MXPA97004196A - Container with closure resistant to remoc - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a closure and container unit resistant to removal, comprising: a container that defines a hole, a closure to be applied to the container to occlude the hole, a first thread defined by the container and extending through at least partially around the hole, from a front end to a rear end, a second thread defined by the closure and extending at least partially around the closure, from a front end to a rear end, and a defined projection adjacent to one of the first and second threads, defining the projection and one thread a space between them, which is less than the width of the other of the threads, and at least one of the projection and the other resilient thread being to adjust the deformation during the relative rotational movement of the container and the closure, when the closure and the container are screwed together, whereby the threads are displaced elastically in axial form from a condition coupled in a threaded form to a completely closed decoupled condition, which resists re-coupling

Description

CONTAINER WITH CLOSURE RESISTANT TO REMOVAL TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a package in the form of a container and closure unit resistant to removal therein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION AND TECHNICAL PROBLEMS PRESENTED BY THE PREVIOUS TECHNIQUE A common type of container has a threaded neck and is adapted to receive a threaded closure in the form of a cap or the like. In many applications this closure is initially applied to a container by an automatic closure applicator apparatus such as a high-speed corking machine. A variety of these threaded closures are provided with a dosing feature, such as a body or lid base defining a dosing orifice and a cooperating lid. The lid is disposed at the base of the closure and is adapted to move between (1) a closed, lowered position that occludes the dispensing orifice, and, (2) an open position remote from the dispensing orifice that allows the discharge of the contents of the container to through the hole.

Some of these types of closure design include obvious inviolability characteristics that must be broken in order to first move the lid of the closed portion to the open position. However, the same base of the closure is easily removable from the container, then, a counterfeiter could again have access to the interior of the container even though the inviolability characteristic between the lid and the base of the closure is not broken or altered. Therefore, it would be desirable in some applications to avoid easy removal of the entire closure from the container - even for those closures that do not have obvious tamper-evident characteristics. Accordingly, it would be advantageous to provide an improved closure and container unit where the closure can not be easily removed. It would be especially desirable if an improved design could be employed with a threaded system that would accommodate the application of the closure to the container by means of a conventional high-speed clogging machine. Furthermore, it would be advantageous if an improved design would allow the closure to rotate freely or rotate in the container in any direction, after the closure has been properly installed in the container. This would provide an indication to the user that the closure has not been removed by normal unscrewing movement, and this would therefore discourage attempts to remove the closure. The present invention provides an improved container system and corresponding closure which can be adapted to the designs having the aforementioned benefits and features.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention there is provided a package that includes a unit of a container and the closure resistant to removal. The unique package allows to apply the closure to the container with a conventional high-speed corking machine. The closure is securely held on the container in a manner that impedes or significantly inhibits manual removal. However, the closure can rotate freely in any direction of rotation on the container. The container defines a hole, and the closure is applied to the container to occlude the hole. A suitable dosing characteristic, with a metering orifice and lid can be provided in the closure. The container defines a first thread which extends at least partially around the hole of the container from a front end to a rear end. A second thread is defined by the closure and extends at least partially around the closure from the front end to the rear end. A projection is defined adjacent to one of the first and second threads. The projection and one of the threads define a space between them which is less than the width of the other thread. The projection or the other thread, or both, the projection and the other thread are resilient or elastic to allow deformation during the relative rotational movement of the container and closure when the container and closure are screwed together to install the closure on the container. During this process the threads move in a direction relative to the axial direction from a state coupled by means of the threads to an uncoupled state which resists reattachment. In a preferred embodiment, the first and second threads each include a helical portion. In addition, the container includes a third thread with a front end, a helical portion and a rear end. The projection is determined by means of the rear end of the third thread in the container. The rear end of the third thread has a smaller angle than the helical portion of the first thread and converges with the helical portion of the first thread to define the space which is smaller than the width of the second thread of the closure. In a conventional application, the first and third threads in the container each are male threads, and the second and fourth threads in the closure are each female threads. In the preferred embodiment, an additional projection is defined on the container by the trailing end of the first thread adjacent the helical portion of the third thread. The rear end of the first thread has a smaller angle than the helical portion of the third thread and converges with the helical portion of the third thread. The rear end of the first thread and the helical portion of the third thread define a space therebetween that is less than the width of the portion of the fourth thread of the closure. Further, in the preferred embodiment, an additional projection is also defined by the rear end of the fourth thread adjacent the helical portion of the second thread. The rear end of the fourth thread has a smaller angle than the helical portion of the second thread and converges with the helical portion of the second thread. The rear end of the fourth thread and the helical portion of the second thread define a space therebetween that is smaller than the width of the first thread of the container. Finally, the preferred embodiment, an additional projection is also defined by the rear end of the second thread adjacent the helical portion of the fourth thread. The rear end of the second thread has a smaller angle than the helical portion of the fourth thread and converges with the helical portion of the fourth thread. The rear end of the second thread and the helical portion of the fourth thread define a space therebetween which is less than the width of the third thread of the container. Numerous other advantages and features of the present ntion will be readily apparent from the following detailed description of the ntion, the claims and the accompanying drawings. LEVEL DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the attached drawings that are part of the specification, and in which equal numbers are used to define equal parts through it. Figure 1 is a fragment of a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the container and closure unit of the present ntion; Figure 1A is a developed view of the portions of the 360 ° cylindrical wall of the container and the closure containing the threads, and portions of the wall are shown in a planar orientation; Figure 2 is a fragment of an elevational, lateral or enlarged view of the container and closure before assembly; Figure 3 is a fragment of a plan view from the top of the neck of the container taken generally along the plane 3-3 of Figure 2; Figures 4, 6 and 8 are transverse, partial and amplified view fragments showing the sequence of operation of the thread of the closure in the container; Figures 5, 7 and 9 are fragments of cross-sectional views taken in general along planes 5-5, 7-7 and 9-9 of Figures 4, 6 and 8, respectively; Figure 10 is a fragment of a sectional view of the closure and the container of Figures 1-9 showing the closure fully installed in the container; Figures 11 is a view similar to Figure 10, but Figure 11 shows a second embodiment; Figure 12 is a view of a more amplified fragment of the area within the dashed line circle referred to as "Figure 12" in Figure 11. DESCRIPTION OF THE MODALITIES While this invention is susceptible to modifications in very diverse ways, this specification and the accompanying drawings describe only some specific forms as an example of the invention. However, the invention is not intended to be limited to the modalities thus described. The scope of the invention is set forth in the appended claims. For ease of description, the components of this invention are described in the standard (vertical) operating position, and the terms such as upper, lower horizontal, etc., are used with reference to this position. However, it should be understood that the components of this invention can be manufactured, transported, and sold in a different orientation to the position described. The closure of this invention can be applied to a container of this invention with a conventional high-speed corking machine, the details of which * although not fully illustrated or described will be apparent to those having the skills in the art and an understanding of the necessary functions of these machines. Detailed descriptions of these machines are not necessary for an understanding of the invention and are not described herein because these machines are not part of the present invention.

The present invention provides a package in the form of a container enclosure that incorporates a system of threads to facilitate installation of the closure in the container in a manner that prevents easy removal of the closure. Figure 1 illustrates the container generally designated with the reference number 30 and a closure designated generally by the number 32. The closure 32 is adapted to be installed by means of the threads in the container 30. The container 30 usually includes a portion of the body or a receptacle portion (not visible in the figures) which can have any suitable, special or conventional configuration and from which a neck 36 (as shown in Figure 1) extends. The neck 36 defines a hole from which the contents of the container can be dosed. As best illustrated in Figure 1, the closure 32 includes a housing, base or body 40 for securing the neck 36 of the container. The body of the closure 40 includes a spherical wall, in the form of a generally cylindrical margin 44. Usually, the upper end of the closure margin 44 is adjacent to or combined with a horizontal, transverse cover structure (not illustrated) which defines an opening or dosing orifice. Typically, a lid (not illustrated) is installed to the base of the closure 40 by movement between a closed position on the cover to occlude the hole and an open position away from the cover to allow the contents of the container to be dosed to through the hole. The neck of the container 36 has a generally cylindrical configuration. The outer surface of the neck 36 defines a first thread 51 and the margin of the closure 44 defines on its inner surface a second thread 52. In the preferred embodiment is illustrated, the neck of the container 36 also defines a third thread 53 and the margin of the closure defines a fourth thread 54. Although the threads 51 and 53 of the neck of the container are illustrated as external male threads, and although the threads of the closing margin 52 and 54 are illustrated as internal female threads, it should be appreciated that the threads in the The neck of the container may be female threads located on the inner side of the container while the threads in the closing margin may be male threads positioned outside the closing margin. The threads 51 and 53 of the container each extend partially around the neck of the container 36 and together define a system of double front threads. In the same way, the threads and the closing margin 52 and 54 each extend partially around the internal circumference of the margin and together define a system of double front threads. Each thread 51, 52, 53 and 54 defines a front end A, a helical portion B (FIG. 1A). The front end A of the threads of the container 51 and 53 have a decreasing section on the side facing inwards and away from the end of the container. In the same way, the front end A of threads of the clasps 52 and 54 have a decreasing section on the side facing inward and away from the open end of the latch margin 44. The side of each front end A of the container threads 51 and 53 that face the end of the container define a helical surface that extends partially around the neck of the container 36 and becomes part of the helical portion of the thread B. In a preferred embodiment, the angle of the propeller is 3 degrees and 40 minutes. In the same manner, the front ends A of the threads of the closure 52 and 54 have a surface that faces outward towards the open end of the closure and this surface defines a generally helical angle that extends partially around the margin of closure and becomes part of the helical portion B of each thread. In the preferred embodiment, the helical portion B of the threads of the closure 52 and 54 have an advance angle of 3 degrees and 40 minutes. As can be seen in figure 1A, the rear end C of the third thread of the container 53 can alternatively be characterized as defining a "projection" functionally in the neck of the container adjacent to the first thread 51, and this projection defines, in cooperation with the first thread 51 the space that is less than the width of the second thread of the closure 52. The forward end C of the first thread of the container 51 in the same manner has an advancing angle of 0 ° and converges towards the helical portion of the third thread 53. The trailing end of the first thread may also be defined as a projection adjacent the helical portion of the first helical portion of the first thread B. In the same manner, in the margin of the closure, the trailing end C of the second thread 52 has an angle of advance of 0o and converges towards the helical portion of the fourth thread 54. In the same way, the rear end C of the fourth thread 54 in the closure has a angle of 0 ° and converges towards the helical portion B of the second thread of the closure 52. Each rear end C of a thread may be related to a projection which, together with the helical portion B of the adjacent thread defines a reduced space that It is less than the width of the thread. It should be appreciated that the rear end C of each thread does not necessarily have to be flat or have an angle of advance of 0 °. However, the trailing end C must have an angle smaller than the advancing angle of the helical portion B so that it converges towards the helical portion of the adjacent thread and defines a space of reduced amplitude. It should also be appreciated that in an alternative embodiment (not illustrated), the trailing ends C may be omitted and replaced by suitable projections to define, in cooperation with the adjacent thread, a reduced space. Figure 2 shows the closure 32 generally aligned by the direction coaxial with the neck of the container 36 just before moving the closure on the neck of the container 36 and effecting the coupling by means of the threads. Figures 4-8 illustrate sequentially the threading of the closure 32 on the neck of the container 36. In Figure 4, the second thread of the closure 52 has been threaded between the threads of the container 51 and 53. The front end A of the second thread of the closure 52 has begun to move in the decreasing space defined by the rear end C with advancing angle of 0 ° of the threads of the container 53 and the helical portion B of the threads of the container 51. As shown in the figure 5, the thread of the container 53 begins to have some deformation. Depending on the design of the thread profile and the materials used, the thread of the closure 52 can also distort something. Likewise, the margin of the closure 44 may deviate slightly outwards in the radial direction. In addition, there is some deformation of the thread of the container 51 upwards. Preferably, the training is elastic and temporary. At this point illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, the resistance of the torque to a greater coupling by means of the threads begins to decrease. A sufficiently increased torque must be applied to continue the threading process and to achieve a greater deformation of the threads. As the closure is further rotated in the threaded or coupling direction, the lower surface of the rear end C with 0 ° advancing angle of the second thread of the closure 52 begins to engage the upper surface of the rear end with an advancing angle of 0o C of the thread of the container 53. At the same time, the upper surface of the helical portion D of the thread of the closure 54 engages with the lower side of the rear end with advancing angle 0 ° C of the third thread 53 of the container . The rotary movement (in the threaded direction) is resisted by the interference between these parts of the threads. When the torque is increased by a sufficient amount for the threading, the closing threads 52 and 54 suddenly move downward with a jump action when the system undergoes sufficient deformation to accommodate the axial advance of the closure in the direction of threading. At this point, the threads of the clasps 52 and 54 are placed completely below the threads of the container 51 and 53 as illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9. In addition, as can be seen in FIG. 8, the rear portion with advancing angle 0 ° C of the closure of the thread 52 is adjacent to the bottom of the thread of the container 53. With respect to the figures 4-9, it will be seen that the action of only one half of the thread system is visible. when the thread of the closure 52 jumps on and under the thread of the container 53. However, it should be understood that, at the same time, 180 ° around the container, the closing thread 54 has jumped on and under the thread of the container 51. In this way, the rear end with 0 ° C feed angle of the closing thread 54 has been placed below and adjacent to the bottom of the threads of the container.

Because the rear ends C of the threads of the closure 52 and 54 have an advancing angle of 0 °, and because the rear ends C of the threads of the container 51 and 53 have an advancing angle of 0 °, it is not It is possible to re-couple the threads by turning the closure in an unscrewing direction. Accordingly, once the closure 32 has been directed to the fully installed position as illustrated in Figures 8 and 9, the closure 32 simply rotates freely in the unscrewing direction (as well as in the thread direction). In a preferred embodiment currently contemplated, the pitch of the thread (i.e. the distance between the helical portions of two adjacent threads) is 3.2 millimeters (0.125 inches). The system of threads has an advance of 6.35 millimeters (0.25 inches) (that is, the theoretical distance that the closure would move in the axial direction and will turn a revolution of 360 ° in the system of threads). In the preferred embodiment illustrated in Figure 1-9, a double-feed thread system is employed. In this way, the container includes two threads, the threads 51 and 53, and the closure includes two threads the threads 52 and 54. However, it should be appreciated that other combinations of threads are possible, for example, a single thread may be provided. in the closure and a single corresponding thread in the container. However, the use of a double feed threading system allows the forces for the threading to be balanced 180 ° and this provides more effective control during the threading process. With the double-advance threading system of the preferred embodiment, the combined length of the leading end A and the helical portion B of each thread is 205 °, the trailing end C (along an angle of 0 °) has a arc length of 90 °. With this configuration, the closure needs to be turned only about 295 ° to drive the threads of the closure completely over the threads of the container to the fully installed position illustrated in Figure 8. In the preferred embodiment illustrated there is a thread of double advance and where each thread has a rear end with an angle of 0 ° C, is determined by the formula 360 ° [2x (number of threads)]. The novel system of threads of the present invention allows the application of the closure by a high-speed capping machine with torsional moments that are relatively low in comparison with other lid / resistant joining structures, such as the configurations of pearl type, bayonet or ratchet configurations. However, despite the relatively low application torsion required for the present invention, the closure and container remain attached in a way that prevents the common user from manually removing the container closure. Figure 10 illustrates the base of the closure 40 installed on the neck 36 of the container 30 in a fully installed condition wherein the threads of the closure are decoupled and placed below the threads of the container. In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 10, the container includes a rim 62 at the base of the neck 36 and the top portion of the rim 62 has a frusto-conical surface 64 which is combined with the neck 36. The threads at the base of the closure 40 are located towards the interior of the lower end, open at the end of the base of the closure 40 to accommodate the flange 62 and the frusto-conical surface 64, As illustrated in Figure 10, there is a small annular space D between the outer surface of the flange 62 and the internal surface of the closure 40. This space is sufficient to accommodate normal manufacturing tolerances, but is small enough to prevent significant lateral movement of the closure base 40 over the bottleneck 36. This inhibits efforts to loosen the closure installed and uncoupling the threads in an attempt to unscrew the closure. An alternative embodiment of the package of the present invention is illustrated in Figures 11 and 12. Figures 11 and 12 illustrate a closure base 40 'fully installed on the neck 36' a system of double-advance threads shown in the embodiment illustrated in figures 11 and 12, and this system of double advance threads is identical to that described in the above with respect to the illustrated embodiment 1-10 t The alternative embodiment of figures 11 and 12 includes an edge 71 for a special centering placed near the base the neck 36 '. The edge 71 is designed to reduce the capacity of the closure base 40 'to be inclined or misaligned from the neck of the container 36'. This misalignment of the closure base 40 'could otherwise be somewhat simpler to attempt to force the threads into the coupling when a simultaneous torque is applied to unscrew. The centered edge 71 lies below the leading ends of the closing threads, and the edge 71 prevents the threads of the closure from being inclined or moved in the radial direction inward by a significant amount in addition to the base of the closure 40 'also it preferably includes a small edge 81 around the inner periphery, and lower edge of the closure. The edge 81 is located in the vertical direction below the centering edge of the container 71. As illustrated in Figure 12, there is a lateral or radial space X between the neck of the container 36 'and the closing edge 81. There is also a space vertical and between the upper part of the closing edge 81 and the centering edge of the container 71. The spaces x and y are sufficient to accommodate manufacturing tolerances, but small enough to prevent significant lateral or vertical movement. This avoids any significant tilt or misalignment of the closure base 40 'in the neck of the container 36'. This reduces the likelihood that the threads are forced into uncoupling in an attempt to unscrew the closure. It will be evident that the edge of the closure 81 must be forced or jump over the centering edge of the neck of the container 71 by a driving force in the axial direction imparted to the base of the closure 40 'during the application of the closure to the neck of the container. Removal of the closure would initially require a substantial amount of vertical force which is difficult to provide manually with this embodiment since the threads of the closure do not easily engage with the threads of the container. The container and closure unit of the present invention can be molded from suitable thermoplastic materials, such as polypropylene and the like. The invention can be adapted in closures and containers that are produced with conventional manufacturing operations that do not require excessively high or narrow tolerances. The closure and container components of the present invention accommodate the unit with conventional capping machines and provide a package that inhibits or resists removal of the closure. It will be very apparent from the aforementioned description of the invention and the illustrations thereof that various variations and modifications may be made without departing without real spirits and scope of the novel concepts or principles of this invention.

Claims (15)

1. A closure unit resistant to removal and the container comprising: a container defining a hole; a closure to be applied to the container to occlude the hole; a first thread defined by the container extending at least partially around the hole from the forward end to a rearward end; a second thread defined by the closure and extending at least partially around the closure from a front end to a rear end; and a defined projection adjacent to one of the first and second threads, the projection and the thread define a space between them which is less than the width of the other threads, and at least one of the projections and the other threads are resilient to adjust the deformation during the relative rotational movement of the container and the closure when the closure and the container are screwed together, whereby the threads move relative to the axial direction from the engaged state by means of the threads to the decoupled state which resists reattachment

2. The unit, according to claim 1, wherein the first thread and the second thread each include a helical portion. The unit, according to claim 2, wherein the first thread is a male thread and the second thread is a female thread. The unit, according to claim 2, wherein: the container includes a third thread with a front end, a helical portion and a rear end; and the closure includes a fourth thread with a front end, a helical portion and a rear end. The unit, according to claim 4, wherein the projection is defined by the rear end of the third thread in the container, the rear end of the third thread having a smaller angle than the helical portion of the first thread. It threads and converges with the helical portion of the first thread to define the space that is less than the width of the second thread of the closure. The unit, according to claim 5, wherein a further projection is defined by the trailing end of the first thread adjacent to the helical portion of the third thread, the trailing end of the first thread and the helical portion of the thread. The third thread defines a space therebetween which is smaller than the width of the fourth thread of the closure, the rear end of the first thread has a smaller angle than the helical portion of the third thread and converges with the helical portion of the thread. The unit, according to claim 5, wherein a further projection is defined by the rear end of the fourth thread adjacent the helical portion of the second thread, the rear end of the fourth thread and the helical portion of the second thread. second thread define a space between them that is less than the width of the first thread of the container, the rear end of the fourth thread has a smaller angle than the helical portion of the second thread and converges with the helical portion of the second thread . The unit, according to claim 5, wherein a further projection is defined by the trailing end of the second thread adjacent the helical portion of the fourth thread, the trailing end of the second thread and the helical portion of the second thread. the fourth thread defines a space between them that is less than the width of the third thread of the container, the rear end of the second thread has a smaller angle than the helical portion of the fourth thread and converges with the helical portion of the fourth thread.

9. The unit according to claim 4, wherein the first, second, third and fourth helical portions each have an arc length of about 205 ° and have an advancing angle between 3 ° and 4 ° and the ends After the first, second, third, and fourth threads each has an arc length of about 90 ° and has an angle of 0 °. The unit, according to claim 4, wherein the rear ends of the second and fourth threads of the closure each have an angle smaller than the advance angle of the helical portions of the second and fourth threads. 11. The unit, according to claim 1, wherein; the container has a neck defining a hole; and a defined rim around the lower part of the neck for coupling a part of the closure when the closure is aligned on the neck to reduce the amount of misalignment, 12. The unit, according to claim 1, wherein; the container includes a neck; the container includes a centering edge in the neck below the first thread of the container; and the closure defines an edge at the bottom of the closure to jump down the centering edge of the container when the closure and the container are screwed together and the threads move in the direction relative to the axial direction from the engaged state by means of the threads. 13. A removal-resistant closure unit and container comprising: a container having a neck defining a hole; a closure to be applied to the container to occlude the hole, the closure has an open end that is disposed adjacent the neck of the container; A first thread defined by the container and extending at least partially around the hole from a front end to a rear end; a second thread defined by the closure and extending at least partially around the closure from a front end to a rear end; a third thread defined by the container and extending at least partially around the hole from a front end to a rear end; a fourth thread defined by the closure and extending at least partially around the closure from a front end to a rear end;

2 $ each thread defines a helical portion between the front end and the rear end; The rear end of each thread in the container is located in the axial direction furthest from the container orifice than the leading end of each thread in the container; the rear end of each thread in the closure is located in the axial direction furthest from the open end of the closure than the leading end of each thread in the closure; each rear end of each thread has an angle smaller than the advance angle of the helical portion; the rear end of the third thread converges with the helical portion of the first thread to define a space therebetween which is less than the width of the second thread of the closure; the rear end of the first thread converges with the helical portion of the third thread to define a space therebetween that is less than the width of the fourth thread of the closure; the rear end of the fourth thread converges with the helical portion of the second thread to define a space therebetween which is less than the width of the first thread of the container;

the rear end of the second thread converges with the helical portion of the fourth thread to define a space therebetween which is less than the width of the third thread of the container; and the threads are resilient to accommodate deformation during the relative rotational movement of the container and closure when the closure and the container are screwed together whereby the threads move relative to the axial direction from the engaged state by means of the threads to an uncoupled state that resists re-coupling. The unit according to claim 13, wherein the first, second, third and fourth helical portions each have an arc length of about 205 ° and have an advance angle of between 3 ° and 4 °; and the rear ends of the first, second, third, and fourth threads each have an arc length of about 90 ° and have an angle of 0 °. The unit according to claim 13, wherein the First, and third threads are male threads; the second, and fourth threads are female threads.