GB2063226A

GB2063226A - Closure

Info

Publication number: GB2063226A
Application number: GB7939200A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Ug Closures & Plastics Ltd
Current assignee: Ug Closures & Plastics Ltd
Priority date: 1979-11-13
Filing date: 1979-11-13
Publication date: 1981-06-03
Also published as: GB2063226B

Abstract

A snap-fit closure of non- circular external cross-section and container combination is provided wherein the closure is formed internally with a plurality of projections 3, Fig. 6, of equal circumferential length spaced apart by equal circumferential distances and the container is formed around its neck with a plurality of projections 6, Fig. 1, defining spaced slots 7 therebetween, which slots have a circumferential length and are so positioned that the projections on the closure may pass through the slots on the container neck. The closure is removed by rotation, skirt 2 engaging corners on shoulder 8 to urge the closure upwards, movement occurring when projections 3 are aligned with slots 7. Several embodiments are described. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Closure This invention relates to containers and closures therefor, and especially to a container/closure combination wherein the closure is removed from the container by a rotational movement followed by an axial movement.

In our Patent Application No. 41647/78 (Publication No. 2008550A) we have described a closure and container combination wherein the closure is formed around its periphery with a plurality of projections of equal circumferential length spaced apart by equal circumferential distances and the container is formed around its periphery with a plurality of projections defining spaced slots therebetween, which slots have a circumferential length and are so positioned that the projections on the closure may pass through the slots on the container, the closure and container being rotatable relative to one another.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a container/closure combination which is an improvement upon that described in our abovementioned Application.

According to the present invention there is provided a closure and container combination wherein the closure is formed internally with a plurality of projections of equal circumferential length spaced apart by equal circumferential distances and the container is formed around its neck with a plurality of projections defining spaced slots therebetween, which slots have a circumferential length and are so positioned that the projections on the closure may pass through the slots on the container neck, the or a skirt of the closure and the container neck being shaped such that contact between the said skirt and the container neck when the container and closure are at selected relative rotational positions thereof causes the said skirt of the closure to be temporarily deformed whereby the projections on the closure are urged through the slots on the container neck.

The invention requires that a skirt of the closure (which may or may not be that on which the projections are formed) and the neck of the container should be so shaped that when the closure is rotated relative to the container, in either direction, as the projections on the closure approach the slots between the projections on the container neck the closure skirt is deformed outwardly and this causes the upward movement of the closure. This upward movement is resisted until the projections on the closure line up with those on the container neck, when the closure may be removed.

The closure may be of the single- or doublewalled variety. When it is of the single-walled type the projections will be formed on the inside surface of its skirt. When of the double-walled variety the projections will suitably, but not necessarily, be formed on the inside surface of the inner wall, if continuous, or on a series of arcuate walls depending from the top of the closure.

Urging of the projections on the closure through the slots on the container neck is brought about by so shaping the neck of the container and either the outer or inner skirt or wall of the closure that when the closure is turned relatively to the container the closure tends to be lifted upwards and off the container. Suitably the closure and container neck are so designed that the maximum lift effect occurs when the projections on the closure become aligned with the slots on the container neck.

Thus, in one embodiment the container neck and the or one of the skirts of the closure are formed with matching cam surfaces, for example in the manner illustrated in U.K. Patent Specification No. 1,260,128. Relative rotation between the closure and container neck causes relative axial movement between the two.

When the closure is of the double-walled variety it is possible for the external skirt of the cap to be of any desired shape, and it may for example be circular in plan view. When it is of the singlewalled variety, the skirt of the closure or a cooperating portion of the container neck, and suitably both, are non-circular in plan, whereby they have at least one relatively short diameter and at least one relatively large diameter. When the short diameter of the closure skirt contacts the large diameter of the cooperating neck portion, the skirt is deformed outwardly and lift is generated.

In another embodiment the closure skirt (either the inner or outer skirt) is of substantially square or hexagonal transverse section with rounded corners and the neck of the container, below the projections thereon, is formed with an outwardlydirected sloping shoulder of substantially similar transversal section. Contact of the shorter diameter portions of the closure skirt with the larger diameter portions of the container neck results in the skirt of the closure being deformed outwardly, the closure is urged upwardly, and, the projections then being in alignment or substantially in alignment with the slots between the projections on the container neck, the closure tends to spring free of the container.

In another embodiment both the closure skirt (either the inner or outer) and a cooperating part of the container are ellipsoidal in transversal section such that, as the closure is turned and its smaller diameter part comes into contact with the larger diameter part of the container neck, the skirt of the closure may be easily removed once the projections on the skirt and the slots on the container line up.

In yet a further embodiment, an inner skirt of the closure is formed with inwardly directed projections for cooperation with outwardly directed projections on the container neck, and the outer skirt of the closure is so shaped as to be deformed, upon rotation, by a shoulder portion of the container below the projections thereon.

In a still further embodiment deformation of the closure skirt is achieved by forming the container neck, below the projections thereon, with a series of spaced bulges, and providing a series of spaced lugs on the inside of the closure which, upon rotation of the closure, engage the bulges and hence deform the closure. When the closure is a double-walled closure, and the external wall of the closure is circular in section, the provision of such lugs and bulges helps to locate the closure on the container when the closure is placed on the container.

The accompanying drawings illustrate some embodiments of the invention. In the drawings: Figure 1 is a view, partly in section, of a closure/container combination according to the invention; Figure 2 is a side end elevation of the neck of the container, from one angle; Figure 3 is a side end elevation of the neck of the container, looking in the direction of the arrow in Figure 5; Figure 4 is a plan view of the container; Figure 5 is a plan view of the closure; Figure 6 is a part-sectional view of the closure; Figure 7 is an elevation of the neck of another form of container; Figure 8 is a plan view of the container neck of Figure 7; Figure 9 is an underneath plan of a closure for use with the container neck of Figures 7 and 8; Figure 10 is a section on the line XX of Figure 9; Figure 11 is an elevation of the neck of a third form of container;; Figure 12 is a plan view of the container neck of Figure 11; Figure 13 is an underneath plan of a closure for use with the container neck of Figures 11 and 12; and Figure 14 is a section on the line XIV--XIV of Figure 13.

Referring firstly to Figures 1 to 6, the closure which is basically of square transverse section with rounded corners (see Figure 5), comprises a recessed disc-like top 1 and a peripherally depending skirt 2. Formed interiorly of the skirt 2 are two sets of projections, a lower set of projections 3 and an upper set of projections 4.

The projections 3 are all of the same length and are equally spaced around the periphery of the skirt 2. Similarly, the projections 4 are all of the same length (but of greater length than the projections 3) and equally spaced around the periphery of the skirt 2.

The closure is suitably moulded from plastics material, e.g. polyethylene or polypropylene, and is preferably provided with a sealing liner 5.

The neck of the container is provided with a series of spaced projections 6, equally spaced around the periphery of the neck and of equal circumferential length. The projections 6 define between them a series of slots 7. Slots 7 are of a sufficient circumferential length as to allow the passage therethrough of projections 3 on the closure, but are not so wide as to allow the passage therethrough of projections 4.

Beneath the projections 6 on the container neck is an annular shoulder 8 which merges at its lower end with the body 9 of the container.

Because of the shape of the container the shoulder 8 is of greater diametral extent at the four corners 8' thereof, and the slope of the shoulder at these points 8' is less steep than at any other part of the shoulder. For example, the angle a (Figure 2) may be of the order of 7 to 100, whereas the angle P (Figure 3) may be of the order of 25 to 350.

The closure is applied to the container by pushing it thereon. If upon application the projections 3 are aligned with slots 7, the closure is pushed onto the container and then turned slightly relative thereto. If the projections 3 are not aligned with slots 7, the closure is simply pushed onto the container, whereupon the skirt 2 of the closure splays outwardly to allow the projections 3 on the closure to ride over the projections 6 on the container and "snap" back thereunder into the position shown in Figure 1.

Removal of the closure from the container is then effected by rotating the closure relative to the container. As the sides of the closure skirt come into contact with the "corners" 8' of the shoulder 8, so the skirt of the closure is deformed outwardly and the natural tendency is for the closure to move upwardly. Therefore, as the projections 3 come into alignment with the slots 7 the closure will "spring" upwards and be removed from the container.

The container shown in Figures 7 and 8 is hexagonal in plan, but with a circular mouth portion 20 around which are formed six arcuate projections 21. A sloping ledge 22 beneath the ring of projections 21 merges into a sloping shoulder 23. The slope angle of shoulder 23 varies around-the container, the slope shown on the lefthand side of Figure 7 being appropriate to the location designated 23a in Figure 8, and that shown on the right-hand side of Figure 7 being appropriate to that part labelled 23b in Figure 8.

A closure for use with the container of Figures 7 and 8 is shown in Figures 9 and 10. The external skirt or wall 25 of the closure is hexagonal in shape, so as to match the shape of the container.

Depending from the top wall 26 of the closure is a series of arcuate walls 27, each of which is formed with an inwardly-directed projection 28.

When the closure of Figures 9 and 10 is seated on the container of Figures 7 and 8, the projections 27 on the closure seat beneath the projections 21 on the container. When the closure is rotated, the lower edges of the flat sides of the closure contact the shallower sloping portions of the shoulder 23, and are deformed outwardly. This tends to lift the closure off the container and when the projections 28 on the closure arrive at the slots formed between projections 21 on the container, the closure "springs" off the container.

The container shown in Figures 11 and 12 is broadly similar to that of Figures 7 and 8, having spaced projections 21 formed around its mouth 20, and being hexagonal in plan view. A shoulder 30 is formed on the container neck beneath the projections 21, of the crenellated form shown especially in Figure 11. As is clear from the leftand right-hand sides of Figure 11, the slope of the shoulder 30 is constant, thus forming peaks and troughs around the container neck.

A closure for use therewith is shown in Figures 13 and 14, and again has a hexagonal skirt 31.

Depending from the top 32 of the closure are six equally spaced arcuate walls 33, each provided with an inwardly-directed projection 34, and between each pair of walls 33, also depending from the top 32 of the closure, is a probe 35 having a tip 36.

When the closure of Figures 13 and 14 is placed on the container neck of Figures 11 and 12, the projections 34 seat beneath the projections 21, and the tips 36 of the probes contact the troughs of the shoulder 30. Rotation of the closure relative to the container causes the probe tips 36 to ride up the various portions of the shoulder 30, causing the walls 33 to be splayed outwardly due to the contact of projections 34 with projections 21. When projections 34 come into position between adjacent projections 21, the closure "springs" off the container.

Claims

1. A closure and container combination wherein the closure is formed internally with a plurality of projections of equal circumferential length spaced apart by equal circumferential distances and the container is formed around its neck with a plurality of projections defining spaced slots therebetween, which slots have a circumferential length and are so positioned that the projections on the closure may pass through the slots on the container neck, the or a skirt of the closure and the container neck being shaped such that contact between the said skirt and the container neck when the container and closure are at selected relative rotational positions thereof causes the said skirt of the closure to be temporarily deformed whereby the projections on the closure are urged through the slots on the container neck.

2. A combination as claimed in claim 1 wherein the closure is of the single-walled type, and said projections are formed on the inside surface of said skirt.

3. A combination as claimed in claim 1 wherein the closure is of the double-walled type and said projections are formed on the inside surface of the inner wall or on a series of arcuate walls depending from the top of the closure.

4. A combination as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3 wherein the closure and the container are formed with matching cam surfaces such that relative rotation between the closure and the container causes relative axial movement therebetween.

5. A combination as claimed in claim 1 wherein the said skirt is of substantially square or hexagonal transverse section with rounded corners and the neck of the container, below the projections thereon, is formed with an outwardlydirected sloping shoulder of substantially similar transversal section.

6. A combination as claimed in claim 1 wherein both the said skirt and a cooperating part of the container are ellipsoidal in transversal section.

7. A combination as claimed in claim 3 wherein an inner skirt of the closure is formed with inwardly directed projections for cooperation with outwardly directed projections on the container neck, and the outer skirt of the closure is so shaped as to be deformed, upon rotation, by a shoulder portion of the container below the projections thereon.

8. A combination as claimed in claim 1 wherein, the container neck is formed, below the projections thereon, with a series of spaced bulges, and a series of spaced lugs are provided on the inside of the closure which, upon rotation of the closure, engage the said bulges and deform the closure.

9. A combination as claimed in claim 1, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 6, or Figures 7 to 10, or Figures 11 to 14 of the drawings.

10. The closure of the combination of any of claims 1 to 9.

11. The container of the combination of any of claims 1 to 9.