US3216610A

US3216610A - Container closure

Info

Publication number: US3216610A
Application number: US311395A
Authority: US
Inventors: Mindaugas J Klygis
Original assignee: Continental Can Co Inc
Current assignee: Continental Can Co Inc
Priority date: 1963-09-25
Filing date: 1963-09-25
Publication date: 1965-11-09
Anticipated expiration: 1982-11-09
Also published as: DE1432129A1; GB1015854A

Description

Nov. 9, 1965 M. J. KLYGIS 3,216,610

CONTAINER CLOSURE Filed Sept. 25, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet l TNVENTOR MINDQUGRSJKLYGE glib, 5

ATTORNEYS Nov. 9, 1965 M. J. KLYGIS 3,216,610

CONTAINER CLOSURE Filed Sept. 25, 1963 S Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Mmoaueas J. KLYGIS Nov. 9, 1965 M. J. KLYGIS 3,216,610

CONTAINER CLOSURE Filed Sept. 25, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR M INDAUGHS J. Kwms United States Patent 3,216,610 CONTAINER CLOSURE Mindaugas J. Klygis, Chicago, 111., assignor to Continental Can Company, Inc., New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Sept. 25, 1963, Ser. No. 311,395 25 Claims. (Cl. 22060) The invention relates generally to container closures, and more particularly to closures formed of plastic and it primarily seeks to provide a novel form of closure readily effected in whole or in part by a snap-on action and wherein an efficient seal is assured despite unevenness or waviness in one or both body and cover components.

It is well known in the art that container neck finishes or the like and closing caps or covers therefor can be molded readily, but it is difiicult, if not impossible to accomplish this purpose without one or the other or both components intended to cooperatively engage in providing the closure including thereon wavy or uneven surfaces likely to present problems in the formation of eificient seals. Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a closure structure wherein the neck portion or finish on the container includes a hollow or open bead which is deformable upon placement of the cover on the container and in a manner for setting up elastic recovery forces in the neck effective to hold cooperative sealing surfaces in tight sealing contact despite any waviness or unevenness in such opposing surfaces.

Another object of the invention is to provide a container neck of the character stated having formed therein a deformable hollow bead presenting an inwardly opening annular groove and being of U-shape radial section to provide upper and lower spaced and generally horizontal walls joined by an outwardly directed bight, each leg of the U merging into an upright neck portion the uppermost one of which is presented for sealing contact against a cover portion.

Another object of the invention is to provide a closure of the character stated wherein multiple seals are included and at least one lock to hold the desired seal contact.

A further object of the invention is to provide a closure of the character stated wherein multiple seals and multiple seal holding locks are provided.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a closure of the character stated wherein the cover seal contact of the neck is in the form of a wide flange.

Another object of the invention is to provide a closure of the character stated wherein the cover is provided with sealing compound receiving grooving disposed to overlie and seal against the neck flange.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a closure of the character stated wherein the cover is turnable on the container neck sealed thereby and has sifter openings presentable in or out of registration with like openings in the neck flange.

A further object of the invention is to provide a closure of the character stated wherein the cover in sealing engagement on the neck of the container includes a skirt having a rib disposed to snap under and lock against the neck bead in a manner for holding the seal with the bead deformed to set up elastic recovery forces therein.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a closure of the character stated wherein provision is made for a triple seal, between container neck end and cover, between cover skirt and neck bead and between cover skirt and container breast portion.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a closure of the character stated including a double lock seal holding arrangement, there being a second lock provided by a cover annulus and neck interior engagement 3,216,610 Patented Nov. 9, 1965 in addition to the beforernentioned cover skirt rib and neck bead engagement.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a closure of the character stated wherein the container neck portion above the open bead is offset outwardly with relation to the neck portion extending downwardly from the bead, the cover including an annular wall sealingly engaging within the neck wall portion below the neck bead and having a locking shoulder engaged under said neck wall portion at its juncture with the breast of the container, the cover also engaging in sealing contact with the end of the offset upper wall portion and also having its skirt in sealing contact with the neck bead, the skirt locking rib snap locked under said bead, and the lower skirt extremity engaged in sealing contact against the container breast portion, thereby to provide for a quadruple sealing, double locking action.

A further object of the invention is to provide a closure of the character stated wherein the snap under rib on the cover is defined in part by generally parallel lines, considering a radial section thereof, so that in assembling a cover on a container neck the cover can be inclined upwardly with relation to the container neck to be received therein to place said parallel lines in generally horizontal position, thereby to facilitate entry of the radial section portion of the cover rib into the space between the neck rib and breast portion of the container.

With the above and other objects in view that will hereinafter appear, the nature of the invention will be more clearly understood by reference to the following detailed description, the appended claims and the several views illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view illustrating a container structure embodying the invention, a part of the closure cap being broken away.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical radial sectional view taken on the line 2-4 on FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical radial sectional view showing a fragment of the container body neck, the same being shown in response in full lines, and with the top flange of the neck depressed in dotted lines, as would be the case upon full application of a closure cap thereon.

FIGURE 4 is a part vertical cross sectional and part elevational View of a container portion and its upstanding neck, a closure cap being shown in the process of being applied to the neck.

FIGURE 5 is an inverted plan view of a modified form of closure cap.

FIGURE 6 is a view similar to FIGURE 2 and showing the closure of FIGURE 5 applied on the neck of a container.

FIGURE 7 is a view similar to FIGURE 1 and illustrating another modified form of the invention wherein a closure cap of the rotary sifter type is provided.

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged fragmentary radial sectional view similar to FIGURE 2 and showing the modified form of container closure illustrated in FIGURE 7.

FIGURE 9 is a part vertical cross section and part side elevational view of the container and cap structure of FIGURES 7 and 8, the cap being shown in the process of being applied to the neck of the container by a downward bumping pressure application.

FIGURE 10 is an inverted plan view illustrating a modified form of closure cap of the sifter type.

FIGURE 11 is an enlarged fragmentary radial sectional view similar to FIGURE 2 and illustrating the closure cap of FIGURE 10 applied on the neck of a container.

FIGURE 12 is an enlarged fragmentary radial sectional view illustrating another modified form of the invention, the modified form of closure cap being shown in the process of being applied to the modified container neck structure by a downward bumping pressure application.

FIGURE 13 is a view similar to FIGURE 12 and illus trating the closure cap as fully applied on the container neck.

FIGURE 14 is an enlarged fragmentary radial sectional view illustrating another modified form of the invention, the modified form of closure ca-p being shown in the process of being applied to the modified container neck structure by a downward bumping pressure application.

FIGURE 15 is a view similar to FIGURE 12 and illustrating the closure cap as fully applied on the container neck.

Preferred and optional or modified forms of the invention are disclosed herein and in the forms illustrated in FIGURES l to 4 there are included a body 5 having an inwardly and upwardly sloping breast portion 6 which merges into an upstanding neck 7. The neck 7 terminates in an inwardly directed flat fiange 8 defining an open container mouth 9, and intermediately of its height the neck is provided with an outwardly directed open bead 10 presenting an inwardly directed groove 11 defined between the upper and lower opposed and generally horizontally disposed

walls

12 and 13 which are joined by the outwardly directed bight or connecting portion 14. It will be noted that the bead generally designated 10 is in the form of a U-section of which the upper and

lower Walls

12 and 13 of the bead form the U-legs with the connecting portion 14 forming the base of the U-section. The connecting portion 14 includes a downwardly .projected corner or locking shoulder 15.

The closure cap includes a central body portion 16 and a depending skirt 17, said body having a centrally disposed complement of sifter openings 18. The skirt includes an upright inner wall 19 from which a snap under locking rib annulus 20 projects, said rib being defined by an upper inwardly and downwardly sloping wall 21 and a generally parallel lower and inwardly and downwardly sloping wall 22, and by an upright inner wall 23 merging into an outwardly and downwardly curving snap wall 24.

It will be apparent by reference to FIGURE 4 of the drawings that the provision of the

parallel walls

21 and 22 on the closure cap locking rib 20 facilitates mounting of the closure cap when positioned in the manner illus trated in FIGURE 4. By positioning the closure cap on an incline as illustrated in FIGURE 4, the container neck and the rib 20 of the closure cap may initially be brought together by relative movement in the direction of the arrows A and B, and this initial presentation may be followed by a pressing down of the remainder of the closure cap to cause the well rounded snap wall 24 to en gage over the well rounded upper part of the neck bead generally designated 10. When the closure cap is finally seated on the container neck the lock rib snaps under the locking shoulder 15 to form a secure lock as indicated at 26 in FIGURE 2.

It is to be understood that the container neck 7 is so dimensioned that the upper bead wall 12 is deformed as at 27 during engagement of the cap body 16 with the flange 8 and final snapping 'of the cap to the fully closed position illustrated in FIGURE 2, thereby to cause the flange 8 to provide a tight seal at 28 with the overlying cap body. Also, the closure cap skirt is so dimensioned that the terminal corners provided by meeting of the

surfaces

22 and 24 will bite into the container breast portion 6 and form a seal against said breast portion in the manner clearly illustrated at 29 in FIGURE 2. It will also be noted that a seal is formed between the outer wall of the head 10 and the inner wall 19 of the closure cap,

4- as indicated at 30 in FIGURE 2. Thus triple sealing is provided at 28, 29 and 30 with a single lock at 26.

The form of the closure illustrated in FIGURES 1 through 4 lends itself to application of the closure caps by machines of the well known chute and belt presser type, which machines form no part of the present in vention.

In the form of the invention illustrated in FIGURES 5 and 6, the previously described part arrangement and cap mounting procedure may be followed, but in this illustration the closure cap is provided at the inner face of its central body portion with concentric grooves 31 wherein sealing compound may be applied to additionally assure efiicient sealing of the closure. Naturally this modified arrangement will present the triple seal single lock arrangement previously described.

In the form of the invention illustrated in FIGURES 7 through 9 there is shown a closure wherein two seals and a single lock are provided, and this form of closure also includes a rotary sifter cap arrangement. Here the clo sure cap 32 is the same as previously described except for two changes. In one change the well rounded portion 33 of the snap rib is continued outwardly in a flare 34 to a sharp edge 35 which is spaced very slightly from the breast portion 36 of the container body 37 to give the appearance of a one piece structure and leave the cap free for rotation on the container neck. The deformable bead 38 is formed as before to provide the snap lock at 39 with the skirt shoulder 40. The upper horizontal flange 41 of the neck 42 is made wider at 43 to accommodate therein a circle of sifter apertures 44 for cooperation with a complementary circle of apertures 45 in the cap closure body 46.

In this form of the invention, the cap may be applied by a downward pressure as indicated by the arrows in FIGURE 9 on a conventional bumping machine, the smooth well rounded shoulder 33 of the cap skirt snapping over the well rounded upper shoulder on the neck head, as indicated. In the process of this mounting, the upper wall of the bead 38 is deformed at 47 as previously described, thereby to put the upper portion of the neck in compression and securely hold the

flange

41, 43 in sealing contact with the overlying surface of the closure body 46. In this mounting a sealing contact is provided at 48 between the inner wall of this cap skirt and the outer wall of the neck rib, and sealing contact is provided at 49 between the neck flange and the cap body 46. It is to be understood, however, that these sealing

contacts

48 and 49 while being wholly effective for the intended purpose, and lock secured at 39, will not interfere with proper turning of the closure cap to bring the flange and

closure apertures

44 and 45 into or out of registry as may be desired.

In the form of the invention shown in FIGURES 10 and 11, there is provided a triple seal arrangement, and provision also is made for two locks. In this form of the invention, like the one illustrated in FIGURES 7 to 9, the closure assembly can be effected on conventional bumping pressure applying machines.

In this form of the invention the body 50 has a neck 51 similar to that shown in the form of FIGURE 2 including the sealing flange 52 and the deformable rib 53 with its locking shoulder 54. The cap 55 includes the same form of skirt 56 and locking rib 57 as in the FIG- URE 2 form, thereby to bring about the rib deformation at 58, the skirt against rib seal at 59, the cover body against flange seal at 60 and the indenting and sealing at 61'against the body breast portion 62. Additionally, however, the cap is provided with a depending snap under annulus 63 having an outward protrusion 64 to snap through and engage in locking action under the inwardly directed edge of the cap flange 52, as clearly shown in FIGURE 11.

In the form of the invention shown in FIGURES l2 and 13 there is provided a triple seal arrangement, and

provision is made for a double locking action. In this form, application of the cap can be eflected in conventional downward pressure appling bumping machine structures. The body includes the breast portion 66 from which the neck 67 extends upwardly, said neck being provided with the open bead 68 presenting the inwardly opening groove 69. As in the other forms, the bead groove 69 is defined between the upper and lower generally

horizontal walls

70 and 71 which are joined by the outwardly directed bight or connecting portion 72 including the downwardly projected corner or locking shoulder 73.

The closure cap includes the central body portion 75 and the depending skirt 76, the cap body also including a downwardly extending annular rib 77 presenting an upwardly and outwardly inclined wall 78 terminating upwardly in a locking shoulder portion 79. The cap skirt 76 has an upright wall portion 80 from which an inwardly directed snap under locking rib annulus 81 projects. The locking nb 81 is defined by an upper inwardly and downwardly sloping wall 82 merging through well rounded downward and outward curve 83 into a flare 84 terminating in a sharp sealing edge 85 disposed for light sealing engagement with the breast portion 66 as shown at 86 in FIGURE 13. It will be apparent that in this form of the invention there is provided a cap skirt and body seal at 86, a skirt and rib seal at 87, a cap body and neck seal at 88, the cap rib and neck lock at 79 and the cap skirt and bead lock at 89.

In the form of the invention illustrated in FIGURES l4 and 15 there is provided a quadruple seal arrangement and provision also is made for a double locking action. In this form also, the cap application can be effected by downward pressure application in a conventional bumping machine. The body 90 includes the breast portion 91 from which rises the neck 92, said neck including the open bead 93 presenting the inwardly open groove 94. As in the case of the previously described forms, the groove 94 is defined by the upper and lower generally

horizontal walls

95 and 96 of the bead which are joined by the outwardly directed bight or connecting portion 97 including the downwardly projecting corner or lock shoulder 98. In this form also, the upper neck extremity 99 is devoid of the inturned flange, and it will be noted that the neck portion above the groove 94 is offset outwardly with relation to the neck portion below the groove. The closure cap includes the central body portion 101 and the depending skirt 102. The cap body also includes a downwardly extending annular wall 103 provided at its lower end with an outwardly extending locking shoulder 104. The cap skirt has an upright wall portion 105 from which a snap under locking rib 106 projects. The rib 106 is defined by an upper inward and downward sloping wall 107 merging through a well rounded downward and outward curve 108 into a flare 109 terminating in a sharp sealing edge 110. It will be apparent by reference to FIGURE 15 that the cap skirt edge 110 is disposed for light sealing contact against the body breast portion 91 as indicated at 111 in FIGURE 15.

During the application of the closure cap on the body the cap may be initially placed as in FIGURE 14 with the cap wall 103 and its locking shoulder telescoped within the outwardly offset upper portion of the neck. Application of pressure against the closure cap in a downward direction, as indicated by the arrow, will cause the well rounded lower extremity of the wall 103 to defleet the neck portion 92 outwardly to ultimately place the locking shoulder 104 under the breast portion as indicated in FIGURE 15, and in the downward movement of the cap and its skirt the well rounded portion 108 of the locking rib 106 will engage the well rounded upper portion of the bead 93 and deflect the bead inwardly so that the rib 106 will snap into locking engagement under 6 the rib as shown in FIGURE 15, placing and locking the upper portion of the neck and bead in compression.

It will be apparent by reference to FIGURE 15 that in this form of closure, there is a body seal provided at 111, a cap skirt and rib seal at 112, a cap body and neck seal at 113, a cap rib wall and neck seal at 114, together with the cap skirt and rib lock at 115 and the breast portion and cap rib wall lock at 116. This provides the quadruple seal arrangement and the double locking action previously referred to.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that in the several forms of the invention disclosed herein, multiple seals are provided in combination with single or multiple locks. The provision of the circumferential groove in the interior of the container neck and the bead providing the groove presents a novel feature common to all of the forms. When the closure cap is applied the bead and its groove are caused to slightly collapse due to the pressure of the undersurface of the cap on the upper sealing surface of the neck. This sets up elastic recovery forces in the container neck which urge the container mouth sealing surface into very etfective sealing engagement with the undersurface of the cap. This is very important because it is very difiicult to provide containers with upper sealing surfaces which are free of slight waviness or undulations. The beads and their grooves with the resiliency they provide together with deformation of the parts as described and the memory pressure application compensates for any unevenness of the opposing and resilient pressed sealing surfaces and assures provision of a very efiicient seal.

Many types of thermoplastic material can be employed in the formation of the closure caps and container neck portions, and there is considerable latitude as to thickness and hardness of the plastic of the covers and containers, depending upon the size and intended purposes. It is only necessary to assure provision for the part deflections and deformations described herein incidental to the application of the various closures and the effecting of the desired sealing and locking contacts. Such plastic materials as polyethylene and polypropylene are admin ably suited for both closure caps and containers, but it is to be understood that other plastic materials having similar physical properties may be used in meeting the demands referred to herein. Vinyl plastic is another acceptable example. The plastic material of the container must be sufliciently deformable and resilient to compensate for waviness in the container neck rims. The closure caps may be of a more rigid plastic, or they may be formed of the same plastic as the containers.

While preferred and alternative forms of closures have been disclosed herein, it is to be understood that additional variations may be made in form and part arrangement without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a closure for a container, the combination of a plastic body neck portion including a circumferential hollow bead presenting an inwardly opening groove, and a cover applicable over said neck portion and having provision for securing engagement under said bead, said cover and neck portion having axially opposing circumferential sealing surfaces cooperably engageable when the cover is secured on the neck portion and said bead being axially deformable as the cover is so secured and in a manner for setting up elastic recovery forces in the neck effective to hold said sealing surfaces in tight sealing contact.

2. In a container, a plastic body neck having formed therein a deformable hollow bead presenting an inwardly opening annular groove and being of U-shape radial cross section to provide upper and lower spaced and generally parallel and horizontal legs joined by an outwardly directed bight, each leg of the U merging into an upright neck portion the uppermost one of which is presented for sealing contact against a cover portion.

3. In a container, a plastic body neck having formed therein a deformable hollow bead presenting an inwardly opening annular groove and being of U-shape radical cross section to provide upper and lower spaced and generally parallel and horizontal legs joined by an outwardly directed bight, each leg of the U merging into an upright neck portion the uppermost one of which is presented for sealing contact against a cover portion, said bight being shaped to present an outwardly and downwardly curving upper snap over portion and an outwardly and downwardly projected corner providing a locking shoulder.

4. In a container, a plastic body neck having formed therein a deformable hollow bead presenting an inwardly opening annular groove and being of U-shape radial cross section to provide upper and lower spaced and generally parallel and horizontal legs joined by an outwardly directed bight, each leg of the U merging into an upright neck portion the uppermost one of which includes a flat annular flange projection presented for sealing contact against a cover portion.

5. In a container, a plastic body neck having formed therein a deformable hollow bead presenting an inwardly opening annular groove and being of U-shaped radial cross section to provide upper and lower spaced and generally parallel and horizontal legs joined by an outwardly directed bight, each leg of the U merging into an upright neck portion the uppermost one of which includes a flat annular flange projection presented for sealing contact against a cover portion and equipped with sifter apertures adapted for cooperation with like openings in a cover when one is applied thereover.

6. In a container, a plastic body neck having formed therein a deformable hollow bead presenting an inwardly opening annular groove and being of U-shape radial cross section to provide upper and lower spaced and generally parallel and horizontal legs joined by an outwardly directed bight, each leg of the U merging into an upright neck portion the uppermost one of which is presented for sealing contact against a cover portion, said uppermost upright neck portion being oflset outwardly with relation to the neck portion below the groove.

7. Container closure structure as defined in claim 1 wherein the cooperably engageable sealing surfaces on said cover and neck comprise a flat annular flange on the neck and an opposing annularly grooved sealing compound receiving area on the cover.

8. Container closure structure as defined in claim 1 wherein the neck bead is of U-shape radial cross section to provide upper and lower spaced and generally parallel and horizontal legs joined by an outwardly directed bight, each leg of the U merging into an upright neck portion the uppermost one of which is presented for sealing contact against the cover.

9. Container closure structure as defined in claim 1 wherein the neck bead is of U-shaped radial cross section to provide upper and lower spaced and generally parallel and horizontal legs joined by an outwardly directed bight, said bight being shaped to present an outwardly and downwardly curving upper snap over portion and an outwardly and downwardly projected corner providing a locking shoulder, each leg of the U merging into an upright neck portion the uppermost one of which is presented for sealing contact against the cover, said cover having a skirt disposed to surround the bead and having an inwardly projecting snap under rib defined in part by a downwardly and outwardly curving snap portion disposed for engagement with the snap over portion of the bead bight and by a downwardly and inwardly sloping wall disposed to snap under and lock against the outwardly and downwardly projected corner of the bead with the upper leg of the bead deformed toward the lower leg.

10. Container closure structure as defined in claim 1 wherein the neck bead is of U-shaped radial cross section to provide upper and lower spaced and generally parallel and horizontal legs joined by an outwardly directed bight, said bight being shaped to present an outwardly and downwardly curving upper snap over portion and an outwardly and downwardly projected corner providing a locking shoulder, each leg of the U merging into an upright neck portion the uppermost one of which together with an annular flat flange projecting inwardly therefrom is presented for sealing contact against the cover, said cover having a skirt disposed to surround the bead and having an inwardly projecting snap under rib defined in part by a downwardly and outwardly curving snap portion disposed for engagement with the snap over portion of the bead bight and by a downwardly and inwardly sloping wall disposed to snap under and lock against the outwardly and downwardly projected corner of the bead with the upper leg of the bead deformed toward the lower leg, the annular flat flange and the cover area overlying and sealingly engaging the same being equipped with sifter apertures and the cover being turnable on the neck to present the flange and cover apertures selectively in or out of registry to permit or prevent dispensing of fill from the container.

11. Container structure as defined in claim 1 wherein the neck portion rises from a breast portion, and wherein the cover engages in sealing contact against said breast portion.

12. Container structure as defined in claim 9 wherein the neck portion rises from a breast portion, and wherein the cover skirt includes a portion disposed to be indented in and seal against said breast portion.

13. Container structure as defined in claim 9 wherein the neck portion rises from a breast portion, the downwardly and outwardly curving snap portion on the cover skirt merging into an outward and downward flare terminating in a sharp edge disposed to contact the breast portion.

14. In a closure for a container, the combination of a plastic body neck portion including a hollow bead presenting an inwardly opening groove, and a cover applicable over said neck portion and having provision for securing engagement under said bead, said cover and neck portion having sealing surfaces cooperably engageable when the cover is secured on the neck portion and said bead being deformable as the cover is so secured and in a manner for setting up elastic recovery forces in the neck effective to hold said sealing surfaces in tight sealing contact, said neck bead being of U-shape radial cross section to provide upper and lower spaced and generally parallel and horizontal legs joined by an outwardly directed bight, said bight being shaped to present an outwardly and downwardly curving upper snap over portion and an outwardly and downwardly projected corner providing a locking shoulder, each leg of the U merging into an upright neck portion the uppermost one of which is presented for sealing contact against the cover, said cover having a skirt disposed to surround the bead and having an inwardly projecting snap under rib defined in part by a downwardly and outwardly curving snap portion disposed for engagement with the snap over portion of the bead bight and by a downwardly and inwardly sloping wall disposed to snap under and lock against the outwardly and downwardly projected corner of the head with the upper leg of the bead deformed toward the lower leg, said cover skirt also presenting an outer surface in part defining the snap under rib and extending upwardly and outwardly at an angle for substantially paralleling the sloping lock wall whereby in the application of covers on containers the containers can be placed with their beads horizontal and each cover as it is being applied can be tilted to place the paralleling lock wall and outer surface of the cover in horizontal position considering a radial section of the cover, thereby to facilitate entry of the radial section portion of the cover rib into the space between the neck bead and breast portion of the container when relative movement in a horizontal direction is imparted one toward the other of said cover and container.

15. In a closure for a container, the combination of a plastic body neck portion including a hollow bead presenting an inwardly opening groove, and a cover applicable over said neck portion and having provision for securing engagement under said bead, said cover and neck portion having sealing surfaces cooperably engageable when the cover is secured on the neck portion and said bead being deformable as the cover is so secured and in a manner for setting up elastic recovery forces in the neck effective to hold said sealing surfaces in tight sealing contact, said neck bead being of U-shape radial cross section to provide upper and lower spaced and generally parallel and horizontal legs joined by an outwardly directed bight, said bight being shaped to present an outwardly and downwardly curving upper snap over portion and an outwardly and downwardly projected corner providing a locking shoulder, each leg of the U merging into an upright neck portion the uppermost one of which is presented for sealing contact against the cover, said cover having a skirt disposed to surround the bead and having an inwardly projecting snap under rib defined in part by a downwardly and outwardly curving snap portion disposed for engagement with the snap over portion of the bead bight and by a downwardly and inwardly sloping wall disposed to snap under and lock against the outwardly and downwardly projected corner of the bead with the upper leg of the bead deformed toward the lower leg, said cover also having an annular rib engageable as a lock within the upper neck portion.

16. In a closure for a container, the combination of a plastic body neck portion including a hollow bead presenting an inwardly opening groove, and a cover applicable over said neck portion and having provision for securing engagement under said bead, said cover and neck portion having sealing surfaces cooperably engageable when the cover is secured on the neck portion and said bead being deformable as the cover is so secured and in a manner for setting up elastic recovery forces in the neck effective to hold said sealing surfaces in tight sealing contact, said neck bead being of U-shape radial cross section to provide upper and lower spaced and generally parallel and horizontal legs joined by an outwardly directed bight, said bight being shaped to present an outwardly and downwardly curving upper snap over portion and an outwardly and downwardly projected corner providing a locking shoulder, each leg of the U merging into an upright neck portion the uppermost one of which is presented for sealing contact against the cover, said cover having a skirt disposed to surround the bead and having an inwardly projecting snap under rib defined in part by a downwardly and outwardly curving snap portion disposed for engagement with the snap over portion of the bead bight and by a downwardly and inwardly sloping wall disposed to snap under and lock against the outwardly and downwardly projected corner of the head with the upper leg of the bead deformed toward the lower leg, said cooperable cover and neck sealing surfaces including an annular fiat flange extending inwardly from the neck, and said cover also having thereon a locking rib engageable within and under said neck flange.

17. Container structure as defined in claim 9 wherein the neck portion rises from a breast portion and wherein provision for triple sealing action is made in addition to the seal holding rib lock under the neck bead, one said seal being the upper neck portion and cover engagement, a second being a seal contact between an inner wall of the cover skirt against the exterior of the neck bead, and a third being a seal contact between the cover skirt and said breast.

18. Container structure as defined in claim 17 wherein the first mentioned seal includes an inward flange projection on the upper neck portion in seal contact with the cover, there also being a second seal lock provided by a locking rib depending from the cover within and engaging under said inward flange projection.

19. Container structure as defined in claim 17 wherein the first mentioned seal includes an inward flange projection on the upper neck portion in seal contact with the cover, there also being a second seal lock provided by a locking rib depending from the cover within and engaging under said inward flange projection, said last named locking rib also being disposed to engage as a fourth seal contact within an inwardly projected wall on said inward flange projection.

20. In a closure for a container, the combination of a plastic body neck portion including a hollow bead presenting an inwardly opening groove, and a cover applicable over said neck portion and having provision for securing engagement under said head, said cover and neck portion having sealing surfaces cooperably engageable when the cover is secured on the neck portion and said bead being deformable as the cover is so secured and in a manner for setting up elastic recovery forces in the neck effective to hold said sealing surfaces in tight sealing contact, said cover including a skirt having a generally cylindrical upright wall and a generally cylindrical upright wall on a depending annular rib and spaced inwardly from the first mentioned upright wall, said upright Walls engaging internally and externally within the neck portion and about its bead respectively to in part provide said sealing surfaces.

21. In a closure for a container, the combination of a plastic body neck portion including a hollow bead presenting an inwardly opening groove, and a cover applicable over said neck portion and having provision for securing engagement under said bead, said cover and neck portion having sealing surfaces cooperably engageable when the cover is secured on the neck portion and said bead being deformable as the cover is so secured and in a manner for setting up elastic recovery forces in the neck effective to hold said sealing surfaces in tight sealing contact, said cover including a skirt having a generally cylindrical upright wall and a generally cylindrical upright wall on a depending annular rib and spaced inwardly from the first mentioned upright wall, the neck portion rising from a breast portion and presenting a locking shoulder at its juncture with the neck portion, said upright walls engaging internally and externally within the neck portion and about its bead respectively to in part provide said sealing surfaces, and said depending annular rib having an outwardly projecting locking shoulder engageable as a seal lock under the locking shoulder provided at the juncture of the neck portion and breast.

22. Container structure as defined in claim 21 wherein the neck bead is of U-shape radial cross section to provide upper and lower spaced and generally horizontal legs joined by an outwardly directed bight, each leg of the U merging into an upright neck portion the upper most one of which is presented for sealing contact against the cover.

23. Container structure as defined in claim 21 wherein the neck bead is of U-shape radial cross section to provide upper and lower spaced and generally horizontal legs joined by an outwardly directed bight, each leg of the U merging into an upright neck portion the uppermost one of which is presented for sealing contact against the cover, the uppermost one of the upright neck portions being offset outwardly with relation to the neck portion below the bead so that the upright wall of the depending annular rib engages in sealing contact only within the neck portion which is below the head.

24. Container structure as defined in claim 21 wherein the neck bead is of U-shape radial cross section to provide upper and lower spaced and generally horizontal legs joined by an outwardly directed bight, each leg of the U merging into an upright neck portion the uppermost one of which is presented for sealing contact against the cover, the uppermost one of the upright neck portions being offset outwardly with relation to the neck portion below the bead so that the upright wall of the depending annular rib engages in sealing contact only within the neck portion which is below the bead, and the cover skirt also including a portion engaging in sealing contact against the breast portion.

25. Container structure as defined in claim 21 wherein the neck bead is of U-shape radial cross section to provide upper and lower spaced and generally horizontal legs joined by an outwardly directed bight, each leg of the U merging into an upright neck portion the uppermost one of which is presented for sealing contact against the cover, the uppermost one of the upright neck portions being olfset outwardly with relation to the neck portion below the bead so that the upright wall of the depending annular rib engages in sealing contact only within the neck portion which is below the bead, and the cover skirt also includ- 12 portion, said depending annular rib also including a well rounded snap over end portion at its lower extremity and disposed to engage in snap over contact with a like well rounded portion at the juncture of the upper extremity of the lower neck portion with the neck bead.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,042,273 7/62 Bauer et al. 150.5

FOREIGN PATENTS 1,239,644 7/60 France.

THERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner.

ing a portion engaging in sealing contact against the breast 15 GEORGE O. RALSTON, Examiner.

Claims

1. IN A CLOSURE FOR A CONTAINER, THE COMBINATION OF A PLASTIC BODY NECK PORTION INCLUDING A CIRCUMFERENTIAL HOLLOW BEAD PRESENTING AN INWARDLY OPENING GROOVE, AND A COVER APPLICABLE OVER SAID NECK PORTION AND HAVING PROVISION FOR SECURING ENGAGEMENT UNDER SAID BEARD, SAID COVER AND NECK PORTION HAVING AXIALLY OPPOSING CIRCUMFERENTIAL SEALING SURFACES COOPERABLY ENGAGEABLE WHEN THE COVER IS SECURED ON THE NECK PORTION AND SAID BEAD BEING AXIALLY DEFORMABLE AS THE COVER IS SO SECURED AND IN A MANNER FOR SETTING UP ELASTIC RECOVERY FORCES IN THE NECK EFFECTIVE TO HOLD SAID SEALING SURFACES IN TIGHT SEALING CONTACT.