GB2272209A

GB2272209A - Closure comprising cap and retaining collar

Info

Publication number: GB2272209A
Application number: GB9222614A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Lawrence Michael Worrall; Richard Michael Chadwick
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1992-10-28
Filing date: 1992-10-28
Publication date: 1994-05-11
Anticipated expiration: 2012-10-28
Also published as: GB9222614D0; GB2272209B

Abstract

A closure comprises a cap (1) flexibly connected to a collar (3) dimensioned to fit closely about the container neck, the collar (3) being provided on its internal surface with frictional engagement means. The frictional engagement means preferably comprises a plurality of segmental flats (6) provided around the internal surface of the collar (3), most preferably three such flats (6), equiangularly spaced. Alternatively the engagement means may comprise annular ribs extending around the internal surface of the collar. The closure member is preferably moulded from plastics material, eg polyethylene or polypropylene, and the flexible connection between the cap (1) and the collar (3) is preferably achieved by means of an integral relatively thin web (2). The cap may snap fit on the container neck, eg a milk bottle, the cap skirt 4 being thickened near its lower edge. The closure is removable for washing and may be coloured to denote the contents of the container, eg skimmed milk. <IMAGE>

Description

Title: Closure Member This invention relates to a captive closure member for a container such as a bottle, jar, flask or the like.

Captive closure members for containers such as bottles and the like are known. Typically, such a closure member comprises a cap flexibly connected to a collar or ring having a close fit with the neck of the bottle. The collar or ring prevents loss of the closure member when the container is opened.

Known captive closure members of the kind described suffer from a number of disadvantages. The collar may have such a tight fit with the container neck that it is difficult to install or, if desired, to remove. Alternatively, if the fit is too loose, the closure may disengage from the container or when open may rotate about the container neck thereby interfering with pouring of the container contents.

There has now been devised a captive closure member which overcomes or substantially mitigates the above-mentioned disadvantages.

According to the invention there is provided a captive closure member for use in association with a container having a neck, the closure member comprising a cap flexibly connected to a collar dimensioned to fit closely about the container neck, wherein the collar is provided on its internal surface with frictional engagement means.

The captive closure member according to the invention is advantageous primarily in that it enables secure engagement of the closure member with the neck of the container without requiring an excessively tight fit. The closure member may therefore be applied to the neck of the container relatively easily. If necessary or desired, the closure member may also be relatively easily removed, though in normal use it is held securely. The frictional engagement means also prevent rotation of the closure member about the neck of the container, thereby facilitating pouring of the container contents.

The closure member is most conveniently moulded from plastics material. Suitable plastics materials include polyolefins such as low-density polyethylene and polypropylene. Various pigments may be included to enable production of the closure member in different colours. For closures for milk bottles, for instance, different colours may be used to denote different fat levels (skimmed, semi-skimmed, etc).

When suitable plastics are used, the closure member may be reusable and/or recyclable, and dishwasher-proof.

The flexible connection between the cap and the collar may be achieved by means of a web of relatively thin plastics material joining the two components.

The frictional engagement means are preferably one or more protruding ribs provided on the internal surface of the collar.

The rib may be annular, extending around the whole or substantially the whole of the internal surface of the collar.

Preferably, however, the frictional engagement means comprises a plurality of segmental flats provided around the internal surface of the collar. Most preferably, three such flats are equiangularly spaced around the collar.

The cap portion of the closure may be generally conventional, conveniently having a snap fit with the container neck.

The invention will now be described in more detail, by way of illustration only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a plan view of a captive closure member according to the invention, and Figure 2 is a sectional view along the line II-II in Figure 1.

A captive closure member for a milk bottle is moulded from lowdensity polyethylene and comprises a circular cap (1) connected by a relatively thin web (2) to an annular collar (3). The cap (1) has, as seen most clearly in Figure 2, a downwardly depending side wall (4) which is slightly thickened near its lower edge to provide a snap fit with the neck of a milk bottle. The cap (1) is also provided, at a position diametrically opposite to the web (2) with a projecting tab (5) to facilitate opening of the bottle.

The collar (3) comprises a ring of circular cross-section dimensioned to fit closely about the neck of the milk bottle.

Equiangularly spaced around the internal circumference of the ring, there are provided three segmental flats (6).

In use, the collar (3) is fitted to the neck of the milk bottle and the cap (1) pressed into snap engagement with the bottle top.

To open the bottle, the tab (5) is pushed upwards, the natural resilience of the web (2) then holding the cap (1) in the open position. The flats (6) prevent rotation of the closure member during pouring. Although securely held in normal use, the closure member can be relatively easily removed for washing.

Claims

1. A captive closure member for use in association with a container having a neck, the closure member comprising a cap flexibly connected to a collar dimensioned to fit closely about the container neck, wherein the collar is provided on its internal surface with frictional engagement means.

2. A captive closure member as claimed in Claim 1, which is moulded from plastics material.

3. A captive closure member as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the plastics material is a polyolefin.

4. A captive closure member as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the plastics material is low-density polyethylene or polypropylene.

5. A captive closure members as claimed in any one of Claims 2 to 4, wherein a colouring pigment is included in the plastics material.

6. A captive closure member as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the flexible connection between the cap and the collar is achieved by means of a web of material joining the two components.

7. A captive closure member as claimed in Claim 6, wherein the web is of relatively thin plastics material.

8. A captive closure member as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the frictional engagement means compries one or more protruding ribs provided on the internal surface of the collar.

9. A captive closure member as claimed in Claim 8, wherein the rib(s) are annular, extending around the whole or substantially the whole of the internal surface of the collar.

10. A captive closure member as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 7, wherein the frictional engagement means comprises a plurality of segmental flats provided around the internal surface of the collar.

11. A captive closure member as claimed in Claim 10, wherein three segmental flats are spaced around the internal surface of the collar.

12. A captive closure member as claimed in Claim 11, wherein the three segmental flats are equiangularly spaced around the internal surface of the collar.

13. A captive closure member as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the cap portion of the closure has a snap fit with the container neck.

14. A container having a neck and a closure member fitted to the neck, the closure member comprising a cap flexibly connected to a collar dimensioned to fit closely about the container neck, and the collar being provided on its internal surface with frictional engagement means.

15. A container as claimed in Claim 14, which is a bottle, jar, flask or the like.

16. A captive closure member substantially as hereinbefore described.

17. A captive closure member substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.