WO2002044037A2 - Thread formation for closure structures - Google Patents
Thread formation for closure structures Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- WO2002044037A2 WO2002044037A2 PCT/US2001/051174 US0151174W WO0244037A2 WO 2002044037 A2 WO2002044037 A2 WO 2002044037A2 US 0151174 W US0151174 W US 0151174W WO 0244037 A2 WO0244037 A2 WO 0244037A2
- Authority
- WO
- WIPO (PCT)
- Prior art keywords
- thread
- closure
- closure component
- thread formation
- pad
- Prior art date
Links
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D41/00—Caps, e.g. crown caps or crown seals, i.e. members having parts arranged for engagement with the external periphery of a neck or wall defining a pouring opening or discharge aperture; Protective cap-like covers for closure members, e.g. decorative covers of metal foil or paper
- B65D41/02—Caps or cap-like covers without lines of weakness, tearing strips, tags, or like opening or removal devices
- B65D41/04—Threaded or like caps or cap-like covers secured by rotation
- B65D41/0471—Threaded or like caps or cap-like covers secured by rotation with means for positioning the cap on the container, or for limiting the movement of the cap, or for preventing accidental loosening of the cap
Definitions
- the invention relates to thread formations for closure structures, such as thread formations for use between two components of a multi-piece closure, or between a container neck and a closure. Particularly, the invention relates to thread formations adapted to effect a tight seal between the closure components or between the closure and the container neck.
- a common type of container has a threaded neck that is adapted to be engaged by a threaded closure.
- the threaded closure is provided with a closure body having threads for engagement with the container neck threads.
- the body includes a dispensing feature, such as an end wall that defines a dispensing orifice.
- a lid can be provided to close the orifice when placed in a closed position with respect to the body.
- closures are installed onto container necks by automated capping machinery.
- containers utilizing threaded closures wherein the container or the closure or both are fabricated from a resilient plastic material, under some circumstances it may be difficult to maintain the closure sealed to the container neck. Closures can become loosened or slightly axially displaced on the container neck.
- Prior known closure retention arrangements include the arrangement disclosed in U.S. Patent 3,682,345, wherein a container thread includes a projection on each thread turn for frictionally engaging the closure thread to the container neck thread, to hold the closure to the container neck in a sealed condition.
- the present inventors have recognized that it would be beneficial to provide a closure and container arrangement wherein the torque required to screw on the closure can be minimized to the greatest extent, while still maintaining a tightly sealed closure to the container neck.
- the present inventors have recognized that it would be beneficial to provide a closure and container arrangement which resists chucking or inadvertent, undesired axial movement of the closure with respect to the container neck due to excessive clearance between the closure and container neck threads or by a partial unscrewing of the closure from the container neck.
- closure structures having first and second closure components which are threaded together, wherein a preselected threaded engagement between the components causes a sealing element of the first component to seal against a sealing surface of the second component.
- the first component could be a closure body and the second component could be a closure dispensing cap, threaded on the closure body.
- the closure body could be sealed to a container and have a dispensing channel therethrough and an upstanding valve element.
- the closure cap could have a dispensing orifice that is closed by the valve element in a sealed position when the closure cap is relatively rotated (threaded) on the closure body.
- This preselected relative rotational position can be defined, for example, by one or more rotational stops, arranged on one or both components.
- the components must also be at the preselected threaded engagement to ensure sufficient sealing at the preselected relative rotational position.
- the implementation of this relationship has been problematical.
- the present inventors have recognized that an adequate sealing between the two closure components is dependent on such things as thread tolerance and thread axial clearances, and that it would be desirable to provide a threading arrangement that more reliably ensured an effective sealing at a preselected relative rotational position between the closure components.
- the present invention provides a threading arrangement for a closure structure that is arranged between two closure components, which, once completely engaged, effects an effective axial sealing force between the two components, and resists subsequent loosening of the components caused by external forces, internal pressure of the contained product, or material relaxation and/or cold flow of the resilient plastic of one or both components.
- the two closure "components" can be two coacting parts of a multi-piece closure assembly, the assembly being mounted onto a container; or the two components can be a container neck and a closure component.
- a pad or pads are provided on one turn of one of the component threads to be overrun by a thread turn of the respective other component as the preselected relative rotational position is reached.
- the pad or pads are overrun by the thread of the respective other of the components to draw the closure components together by a distance equal to the height of the pad or pads to effect an adequate axial sealing force between the components. If a resilient sealing element is arranged between the components, it is compressed by the axial sealing force to seal one component to the other component.
- Another aspect of the present invention provides coacting thread formations for engaging a closure body to a threaded neck of a container.
- the thread formations of the present invention includes a first helical thread formed on an outside of the container neck, and a coacting second helical thread formed on the inside of the closure body.
- the first and second helical threads can either be continuous or intermittent.
- the first helical thread includes one or more pads arranged on a single turn of the helical thread.
- the second helical thread is arranged to relatively loosely engage the external first helical thread of the container neck until the second helical thread reaches the first pad.
- the pad or pads formed on the first helical thread of the container neck have a downwardly extending thickness which is selected to take up a substantial amount of axial play or clearance between turns of the helical threads of the thread formations.
- the invention thus reduces the vertical clearance or play between the closure thread and the container thread while also minimizing the torque required to apply the closure body to the bottle neck.
- the pad or pads draw the closure body downwardly on the container neck to seal thereto.
- the pad or pads can be of a preselected height to cause compression, by a preselected amount, of a resilient seal element held within the closure body by contact with the container neck.
- the pad or pads are substantially rectangular with angled end faces.
- the pads are formed to be unitary with the first helical thread of the container neck and extend below the lowest turn of the first helical thread.
- the invention can be implemented inexpensively by an adjustment to bottle tooling. No added material is required to form extrusion-blow- molded bottles with the pad or pads on threads thereof, and minimal added material is required to form injection-blow-molded bottles with the pad or pads on threads thereof.
- the aforementioned embodiment includes the pad or pads located on the container neck, it is also encompassed by the invention to provide the pad or pads on the closure body instead. In such an embodiment, the pad or pads would be located extending upwardly from a top turn of the closure body thread such that the closure body could be nearly completely threaded on the container neck with minimum torque until the container thread reached the pad or pads.
- FIGURE 1 is an exploded, elevational, fragmentary view of a container neck and closure body of the present invention
- FIGURE 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary, sectional view of the container neck and closure body of the present invention in a relative position wherein the closure body is only partially screwed onto the container neck
- FIGURE 3 is a sectional view similar to FIGURE 2, but FIGURE 3 shows the container neck and closure body of the present invention in a relative position wherein the closure body is fully screwed onto the container neck.
- FIGURE 1 illustrates a closure structure 20 comprising two closure components, a container neck 24 and a closure body 30.
- the container neck 24 can be composed of a suitable material such as glass or plastic.
- the closure body 30 is advantageously composed of plastic.
- the container neck 24 includes a helical thread formation 34 having a plurality of thread turns including a lower turn 36 and an upper turn 38, the turns being discernible by observing the thread formation in profile.
- the helical thread formation 34 can be continuous or intermittent.
- the thread formation 34 includes one or more pads 44 (one shown) extending downwardly from the turn 36. If plural pads are used, the pads can be spaced around a circumference of the thread formation.
- Each pad 44 includes an angled or inclined leading face 44a, an inclined bottom surface 44b, and an angled trailing face 44c.
- the closure body 30 includes a deck 46 and a depending skirt 48.
- the deck 46 includes a dispensing nozzle 50.
- the skirt 48 includes an internal helical thread formation 58 which is rotationally engageable with the thread formation 34 of the container neck 24.
- the thread formation 58 includes a plurality of thread turns including an upper turn 60, an intermediate turn 62, and a bottom turn 63, the thread turns being discernible by observing the closure body in section.
- a "crab's claw" seal 64 or another known compressible seal, is provided on an inside surface of the deck 46. The seal 64 is resiliently compressed by a top sealing surface 70 of the container neck 24 when the closure body 30 is screwed onto the container neck 24, forming a seal.
- FIGURE 2 illustrates the thread formations 34, 58 before a final few degrees of tightening.
- the seal 64 is not yet fully deflected or compressed by the surface 70.
- the bottom thread turn 63 of the closure body 30 has not yet encountered the pad 44 (located out of the plane of FIGURE 2 and therefore not visible in FIGURE 2).
- a vertical clearance or play a exists between the intermediate thread turn 62 of the closure body and the lower and upper thread turns 36, 38 of the container neck 24.
- a vertical clearance a also exists between the upper thread turn 38 of the container neck 24 and the upper and intermediate thread turns 60, 62 of the closure body 30.
- FIGURE 3 shows the closure body 30 fully tightened onto the container neck 24 so that the seal 64 is resiliently pressed to the top surface 70 of the container neck 24.
- lower thread turn 63 is drawn downwardly under the pad 44.
- the pad 44 has an axial length or height b.
- the axial play a (FIGURE 2) between the thread formations 34, 58 is also reduced by the amount b. The reduction is significant and prevents chucking of the closure body 24 from the container neck 30.
- the dimension b is about 0.020 inch.
- the engagement between the pad 44 and the closure skirt thread preferably does not occur until near the end of the screwing-on process.
- the increased torque required to engage the pad and move the closure to the final screwed- on position is not required during most of the screwing-on process.
- the location of the pad 44 may also be employed to allow outgassing or venting of a pressurized container. As the closure is initially unscrewed, the closure thread will quickly disengage from the pad, and the resulting loose fit along the threads will serve as a flow passage for venting pressurized gas (e.g., carbon dioxide from a shaken-up carbonated beverage bottle).
- pressurized gas e.g., carbon dioxide from a shaken-up carbonated beverage bottle.
- the pad 44 is illustrated having a generally rectangular shape, however other shaped are possible including semi-cylindrical, triangular, tapered, etc. Also, the number of thread turns on the container neck and within the closure body can be more or less than as shown, without departing from the invention.
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Closures For Containers (AREA)
- Materials For Medical Uses (AREA)
- Nitrogen And Oxygen Or Sulfur-Condensed Heterocyclic Ring Systems (AREA)
Abstract
Description
Claims
Priority Applications (7)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
PL01361746A PL361746A1 (en) | 2000-11-29 | 2001-10-29 | Thread formation for closure structures |
EP01988484A EP1337435A2 (en) | 2000-11-29 | 2001-10-29 | Thread formation for closure structures |
CA002428046A CA2428046A1 (en) | 2000-11-29 | 2001-10-29 | Thread formation for closure structures |
JP2002545990A JP2004514610A (en) | 2000-11-29 | 2001-10-29 | Screw structure for lid structure |
BR0115622-5A BR0115622A (en) | 2000-11-29 | 2001-10-29 | Threading for locking structures |
AU2002241787A AU2002241787A1 (en) | 2000-11-29 | 2001-10-29 | Thread formation for closure structures |
MXPA03003780A MXPA03003780A (en) | 2000-11-29 | 2001-10-29 | Thread formation for closure structures. |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US09/725,741 US20020063104A1 (en) | 2000-11-29 | 2000-11-29 | Thread formation for closure structures |
US09/725,741 | 2000-11-29 |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
WO2002044037A2 true WO2002044037A2 (en) | 2002-06-06 |
WO2002044037A3 WO2002044037A3 (en) | 2002-08-22 |
Family
ID=24915780
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/US2001/051174 WO2002044037A2 (en) | 2000-11-29 | 2001-10-29 | Thread formation for closure structures |
Country Status (13)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US20020063104A1 (en) |
EP (1) | EP1337435A2 (en) |
JP (1) | JP2004514610A (en) |
CN (1) | CN1478038A (en) |
AR (1) | AR031892A1 (en) |
AU (1) | AU2002241787A1 (en) |
BR (1) | BR0115622A (en) |
CA (1) | CA2428046A1 (en) |
CZ (1) | CZ20031497A3 (en) |
MX (1) | MXPA03003780A (en) |
PL (1) | PL361746A1 (en) |
RU (1) | RU2003119141A (en) |
WO (1) | WO2002044037A2 (en) |
Families Citing this family (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
DE102006045805A1 (en) * | 2006-09-26 | 2008-03-27 | Friedrich Sanner Gmbh & Co. Kg | Container for receiving and delivering a particular flowable medium |
DE202011100181U1 (en) * | 2011-05-03 | 2012-08-06 | Geka Gmbh | Applikatorschnellverschluss |
JP6188262B1 (en) * | 2016-09-30 | 2017-08-30 | 大王製紙株式会社 | Wet seat storage container |
CN112896780A (en) * | 2021-01-08 | 2021-06-04 | 安徽华容药品包装有限公司 | Anti-convolution threaded glass dropper bottle |
Citations (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3435978A (en) * | 1967-01-23 | 1969-04-01 | John C Wittwer | Bottle cap with interlocking threads |
US3952899A (en) * | 1974-06-13 | 1976-04-27 | Cwc Industries | Safety closure cap |
US4084716A (en) * | 1974-11-29 | 1978-04-18 | Clayton Bogert | Safety closure for containers |
US4139112A (en) * | 1977-10-31 | 1979-02-13 | Cooke Carl W | Safety closure cap |
US4823967A (en) * | 1987-06-10 | 1989-04-25 | Tri-Tech Systems International Inc. | Closure for container and method for forming the closure |
US5145080A (en) * | 1991-04-26 | 1992-09-08 | Seaquist Closures | Positive orientation system for a threaded closure and container |
-
2000
- 2000-11-29 US US09/725,741 patent/US20020063104A1/en not_active Abandoned
-
2001
- 2001-10-29 MX MXPA03003780A patent/MXPA03003780A/en unknown
- 2001-10-29 RU RU2003119141/12A patent/RU2003119141A/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 2001-10-29 AU AU2002241787A patent/AU2002241787A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2001-10-29 WO PCT/US2001/051174 patent/WO2002044037A2/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 2001-10-29 CA CA002428046A patent/CA2428046A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2001-10-29 CN CNA018197981A patent/CN1478038A/en active Pending
- 2001-10-29 CZ CZ20031497A patent/CZ20031497A3/en unknown
- 2001-10-29 PL PL01361746A patent/PL361746A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 2001-10-29 EP EP01988484A patent/EP1337435A2/en not_active Withdrawn
- 2001-10-29 JP JP2002545990A patent/JP2004514610A/en active Pending
- 2001-10-29 BR BR0115622-5A patent/BR0115622A/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 2001-11-27 AR ARP010105525A patent/AR031892A1/en unknown
Patent Citations (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3435978A (en) * | 1967-01-23 | 1969-04-01 | John C Wittwer | Bottle cap with interlocking threads |
US3952899A (en) * | 1974-06-13 | 1976-04-27 | Cwc Industries | Safety closure cap |
US4084716A (en) * | 1974-11-29 | 1978-04-18 | Clayton Bogert | Safety closure for containers |
US4139112A (en) * | 1977-10-31 | 1979-02-13 | Cooke Carl W | Safety closure cap |
US4823967A (en) * | 1987-06-10 | 1989-04-25 | Tri-Tech Systems International Inc. | Closure for container and method for forming the closure |
US5145080A (en) * | 1991-04-26 | 1992-09-08 | Seaquist Closures | Positive orientation system for a threaded closure and container |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
WO2002044037A3 (en) | 2002-08-22 |
PL361746A1 (en) | 2004-10-04 |
CN1478038A (en) | 2004-02-25 |
EP1337435A2 (en) | 2003-08-27 |
BR0115622A (en) | 2003-08-26 |
MXPA03003780A (en) | 2003-07-28 |
CZ20031497A3 (en) | 2004-06-16 |
AU2002241787A1 (en) | 2002-06-11 |
AR031892A1 (en) | 2003-10-08 |
US20020063104A1 (en) | 2002-05-30 |
CA2428046A1 (en) | 2002-06-06 |
JP2004514610A (en) | 2004-05-20 |
RU2003119141A (en) | 2004-12-20 |
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