Finish and closure for plastic pasteurizable container

Abstract

Plastic containers subjected to pasteurization processes with a closure having an annular finish support ring that supports an inner surface of the neck finish of the container from inward deformation during pasteurization. The finish support ring can be integral with the closure or can extend from a closure liner. Also disclosed are closures for products that require pasteurization, as well as modified finish threads to provide a surface contact between the finish and closure threads.

1 . A plastic closure for supporting an amorphous neck finish of a pasteurizable plastic container against deformation, comprising:
 a top wall;   a depending annular skirt extending from the top wall; and   a rigid finish support ring extending from the top wall, the finish support ring having an outer diameter sized to support an inner diameter of the amorphous container neck finish against inward deformation during pasteurization.   
   
   
       2 . The plastic closure of  claim 1 , wherein an inner wall of the skirt includes a thread for engaging a complementary thread on the container neck finish. 
   
   
       3 . The plastic closure of  claim 1 , wherein the plastic closure comprises a polyolefin material and the neck finish comprises one or more of a polyester, polyamide, and polyolefin material. 
   
   
       4 . The plastic closure of  claim 1 , further comprising a liner covering at least a portion of an underside of the top wall. 
   
   
       5 . The plastic closure of  claim 4 , wherein the liner comprises a gas barrier material. 
   
   
       6 . The plastic closure of  claim 4 , wherein the liner covers the area of the top wall defined by the inner diameter of the finish support ring. 
   
   
       7 . The plastic closure of  claim 4 , wherein the liner covers the area of the top wall between the outer diameter of the finish support ring and the inner diameter of the skirt. 
   
   
       8 . A plastic closure for supporting an amorphous neck finish of a pasteurizable plastic container against deformation, comprising:
 a shell comprising a top wall and a depending annular skirt extending from the top wall;   a liner covering at least a portion of the underside of the top wall; and   a rigid finish support ring extending from the liner, the finish support ring having an outer diameter sized to support an inner diameter of the amorphous container neck finish against inward deformation during pasteurization.   
   
   
       9 . The plastic closure of  claim 8 , wherein the plastic closure comprises a polyolefin material and the neck finish comprises one or more of a polyester, polyamide, and polyolefin material. 
   
   
       10 . The plastic closure of  claim 8 , wherein the liner comprises a polyolefin material and the neck finish comprises one or more of a polyester, polyamide, and polyolefin material. 
   
   
       11 . The plastic closure of  claim 9 , wherein the plastic closure and liner are made from the same material. 
   
   
       12 . A pasteurizable package comprising:
 a pasteurizable plastic container having an amorphous neck finish; and   a plastic closure comprising a depending annular skirt extending from a top wall and a rigid finish support ring extending from the top wall, the finish support ring having an outer diameter sized to support an inner diameter of the amorphous container neck finish against inward deformation during pasteurization.   
   
   
       13 . The package of  claim 12 , wherein an inner wall of the closure skirt includes a thread for engaging a complementary thread on the container neck finish. 
   
   
       14 . The package of  claim 12 , wherein the container thread is vented and the closure thread is nonvented. 
   
   
       15 . The package of  claim 12 , wherein the engagement between the closure thread and the container thread is by surface contact. 
   
   
       16 . The package of  claim 15 , wherein the surface contact is between a bottom surface of the container thread and a top surface of the closure thread. 
   
   
       17 . The package of  claim 12 , wherein the closure thread is nonvented. 
   
   
       18 . The package of  claim 12 , wherein the closure comprises a polyolefin material and the neck finish comprises one or more of a polyester, polyamide, and polyolefin material 
   
   
       19 . The package of  claim 18 , wherein the closure comprises a polyolefin material and the neck finish comprises a polyethylene terephthalate material. 
   
   
       20 . A pasteurizable package comprising:
 a plastic pasteurizable container comprising an amorphous neck finish having a vented thread; and   a plastic closure comprising a top wall and a depending annular skirt, an inner wall of the skirt having a nonvented thread that engages the vented thread of the neck finish,   wherein a surface of the nonvented closure thread contacts a surface of the vented container thread to provide surface contact between the closure thread and the container thread and to support the container thread against deformation during pasteurization.   
   
   
       21 . The package of  claim 20 , wherein the surface of the container thread is positioned at the underside of the container thread and contacts an upper surface of the closure thread. 
   
   
       22 . The package of  claim 20 , wherein the surface of the vented container thread and the closure thread are both substantially flat. 
   
   
       23 . The package of  claim 22 , wherein the surface of the vented container thread and the closure thread have an angle with the horizontal of 10° or less. 
   
   
       24 . The package of  claim 22 , wherein the surface of the vented container thread and the closure thread have an angle with the horizontal of 5° or less. 
   
   
       25 . The package of  claim 22 , wherein the surface of the vented container thread and the closure thread have an angle with the horizontal of 0°. 
   
   
       26 . The package of  claim 20 , wherein the surface of the vented container thread and the closure thread are both curved. 
   
   
       27 . The package of  claim 20 , wherein the container comprises a polyethylene terephthalate material. 
   
   
       28 . The package of  claim 27 , wherein the closure comprises a polyolefin material. 
   
   
       29 . A pasteurizable package comprising:
 a plastic pasteurizable container comprising an amorphous neck finish having a thread; and   a plastic closure comprising a top wall and a depending annular skirt, an inner wall of the skirt having a thread that engages the thread of the neck finish,   wherein the container thread contacts the closure thread at a distance of at least 50% of the radial depth of the thread, as measured from the tip of the thread to a wall of the neck finish, to support the container thread against deformation during pasteurization.   
   
   
       30 . The package of  claim 29 , wherein the container thread contacts the closure thread at a distance of at least 65% of the radial depth of the thread, as measured from the tip of the thread to a wall of the neck finish. 
   
   
       31 . The package of  claim 29 , wherein the container thread contacts the closure thread at a distance of at least 75% of the radial depth of the thread, as measured from the tip of the thread to a wall of the neck finish. 
   
   
       32 . The package of  claim 29 , wherein the container thread contacts the closure thread at a distance of at least 85% of the radial depth of the thread, as measured from the tip of the thread to a wall of the neck finish. 
   
   
       33 . The package of  claim 29 , wherein the container thread contacts the closure thread via a surface at the underside of the container thread. 
   
   
       34 . The package of  claim 29 , wherein the surface at the underside is substantially flat. 
   
   
       35 . The package of  claim 34 , wherein the surface at the underside has an angle with the horizontal of 10° or less. 
   
   
       36 . The package of  claim 34 , wherein the surface at the underside has an angle with the horizontal of 5° or less. 
   
   
       37 . The package of  claim 34 , wherein the surface at the underside has an angle with the horizontal of 0°. 
   
   
       38 . The package of  claim 29 , wherein the contact between the container thread and the closure thread is a point contact. 
   
   
       39 . The package of  claim 29 , wherein the contact between the container thread and the closure thread is a surface contact, wherein one extremity of the surface contact occurs at a distance of at least 50% of the radial depth of the thread, as measured from the tip of the thread to a wall of the neck finish. 
   
   
       40 . The package of  claim 29 , wherein the contact between the container thread and the closure thread is a surface contact, wherein one extremity of the surface contact occurs at a distance of at least 65% of the radial depth of the thread, as measured from the tip of the thread to a wall of the neck finish. 
   
   
       41 . The package of  claim 29 , wherein the contact between the container thread and the closure thread is a surface contact, wherein one extremity of the surface contact occurs at a distance of at least 75% of the radial depth of the thread, as measured from the tip of the thread to a wall of the neck finish. 
   
   
       42 . The package of  claim 29 , wherein the contact between the container thread and the closure thread is a surface contact, wherein one extremity of the surface contact occurs at a distance of at least 85% of the radial depth of the thread, as measured from the tip of the thread to a wall of the neck finish. 
   
   
       43 . The package of  claim 39 , wherein the surface contact occurs between a surface at the underside of the container thread and an upper surface of the closure thread. 
   
   
       44 . The package of  claim 43 , wherein the surface at the underside of the container thread and the upper surface of the closure thread are substantially flat.