Screw cap for container

Abstract

Screw cap (100) for a bottle arrangement (1), wherein the cap (100) comprises the following: a bottom part (130) including a bottom base (134) with a bottom skirt (144) hanging downwards from an outer circumference (132) therefrom, and a neck (150) projecting upwards from the bottom base (134) and radially inwards from the outer circumference (132), the neck (150) defining an opening (138) leading to an interior of the closure (100), the neck (150) further comprising a neck rim (158); and a lid (110) which is pivotably attached to the base part (130) via a hinge (119), wherein the lid (110) is pivotable between an open and a closed position, wherein the lid (110) has a lid base (114) and a lid skirt (124) which hangs downwards from an outer circumference thereof, wherein the hinge (119) extends upwards from an upper surface of the base (134) over at least one elevation (115) such that the lid (110) is configured to touch or fit the neck edge (158) and extends perpendicular to the neck (150) in the closed position.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 63 / 362,344, filed April 1, 2022, entitled “SCREW CAP FOR CONTAINER AND METHOD OF USE AND MANUFACTURE THEREOF,” the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. AREA

[0002] The presently disclosed technology generally relates to closures or lids for containers. More specifically, in one embodiment, the presently disclosed technology relates to screw closures including a flip-top lid having a first sealing element, a base portion with a second sealing element, and an active polymer component. BACKGROUND

[0003] Commercially available pharmaceutical containers, such as those for tablets and capsules, are typically provided as glass or plastic bottles with removable caps (often with some form of child-resistant closure). For example, over-the-counter painkillers, allergy medications, and dietary supplements and vitamins are often offered in such bottles. Generally, the complexity and thus the cost of such containers increase as their ability to resist moisture penetration increases.

[0004] To ensure that the contents of the bottle have not been tampered with, a flexible seal (typically made of foil, paper, flexible / thin plastic, cardboard, or a combination of one or more of the aforementioned materials) provides a seal around the container opening. When a user wishes to access the contents of the container for the first time, they can permanently pierce or at least partially remove the seal. An intact seal protects the contents of the container from the environment and provides the user with a visual indication that the container has not been tampered with.

[0005] Depending on the nature of the container contents, the environment inside the container may need to be controlled. For example, a desiccant or other active material may be required to control the moisture density within the container. Typically, a desiccant is provided in the form of a desiccant-containing pouch or a cylindrical cartridge that sits loosely within the container body along with the contents of the container. However, placing such a pouch or cartridge loosely within the container is cumbersome and impractical, as the pouch or cartridge may fall out of the container or, at times, block the opening of the container, requiring a user to either remove or reposition the pouch or cartridge to retrieve the contents.Therefore, the pouch or cartridge can be lost, or the user may forget to replace the pouch or cartridge in the container after use, resulting in the loss of the desiccant and thus reducing the shelf life of the container contents. Therefore, there is a need to provide a desiccant that is constantly present within the container, without the inconvenience or loss associated with the pouch or cartridge within the bottle.

[0006] Furthermore, the containers described above are typically filled using an automated process. Tamper-evident seals, such as film seals, are often used to cover the container openings after filling. Various methods and means for securing a seal are known, such as adhesive or heat. The most common method for applying the seal is induction sealing. Induction sealing is a process that uses electrical currents in a material, such as film and / or cardboard, to generate heat. Induction sealing and other sealing methods require specialized equipment and materials in a filling line. These types of seals are accordingly necessary to ensure the shelf life of the container contents.

[0007] Not all filling plants have an induction sealing system, and film sealing is not always desired.

[0008] Furthermore, if foil seals are desired, the bottle's moisture-tightness is compromised once the seal is broken (during initial use), even if the cap is replaced. Conventional bottle caps do not provide moisture-tight seals. SUMMARY

[0009] There is a need to provide improved closures for containers as described above. Therefore, there is a need for a bottle and closure assembly that provides the desired shelf life to the bottle contents without the need for a foil seal. These and other needs are met by the presently disclosed technology.

[0010] In one aspect, the presently disclosed technology is directed to a closure, optionally a screw cap, for a bottle assembly. The closure may include a bottom portion including a bottom base having a bottom skirt depending downwardly from an outer periphery thereof, and a neck projecting upwardly from an inner periphery of the bottom base, the inner periphery forming an opening leading to the interior of the closure. The neck may further include a neck rim extending radially outwardly from a top end of the neck. A lid may be pivotally attached to the bottom portion via a hinge. The lid may include a lid base and a lid skirt depending downwardly from an outer periphery of the lid base.Optionally, the hinge is raised from an upper surface of the bottom base over at least one permanently attached ridge so that the lid is raised to mate with the neck rim and to be perpendicular to the neck in the closed position.

[0011] Optionally, the hinge includes a tab extending from the elevation a distance substantially equal to the distance between the outer perimeter and the inner perimeter of the bottom base such that the lid base completely covers the opening in the closed position.

[0012] Optionally, the elevation may include one or more walls that are at least the same height as the neck.

[0013] Optionally, the one or more walls may include a wall attached to a portion of the outer perimeter of the floor base.

[0014] Optionally, the one or more walls may include a pair of walls extending inwardly from the side edges of the one wall toward the neck by a distance substantially equal to, but less than, the distance between the outer perimeter and the inner perimeter of the bottom base such that the lid skirt, in the closed position, fits between the pair of walls and a neck skirt of the neck.

[0015] Optionally, the elevation includes a duroplast.

[0016] Optionally, the elevation includes a thermoplastic elastomer.

[0017] Optionally, the lid skirt has a flange that extends radially inward and mates with the neck rim in the closed position.

[0018] Optionally, the lid includes a tab at a distal end opposite the hinge.

[0019] Optionally, the lid includes a first sealing element disposed on an inner surface of the lid base, the first sealing element comprising a thermoplastic elastomer sealing element disposed around the entire circumference of the inner surface of the lid base, and the thermoplastic elastomer sealing element comprising an annular portion configured to sealingly engage the neck rim.

[0020] In another aspect, the presently disclosed technology is directed to a bottle assembly. The bottle assembly may include a bottle having a bottle base and a sidewall extending from the bottle base and terminating in a bottle neck having an end portion disposed opposite and distal from the bottle base. The bottle neck may define an opening leading into the interior of the bottle. The bottle neck may have an outer portion having one or more threads. The screw cap may be fixedly disposed over the bottle neck such that the internal threads of the screw cap can threadably engage the bottle neck to removably couple the screw cap to the bottle, thereby forming the bottle assembly.

[0021] Optionally, the hinge includes a tab extending from the elevation a distance substantially equal to the distance between the outer perimeter and the inner perimeter of the bottom base such that the lid base completely covers the opening in the closed position.

[0022] Optionally, the elevation includes one or more walls that are at least the same height as the neck.

[0023] Optionally, the one or more walls include a wall attached to a portion of the outer perimeter of the floor base.

[0024] Optionally, the one or more walls include a pair of walls extending inwardly toward the neck from the side edges of the one wall a distance equal to or substantially equal to, but less than, the distance between the outer perimeter and the inner perimeter of the bottom base such that the lid skirt fits between the pair of walls and a neck skirt of the neck in the closed position.

[0025] Optionally, the elevation includes a duroplast.

[0026] Optionally, the elevation includes a thermoplastic elastomer.

[0027] Optionally, the lid skirt has a flange that extends radially inward and mates with the neck rim in the closed position.

[0028] Optionally, the lid includes a tab at a distal end opposite the hinge.

[0029] Optionally, the lid includes a first sealing element disposed on an inner surface of the lid base. The first sealing element may include a thermoplastic elastomer sealing element disposed around the entire perimeter of the inner surface of the lid base, and the thermoplastic elastomer sealing element may include an annular portion configured to sealingly engage the neck rim.

[0030] In one aspect, the presently disclosed technology is directed to a closure, optionally a screw cap, for a bottle assembly. The closure may include a cap including a planar cap base, an annular cap skirt extending downwardly along an outer periphery of the planar cap base, the annular cap skirt having a radially inwardly extending flange, and a first sealing element disposed on an inner surface of the cap base. The bottom portion of the cap may be pivotally connected to the cap by a hinge.The bottom portion may include: (i) a planar bottom base including an outer annular edge, an inner annular edge forming an opening leading into the interior of the closure, and a second sealing element disposed at a first portion of an inner surface of the bottom base; (ii) an annular bottom skirt extending downwardly from the outer annular edge of the bottom base, the bottom skirt having one or more threads extending radially inwardly from an inner surface of the bottom skirt; and (iii) a neck having an annular neck skirt extending upwardly from the inner annular edge of the bottom base and a neck rim extending radially outwardly from an upper end of the neck skirt, opposite the inner annular edge of the bottom base.In a closed position, the first sealing element may be configured to sealingly engage an upper engagement surface of the neck rim, and the second sealing element is configured to sealingly engage an upper engagement surface of a bottle rim of the bottle. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0031] The following detailed description of the presently disclosed technology will be better understood when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like numerals refer to like elements throughout. For the purpose of illustrating the presently disclosed technology, various illustrative embodiments are shown in the drawings. It should be understood, however, that the presently disclosed technology is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown. In the drawings: Fig. 1 is a view of a screw cap and container assembly according to an optional aspect of the presently disclosed technology; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the Fig. 1, wherein a hinged lid of the screw cap is shown in a first or open position; Fig. 3A is a plan view of the screw cap of Fig. 1; Fig. 3B is a cross-sectional view of the Fig. 2 shown screw cap along the line AA of Fig. 3A and an inside view of the hinged lid of Fig. 3A; Fig. Figure 3C is an enlarged view of part P1 from Fig. 3B; Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3B according to an alternative embodiment of the presently disclosed technology; Fig. 5A is a view of a screw cap with a flip-top lid in a second or closed position according to another embodiment of the presently disclosed technology; Fig. Figure 5B is a cross-sectional view of the screw cap of Fig. 5A along line BB from Fig. 5A; and Fig. Figure 5C is an enlarged view of part P2 from Fig. 5B. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0032] While systems, devices, and methods are described herein by way of examples and embodiments, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the presently disclosed technology is not limited to the described embodiments or drawings. Rather, the presently disclosed technology encompasses all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives that fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Features of any embodiment disclosed herein may be omitted or incorporated into another embodiment.

[0033] Any headings used herein are for organizational purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the description or claims. As used herein, the word "may" is used in a permissive sense (i.e., meaning that it is possible) and not in a coercive sense (i.e., meaning that it is necessary). Unless expressly stated herein, the terms "a," "an," and "the" are not limited to any one element, but should be read to mean "at least one." The terminology includes the above words, derivatives thereof, and words of similar meaning.

[0034] As used herein, "and / or" means that one or both of the items separated by such terminology are involved. For example, the phrase "A and / or B" means A alone, B alone, or both A and B.

[0035] As used herein, the statement that two or more parts or components are "coupled" shall mean that the parts are connected or cooperate with each other, either directly or indirectly, that is, through one or more intermediate parts or components, as long as a linkage occurs.

[0036] As used herein, the term "directly coupled" means that two elements are in direct contact with each other. As used herein, "tightly coupled" or "fixed" means that two components are coupled to move as one while maintaining a constant orientation relative to each other.

[0037] As used herein, "around" in a sentence such as "arranged around [an element, point, or axis]" or "extending around [an element, point, or axis]" or "[X] degrees around [an element, point, or axis]" means enclosing, extending around, or measured around it. When used with respect to a measurement or similarly, "about" means "approximately," that is, within an approximate range relevant to the measurement as would be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art.

[0038] As used herein, "generally" means "in a general manner" that refers to the term being modified as it would be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art.

[0039] As used herein, the word "unitary" means that a component is created as a single (optionally monolithic) piece or unit. That is, a component that includes parts created separately and then coupled together to form a unit is not a "unitary" component or package.

[0040] As used herein, the statement that two or more parts or components "engage" with each other shall mean that the parts exert a force on each other, either directly or through one or more intermediate parts or components.

[0041] As used herein, the term “number” shall mean one or an integer greater than one (i.e., a plurality).

[0042] As used herein, the terms "sealingly engage" or "sealing engagement" shall refer to elements that are in contact with one another in such a way as to form a generally moisture-tight seal therebetween.

[0043] The directional terms used herein, such as, without limitation, top, bottom, left, right, upper, lower, front, rear, and derivatives thereof, refer to the orientation of the elements shown in the drawings and do not constitute a limitation on the claims unless expressly recited therein.

[0044] Generally, the term "moisture-proof" as used herein is defined as a moisture penetration (after three days) of less than 1500 µg of water, in another embodiment less than 500 µg of water, in another embodiment less than 300 µg of water, in yet another embodiment less than 150 µg of water, as determined by the following test procedure: (a) add one gram plus or minus 0.25 gram of molecular sieve to the container and record the weight; (b) completely seal the container; (c) place the sealed container in an environmental chamber at 80% relative humidity and 72°F; (d) after one day, weigh the container with the molecular sieve; (e) after four days, weigh the container with the molecular sieve; and (f) subtract the first day sample from the fourth day sample to calculate the moisture penetration into the container in units of micrograms of water.A preferred rate of moisture penetration into a moisture-tight sealed container manufactured according to an aspect of the disclosed concept is in the range of about 200-300 µg / day of water or less. A "moisture-tight" seal is therefore a sealing intervention that, alone or in combination with other sealing interventions, contributes to making a container "moisture-tight" as defined above.

[0045] As used herein, the term "resealable" means that the lid of the container can be opened or re-opened and closed or re-closed many times (e.g., more than 10 times) while retaining its moisture-proof properties.

[0046] With reference to the various figures, in which like numbers refer to like parts throughout, the Fig. 1-3B a closure and a container with the general designation 1. The assembly 1 may include a bottle 10 and a closure 100 which can be removably attached and secured thereto. While the Fig. 1 is a contemplated or exemplary type of container that may be used in conjunction with the presently disclosed technology, other types of containers are also contemplated. When the term "bottle" is used to describe an exemplary embodiment, the more general term "container" may be used instead. The bottle is optionally made of plastic, glass, or even a metallic material. While the closure 100 in the Fig. 1-3B and is often referred to herein as a screw cap, this is only one contemplated or exemplary type of closure that may be used in connection with the presently disclosed technology, as other types of closures (e.g., snap-on closure or fully separable closure) are also contemplated.

[0047] The bottle 10 may include a body 12 having a base 14 and one or more side walls 16 extending upwardly therefrom and leading to a rim (for example, and without limitation, a bottle rim 18 of the Fig. 3C, Fig. 4 and Fig. 5C) surrounding an upper opening (for example and without limitation the opening 20 as in Fig. 3B and Fig. 5B) of the bottle 10. The illustrated embodiment is cylindrical and therefore has a round, uniform sidewall 16. However, containers according to the disclosed concept may also have other shapes, e.g., a rectangular cuboid, and thus have more than a single continuous (e.g., round) sidewall.

[0048] The bottle 10 may include a neck (for example and without limitation a bottle neck 22 of the Fig. 3B, Fig. 4 and Fig. 5B) including one or more threads (for example and without limitation the threads 26 in Fig. 3B-C, 4, 5B-C) to provide threaded engagement with corresponding or complementary threads (for example and without limitation, threads 146, 246, 346 in the Fig. 3B-C, 4, 5B-C) of the closure 100 when the closure 100 is secured on the bottle 10.

[0049] The body 12 of the bottle 10 may define an interior space (not shown) configured to store contents (not illustrated) therein, such as a variety of medicinal or nutraceutical tablets, capsules, or powders, or solid or liquid products in the food, pharmaceutical, or chemical industries. The interior space of the bottle 10 may be accessible through the top opening 20 or the cap opening (for example, and without limitation, the cap opening 138 of Fig. 3A) be accessible.

[0050] In an optional embodiment, the screw cap 100 may include a hinged lid 110 that can be moved between a first or open position (see Fig. 2, Fig. 3A and Fig. 3B) and a second or closed position (see Fig. 1 and Fig. 3C). In particular, the closure 100 may include a bottom or base portion 130 to which the lid 110 is pivotally mounted via a hinge 119. A neck or lip 150 may extend upwardly from a bottom base 134 and may be spaced radially inwardly from an outer periphery 132 of the base portion 130. An inner periphery of the neck 150 may form an opening 138 leading to an interior of the closure 100. Because the neck 150 is raised from and / or above a top surface of the bottom base 134, at least a top portion of the hinge 119 is also raised from and / or above the top surface of the bottom base 134 via at least one or more spaced apart ridges 115 and / or other features such that the flip lid 110 is raised to properly or conveniently mate with the raised neck 150 and extend perpendicular to the neck 150 in a closed position.

[0051] In an optional embodiment, the ridge(s) 115 is / are fixedly attached to the upper surface portion of the bottom base 134. The bottom portion 130 and the flip-top lid 110 will be discussed in detail later. In an optional embodiment, the hinge 119 may be a movable hinge. In another optional embodiment, the hinge 119 may include a pin or axle about which other portions of the hinge 119 rotate. An axis of the hinge 119 may extend perpendicular to an axis of the bottle 10 when the closure 100 is attached to the bottle 10. Optionally, a neck 150 may extend upwardly from the bottom portion 130. In one embodiment, the neck 150 is cylindrical or circular in plan view and is surrounded by and / or engaged by a portion of the lid 110 when the lid 110 is in the closed position.

[0052] The illustrated embodiment includes the bottle 10 and the base portion 130 of the closure 100, which can be removably attached to one another, for example, and without limitation, by threaded engagement. However, containers according to the disclosed concept may include a unitary assembly in which the bottle 10 and the closure 100 are integrated during manufacture, and the assembly 1 can be opened or closed by actuating a flip-top lid 110 to access the container contents.

[0053] In one embodiment, the closure 100 is optionally made primarily or partially from one or more injection-moldable thermoplastic materials, including, for example, a polyolefin such as polypropylene or polyethylene.

[0054] For certain uses, a child-resistant closure may be desirable but is not required for all applications. Therefore, both child-resistant and non-child-resistant closures are considered. Where a child-resistant feature is provided, the child-resistant feature optionally requires that force be applied to the closure in more than one direction to remove the closure from the container. For example, the user may be required to push down on the closure (first direction) before twisting the closure (second direction) to remove it from the container. Alternative child-resistant features are also considered, if desired.

[0055] During the Fig. 2-3C can be removably attached to the bottle 10, for the sake of simplicity and completeness of the description, the Fig. 2-3C also include the components (e.g., without limitation, a bottle rim 18, an opening 20 leading into the interior of the body of the bottle 10, a bottle neck 22) of the bottle 10 that would be shown if the screw cap 100 were attached to the neck of the bottle 10, e.g., without limitation, via the threaded engagement as described with respect to Fig. 1 was discussed.

[0056] In an optional embodiment, the hinged lid 110 is pivotally attached to the base portion 130 via the hinge 119. The lid 110 includes a lid base 114 and an annular lid skirt 124 depending downwardly from an outer periphery of the lid base 114. Optionally, the hinge 119 is raised from an upper surface of the base 134 via one or more fixedly attached ridges 115, such that the lid 110 is raised to mate with a neck rim 158 and extend perpendicular to the neck 150 in a closed position.

[0057] Optionally, the hinge 119 includes at least one tab 116 extending from the ridge(s) 115 a distance substantially equal to the lateral distance between the outer perimeter 132 and an inner perimeter 131 of the bottom base 134, such that the lid base 114 completely covers the opening 138 when the lid 110 is in the closed position. Optionally, the hinge 119 and / or the ridge(s) 115 may include one or more back walls 117 having at least the same height as the neck 150. Optionally, the one or more back walls 117 may be attached to a portion of the outer perimeter 132 of the bottom base 134.Optionally, one or a pair of side walls 118 extend inwardly from the side edges of the one or more rear walls 117 toward the neck 150 a distance substantially equal to or less than the distance between the outer perimeter 132 and the inner perimeter 131 of the bottom base 134, such that the lid skirt 124 is configured to fit between the one or pair of walls 118 and a neck skirt 164 of the neck 150 when the lid 110 is in the closed position. Optionally, the ridge(s) 115 and one or more other portions of the hinge 119 include or are formed from a thermoset plastic. Optionally, the ridge(s) 115 and one or more other portions of the hinge 119 include or are formed from a thermoplastic or a thermoplastic elastomer.Optionally, the lid skirt 124 includes a flange 126 extending radially inward and configured to contact and / or mate with the neck rim 158 when the lid 110 is in the closed position.

[0058] Optionally, the lid 110 may include a first sealing element 120. Optionally, the lid base 114 may be flat or planar, and the lid skirt 124 may be cylindrical or circular. The annular lid skirt 124 may include an annular flange 126 extending radially inward. The hinged lid 110 may further include a fixed protrusion (also referred to as a thumb tab) 112 at a distal end opposite the hinge 119. The protrusion 112 may extend radially outward from the lid base 114 and / or the lid skirt 124. The thumb tab 112 may be configured to be actuated and / or engaged to place the lid 110 in an open or closed position. Optionally, the first sealing element 120 is disposed on an interior surface of the lid base 114.The first sealing element 120 may include or be a thermoplastic elastomer sealing element disposed around the entire perimeter of the inner surface of the lid base 114. Optionally, the thermoplastic elastomer sealing element 120 includes an annular portion configured to sealingly engage the neck rim 158.

[0059] In an optional embodiment, the floor base 134 may have a floor skirt 144 depending downwardly from the outer periphery 132 thereof (see Fig. 3A), and the neck 150 may protrude upwardly from the inner periphery 131 of the bottom base 134 and / or the bottom portion 130. The inner periphery 131 may form the opening 138 leading into the interior of the closure 100. Optionally, the neck 150 may further include a neck rim 158 extending radially outwardly from an upper end of the neck 150. Optionally, the neck 150 includes the annular neck skirt 164 extending upwardly from the inner periphery 131 of the bottom base 134, and the neck rim 158 may extend radially outwardly from an upper end of the neck skirt 164. Optionally, the bottom base 134 may be flat or planar. The opening 138 may have a size substantially equal to or smaller than the size of the cap base 114. In the embodiments in which the closure 100 is fixedly attached to the bottle 10, the opening 138 passes over a top opening 20 (see Fig. 3B) of the bottle 10 to an interior (not shown) of the bottle 10.

[0060] The bottom skirt 144 may optionally include one or more threads extending radially inward from an inner surface thereof. The one or more threads may be configured to sealingly engage one or more bottle threads disposed on an upper portion of a sidewall 12 of the bottle 10. Optionally, the neck skirt 164 may include a lower neck skirt 165 (see Fig. 3C) extending downwardly beneath the bottom base 134 and into the interior of the closure 100.

[0061] Optionally, the closure 100 may include no sealing elements, only the first sealing element 120, or two or more sealing elements. For example, the closure 100 may include the first sealing element 120 disposed on an interior surface of the lid base 114. In the closed position, the flip lid 110 pivots about the hinge 119 such that the lid 110 covers the opening 138 while the first sealing element 120 sealingly engages at least a portion of the neck rim 158. Optionally, the flange 126 may engage or contact an exterior surface of the neck skirt 164 and secure the lid 110 to the neck 150, e.g., without limitation, by a friction fit, and cause the first sealing element 120 to be urged against an upper engagement surface of the neck rim 158.This can create a moisture-tight seal between the lid 110 and the neck 150 of the closure 100 and thus between the closure 100 and the bottle 10 when the lid is in the closed position.

[0062] Optionally, as described in the Fig. 3C and Fig. 3B, the bottom base 134 of the bottom portion 130 may also include a second sealing element 140 disposed on a first portion of an interior surface (bottom) of the bottom base 134. Optionally, the second sealing element 140 may be in the form of an annular ring or an O-ring and have a generally square or rectangular cross-sectional shape. In the closed position, the engagement between the threads 146 of the bottom skirt 144 and the corresponding threads 26 on the neck 22 of the bottle 10 firmly secures the closure 100 to the bottle 10 and causes the second sealing element 140 to be at least slightly compressed when it presses firmly against an upper engagement surface 19 of the rim 18 of the neck 22. This creates an additional moisture-tight seal between the closure 100 and the bottle 10, further enhancing the moisture-tightness of the environment within the assembly 1.

[0063] Optionally, the bottom base 134 may also include an active component 142, such as, but not limited to, an active polymer component, on a second portion 135 of the underside of the bottom base 134, which is surrounded by, and optionally contacting, an inner annular edge of the second sealing member 140 or at least slightly spaced radially inward from the second sealing member 140. Optionally, the active component 142 may surround the lower neck skirt 165. Optionally, the bottom base 134 may include a web 148 extending downwardly from a third portion of the inner surface of the bottom base 134 and disposed between the second sealing member 140 and the active component 142. The active component 142 and the first and second sealing members 120, 140 are discussed in more detail below.

[0064] The active component 142 can be attached to or molded into the second portion 135 of the underside of the bottom base 134. The active component 142 enables the container assembly 1 to provide enhanced capabilities with respect to protection against moisture ingress, for example, and without limitation, for the pharmaceuticals contained within the bottle 10.

[0065] The active component 142 may include a base polymer infused with one or more active agents, and may therefore be referred to herein as a drug-infused polymer or infused polymer. The drug in the active component 142 may include an absorbent material, a releasing material, and / or an activating material. Optionally, the active component 142 is a three-phase, desiccant-infused polymer.

[0066] The active component 142 can be provided in different shapes, volumes, and / or configurations. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the active component 142 can be in the form of a ring concentric with the annular bottom skirt 144. The active component 142 can surround and optionally contact an outer annular edge of the lower neck skirt 165 of the neck 150. In one embodiment, the active component 142 can extend into and / or be exposed to an interior space of the bottle 10 to dry the environment within the bottle 10. Optionally, the active component 142 surrounds and optionally contacts an inner annular edge of the web 148. Therefore, the lower neck skirt 165, a portion of the underside of the bottom base 134, and the web 148 optionally form a cavity that allows the active component 142 to be molded onto the cavity.

[0067] In one embodiment, the active component 142 is a desiccant-infused polymer, which is a unitary component made from a single piece of material. A desiccant-infused polymer or other active ingredient may include a base polymer (for structure), a desiccant (or other active ingredient), and optionally a channeling agent. These types of active polymer components and methods of making and using them are disclosed, for example, in Applicant's U.S. Patent Nos. 5,911,937, 6,214,255, 6,130,263, 6,080,350, 6,174,952, 6,124,006, and 6,221,446, and U.S. Patent Publication No. 2016 / 0039955. Optionally, the infused polymer may be in the form of a film that is loose or optionally heat-attached to a surface.

[0068] Alternatively, the desiccant may also include loose desiccant beads or a pouch containing them. While the exemplary embodiments herein show the active component 142 located on the second portion 135 of the bottom base 134 and around the lower neck skirt 165 of the neck 150, it is contemplated that one or more active ingredients may be located at other locations and / or positions, such as on a sidewall 16 of the body 12 or the neck 22 of the bottle 10.

[0069] In the embodiment in which each active component 142 contains a desiccant, moisture absorption is desired. However, if moisture absorption is not desired, the active component 142 may include alternative active agents. For example, in another embodiment, the active component 142 contains a material selected from the group consisting of activated carbon, carbon black, Ketjen black, and diamond powder. In another embodiment, an active agent including one or more layers of the active element contains a material such as absorbent microspheres, BaTiO3, SrTiO3, SiO2, Al2O3, ZnO, TiO2, MnO, CuO, Sb2O3, silicon dioxide, calcium oxide, and ion exchange resins. In yet another embodiment, the absorbent-containing layer of the active component 142 contains two or more types of absorbents.The appropriate absorbent is selected to achieve the absorption of the desired vapor or gas for the desired end use (e.g., absorption of moisture, oxygen, carbon dioxide, nitrogen, or other undesirable gases or vapors).

[0070] The active element (whether a desiccant, oxygen scavenger, a releasing material or component, etc., or a combination thereof) is capable of acting upon, interacting with, or reacting with a selected material (e.g., moisture or oxygen). Examples of such actions or interactions may include absorption, adsorption (generally sorption), or release of the selected material. Each active element may, for example, be extruded or molded. Optionally, the active element may be formed into a desired shape or pattern (e.g., on a substrate) using a thermal bonding process by inline hot melt bonding.

[0071] The active component 142 may include an "active ingredient" in a base material. The active ingredient(s) (i) may be immiscible with the base material (e.g., polymer) and do not melt when mixed with the base polymer and a channeling agent and heated, i.e., they have a melting point higher than the melting point of either the base polymer or the channeling agent, and / or (ii) act upon, interact with, or react with a selected material. The term "active ingredient" may include, among other things, materials that absorb, adsorb, or release the selected substance(s). Active ingredients may, according to the presently disclosed technology, be in the form of particles such as minerals (e.g., molecular sieve or silica gel in the case of desiccants), but the presently disclosed technology should not be considered limited to particulate active ingredients.For example, in some embodiments, an oxygen scavenging formulation may be prepared from a resin that acts as an active ingredient or as a component of the active ingredient.

[0072] As used herein, the term “base material” is a component (preferably a polymer) of an infused active material that is different from the active ingredient and provides structure to the infused material.

[0073] As used herein, the term "base polymer" is a polymer that optionally has a gas transmission rate of a selected material that is substantially lower than, lower than, or substantially equivalent to that of the channeling agent. As an example, such a transmission rate would be a water vapor transmission rate in embodiments where the selected material is moisture and the active ingredient is a water-absorbing desiccant. The primary function of the base polymer is to provide the structure for the offset polymer. Suitable base polymers may include thermoplastic polymers, e.g.Polyolefins such as polypropylene and polyethylene, polyisoprene, polybutadiene, polybutene, polysiloxane, polycarbonates, polyamides, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers, ethylene-methacrylate copolymer, poly(vinyl chloride), polystyrene, polyesters, polyanhydrides, polyacrylonitrile, polysulfones, polyacrylic acid esters, acrylic, polyurethane and polyacetal or copolymers or mixtures thereof.

[0074] With reference to such a comparison of the water vapor permeability of the base polymer and the channeling agent, in one embodiment, the channeling agent has at least twice the water vapor permeability of the base polymer. In another embodiment, the channeling agent has at least five times the water vapor permeability of the base polymer. In another embodiment, the channeling agent has at least ten times the water vapor permeability of the base polymer. In yet another embodiment, the channeling agent has at least twenty times the water vapor permeability of the base polymer. In yet another embodiment, the channeling agent has at least fifty times the water vapor permeability of the base polymer.In yet another embodiment, the channeling agent has a water vapor permeability of at least 100 times that of the base polymer.

[0075] As used herein, the term "the channeling agent" or "channeling agents" is defined as a material that is immiscible with the base polymer and has an affinity to transport a substance in the gas phase faster than the base polymer. Optionally, a channeling agent is capable of forming channels through the offset polymer when formed by mixing the channeling agent with the base polymer. Optionally, such channels are capable of transporting a selected material through the offset polymer at a faster rate than through the base polymer alone.

[0076] As used herein, the term “channels” or “interconnected channels” is defined as passageways formed from the channeling agent that penetrate the base polymer and may be interconnected.

[0077] As used herein, the term "staggered polymer" is defined as a monolithic material formed from at least one base polymer with a drug and optionally also a channeling agent staggered or distributed therein. A staggered polymer thus includes two-phase polymers and three-phase polymers. A "mineral-loaded polymer" is a type of staggered polymer in which the drug is in the form of minerals, e.g., mineral particles such as molecular sieves or silica gel. The term "staggered material" is used herein to refer to a monolithic material containing a drug staggered in a base material, where the base material may or may not be polymeric.

[0078] As used herein, the term "monolithic," "monolithic structure," or "monolithic composition" is defined as a composition or material that is not composed of two or more discrete macroscopic layers or parts. Accordingly, a "monolithic composition" does not include a multilayer composite.

[0079] As used herein, the term “phase” is defined as a portion or component of a monolithic structure or composition that is uniformly distributed throughout to give the structure or composition its monolithic properties.

[0080] As used herein, the term "selected material" is defined as a material that is acted upon, interacts, or reacts with an active agent and is capable of being transferred through the channels of a displaced polymer. For example, in embodiments where a desiccant is used as the active agent, the selected material may be moisture or a gas that can be absorbed by the desiccant. In embodiments where a releasing material is used as the active agent, the selected material may be a substance released by the releasing material, e.g., moisture, fragrance, or an antimicrobial agent (e.g., chlorine dioxide).In embodiments where an adsorbent material is used as the active ingredient, the selected material may be certain volatile organic compounds and the adsorbent material may be activated carbon.

[0081] As used herein, the term "three-phase" is defined as a monolithic composition or structure including three or more phases. An example of a three-phase composition according to the presently disclosed technology would be a staggered polymer formed from a base polymer, a drug, and a channeling agent. Optionally, a three-phase composition or structure may include an additional phase, e.g., a dye.

[0082] The added polymers can be biphasic formulations (i.e., comprising a base polymer and an active ingredient, without a channeling agent) or triphasic formulations (i.e., comprising a base polymer, an active ingredient, and a channeling agent). Added polymers are described, for example, in U.S. Patent Nos. 5,911,937, 6,080,350, 6,124,006, 6,130,263, 6,194,079, 6,214,255, 6,486,231, 7,005,459, and U.S. Patent Publication No. 2016 / 0039955.

[0083] A displaced material or polymer includes a base material (e.g., a polymer) to provide structure, optionally a channeling agent, and an active ingredient. The channeling agent forms microscopic, interconnected channels through the displaced polymer. At least a portion of the active ingredient is contained within these channels, such that the channels communicate between the active ingredient and the exterior of the displaced polymer via microscopic channel openings formed on the outer surfaces of the displaced polymer. The active ingredient can be, for example, any of a variety of absorbing, adsorbing, or releasing materials, as described in more detail below. Although a channeling agent is preferred, the presently disclosed technology broadly includes displaced materials that optionally do not include channeling agents, e.g., biphasic polymers.

[0084] In any embodiment, suitable channeling agents may include a polyglycol such as polyethylene glycol (PEG), ethylene-vinyl alcohol (EVOH), polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH), glycerol polyamine, polyurethane, and polycarboxylic acid, including polyacrylic acid or polymethacrylic acid. Alternatively, the channeling agent may be, for example, a water-insoluble polymer, such as a propylene oxide polymer monobutyl ether such as Polyglycol B01 / 240 manufactured by Clariant. In other embodiments, the channeling agent may be a propylene oxide polymer monobutyl ether such as Polyglycol B01 / 20 manufactured by Clariant, a propylene oxide polymer such as Polyglycol D01 / 240 manufactured by Clariant, ethylene-vinyl acetate, nylon 6, nylon 66, or any combination of the foregoing.

[0085] Suitable active ingredients according to the presently disclosed technology include absorbent materials, such as desiccant compounds. If the active ingredient is a desiccant, any suitable desiccant for the particular application may be used. Typically, physical absorption desiccants are preferred for many applications. These may include molecular sieves, silica gels, clays, and starches. Alternatively, the desiccant may be a chemical compound that forms hydrous crystals or compounds that react with water to form new compounds.

[0086] Optionally, in any embodiment, the active ingredient may be an oxygen scavenger, e.g., an oxygen-scavenging resin formulation.

[0087] With further reference to the Fig. 2 and 3A-C, to provide a moisture-tight seal between the closure 100 and the bottle 10, the closure 100 may include the first sealing element 120 and / or the second sealing element 140 to provide a moisture-tight environment inside the container 1. The first and second sealing elements 120, 140 may be made from an elastomer, e.g., a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), or from any other material that provides the desired functionality, such as a material capable of being repeatedly compressed without losing its integrity.

[0088] As used herein, the TPE may optionally have a Shore A hardness of 20 to 50, preferably 20 to 40, more preferably 20 to 35. The TPE may preferably be injection-moldable, soft, and elastic materials suitable for creating a compression seal against a harder (for example, and without limitation, thermoplastic) surface of the closure 100 and / or the bottle 10. In any embodiment, the TPE should be configured for repeated use, i.e., it should not degrade over multiple cycles (e.g., at least 10, preferably at least 25, more preferably at least 50 cycles) of opening and closing. By incorporating TPE to produce elastomeric thermoplastic seals (e.g.,By including, without limitation, a seal between the first sealing element 120 and the upper engagement surface of the neck rim 158 or a seal between the second sealing element 140 and the upper engagement surface 19 of the bottle rim 18), assembly 1 enables the TPE seal 120, 140 to further reduce the moisture vapor transmission rate (MVTR) and thus require less, if any, moisture protection via a desiccation method to achieve a desired shelf life. Furthermore, assembly 1 including both the first and second sealing elements 120, 140 provides an even lower MVTR than a container including only one of these TPE seals 120, 140.

[0089] With reference to the Fig. 2-3C, the first sealing element 120 is optionally a compressible seal attached to or integrated with at least a portion of the underside of the lid base 114. The first sealing element 120 may include an annular portion 121 and a linear portion 122 extending above the annular portion 121. The annular portion 121 may be located on an interior surface or underside of the lid base 114 of the flip-top lid 110. The annular portion 121 engages the rim 158 of the neck 150 of the closure 100 and forms a seal, such as a moisture-tight seal. The linear portion 122 may extend across the lid 110 and below a geometric center of the lid 110. When the lid 110 is attached to the neck 150 of the closure 100 to close the opening 138, the first sealing element 120 engages the neck edge 158.Simultaneously, the flange 126 of the lid skirt 124 engages an outer surface of the neck skirt 164, securing the lid 110 to the neck 150 and / or causing the first sealing element 120 to be pressed against an upper engagement surface of the neck rim 158. This results in a moisture-tight seal between the lid 110 and the neck 150, and thus between the closure 100 and the bottle 10 in the closed position.

[0090] In an optional embodiment, the second sealing element 140 is a compressible seal attached to or integrated with at least a portion of the underside of the bottom base 134. Optionally, the second sealing element 140 may be in the form of a ring surrounding and optionally contacting an outer annular edge of the active polymer component 142. When the closure 100 is secured to the bottle 10 to cover the opening 20 of the bottle 10, the second sealing element 140 contacts the upper engagement surface 19 of the rim 18 of the bottle 10. That is, the engagement between the threads 146 of the closure 100 and the threads 26 on the neck 22 of the bottle 10 firmly secures the closure 100 to the bottle 10 and / or causes the second sealing element 140 to compress when it presses firmly against the upper engagement surface 19 of the bottle rim 18.

[0091] Therefore, the first sealing element 120 or the second sealing element 140 alone can provide a moisture-tight seal between the closure 100 and the bottle 10, providing a lower MVTR than a container without these TPE seals 120, 140. When both the first and second sealing elements 120, 140 are present in the closure 100, these seals provide a moisture-tight seal and thus further reduce the MVTR, thereby extending and achieving the optimal target shelf life of the bottle contents.

[0092] The presently disclosed technology has simplified the manufacturing process compared to the prior art. According to the presently disclosed technology, the closure 100 can be manufactured in a variety of ways. An optional method for forming or manufacturing the closure 100 includes injection molding. In particular, a method for forming or manufacturing the closure 100 includes multiple injection molding. For example, the closure 100 can be manufactured in a two-shot injection molding process if the active component is not included, or in a three-shot injection molding process if the active component is included.

[0093] Optionally, in a three-cast manufacturing process, the first cast in the mold would be the active component 142 (e.g., a desiccant-infused polymer with a channeling agent). The second cast in the mold would be one or both of the compressible seals 120, 140 (e.g., TPE). The third cast would be the remainder of the closure (e.g., using a polyolefin material). The three-cast injection molding process is described, for example, in International Publication No. WO 2021 / 076874, and other relevant techniques are described in U.S. Publication No. 2021 / 0008771, both of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0094] In at least one embodiment, the disclosed concept provides improved sealing compared to prior art containers and eliminates the need for a foil seal or other type of heat-sealed material over the opening for storage. The first and second sealing elements 120, 140 are configured to ensure sufficient and / or improved closure integrity during the shelf life of the contents of the bottle 10, thus eliminating the need for a foil seal or the like.

[0095] Optionally, a tamper-evident mechanism may be provided on the closure 100. For example, an integrated tamper-evident polymer ring, such as is typically found on a water bottle, may be provided. During production, optionally after the process described above has been performed and the closure 100 has been ejected from the mold, a molded tamper-evident ring may be placed directly onto the closure by an automated process (e.g., without limitation, a robot). Alternatively, a shrink seal may be provided over / around the closure 100. In embodiments including a removably attached screw cap 100, the tamper-evident feature may be incorporated at a lower end of the bottom skirt 144, with the lower end facing the outer perimeter 132 of the bottom base 134.In the embodiments that include the screw cap 100 firmly attached to the bottle 10, shrink sealing may be used.

[0096] Fig. Figure 4 shows another embodiment of a screw cap 200 according to the presently disclosed technology. The screw cap 200 is substantially similar to the screw cap 100 of Fig. 2-3C discussed above. Therefore, similar or identical features between the two embodiments in Fig. 4 by a reference number with a magnitude one hundred (100) greater than that indicated in the Fig. 2-3C. Only certain differences between the two embodiments are discussed herein for brevity and convenience, which is not limiting or to suggest that a particular feature or component is not present in this embodiment.

[0097] The screw cap 200 from Fig. 4 differs from the screw cap 100 of the Fig. 2-3C is that the screw cap 200 does not enclose the active ingredient 142 of the screw cap 100. However, the impact of the absence of the active component 142 on the container contents is minimized by the fact that the presence of one or both of the sealing elements 120, 140 reduces the MVTR compared to a container without such TPE seal(s). Therefore, even without the active component 142, the container 1 can provide the desired shelf life with only one or both of the first and second sealing elements 120, 140.

[0098] The Fig. 5A-C show another embodiment of a screw cap 300 of the presently disclosed technology. The screw cap 300 is substantially similar to the screw cap 100 of the above-discussed Fig. 2-3C. Therefore, similar or identical features between the two embodiments in the Fig. 5A-C by a reference number with a magnitude that is two hundred (200) greater than that shown in the Fig. 2-3C. Only certain differences between the two embodiments are discussed herein for brevity and convenience, which is not limiting or to suggest that a particular feature or component is not present in this embodiment.

[0099] The screw cap 300 of the Fig. 5A-C differs from the screw cap 100 of the Fig.2-3C in that while the closure 300 includes the active component 342, the screw cap 300 does not include one or both of the first and second sealing elements 120, 140. Therefore, the screw cap 300 provides a seal created by the threaded engagements between the one or more threads 346 on the inner surface of the bottom skirt 344 and the one or more threads 26 on the neck 22 of the bottle 10, as well as by the engagement between the flange 326 of the cap skirt 324 and the outer surface of the neck skirt 364. However, with the active component 342 embedded in the closure 300 (in particular, in the bottom base 334 of the closure 300), the assembly 300 is capable of providing constant drying, for example, of the environment of the assembly 300 in the closed position, thereby extending the shelf life of the contents of the bottle 10.

[0100] The following exemplary embodiments describe further optional aspects of the presently disclosed technology and are part of this Detailed Description. These exemplary embodiments are set forth in a format substantially comparable to claims (each with numerical designations followed by a letter), although they are not technically claims of the present application. The following exemplary embodiments refer to each other in dependent relationships as "embodiments" rather than "claims."

[0101] 1A. A screw closure for a bottle assembly comprising: a bottom portion including a bottom base having a bottom skirt depending downwardly from an outer periphery thereof, and a neck projecting upwardly from an inner periphery of the bottom base, the inner periphery forming an opening leading into the interior of the closure, the neck further having a neck rim extending radially outwardly from an upper end of the neck; and a lid which is pivotably attached to the base part via a hinge, the lid a lid base and a lid skirt depending downwardly from an outer periphery of the lid base; and an active component disposed on or adjacent to a portion of the interior surface of the floor base.

[0102] 2A. The screw closure of embodiment 1A, wherein the neck has a lower annular neck skirt depending downwardly from the inner periphery of the bottom base and the active component surrounds the lower annular neck skirt.

[0103] 3A. The screw cap of embodiment 1A, wherein the active ingredient includes or is a desiccant.

[0104] 4A. The screw cap of embodiment 1A, wherein the lid includes a first sealing element disposed on an inner surface of the lid base, the first sealing element comprising a thermoplastic elastomer sealing element disposed around the entire circumference of the inner surface of the lid base, and the thermoplastic elastomer sealing element comprising an annular portion configured to sealingly engage the neck rim.

[0105] 5A. The screw cap of embodiment 4A, wherein the lid includes a second sealing element disposed on a first portion of an interior surface of the bottom base.

[0106] 6A. The screw closure of embodiment 5A, wherein in a closed position, the first sealing element is configured to sealingly engage an upper engagement surface of the neck rim and the second sealing element is configured to sealingly engage an upper engagement surface of a bottle rim of the bottle.

[0107] 7A. The screw closure of embodiment 5A, wherein the second sealing element is configured to surround the active component.

[0108] 8A. The screw closure of any of embodiments 1A-7A, wherein the bottom base includes a ridge extending downwardly from a third portion of the inner surface of the bottom base and disposed between the second sealing element and the active component.

[0109] 1B. A screw closure for a bottle assembly, comprising: a lid including a flat lid base, an annular lid skirt extending downwardly on an outer periphery of the flat lid base, and a first sealing member disposed on an inner surface of the lid base; a base part pivotally connected to the lid via a hinge, the base part including: (i) a planar bottom base including an outer periphery, an inner periphery forming an opening leading to an interior of the closure, and a second sealing element disposed on a first portion of an inner surface of the bottom base; (ii) an annular skirt extending downwardly around the outer periphery of the base, the skirt including one or more threads extending radially inwardly from an inner surface of the skirt; and (iii) a neck having an annular neck skirt extending upwardly from the inner periphery of the bottom base and a neck rim extending radially outwardly from an upper end of the neck skirt, wherein in a closed position the first sealing element is configured to sealingly engage an upper engagement surface of the neck rim and the second sealing element is configured to sealingly engage an upper engagement surface of a rim of the bottle.

[0110] 2B. The screw cap according to embodiment 1B, wherein the first sealing element comprises a thermoplastic elastomer sealing element disposed around the entire circumference of the inner surface of the cap base, and the thermoplastic elastomer sealing element comprises an annular portion configured to sealingly engage the neck rim.

[0111] 3B. The screw closure according to embodiment 1B, wherein the lid skirt includes a flange extending radially inward and configured to contact an outer surface of the neck skirt.

[0112] 4B. The screw closure according to embodiment 1B, wherein the flange of the lid skirt engages an outer surface of the neck skirt and secures the lid to the neck and causes the first sealing element to be pressed against the upper engagement surface of the neck rim, wherein the engagement between the flange and the neck skirt and the compression of the first sealing element creates a moisture-tight seal between the lid and the neck.

[0113] 1C. A bottle assembly comprising: a bottle having a bottle base, a sidewall extending from the bottle base and terminating in a bottle neck having an end portion disposed opposite and distal to the bottle base, the bottle neck defining an opening leading to an interior of the bottle, the bottle neck having an outer portion including one or more threads; and the screw cap of any of the preceding embodiments fixedly disposed over the bottle neck such that the internal threads of the skirt threadably engage the bottle neck to couple the screw cap to the bottle, thereby forming the bottle assembly.

[0114] 2C. The bottle assembly according to embodiment 1C, further comprising an active polymer component disposed on the inner surface of the cap base.

[0115] 3C. The bottle assembly according to embodiment 1C, wherein the first sealing element is a thermoplastic elastomer sealing element around the entire circumference of the inner surface of the cap base and includes the annular portion and a linear portion transverse to the annular portion, the annular portion configured to sealingly engage the neck rim.

[0116] 4C. The bottle assembly of embodiment 1C, wherein the threaded engagement between the threads secures the closure to the bottle and causes the second sealing member to be pressed against the upper engagement surface of the bottle rim, the threaded engagement and compression of the second sealing member creating a moisture-tight seal between the closure and the bottle.

[0117] 1D. A screw cap configured to be removably attached to a bottle, the screw cap comprising: a lid including a planar lid base, an annular lid skirt extending downwardly on an outer periphery of the planar lid base, the annular lid skirt having a radially inwardly extending flange, and a first sealing element disposed on an inner surface of the lid base; and a base part pivotally connected to the lid via a hinge, the base part including: (i) a planar bottom base including an outer periphery, an inner periphery forming an opening leading to an interior of the closure, and a second sealing element disposed on a first portion of an inner surface of the bottom base; (ii) an annular bottom skirt extending downwardly around the outer periphery of the bottom base, the bottom skirt having one or more threads extending radially inwardly from an inner surface of the bottom skirt; and (iii) a neck having an annular neck skirt extending upwardly from the inner periphery of the bottom base and a neck rim extending radially outwardly from an upper end of the neck skirt, wherein in a closed position the first sealing element is configured to sealingly engage an upper engagement surface of the neck rim and the second sealing element is configured to sealingly engage an upper engagement surface of a rim of the bottle.

[0118] 2D. The screw cap of embodiment 1D, further including an active component disposed on a second portion of the inner surface of the bottom base and configured to surround the second sealing element.

[0119] 3D. The screw closure of embodiment 1D or 2D, further comprising a ridge extending downwardly from a third portion of the inner surface of the bottom base and disposed between the active polymer component and the second sealing element, wherein the ridge, the active component, and the second sealing element are disposed interiorly and concentrically with the bottom skirt of the bottom portion.

[0120] 4D. The screw closure according to any of embodiments 1D-3D, wherein the neck skirt includes an annular inner neck skirt extending downwardly into the interior of the closure, and the inner neck skirt, the second portion of the inner surface of the bottom base, and the web form a cavity that allows the active polymer component to be molded onto the cavity.

[0121] 5D. The screw cap of any of embodiments 1D-4D, wherein the first sealing element comprises a thermoplastic elastomer sealing element disposed around the entire perimeter of the inner surface of the cap base.

[0122] 6D. The screw cap of embodiment 5D, wherein the thermoplastic elastomer sealing element comprises an annular portion and a linear portion transverse to the annular portion, the annular portion configured to sealingly engage the neck rim.

[0123] 7D. The screw closure of embodiment 6D, wherein the flange of the lid skirt is configured to engage an outer surface of the neck skirt, secure the lid to the neck, and cause the first sealing element to be pressed against the upper engagement surface of the neck rim, wherein the engagement between the flange and the neck skirt and the compression of the first sealing element creates a moisture-tight seal between the lid and the neck.

[0124] 8D. The screw closure according to embodiment 1D, wherein the second sealing element comprises a thermoplastic elastomer sealing element.

[0125] 9D. The screw closure of any of embodiments 1D-8D, wherein the one or more threads are configured to sealingly engage one or more bottle threads disposed on an upper portion of a sidewall of the bottle, and the threaded engagement between the threads secures the closure to the bottle and causes the second sealing element to be urged against the upper engagement surface of the bottle rim, the threaded engagement and compression of the second sealing element creating a moisture-tight seal between the closure and the bottle.

[0126] 10D. The screw cap of any of embodiments 1D-9D, wherein the bottom skirt includes a tamper-evident feature attached to the bottom skirt and configured to be separable from the bottom skirt.

[0127] 11D. The screw cap of any of embodiments 1D-10D, further comprising a thumb tab extending radially outward from the lid, the thumb tab configured to be actuated upwardly to place the lid in the open position.

[0128] 1E. A screw cap configured to be removably attached to a bottle, the screw cap comprising: a lid including a planar lid base and an annular lid skirt extending downwardly on an outer periphery of the planar lid base, the annular lid skirt having a radially inwardly extending flange; and a base part pivotally connected to the lid via a hinge, the base part including: (i) a planar bottom base having an outer periphery, an inner periphery forming an opening leading to an interior of the closure, and an active component disposed in a first portion of an inner surface of the bottom base; (ii) an annular skirt extending downwardly around the outer periphery of the base, the skirt including one or more threads extending radially inwardly from an inner surface of the skirt; and (iii) a neck having an annular neck skirt extending upwardly from the inner periphery of the bottom base and a neck rim extending radially outwardly from an upper end of the neck skirt, wherein the one or more threads are configured to sealingly engage one or more bottle threads disposed on an upper portion of a bottle neck of the bottle, and thread engagement between the threads secures the closure to the bottle.

[0129] 2E. The screw cap of embodiment 1E, further comprising a first sealing element disposed on an inner surface of the cap base around the entire periphery of the cap base.

[0130] 3E. The screw cap of embodiment 1E or 2E, further comprising a second sealing element disposed on a second portion of the inner surface around the entire perimeter of the bottom base.

[0131] 4E. The screw closure of embodiment 3E, further comprising a ridge extending downwardly from a third portion of the inner surface of the bottom base, the ridge surrounding an inner annular edge of the second sealing element and an outer annular edge of the active component, the second sealing element, the ridge, and the active component being disposed interiorly and concentrically with the bottom skirt.

[0132] 5E. The screw closure of embodiment 4E, wherein the neck skirt includes an annular inner neck skirt extending downwardly into the interior of the closure, and the inner neck skirt, the first portion of the inner surface of the bottom base, and the web form a cavity that allows the active component to be molded onto the cavity.

[0133] 6E. The screw closure of embodiment 2E, wherein the first sealing element comprises a thermoplastic elastomer sealing element having an annular portion and a linear portion transverse to the annular portion, the annular portion configured to sealingly engage the neck rim.

[0134] 7E. The screw closure of embodiment 6E, wherein the flange of the lid skirt is configured to engage an outer surface of the neck skirt, secure the lid to the neck, and cause the first sealing element to be pressed against the upper engagement surface of the neck rim, wherein the engagement between the flange and the neck skirt and the compression of the first sealing element creates a moisture-tight seal between the lid and the neck.

[0135] 8E. The screw cap of embodiment 7E, wherein the second sealing element comprises a thermoplastic elastomer sealing element configured to engage an upper engagement surface of a bottle rim of the bottle.

[0136] 9E. The screw closure of embodiment 8E, wherein the threaded engagement between the threads causes the second sealing element to be pressed against the upper engagement surface of the bottle rim, the threaded engagement and compression of the second sealing element creating a moisture-tight seal between the closure and the bottle.

[0137] 10E. The screw cap of embodiment 1E, wherein the cap includes a tamper-evident feature attached to the bottom skirt and configured to be separable from the bottom skirt.

[0138] 11E. The screw cap of embodiment 1E, further comprising a thumb tab extending radially from the lid, the thumb tab configured to be actuated upwardly to place the lid in the open position.

[0139] 1F. A bottle assembly comprising: a bottle having a bottle base, a sidewall extending from the bottle base and terminating in a bottle neck having an end portion disposed opposite and distal to the bottle base, the bottle neck defining an opening leading to an interior of the bottle, the bottle neck having an outer portion including one or more threads; and a screw cap configured to be removably attached to a bottle, comprising: (a) a lid including a planar lid base, an annular lid skirt extending downwardly on an outer periphery of the planar lid base, the annular lid skirt having a radially inwardly extending flange, and a first sealing member disposed on an inner surface of the lid base; and (b) a base portion pivotally connected to the lid by a hinge, the base portion including: (i) a planar bottom base including an outer periphery, an inner periphery forming an opening leading to an interior of the closure, an active component disposed at a first portion of an inner surface of the bottom base, and a second sealing element; (ii) an annular skirt extending downwardly around the outer periphery of the base, the skirt including one or more threads extending radially inwardly from an inner surface of the skirt; and (iii) a neck having an annular neck skirt extending upwardly from the inner periphery of the bottom base and a neck rim extending radially outwardly from an upper end of the neck skirt, wherein in a closed position the first sealing element is configured to sealingly engage an upper engagement surface of the neck rim and the second sealing element is further configured to sealingly engage an upper engagement surface of a rim of the bottle.

[0140] 2F. The bottle assembly of embodiment 1F, wherein the screw cap further includes a ridge extending downwardly from a third portion of the interior surface of the bottom base, the ridge surrounding an inner annular edge of the second sealing element and an outer annular edge of the active component, the second sealing element, the ridge, and the active component being disposed interiorly of and concentric with the bottom skirt.

[0141] 3F. The bottle assembly of embodiment 2F, wherein the first and second sealing elements each comprise a thermoplastic elastomer sealing element.

[0142] 4F. The bottle assembly of embodiment 3F, wherein the flange of the lid skirt is configured to engage an outer surface of the neck skirt, secure the lid to the neck, and cause the first sealing member to be urged against the upper engagement surface of the neck rim, wherein the engagement between the flange and the neck skirt and the compression of the first sealing member creates a moisture-tight seal between the lid and the neck.

[0143] 5F. The bottle assembly of embodiment 4F, wherein the threaded engagement between the threads causes the second sealing member to be pressed against the upper engagement surface of the bottle rim, the threaded engagement and compression of the second sealing member creating a moisture-tight seal between the closure and the bottle.

[0144] 6F. The bottle assembly of embodiment 5F, wherein the screw cap includes a tamper-evident feature attached to the bottom skirt and configured to be separable from the bottom skirt.

[0145] 7F. The bottle assembly of embodiment 6F, wherein the screw cap further includes a thumb tab extending radially from the cap, the thumb tab configured to be actuated upwardly to place the cap in the open position.

[0146] While the presently disclosed technology has been described in detail and with reference to specific examples thereof, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. Therefore, it is to be understood that the presently disclosed technology is not limited to the specific embodiments, but is intended to cover modifications within the spirit and scope of the presently disclosed technology. QUOTES CONTAINED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents submitted by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the convenience of the reader. This list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] US 63 / 362,344

[0001] US 5,911,937 [0067, 0082] US 6,214,255 [0067, 0082] US 6,130,263 [0067, 0082] US 6,080,350 [0067, 0082] US 6,174,952

[0067] US 6,124,006 [0067, 0082] US 6,221,446

[0067] JP 2016 / 0039955

[0067] US 6,194,079

[0082] US 6,486,231

[0082] US 7,005,459

[0082] US 2016 / 0039955

[0082] WO 2021 / 076874

[0093] US 2021 / 0008771

[0093]

Claims

[1] Screw closure (100) for a bottle assembly (1), the closure (100) comprising: a bottom portion (130) including a bottom base (134) having a bottom skirt (144) depending downwardly from an outer periphery (132) thereof, and a neck (150) projecting upwardly from the bottom base (134) and radially inwardly from the outer periphery (132), the neck (150) defining an opening (138) leading to an interior of the closure (100), the neck (150) further having a neck rim (158); and a lid (110) pivotally attached to the base portion (130) via a hinge (119), the lid (110) pivotable between an open and a closed position, the lid (110) having a lid base (114) and a lid skirt (124) depending downwardly from an outer periphery thereof, the hinge (119) extending upwardly from a top surface of the base base (134) over at least one ridge (115) such that the lid (110) is configured to contact or mate with the neck rim (158) and, in the closed position, extends perpendicular to the neck (150). [2] The screw cap (100) of claim 1, wherein the hinge (119) includes at least one tab (116) extending from the ridge (115). [3] Screw cap (100) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the hinge (119) comprises one or more walls having at least the same height as the neck (150). [4] The screw cap (100) of claim 3, wherein the one or more walls comprise at least one end wall (117) attached to a portion of the outer periphery (132) of the bottom base (134). [5] The screw cap (100) of claim 4, wherein the one or more walls comprise a pair of side walls (118) extending inwardly from side edges of the end wall (117) toward the neck (150) such that at least a portion of the lid skirt (124) fits between the pair of side walls (118) and a neck skirt (164) of the neck (150) when the lid (110) is in the closed position. [6] A screw closure (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the elevation (115) comprises or is formed from a thermoset or thermoplastic material. [7] The screw cap (100) of any preceding claim, wherein the lid skirt (124) includes a flange (126) extending radially inwardly and configured to contact or mate with the neck rim (158) when the lid (110) is in the closed position. [8] A screw cap (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the lid (110) includes a tab (112) opposite the hinge (119). [9] The screw cap (100) of any preceding claim, wherein the lid (110) includes a first sealing member (120) disposed on an inner surface of the lid base (114), the first sealing member (120) comprising a thermoplastic elastomer sealing member disposed around the entire periphery of the inner surface of the lid base (114), and the thermoplastic elastomer sealing member (120) comprising an annular portion configured to sealingly engage the neck rim (158). [10] A screw closure (110) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a neck skirt (165) extends downwardly from the bottom base (134) and radially inwardly spaced from the bottom skirt (144), an active material (142) surrounding the neck skirt (165), the active material including a desiccant. [11] The screw cap (110) of claim 10, wherein the neck skirt (165), a portion of a bottom surface of the bottom base (134), and a web (148) extending downwardly from the base portion (134) and radially spaced from the neck skirt (165) form a cavity for receiving the active material (142). [12] Bottle assembly (1) comprising: a bottle (10) having a bottle base (14), a side wall (16) extending upwardly from the bottle base (14) and terminating in a bottle neck (22), the bottle neck (22) defining an opening (20) leading to an interior of the bottle (10), the bottle neck (22) having an outer portion including one or more threads (26); and a screw cap (100) removably disposed over the bottle neck (22) such that the internal threads of the screw cap (100) are configured to threadably engage the threads (26) on the bottle neck (22) to couple the screw cap (100) to the bottle (10), thereby forming the bottle assembly (1), the screw cap (110) comprising: a bottom portion (130) including a bottom base (134) having a bottom skirt (144) depending downwardly from an outer periphery (132) thereof, and a neck (150) projecting upwardly from the bottom base (134) and radially inwardly from the outer periphery (132), the neck (150) defining an opening (138) leading to an interior of the closure (100), the neck (150) further having a neck rim (158); and a lid (110) pivotally attached to the base portion (130) via a hinge (119), the lid (110) pivotable between an open position and a closed position, the lid (110) having a lid base (114) and a lid skirt (124) depending downwardly from an outer periphery thereof, the hinge (119) extending upwardly from a top surface of the base base (134) over at least one ridge (115) such that the lid (110) is configured to contact or mate with the neck rim (158) and to extend perpendicular to the neck (150) in the closed position. [13] Bottle assembly (1) according to claim 12, wherein the hinge (119) has a tab (116) extending from the elevation (115). [14] Bottle assembly (1) according to claim 12 or 13, wherein the hinge (119) has one or more walls which have at least the same height as the neck (150). [15] Bottle assembly (1) according to claim 14, wherein the one or more walls comprise at least one end wall (117) attached to a portion of the outer periphery (132) of the bottom base (134). [16] Bottle assembly (1) according to claim 14 or 15, wherein the one or more walls comprise a pair of side walls (118) extending inwardly from side edges of the end wall (117) toward the neck (150) such that at least a portion of the lid skirt (124) fits between the pair of side walls (118) and a neck skirt (164) of the neck (150) when the lid (110) is in the closed position. [17] Bottle assembly (1) according to any one of claims 12-16, wherein the elevation (115) comprises or is formed from a thermoset or thermoplastic material. [18] Bottle assembly (1) according to any one of claims 12-17, wherein the lid skirt (124) has a flange (126) extending radially inward and configured to contact or mate with the neck rim (158) when the lid (110) is in the closed position. [19] Bottle assembly (1) according to any one of claims 12-18, wherein the lid (110) includes a tab (112) opposite the hinge (119). [20] A bottle assembly (1) according to any one of claims 12-19, wherein a neck skirt (165) extends downwardly from the bottom base (134) and spaced radially inwardly from the bottom skirt (144), an active material surrounding the neck skirt (165), the active material including a desiccant.