GB2313367A

GB2313367A - Container closure assemblies with bidirectional opening

Info

Publication number: GB2313367A
Application number: GB9610922A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Roger Milner King
Original assignee: Beeson and Sons Ltd
Current assignee: Beeson and Sons Ltd
Priority date: 1996-05-24
Filing date: 1996-05-24
Publication date: 1997-11-26
Also published as: WO1997045328A2; GB9610922D0; AU2910297A; WO1997045328A3

Abstract

The invention provides container closure assemblies comprising a container neck (5) and a closure (3) releasably securable on the neck. A first securing means (19) on one of the neck and the closure comprises a first projection. A second securing means on the other of the neck and the closure comprises a substantially V-shaped or U-shaped projecting shoulder (17) in which the first projection nests when the closure is secured on the neck, and a retaining bead (18). The projecting shoulder enables the closure to be removed from the container by twisting either clockwise or anticlockwise.

Description

CONTAINER CLOSURE ASSEMBLIES WITH BIDIRECTIONAL OPENING The present invention relates to container closure assemblies with bidirectional opening. That is to say, assemblies in which a closure can be removed from a container neck by twisting either clockwise or anticlockwise.

Container closure assemblies are known in which a closure can be snap-fitted onto a container neck, and is then preferably removed from the container neck by twisting (unscrewing) in an anticlockwise direction. Assemblies of this general type are described, for example in GB-A2276370.

W091/01925 describes snap-on, twist off container closure assemblies of a slightly different type. In these assemblies, the closure is retained in a fully secured position on the container neck by anchor-shaped projections on the inside of the closure skirt that abut against the underside of projecting screw thread portions on the container neck. Twisting the closure brings the lower, Vshaped part of the anchor projections into abutment with bosses on the sides of the container neck. The anchorshaped projections ride up the bosses, and this lifts the closure off the container neck. However, the anchor projections and thread portions are configured such that the closure can only be twisted off in one direction (clockwise or anticlockwise). Twisting the cap in the opposite direction merely tightens the closure onto the container neck. Assemblies of this type are currently used for some instant coffee jars.

It has now been found that it is possible to make a container closure assembly that both achieves reliable securing of the closure on a container neck by snap-on or twist-on engagement, and enables removal of the closure from the secured position on the container neck by twisting the closure relative to the container neck in either a clockwise direction or an anticlockwise direction.

Specifically, the present invention provides a container closure assembly comprising: a container neck; a closure releasably securable on the container neck and comprising a crown portion and a skirt portion; a first securing means on one of the container neck or the closure skirt, said first securing means comprising a first projection; a second securing means on the other of the container neck and the closure skirt, said second securing means comprising: a lower, substantially V-shaped or Ushaped projecting shoulder against a central region of which the first projection abuts when the closure is in a fully secured position on the container neck, and a retaining bead to obstruct removal of the closure from the fully secured position by abutment against said first projection; whereby twisting the closure in either direction from the fully secured position causes the first projection to ride up the projecting shoulder and over the retaining bead to release the closure from the container neck.

The closure is retained in the fully secured position on the container neck by the engagement between the first securing means (which, respectively, projects outwardly from the container neck or inwardly from the closure skirt) and the second securing means (which projects inwardly from the closure skirt or outwardly from the container neck).

Preferably, both the container neck and the closure skirt have substantially circular transverse cross-sections.

Here and elsewhere in the specification, the word "lower" indicates a feature that is located remote from the opening (mouth) of the container neck, or as the case may be remote from the open end of the closure skirt (i.e.

proximate to the base portion of the closure). Thus, if the projecting shoulder is provided on the container neck, then it is situated further from the mouth of the container than the retaining bead. If the projecting shoulder is provided on the inside of the closure skirt, then it is situated further from the base of the closure than the retaining bead.

In this context the word "shoulder" refers to a radially projecting ledge or lip against which the first securing means can abut. The shoulder projects radially outwardly from the container neck or, as the case may be, radially inwardly from the closure skirt.

The projecting shoulder of the second securing means is substantially V-shaped or U-shaped. That is to say, the projecting shoulder has two, oppositely sloped (pitched) top surfaces that meet to form a V- or U-shape when viewed in side elevation (plane projection, thread development-type).

It should also be noted that a flat central region may be provided near the bottom of the V-shape or U-shape. In other words, the V-shape or U-shape is broadly variable, provided that it comprises two oppositely sloped sides.

However, preferably, the projecting shoulder has top surfaces with a substantially constant and equal slope to define a true V-shape. Preferably, the sides of the projecting shoulders have an average slope or pitch in the range of 2-10 .

The projecting shoulder is oriented such that the central region (bottom, notch) of the V or U is furthest from the opening of the container neck, or as the case may be from the open end of the closure skirt. Preferably, the V-shaped or U-shaped projecting shoulder is substantially symmetrical about the mid-point of the V or U.

Preferably, a plurality of the projecting shoulders are spaced around the container neck or the closure skirt. More preferably, the said plurality of projecting shoulders are equally radially spaced. There may be from 2 to 50 such projecting shoulders spaced around the assembly, preferably 2 to 6 and more preferably about 4. Preferably, each of the projecting shoulders is identical, whereby the closure can be secured onto the container neck at a corresponding plurality of angular positions of the closure, thereby making it easier and quicker to resecure the closure on the container neck.

More preferably, the plurality of projecting shoulders are joined together at their respective ends to form a continuous, zig-zag or wavy projecting shoulder extending around the container neck or the closure skirt. This ensures that, whatever the initial orientation of the closure as it is snapped or twisted onto the container neck, the abutment between the first projection and the projecting shoulder will guide the closure into a fully secured position on the container neck.

In use, the first projection of the first securing means is held in abutment against the central region of the V-shaped or U-shaped projecting shoulder when the closure is fully secured on the container neck. This abutment helps to prevent the closure becoming jammed too far onto the container neck. More importantly, the abutment between the first securing means and the projecting shoulder helps to guide the closure into the fully secured position on the container neck as it is snapped and/or twisted onto the container neck. The secure abutment of the first projection in the central region (notch) of the V-shaped or U-shaped projecting shoulder helps to prevent both axial and rotational rattling of the closure on the container neck when it is fully secured thereto.

In addition to the projecting shoulder, the second securing means on the container neck or the closure skirt comprises a retaining bead to resist removal of the closure from its fully secured position on the container neck by abutting against the first projection of the first securing means. In use, the first projection preferably rides over the retaining bead when the closure is snapped or twisted onto the container neck, and rides back over the retaining bead when the closure is twisted off from its fully secured position. By selecting a suitable shape and configuration for the retaining bead it is possible to optimise both the force required to secure the closure onto the container neck and the force required to twist the closure off.

Preferably, the retaining bead comprises a projecting boss situated approximately above the central region of the projecting shoulder.

In other preferred embodiments, the retaining bead in the form of a V-shaped or U-shaped, broken or continuous thread segment situated above the central region of the projecting shoulder. These embodiments are preferred because they provide more secure nesting of the first projection between the retaining bead and the projecting shoulder. Furthermore, the V-shaped or U-shaped retaining bead can function as a bi-directional thread to enable the closure to be twisted onto the container neck in either direction.

Preferably, the retaining bead has a ramped longitudinal cross-section, whereby less axial force is required to snap the first projection over the retaining bead when securing the closure onto the neck than is required when removing the closure from the neck. In other words, the slope of upper surface of the retaining bead, when viewed in cross-section, is inclined at a smaller angle to the longitudinal axis of the container closure assembly than the slope of the lower surface of the retaining bead.

Alternatively or additionally, the first projection has an equivalently ramped longitudinal cross-section for the same purpose.

Preferably, a lower surface of the first projection abuts against a lower surface of the retaining bead when the closure is fully secured on the container neck, and one or both of said lower surfaces is ramped such that a radial restoring force exerted by resilient deformation of the closure skirt is cammed by the abutment between the lower said surfaces into an axial sealing force between the closure and the container neck. This helps to ensure a secure seal between the closure and the container neck and prevents leakage and rattling of the closure on the container neck. The use of the restoring force exerted by resilient deformation of the closure skirt to exert an axial sealing force between the closure and the container neck is somewhat similar to the use of ramp-shaped stop formations for the same purpose in our earlier application GB-A2267484, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference.

Preferably, the container closure assemblies according to the present invention further comprise means to form an air- and/or liquid-tight seal between the container and the closure. Such means may, for example, comprise a circumferential, frustoconical sealing surface on the container neck of the closure for abutment against a complementary circumferential sealing surface or sealing rib on the container closure or container neck. Preferably, the sealing means comprises a resilient sealing wad retained inside the crown portion of the closure, and intended for abutment against the top lip of the container neck.

Preferably, the first projection has a V-shape or Ushape complementary to the top surface of the V-shaped projecting shoulder of the second retaining means. This enables the first projection to nest in the central region of the projecting shoulder when the closure is fully secured on the container neck. Preferably, the second securing means comprises a plurality of V-shaped U-shaped projecting shoulders as described above, and more preferably the first projection is in the form of a continuous zig-zag or wavy bead extending around the container or the closure skirt for nesting on the plurality of V-shaped or U-shaped projecting shoulder.

It will be appreciated that the closure may be fully secured on the container neck at one or more predetermined angular positions of the closure on the neck, corresponding to the positions at which the first projection is nested in the bottom of the plurality of V-shaped or U-shaped projecting shoulders. It is preferred to have some means to give a visual indication of when the closure is at one of those angular positions. For example, this may assist fitting of the closure onto the container neck, and can provide a visual indication of when the closure is fully secured. Accordingly, the container closure assemblies according to the present invention preferably further comprise alignment means on the closure for giving a visual indication of when the closure is in the angular orientation at which it can be fully secured onto the container neck.

The alignment means may comprise flanges on the closure and/or the container neck, or a visual marker.

Preferably, the closure further comprises a flat handle portion projecting from the base portion thereof. The flat handle portion can function as the alignment means as described above, and also assists securing and removal of the closure.

As described above, it is the characterizing feature of container closure assemblies according to the present invention that they can be removed from the fully secured position on the container neck by twisting either clockwise or anticlockwise. Preferably, the container neck and the closure exhibit mirror symmetry about a longitudinal plane along the assembly, whereby it is equally easy to twist off the closure in either direction. The resulting assemblies are equally easy to open for both left-handed and righthanded people. A further advantage is that it is impossible to over-tighten the closure on the container neck.

Preferably, the closure can be moved from a fully secured to a fully released position on the neck by rotation through 900 or less, more preferably 45" or less.

The container closure assemblies according to the present invention may further comprise sealing features as described in our International patent application WO93/01098, the entire content of which is expressly incorporated herein by reference. The container closure assemblies according to the present invention may further comprise a tamper-evident ring severably attached to the skirt portion of the closure and retained on the container neck after opening. Preferably, the tamper-evident ring as described and claimed in our International patent application WO94/11267, the entire content of which is expressly incorporated herein by reference.

A specific embodiment of the present invention will now be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fiqure 1 shows a longitudinal cross section through a closure assembly according to the present invention with the closure fully secured on the container neck; Figure 2 shows a longitudinal cross section through the closure cap from the assembly of Figure 1; Figure 3 shows a side elevation view of the container neck from the assembly of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings, the container closure assembly 1 comprises a closure 3 and a container neck 5.

The closure 3 is formed from thermoplastic material, such as polypropylene or polyethylene, by injection moulding.

The container neck 5 is preferably formed in one piece with a container body (not shown) by blow moulding of a thermoplastic material, such as polyethylene or polyethylene terephthalate.

The closure 3 comprises a base, or crown, portion 7 and a skirt portion 9. A flat diametric handle 11 projects from the crown portion of the closure. A hole 13 is provided in the handle 11 for insertion of a pencil or similar object that can function as a lever arm to assist opening of the assembly. A resilient sealing insert 15 forms a seal between the top of the container neck and the closure.

As shown more clearly in Figure 2, the skirt portion 9 of the closure 3 is provided with a first circumferential sealing rib 23, and a first projection 19 in the form of a zig-zag continuous bead 19 extending around the inside of the closure skirt 9. A second circumferential sealing rib 21 projects downwardly from the base of the closure into the resilient sealing insert 15.

As can be seen more clearly in Figure 3, the container neck 5 is provided with a circumferential projecting shoulder 17 having a zig-zag configuration. Retaining projections 18 in the form of a substantially hemispherical bosses are equally radially spaced around the container neck. The bosses 18 are located just above the central regions of the V-shaped shoulders defined by the zig-zag projecting shoulder 17.

As can be seen in Figure 1, the bosses 18 have a ramped longitudinal cross-section, such that an upper surface of the bosses 18 is inclined at a smaller angle to the longitudinal axis of the container closure assembly than the lower surface of the bosses. The circumferential first projection 19 also has a ramped longitudinal cross-section, as can be seen most clearly in Figure 2, the slope of the lower surface of the circumferential first projection 19 being complementary to that of the lower surface of the bosses 18. The ramped cross sections of the bosses 18 and circumferential projection 19 product a ratchet-type effect, whereby it is easier to snap the circumferential projection 19 over the bosses when the fitting the closure onto the container neck than it is to do so when removing the closure from the container.

In use, the closure 3 is secured onto the container neck 5 by simply placing the closure 3 over the neck 5 and pushing down, twisting if necessary. The abutment between the circumferential bead 19 on the closure 3 and the circumferential shoulder 17 on the neck 5 guides the closure into one of the four equally spaced angular orientations at which full engagement of the closure and the container neck is possible. The circumferential bead 19 snaps over the bosses 18 on the container neck to secure the closure on the neck at said position.

When it is desired to open the assembly, it is merely necessary to twist the closure 3 relative to the container neck in either direction. The circumferential bead 19 rides up the zig-zag projecting shoulder 17 and over the bosses 18, thereby releasing the closure 3 and allowing it to be lifted off the neck 5.

The above embodiment has been described by way of example only. Many other embodiments falling within the scope of the accompanying claims will be apparent to the skilled reader.

Claims

CLAINS

1. A container closure assembly comprising: a container neck; a closure releasably securable on the container neck and comprising a crown portion and a skirt portion; a first securing means on one of the container neck or the closure skirt, said first securing means comprising a first projection; a second securing means on the other of the container neck and the closure skirt, said second securing means comprising: a lower, substantially V-shaped of U-shaped projecting shoulder against a central region of which said first projection abuts when the closure is in a fully secured position on the container neck, and a retaining bead to obstruct removal of the closure said fully secured position by abutment against said first projection; whereby twisting said closure in either direction from said fully secured position causes said first projection to ride up said projecting shoulder and over said retaining bead to release the closure from the container neck.

2. A container closure assembly according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of said projecting shoulders are spaced around the container neck or the closure skirt.

3. A container closure assembly according to claim 2, wherein said plurality of projecting shoulders are joined together to form a continuous zig-zag or wavy shoulder extending around the container neck or the closure skirt.

4. A container closure assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein the sides of each of said projecting shoulders have substantially constant pitches, whereby the projecting shoulders are V-shaped.

5. A container closure assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein the sides of each of said projecting shoulders are substantially symmetrical about the mid-point of the V-shape or U-shape.

6. A container closure assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein said first projection has a shape that is complementary to said V-shaped or U-shaped projecting shoulder for nesting in said projecting shoulder at said fully secured position.

7. A container closure assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein said first projection is in the form of a continuous zig-zag or wavy bead extending around said container neck or said closure skirt.

8. A container closure assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein the retaining bead comprises a projecting boss situated above the central region of the said projecting shoulder.

9. A container closure assembly according to any of claims 1 to 7, wherein the retaining bead is in the form of a Vshaped or U-shaped, broken or continuous thread segment situated above the central region of the said projecting shoulder when the closure is fully secured on the container neck.

10. A container closure assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein the retaining bead is ramped in longitudinal cross-section, whereby less axial force is required to snap the first projection over the retaining bead when securing the closure to the neck than is required when removing the closure from the neck.

11. A container closure assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein the first projection has a ramped longitudinal cross-section, whereby less axial force is required to snap the first projection over the retaining bead when securing the closure to the neck than is required when removing the closure from the neck.

12. A container closure assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein a lower surface of said first projection abuts against a lower surface of said retaining bead when the closure is fully secured on the container neck, whereby a radial restoring force exerted by resilient deformation of the closure skirt is cammed by said abutment into an axial sealing force between the closure and the container neck.

13. A container closure assembly according to any preceding claim, further comprising means to form an air- and liquidtight seal between the container and the closure.

14. A container closure assembly according to claim 13, wherein said sealing means comprises a resilient sealing wad retained inside the crown portion of the closure.

15. A container closure assembly according to any preceding claim, further comprising alignment means on the closure for giving a visual indication of when the closure is in said fully secured position.

16. A container closure assembly according to any preceding claim1 further comprising a flat handle portion projecting from the crown portion of the closure.

17. A container closure assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein the container neck and/or the closure exhibit mirror symmetry about a longitudinal plane through said assembly.

18. A container closure assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.