Screw on dispensing closure with structure for preventing removal

Abstract

A screw on plastic dispensing closure for a container includes a closure main body that is adapted to be screwed on to a container and that has a top portion in which an orifice is defined for dispensing a substance from the container and a downwardly depending skirt portion having an inner surface on which at least one interior thread is defined for engaging threading on the container. The closure further includes a lid member that is hingedly mounted to the closure main body for movement between a first closed position in which the lid member covers the orifice and an open position wherein the orifice is uncovered by the lid member. Advantageously, retention structure is provided on the closure main body for engaging the container in such a manner as to frustrate efforts that may be made to unscrew the closure from the container after the closure has been first screwed on to the container.

1 . A screw on plastic dispensing closure for a container, comprising: 
 a closure main body that is adapted to be screwed on to a container, said closure main body having a top portion in which an orifice is defined for dispensing a substance from the container and a downwardly depending skirt portion having an inner surface on which at least one interior thread is defined for engaging threading on the container;    a lid member that is hingedly mounted to said closure main body for movement between a first closed position wherein said lid member covers said orifice and an open position wherein said orifice is uncovered by said lid member; and    retention means on said closure main body for engaging the container in such a manner as to frustrate efforts that may be made to unscrew the closure from the container after the closure has been screwed on to the container.    
   
   
       2 . A screw on plastic dispensing closure according to  claim 1 , wherein said retention means is constructed and arranged to engage a generally annular transfer ring that is positioned adjacent to a threaded finish portion of a container.  
   
   
       3 . A screw on plastic dispensing closure according to  claim 2 , wherein said retention means is constructed and arranged to engage a notch that is defined in the transfer ring of the container.  
   
   
       4 . A screw on plastic dispensing closure according to  claim 3 , wherein said retention means comprises an inwardly extending projection that is defined on said inner surface of said downwardly depending skirt portion, said inwardly extending projection being constructed and arranged to engage said notch when said closure has been screwed onto the container.  
   
   
       5 . A screw on plastic dispensing closure according to  claim 4 , wherein said inwardly extending projection is tapered at a lower end thereof, whereby said lower end of said projection will ride outwardly over the transfer ring of the container just prior to becoming seated within said notch when the closure is being screwed onto the container.  
   
   
       6 . A screw on plastic dispensing closure according to  claim 4 , wherein said inwardly extending projection includes a lateral engagement surface for engaging a side of the notch when efforts are made to unscrew the closure from the container.  
   
   
       7 . A screw on plastic dispensing closure according to  claim 4 , wherein said inwardly extending projection extends in a generally longitudinal orientation on said inner surface of said downwardly depending skirt portion.  
   
   
       8 . A screw on plastic dispensing closure according to  claim 4 , wherein said retention means comprises at least two of said inwardly extending projections, and wherein said projections are constructed and arranged to engage corresponding notches that are defined in the transfer ring of the container.  
   
   
       9 . A screw on plastic dispensing closure according to  claim 1 , wherein said closure is fabricated from a polypropylene material.  
   
   
       10 . A screw on plastic dispensing closure according to  claim 2 , wherein said retention means is constructed and arranged to engage an underside of said generally annular transfer ring.  
   
   
       11 . A screw on plastic dispensing closure according to  claim 10 , wherein said retention means comprises at least one inwardly projecting lug member that extends inwardly from said inner surface of said downwardly depending skirt portion, said lug member being constructed and arranged to slip over the generally annular transfer ring when the closure is being screwed onto the container and become seated against an underside of the annular transfer ring, thereby making it difficult to unscrew the closure from the container.  
   
   
       12 . A screw on plastic dispensing closure according to  claim 11 , wherein said lug member has a tapered lower surface, thereby easing travel of the lug member over the annular transfer ring when the closure is being screwed onto the container.  
   
   
       13 . A screw on plastic dispensing closure according to  claim 11 , wherein said retention means comprises a plurality of said lug members.  
   
   
       14 . A screw on plastic dispensing closure according to  claim 1 , further comprising tamper evident locking structure for retaining said lid member on said closure main body until the closure is first opened by the consumer.  
   
   
       15 . A container assembly, comprising: 
 a container having a threaded finish portion; and    a plastic dispensing closure mounted on said container, said closure comprising 
 a closure main body that is screwed on to said container, said closure main body having an orifice for dispensing a substance from said container and a downwardly depending skirt portion having an inner surface on which at least one interior thread is defined that is engaged with said threaded finish portion of said container; and  
 flow control means for opening and closing said orifice; and  
 retention means on said closure main body that is engaged with the container in such a manner as to frustrate efforts that may be made to unscrew the closure from the container.  
   
   
   
       16 . A container assembly according to  claim 15 , wherein said container includes a generally annular transfer ring that is positioned adjacent to said threaded finish portion, and wherein said retention means is constructed and arranged to engage said generally annular transfer ring of said container.  
   
   
       17 . A container assembly according to  claim 16 , wherein said retention means is constructed and arranged to engage a notch that is defined in the transfer ring of the container.  
   
   
       18 . A container assembly according to  claim 17 , wherein said retention means comprises an inwardly extending projection that is defined on said inner surface of said downwardly depending skirt portion, said inwardly extending projection being engaged with said notch.  
   
   
       19 . A container assembly according to  claim 18 , wherein said inwardly extending projection is tapered at a lower end thereof, whereby said lower end of said projection will ride outwardly over the transfer ring of the container just prior to becoming seated within said notch when the closure is being screwed onto the container.  
   
   
       20 . A container assembly according to  claim 18 , wherein said inwardly extending projection includes a lateral engagement surface for engaging a side of the notch when efforts are made to unscrew the closure from the container.  
   
   
       21 . A container assembly according to  claim 18 , wherein said inwardly extending projection extends in a generally longitudinal orientation on said inner surface of said downwardly depending skirt portion.  
   
   
       22 . A container assembly according to  claim 18 , wherein said retention means comprises at least two of said inwardly extending projections, and wherein said projections are engaged with corresponding notches that are defined in the transfer ring of the container.  
   
   
       23 . A container assembly according to  claim 15 , wherein said closure is fabricated from a polypropylene material.  
   
   
       24 . A container assembly according to  claim 15 , wherein said container is fabricated from polyethylene terephthalate.  
   
   
       25 . A container assembly according to  claim 16 , wherein said retention means is constructed and arranged to engage an underside of said generally annular transfer ring.  
   
   
       26 . A container assembly according to  claim 25 , wherein said retention means comprises at least one inwardly projecting lug member that extends inwardly from said inner surface of said downwardly depending skirt portion, said lug member being constructed and arranged to slip over the generally annular transfer ring when the closure is being screwed onto the container and become seated against an underside of the annular transfer ring, thereby making it difficult to unscrew the closure from the container.  
   
   
       27 . A container assembly according to  claim 26 , wherein said lug member has a tapered lower surface, thereby easing travel of the lug member over the annular transfer ring when the closure is being screwed onto the container.  
   
   
       28 . A container assembly according to  claim 26 , wherein said retention means comprises a plurality of said lug members.  
   
   
       29 . A container assembly according to  claim 15 , wherein said closure further comprises tamper evident locking structure for retaining said lid member on said closure main body until the closure is first opened by the consumer.  
   
   
       30 . A container, comprising: 
 a main body portion;    a threaded finish portion; and    an annular transfer ring positioned adjacent to said threaded finish portion, and wherein said annular transfer ring has a notched defined therein for engaging a screw on type closure.    
   
   
       31 . A container according to  claim 30 , wherein said notch is oriented substantially longitudinally.  
   
   
       32 . A screw on plastic dispensing closure for a container, comprising: 
 a closure main body that is adapted to be screwed on to a container, said closure main body having an orifice for dispensing a substance from the container and a downwardly depending skirt portion having an inner surface on which at least one interior thread is defined for engaging threading on the container;    flow control means for opening and closing said orifice; and    retention means on said closure main body for engaging the container in such a manner as to frustrate efforts that may be made to unscrew the closure from the container after the closure has been screwed on to the container.    
   
   
       33 . A screw on plastic dispensing closure according to  claim 32 , wherein said retention means is constructed and arranged to engage a generally annular transfer ring that is positioned adjacent to a threaded finish portion of a container.  
   
   
       34 . A screw on plastic dispensing closure according to  claim 33 , wherein said retention means is constructed and arranged to engage a notch that is defined in the transfer ring of the container.  
   
   
       35 . A screw on plastic dispensing closure according to  claim 34 , wherein said retention means comprises an inwardly extending projection that is defined on said inner surface of said downwardly depending skirt portion, said inwardly extending projection being constructed and arranged to engage said notch when said closure has been screwed onto the container.  
   
   
       36 . A screw on plastic dispensing closure according to  claim 35 , wherein said inwardly extending projection is tapered at a lower end thereof, whereby said lower end of said projection will ride outwardly over the transfer ring of the container just prior to becoming seated within said notch when the closure is being screwed onto the container.  
   
   
       37 . A screw on plastic dispensing closure according to  claim 35 , wherein said inwardly extending projection includes a lateral engagement surface for engaging a side of the notch when efforts are made to unscrew the closure from the container.  
   
   
       38 . A screw on plastic dispensing closure according to  claim 35 , wherein said inwardly extending projection extends in a generally longitudinal orientation on said inner surface of said downwardly depending skirt portion.  
   
   
       39 . A screw on plastic dispensing closure according to  claim 35 , wherein said retention means comprises at least two of said inwardly extending projections, and wherein said projections are constructed and arranged to engage corresponding notches that are defined in the transfer ring of the container.  
   
   
       40 . A screw on plastic dispensing closure according to  claim 32 , wherein said closure is fabricated from a polypropylene material.  
   
   
       41 . A screw on plastic dispensing closure according to  claim 33 , wherein said retention means is constructed and arranged to engage an underside of said generally annular transfer ring.  
   
   
       42 . A screw on plastic dispensing closure according to  claim 41 , wherein said retention means comprises at least one inwardly projecting lug member that extends inwardly from said inner surface of said downwardly depending skirt portion, said lug member being constructed and arranged to slip over the generally annular transfer ring when the closure is being screwed onto the container and become seated against an underside of the annular transfer ring, thereby making it difficult to unscrew the closure from the container.  
   
   
       43 . A screw on plastic dispensing closure according to  claim 42 , wherein said lug member has a tapered lower surface, thereby easing travel of the lug member over the annular transfer ring when the closure is being screwed onto the container.  
   
   
       44 . A screw on plastic dispensing closure according to  claim 42 , wherein said retention means comprises a plurality of said lug members.  
   
   
       45 . A screw on plastic dispensing closure according to  claim 32 , further comprising tamper evident locking structure for retaining said lid member on said closure main body until the closure is first opened by the consumer.