Material-saving container cap and associated container neck

Abstract

A material savings container cap comprising a circular flat top having a perimeter, an annular segmented container cap wall, each separated segment of container wall descending from a different portion of the perimeter of the top, the container cap wall having an internal screw thread for interlocking with a container wall of the container neck wherein an angle of threading to the container cap wall is between approximately thirty degrees and approximately forty-five degrees. The container neck wall has an external screw thread having an angle to the container neck wall of approximately thirty degrees. The internal screw thread always points towards an inner surface of the top of the cap and towards an axis of rotation of the cap. In the container neck wall the external screw thread always points away from an opening of the container and away from an axis of rotation of the container neck.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD [0001] This invention relates to container caps and their associated container necks, and more particularly such container caps and associated container necks wherein the container caps achieve a significant material saving. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] In the manufacturing process, the cost of raw materials is a basic and significant cost. Processes or methods that can eliminate portions of the cost of raw materials are valuable and much sought after. In the manufacturing of containers having screw-on container caps, the material constituting the actual container cap is a raw material that is usually thought of as a fixed cost that cannot be reduced other than by a change in material. [0003] In the manufacturing process, the manufacturer is expected to meet certain achievement specifications. For example, in the case of a container cap that screws on to a container neck, the manufacturer is expected to achieve a certain degree of tightening force with a certai...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

"The present invention is a material savings container cap and associated container neck that are economical and efficient. The cap has a unique interlocking screw thread design that allows for a ratchet type locking effect between the cap and the container neck. The cap has segments and does not have a complete cylinder of material that contains the internal threading. The cap results in a saving of between 5% and 40% material savings compared to caps that are not of the material saving design. The container cap and container neck combination creates a space between the segments of material on the container wall and has a unique threading design."

Problems solved by technology

In the manufacturing process, the cost of raw materials is a basic and significant cost.

Normally, it would be assumed that interrupting the wall of the container cap by having segments separated by spaces would undermine the force generated by the threading on the container cap and would make the threading slip apart of a mating relationship with the threading on the neck.

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