초록 ▼

The combination of an injection-molded, snap-on cap and a blow-molded, plastic container are designed to act together to provide a seal that prevents a loss of freshness to the porous product stored within, regardless of variations in the manufacturing process. Instead of a rounded ridge on the cont

The combination of an injection-molded, snap-on cap and a blow-molded, plastic container are designed to act together to provide a seal that prevents a loss of freshness to the porous product stored within, regardless of variations in the manufacturing process. Instead of a rounded ridge on the container, the ridge has a flattened section on its lower half. On the inside of the snap-on cap, the ridge has two flat surfaces. A first flat surface is designed to fit snugly against the flat surface on the ridge of the container, even at the extreme range of small container/large cap. The design has been shown to dramatically reduce the absorption of moisture by an enclosed product, demonstrating that a desirable seal is formed.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A method of providing a close fit between a molded container and a molded overcap, where the overcap has a smaller amount of tolerance in the molding process than does the container, the method comprising the steps of: (a) providing a container, such that said container has a

What is claimed is: 1. A method of providing a close fit between a molded container and a molded overcap, where the overcap has a smaller amount of tolerance in the molding process than does the container, the method comprising the steps of: (a) providing a container, such that said container has an opening surrounded by a rim, said rim having an upper portion that is rounded and a lower portion that is flat in cross-section, wherein said container comprises a nominal outer diameter at a largest circumference of said rim of ODRIM.NOM with a manufacturing tolerance of T CNTR; (b) providing a snap-on overcap to removably snap over said rim of said container, wherein a base of said overcap is sized to cover said opening, said overcap further comprising a flange with an outer surface extending essentially perpendicularly from said base, an inner surface of said flange comprising an essentially perpendicular portion extending from the base, a circumferential ridge adjacent the essentially perpendicular portion, said circumferential ridge having a peak defining a flattened upper and lower faces, said flattened upper face being configured to seat against said rim flat lower portion such that the only contact between said rim and said flange takes place between said flattened upper face and said rim flat lower portion, wherein further said flattened upper face comprises an adjacent upper surface, wherein said adjacent upper surface and said flattened lower face angle away from said container, said overcap having a manufacturing tolerance of T CAP, wherein TCAP<TCNTR. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein both of said container and said overcap are molded. 3. The method of claim 1, wherein said container is blow molded. 4. The method of claim 1, wherein said overcap is injection molded. 5. The method of claim 1, wherein said lower portion of said rim and said face of said ridge provide a surface-to-surface contact. 6. The method of claim 1, wherein a nominal inner diameter of said overcap at said peak is equal to the nominal outer diameter of said rim of said container plus the manufacturing tolerance of said container minus twice an overlap needed for tightness minus the manufacturing tolerance of said overcap (IDPEAK.NOM=ODRIM.NOM+T CNTR-(2×OVR)-TCAP). 7. The method of claim 1, wherein a nominal inner diameter of said overcap at locations away from said ridge is greater than a nominal outside diameter of the rim of said container at a largest diameter minus the manufacturing tolerance of said container plus the manufacturing tolerance of said overcap. 8. The method of claim 1, wherein said container comprises a high-density polyethylene. 9. The method of claim 1, wherein said overcap comprises a low-density polyethylene. 10. The method of claim 1, wherein said container and said overcap each comprises a low friction plastic. 11. A method of providing a close fit between a molded container and a molded overcap, where the overcap has a smaller amount of tolerance in the molding process than does the container, the method comprising the steps of: (a) providing a container, such that said container has an opening surrounded by a rim, said rim having an upper portion that is rounded and a lower portion that is flat in cross-section, wherein said container comprises a nominal outer diameter at a largest circumference of said rim of ODRIM.NOM with a manufacturing tolerance of T CNTR; (b) providing a snap-on overcap to removably snap over said rim of said container, wherein a base of said overcap is sized to cover said opening, said overcap further comprising a flange extending essentially perpendicularly from said base, an inner surface of said flange containing a circumferential ridge having a peak, a flattened face of said ridge being configured to seat against said lower portion of said rim of said container, said overcap having a manufacturing tolerance of TCAP, wherein TCAP<TCNTR., said providing step (b) comprising (b1) determining a desired overlap between said peak and said rim of OVR to provide a desired tightness in the fit; (b2) determining a nominal inner diameter of said cap at said peak to be IDPEAK.NOM=ODRIM.NOM+TCNTR-(2×OVR)-TCAP; and (b3) determining a nominal inner diameter of said cap at locations away from said ridge to be IDFLANGE.NOM>ODRIM. NOM-TCNTR+TCAP. 12. The method of claim 11, wherein said container is blow molded. 13. The method of claim 11, wherein said overcap is injection molded.