IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
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국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
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출원번호 |
US-0227422
(2002-08-26)
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발명자
/ 주소 |
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출원인 / 주소 |
- SmithKline Beecham Corporation
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대리인 / 주소 |
Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett &
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인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
8 인용 특허 :
7 |
초록
▼
A simple structure for a container closure system that allows for ease in closure and removal of a cap from the container is disclosed. The container closure comprises a cap having a skirt of substantially rectangular cross-section. Disposed in a central location on each of the internal surfaces of
A simple structure for a container closure system that allows for ease in closure and removal of a cap from the container is disclosed. The container closure comprises a cap having a skirt of substantially rectangular cross-section. Disposed in a central location on each of the internal surfaces of the skirt are rim-engaging members that are substantially coplanar. The container has a neck portion terminating in an outer peripheral rim surrounding an oval-shaped opening in one end of the container through which the container contents may be dispensed. Cap-engaging portions on the outer portion of the peripheral rim engage with the rim-engaging members disposed on the skirt internal surface when the cap is in a closed position over the container opening. The rim-engaging members of the present invention can be in the form of small ridges or grooves and can engage with cap-engaging portions formed by small ribs. Alternatively, when in the form of small ridges, rim-engaging members can engage with cap-engaging portions in the form of a small edge extending around the outer portion of the peripheral rim. The cap may be placed into a closed position on the container by aligning the edge of the skirt with a similarly configured edge of the container body and “snapping” the rim-engaging members on the skirt into an engaged relationship with the cap-engaging portions on the peripheral rim. When the cap is in a closed position, the container, its contents, and the cap can be lifted solely by gripping the cap. By twisting the cap slightly with respect to a vertical axis of the container, the rim-engaging members and the cap-engaging portions are disengaged, thereby releasing the cap to an open position so that it may be removed from the container.
대표청구항
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1. A container closure system comprising:a container having a vertical axis and a substantially oval-shaped opening in one end thereof, said opening having a major axis, a minor axis, and an outer peripheral rim, a cap having a top wall and a skirt depending from said top wall, said skirt having an
1. A container closure system comprising:a container having a vertical axis and a substantially oval-shaped opening in one end thereof, said opening having a major axis, a minor axis, and an outer peripheral rim, a cap having a top wall and a skirt depending from said top wall, said skirt having an inner surface of substantially rectangular cross-section, said skirt defining an interior surface of said cap, said interior surface including a plurality of rim-engaging members; said outer peripheral rim including cap-engaging portions at the major and minor axes of said outer peripheral rim, each of said plurality of rim-engaging members having a longitudinal axis parallel to said rim; said rim and said plurality of rim-engaging members being in an engaged relationship when said cap is in a closed position over the opening in the container, and wherein said rim and said plurality of rim-engaging members will be in a disengaged relationship when said cap only is twisted less than 45° with respect to the vertical axis of said container, thereby releasing said cap from said container. 2. The container closure system of claim 1 wherein said rim-engaging members comprise a plurality of ridges on said interior surface of said cap, said ridges being located opposite the major and minor axes of said opening in said cap when said container is closed.3. The container closure system of claim 1 wherein said cap-engaging portions comprise four ribs located on the major and minor axes of said outer peripheral rim of said opening.4. A container closure system comprising:a container having a substantially oval-shaped opening in one end thereof, said opening having a vertical axis, a major axis, a minor axis, and an outer peripheral rim, a cap having a top wall and a skirt depending from said top wall, said skirt having an inner surface of substantially rectangular cross-section, said skirt defining an interior surface of said cap, said interior surface having a plurality of separate ridges; said peripheral outer rim including cap-engaging portions at the major and minor axes of said outer peripheral rim, each of said ridges having a longitudinal axis parallel to said rim; said rim and said ridges being in an engaged relationship when said cap is in a closed position over the opening in the container, and wherein said rim and said ridges will be in a disengaged relationship when said cap only is twisted less than 45° with respect to the vertical axis of said container, thereby releasing said cap from said container. 5. The container closure system of claim 4 wherein said rim includes ribs disposed on said rim at opposite axes of said peripheral rim, said ribs having their longitudinal axis parallel to said rim.6. The container closure system of claim 4, wherein, when said cap is in the closed position, said ridges are positioned below said cap-engaging portions.7. The container closure system of claim 6, wherein said ridges are coplanar and said cap-engaging portions are coplanar.8. The container closure system of claim 6 wherein said cap-engaging portions comprise a plurality of ribs disposed on said rim.9. The container closure system of claim 4, wherein said ridges have respective lengths of approximately one-sixth to one-tenth of a length of the inner surface portion on which said plurality of ridges are respectively disposed, and said cap-engaging portions have respective lengths approximately equal to the longer of the respective lengths of said ridges.10. The container closure system of claim 4, wherein said ridges are disposed approximately at the center of respective portions of said inner surface, said respective inner surface portions combining to form said interior surface of said cap.11. The container closure system of claim 4, wherein said container and said cap consist essentially of a thermoplastic polymer.12. The container closure system of claim 4, wherein said container comprises a main body portion and a neck portion attached to an upper end of the main body portion, the neck portion terminating to form the peripheral rim.13. The container closure system of claim 12, further comprising a sloped surface connecting the neck portion to the main body portion.14. The container closure system of claim 13, wherein upon twisting the cap to the open position, an edge of the skirt contacts the sloped surface causing the cap to move in a direction away from the container main body.15. The container closure system of claim 14, wherein the main body has a substantially rectangular cross-section in a horizontal plane and the neck portion has a substantially oval cross-section in a horizontal plane.16. The container closure system of claim 4, wherein said cap is twisted with respect to said container approximately 5-20 degrees to release said cap from said container.17. A container closure system comprising:a container having a vertical axis and an opening in one end thereof, said opening having a major axis, a minor axis, and an outer peripheral rim; a cap having a top wall and a skirt depending from said top wall, said skirt having an inner surface defining an interior surface of said cap, said interior surface having a plurality of separate ridges; said peripheral outer rim including cap-engaging portions at the major and minor axes of said outer peripheral rim, said ridges having their longitudinal axis substantially parallel to said rim; said rim and said ridges being in the engaged relationship when said cap is in a closed position over the opening, and wherein said rim and said ridges are disengaged when said cap only is twisted between approximately 20-45 degrees with respect to the vertical axis, thereby releasing said cap from said container. 18. The container closure system of claim 17, wherein, when said cap is in the closed position, said ridges are positioned below said cap-engaging portions.19. The container closure system of claim 17, wherein said cap-engaging portion comprises a plurality of ribs.20. The container closure system of claim 17, wherein said ridges are coplanar, and said cap-engaging portions are co-planar.21. The container closure system of claim 17, wherein said ridges have respective lengths of approximately one-sixth to one-tenth of a length of the inner surface portion in which said ridges are disposed, and said cap-engaging portions have substantially uniform lengths approximately equal to a longer one of the respective lengths of the ridges.22. The container closure system of claim 17, wherein said ridges are disposed approximately at the canter of respective portions of said inner surface, said respective inner surface portions combining to form said interior surface of said cap.23. A container closure system comprising:a container having a vertical axis and a substantially oval-shaped opening in one end thereof, said opening having a major axis, a minor axis, an outer peripheral rim, a cap having a top wall and a skirt depending from said top wall, said skirt having an inner surface of substantially rectangular cross-section, said skirt defining an interior surface of said cap, said interior surface including a plurality of rim-engaging members; said outer peripheral rim including cap-engaging portions at the major and minor axes of said outer peripheral rim, each of said plurality of rim-engaging members having a longitudinal axis parallel to said rim; said rim and said plurality of rim-engaging members being in an engaged relationship when said cap is in a closed position over the opening in the container, and wherein twisting of the cap about the vertical axis causes an outer portion of the outer peripheral rim to contact the inner surface of said skirt, and further twisting causes said skirt to ride up along said neck, thereby lifting said cap away from said container upon a twist of less than 45 degrees. 24. A container closure system according to claim 23, wherein said cap lifts away from said container upon a twist of between approximately 5 to 20 degrees.25. A container closure system according to claim 23 wherein said rim-engaging members comprise a thermoplastic polymer having a selected coefficient of friction.
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