Container With Cap

Abstract

A container comprising a container body ( 1 ) with an opening ( 3 ) defining an axis (A) passing therethrough and a cap ( 2 ) having an upper portion ( 6 ) and a skirt portion ( 7 ) for closing the opening, the container body ( 1 ) having an outwardly projecting lip ( 4 ) around the opening ( 3 ), the cap having spaced apart inwardly projecting members ( 8 ) round an inner circumference of the skirt portion ( 7 ) and the lip ( 4 ) having recesses ( 5 ) in a lower part thereof for receiving the members ( 8 ) when the cap ( 2 ) is press fitted to the container ( 1 ), the cap ( 2 ) being arranged so that its circumference is distorted into a substantially polygonal shape as portions of the cap carrying the members ( 8 ) are flexed outwards when the cap ( 2 ) is pressed over the lip ( 4 ) until the members ( 8 ) snap fit into respective recesses ( 5 ) in the lip ( 4 ), the members ( 8 ) and recesses ( 5 ) being shaped such that subsequent rotation of the cap ( 2 ) relative to the container body ( 1 ) tightens the cap ( 2 ) against the lip ( 4 ). Various tamper evident bands connected to the skirt portion ( 7 ) by friable bridges ( 10 A, 20 A, 30 A, 40 A) and/or tether bands ( 10 B, 20 B, 30 B) are also described.

1 . A container comprising a container body with an opening defining an axis passing therethrough and a cap having an upper portion and a skirt portion depending therefrom for closing the opening, the container body having an outwardly projecting lip around the opening, the cap having a plurality of spaced apart inwardly projecting members around an inner circumference of the skirt portion and the lip having a plurality of spaced apart recesses in a lower part thereof for receiving said members when the cap is press fitted to the container, the cap being arranged such that the circumference thereof is distorted into a substantially polygonal shape as portions thereof carrying said members are flexed outwards when the cap is initially pressed over the lip until the members snap fit into respective recesses in the lip, the members and recesses being shaped such that subsequent rotation of the cap relative to the container body tightens the cap against the lip. 
   
   
       2 . A container as claimed in  claim 1  in which a lower surface of the members and an upper surface of the lip are shaped such that as the lid is pressed axially onto the container, the members are driven outwards so the cap is resiliently flexed and the members are able to pass over the external diameter of the lip. 
   
   
       3 . A container as claimed in  claim 1  in which the length of each member in a direction around the circumference of the cap is less than the circumferential spacing between adjacent members. 
   
   
       4 . A container as claimed in  claim 1  in which an inner wall of the skirt portion in spaces between said members is inclined outwardly towards the open end of the cap. 
   
   
       5 . A container as claimed in  claim 1  in which each of the recesses has an upper surface and first and second end surfaces, the upper surface being inclined or curved so that the first end surface extends further in the axial direction than the second end surface. 
   
   
       6 . A container as claimed in  claim 5  in which the second end surface forms a stop to limit rotation of the cap in said tightening direction. 
   
   
       7 . A container as claimed in  claim 5  in which the first end surface forms a ramp along which the respective member slides when the cap is rotated in a loosening direction whereby the skirt portion of the cap is flexed to a substantially polygonal shape as each of the members moves out of the respective recess onto an external surface of the lip so the cap is free to be moved to an open position. 
   
   
       8 . A container as claimed in  claim 1  in which each member has a lower surface which is inclined upwardly in a radial direction but is substantially horizontal in a circumferential direction, an upper surface which is substantially horizontal in a radial direction but is inclined in a circumferential direction and two end surfaces one of which is laterally inclined in a radial direction and both of which are substantially vertical in an axial direction. 
   
   
       9 . A container as claimed in  claim 1  in which the cap has a tamper band connected to the skirt portion by friable connections. 
   
   
       10 . A container as claimed in  claim 9  in which when the cap is fitted to the container body, the tamper band engages an underside of the lip. 
   
   
       11 . A container as claimed in  claim 10  in which the tamper band has one or more projections on an inner surface thereof which engage said lip such that rotation of the tamper band relative to the container body in the loosening direction causes axial separation of the tamper band and skirt portion resulting in breakage of one or more of the friable connections. 
   
   
       12 . A container as claimed in  claim 11  in which at least one tether connection is provided between the tamper band and skirt portion so that the tamper band remains attached to the cap even when all the friable connections have been broken. 
   
   
       13 . A container as claimed in  claim 12  in which the said one or more projections are such that upon further rotation of the tamper band relative to the container body, the tamper band and cap can be removed from the container body together. 
   
   
       14 . A container as claimed in  claim 12  in which said one or more projections are such that the tamper band remains attached to the container body and said one or more tether connections are such that the cap can be pivoted away from the opening. 
   
   
       15 . A container as claimed in  claim 14  in which once the cap has been pivoted away from the opening, the tamper band can be slid to a position further from the opening, engagement means being provided on the container body to retain the tamper band in this position. 
   
   
       16 . A container comprising a container body with an opening defining an axis passing therethrough and a cap having an upper portion and a skirt portion depending therefrom for closing the opening, the container body having an outwardly projecting lip around the opening, the cap having a plurality of spaced apart inwardly projecting members around an inner circumference of the skirt portion and the lip having a plurality of spaced apart recesses in a lower part thereof for receiving said members when the cap is press fitted to the container body, the cap and recesses being shaped such that upon subsequent rotation of the cap relative to the container body in a loosening direction the circumference of the skirt portion is flexed into a substantially polygonal shape as the members are driven out of the respective recesses onto an external surface of the lip until the cap is free to be moved to an open position. 
   
   
       17 . A container as claimed in  claim 16  in which each of the recesses has an end surface that forms a ramp along which the respective member slides when the cap is rotated in a loosening direction whereby the member moves out of the recess onto an external surface of the lip so the cap is free to be moved to an open position. 
   
   
       18 . A container as claimed in any preceding claim having from two to six projecting members equally spaced around the internal surface of the skirt portion. 
   
   
       19 . A container as claimed in  claim 18  having four projecting members equally spaced around the internal surface of the skirt portion. 
   
   
       20 . A container as claimed in  claim 16  in which the opening has a diameter in the range 25-30 mm. 
   
   
       21 . (canceled) 
   
   
       22 . (canceled) 
   
   
       23 . (canceled) 
   
   
       24 . (canceled)