US3659736A

US3659736A - Convenience opening bottle closure

Info

Publication number: US3659736A
Application number: US91292A
Authority: US
Inventors: Darlus Orley Riggs
Original assignee: Owens Illinois Inc
Current assignee: OI Glass Inc
Priority date: 1970-11-20
Filing date: 1970-11-20
Publication date: 1972-05-02
Anticipated expiration: 1989-05-02

Abstract

The invention disclosed is a convenience opening closure for a glass bottle having an outwardly flared neck and bead at the finish of the bottle. This is often called a ''''cruet'''' finish. A plastic inner closure snaps over the finish and has an outwardly and downwardly tapering circular skirt. A metal cap fits over the plastic closure and the skirt of the cap has a lesser taper to force the plastic skirt to seal the finish of the bottle. The inner skirt wall of the outer cap has threads or projections which cooperate with the skirt of the plastic closure. The plastic skirt may have pre-formed threads engaging the threads of the metal cap. In another form, the plastic skirt has a plain outer surface and the interference fit of the threaded metal cap skirt compresses the plastic skirt sealing the inner cap on the bottle and pressing threads in the plastic. Cap removal is by unscrewing the outer cap from the plastic cap and unsnapping the plastic cap from the bottle finish.

Description

O Umted States Patent [151 3,659,736 Riggs 51 May 2, 1972 s41 CONVENIENCE OPENING BOTTLE 350,209 12/1960 Switzerland ..215/4o CLOSURE 419.876 3/1967 Switzerland ..2l5/40 [72] Inventor: Darius Orley Riggs, Ottawa Lake, Mich. Primary Examlner M Henson wood [73] Assignee: Owens-Illinois, Inc. Assistant Examiner-Thomas C. Culp, Jr.

Attorney-J. R. Nelson and E. .l. Holler [22] Filed: Nov. 20, 1970 21 Appl. No.: 91,292 [571 ABSTRACT The invention disclosed is a convenience opening closure for a [52] U.S. Cl ..215/40 glass bottle having an outwardly flared neck and bead at the [51] m "365, 23/00 finish of the bottle. This is often called a "cruet finish. A 58 Field of Search ..215/41,4o P inner closure Snaps the finish and has wardly and downwardly tapering circular skirt. A metal cap 56] References Cited fits over the plastic closure and the skirt of the cap has a lesser taper to force the plastic skirt to seal the finish of the bottle. UNITED STATES PATENTS The inner skin wall of the outer cap has threads or projections which cooperate with the skin of the plastic closure. The 2 22,3; 3x33? 2222:" ..21s/4o plastic skin may have preformed threads engaging the 28l7453 l2/l957 l threads of the metal cap. In another form, the plastic skin has 320480l 9H9 Switz a plain outer surface and the interference fit of the threaded 3439'825 4/1969 Glensiy metal cap skin compresses the plastic skin sealing the inner 3 460 701 8/1969 Powalow ski etal .215/41 x cap and messing threads in Plasfic Cap removal is by unscrewing the outer cap from the plastic cap FOREIGN PATENTS QR APPLICATIONS and unsnapping the plastic cap from the bottle finish.

442,164 1 1/1948 Italy ..2l5/40 11 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures Patented May 2, 1972 2 Sheets-Sheet l FIG.

INVENTOR. Dmcms Ow @ms 8% CONVENIENCE OPENING some CLOSURE CONVENIENCE OPENING BOTTLE CLOSURE The present invention relates to a two-piece closure for bottles in sealing pressurized product such as beer and carbonated beverages.

The invention is best suited for a beaded finish, an example of which is shown on the appended drawings as a so-called Cruet Bottle Finish.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Containers for pressure generating products are desirably sealed by a convenience opening closure, i.e., one which the user may readily remove by hand without the aid of special tools or opening devices. One of the more desirable types of convenience opening closure is the twist-ofi type wherein the user merely unscrews the cap and removes it from the bottle finish.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention has as one of its objects the provision of a twist-off closure for a bottle finish that has no threads formed on the bottle finish, yet is suitable to seal and package a pressurized product like beer or a carbonated beverage.

The invention has as another object the provision of a nested two-piece cap that may be pre-assembled for delivery of the two pieces as a unit to the bottle at the capper, thereby avoiding handling the two pieces of the closure in sequence and separately.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a closure for a cruet type finish usable for packaging product including pressurized and non-pressurized product, such as salad dressing, for example, and which may further provide a pourout fitment on the container after the outer cap is removed.

In summary, the objects above-stated, as well as other objects and advantages are attained by a two-piece closure. The inner plastic closure is formed to snap over the bead of a finish and includes a circular skirt portion with a sealing bead on the inner wall surface and an outwardly downwardly tapering circular wall of considerable slope. The plastic cap may be initially nestingly pre-assembled loosely in a metal cap having a slightly downwardly and outwardly tapering circular skirt. The lower edge of the skirt is rolled to provide a circular flange for retaining the inner plastic cap in preassembled relationship.

The one form of the invention comprises a metal outer cap having thread-like projections about the inner wall of the major height of the skirt and the outer wall of the plastic snap cap skirt is of a deformible, resilient plastic. In closing the container, the closure assembly is placed over the bottle finish and a capping head forces the assembly onto the finish so that the plastic cap snaps over the head of the finish. Further movement of the capping head forces the outer metal cap along the inner plastic cap skirt. Since the inner cap skirt is outwardly tapered to a greater degree than the taper of the metal cap, these annular surfaces combine in their relative telescopic movement to seal the inner cap on a surface of the bottle finish and form threads by compression forces in the plastic cap skirt that will cooperate with the threads of the metal outer cap for twist-off removal of the closure. This is the axial press embodiment of the closure adapted for reciprocated capping units.

Another form of the invention is the twist-on embodiment of the closure adapted for rotary capping units. In this form the outer wall surface of the plastic cap skirt has threads molded thereon. These will match the threads on the inner wall of the metal cap skirt. The capper lowers the closure onto the bottle finish until the plastic cap snaps over the glass bead and next the capper rotates the outer cap. The threads turn the outer cap onto the plastic inner cap and due to the difference in taper, the outer cap compresses the skirt of the plastic cap so as to seal the inner bead thereof on the glass below the finish bead. thereby sealing the container.

The closure of either embodiment is removed by unscrewing the outer cap relative to the inner plastic cap, thereby releasing the inner snap cap for convenient hand removal.

The closure is reusable for again sealing the container manually by replacing the plastic snap cap and screwing the outer metal cap onto it.

Lugs may be provided on the glass finish or neck of the bottle to engage either a projection or a notch of the plastic cap and hold this cap against rotation on the bottle while screwing or unscrewing the outer metal cap thereon.

The selection of materials in the composition of the plastic cap together with coatings on the cooperating surfaces of the metal cap will provide a means of regulating friction coefiicients and torque removal of the closure. Thread design is a further factor in regulating torque removal.

An optional embodiment of the invention is the provision of a downwardly projecting tab from the edge of the plastic skirt to assist removal of the closure from the bottle finish.

The inner plastic snap cap may be either a full snap cap having a top panel enclosing the mouth of the bottle, or, alternatively, the plastic cap may be a ring cap having an opening opposite a portion or all of the mouth area of the bottle. The ring snap-on cap may be designed to provide a pour-out fitment or dispensing fitment, in which case it need not be removed from the bottle in use.

Other and further objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational fragmentary view, partly in section, showing one embodiment of the closure of the invention as assembly on a glass bottle finish is initiated;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view, like FIG. 1, showing the closure in capped relationship on the bottle finish;

FIG. 3 is an exploded elevational view, partly in section, showing a second embodiment of the closure of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the second embodiment, partly in section, illustrating the stages of assembling the closure on a bottle finish.

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4, showing the second embodiment of the closure in assembly on the bottle finish.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary side elevational view, partly in section, of a third embodiment of the closure of the invention illustrating a pour-out liner fitment and metal outer cap.

Referring to the drawings, FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate the first embodiment of the invention. A glass container 10 having a cruet-type finish comprised of a neck 11 that is upwardly and outwardly flared to a top rim or bead l2 defining the mouth opening of bottle 10.

The closure comprises an inner snap cap 13 molded of plastic material, such as polyethylene. Cap 13 has a top panel portion 14 that is flared upwardly and outwardly to a comer radius 15 and a downwardly and outwardly tapering skirt wall 16. The

sections

14, 15 and 16 define an annular groove 17 that circumscribes top surface of bead 12. The bead 12 and neck wall 11 adjacent the bead comprise the bottle finish that loosely fits in the annular grooved portion 17 of cap 13. An enlarged flange 18 is formed at the annular free end of skirt 16 of cap 13. This flange 18 has an inwardly extending bead 19 curved into the inner skirt wall to provide an annular sealing surface of cap 13 on the outer downward taper of the wall 12 of bottle 10. Flange 18 of cap 13 includes an outwardly projecting annular boss or bead 20 designed to cooperate with the stepped section 21 of skirt 22 of a metal outer cap 23, as will be presently described.

Outer cap 23 is made of relatively rigid metal, such as tinplate, and is stamped or otherwise formed to include a depressed top panel 24 that is flared upwardly and outwardly to the packing groove 25 thereof defined annularly adjacent the comer radius 26. The outer perimeter of cap 23 is formed by skirt 22 merged into radius 26 and extending downwardly at a slight outward taper to the step section 21. Beyond step section 21 in the skirt wall is a straight downwardly depending wall 27 ending with the inwardly curled wire 28. Step 21. wall 27 and wire 28 form a pocket or means for retaining cap 13 by its flange 18 in telescopic loose assembly with outer cap 23.

The tapered wall of skirt 22 is provided with helical threads projections 29. The inner cap 13 is thus carried in the outer cap 23 so that the skirt wall 16 exterior is out of contact with threads 29. The closure assembly is fed to a reciprocating capping head device (not shown) and carried onto the bottle finish rim 12 the relative position of the parts on FIG. 1. The capping head thereafter is forced in a short downward stroke to move the cap assembly to the closure position of HG. 2 whereat the groove 17 of cap 13 is compressed over the top rim of the bottle and the skirt flange 18 of cap 13 is compressed such that bead 19 of the skirt seals along the sloped side surface of the bottle finish below the head 12.

In the FIG. 2 position, outer cap 23 has applied to it by the capping head a downward force, represented by arrow D, and a radial force, represented by arrow R. The downstroke of the capper thus forces cap 13 into sealing engagement with the bottle finish at both top sealing and side sealing surfaces, but, moreover, the threads 29 on skirt 22 bite into and compress the plastic of skirt wall 16 of cap 13. The plastic, in this case polyethylene, receives a set to imprint helical thread impressions in skirt 16 matching threads 29 of the metal cap.

For removal of the closure from bottle 10, outer cap 23 is twisted to unscrew threads 29 from the threads impressed on the outer wall of skirt 16 of inner cap 13. By unscrewing cap 23 it is lifted to approximately the position of FIG. ll whereat the closure is lifted from the bottle finish. Should the outer cap separate from cap 13, the latter is unsnapped from bead 12 of the bottle finish by lifting one section of the annular flange 18 of cap 13.

The closure just described is designed to seal liquids, and, especially will seal liquid under pressure, such as beer and beverage packages. The closure does have utility for sealing dry products, such as drugs or powders. This closure provides a good hermetic seal for dry products not attained heretofore by a standard plastic snap cap; yet, the closure is a convenience opening type.

The second embodiment of the invention is shown on FIGS. 3-5. The bottle is a similar cruet finish container. The snap type inner cap 13 includes a top panel 14' joining the skirt 16 at comer radius The skirt 16' includes a downwardly depending tab 30 and peripherally spaced radially inwardly extending lugs 3]. Lugs 31 cooperate with one or more outwardly projecting lugs 32 on the neck of bottle 10.

Outer cap 23' has a downwardly and outwardly tapering skirt 22 and helical threads 29 formed therealong. The skirt 16 of cap 13' has pre-molded threads 33 that correspond with and mesh on threads 29' of cap 23'. The caps 23' and 13 are held in assembly by engagement of the threads 29', 33. The capping head device, in the present closure embodiment, may be a rotary capper which lowers the assembly to snap cap 13' onto bead 12 of the bottle finish and thereat rotate the outer cap 23 in threading it onto the skirt of cap 13. The lugs 31 will engage lugs 32 of the glass bottle, held stationary, to cause relative rotation between outer cap 23 and cap 13'. in the fully assembled position of FIG. 5, the loose fitting taper of the skirt wall 16' of snap cap 13' is compressed to the sealing engagement of FIGS. 4 and 5. This is accomplished by turning the outer metal cap threads 29 onto the threads 33 of the plastic cap 13'. Sealing head 19 is moved inwardly into engagement with the undercut surface of the finish bead 12. A top and side seal is made on the bead finish 12.

The third embodiment of the invention is illustrated by FIG. 6 in which a ring snap cap 40 of plastic material, such as polyethylene, is used. Cap 40 has an inner contour defining a ring groove 41 to snap firmly over head 12 of the glass finish. Below groove 41 is an annular bead 42 along the inner wall of the cap skirt 43. The outer wall surface of skirt 43 has premolded helical threads 44. At the upper corner of cap 40 is an outwardly flared pouring lip 45. In assembly, cap 40 is snapped on finish bead 12 and outer cap 23' laid over it so that threads 44 and skirt threads 29' of the metal cap are engaged.

Turning the outer cap 23' threads it onto the ring cap 40 to achieve double sealing the container. The first seal is between the annular bead 42 and the undercut of bead 12 of the glass finish. The second seal is made between the inner cap 40 at pouring lip 45 and the underside of the top of outer cap 23'.

Outer cap 23' is removable upon unscrewing it from the ring cap sufficiently to loosen the assembly. The outer cap is then lifted and plastic ring cap 40 stays in place on the finish to function as a pour out fitment. Oily liquids, such as salad dressing, oils or the like, may be poured over the lip end 45 with satisfactory non-drip results.

Having illustrated and described several practical embodiments of the invention, the scope of the invention is set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. The combination comprising a glass container having a glass finish defining a mouth opening for the container and providing an annular sealing surface, a plastic closure overlying the glass finish and including a circular depending skirt disposed along the annular sealing surface, the Wall of said skirt being relatively resilient and deformable, and a metal cap overlying the plastic closure which comprises a top panel over said mouth opening, a downwardly depending annular skirt and an interconnecting radius portion disposed annularly between said skirt and the periphery of said top panel, the skirt having on its inner surface a series of thread-like projections, the metal cap being forced axially over the plastic closure and the skirt of said cap compressing the wall of the skirt of the plastic closure correspondingly to fit tightly with said thread-like projections of said cap skirt, thereby holding the cap and closure on the container finish and sealingly engaging the closure tightly along said sealing surface thereof.

2. The combination of claim 1, wherein the thread-like projections of the metal cap inner wall are helical threads which in tight assembly with said closure skirt impress similar helical threads thereon, the cap being removed from the closure by unscrewing the former from the latter, thereby releasing the closure from sealing engagement with the container finish.

3. The combination of claim 1, wherein the container includes a bead-type finish having a downwardly and inwardly tapering undercut annular sealing surface and the closure comprises a plastic snap cap having a top panel for closing the container mouth and a downwardly depending skirt having an inwardly tapering sealing surface compressible against said sealing surface by said metal cap in a downwardly pressed assembled position.

4. The combination of claim 3, wherein the closure includes a downwardly depending tab at the edge of the skirt for hand removal of the closure from the finish after the cap is removed.

5. The combination of claim 1, wherein the closure includes an annular ring and downwardly depending skirt, said ring and skirt extending over the surface of the container finish and providing an aperture therethrough opposite the mouth of the container.

6. The combination of claim 2, wherein the outer surface of the skirt of said closure has preformed helical threads corresponding to the threads on the inner wall surface of the cap skirt.

7. The combination of claim 2, including an interference lug on the container disposed below the glass finish thereon and a corresponding interference lug on the closure skirt engageable with said finish lug, said lug engaging and coacting upon unscrewing the metal cap to restrain the closure against rotation on said finish.

8. A closure for sealing the mouth opening of a rigid container about a finish on the latter, comprising a cup-shaped inner cap member of pliable plastic material including a top panel portion and downwardly depending annular skirt, the panel and skirt connected by an annular radius portion, and an outer cap member of a relatively rigid material having a top panel, downwardly tapering depending annular skirt wall and annular radius portion interconnecting the top panel and skirt,

thread projections formed on the inner surface of said skirt wall, the outer surface of the inner cap skirt being downwardly and outwardly tapered, the outward taper of said inner skirt being of a greater degree than the taper of the outer cap skirt to provide a normal interference fit in telescopic assembly of 5 the inner and outer cap members to impress the thread projections into the skirt of the inner skirt and press the latter into sealing engagement with said finish of the container, and a retaining ring on the outer cap skirt engaging the inner cap skirt and holding the inner and outer caps together as a closure assembly when the inner cap is in relaxed condition.

9. The closure of claim g, wherein the retaining ring comprises an in-turned lower edge of the outer cap skirt and the skirt of the inner cap includes an outwardly projecting annular bead in the proximity of the lower end of the skirt thereof, said bead being of a greater maximum diameter than the minimum diameter of said in-turned edge of the outer cap skirt in said relaxed telescopic assembly of said inner cap in said outer cap.

10. The closure of claim 9, wherein the thread projections on the inner wall of the outer cap skirt are helical threads and are of a lesser diameter than the outer wall diameter of the inner cap skirt along its tapered portion, said threads compressing the inner cap skirt against the container finish and impressing corresponding thread impressions in the inner cap skirt wall upon telescopic relative movement over the container finish in sealing the mouth opening of the container.

ll 1. The closure of claim 8, wherein the outer cap includes a raised annular ring formation at the outer periphery of the top panel adjacent said radius portion and the inner portion of the top panel is depressed downwardly therefrom, said raised annular ring defining a packing groove for compressing the top panel portion of the inner cap onto a top sealing ring of the container finish.

Claims

8. A closure for sealing the mouth opening of a rigid container about a finish on the latter, comprising a cup-shaped inner cap member of pliable plastic material including a top panel portion and downwardly depending annular skirt, the panel and skirt connected by an annular radius portion, and an outer cap member of a relatively rigid material having a top panel, downwardly tapering depending annular skirt wall and annular radius portion interconnecting the top panel and skirt, thread projections formed on the inner surface of said skirt wall, the outer surface of the inner cap skirt being downwardly and outwardly tapered, the outward taper of said inner skirt being of a greater degree than the taper of the outer cap skirt to provide a normal interference fit in telescopic assembly of the inner and outer cap members to impress the thread projections into the skirt of the inner skirt and press the latter into sealing engagement with said finish of the container, and a retaining ring on the outer cap skirt engaging the inner cap skirt and holding the inner and outer caps together as a closure assembly when the inner cap is in relaxed condition.

9. The closure of claim 8, wherein the retaining ring comprises an in-turned lower edge of the outer cap skirt and the skirt of the inner cap includes an outwardly projecting annular bead in the proximity of the lower end of the skirt thereof, said bead being of a greater maximum diameter than the minimum diameter of said in-turned edge of the outer cap skirt in said relaxed telescopic assembly of said inner cap in said outer cap.

11. The closure of claim 8, wherein the outer cap includes a raised annular ring formation at the outer periphery of the top panel adjacent said radius portion and the inner portion of the top panel is depressed downwardly therefrom, said raised annular ring defining a packing groove for compressing the top panel portion of the inner cap onto a top sealing ring of the container finish.