WO2008131199A1

WO2008131199A1 - Package with closure having rotation-inhibiting projections

Info

Publication number: WO2008131199A1
Application number: PCT/US2008/060787
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ramesh Kamath
Original assignee: Closure Systems International, Inc.
Priority date: 2007-04-19
Filing date: 2008-04-18
Publication date: 2008-10-30
Also published as: MX2009011098A

Abstract

A package for carbonated or otherwise pressurized contents includes a closure and container having cooperating, mating thread formations whereby the closure can be rotatably applied to and removed from the container In order to facilitate release of gas pressure from within the container during closure removal, the closure includes at least one rotation-inhibiting projection engageable with a thread formation of the container during closure removal Notably, the closure defines at least one axially extending vent groove, with the rotation-inhibiting projection being positioned within the closure vent groove to facilitate convenient removal of the closure by consumers

Description

PACKAGE WITH CLOSURE HAVING ROTATION-INHIBITING PROJECTION

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a closure and container package, wherein the closure includes at least one rotation-inhibiting projecnon engageable with the associated container for facilitating release of gas pressure from within the container during closure removal

Background of the Invention

[0002] Plastic closures formed from suitable polymeric material, such as polypropylene, polyethylene, co-polymers, etc , have met with widespread acceptance in the marketplace These types of closures are typically threadably fitted to associated containers, also typically formed from polymeric material, such that relative rotation of the closure facilitates convenient opening, and resealing, of the package If desired, closures of this type can be configured for tamper-evidence, thus providing users with readily visually discernible evidence that the package has been previously opened Closures of this type are disclosed in U S Patents No 4,497,765, No 4,978,017, and No 5,205,426, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference

[0003] Closures of the above type can be configured as so-called composite closures, including sealing portions which can be provided in the form of a separate, relatively compliant sealing liner, with such closures being particularly suited for sealing packages having carbonated or otherwise pressurized contents For such applications, it is desirable that the sealing portion of the closure be moved out of sealing engagement with the associated container, during closure removal, prior to disengagement of the respective thread formations on the closure and the container By such an arrangement, gas pressure from within the container can be vented from within the package prior to release of the closure from the container, thus avoiding inadvertent dislodgement of the closure from the container under the influence of gas pressure

[0004] To facilitate release of gas pressure, both the closure and the container can be provided with one or more axially-extending vent grooves, which typically traverse the respective thread formations, thus facilitating release of gas pressure from within the container during closure removal U S Patent No 6,123,212, hereby incorporated by reference, illustrates a closure and container package including gas-venting grooves in both the closure and container of the package

[0005] As will be appreciated, packages which contain a relatively large volume of pressurized gas can be specifically configured to facilitate release of gas pressure from within the package prior to disengagement of the closure and container threads A relatively large volume of pressurized gas can be present within this type of package such as when the package is partially filled, but the contents still under pressure The above-referenced '212 discloses a specially configured closure to facilitate release of gas pressure, which closure includes one or more rotation-inhibiting projections on the interior surface of a skirt portion of the closure These projections are configured to engage the associated container, threads such as at the vent grooves of the container, to inhibit closure rotation during removal, thus facilitating release of gas pressure from within the package These projections, sometimes referred to as "speed bumps", act to provide a level of torsional drag during opening, thus desirably preventing the closure from free-wheeling off of the container during removal

[0006] While rotation-inhibiting projections such as disclosed in the above-referenced patent have met with widespread acceptance, the torsional effect created by such projections tends to increase the torque necessary to remove the closure Experience has shown that high removal torques can result in dissatisfaction by consumers, particularly in connection with removal of closures from carbonated soft drink packages As such, beverage producers are constantly striving to reduce removal torque averages and variability, thus facilitating convenient consumer use

[0007] The present invention is directed to a closure and container package, wherein the closure is configured to inhibit rotation by the provision of a drag-creating feature, which thus provides desired gas-venting performance, while minimizing or eliminating any increase in average removal torque, or removal torque variability

Summary of the Invention

[0008] The present invention is directed to a closure and container package, wherein the closure includes at least one rotation-inhibiting projection on an inside surface of a skirt portion of the closure, which projection is engageable with the threaded neck portion of the associated container Notably, the rotation-inhibiting projection is positioned within an axially extending vent groove of the closure, which desirably takes advantage of the localized reduction in closure sidewall hoop strength, and thus desirably acts to minimize the removal torque typically associated with previous rotation-inhibiting projection geometries [0009] In accordance with the illustrated embodiment, the present package includes a container having a neck portion defining an open mouth, and having an external, helical thread formation thereon The package further includes a closure having a top wall portion, and a depending skirt portion having an internal, helical thread formation for mating, threaded engagement with the external thread formation on the container [0010] In order to facilitate release of gas pressure from within the package during closure removal, the closure defines at least one axially extending vent groove extending transversely of the internal thread formation The provision of one or more vent grooves, which may extend into the skirt portion of the closure, permits gas to readily flow along the inside surface of the skirt portion during closure removal to facilitate release of gas pressure from within the package during closure removal

[0011] In accordance with the present invention, the closure includes at least one rotation-inhibiting projection on an inside surface of the skirt portion for engaging the external thread formation of the associated container By such engagement, relative rotational movement of the closure during removal from the container is inhibited, thus facilitating venting of gas pressure from within the package Notably, the projection is positioned on the skirt portion at least partially within the vent groove defined by the closure for contact with the external thread formation on the container [0012] The closure of the present package can be provided in various forms, while providing the desired rotation-inhibiting effect The internal thread formation of the closure can be configured to extend more than 360° about the interior of the skirt portion, with the rotation-inhibiting projection being positioned at least partially between adjacent, overlapping portions of the internal thread formation As noted, the vent groove in the closure can be at least partially defined by, and extend into, the skirt portion of the closure, with the rotation- inhibiting projection preferably defining side surfaces positioned in spaced relationship to respective sides of the vent groove

[0013] In the preferred form, the external thread formation of the container also defines at least one axially extending vent groove Preferably, the closure defines a plurality of circumferentially spaced ones of the vent grooves, with the closure further including a plurality of the rotation-inhibiting projections, each positioned within a respective one of the vent grooves This arrangement may include a pair of the projections positioned in diametrically opposed relationship to each other, with a first one of the projections positioned in circumferentially spaced relation to a thread start of the internal thread formation of the closure In an alternate construction, three of the rotation-inhibiting projections can be provided at 120° intervals in respective ones of the vent grooves [0014] Other features and advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent from the following detailed description, the accompany drawings, and the appended claims Brief Description of the Drawings

[0015] FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a closure of the present package, illustrating a rotation-inhibiting projection of the closure, and

[0016] FIGURE 2 is a partial, side elevational view of a container of the present package, illustrating an external thread formation thereof

Detailed Description

[0017] While the present invention is susceptible of embodiment in various forms, there is shown in the drawings and will hereinafter be described presently preferred embodiments with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the invention, and is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments illustrated

[0018] Virtually all plastic closures used for carbonated beverages have axially oriented vent grooves in the internal closure side wall The purpose of these vent grooves is to vent pressure from within the package, while there is still significant thread engagement between the closure and the associated container This venting action desirably acts to prevent the closure from being inadvertently dislodged from the container during opening [0019] Because these axial vent grooves typically cut through the closure threads, and in some cases penetrate slightly into the closure side wall, a localized reduction of closure side wall hoop strength occurs at or near the locations where the vent slots are present As will be further described, the present invention contemplates the location of one or more rotation-inhibiting projections, sometimes referred to as 'speed bumps", in the vent grooves to take advantage of the localized reduction in closure side wall hoop strength By this arrangement, the typical negative effect on removal torque, associated with previous geometries of rotation-inhibiting projections, is desirably minimized

[0020] With reference to FIGURES 1 and 2, the closure and container of the package of the present invention are respectively illustrated As shown in FIGURE 1 , the closure of the package, designated 10, includes a top wall portion 12, and an annular, depending skirt portion 14 having an internal, helical thread formation 16 Closure 10 can be figured for tamper-indication, by the provision of a tamper-evident band 18, which may include inwardly extending projections 20, or be otherwise configured for cooperation with the associated container, whereby the tamper band fractures or otherwise breaks during initial closure removal

[0021] In order to facilitate release of gas pressure from within the package during closure removal, closure 10 includes at least one, and preferably a plurality of axially extending vent grooves 22 which traverse the internal thread formation 16, and which in the illustrated embodiment are partially defined by and extend into the interior surface of skirt portion 14 However, in some embodiments, the vent grooves traverse the thread formation, but do not extend into the skirt portion, i e , are flush with the interior of the skirt portion

[0022] The container of the present package, designated 30, includes a neck portion defining an open mouth, and having an external, helical thread formation 32 thereon The internal thread formation 16 of closure 10 is configured for mating, threaded engagement with the external thread formation 32 of the container, facilitating application and removal of the closure from the container, as desired

[0023] In order to further facilitate release of gas pressure from within the package during closure removal, container 30 may also be provided with, at least one, and preferably a plurality of axially extending vent grooves 34 which, as illustrated, traverse the external thread formation 32 of the container

[0024] In accordance with the present invention, closure 10 includes at least one rotation-inhibiting projection 40 positioned within one or more of the axially extending vent grooves 22 of the closure Projection 40 is configured for interfering engagement with the external helical thread formation 32 of container 30 during closure removal, thus inhibiting closure rotation to facilitate release of gas pressure from within the package, such as by gas flow through axially extending vent grooves 22 and 34 In accordance with the illustrated embodiment, the internal thread formation 16 of closure 10 extends more than 360° about the interior of the skirt portion 14 of the closure, with the rotation-inhibiting projection being positioned at least partially between adjacent, overlapping portions of the internal thread formation If desired, a pair of the rotation-inhibiting projections 40 can be provided in respective ones of the vent grooves 22 in diametrically opposed relationship to each other, with a first one of the projections 40 positioned in circumferentially spaced relationship to a thread start 42 of the internal thread formation of the closure Alternatively, three of the rotation-inhibiting projections 40 can be provided in respective ones of the vent grooves 22, with the projections positioned at 120° intervals around the inside surface of the closure skirt portion In the preferred form, as illustrated, the projection 40 defines side surfaces positioned in spaced relationship to respective sides of the associated vent groove 22 [0025] As will be appreciated, the one or more rotation-inhibiting projections 40 are thus provided in the form of axial ribs located centrally in respective ones of the closure vent grooves 22 In a current embodiment, for a closure having a standardized, nominal 28 mm diameter, the projections have a thickness, in the circumferential direction, on the order of 0 030", with an axial dimension of approximately 0 375", positioned within vent grooves each having a width of approximately 0 093 inches, with a nominal closure side wall thickness of each vent groove of approximately 0 036 inches Each projection protrudes radially inwardly to form the desired interference fit with the associated container thread formation The amount of radial interference with the external thread formation of the container is optimized to provide the required drag for venting of gas from within the package, while the placement of each projection in the relatively flexible vent grooves 22 provides a minimal effect on removal torque performance In a current embodiment, radial interference is on the order of approximately 0 012 inches

[0026] As noted, a presently preferred embodiment is the provision of a pair of projections 40 positioned in diametrically opposed relationship within respective ones of the vent grooves 22, with one of the projections located in a vent groove 22 near, but in spaced relationship to, the closure thread start 42 As noted, an alternate embodiment provides three of the projections 40 spaced at 120° intervals about the interior of the skirt portion of the closure, again with each projection positioned within a respective one of the vent grooves 22, as illustrated As will be appreciated, other combinations of plural projections 40, and plural ones of the vent grooves 22, are also within the purview of the present invention

[0027] One particularly desirable aspect of the present invention is that the provision of one or more of the projections 40 does not negatively impact upon the moldability of the closure 10 This is in contrast to geometries such as disclosed in above-referenced U S Patent No 6,123,212, wherein the projections disclosed in that patent form a direct connection between axially adjacent thread segments, with ejection of the part from a molding machine sometimes resulting in undesired thread distortion [0028] A further advantage provided by the construction of the present invention is that the rotation-inhibiting projections 40 can be placed in the vent grooves 22 in a predetermined, specified relationship to the thread start 42 By this arrangement, the external thread formation 32 of the container engages the internal thread formation 16 of the closure before the container thread formation engages one of the projections 40, thus desirably avoiding misapplication of closures during application by high-speed capping equipment [0029] A further advantage of the present invention is that the rotation-inhibiting projections can be located in the vent grooves at different elevations with relation to the thread start 42 Accordingly, the projections 40 can be placed between adjacent portions of the thread formation 16, above the thread formation, etc , as may be desired In accordance with the preferred embodiment, the projections are placed between adjacent portions of the thread formation, as illustrated, so that the thread formation is engaged with the container thread formation first, thus desirably avoiding cocked or otherwise misapplied closures.

[0030] From the foregoing, it will be observed that numerous modifications and variations can be effected without departing from the true spirit and scope of the novel concept of the present invention. No limitation with respect to the specific embodiments illustrated herein is intended or should be inferred. The disclosure is intended to cover by the appended claims all such modifications that fall within the scope of the claims.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS

1 A package, comprising a container having a neck portion defining an open mouth, and having an external, helical thread formation thereon, and a closure having a top wall portion and a depending skirt portion having an internal helical thread formation for mating, threaded engagement with the external thread formation of said container, said closure defining at lease one axially extending vent groove extending transversely of said internal thread formation to facilitate release of gas pressure from within said package during removal of said closure from said container, said closure including at least one rotation-inhibiting projection on an inside surface of said skirt portion for engaging the external thread formation of said container for inhibiting relative rotational movement of said closure during removal of said closure from said container, said projection being positioned on said skirt portion at least partially within said vent groove for contact with said external thread formation of said container

2 A package in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said closure internal thread formation extends more than about 360 degrees about the interior of said skirt portion, said rotation-inhibiting projection being positioned at least partially between adjacent, overlapping portions of said internal thread formation

3 A package in accordance with claim 1 wherein said vent groove is at least partially defined by and extends into said skirt portion

4 A package in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said vent groove is flush with said skirt portion

5 A package in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said external thread formation defines at least one axially extending vent groove

6 A package in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said closure defines a plurality of circumferentially spaced ones of said vent grooves said closure including a plurality of said rotation-inhibiting projections each positioned within a respective one of said vent grooves

7 A package in accordance with claim 6, wherein a pair of said rotation-inhibiting projections are positioned in diametrically opposed relationship to each other, with a first one of said projections positioned in circumferentially spaced relationship to a thread start of said internal thread formation of said closure 8 A package in accordance with claim 6, wherein three of said rotation-inhibiting projections are positioned at 120 degree intervals in respective ones of said vent grooves

9 A package in accordance with claim 1 wherein said rotation-inhibiting projection defines side surfaces positioned in spaced relationship to respective sides of said vent groove

10 A package, comprising a container have a neck portion defining an open mouth, and having an external, helical thread formation thereon, and a closure having a top wall portion and a depending skirt portion having an internal, helical thread formation for mating, threaded engagement with the external thread formation of said container, said closure internal thread formation extending more than about 360 degrees about the interior of said skirt portion, said closure defining at lease one axially extending vent groove extending transversely of said internal thread formation to facilitate release of gas pressure from within said package during removal of said closure from said container, said vent groove being at least partially defined by and extending into said skirt portion, said closure including at least one rotation-inhibiting projection on an inside surface of said skirt portion for engaging the external thread formation of said container for inhibiting relative rotational movement of said closure during removal of said closure from said container, said rotation-inhibiting projection being positioned at least partially between adjacent, overlapping portions of said internal thread formation, said projection being positioned on said skirt portion at least partially within said vent groove for contact with said external thread formation of said container, said rotation- inhibiting projection defining side surfaces positioned in spaced relationship to respective sides of said vent groove

11 A package in accordance with claim 10, wherein said external thread formation defines at least one axially extending vent groove

12 A package in accordance with claim 10, wherein said closure defines a plurality of circumferentially spaced ones of said vent grooves, said closure including a plurality of said rotation-inhibiting projections each positioned within a respective one of said vent grooves 13 A package in accordance with claim 12, wherein a pair of said rotation-inhibiting projections are positioned in diametrically opposed relationship to each, with a first one said projection positioned in circumferentially spaced relationship to a thread start of said internal thread formation of said closure

14 A package in accordance with claim 12, wherein three of said rotation-inhibiting projections are positioned at 120 degree intervals in respective ones of said vent grooves

15 A package in accordance with claim 10, wherein said rotation-inhibiting projection is configured as an elongated rib

16 A carbonated beverage package, comprising a container having a neck portion defining an open mouth, and having at least one external, helical thread formation thereon, and a closure having a top wall portion and a depending skirt portion having at least one internal, helical thread formation for mating, threaded engagement with a respective one of said external thread formations of said container, said closure including a sealing portion configured to sealingly engage the neck portion of said container when said closure is in a fully applied position on said container, said closure defining at least one axially extending vent groove extending transversely of said internal thread formation to facilitate release of gas pressure from within said package during removal of said closure from said container, said vent groove being at least partially defined by and extending into said skirt portion, said closure including at least one rotation-inhibiting projection on an inside surface of said skirt portion for engaging the external thread formation of said container for inhibiting relative rotational movement of said closure during removal of said closure from said container, said rotation-inhibiting projection being positioned at least partially between adjacent overlapping portions of said internal thread formation, said projection being positioned on said skirt portion at least partially within said vent groove for contact with said external thread formation of said container, said rotation- inhibiting projection defining side surfaces positioned in spaced relationship to respective sides of said vent groove, said closure being initially applied to said container in a fully applied position and thereafter being movable from said fully applied position so that opening torque for any such one of said tamper-evident package is no more than about 17 ιn-lb, said package provides Carbonated Soft Drink Sealing Performance, and said closure provides protection from uncontrolled closure rotation on carbonated soft drink packages up to and including 3 liters in size.