GB2124603A

GB2124603A - A bottle fitted with a leak proof stoppering cap

Info

Publication number: GB2124603A
Application number: GB08320756A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Antonin Goncalves
Original assignee: LOreal SA
Current assignee: LOreal SA
Priority date: 1982-08-03
Filing date: 1983-08-02
Publication date: 1984-02-22
Also published as: IT8353619V0; DE3327880A1; IT1159476B; ES273859U; IT8367838A0; CH654472A5; GB8320756D0; GB2124603B; ES273859Y; DE3327880C2

Abstract

A bottle, for example for shampoo, includes a main body (2) having a collar (3) terminating at a neck (4). The cap (5) has an internal skirt (16) serving as a stoppering element and an external skirt (14) smoothly conforming with the bottle body (2). Means for ensuring secure closing of the bottle comprise bosses (12) engaging fins (17a) to define a click stop at the end of the screwing- up operation. Further fins (17) define together with the first mentioned fins (17a) a precentering device to ensure that the internal skirt accurately enters the hole (9) at the top end of a constricted neck portion (7) whose exterior is engaged by these fins (17, 17a) in the precentering operation, <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A bottle fitted with a leak proof stoppering cap The present invention concerns a bottle comprising a detachable stoppering cap fitted by the screwing of a thread of the cap on the neck of the bottle, the cap having an external skirt whose diameter is greater than the diameter of the outlet opening of the bottle.

A stoppering device which is in general use at present for bottles of this type consists of a cap constituted by three coaxial skirts interconnected by a top wall, these three skirts being capable of being defined in the following way: an external skirt which serves to cover the bottle and which the user grips to screw on and unscrew the cap; an internal skirt which is intended to ensure the seal and which, for this purpose, tightly fits inside the opening of the bottle; and an intermediate skirt comprising an internal thread intended to cooperate with the external thread carried by the neck.

Such a stoppering device makes it possible to have at one's disposal a cap with a relatively large size whilst the neck of the bottle, on which this cap is intended to be fitted, is relatively narrow.

Such a cap gives every satisfaction both from the point of view of aesthetic appeal and from the point of view of ease of handling. Yet it will be easily understood that this cap, generally made of a plastic material, is difficult to mould because of the fact that its three skirts are very close to each other. It follows that in manufacture it is difficult to ensure a rapid and correct cooling of the moulds, so these stoppering devices have a low production rate and are therefore expensive.

The object of the present invention is to replace the traditional triple skirt cap by a cap capable of being easily moulded and which can therefore be manufactured at a lower cost. For this purpose, the invention proposes a stoppering device constituted by a cap with a simplified structure, this cap being capable of cooperating with a bottle neck modified so as to fulfil the role of a diameter-reducing element.

The aim of the invention is also to provide a facility for screwing on and unscrewing of the cap whilst also ensuring the positioning of the cap when it is placed in the position for stoppering the bottle.

The present invention therefore provides a bottle comprising a detachable stoppering cap threadably fitted on the neck of the said bottle, wherein the cap has an external skirt whose diameter is greater than the diameter of the outlet opening of the bottle and a stoppering element coaxial with said external skirt and connected to it by a top of the cap; wherein the cap has an internal thread system on the base of the external skirt and the bottle has an external thread system on the base of the bottle neck to engage the thread system of the cap; wherein the upper portion of the neck is constricted at its top and presents an outlet opening of the bottle which, when the cap is in its bottle stoppering position, extends up to the vicinity of the top of the cap; and wherein the stoppering seal is ensured by the entry of said stoppering element inside said outlet opening of the bottle.

In a preferred embodiment, the stoppering element is constituted by an internal skirt which is coaxial with the external skirt.

The fact that the bottle neck is extended by a constricted diameter portion makes it possible to dispense with the intermediate skirt of the known type of screw cap. The cap screw threads are directly carried by the external skirt of the cap.

Advantageously, the bottle comprises means preventing the loosening of the screwed cap; the means preventing the loosening of the cap consist of, on the one hand, at least one radial fin extending within the cap from its external skirt and, on the other hand, protuberances provided on the neck above its portion which carries the neck thread system, the length of the or each said fin being such that at the end of the screwing action, at least one said fin comes to be catchengaged behind a said protuberance.

Advantageously, the cap also comprises means for precentering the stoppering element within the outlet opening of the constricted diameter neck portion; the precentering means consist of evenly distributed raidal fins extending within the cap from the external skirt, said fins being capable of bearing against a zone of the neck. In a first variant, each said fin has, near the top of the cap, a radial width which is substantially equal to the radial distance obtaining between the external skirt of the cap and the cylindrical barrel of the diameter constrictor.

Advantageously, the bottle neck is also provided with sensing means to engage the or each said radial fin during the screwing operation whilst allowing further screwing motion; the fastening means for the radial fins consists of an annular projection carried by the neck and disposed above the protuberances which prevent loosening of the cap, said annular projection having a cylindrical surface which is concentric with the surface of the neck, the external surface of the cylindrical side forming the gripping surface for said fins; the gripping surface for the fins is provided with rugosities intended to hold the fins.

In a first embodiment, the gripping surfaces for the fins has a succession of fine vertical striations; in another embodiment, the gripping surface for the fins has a granular finish. The annular projection is obtained by blow moulding it together with the neck.

When the bottle has said sensing means consisting of an annular projection, the means for precentering the internal skirt of the cap may consist of radial fins extending within the cap from the external skirt, the fins being sufficiently long to engage, when screwing of the cap is completed, with the gripping surface of the annular projection, which thus constitutes a centering surface, each said fin having near the top of the cap a radial width which is substantially equal to the radial distance obtaining between the external skirt of the cap and the gripping surface of the annular projection.

Preferably, the radial width of the fin in its portion furthest removed from the cap progressively decreases.

In an advantageous embodiment, the stoppering element for the bottle is constituted by an internal skirt coaxial with the external skirt; the neck of the bottle is constituted by a ring carrying on its outside the thread system for the screwing of the cap thereto, said ring being connected in its lower portion to the barrel or to the bottle collar and in its upper portion to a cylindrical barrel forming the constricted neck portion, said constricted neck portion terminating in an end having a central circular hole constituting the outlet opening of the bottle; the end of the constricted neck portion is dished externally in an ogive shape, the outlet opening being edged on its outside by a rim contributing to a better seal; the thread systems carried externally by the ring and internally by the base of the external skirt of the cap are thread systems each having four threads staggered by 900 and ensuring screwing up or unscrewing of the cap over one quarter turn; when the bottle comprises securing means preventing the loosening of the cap, the fastening protruberances carried by the neck are situated in the connecting zone between the ring of the neck which carries the thread system and the cylindrical barrel forming the constricted neck portion; in this case, if t denotes the angular displacement of the fin in a given direction in relation to the radial plane containing the nearest cap thread start, each protuberance is disposed in a radial plane forming with the radial plane of that thread end of the neck, which is nearest in the direction chosen, an angle equal to aS+, where E substantially represents the angular dimension of a fin; when the cap is in its position for stoppering the bottle, its external skirt becomes an extension of the side wall of the bottle collar.

In the manufacture of bottles on an industrial scale, a certain variation in the height of the neck has to be tolerated, so it happens that the axial translation of the cap in the screwing operation brings the latter into a lower position than designed. In these conditions, if the bottle comprises securing means preventing the loosening of the cap by catch-engagement of one or several fins behind the bosses of the neck, the fins form, together with the said bosses, an angle which is greater than zero. It follows from this that in the position for stoppering the bottle the cap has play in the unscrewing direction.

Although the hold on screwing and the seal of the stoppering device are in no way affected by the existence of this play, it is nevertheless considered that said play constitutes a disadvantage because it may lead one to believe that there is a manufacturing fault in the bottle.

The advantage of making provision for fastening means on the bottle is precisely to allow this drawback to be remedied, since the cooperation of the fins with the gripping surface of the annular projection causes the cap to be secured on the bottle on completion of the screwing action whatever the displacement which may exist between the bosses of the neck and the fins which are catch-engaged behind these bosses.

This improvement thus allows the ranges of the manufacturing tolerances of the bottles to be increased. During the screwing operation, the fins come into contact with the rough side of the annular projection with their vertical edge, because of their pliable nature, they move over the rugosites of the annular projection during the rotational motion of the cap; on completion of the screwing action, they remain gripped in the rugosities of the annular projection, thus completely securing the cap against motion on the neck even if there exists play at the level of the means preventing the loosening of the cap, that is to say, between the protuberances of the bottle and the fins which are catch-engaged behind these protuberances.

In order that the present invention may more readily be understood, there will now be described two embodiments shown in the attached drawings by way of purely illustrative and non-restrictive examples. In these drawings.

Figure 1 is an elevational view of a bottle closed by the double-skirted cap in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is a view in elevation of the upper part of the bottle, the cap being removed; Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the upper part of the bottle, taken along the line Ill-Ill of Figure 1, showing the cap in position; Figure 4 is a cross-section of the stoppering device taken along the line IV--IV of Figure 3; Figure 5 is an elevational view of the upper part of another embodiment of the bottle, the cap being removed; Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of the upper part of the bottle, taken along the line VI--VI of Figure 7, showing the cap in position; and Figure 7 is a cross-section of the.stoppering device taken along the line VIl-VIl of Figure 6.

Figures 1 to 4 show a bottle 1 made preferably of plastic material and intended for instance, to accommodate a shampoo. The bottle 1, which comprises a barrel 2 and a collar 3 ending in a neck 4 whose structure is described below, is capable of being obturated in a leakproof manner by a detachable stoppering cap 5.

As may be seen in Figures 2 and 3, the neck 4 is constituted by a ring which widens out in the lower portion in its connection zone 6a with the collar 3 of bottle 1 and which is extended upwards by a hollow cylindrical barrel 7 with a smaller diameter than that of the ring 6, the cylindrical wall of this ring contracting in its upper portion in its connecting zone 6b with the cylindrical barrel 7. The barrel, which fulfils the function of a diameter constrictor, ends in its top portion in an end 8 curving externally in an ogival shape. The end 8 is pierced, in its central portion, by a circular hole 9 which constitutes the outlet opening of the bottle 1 and is edged externally by a rim 10 whose function will be indicated below.

The ring 6 carries externally a thread system constituted by four threads 11 whose starts are staggered by 900. The length of each thread 11 is approximately equal to one half turn.

Moreover, on the external wall of the connecting zone 6b of ring 6 with the cylindrical barrel 7, above the zone of the ring 6 which carries the threads 11, provision is made for four bosses 12, spaced at 900 intervals, whose function is described below.

As may be seen in Figure 3, the cap 5 is fastened on the bottle by screwing on to ring 6 of neck 4. The cap 5 is advantageously obtained by moulding of a plastic material. It comprises a flat top 1 3 with an integral external cylindrical skirt 14. At the base of the skirt there is arranged an internal thread system constituted by four thread starts 1 5 which are also staggered by 900 and are intended to cooperate with those of the ring 6.

When the cap 5 is in its position for stoppering the bottle 1, its external skirt 14 comes to be aligned with the collar 3 which allows the formation of an aesthetically pieasing assembly.

On the inner wall of the top wall 13 of the cap 5, provision is made in relief for a substantially cylindrical skirt 1 6 disposed coaxially of the cap 5.

This skirt 1 6 is intended to fit tightly inside a circular hole 9 of the diameter constrictor 7 to ensure leakproof closure of the bottle 1. In the stoppering position, the end 8 of the diameter constrictor 7 is situated near the top wall 1 3 of the cap 5. The rim 10 bears against the external side of skirt 16, near top 13 of cap 5, and thus contributes to a better seal of the assembly.

Moreover, the leakproof stoppering of the opening 9 of the diameter constrictor 7 is accomplished before the cap 5 is screwed right down on the ring 6.

The cap 5 carries on its inside six uniformly circumferentially spaced radial fins 1 7 (Figure 4) disposed against the top wall 13 of the cap 5 and its external skirt 14. Each fin 1 7 has, near the top wall 13, a radial width which is approximately equal to the distance between the skirt 14 and the cylindrical side of the diameter constrictor 7, so that in the stoppering position of bottle 1 the fins 1 7 come to bear against the constrictor barrel 7. At the end of each fin 1 7 away from the top wall 13 of the cap 5 the fin width progressively diminishes. These fins 1 7 constitute a precentering means for the skirt 1 6 within the outlet opening 9.

Two of these six fins 1 7, carrying reference number 1 7a, which are diametrically opposed to each other are longer than the others so that in the helical screwing motion of cap 5, the axial translation causes these two fins 1 7a to strike and to pass over two diametrically opposite bosses 12 at the end of the screwing action, thus ensuring the secure closure of the cap 5. If each catch-engagement fin 1 7a is staggered angularly by an angle a in relation to the radial starting plane of the nearest thread 1 5 in a given direction, then each boss 12 is staggered in the same direction in relation to the nearest end of thread 11 by an angle Q:+E, E being the angular dimension of a fin 1 7a.

The manufacture of an industrial scale of bottle 1 in accordance with the invention, and of the stoppering cap 5 which is associated therewith, does not present any particular problem since the cap 5 only comprises a single internal skirt 16.

Moreover, at the time of moulding, the cap 5 may be directly extracted from its mould without having to be unscrewed owing to the fact that provision has been made for screwing over one quarter turn only. This facility contributes even more to increasing the rates of manufacture which may be doubled in relation to those of manufacturing the triple-skirted bottles of the prior art. This represents an important economic advantage by reason of the widespread distribution of this type of bottle.

At the time the assembly described above is put in operation, that is to say when the user wishes to open the bottle 1, he unscrews the cap 5 and thus opens the circular hole 9 which constitutes the outlet opening. The unscrewing and screwing up operations are rapid since they are carried out over only a quarter turn.

In the stoppered position, as may be seen in Figure 4, a diametrically opposed pair of the bosses 12 has each of the bosses adjacent to a respective fin 1 7a. When one starts to unscrew cap 5 (arrow D) from the Figure 4 position these fins 1 7a pass over the associated bosses 12 because of their elasticity. In the reverse screwing operation (arrow V) the two fins 1 7a pass behind two bosses 1 2 at the end of the screwing action, thus preventing any untimely subsequent unscrewing action of the cap 5, due to the fact that these two bosses bear against these fins 1 7a.

During each catch-engagement action, only two out of four bosses 12 are activated depending on whether one engages the cap 5 on the neck 4 in a given angular position or in the angular position staggered therefrom by 900.

It will therefore be seen that to the simplification of the structure of this stoppering device, which allows it to be obtained by moulding at a low cost, there are added the advantages of an easy use inherent in the screwing up and unscrewing modes over one quarter turn, as well as that of a secure hold of the cap on the bottle.

Referring now to the alternative embodiment shown in Figures 5 to 7, it will be seen that 101 designates a bottle made preferably of a plastic material and which comprises a barrel 102 and a collar 103 ending in a neck 104. The bottle 101 is capable of being obturated in a leakproof manner by a detachable stoppering cap 105.

The neck 104 is constituted by a ring 106 which widens out in its lower portion in its connecting zone 1 06a with the collar 103 of the bottle 101 and which is extended upwards by a hollow cylindrical barrel 107 having a smaller diameter than that of ring 106, the cylindrical wall of this barrel contracting in its upper portion in its connecting zone 1 06b with the cylindrical barrel 107. The latter which fulfils the function of a diameter constrictor, is terminated in its top portion by an end 108 dished on its outside in an ogival shape. The end 108 has in its central portion a circular hole 109 constituting the outlet opening of bottle 101. This opening is edged on its outside by a rim 110 whose function is indicated below.

Ring 106 carries externally a thread system constituted by four threads 111 whose starts are staggered by 900. The length of each thread 111 is approximately equal to one half turn.

Moreover, provision is made on the external side of neck 104 above the zone of ring 106 which carries the threads 111, for four radial fins 11 2a interspaced by 900 whose function is described below. These fins 11 2a are connected to the neck 104 in the connecting zone 1 06b of the ring 106 with the cylindrical barrel 107. The external edge of each fin 11 2a is substantially quadrant-shaped, being connected at its lower end tangentially to the external wail of the ring 106 and at its upper end perpendicularly to the external surface of the cylindrical barrel 107.

As may be seen in Figure 6, the cap 105 is fitted on the ring 106 of neck 104 by screwing.

Cap 105 is advantageously obtained by moulding of a plastic material. It comprises a flat top wall 11 3 to which there is joined an external cylindrical skirt 114 at the base of which is an internal thread system constituted by four threads 11 5 also staggered by 900 and being intended to cooperate with the threads of the ring 106. When the cap 105 is in its position stoppering the bottle 101, its external skirt 114 comes to be aligned with the collar 103 to aliow the creation of an aesthetically pleasing assembly.

On the inner side of the top wall 113 of the cap 105, provision is made in relief for a substantially cylindrical skirt 11 6 disposed coaxially of the cap 105.

Skirt 116 is intended to fit tightly inside a circular hole 109 of the diameter constrictor 107 to ensure leakproof closure of the bottle 101. In the stoppering position, the end 108 of the diameter constrictor 107 is situated near the top wall 113 of the cap 105. Rim 110, by bearing against the outer side of the skirt 11 6 near the top 11 3 of cap 105, contributes to a better seal of the unit. Moreover, the leakproof stoppering of the opening 109 of diameter constrictor 107 is accomplished before the cap 105 is screwed right down on to the ring 106.

The cap 105 carries internally six uniformly distributed radial fins 11 7b, 11 7c (Figure 7) which are disposed against the top wall 113 of cap 105 and its external skirt 114. These fins 11 7b, 11 7c constitute a precentering means for the skirt 11 6 within the outlet opening 109.

Of these six fins, two, which carry reference number 11 7b and which are diametrically opposed to each other, are longer than the others so that in the helical screwing motion of the cap 105 the axial translation causes these two fins 11 7b to move over two diametrically opposite fins 11 2a at the end of the screwing action, thus ensuring the security of closure of the cap 105. If each catch-engagement fin 11 7b is angularly staggered by an angle a in relation to the radial starting plane of the thread 11 5 which is nearest in a given direction, each boss is staggered in the same direction in relation to the nearest end of the thread 111 by an angle cut+, where E is the angular dimension of a fin 11 7b.

The cylindrical barrel 107 comprises, in its lower region above the fins 11 2a, an angular projection 11 8 obtained by blow moulding, having an external cylindrical surface which is concentric with the surface of the barrel 107. The external cylindrical side of this projection 11 8 is provided with fine vertical striations.

The shortest fins 11 7c of cap 105 nevertheless have such a length that in the helical screwing motion of the cap 105 the axial translation causes these fins, like the fins 11 7b, to be accommodated by their vertical edge in the striations of projection 11 8 but without coming into contact with the fins 11 2a of the bottle.

Each fin 11 7b, 1 7c has, near the top wall 113, a radial width which is substantially equal to the distance between the skirt 114 and the cylindrical surface of the annular projection 118 so that in the position in which the cap stoppers the bottle 101, the fins 11 7b 1 7c come to bear against this side. The width of the fin progressively decreases in its region towards the end which is away from the top wall 113 of the cap 105.

The device of Figures 5 to 7 functions as follows: The screwing and unscrewing operations are rapid because they are carried out on one quarter turn.

In the stoppering position, two of the diametrically opposed fins 11 2a are situated behind respective ones of the fins 11 7b. When one starts to unscrew the cap 105 (arrow D), the fins 11 7b move over the fins 11 2a because of their elasticity. In the reverse screwing operation (arrow V), the two fins 11 7b pass behind these two fins 11 2a on termination of the screwing action. During each catch-engagement operation, only two out of the four fins 11 2a are brought into action, depending as to whether the cap 105 is engaged on the neck 104 in one given angular position or in an angular position displaced from the latter by 900.

In principle, the angular displacement of the catch-engagement fins 11 7b and of the fins 11 2a in relation to the thread systems of the cap and of the neck respectively has been calculated so that in the stoppering position, the two fins 11 7b should be adjacent to a respective fin 11 2a.

However, by reason of the manufacturing tolerances of the neck, it happens that there is a displacement P (Figure 7) between each fin 11 7b and the fin 11 2a which it has moved over at the completion of the screwing action. Once the bottle has been closed one is prevented from causing the neck to turn freely through this angle p, because during the screwing operation the fins 1 176 and 11 7c engage with the striations of the cylindrical surface of the annular projection 118, ensuring the desired immobility of the cap on completion of the screwing action.

It shall be duly understood that the modes of embodiment described above are in no way restrictive and may give rise to any desirable modifications without thereby departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the claims.

Claims

1. A bottle comprising a detachable stoppering cap threadedly fitted on the neck of the said bottle, wherein the cap has an external skirt whose diameter is greater than the diameter of the outlet opening of the bottle and a stoppering element coaxial with said external skirt and connected to it by a top of the cap; wherein the cap has an internal thread system on the base of the external skirt and the bottle has an external thread system on the base of the bottle neck to engage the thread system of the cap; wherein the upper portion of the neck is constricted at its top end and presents an outlet opening of the bottle which, when the cap is in its bottle stoppering position, extends up to the vicinity of the top of the cap; and wherein the stoppering seal is ensured by the entry of said stoppering element inside said outlet opening of the bottle.

2. A bottle according to claim 1, and comprising means preventing the loosening of the screwed cap.

3. A bottle according to claim 2, wherein the means preventing loosening of the screwed cap consist firstly of at least one radial fin extending along the inside of the cap from its external skirt, and secondly protuberances provided on the bottle neck above its portion carrying said bottle neck thread system, and wherein the length of the or each said radial fin is such that on termination of the screwing action at least one said radial fin comes to be catch-engaged behind a said protuberance.

4. A bottle according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the cap comprises means for precentering said stoppering element in said outlet opening of the bottle.

5. A bottle according to claim 4, wherein the means for precentering the stoppering element consist of regularly distributed radial fins extending within the cap starting from the external skirt, the said fins being capable of coming to bear against a zone of the neck.

6. A bottle according to claim 5, wherein each fin has near the top of the cap a thickness which is substantially equal to the distance between the external skirt of the cap and said constricted upper portion of the bottle neck.

7. A bottle according to claims 3 and 5 taken together, wherein said at least one radial fin of the means preventing loosening of the screwed cap also serves as a said regularly distributed fin of the precentering means.

8. A bottle according to claim 3, taken on its own or in combination with any one of claims 4 to 7, wherein the neck of the bottle is provided with means for engaging the or each said radial fin during the screwing operation whilst allowing further screwing motion.

9. A bottle according to claims 3 and 8 taken together, wherein the means for engaging the radial fins consist of an annular projection carried by the bottle neck and disposed above said protuberances which prevent loosening of the cap, said annular projection having a cylindrical side concentric with the bottle neck, the external surface of the said cylindrical side forming a gripping surface for engaging said radial fins.

1 0. A bottle according to claim 9, wherein said gripping surface for the fins is provided with rugosities intended to hold the said fins.

11. A bottle according to claim 10, wherein the gripping surface of the fins has a succession of fine vertical striations.

12. A bottle according to claim 10, wherein the gripping surface for the fins has a granulated finish.

13. A bottle according to any one of claims 9 to 12, wherein the annular projection is obtained by blow moulding together with the bottle neck.

1 4. A bottle according to claim 9, wherein the precentering means for the stoppering element of the cap consist of said radial fins extending within the cap from the external skirt, said radial fins being sufficiently long to engage on completion of the screwing action with the gripping surface of the annular projection which thus constitutes a centering surface, and each said radial fin having near the top of the cap a width which is substantially equal to the distance obtaining between the external skirt of the cap and the gripping surface of the annular projection.

1 5. A bottle according to either claim 6 or claim 14, wherein the radial width of the or each said fin in its portion which is furthest from the top of the cap progressively decreases.

1 6. A bottle according to any one of claims 1 to 14 wherein the stoppering element is constituted by an internal skirt of the cap coaxial with the external skirt.

1 7. A bottle according to any one of claims 1 to 16, wherein the bottle neck is constituted by a ring which carries on its outside the thread system for the screwing of the cap to the bottle and is connected in its lower portion to the barrel or to the collar of the bottle and at its upper portion to a cylindrical barrel which forms the constricted neck portion and which terminates in an end in the central portion of which is a circular hole constituting said outlet opening of the bottle.

1 8. A bottle according to claim 17, wherein the end of said constricted neck portion is dished externally in an ogival form, and wherein said outlet opening is edged externally by a rim contributing to a better seal.

19. A bottle according to any one of claims 1 to 18, wherein the thread systems carried externally by the bottle neck ring and internally by the base of the external cap skirt are thread systems with four thread starts staggered by 900 and ensuring the screwing or unscrewing of the cap over merely one quarter turn.

20. A bottle according to claim 3, wherein the protuberances are situated in the connecting zone between firstly the ring of the neck carrying the thread system and secondly the cylindrical barrel forming the constricted neck portion.

21. A bottle according to claim 3, wherein, if a indicates the angle by which a said fin is staggered angularly in a given direction in relation to a radial plane containing the nearest start of a thread of the cap thread system, each protuberance is disposed in a radial plane forming with the radial plane of the end of that thread of the neck which is nearest in the chosen direction an angle equal to (Q:+E), where E substantially represents the angular dimension of a said fin.

22. A bottle according to any one of claims 1 to 21, wherein when the cap is in its stoppering position of the bottle its external skirt becomes an extension of the side wall of the collar of the bottle.

23. A bottle substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated in Figures 1 to 4, or Figures 5 to 7, of the accompanying drawings.