AU643305B2

AU643305B2 - Container closure adaptor

Info

Publication number: AU643305B2
Application number: AU80454/91A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Constandinos Appla
Original assignee: INVESTIONS Pty Ltd
Current assignee: INVESTIONS Pty Ltd
Priority date: 1990-07-18
Filing date: 1991-07-16
Publication date: 1993-11-11
Anticipated expiration: 2011-07-16
Also published as: AU8045491A

Description

P/00/012 AUS A Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 6 4 3 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A PETTY PATENT

ORIGINAL

NOTICE

t. The specification should describe the invention in full and the best method of performing it known to the applicant.

2. The specification should be typed on as many sheets of good quality A4 International size paper as are necessary and inserted inside this form.

Si 3. The claims defining the invention must start on a new page. If there is *insufficient space on this form for the claims, use separate sheets of paper.

The words "The claims defining the invention are as follows" should appear before claim 1. After the claims the date and the name of the applicant should appear in block letters.

4. This form must be accompanied by a true and exact copy of the description, claims and drawings any) and an additional copy of the claims.

(see Pamphlets explaining formal requirements of specifications and drawings) II

*S

TO BE COMPLETED BY APPLICANT Nam e of A pplicant: INVESTIONS PTY .LTD. ctual CONSTANDINOS

APPLA

S

Address for P.O.Box 436 /39 Cheviot Rd., Mt.Waverley, Victoria, 3149 Invention T itle: C.O.N.T.AI.N.ER C. LO.S.URE... A Details of Associated Provisional Applications: Nos: The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me:- -1- This invention relates generally to container closures and relates in particular to a container closure adaptor for different types or sizes of containers for liquids. The invention also relates to an adaptor for container closures to which other closures or dispensing devices may be attached.

It is an object of this invnetion to provide a container closure adaptor which can be used an a variety of container of different materials such as metals or plastics materials.

Another object is to provide a means by which dispensing devices or closures of one size can be attached to containers which have inlet or outlet screw-threaded necks of different sizes.

The invention according a general aspect resides in a container closure adaptor comprising a body of synthetic polymeric material with an internallythreaded, wider-diameter, skirted outer wall portion connected by an intermediate, radially inwardlyextending flange wall portion to an internally or 6.60: externally-threaded narrower-diameter tubular inner wall *e Sportion, an integrally-moulded internal annular sealing ring member depending axially downwards from the underside of the intermediate radially inwardlyg.

extending flange wall portion at a radial distance intermediate the skirted outer wall portion and the S*tubular inner wall portion, the ring having a radiallyinwardly chamfered, radially outermost face for internal r idf sealing against the neck of a container.

According to one form of the adaptor of this invention the narrower-diameter inner tubular wall portion forms a neck upstanding from the flange wall portion, the base of the neck extending vertically below the horizontal level of the flange wall portion of the adaptor, an annular channel being formed at the base of the neck to allow an internally-threaded, combination container-closure, pouring spout and dispensing device to be attached to the closure adaptor and wherein the height of the neck of the closure adaptor is not greater than the rim flange of a drum when the adaptor is fitted to the drum.

According to another form of the adaptor of this invention, the internally-threaded, wider-diameter, skirted outer wall portion is connected to an externally-threaded, narrower-diameter tubular cylindrical inner wall portion by a flat, unthreaded outer intermediate radially inwardly-extending outer flange wall portion, an axial unthreaded wall portion o: and a radially inwardly- extending inner flange wall 4.

*e 0 portion countersunk with respect to the outer flange wall portion, the sealing ring being adapted to seal against the neck of a metal drum and there is formed a 44 single, deep, axially- extending groove between a .radially-outward face of the axial, unthreaded wall portion and a radially-inward face of the annular sealing ring.

-3- According to another form of the adaptor of the present invention, the internally-threaded, widerdiameter, skirted outer wall portion is connected by an intermediate, radially inwardly-extending flange wall portion to an internally threaded, narrower-diameter tubular inner wall portion countersunk into the flange wall portion, and the internal annular sealing member is formed on and depends axially downwards from the underside of the flange wall portion at a radial distance intermediate the skirted outer wall portion and the tubular inner wall portion for sealing against the neck of a metal drum.

Preferably, the annular sealing ring has the radially outermost surface thereof chamfered radially inwardly to form a yielding tapered section to seal against the internal surface of the neck of a container, the yieldability of the yielding tapered section of the annular sealing ring member is enhanced by means of at least one annular, stress-relieving groove formed in the underside of the flange wall portion and at the base of :0 the tapered section allowing the sealing ring to flex when in contact with the inside surface of the wall of the container neck and wherein the relative rotary movement of the annular sealing ring and radial movement .9 of the inside surface of the wall of the neck of the 9 Splastic container enhances sealing when the sealing ring and neck move into sealing engagement. More preferably, 0 the adaptor has two stress-relieving grooves, one on 0 ea a, 0 A I y each side of the base of the sealing ring, Preferably, there is provided on top of the intermediate radially inwardly-extending flange wall portion of the adaptor, a lug for engagement with internal saw teeth in a base of a conibia.ation closure, pouring spout and dispensing device to hold the device against rotation while an upper turnable part of the said device is being operated by a user.

0:1 fee: 00 6 0* 0 "a see:% as 'a S .004 -4- 'Tho rolatio rotary mvomont of the annular sealing ring and inside surface o all of the neck of the plast ainer enhances sealing when these the form of multiple embodiments and modifications and adaptations thereof will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is vertical section of one embodiment 1 pi0 of a container closure adaptor device suitable for use ,upon a plastic can.

Figure 1A is a vertical section of the neck portion -of a plastic container to which the adaptor of Figure 1 may be fitted.

Figure 2 is a vertical section of a second embodiment of the adaptor of the invention.

Figures 3 and 8A are vertical sections of a third embodiment of the adaptor of the invention applicable to metal drums.

20 Figure 3B is a bung for fitment to the adaptor of Figure 3.

Figure 4 is a vertical section of a modification of the embodiment of the invention of Figure 1 of the drawings.

Figure 5 is similar to Figure 4 but applicable to Figure 2.

Figure 6 is similar to Figures 4 and 5 but Sapplicable to Figure 3.

rupturable seal added to the embodiment of Figure 6, Figure 8 is a similar view to Figure 7 of another rupturable seal.

Figure 9 is a similar view toFigures 8 and 9 of another ruptrurable seal.

Figure 10 is a half sectional view in a valve closed position of a combination closure, dispensing and pouring accessory device which can be used in conjunction with the adaptor according to the present invention.

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Figure 11 is the same device as in as Figure but in open or dispensing and pouring position.

Figure 12 is an inverted plan view of the pouring dipenser device of Figures 10 and 11.

Referring to the first embodiment of the invention and the subject of Figure 1 of the drawings, there is shown a container closure adaptor device 10 in the" form of a squat tubular body made by injection moulding from a synthetic polymeric material or 20 materials such as high density polyethylene or polypropylene monomers or co-polymers the body is formed with a wider-diameter outer and lower-level wall portion 11-forming a skirt with an internal screw thread 12 thereon and a narrower-diameter, higher-level wall forming a male neck portion 13 which has an external screw thread 14 thereon. The outer side wall and inner neck wall portions of the adaptor device are joined by an annular lateral or intermediate top wall portion which has projecting downwards from the underside thereof and at a ra.dial distance partway between the outer skirted wall portion and inner neck wall portion and integrally for'med with the device, an annular sealing ring 16 which has the radially outermost face thereof chamfered radailly inwardly to form a sealing face 17 to seal against internal face 18 of the neck 19 of a container 20 when the adaptor is screwed onto the threaded neck 19 of the container 20 shown in Figure 1A below the adaptor shown in Figure 1.

Referring to the second embodiment of the invention the subject of Figure 2 of the drawings, there S. ~*is shown a container closure adaptor 210 similar to that of Figure I exccept that the base of the neck has a threaded recess in the form of an annular channel 220 which will allow the internally threaded lower end portion of a combination closure, dispensing device and *...pouring spout such as that shown in Figures 7 and 8 of the drawings accompanying this application, the latter device being the subject of a separate, co-pending 20 patent application No. PJ 5792 lodged 16th August, 1989 in the nare of Appla and completed under No. 61,023/90 on 10th August, 1990, which accessorcy device Is adapted to be screwed onto the adaptor of the present invention after the adaptor has been screwed onto the externally threaded neck of a plastic container as shown in Figure 1A or onto the spout of a metal can or drum. The purpose or function of the recess channel 220 is to provide extra threaded length to accomodate accessories -7the, height oi the closure adapter does not exceed the height of a f lange of a drum to permit stacking of druxs, For f itment of the pouring spout closure accessory of Figures 10 and 11 there is provided a lug 21 on the top or lateral wall of Figure 1, 221 in Figure 2 and 6523 of Figure 5; this lug engages with the internal saw teeth of the pourer of Figure 12 and holds the lower part of the spout against rotation while the upper or turnable part of the valve is being operated by a user.

Referring to the embodiment of Figure 3 there is See.,shown a contaiuier closure adaptor 310 similar to that of goes* Figures 1 and 2 in most respects except that the male neck portion is now modified into a female functional portion which is countersunk atd level with the top or lateral wall portion 315 of the adaptor 310 and is 0 internally threaded with thread 314 rather than externally threaded as in the male neck versions of Figures I and 2 of the drawings. In the embodimenT1t of Figure 3, the lower level skirted outer wall portion rema.ins the same but, for clarity is now designated 311, the external thread thereof is 312, the intearnal female threaded portion of TWhe cqvmatersunk "neck" is designated 313.

As shown in Figures 7 to 9, if desired the recessed or countersunk female threaded portion of the adaptor may be formed with a dif: erent types of rupturable membrane seal which can be a convex bottom seal 317 as in Figure 7, a straight bottom seal 318 of I Figure 6, or a straight top seal 319 as in Figure formed thereon to create access to the bung hole of a drum or the like by insertion of a threaded tap whereby screw-in action of tl1'e tap breaks the seal. The embodiment of Figure 3 also has formed thereunder an annular sealing ring 318 and a i hainfered external sealing surface 318a, the ring being tapered from top to bottom, 4:06In Figure 3A there show~n the externally threaded 10 opening of a metal drum.

In Figure b3 there is shown a removable bung 316 *so: e for the adaptor of Figure 3.

C In the separate embodiments of Figures 4 to 6 of the accompanying drawings there is shown a modification to the three embodiments of the closure adaptor of Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings, namely the additiot of two annular grooves 421t 422 in Figure 4; 521, 522 in Figure 5; and 621, 622 in Figure 6. These grooves are at the base of the annular sealing ring now designated 416, 516, and 616 on Figures 4 to 6 respectively and which act as stress relievers to enhance flexibility of the ring seal when the adaptor io being screwed onto the threaded neck of a plastic container.

It will be appreciated that, if desired a threaded cap can be fitted. upon the adaptor of Figures 1,2, 4 and 5 of the drawings of the present application.

Claims

2. The adaptor as claimed in claim 1, wherein the narrower-diameter inner tubular wall portion forms a neck upstanding from the flange wall portion, the base nf the neck extending vertically below the borizontal level of the flange wall portion of the adaptor, an aii -ular channel being formied at the base of 'the neck to allow an internally-threaded, combination container-closure, po~uring spout and dispensing device to be a'-ftached to the closure adaptor and wherein the height of the neck of the closure adaptor is not greater than the nlia flange of a drum when the adaptor is fitted tq, the drum.
9.9X 3. The adaptor as claimed in claim I wherein the internally-threaded, wider-diameter, skirted outer wall portion is connected to an externally-threaded, narrower-diameter tubular cylindrical inner wall portion by a flat, unthreaded outer intermediate radially inwardly-extending outer flange wall portion, an axial unthreaded wall portion and a radially inwardly- extending inner flange wall portion countersunk with respect to the outer flange wall portion, the sealing ring being adapted to seal against the neck of a metal drum and there is formed a single, deep, axial~y- extending groove between a radially-outward face of tbe axial, unthreaded wall portion and a radiall -inward face of the annular sealing ring. 4. The adaptor as claimed in claim 1, wherein the internally-threaded, wider-diameter, skirted outer wall portion is connected by an intermediate, radially inwardly-extending flange wall portion to an internally threaded, narrower-diameter tubular inner wall portion countersunk into the flange wall portion, and the internal annular sealing member is formed in and depends axially downwards from the underside of the flange wall 'so pction at a radial distance intermediate the skirted :....outer wall portion and the tubular inner wall portion for sealing against the neck of a metal drum. The adaptor as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the annular sealing ring has the radially r *o~ -11- outermost surface thereof chamfered radially inwardly to form a yielding tapered section to seal against the internal surface of the neck of a container, the yieldability of the yielding tapered section of the annular sealing ring member is enhanced by means of at least one annular, stress-relieving groove formed in the underside of the flange wall portion and at the base of the tapert., section allowing the sealing ring to flex when in contact with the inside sur'face of the wall of the container neck and wherein the relative rotary movement of the annular sealing ring and radial movement of the inside surface of the wall of the neck of the plastic container enhances sealing when the sealing ring and neck move into sealing engagement. 6. The adaptor as claimed in claim 5 wherein there are two stress-relieving grooves, one on each side of the base of the sealing ring. 7. The adaptor as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein there in provided on the top of the intermediate radially inwardly-extendLng flange wall portion a lug 00* for engagement with internal saw teeth in a base of a combination closure, pouring spout and dispensing device to hold the device against rotation while an upper .3 turnable part of the said device is being operated by a user. *9 i* *3o. r^ 'l t -12- 8. A container closure adaptor substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings. 9. A container closure adaptor substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 2 of the accompanying drawings. A container closure adaptol substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 3 and 3A of the accompanying drawings.
11. A container closure adaptor substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 4 of the accompanying drawings.
12. A container closure adaptor substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 5 of the accompanying drawings.
13. A container closure adaptor substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 6 of the accompanying drawings.
14. A container closure adaptcr substantially as :hereinbefore described with r'Aference to Figure 7 of the accompanying drawings,
15. A container closure adaptor substantially as l'o hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 8 of the accompanying drawings, o 9*o -13-
16. A container closure adaptor substantially as hereinbef ore described with. reference to Figure 9 of the accomipanying drawings. Dated this let day of Septemnber, 1993 IVES'rIONS PTY. LTD, By Our Patent Attorney JO~HN LDAVIS CO a a a a a a. a p a a. a a a a. *a a ci en. a a a ABSTRACT An adapter of plastics material (10) enables a dispensing closure with a pouring spout to be fitted to plastic containers or plastic containers with threaded necks (19) and has an outer, internally-threaded wall portion (11) connected by a flat intermediate lateral wall portion (15) to an inner, externally-threaded wall portion (14 which forms a connecting neck for the er,* skirted, internally-threaded bottom of the dispenser closure and pouring spout member the adaptor has an annular, integrally-moulded, deformable sealing ring (16) which depends from the underside of the flat connector portion (15) and is positioned at a radial distance between inner and outer wall portions and has an outer wall surface (17) chamfered to obtain a yieldable tapered section in axial direction enabling sealing against shoulder and neck of plastic containers and against the neck of metal containers; in one form 9 there is a stress-relieving annular groove (221) at the base of the annular sealing ring to enhance yieldability and allow the ring (16) to flex when in contact with the inside surface of the wall of the container neck (19) in other forms there are stress-relieving annular grooves (421,422,521,522,621,622)