EP1220793B1

EP1220793B1 - Locking helical closure system

Info

Publication number: EP1220793B1
Application number: EP00930589A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Peter M. Zielinski
Original assignee: Comar Inc
Current assignee: Comar Inc
Priority date: 1999-05-13
Filing date: 2000-05-11
Publication date: 2011-08-31
Anticipated expiration: 2020-05-11
Also published as: EP1220793A4; EP1220793A1

Abstract

A locking helical closure system (10) for containers consisting of three components. The three components are a closure cap (13), a neck finish (11), and a liner or stopper (12) made of an elastic material. The closure system has engagement lugs (14) that engage helical grooves (15) and pockets on the neck finish preventing the closure cap from unwinding during the sterilization process.

Description

The present invention relates to a closure assembly for a container according to the preamble of claim 1, in particular to improvements in closure assemblies for containers which are used for products which require autoclave sterilization processing.
A closure assembly according to the preamble of claim 1 is known from FR-A-1 226 087 .
US 3,927,783 discloses a safety closure for containers which is child resistant. The closure assembly comprises a cap of a cup-shaped form having a top and a depending skirt comprising wedges. Further, recessed tracks are directly provided on the neck of the container.
It has been found that in conventional systems due to the temperature variations of the process, in some instances thermal creep in the materials during autoclaving caused a loosening effect producing in some instances breach of the seal. Maintaining a tight seal during the autoclaving process is important to maintain the integrity of the product.
It is object of the invention to provide a closure assembly for a container ensuring a tight seal during autoclaving processes.
The object is solved by a closure assembly for a container according to claim 1.
With the inventive closure assembly it is possible to maintain the integrity of the sleeve and to ensure a tight seal during autoclaving processes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various features and details of the operation and construction of the inventive closure assembly are hereinafter more fully set forth with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view partly in section of the locking helical closure system of the present invention installed on a container with closure cap cut away;
Fig. 1a is a top plan view of the cap broken away and neck finish sleeve of the locking helical closure system;
Fig. 2 more clearly illustrates the neck finish fitted onto the neck of a container;
Fig. 3 is an isolated, cut away view of the closure cap showing engagement lugs and force focusing means;
Fig. 3a is a bottom plan view of the cap of the closure system;
Fig. 4 is an isolated view of the neck finish showing helical slots, retention bumps, and pocket;
Fig. 4a is a top plan view of the neck finish sleeve;
Fig. 5 is a developed view of both the cap and neck finish sleeve; and
Fig. 6 is a developed view showing the engagement of the cap over the neck finish sleeve.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to the drawings and more particularly Figs. 1 and 2 thereof, the locking helical closure system (10) shown installed on a container (30) in Fig. 1 is designed to resist "unscrewing" during the autoclave sterilization process. Due to thermal creep of the materials involved, prior art closures become loosened causing the threaded closure to back off thereby breaching the seal rendering the container contents unusable.
Referring to Fig. 1, the closure system (10) of the present invention is comprised of three components; a cylindrically shaped neck finish sleeve (11), a liner disk or stopper (12) generally made of an elastic material sealing the contents of the container, and a cup shaped closure cap (13) shown cut away in Fig. 1. The neck finish sleeve (11) and the closure cap (13), shown in the engaged position in Fig. 1, interact cooperatively to prevent the closure system (10) from backing off during the sterilization process while closure cap (13) simultaneously applies a downward force to liner disk or stopper (12).
As best shown in the developed view of the insert sleeve (11), there are three helical grooves (15) formed on the exterior surface of the insert sleeve (11) having an entrance opening (15a) of a size to accommodate the lugs (14) and terminating in a locking slot (16) disposed in a transverse plane (P-P) perpendicular to the axis of the insert sleeve.
The parts of the locking system are assembled in the following manner. First the sleeve (11) is press fitted on the neck of the container until the bottom edge (11a) of the sleeve (11) abuts the circumferentially extending rib (R) separating the bottle finish and the body portion of the container. The liner seal (12) is then positioned over the discharge edge end of the container in the position shown in Fig. 1. The liner (12) is of a diameter smaller than the diameter of the sleeve (11) so that when the cap is positioned over the liner, the lugs (14) can align with and engage in the entrance end of the helical slots (15). Rotation of the cap in a clockwise direction seats the cap and locks the cap in place when the lugs (14) pass over the retention bumps (17) and engage in the locking slots (16).
In Fig. 2, neck finish (11) is shown installed on neck (31) of container (30). Neck finish (11) is force fitted onto neck (31) of container (30) so as to prevent neck finish (11) from rotating during the application of closure cap (13). Closure cap (13) shown in an isolated cut away view in Fig. 3 more clearly illustrate its salient features. Engagement lugs (14) at the open end of closure cap (13) and force focusing means (18) at the closed end of closure cap (13) act cooperatively to secure liner or stopper (12) on to container (30). Fig. 4 is an isolated view of neck finish (11) showing helical slots 15 that spiral downward, pocket 16 that holds engagement lugs (14) and indicate when closure cap (13) is fully secured on container (30), and retention bumps (17) that prevent closure cap (13) from counter-rotating during the sterilization process.
To secure contents of container (30), neck finish (11) is force fitted on neck (31) of container (30). Liner or stopper (12) is placed on top of container (30) or alternatively, is placed within closure cap (13) which is then placed over neck finish (11) such that engagement lugs (14) align with helical slots 15. To secure liner or stopper (12) on container (30), closure cap (13) is rotated pulling it downward along helical slots 15 simultaneously compressing liner or stopper (12) through force focusing means (18). A slightly increased forced rotation of closure cap (13) is required to move engagement lugs (14) over retention bumps (17) and into pocket 16.
To remove liner or stopper (12) and open container (30), sufficient force must be provided to closure cap (13) in a counter-rotating direction for engagement lugs (14) to overcome retention bumps (17). Past the retention bumps (17), engagement lugs (14) unwind along helical slots 15 releasing closure cap (13) and liner or stopper (12) making contents of container (30) available.
Even though particular embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described herein, it is not intended to limit the invention and changes and modifications may be made therein within the scope of the following claim.

Claims

A closure assembly (10) for a container (30) having generally cylindrical neck finish comprising a neck finish sleeve (19) of generally cylindrical shape force or press fitted on the neck (31) of the container (30), a cap (13) of a cup-shaped form, having a top and a depending skirt, characterised by, means defining a series of circumferentially spaced helical grooves (15) on the exterior surface defined in the exterior surface of the sleeve (11), each groove (15) terminating adjacent the lower edge of the sleeve (11) in an elongated locking slot (16), a series of circumferentially spaced radially inwardly directed lugs (14) projecting inwardly from the lower edge of the skirt and circumferentially equi-spaced to align with the helical grooves (15) in the sleeve (11) whereby when the cap (13) is rotated relative to the sleeve (11), the lugs (14) transverse the grooves (15) and engage in the bottom of the locking slots (16) to hold the cap (13) on the sleeve (11), and further characterised by a liner disk (12) generally made of an elastic material and positioned over the discharge edge end of the neck (31) of the container (30), said liner disk (12) comprising a diameter smaller than the diameter of the sleeve (11), so that when the cap is positioned over the liner, the lugs (14) can align with and engage in the entrance end of the helical grooves (15).