)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=24192517

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (1)

Cited By (28)

Citations (2)

• 1966
  • 1966-05-11 US US549323A patent/US3339773A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime

Patent Citations (2)

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