GB2191179A

GB2191179A - Cap for a container

Info

Publication number: GB2191179A
Application number: GB08712812A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Gordon Bromley Williams
Original assignee: National Plastics Ltd
Current assignee: National Plastics Ltd
Priority date: 1986-06-02
Filing date: 1987-06-01
Publication date: 1987-12-09
Anticipated expiration: 2007-06-01
Also published as: GB8712812D0; GB8613317D0; GB2191179B

Abstract

A push-on cap (10) for an aerosol container (16) has a plurality of internal longitudinal ribs (13, 14) inclined at an acute angle to the element of the container surface it contacts when pushed on to the container. The cap conveniently has a cylindrical skirt (12) on which the ribs are formed and when such a cap is used in combination with an aerosol container having a circular rim (15) at one end which surrounds an operating valve, the cap protects the valve with the ribs being deflected towards the skirt by engagement of the ribs with the rim (15). Some of the ribs have shoulders (18) which rest on the rim. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Cap for a container This invention relates to a push-on cap for a container, for example an aerosol container.

On many containers it is desirableto have a push-oncaptoprotectthetopofthecontainer.This is the case with aerosol containers where it is desirable to protect the operating valve from inadvertent depression resulting in undesired release of the contents of the container. The cap should secure itself reasonably firmly on the container when pushed on but should not jam so tightly on the container that it is difficultto remove.

Existing caps have proved lacking in this respect and the present invention seeks to provide a push-on cap for a container which secures firmly on the container but is not difficu It to remove.

According to one aspect of the invention, a push-on cap for a container has a plurality of internal longitudinal ribs, each of which is inclined at an acute angle to the element of a container surface it contacts when pushed onto a container.

Each rib is advantageously blade-like in form and is stiff and resilient so that, when the cap is pushed onto a container of suitable size, each rib is deflected sideways to a slight degree and thus resiliently grips the container so as to secure the cap firmly on the container but allow its removal without difficulty.

Desirably the cap comprises a circular end wall from which depends a cylindrical skirt, the ribs being located on the skirt at equal intervals around the skirt.

Conveniently there are an even number of ribs, one halfofthe even number being of one shape and alternating with the other half ofthe even number which are of a different shape.

Suitably the ribs are each inclined at the same acute angle to the radius ofthe skirt at the location where the rib is connected to the skirt.

Preferablythecap is injection moulded in one piece with the internal ribs and each rib has a chamfer at its lower end.

According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided the combination of an aerosol container and a push-on cap therefor, the container having a circular rim at one end which surrounds an operating valve and the cap protecting the valve and having a cylindrical skirt engaging the rim,wherein the skirt of the cap is provided with a plurality of internal longitudinal ribs, each of which is inclined at an acuteangletothecontainerrim and has been deflected towards the skirt by its engagement with the rim.

Desirably some of the ribs provide a shoulderto rest on the upper part ofthe rim and limitthe extent to which the cap can be pushed on to the said one end of the container.

Preferably ribs with shoulders alternate with ribs without shoulders around the inner surface ofthe skirt of the cap.

The invention will be further described with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:- Figure lisa longitudinal section through a cap according to the invention, Figure2 is a view in the direction of the arrowA in Figure 1, and Figures 3 and 4 are views on an enlarged scale of parts of ribs on the cap of Figures 1 and 2, the cap being shown in position on a container only part of which is illustrated.

The cap 10 shown in the drawing is intended for application to a circular cylindrical aerosol container to coverthe operating valve located at the upper end thereof. The cap 10 comprises a circular end wall 11 from which depends a cylindrical skirt 12.

Located on the inner surface of the skirt 12, at equal intervals around the skirt, are six internal longitudinal ribs 13 and 14. Three ribs 13 are identical in form and one ofthese ribs 13 is shown in Figure 3. Three ribs 14are also identical to one another in form and one of these ribs 14 is shown in Figure 4. The ribs 13 alternate with the ribs 14 around the inner surface of the skirt 12 ofthecap.

Each of the ribs 13 and 14 is inclined at an acute angle 6 (in this case 30 ) to the radius ofthe skirt 12 at the location where the rib is connected to the skirt.

Thus, each rib 13 or 14 is also inclined atan acute angle 90-H (in this case 60 ) to the tangent two the skirt 12 at that location, and therefore to the element of theskirtto which the rib isconnected. Each ribwill thus be inclined at approximately O and 90-8", respectively, to the radius and tangent to the element of a container surface which it contacts when the cap is pushed onto a suitably sized container of circular cross-section.

The cap illustrated is injection moulded in one piece from polypropylene and the ribs 13 and 14 are thus integral with the skirt 12 and end wall 11.

Additionally, each rib 13 or 14 is stiff and resilient so thatwhen the cap loins pushed onto a rim 15 of a container 16 of suitable size (Figures 3 and 4), the rib will be deflected sideways, that is towards the skirt 12so that the deflected part of the rib will be inclined atan even more acute (i.e. smaller) anglewith respect to the skirt 12 and the element ofthe container rim 15which is in contact with the rib.The ribs 13 and 14thus resiliently grip the container rim 15 so as to secure the cap firmly on the container but the inclination of the ribs and their resilient contact with the rim of the container ensures that the cap will not become jammed on the container as can bethe case with radially disposed ribs.

The ribs 13 differfrom the ribs 14 in each having a broader part 17 which provides a shoulder 18 limiting the movement of the cap 10 onto the container 16.

Each rib 13 or 14 is formed with a chamfer 19 at its lower end (remote from the end wall 11). The chamfer 19 is inclined at an angle of 30" in the present caseto the axis of the cap and the chamfers together provide a lead-in to guide the cap home onto a container rim.

1. A push-on cap for a container having a plurality of internal longitudinal ribs, each of which is inclined at an acute angleto the element of a

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Cap for a container This invention relates to a push-on cap for a container, for example an aerosol container. On many containers it is desirableto have a push-oncaptoprotectthetopofthecontainer.This is the case with aerosol containers where it is desirable to protect the operating valve from inadvertent depression resulting in undesired release of the contents of the container. The cap should secure itself reasonably firmly on the container when pushed on but should not jam so tightly on the container that it is difficultto remove. Existing caps have proved lacking in this respect and the present invention seeks to provide a push-on cap for a container which secures firmly on the container but is not difficu It to remove. According to one aspect of the invention, a push-on cap for a container has a plurality of internal longitudinal ribs, each of which is inclined at an acute angle to the element of a container surface it contacts when pushed onto a container. Each rib is advantageously blade-like in form and is stiff and resilient so that, when the cap is pushed onto a container of suitable size, each rib is deflected sideways to a slight degree and thus resiliently grips the container so as to secure the cap firmly on the container but allow its removal without difficulty. Desirably the cap comprises a circular end wall from which depends a cylindrical skirt, the ribs being located on the skirt at equal intervals around the skirt. Conveniently there are an even number of ribs, one halfofthe even number being of one shape and alternating with the other half ofthe even number which are of a different shape. Suitably the ribs are each inclined at the same acute angle to the radius ofthe skirt at the location where the rib is connected to the skirt. Preferablythecap is injection moulded in one piece with the internal ribs and each rib has a chamfer at its lower end. According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided the combination of an aerosol container and a push-on cap therefor, the container having a circular rim at one end which surrounds an operating valve and the cap protecting the valve and having a cylindrical skirt engaging the rim,wherein the skirt of the cap is provided with a plurality of internal longitudinal ribs, each of which is inclined at an acuteangletothecontainerrim and has been deflected towards the skirt by its engagement with the rim. Desirably some of the ribs provide a shoulderto rest on the upper part ofthe rim and limitthe extent to which the cap can be pushed on to the said one end of the container. Preferably ribs with shoulders alternate with ribs without shoulders around the inner surface ofthe skirt of the cap. The invention will be further described with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:- Figure lisa longitudinal section through a cap according to the invention, Figure2 is a view in the direction of the arrowA in Figure 1, and Figures 3 and 4 are views on an enlarged scale of parts of ribs on the cap of Figures 1 and 2, the cap being shown in position on a container only part of which is illustrated. The cap 10 shown in the drawing is intended for application to a circular cylindrical aerosol container to coverthe operating valve located at the upper end thereof. The cap 10 comprises a circular end wall 11 from which depends a cylindrical skirt 12. Located on the inner surface of the skirt 12, at equal intervals around the skirt, are six internal longitudinal ribs 13 and 14. Three ribs 13 are identical in form and one ofthese ribs 13 is shown in Figure 3. Three ribs 14are also identical to one another in form and one of these ribs 14 is shown in Figure 4. The ribs 13 alternate with the ribs 14 around the inner surface of the skirt 12 ofthecap. Each of the ribs 13 and 14 is inclined at an acute angle 6 (in this case 30 ) to the radius ofthe skirt 12 at the location where the rib is connected to the skirt. Thus, each rib 13 or 14 is also inclined atan acute angle 90-H (in this case 60 ) to the tangent two the skirt 12 at that location, and therefore to the element of theskirtto which the rib isconnected. Each ribwill thus be inclined at approximately O and 90-8", respectively, to the radius and tangent to the element of a container surface which it contacts when the cap is pushed onto a suitably sized container of circular cross-section. The cap illustrated is injection moulded in one piece from polypropylene and the ribs 13 and 14 are thus integral with the skirt 12 and end wall 11. Additionally, each rib 13 or 14 is stiff and resilient so thatwhen the cap loins pushed onto a rim 15 of a container 16 of suitable size (Figures 3 and 4), the rib will be deflected sideways, that is towards the skirt 12so that the deflected part of the rib will be inclined atan even more acute (i.e. smaller) anglewith respect to the skirt 12 and the element ofthe container rim 15which is in contact with the rib.The ribs 13 and 14thus resiliently grip the container rim 15 so as to secure the cap firmly on the container but the inclination of the ribs and their resilient contact with the rim of the container ensures that the cap will not become jammed on the container as can bethe case with radially disposed ribs. The ribs 13 differfrom the ribs 14 in each having a broader part 17 which provides a shoulder 18 limiting the movement of the cap 10 onto the container 16. Each rib 13 or 14 is formed with a chamfer 19 at its lower end (remote from the end wall 11). The chamfer 19 is inclined at an angle of 30" in the present caseto the axis of the cap and the chamfers together provide a lead-in to guide the cap home onto a container rim. CLAIMS

1. A push-on cap for a container having a plurality of internal longitudinal ribs, each of which is inclined at an acute angleto the element of a container surface it contacts when pushed onto a container.

2. Acap as claimed in claim 1, in which each rib is blade-like in form and is stiff and resilient so that, when the cap is pushed onto a container of suitable size, each rib is deflected sideways to a slight degree and thus resiliently grips the container so asto secure the cap firmly on the container but allow its removal without difficulty.

3. Acap as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, in which the cap comprises a circular end wall from which depends a cylindrical skirt the ribs being located on the skirt at equal intervals around the skirt.

4. A cap as claimed in claim 3, in which there are an even number of ribs, one halfofthe even number being of one shape and alternating with the other half of the even number which are of a different shape.

5. Acap as claimed in claim 3 or claim 4, in which the ribs are each inclined atthe same acute angle (0) to the radius of the skirt atthe location where the rib is connected to the skirt.

6. A cap as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the cap is injection moulded in one piece with the internal ribs.

7. A cap as claimed in any preceding claim, in which each rib has a chamfer at its lower end.

8. Apush-oncapfora containersubstantiallyas hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

9. The combination of an aerosol container and a push-on cap therefor, the container having a circular rim at one end which surrounds an operating valve and the cap protecting the valve and having a cylindrical skirt engaging the rim, wherein the skirt of the cap is provided with a plurality of internal longitudinal ribs, each ofwhich is inclined at an acute angletothe container rim and has been deflected towards the skirt by its engagement with the rim.

10. The combination of claim 9, in which some of the ribs provide a shoulderto rest on the upper part ofthe rim and limit the extent to which the cap can be pushed on to the said one end of the container.

11. The combination of claim 10, in which ribs with shoulders alternate with ribs without shoulders around the inner surface of the skirt of the cap.

12. The combination of a cylindrical aerosol containerwith a cap as claimed in anyone of claims 1 to8.