Bottle with retained ring finish feature

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a bottle neck finish and a tamper resistant bottle cap that satisfy the need to retain the ratchet ring in place after the bottle cap has been removed from the bottle. Specifically, the present inventions incorporate features onto one or both of a bottle neck and a threaded cap having a frangibly connected ratchet ring. In one embodiment of the present invention, the claimed features create frictional engagement between the ratchet ring and the bottle neck. The frictional resistance effectively prevents the ratchet ring from falling off the bottle neck when the user pours the contents of the bottle. In another embodiment, the claimed features create an interference between the ratchet ring and the bottle neck. The interference prevents the ratchet ring from falling off the bottle neck.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] This invention relates to containers with closure devices, and in particular, relates to the neck finish of a blow molded bottle adapted for use with a cap having a ratchet ring. The neck is formed with at least one projection for retaining the ratchet ring when the cap is removed. In the alternative, this invention relates to a ratchet ring for a screw cap adapted to engage with the neck of a blow molded bottle to prevent the ratchet ring from falling off of the bottle when the contents are poured. [0002] Blow molded bottles have been used in conjunction with injection molded caps for many years. Generally, two types of bottle caps are available for blow molded bottles, push-on caps and thread-on caps. Push-on caps are installed by aligning the cap with the opening of a bottle and simply applying an axial force to the top of the cap. Thread-on caps generally require that the cap and bottle be aligned and that a rotative force be applied to the cap...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0007] The present invention is directed to a bottle neck finish and a tamper resistant bottle cap that satisfy the need to retain the ratchet ring in place after the bottle cap has been removed from the bottle. Specifically, the present inventions incorporate features onto one or both of a bottle neck and a threaded cap having a frangibly connected ratchet ring. In one embodiment of the present invention, the claimed features create frictional engagement between the ratchet ring and the bottle neck. The frictional resistance effectively prevents the ratchet ring from falling off the bottle neck when the user pours the contents of the bottle. In another embodiment, the claimed features create an interference between the ratchet ring and the bottle neck. The interference prevents the ratchet ring from falling off the bottle neck.

[0010] To engage the ratchet ring by friction, the projection contacts an inner surface of the ratchet ring when the bottle cap is fully threaded onto the bottle neck. The contact point between the projection and the ratchet ring can occur at any inner surface of the ratchet ring, including the peaks of the ratchet teeth or the valleys between adjacent ratchet teeth. This contact biases the ratchet ring outward to induce tension in the ratchet ring, providing a tight fit between the ratchet ring and the bottle neck. The tight fit creates frictional engagement between the ratchet ring and the bottle neck, preventing the ratchet ring from falling off of the bottle when the contents are poured. To engage the ratchet ring by interference, the projection contacts an upwardly facing surface of the ratchet ring when the ratchet ring moves axially on the bottle neck, effectively preventing the ratchet ring from falling off of the bottle neck.

Problems solved by technology

Spilled liquids such as milk can dry between the ratchet ring and the bottle neck to form unsightly crust which could fall into the user's glass upon the next use.

Thus, if the ratchet ring were easily removed on a single use bottles, users would be more likely to improperly dispose of the ratchet ring.

Images