GB2273493A - Snap on, twist off closure - Google Patents

Abstract

A closure (9) for the neck (2) of a container (1) is adapted for automated assembly by a direct press fitting action but is removed by a twisting action for refilling. It may also be fitted by a twisting action. The neck (2) has two L-shaped channels (6, 7) defined by lands (3, 8) which are engaged by two diametrically opposed projections (10) on the closure (9). This provides a push and twist bayonet locking action, the closure (9) being optionally also restrained rotationally by cooperating notches (13, 14) between the closure skirt and container neck. Ramp surfaces (4, 11) are provided respectively on the lands (3) and projections (10) and the closure deforms during assembly to allow the projections (10) to ride over the lands (3), and snap into an engaged position with shoulders (5, 12) abutting. The closure may carry a manually operated spray pump to discharge the liquid contents of the container. The closure may be a cap or may engage within the container neck. <IMAGE>

Description

TITLE Closure Caws for Containers This invention relates to closure caps for containers and to containers incorporating such closures and is particularly directed to a container with an outlet defined by a neck in combination with a closure cap co-operating therewith. The cap may retain or be integral with a means for discharging the contents of the container such as a pump means.

In a preferred embodiment this invention relates to a container for liquids with a neck adapted to receive a closure cap which carries a sprayer mechanism such as a hand operated pump device.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a closure cap which can be fitted in a simple way to the container neck by a pushing force but which may nevertheless be removed for refilling by a twisting action if required.

Another object is to provide a closure cap and container assembly which permits easy fitment in automated filling processes but which also allows removal and refilling of the container at a subsequent time.

Yet a further object is to provide a container closure which is of one piece construction.

In accordance with this invention there is provided a container having a neck and a closure cap for fitment to the neck, the neck and the cap having co-operating bayonet or twist locking means and wherein said means includes complementary profiled ramp surfaces, the cap and neck being engagable and disengagable by relative rotation through the bayonet or twist lock or alternatively the cap being engagable with the neck by longitudinal force whereby the co-operating ramp surfaces on the neck and the cap slide one over the other to the engaged position.

In one embodiment the neck includes a plurality of lands defining abutment surfaces and tapering towards the open end of the neck, a channel being defined between adjacent lands. The cap includes projections which may slide along said channels to thereafter engage behind the lands after rotation of the cap and in a manner of a bayonet lock. The projections on the cap may be tapered to further co-operate with the lands of the neck whereby the cap may be forced in a longitudinal direction and without rotation to cause the projections to slide over the lands through deformation of the cap to also engage behind the lands.

In a further arrangement this invention also provides a container having a neck and a closure cap for fitment to the neck, the neck having an L-shaped channel and the cap having a projection to engage the channel and to releasably secure the cap by a bayonet twist locking action, characterised in that the projection and parts of the neck defining the channel have profiled surfaces whereby the projection on the cap may ride over the neck to engage the channel directly in the secured position without twisting motion, through applied longitudinal force.

With such an arrangement the cap may be fitted to the neck by the simple expedient of applying longitudinal force and without twisting motion. This makes assembly of the cap to the container during production a simpler task. Furthermore the cap may be removed or attached by a twisting action, the overall construction involving no further operative parts but comprising only profiles on the container neck and a cap. Detents may be provided to hold the cap in position against rotation.

Preferably cooperating detent means are provided between the skirt of the cap and neck of the container, the detents resisting, but not preventing, rotation of the cap relative to the body.

Advantageously the cap and neck include alignment marks or formations enabling the projections to be correctly aligned relative to the neck prior to engagement.

In order to further describe the invention and preferred features thereof reference is now made to the accompanying drawings showing an embodiment.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a side view of the top of a container and neck, Figure 2 is a longitudinal section through the neck shown in Figure 1, Figure 3 is a sectional view on A-A of Figure 1, Figure 4 is a sectional view through a cap, Figure 5 is a section on B-B of Figure 4, and Figure 6 is a section through a cap fitted to the neck of a container.

Referring firstly to Figures 1 to 3 of the drawings, these show the top of a container 1 having a neck 2.

The outer peripheral surface of the neck 2 includes two opposed peripherally extending lands 3. Each of the lands 3 has a ramped surface 4 which tapers towards the top of the neck and an abutment shoulder 5 which faces towards the container 1. Between the ends of the two lands 3 channels 6 are provided both of which open into a respective peripheral channel 7 defined by the abutment shoulders 5 and each terminating in abutment rib surfaces 8 which are integral with a respective land 3. The Lshaped channels 6 and 7 with their respective abutment surfaces 8 form a bayonet lock in combination with two projections provided on the inside periphery of the cap.

Referring now to Figures 4 to 6 of the drawings, a cap 9 includes two opposed internal projections 10 each having a ramped surface 11 tapering towards the mouth of the cap and each having an abutment shoulder 12 at the other side. The dimensioning and configuration of the cap and neck are such that the cap may be rotationally aligned and located over the neck with the ramp surfaces 4 of the lands 3 lying adjacent and against the ramp surfaces 11 of projections 10. By applying longitudinally directed force the cap skirt and/or the container neck deforms and the parts 3,10 slide over each other until a final position is reached whereby the abutment surface 12 is in contact with the abutment surface 5 on the neck.In order to release the cap and by rotation the projections 10 slide circumferentially along channels 7 until abutment with ribs 8 whereafter the cap may be removed by pulling-off by virtue of the projections 10 sliding longitudinally along channels 6.

Figure 6 shows the position of the cap firmly engaged with the neck and retained by abutment between the surfaces 12 and 5.

Detent means may be provided to rotationally secure the cap on the neck during normal use. To remove the cap by rotation requires an initial force to overcome the detent engagement. As example, the lower skirt 13 of the cap may have one or preferably a series of notches which engage a complementary series of notches 14 on the base of the neck. This arrangement provides a ratchetlike action when cap 9 is rotated.

The invention is particularly useful in respect of containers incorporating an integral manually operated spray or jet pump mechanism whereby the cap 9 carries the pump mechanism and spray head. In such a case the spray head has parts which engage through aperture 15 in the cap and are retained on the cap preferably rotationally.

It will be understood that a complementary construction with lands 3 on the cap and projections 10 on the neck is equally possible. The cap could equally engage within the neck as opposed to around the neck.

Claims (9)

1. l. A container having a neck and a closure cap for fitment to the neck, the neck and the cap having cooperating bayonet or twist locking means and wherein said means includes complementary profiled ramp surfaces, the cap and neck being engagable and disengagable by relative rotation through the bayonet or twist lock or alternatively the cap being engagable with the neck by longitudinal force whereby the co-operating ramp surfaces on-the neck and the cap slide one over the other to the engaged position.
2. 2. A container in accordance with claim 1, wherein the neck includes a plurality of lands defining abutment surfaces and tapering towards the open end of the neck, a channel being defined between adjacent lands.
3. 3. A container in accordance with Claim 2, wherein the cap includes projections which may slide along said channels to thereafter engage behind the lands after rotation of the cap and in a manner of a bayonet lock.
4. 4. A container in accordance with Claim 3, wherein the projections on the- cap may be tapered to further cooperate with the lands of the neck whereby the cap may be forced in a longitudinal direction and without rotation to cause the projections to slide over the lands through deformation of the cap to also engage behind the lands.
5. 5. A container in accordance with any preceding claim, wherein corresponding detent means are provided between the skirt of the cap and neck of the container, the detents resisting, but not preventing, rotation of the cap relative to the body.
6. 6. A container having a neck and a closure cap for fitment to the neck, the neck having an L-shaped channel and the cap having a projection to engage the channel and to releasably secure the cap by a bayonet twist locking action, characterised in that the projection and parts of the neck defining the channel have profiled surfaces whereby the projection on the cap may ride over the neck to engage the channel directly in the secured position without twisting motion, through applied longitudinal force.
7. 7. A container in accordance with Claim 6, wherein two projections and two L-shaped channels forming the bayonet lock are provided.
8. 8. A container in accordance with any preceding claim, wherein the cap and neck include alignment marks or formations enabling the projections to be correctly aligned relative to the neck prior to engagement.
9. 9. A container and closure cap constructed and arranged to cooperate and function as described herein and exemplified with reference to the drawings.