Closure and container system for hot filled containers

Abstract

A closure device for a plastic container includes a liner and a plastic closure. The liner is sealed to the neck of the bottle at the end face of the neck and along a portion of the outer surface of the neck. The plastic closure engages the liner to retain the liner against the neck during sealing and to seal the area between the liner and the closure top from liquids present during cooling of the container. The closure includes a top wall, an annular closure skirt depending from the top wall, an annular outer flexible seal depending from the top wall, and at least one annular pressure ring. The outer flexible seal retains an outer edge of the liner against the outer surface of the container neck and prevents ingress of liquids. The annular pressure ring engages the liner to retain the liner against the end face of the neck during sealing.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A closure for a plastic container and liner, the container having a cylindrical neck, the neck having an inner neck surface, a neck end face, and an outer neck surface, comprising: 
 (a) a top wall;    (b) an annular closure skirt depending from the top wall, the closure skirt having at least one internal thread constructed to cooperate with an external thread on the outer neck surface to retain the closure on the container;    (c) an annular outer flexible seal depending from the top wall, the outer flexible seal constructed to engage the outer neck surface; and    (d) at least one annular pressure ring depending from the top wall, constructed to engage a liner to retain the liner against the neck end face during sealing.    
     
     
         2 . The closure according to  claim 1 , wherein the outer flexible seal extends at an outward angle from the top wall.  
     
     
         3 . The closure according to  claim 1 , wherein the closure includes a plurality of pressure rings depending from the top wall.  
     
     
         4 . The closure according to  claim 3 , wherein the outer flexible seal extends at an outward angle from the top wall.  
     
     
         5 . The closure according to  claim 1 , further comprising an annular inner flexible seal depending from the top wall, constructed to engage an inner ring of a liner.  
     
     
         6 . The closure according to  claim 5 , wherein the outer flexible seal extends at an outward angle from the top wall and the inner flexible seal extends at an inward angle from the top wall.  
     
     
         7 . The closure device according to  claim 5 , wherein the inner ring is constructed to seal against the inner neck surface.  
     
     
         8 . The closure device according to  claim 5 , wherein the closure contains a plurality of pressure rings depending from the top wall.  
     
     
         9 . The closure according to  claim 8 , wherein the outer flexible seal extends at an outward angle from the top wall and the inner flexible seal extends at an inward angle from the top wall.  
     
     
         10 . The closure device according to  claim 8 , wherein the inner ring is constructed to seal against the inner neck surface.  
     
     
         11 . A closure system, comprising: 
 (a) a plastic container including a cylindrical neck, the neck having an inner neck surface, a neck end face, and an outer neck surface, the outer neck surface including at least one external thread;    (b) a liner being sealed to the neck end face and having an outer ring sealed to the container outer neck surface; and    (c) a plastic closure, comprising: 
 (i) a top wall;  
 (ii) an annular closure skirt depending from the closure top, the closure skirt having at least one internal thread cooperating with the external thread on the outer neck surface to retain the closure on the container;  
 (iii) an annular outer flexible seal depending from the closure top engaging the liner outer ring; and  
 (iv) at least one annular pressure ring depending from the closure top, engaging the liner to retain the liner against the neck end face during sealing.  
   
     
     
         12 . The closure according to  claim 11 , wherein the outer flexible seal extends at an outward angle from the top wall.  
     
     
         13 . The closure according to  claim 11 , wherein the closure includes a plurality of pressure rings depending from the top wall.  
     
     
         14 . The closure according to  claim 13 , wherein the outer flexible seal extends at an outward angle from the top wall.  
     
     
         15 . The closure according to  claim 11 , further comprising an annular inner flexible seal depending from the top wall, constructed to engage an inner ring of a liner.  
     
     
         16 . The closure according to  claim 15 , wherein the outer flexible seal extends at an outward angle from the top wall and the inner flexible seal extends at an inward angle from the top wall.  
     
     
         17 . The closure device according to  claim 15 , wherein the inner ring is constructed to seal against the inner neck surface.  
     
     
         18 . The closure device according to  claim 15 , wherein the closure contains a plurality of pressure rings depending from the top wall.  
     
     
         19 . The closure according to  claim 18 , wherein the outer flexible seal extends at an outward angle from the top wall and the inner flexible seal extends at an inward angle from the top wall.  
     
     
         20 . The closure device according to  claim 18 , wherein the inner ring is constructed to seal against the inner neck surface.  
     
     
         21 . A method of filling a package, the method comprising: 
 (a) providing a plastic container including a cylindrical neck, the neck having an inner neck surface, a neck end face, and an outer neck surface, the outer neck surface including at least one external thread;    (b) providing the container with contents, the contents being at an elevated temperature;    (c) providing a liner on a neck of the container;    (d) providing a plastic closure on the liner and container a plastic closure, the plastic closure comprising: 
 (i) a top wall;  
 (ii) an annular closure skirt depending from the closure top, the closure skirt having at least one internal thread cooperating with the external thread on the outer neck surface to retain the closure on the container;  
 (iii) an annular outer flexible seal depending from the closure top engaging the liner; and  
 (iv) at least one annular pressure ring depending from the closure top, engaging the liner to retain the liner against the neck end face;  
   (e) sealing the liner to the container neck; and    (f) cooling the container and contents.    
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 21 , wherein the step of sealing comprises induction sealing the liner to the container neck.  
     
     
         23 . The method according to  claim 21 , wherein the step of cooling includes exposing the container to water.  
     
     
         24 . The method according to  claim 22 , wherein the step of exposing to water includes submersing the container in a water bath.  
     
     
         25 . The method according to  claim 22 , wherein the step of exposing to water includes exposing the container to a water shower.