sealing device

Abstract

A container including a closure, for example, a bottle combined with a closure. The closure has a top wall defining an opening and a cylindrical snap-on pipe descending from the top wall. The pipe has threads designed to mate with the threads on the neck of the bottle. When the closure is snapped onto the bottle during manufacture, the threads on the pipe and the threads on the neck of the bottle overcome each other. The pipe has a resistance recess and a guide recess. The resistance recess and the guide recess receive a biasing element on the neck of the bottle to allow the closure to be unscrewed. The walls of the resistance recess are preferably symmetrical. The bottle neck includes a feed ring to facilitate injection molding manufacture.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] Many personal care products are sold in plastic bottles. Examples of such products include body wash and shampoo. While dispensing body wash and hair care products from the bottle is convenient for consumers, plastic bottles are typically discarded after a single use and sometimes, undesirably, end up in landfills. While plastic bottles can sometimes be recycled, transporting them to recycling facilities and recycling them consumes energy. Therefore, it is considered desirable to reuse containers rather than discarding them after a single use. [Background technology]

[0002] While some bottles currently on the market are theoretically consumer-recyclable, they are not easily reusable. For example, it can be difficult for consumers to remove the closure and gain easy enough access to the bottle itself. This presents a significant obstacle to achieving the goal of minimizing plastic use and waste. Therefore, there is a need for bottles with closures that are easily removable by consumers. Additionally, it is also important that the closure can be easily reattached to the bottle after the consumer has refilled the container.

[0003] While easy consumer access to the bottle's interior is certainly desirable, the bottle cannot be designed so that the closure releases from the bottle too easily, or the product could be released from the container at an inopportune time, such as during transport. This is especially true for containers shipped via e-commerce, since individually shipped containers cannot be packaged as securely as bulk-shipped products. The goal of an easily removable closure must also balance a competing goal: the ease with which the closure can be attached to the bottle during manufacturing, thereby minimizing production costs.

[0004] A variety of closure / bottle arrangements are described in the patent literature.

[0005] U.S. Patent No. 8,365,933 to Jackel discloses a closure system, such as a snap-on closure, that can be pressed onto a spout, in which two interacting elements move with or overlap one another due to their flexibility. The closure can only be removed strictly axially / vertically by applying a certain amount of force, with difficulty, but can also be removed by a rotational movement, which is said to be much easier to perform than an axial removal movement. The closure has a recess in a cylindrical snap-on pipe that engages with a pushing element on the shoulder of the container. Both sides of the recess are designed so that the slope at a certain point on one side is smaller than the slope at the same point on the other side.

[0006] WO 2022 / 029017 A1 discloses a closure comprising an upper wall defining an opening and a cylindrical snap-on pipe depending from the upper wall. The pipe has threads designed to mate with the external threads on the neck of a bottle. When the closure is snapped onto the bottle during manufacture, the threads of the pipe and the threads of the bottle neck overcome each other. The pipe has a resistance recess and a guide recess. The resistance recess and the guide recess accommodate a biasing element on a shoulder of the bottle, thereby allowing the closure to be unscrewed. The walls of the resistance recess are preferably symmetrical.

[0007] The cylindrical snap-on pipe threads can maintain their position below the threads of the container neck during rotation of the closure, at least until the biasing element reaches below the second guide recess wall, i.e., the threads maintain their relative axial position until the biasing element reaches below the second guide recess wall, at which point one or more interruptions in the threads allow the threads to climb over each other and the closure to disengage from the bottle.

[0008] EP 1982770 to Contiero relates to a sealing system comprising a bottle neck and a sealing body (sealing device). The wall of the sealing body is provided with at least one projection, which is circumferentially adjacent to a first circumferential stop projection projecting from the bottle neck when the tongue is seated in the seat. The stop projection and the tongue are dimensioned and positioned such that relative rotation between the bottle neck and the sealing body forms an obstruction structure.

[0009] U.S. Patent No. 9,850,040 to Scott et al. discloses a container having a circumferential flange extending radially outward from a neck with a plurality of spaced flange tabs. The neck engaging member, which may be a cap, includes a raised snap bead, notches, and a raised stop member that cooperate with the flange tabs to form a snap-fit ​​engagement between the neck and the neck engaging member. See also EP 2921232.

[0010] Surin's U.S. Pat. No. 10,722,911 relates to a unit for dispensing a fluid product comprising a reservoir, a system for dispensing the product, and a device for fixing the dispensing system in the reservoir, the fixing device being a single-piece unit having fixing means on the neck of the reservoir actuated by an axial translational movement and decoupling means for the neck of the reservoir actuated by a rotational movement.

[0011] The '911 reservoir neck is provided with at least one radial projection and defines an annular rim around the top opening, and the locking device has a skirt with an annular ring that engages the annular rim of the neck for snap-fitting the locking device onto the reservoir neck, and the skirt also has at least one ramp that engages the radial projection to unscrew the locking device relative to the reservoir neck.

[0012] WO2022 / 167540 discloses a latch element and a support ring, see for example Figure 7.

[0013] Suffa US2004 / 0245204 discloses a sealing cap for a bottle neck having snap-on projections and alignment projections.

[0014] Miota et al., U.S. Patent No. 7,958,703 The cap includes a plurality of axially extending collar segments (70), each having an engagement end. At least one of the closure collar segments has an engagement surface (74) that engages with a front face (48) of the container flange segment to securely orient the closure in a predetermined rotational position. The closure further includes a closure displacement structure (132) disposed at the engagement end of one of the collar segments and having a surface inclined relative to the closure's rotational axis, thereby engaging the flange segment front face (48) at an axially outer end of the cap at a predetermined angle to displace the closure axially outward relative to the container as the closure rotates.

[0015] The container has at least one circumferential flange segment (44) extending through less than 360 degrees, having a starting end defined by a front face and a terminating end defined by a back face, and a gap (60) defined by one of the front faces of the flange segment and one of the back faces of the flange segment.

[0016] Further references relevant to some of the above include EP3753635. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0017] [Patent Document 1] U.S. Patent No. 8,365,933 [Patent Document 2] WO2022 / 029017A1 [Patent Document 3] EP1982770 [Patent Document 4] U.S. Patent No. 9,850,040 [Patent Document 5] U.S. Patent No. 10,722,911 [Patent Document 6] WO2022 / 167540 [Patent Document 7] US2004 / 0245204 [Patent Document 8] U.S. Patent No. 7,958,703 [Patent Document 9] EP3753635 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0018] The above solution of WO2022 / 029017 is suitable for extrusion blow-molded bottles, but further improvements are required for use in injection blow-molded bottles and injection stretch-blow-molded bottles. [Means for solving the problem]

[0019] The present invention relates to an improved bottle with a snap-on / twist-off closure, particularly suitable for injection-blow molded bottles made from polyethylene terephthalate. The closure easily and conveniently snaps onto the bottle during manufacturing, but can be easily twisted off by the consumer. It is highly durable, as confirmed by industry-standard drop tests. The present invention also relates to bottles, particularly injection-molded PET bottles or injection-stretch-blow molded bottles, suitable for use with the closure.

[0020] The bottle of the present invention comprises a reservoir, one or more walls forming a bottle neck, a biasing element projecting outward from at least one of the bottle neck walls, and a shoulder preferably located above the reservoir and below the bottle neck. The biasing element is preferably spaced from the shoulder. The bottle neck wall is provided with an annular feed ring, and one or more biasing elements extend outward beyond the feed ring and are located above the feed ring.

[0021] The closure used in the present invention preferably comprises a cover and a base. The base comprises a top wall defining an opening and a cylindrical snap-on pipe depending from the top wall and extending vertically / axially to the bottom end of the pipe. The cylindrical snap-on pipe preferably has threads or other fasteners formed on its inner wall designed to mate with threads or other fasteners formed on the neck of the bottle, preferably on the outer wall. The closure base snaps onto the neck of the bottle, whereby the threads of the cylindrical snap-on pipe ride over and temporarily lock beneath the threads of the container neck. While the threads can be positioned inside the snap-on pipe and outside the bottle neck, or outside the snap-on pipe and inside the container neck, the present invention will be described using an internal snap-on pipe thread / external bottle neck thread embodiment.

[0022] The closure cylindrical snap-on pipe has at least one resistance recess and at least one guide recess at its bottom end. The resistance recess and guide recess serve to loosen the closure, allowing it to be easily removed for replacement. The resistance recess has opposing first and second walls defined by the cylindrical snap-on pipe. Preferably, the slope of the walls is substantially the same at each point at the same axial / vertical height. That is, preferably, the first and second resistance recess walls are substantially symmetrical. Alternatively, the slope of the resistance recess walls is such that, at at least one point, the slope of one of the walls is less than the slope of the other wall at the same axial / vertical height.

[0023] The use of symmetrical first and second resistance walls has the advantage that they are easier to manufacture than walls with multiple angles.

[0024] When the closure is closed, the biasing element from the container is at least partially contained within the resistance recess. In embodiments with symmetric resistance recess walls, the snap-on pipe threads and the mating threads on the bottle neck are arranged at an angle(s) that facilitates rotation of the closure in the open direction from the closed position and discourages rotation of the closure in the opposite direction from the closed position. In embodiments with asymmetric recesses, the more sloped resistance recess wall contacts the steeper biasing element wall, thereby preventing rotation of the closure in one direction (not open / screwed closed / closure locked), typically clockwise. This feature can also be used in combination with the thread angle to prevent rotation from the closed position.

[0025] In either embodiment, when the closure is rotated in the opposite direction, i.e., the opening / unscrewing / closure removal direction, contact between the opposing wall of the resistance recess and the biasing element causes the closure to be pushed slightly upward. In the case of an asymmetric resistance recess, such opposing wall has a less steep slope than the wall it contacts in the closing direction. Similarly, the wall of the biasing element that contacts the resistance recess wall in the opening direction can have a less steep slope than the wall of the opposing biasing element. In the case of a symmetric resistance recess, the slope of the walls of each resistance recess can be the same, and the slope of the walls of the front and rear biasing elements can also be the same.

[0026] During this initial rotation, the cylindrical snap-on pipe threads remain below the container neck threads as the closure moves axially upward relative to the container neck. The bottle neck threads being above the snap-on pipe threads secures the closure to the bottle at this point, preventing premature disengagement. The axial movement is due to the angled threads, and is the net result of the angled rotational movement.

[0027] As the closure is further rotated counterclockwise, i.e., in the unscrewing / opening direction, the biasing element of the bottle strikes the rear end of the resistance recess, then strikes the bottom rim of the snap-on pipe, and then enters the guide recess. By "strikes" we mean that the biasing element is at least adjacent to, if not in contact with, the aforementioned component. As the closure is rotated in the unscrewing / opening direction, the guide recess first extends upward from the bottom end, lowering the cylindrical snap-on pipe toward the neck of the container. At the same time, the mating threads of the cylindrical snap-on pipe of the closure and the neck of the container come into contact with each other, but maintain their positions so that the bottle's threads are positioned above the threads of the snap-on pipe. Then, as the closure is further rotated in the unscrewing / opening / closure removal direction, with the threads of the cylindrical snap-on pipe and the neck still engaged, the guide recess slopes gently downward toward the bottom end of the cylindrical snap-on pipe.

[0028] The downward slope of the guide recess and the relative upward movement of the closure, which matches the slope of the corresponding threads on the container neck and skirt, provide a guide and minimize resistance to rotation of the closure in the unscrewing / opening direction. The consumer can continue to turn the closure with minimal resistance, ultimately removing the closure. The presence of the guide recess also facilitates the reverse process, where the consumer rotates the closure in the closing direction (usually clockwise) after refilling the bottle. Without the guide recess, it is believed that the bottom of the snap-on pipe would interfere with the thread engagement when the closure is screwed on. In the closure-opening direction, the closure eventually unscrews to a point where there is an interruption in one or both of the threads, allowing the threads to pass over each other and the closure is released from the bottle.

[0029] The biasing element does not need to contact the guide recess wall, and the guide recess provides space for the biasing element to move as the closure is rotated to accommodate the angle of the threads on the bottle neck and snap-on pipe.

[0030] The closure may comprise a closure element that contacts and / or covers the top wall of the closure base to seal the closure opening, but that can be removed from the opening for dispensing the product. Preferably, the closure element remains connected to the closure base, for example as a result of a hinge or other attachment, when removed for dispensing the product.

[0031] The length of the bottom rim of the snap-on pipe extending between the resistance recess and the guide recess is preferably at least 2 mm and at most 5 mm, especially 2-4 mm, to maximize the durability of the closure, including promoting a good, comfortable, tight fit of the closure to the bottle over extended use. The upwardly extending walls of the guide recess (in the opening direction of the closure) preferably have a slope of 90-150°, especially 90-135°, relative to a horizontal line drawn through the bottom rim, and the guide recess in turn has a downwardly extending wall that slopes at a relatively gentler angle of 0-10°, especially 4-10°, relative to a horizontal line drawn through the intersection of the downwardly extending guide recess wall and the pipe bottom.

[0032] The present invention allows a closure to be securely attached to the bottle neck during manufacture, while allowing the consumer to easily remove the closure and refill the container by reattaching the closure to the bottle. The closure is durable, e.g., resistant to wear and tear. Symmetrical embodiments of the resistance recess wall are easier to manufacture than conventional asymmetric versions. The placement of a biasing element on the bottle neck and above the feed ring facilitates use of the present invention in bottles, particularly PET bottles, produced by injection blow molding. Preferably, the biasing element extends outward beyond the feed ring, and preferably one or more biasing elements are located above the feed ring.

[0033] Obviously, variations in screwing / unscrewing direction, thread location, etc. may require adjustment of the location and shape of the resistance and guide recesses.

[0034] As will be seen, features of the present invention include one or more of the following.

[0035] a. An upper wall defining an opening; b. a cylindrical snap-on pipe descending from said upper wall and extending axially to a bottom end; c. the cylindrical snap-on pipe having at least one resistance recess at its bottom end; d. a cylindrical snap-on pipe further including at least one thread; e. a cylindrical snap-on pipe defining opposing first and second walls of a resistance recess; f. the bottom end of the cylindrical snap-on pipe having a shape that includes a guide recess that matches the threads of the cylindrical snap-on pipe lowered onto a container neck; A sealing device having g. A closure, wherein the guide recess includes a first guide recess wall with an upward slope and a second guide recess wall with a downward slope, such that, upon rotation in a closure-opening direction, the first guide recess wall allows the cylindrical snap-on pipe to descend axially toward the container neck having a biasing element, and the second wall, which corresponds to the closure cylindrical snap-on pipe, to ascend relative to the container; and the threads of the snap-on pipe maintain their axial position relative to the threads of the bottle neck, such that when the biasing element contacts one of the resistance recess walls, the closure remains attached at least until the biasing element reaches a position below the second guide recess wall; and / or a closure including a closure cover for closing said opening, said closure cover being hingedly attached to a closure base of said closure; a sealing device in a rotation direction for unscrewing the sealing device, in which the biasing element is accommodated in the guide recess after hitting the resistance recess, and positioned under the first guide recess wall and then under the second guide recess wall;

[0036] a sealing device in which, when the biasing element reaches a position below the first guide recess wall, the cylindrical snap-on pipe thread and the container thread maintain their relative axial positions with the container thread above the snap-on pipe thread;

[0037] a sealing device in which the first and second resistance recess walls have a slope, and the slope of the first and second resistance recess walls is substantially the same at any point at the same axial height; a sealing device in which the distance between the resistance recess and the guide recess in the unscrewing direction is at least 2 mm;

[0038] a sealing device in which the distance between the resistance recess and the guide recess in the unscrewing direction is from 2 mm to a maximum of 5 mm;

[0039] a sealing device in which the distance between the resistance recess and the guide recess in the unscrewing direction is 2 mm to a maximum of 4 mm;

[0040] a sealing device in which the first guide recess wall has a slope of 90 to 150 degrees;

[0041] a sealing device in which the first guide recess wall has a slope of 90 to 135 degrees;

[0042] a sealing device in which the second guide recess wall has a slope of 0 to 10;

[0043] a container comprising a closure and bottle combination, the closure and bottle having one or more walls forming a shoulder and a bottle neck and including at least one biasing element; a container having a closure with a top wall defining an opening;

[0044] a container having a sealing device with a cylindrical snap-on pipe descending from the top wall and extending axially to the bottom end;

[0045] a container having a sealing device with said cylindrical snap-on pipe extending to said bottom end and having at least one resistance recess;

[0046] a container having a closure with said cylindrical snap-on pipe further having one or more screw threads;

[0047] a container having a closure with the cylindrical snap-on pipe defining opposing first and second walls of the resistance recess;

[0048] a closure having a bottom end of the cylindrical snap-on pipe shaped to have a guide recess that matches the up and down movement of the cylindrical snap-on pipe thread relative to the bottle neck;

[0049] a bottle having a biasing element projecting outwardly from a wall of the bottle neck; A container having: the biasing element is spaced from the bottle shoulder; the bottle neck having one or more threads; the at least one bottle biasing element of the bottle is at least partially received within the resistance recess of the closure cylindrical snap-on pipe; the guide recess includes a first wall with an upward slope and a second wall with a downward slope, whereby, upon rotation of the closure in an opening direction, the first guide recess wall allows the cylindrical snap-on pipe to move axially downward toward the biasing element of the bottle, and the second guide recess wall, which is aligned with the closure cylindrical snap-on pipe, moves upward relative to the closure element; a container in which, when the biasing element contacts the resistance recess wall, the snap-on pipe thread and the bottle neck thread maintain their relative axial positions with the bottle neck thread above the snap-on pipe thread at least until the biasing element reaches a position below the second guide recess wall;

[0050] a container having interruptions in one or more of the snap-on pipe threads and the bottle threads, wherein after a biasing element reaches a position below a second guide recess wall, the cylindrical snap-on pipe threads pass through the one or more interruptions and overcome the bottle threads, thereby disengaging the closure from the bottle;

[0051] a container in which the first and second resistance recess walls have a slope, the slope of each of the resistance recess walls being substantially the same at each point at the same axial height;

[0052] a container having said snap-on threads on an interior wall thereof;

[0053] a container having said snap-on threads on its interior wall and said bottle neck threads external to said bottle neck;

[0054] a container in which the wall or walls of the bottle neck have an annular feed ring;

[0055] a container, the biasing element extending outwardly beyond the feed ring;

[0056] a container in which the one or more biasing elements are disposed above the feed ring;

[0057] a container having a bottle, the bottle having one or more walls forming a shoulder and a bottle neck, the container having at least one biasing element;

[0058] a container having a biasing element projecting outwardly from at least one of said walls of said bottle neck;

[0059] a container having a biasing element spaced from said shoulder;

[0060] a container in which the wall or walls of the bottle neck have an annular feed ring;

[0061] a container having a biasing element extending outwardly beyond the feed ring;

[0062] a container having one or more biasing elements disposed above the feed ring;

[0063] A container with the feed ring spaced from and above the shoulder. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0064] [Figure 1] 1 is a side view of the bottle and closure of the present invention, with the closure shown in cross section. [Figure 2] 1 is a front view of a bottle of the present invention, showing the closure base above it in cross section with the closure cover removed; FIG. [Figure 3] 1 is a perspective view from above of a bottle and closure according to the present invention, with the closure removed and the closure cover in an open position; FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the sealing device of FIG. 3. [Figure 5] FIG. 1 is a side view of a package of the present invention with the closure partially rotated in the unscrewing / opening / closure removal direction, with a portion of the closure broken away to reveal the cylindrical snap-on pipe, and a portion of the snap-on pipe on the left side removed to reveal a portion of the bottle neck. [Figure 6] FIG. 1 is a partial cross-sectional view of the closure with a portion of the closure broken away and the closure removed from the bottle. [Figure 7] FIG. 1 is a side view of the closure with a portion cut away from the bottle in the fully closed position. [Figure 8] A side view of the top of the container for an embodiment in which the resistance recess has asymmetric walls, with a portion of the closure broken away, the closure being in the process of being opened by a biasing element within the guide recess, and with part of the snap-on pipe on the left side removed to reveal part of the bottle neck. [Figure 9] 1 is a partial cross-sectional view of a closure with a portion broken away from the bottle for an embodiment in which the resistance recess has asymmetric walls; FIG. [Figure 10] 1 is a side view, partially cut away, of the closure in a fully closed position on the bottle for an embodiment in which the resistance recess has asymmetric walls. FIG. [Figure 11] 10 is a cross-sectional view of a closure with a cover attached for an embodiment with asymmetrical resistive recess walls. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0065] As seen in Figures 1-3, bottle 20 includes reservoir 21, shoulder 27, and neck 32. Neck 32 extends upward from its base 18 to a circular ridge 51 that surrounds mouth 53. Neck 32 includes base 18, feed ring 59, biasing element 50, threads 60, ridge 51, and mouth 53. Feed ring 59 is vertically spaced from base 18 where it meets shoulder 27. Ridge 51 can be used to hold preformed plastic prior to injection blow molding. The biasing element, as described below, serves to secure the closure to the bottle and closure opening, preventing rotation during bottle manufacture and ensuring precise alignment of the closure on the bottle. Feed ring 59 provides a support against which the preform rests as the body of the preform is inserted into a mold during injection blow molding.

[0066] A closure 22 rests on the bottle 20 (e.g., FIGS. 1 and 2). The closure 22 includes a closure base 24 connected to a closure cover 26 by a hinge 28, although other possible arrangements will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The closure base 24 includes a generally cylindrical snap-on pipe 30 depending downwardly from a top wall 25, best seen in FIGS. 1 and 2. The cylindrical snap-on pipe 30 is positioned to engage a neck 32 of the bottle 20. The cylindrical snap-on pipe 30 has one or more internal threads 34 projecting inwardly from its inner wall.

[0067] The closure base 24 has a centrally located discharge opening 36 (FIG. 3) within the top wall 25. While the opening 36 is depicted and described as being centrally located, it may be off-center, if desired. Structure such as a ring 38 may be provided above and / or below the opening 36 to aid in pouring and sealing. When the closure base 24 is positioned over the bottle 20, the opening 36 communicates with the interior of the bottle 20 via the snap-on pipe 30 and the closure base outer wall 23. The closure cover 26 has a plug 40 that aids in sealing the closure and ultimately the bottle.

[0068] The neck 32 of the bottle 20 has an external threaded projection 60 .

[0069] As best seen in Figures 5-7, the cylindrical snap-on pipe 30 has a resistance recess 42 extending upward from a bottom end or rim 43. The rim 43 typically extends generally perpendicular to the downwardly extending axis of the pipe. As shown in Figure 11, a second resistance recess 42a may be offset 180 degrees from the resistance recess 42. While Figure 11 shows an asymmetric resistance recess (walls with different slopes), it is otherwise equally applicable to the symmetric resistance recess 42 shown in Figure 5.

[0070] Resistance recess 42 of Figures 5-7 includes two walls 44, 46 formed in cylindrical snap-on pipe 30. As will be described below, in one embodiment, for example, in Figures 5-7, the walls of the resistance recess are symmetrical. In other embodiments, particularly those shown in Figures 8-11, the walls are asymmetrical. In the latter embodiment, the shape of walls 44c, 46c depends on the direction in which it is desired to rotate the closure so that it can be unscrewed and removed from the bottle.

[0071] Typically, closures are unscrewed / opened / removed in a counterclockwise direction, and for purposes of this description, counterclockwise unscrewing / opening will be assumed, however, it is contemplated that a different orientation could be used if desired, with the shape of walls 44c, 46c and the location of guide recess 70 adjusted accordingly.

[0072] As best seen in Figure 7, when the closure is in the closed position, the resistance recess 42 receives at least a portion of a biasing element 50, which is a protrusion extending outward from the bottle neck 32. The bottle may have one or more biasing elements, such as two biasing elements, shown in the 180 degree position in Figure 2.

[0073] According to one embodiment, the trailing resistance recess wall during unscrewing / unscrewing rotation, designated 44c in the embodiment shown in Figure 9, has a gentler slope at its lower end 45c than the opposite (leading) recess wall 46c, which has a steeper slope at its lower end. In this asymmetric resistance recess wall embodiment, as well as the symmetric recess wall embodiments described below, the biasing element (50c in the asymmetric version of Figure 10) can also include at least two angled side walls 54c, 52c with different slopes, as seen in Figure 10. Alternatively, they can have the same slope, as shown in Figure 7.

[0074] According to a preferred embodiment, the walls of the resistance recess can also be symmetrical or substantially symmetrical, as shown, for example, in Figures 6 and 7. As previously mentioned, the resistance recess 42 has a front wall 46 and a rear wall 44. These walls are symmetrical and mirror images of each other, so that the slope of the walls is the same at each point at the same axial vertical height. Similarly, although the walls 54 and 52 of the biasing element 50 (Figures 1 and 7) are shown as symmetrical or substantially symmetrical, they can be asymmetrical, if desired, even if the resistance recess walls are symmetrical.

[0075] The symmetrical recessed wall embodiment (FIG. 6) operates similarly to the asymmetrical recessed wall embodiment, except that neither recessed wall 44 nor 46 has a steep slope to impede rotation of the closure. Rather, this embodiment relies primarily on the thread angles of the snap-on pipe and bottle neck to prevent or substantially inhibit rotation of the closure in the closed direction from the position shown in FIG.

[0076] Explaining the closure opening operation in more detail, in the asymmetrical embodiment shown in Figures 8-10, starting from the initial closed position shown in Figure 10, when a consumer turns the closure clockwise, the steep slope of the biasing element side wall 52c faces the steep slope of the resistance recess wall 46c, preventing rotation. On the other hand, when the closure is rotated counterclockwise from the initial closed position, the biasing element side wall 54c faces the more gradual slope of the resistance recess wall 44c, at least in its lower half, e.g., 45c near its base. Side wall 54c can also have a more gradual slope, as shown in Figure 10, if desired. The effect of this contact between the biasing element and the more gradual slope wall 44c is that, instead of preventing rotation that would occur with a steeper slope, the biasing element 50c pushes the resistance recess wall and the descending cylindrical snap-on pipe 30 slightly upward. When the closure is rotated in the opening direction, the angle between the bottle neck and the snap-on pipe threads also causes the closure to move axially upward.

[0077] In the symmetrical embodiment of Figure 7, as the closure is rotated counterclockwise from the initial closed position, the side wall 54 of the biasing element 50 faces the resistance recess wall 44. The slope of the biasing element wall and the rear end resistance recess wall causes the biasing element 50 to push slightly upward against the resistance recess wall 44 and the descending cylindrical snap-on pipe 30. Again, as rotation continues in the opening direction, an upward axial component occurs due to the angle of the threads on the bottle neck and snap-on pipe.

[0078] In both the symmetric and asymmetric resistance recess wall embodiments, there is desirably a relationship between the slope of the resistance recess wall and the walls of the biasing element: the smaller, more gradual slope at 45c of the rear end asymmetric resistance recess wall 44c (FIG. 9) and the slope of the symmetric wall 44 (FIGS. 6, 7) are similar or identical to the slope of the corresponding side walls 54c, 54 of the bottle's biasing element that face the resistance recess wall 44c, 44 during unscrewing and opening.

[0079] The slope of wall 44c at section 45c is preferably within a range of +10 degrees to -10 degrees of the slope of wall 54c (FIG. 10). The slope of wall 44c, at least where it contacts biasing element 50, is within a range of +10 degrees to -10 degrees of the slope of wall 54. Thus, if wall 54c is 45 degrees, then wall 44c at section 45c is within a range of 35 degrees to 55 degrees. If wall 54 is 45 degrees, then the slope of wall 44 where it contacts wall 54 is within a range of 35 degrees to 55 degrees. Each of walls 44c, 44, 54, and 54c is within a range of 30 degrees to 85 degrees.

[0080] The slope of wall 44c at section 45c and the slope of wall 44 at the point where wall 44 contacts the biasing element are measured relative to a horizontal line passing through rim section 56 extending along the bottom of the snap-on pipe between the rear end of the resistance recess and the first upwardly extending wall (in the closing opening direction) of the guide recess. The slope of walls 54c, 54 is measured at the point where they first contact walls 44c, 44, respectively, upon rotation and is measured relative to a horizontal line intersecting the contact points with walls 44c, 44, which horizontal line is parallel to or coincident with bottom rim section 56.

[0081] As the consumer further rotates the closure 22 counterclockwise to remove it, the biasing element 50c or 50 passes through the resistance recess wall 44c or 44, and the upper portion 58 of the biasing element contacts the section 56 of the bottom rim 43 of the cylindrical snap-on pipe. As the closure 22 is further rotated counterclockwise to open it, the upper portion 58 of the biasing element 50c or 50 contacts the guide recess 70, as shown, for example, in Figures 5, 7, and 8. Figure 8 shows the biasing element 50c below the guide recess after the snap-on pipe has passed the rim section 56 in the open position.

[0082] The guide recess 70 has a wall 72 extending upward at a slope between 90° and 150°, preferably between 90° and 135°, relative to a horizontal line drawn through the bottom rim section 56, and then a wall 75 extending downward at a relatively moderate slope between 0° and 10°, more preferably between 4° and 10°, relative to a horizontal line drawn through the intersection 75 of wall 74 (FIG. 5) and the pipe bottom 43. The upper wall 58 of the biasing elements 50c and 50 preferably does not contact the first and second guide walls during rotation. Rather, the guide recess allows the snap-on pipe 30 to rotate freely to accommodate the pitch of the bottle neck and snap-on pipe thread while the biasing element 50c or 50 is received within the space of the guide recess.

[0083] The distance between the resistance recess 42c or 42 and the guide recess 70 is measured along the bottom rim section 56 from the point where the wall 44c or 44 meets the bottom end or rim 43 of the snap-on pipe to the point where the guide recess wall 70 begins to rise at the beginning of the wall 72. The distance between the resistance recess and the guide recess in the unscrewing / unscrewing direction is preferably at least 3 mm. This distance is typically 2 mm to a maximum of 5 mm, in particular 2 mm to 4 mm.

[0084] The presence of the guide recess in addition to the resistance recess also facilitates rotation of the closure in the opposite closing direction (generally clockwise). When the closure is rotated in the clockwise closing direction at point 75 in Figure 5, biasing element 50c or 50 will be positioned under the gently upwardly sloping wall 74 of guide recess 70, then under the steeper downward slope of wall 72, then contacting rim 43 at section 56, and finally positioned between walls 44c or 44 and 46c or 46 of the resistance recess in the closed position, as shown in Figures 7 and 10.

[0085] In operation, bottles are typically manufactured using injection blow molding. The presence of the feed ring 59 facilitates bottle manufacturing, particularly by supporting the preform within the injection blow molding mold. During package assembly, the closure 22 is snap-fit ​​onto the neck 32 of the bottle 20 (e.g., FIG. 2) by pushing the closure 22 axially downward (or pushing the bottle 20 axially upward, or both). Because the bottle body and the closure are made of a flexible material and / or the presence of one or more recesses in the snap-on pipe allows the cylindrical snap-on pipe 30 to elastically expand radially, the internal threads 34 of the cylindrical snap-on pipe overcome the external threads 60 on the neck of the container, snapping the closure onto the neck. The biasing elements 50c, 50d fit within their respective resistance recesses. In this way, the closure is securely fastened to the container, and a consumer or other external force would require significant force to separate them with a strictly vertical or upward axial movement. Alternatively, the closure 22 can be first rotated onto the container 20 to engage the threads.

[0086] In normal use, the product is dispensed with the cover 26 removed from the opening 36. Next, when the product is not in use, the cover 26 is closed and the plug 40 seals the opening.

[0087] When the bottle is nearly empty of its original shampoo, body wash, lotion, or other product, the consumer removes the closure 22 from the package to facilitate refilling and reuse. To initiate closure removal, the consumer typically rotates the closure counterclockwise, starting from the position shown in FIG. 7 or 10, where the biasing element 50c or 50 is at least partially housed within the resistance recess 42c or 42. The biasing element 50c or 50 slightly pushes the closure 22 upward as the closure is rotated, as described above. The cylindrical snap-on pipe threads 34 maintain their position below the container neck threads 60 at least until the biasing element reaches a position below the guide recess wall 72, and preferably until the biasing element reaches a position beyond the position below the second guide recess wall. That is, the threads maintain their relative axial position until one or more interruptions in the threads allow them to override each other and remove the closure from the bottle. Upon rotation, the angle between the bottle neck and the snap-on pipe threads causes the closure to move with an axial upward component.

[0088] More specifically, regarding the interaction of the biasing element with the snap-on pipe, after passing through the resistance recess, the biasing element 50c or 50 then strikes the section 56 of the cylindrical snap-on pipe's bottom rim 43, after which further rotation of the closure / snap-on pipe causes the biasing element to move beneath the upwardly extending wall 72 of the guide recess 70. The wall 72 allows the cylindrical snap-on pipe to move axially downward toward the container neck and accommodates the biasing element so that it does not interfere with the rotation of the snap-on pipe. The cylindrical snap-on pipe threads 34 remain below the bottle threads 60, thereby retaining the closure on the bottle and allowing the consumer to continue using forward rotation to unscrew the closure from the container neck.

[0089] FIG. 8 shows a biasing element 50c within a recess 70. In another (symmetrical resistive recess wall) embodiment, the biasing element 50 is similarly received within the recess 70. Preferably, the biasing elements 50c, 50c do not contact the first and second guide recess walls, but are received within the recess as the snap-on pipe / closure rotates. Alternatively, this unscrewing rotation may be further facilitated by contacting the upper portion 58 of the biasing element with the downwardly extending wall 74 of the guide recess 70. Optional contact of the upper portion 58 with the downwardly extending wall 74 lifts the cylindrical snap-on pipe of the closure, supporting the normal unscrewing action of the closure, thereby facilitating removal of the closure. The thread pitch of the snap-on pipe and bottle neck is similar to the slope of the wall 74, i.e., 0 to 10 degrees, particularly 4 to 10 degrees. Typically, the thread angle is within 10% of the angle of the guide recess wall 74.

[0090] At some point during the opening rotation, preferably after the biasing element has passed below the second guide recess wall, an interruption in one or both of the snap-on pipe threads and the bottle neck threads allows the snap-on pipe threads to overcome the bottle neck threads, thereby disengaging the closure from the bottle. Typically, this occurs further in the opening rotation than the position shown for biasing element 50 in FIG. 5. For example, biasing element 50 will be closer to point 75, preferably past point 75. Because the closure is made of a flexible material, removal is also easy.

[0091] Once the closure is removed, the consumer can then refill the bottle with shampoo or other product. The consumer then replaces the closure onto the bottle by either snapping the closure downward onto the bottle neck in an axial direction similar to that used in manufacturing, or by screwing the closure back onto the bottle neck. If the consumer chooses the latter, the clockwise moving rim 43 of the pipe 30 may contact the upper portion 58 of the biasing element (50c or 50). When point 75 is reached (FIG. 5), it is preferably located below a gradually rising wall 74, which allows the pipe to descend relative to the bottle neck, consistent with the normal action of screwing the closure downward. At this point, the threads are engaged.

[0092] The front (closing direction) and / or top wall of the biasing element then preferably rests below the wall 72 of the guide recess 70 that accommodates the rise of the pipe 30 relative to the bottle neck 32, and then the top 58 of the biasing element 50c or 50 contacts the section 56 of the rim 43. Further rotation of the snap-on pipe causes the biasing element to reach the resistance recess wall 44c or 44, and the pipe 30 moves downward as the biasing element 50c or 50 is accommodated within the recess 42c or 42. As the consumer rotates the closure closed, the internal threads 34 of the pipe 30 remain positioned below the external threads 60 of the bottle neck 32, thereby keeping the closure attached to the bottle.

[0093] For example, in an asymmetric option such as that shown in Figure 10, when the biasing element wall 52c contacts the steep wall 46c of the resistance recess 42c, the closure will not be able to rotate any further. In a symmetric option such as that shown in Figure 7, when the biasing element wall 52c contacts the leading wall 46c of the resistance recess 42c, the angle of the threads will tend to prevent further rotation. If it is desired to further prevent rotation in the closing direction when the biasing element 50 reaches this position, an additional stop mechanism can be provided, such as teeth on the closure that engage ratchets on the bottle neck or shoulder.

[0094] Although the threads, snap-on beads, or other protrusions are depicted here as being on the inside of the snap-on pipe and on the outside of the bottle neck, this can be reversed, with the protrusions on the outside of the snap-on pipe and on the inside of the bottle neck, if desired.

[0095] As used herein, "threads" encompass traditional bottle-neck style threads, snap beads, and other protrusions and connectors that function similarly to threads. Preferably, snap-on pipe "threads" use snap beads, while bottle necks use more traditional bottle-neck style threads.

[0096] As used herein, when we say that the slope of each resistance recess wall at each respective axial height is essentially the same, or that the walls are essentially symmetrical, it means that at each axial height, the angle of the wall relative to the snap-on pipe rim is within 10% (even if it is a mirror image) of the angle of the opposite resistance recess wall at the same axial height. Preferably, the wall angle is within 5%, most particularly within 1%, more preferably within 0.5%, of the angle of the opposite recess wall, and even more preferably, the angle is the same at each axial height, even if it is a mirror image. In other words, the angle of essentially symmetric opposing walls at the same axial height is essentially the same even if rotated 180 degrees.

[0097] The exact height and shape of the resistance recess may be affected by the material of the sealing device, especially the snap-on pipe, and may therefore be adjusted after testing of the plastic part.

[0098] The closure 22 can be safely and economically attached to the neck of the container by being positioned strictly vertically / axially on the bottle at the time of manufacture, while allowing the consumer to easily rotate the closure for removal and reattach it to the bottle to proceed with refilling the container. The closure 22 can also be attached to the container at the time of manufacture by rotating it to engage a screw thread.

[0099] When upward or downward movement is mentioned herein, it is assumed that the container 20 is resting on a base (not shown) at the end opposite the closure, and this does not preclude the possibility of using the container as a tottle, for example, which rests on the top of the container, i.e., on the closure, during use.

[0100] When used herein in connection with a range, the word "up to" should be interpreted as including the values ​​at both ends of the range.

[0101] The closure can be made of polypropylene or polyethylene, or similar polymeric materials, and the bottle is preferably injection molded from polyethylene terephthalate, or PET, or other suitable polymers. If desired, the bottle can also be made of polypropylene or polyethylene. The closure is designed to be durable and withstand normal wear and tear from opening and closing the closure, and from being dropped.

[0102] The present invention can be used with personal care products, including products that are applied to the skin, scalp, or mouth, such as shampoo, body wash, skin lotion, petrolatum, etc. The containers of the present invention may also be useful for household products such as laundry detergent and food products such as mayonnaise.

[0103] It is, of course, to be understood that the specific forms of the invention shown and described herein are intended to be representative only, since certain modifications can be made without departing from the clear teachings of the disclosure. Accordingly, reference should be made to the appended claims in determining the full scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A container comprising a combination of a closure (22) and a bottle (20), the closure and the bottle having one or more walls forming a shoulder (27) and a bottle neck (32), the walls including at least one biasing element (50), I. The sealing device (22) a) an upper wall (25) defining an opening (36); b) a cylindrical snap-on pipe (30) descending from said upper wall and extending axially to a bottom end (43); c) said cylindrical snap-on pipe having at least one resistance recess (42) extending to said bottom end; d) said cylindrical snap-on pipe further comprising one or more threads (34); e) said cylindrical snap-on pipe defining opposing first and second walls of said resistance recess (42); and f) the bottom end of the cylindrical snap-on pipe shaped to have guide recesses (70) that match the up and down movement of the cylindrical snap-on pipe thread relative to the bottle neck (32); Including; II. The bottle (20) has a biasing element (50) projecting outward from the wall of the bottle neck, the biasing element being spaced from the shoulder portion (27); the bottle neck has one or more threads (60); the at least one bottle biasing element is adjusted to be at least partially received in the resistance recess (42) of the closure cylindrical snap-on pipe (30), the guide recess including a first wall (72) having an upward slope and a second wall (74) having a downward slope, whereby, upon rotation in the closure opening direction, the first guide recess wall allows the cylindrical snap-on pipe (30) to move axially downward toward the biasing element (50), and the second guide recess wall, which coincides with the closure cylindrical snap-on pipe, allows it to move upward relative to the biasing element (50), the snap-on pipe thread and the bottle neck thread maintain their relative axial positions, and when the biasing element contacts the resistance recess wall, the bottle neck thread is above the snap-on pipe thread at least until the biasing element reaches a position below the second guide recess wall; A container in which the wall or walls of the bottle neck have an annular feed ring (59), the biasing element (50) extends outward beyond the feed ring (59), and the one or more biasing elements are positioned above the feed ring.

2. 2. The container of claim 1, further comprising an interruption in one or more of the snap-on pipe thread and the bottle thread, wherein after the biasing element (50) reaches a position below the second guide recess wall (74), the cylindrical snap-on pipe thread (34) passes through the one or more interruptions and overcomes the bottle thread (60), thereby removing the closure from the bottle (20).

3. 3. The container of claim 1, wherein the first and second resistance recess walls have a slope, the slope of each of the resistance recess walls being essentially the same at each point at the same axial height.

4. 3. The container of claim 1, wherein the one or more biasing elements are disposed above the feed ring.

5. 3. A container according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the closure further comprises a closure cover (26) for closing the opening, the closure cover being hingedly attached to the closure base (24) of the closure.

6. 3. A container according to claim 1 or 2, wherein after hitting the resistance recess (42) in a rotational direction for unscrewing the closure device, the biasing element is housed in the guide recess (70) and is below the first guide recess wall (72) and then the second guide recess wall (74).

7. 3. A container according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the distance between the resistance recess (42) and the guide recess (70) in the unscrewing direction of the sealed container is at least 2 mm.

8. 3. A container according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the first guide recess wall (72) has a slope of between 90 and 150 degrees.

9. 9. The container of claim 8, wherein the first guide recess wall has a slope of between 90 and 135 degrees.

10. 3. A container according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the second guide recess wall (74) has a slope of 0 to 10 degrees.

11. 3. A container according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the feed ring (59) is spaced apart from and above the shoulder (27).

12. 3. A container according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the distance between the resistance recess (42) and the guide recess (70) in the unscrewing direction of the closure is between 2 mm and 5 mm.

13. 3. A container according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the distance between the resistance recess (42) and the guide recess (70) in the unscrewing direction of the closure is between 2 mm and 4 mm.

Images