Bottle and cap closure apparatus with torque feature

Abstract

A closure apparatus for a bottle neck and cap increases the torque necessary to remove the cap from the bottle neck. Projections are provided on one of the bottle neck exterior and cap interior, and indentations are provided on the other of the bottle neck exterior and cap interior. When the cap is secured on the bottle neck, the projections engage in the indentations. The engagement of the projections in the indentations requires an increased torque to remove the cap from the bottle neck.

1 . A bottle and cap closure apparatus comprising: 
 a bottle having an interior volume and an opening in the bottle to the bottle interior volume;    a cylindrical bottle neck on the bottle surrounding the bottle opening, the bottle neck having a center axis that defines mutually perpendicular axial and radial directions relative to the bottle, and the bottle neck having a cylindrical exterior surface and an annular end at an axially opposite end of the bottle neck from the bottle;    a bottle screw thread on the bottle neck exterior surface, the bottle screw thread having opposite first and second ends and a length between the opposite first and second ends, the bottle screw thread length extending around the bottle neck exterior surface as the bottle screw thread extends from the first end of the bottle screw thread positioned adjacent the bottle neck annular end, to the second end of the bottle screw thread positioned adjacent the bottle;    a projection on the bottle screw thread, the projection extending outwardly from the bottle screw thread;    a cap having an interior volume and an opening in the cap to the cap interior volume, the cap opening and the cap interior volume being dimensioned to receive the bottle neck through the cap opening and inside the cap interior volume;    a cylindrical sidewall on the cap surrounding the cap opening and the cap interior volume, the sidewall having a center axis that defines mutually perpendicular axial and radial directions relative to the cap, the sidewall having a cylindrical interior surface and an annular end that surround the cap opening and the cap interior volume;    a cap screw thread on the sidewall interior surface, the cap screw thread having opposite first and second ends and a length between the opposite first and second ends, the cap screw thread length extending around the cap interior surface as the cap screw thread extends from the first end to the second end; and,    an indentation on the cap screw thread, the indentation extending inwardly into the cap screw thread, and the indentation being sized to receive the projection on the bottle screw thread when the cap is screw threaded on the bottle neck.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 the projection being adjacent the second end of the bottle screw thread.    
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 the projection being one of a plurality of projections on the bottle screw thread; and,    the indentation being one of a plurality of indentations on the cap screw thread.    
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 the plurality of projections on the bottle screw thread all being adjacent the second end of the bottle screw thread.    
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 the projection extending axially outwardly from the bottle screw thread; and,    the indentation extending axially inwardly into the cap screw thread.    
     
     
         6 . A bottle and cap closure apparatus comprising: 
 a bottle having an interior volume and an opening in the bottle to the bottle interior volume;    a cylindrical bottle neck on the bottle surrounding the bottle opening, the bottle neck having a center axis that defines mutually perpendicular axial and radial directions relative to the bottle, and the bottle neck having a cylindrical exterior surface and an annular end at an axially opposite end of the bottle neck from the bottle;    a bottle screw thread on the bottle neck exterior surface, the bottle screw thread having opposite first and second ends and a length between the opposite first and second ends, the bottle screw thread length extending around the bottle neck exterior surface as the bottle screw thread extends from the first end of the bottle screw thread positioned adjacent the bottle neck annular end, to the second end of the bottle screw thread positioned adjacent the bottle;    an indentation on the bottle screw thread, the indentation extending inwardly into the bottle screw thread;    a cap having an interior volume and an opening in the cap to the cap interior volume, the cap opening and the cap interior volume being dimensioned to receive the bottle neck through the cap opening and inside the cap interior volume;    a cylindrical sidewall on the cap surrounding the cap opening and the cap interior volume, the sidewall having a center axis that defines mutually perpendicular axial and radial directions relative to the cap, the sidewall having a cylindrical interior surface and an annular end that surround the cap opening and the cap interior volume;    a cap screw thread on the sidewall interior surface, the cap screw thread having opposite first and second ends and a length between the opposite first and second ends, the cap screw thread length extending around the cap interior surface as the cap screw thread extends from the first end to the second end; and,    a projection on the cap screw thread, the projection extending outwardly from the cap screw thread, and the projection being sized to extend into the indentation on the bottle screw thread when the cap is screw threaded on the bottle neck.    
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , further comprising: 
 the indentation being adjacent the second end of the bottle screw thread.    
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , further comprising: 
 the indentation being one of a plurality of indentations in the bottle screw thread; and,    the projection being one of a plurality of projections on the cap screw thread.    
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , further comprising: 
 the plurality of indentations in the bottle screw thread all being adjacent the second end of the bottle screw thread.    
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , further comprising: 
 the indentation extending axially inwardly into the bottle screw thread; and,    the projection extending axially outwardly from the cap screw thread.    
     
     
         11 . A bottle and cap closure apparatus comprising: 
 a bottle having an interior volume and an opening in the bottle to the bottle interior volume;    a cylindrical bottle neck on the bottle surrounding the bottle opening, the bottle neck having a center axis that defines mutually perpendicular axial and radial directions relative to the bottle, and the bottle neck having a cylindrical exterior surface and an annular end at an axially opposite end of the bottle neck from the bottle;    a bottle screw thread on the bottle neck exterior surface, the bottle screw thread having opposite first and second ends and a length between the opposite first and second ends, the bottle screw thread length extending around the bottle neck exterior surface as the bottle screw thread extends from the first end of the bottle screw thread positioned adjacent the bottle neck annular end, to the second end of the bottle screw thread positioned adjacent the bottle;    a projection on the bottle neck exterior surface adjacent the bottle screw thread, the projection extending radially outwardly from the bottle neck exterior surface;    a cap having an interior volume and an opening in the cap to the cap interior volume, the cap opening and the cap interior volume being dimensioned to receive the bottle neck through the cap opening and inside the cap interior volume;    a cylindrical sidewall on the cap surrounding the cap opening and the cap interior volume, the sidewall having a center axis that defines mutually perpendicular axial and radial directions relative to the cap, the sidewall having a cylindrical interior surface and an annular end that surround the cap opening and the cap interior volume;    a cap screw thread on the sidewall interior surface, the cap screw thread having opposite first and second ends and a length between the opposite first and second ends, the cap screw thread length extending around the cap interior surface as the cap screw thread extends from the first end to the second end; and,    an indentation on the cap screw thread, the indentation extending radially inwardly into the cap screw thread, and the indentation being sized to receive the projection on the bottle neck exterior surface when the cap is screw threaded on the bottle neck.    
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , further comprising: 
 the projection being adjacent the second end of the bottle screw thread.    
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , further comprising: 
 the projection being one of a plurality of projections on the bottle neck exterior surface; and,    the indentation being one of a plurality of indentations on the cap screw thread.    
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , further comprising: 
 the plurality of projections on the bottle neck exterior surface all being adjacent the second end of the bottle screw thread.    
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , further comprising: 
 the cap screw thread having opposite flank surfaces that extend the length of the cap screw thread between the cap screw thread first and second ends, the cap screw thread having a crest surface between the opposite flank surfaces, the crest surface extending the length of the cap screw thread between the cap screw thread first and second ends; and, the indentation extending radially inwardly into the cap screw thread crest surface.    
     
     
         16 . A bottle and cap closure apparatus comprising: 
 a bottle having an interior volume and an opening in the bottle to the bottle interior volume;    a cylindrical bottle neck on the bottle surrounding the bottle opening, the bottle neck having a center axis that defines mutually perpendicular axial and radial directions relative to the bottle, and the bottle neck having a cylindrical exterior surface and an annular end surface at an axially opposite end of the bottle neck exterior surface from the bottle;    a bottle screw thread on the bottle neck exterior surface, the bottle screw thread having opposite first and second ends and a length between the opposite first and second ends, the bottle screw thread length spiraling around the bottle neck exterior surface as the bottle screw thread extends from the first end of the bottle screw thread positioned adjacent the bottle neck annular end surface to the second end of the bottle screw thread positioned adjacent the bottle, the bottle screw thread having opposite flank surfaces that extend between the bottle screw thread first and second ends;    a projection on one of the bottle screw thread flank surfaces, the projection extending axially outwardly from the one bottle screw thread flank surface;    a cap having an interior volume and an opening in the cap to the cap interior volume, the cap opening and the cap interior volume being dimensioned to receive the bottle neck through the cap opening and inside the cap interior volume;    a cylindrical sidewall on the cap surrounding the cap opening and the cap interior volume, the sidewall having a center axis that defines mutually perpendicular axial and radial directions relative to the cap, the sidewall having a cylindrical interior surface and an annular end surface that surround the cap opening and the cap interior volume;    a cap screw thread on the sidewall interior surface, the cap screw thread having opposite first and second ends and a length between the opposite first and second ends, the cap screw thread length spiraling around the cap interior surface as the cap screw thread extends from the first end to the second end, the cap screw thread having opposite flank surfaces that extend between the cap screw thread first and second ends; and,    an indentation on one of the cap screw thread flank surfaces, the indentation extending axially inwardly into the one cap screw thread flank surface, and the indentation being sized to receive the projection on the one bottle screw thread flank surface when the cap is screw threaded on the bottle neck.    
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , further comprising: 
 the projection being adjacent the second end of the bottle screw thread.    
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , further comprising: 
 the projection being one of a plurality of projections on the one of the bottle screw thread flank surfaces; and,    the indentation being one of a plurality of indentations on the one of the cap screw thread flank surfaces.    
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , further comprising: 
 the plurality of projections on the one of the bottle screw thread flank surfaces all being adjacent the second end of the bottle screw thread.    
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , further comprising: 
 the bottle screw thread flank surface opposite the one of the bottle screw thread flank surfaces having no projections.    
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , further comprising: 
 the bottle screw thread having a crest surface between the opposite flank surfaces, the crest surface extending the length of the bottle screw thread between the bottle screw thread first and second ends.    
     
     
         22 . A bottle and cap closure apparatus comprising: 
 a bottle having an interior volume and an opening in the bottle to the bottle interior volume;    a cylindrical bottle neck on the bottle surrounding the bottle opening, the bottle neck having a center axis that defines mutually perpendicular axial and radial directions relative to the bottle, and the bottle neck having a cylindrical exterior surface and an annular end surface at an axially opposite end of the bottle neck exterior surface from the bottle;    a bottle screw thread on the bottle neck exterior surface, the bottle screw thread having opposite first and second ends and a length between the opposite first and second ends, the bottle screw thread length spiraling around the bottle neck exterior surface as the bottle screw thread extends from the first end of the bottle screw thread positioned adjacent the bottle neck annular end surface, to the second end of the bottle screw thread positioned adjacent the bottle, the bottle screw thread having opposite flank surfaces that extend between the bottle screw thread first and second ends;    an indentation on one of the bottle screw thread flank surfaces, the indentation extending axially inwardly into the one bottle screw thread flank surface;    a cap having an interior volume and an opening in the cap to the cap interior volume, the cap opening and the cap interior volume being dimensioned to receive the bottle neck through the cap opening and inside the cap interior volume;    a cylindrical sidewall on the cap surrounding the cap opening and the cap interior volume, the sidewall having a center axis that defines mutually perpendicular axial and radial directions relative to the cap, the sidewall having a cylindrical interior surface and an annular end surface that surrounds the cap opening and the cap interior volume;    a cap screw thread on the sidewall interior surface, the cap screw thread having opposite first and second ends and a length between the opposite first and second ends, the cap screw thread length spiraling around the cap interior surface as the cap screw thread extends from the first end to the second end, the cap screw thread having opposite flank surfaces that extend between the cap screw thread first and second ends; and,    a projection on one of the cap screw thread flank surfaces, the projection extending axially outwardly from the one cap screw thread flank surface, and the projection being sized to be received in the indentation in the one bottle screw thread flank surface when the cap is screw threaded on the bottle neck.    
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , further comprising: 
 the indentation being adjacent the second end of the bottle screw thread.    
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , further comprising: 
 the indentation being one of a plurality of indentations in the one bottle screw thread flank surface; and,    the projection being one of a plurality of projections on the one cap screw thread flank surface.    
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 24 , further comprising: 
 the plurality of indentations in the one bottle screw thread flank surface all being adjacent the second end of the bottle screw thread.    
     
     
         26 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , further comprising: 
 the bottle screw thread flank surface opposite the one bottle screw thread flank surface having no indentations.    
     
     
         27 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , further comprising: 
 the bottle screw thread having a crest surface between the opposite flank surfaces, the crest surface extending the length of the bottle screw thread between the bottle screw thread first and second ends.    
     
     
         28 . A bottle and cap closure apparatus comprising: 
 a bottle having an interior volume and an opening in the bottle to the bottle interior volume;    a cylindrical bottle neck on the bottle surrounding the bottle opening, the bottle neck having a center axis that defines mutually perpendicular axial and radial directions relative to the bottle, and the bottle neck having a cylindrical exterior surface and an annular end surface at an axially opposite end of the bottle neck exterior surface from the bottle;    a bottle screw thread on the bottle neck exterior surface, the bottle screw thread having opposite first and second ends and a length between the opposite first and second ends, the bottle screw thread length spiraling around the bottle neck exterior surface as the bottle screw thread extends from the first end of the bottle screw thread positioned adjacent the bottle neck annular end to the second end of the bottle screw thread positioned adjacent the bottle, the bottle screw thread having opposite flank surfaces that extend between the bottle screw thread first and second ends;    a projection on the bottle neck exterior surface adjacent one of the bottle screw thread flank surfaces, the projection extending radially outwardly from the bottle neck exterior surface;    a cap having an interior volume and an opening in the cap to the cap interior volume, the cap opening and the cap interior volume being dimensioned to receive the bottle neck through the cap opening and inside the cap interior volume;    a cylindrical sidewall on the cap surrounding the cap opening and the cap interior volume, the sidewall having a center axis that defines mutually perpendicular axial and radial directions relative to the cap, the sidewall having a cylindrical interior surface and an annular end surface that surrounds the cap opening and the cap interior volume;    a cap screw thread on the sidewall interior surface, the cap screw thread having opposite first and second ends and a length between the opposite first and second ends, the cap screw thread length spiraling around the cap interior surface as the cap screw thread extends from the first end to the second end, the cap screw thread having opposite flank surfaces that extend between the cap screw thread first and second ends, the cap screw thread having a crest surface between the opposite flank surfaces, the crest surface extending the length of the cap screw thread between the cap screw thread first and second ends; and,    an indentation on the cap screw thread crest surface, the indentation extending radially inwardly into the cap screw thread crest surface, and the indentation being sized to receive the projection on the bottle neck exterior surface when the cap is screw threaded on the bottle neck.    
     
     
         29 . The apparatus of  claim 28 , further comprising: 
 the projection being adjacent the second end of the bottle screw thread.    
     
     
         30 . The apparatus of  claim 28 , further comprising: 
 the projection being one of a plurality of projections on the bottle neck exterior surface; and,    the indentation being one of a plurality of indentations on the cap screw thread crest surface.    
     
     
         31 . The apparatus of  claim 30 , further comprising: 
 the plurality of projections on the bottle neck exterior surface all being adjacent the second end of the bottle screw thread.    
     
     
         32 . The apparatus of  claim 28 , further comprising: 
 the bottle screw thread having a crest surface between the opposite flank surfaces, the crest surface extending the length of the bottle screw thread between the bottle screw thread first and second ends.