Packaging Article

Abstract

A container comprising a container body ( 1 ) having a circular opening ( 4 ) which defines an axis, a cap ( 5 ) to close the opening ( 4 ) and a collar ( 6 ), the cap ( 5 ) comprising an annular skirt ( 5 B) having a plurality of spaced apart projections ( 5 F) around its inner circumference and the collar ( 6 ) comprising a ring with a plurality of spaced part flaps ( 7 ), (or other radially moveable parts) provided thereon, the collar ( 6 ) being arranged to fit between the container body ( 1 ) and cap ( 5 ) with their axes aligned such that the projections ( 5 F) engage axially facing surfaces ( 6 A) of the ring and the flaps ( 7 ) (or other radially moveable parts) engage an axially facing surface ( 3 B) of a lip (or other features) ( 3 ) of the container body ( 1 ) whereby the cap ( 5 ) can be secured to the container body ( 1 ).

1 . A container comprising a container body including a circular opening which defines an axis, a cap to close the opening and a collar, the cap comprising an annular skirt portion having a plurality of spaced apart projections around its inner circumference and the collar comprising a ring with a plurality of spaced apart flaps, or other radially moveable parts, provided thereon, the collar being arranged to fit between the container body and cap with their axes aligned such that said projections respectively engage axially facing surfaces of the ring and the flaps or other radially moveable parts engage an axially facing surface of a lip (or other features) of the container body whereby the cap can be secured to the container body. 
   
   
       2 . A container as claimed in  claim 1  in which said projections on the cap and said axially facing surfaces of the ring provide a threaded engagement between the cap and collar whereby rotation of the cap relative to the collar in a tightening direction draws the cap into sealing engagement with the container body. 
   
   
       3 . A container as claimed in  claim 1  in which the collar has one or more inwardly directed projections for engaging one or more features of the container body whereby rotation of the collar relative to the container body when the cap is turned in a loosening direction is limited. 
   
   
       4 . A container as claimed in  claim 3  in which said inwardly directed projection is provided on a resilient arm which extends substantially vertically from said ring. 
   
   
       5 . A container as claimed in  claim 4  in which said inwardly directed projection is prevented from moving radially outwards by a part of the cap when the cap is in the fully secured position. 
   
   
       6 . A container as claimed in  claim 1  in which said flaps, or other radially moveable parts, extend in a substantially axial direction from said ring. 
   
   
       7 . A container as claimed in  claim 6  in which said flaps, or other radially moveable parts, extend from an upper surface of said ring. 
   
   
       8 . A container as claimed in  claim 6  in which said flaps, or other radially moveable parts, overlap (at least to some extent) with said ring in the axial direction. 
   
   
       9 . A container as claimed in  claim 7  in which said flaps, or other radially moveable parts, have an inwardly projecting shoulder for engaging said axially facing surface of the lip (or other features) of the container body. 
   
   
       10 . A container as claimed in  claim 7  in which the cap has a first set of cam surfaces for urging the flaps or other radially moveable parts radially inwards to engage the container body and a second set of cam surfaces for urging the flaps or other radially moveable parts radially outwards to disengage from the container body upon rotation of the cap relative to the collar. 
   
   
       11 . A container as claimed in  claim 10  in which the cams of the first and second sets of cam surfaces are arranged alternately around an inner surface of the cap and rotation of the cap relative to the collar moves the flaps or other radially moveable parts from engagement with the first set of cam surfaces into engagement with the second set of cam surfaces. 
   
   
       12 . A container as claimed in  claim 1  in which the cap, the collar and the container body are constructed and arranged to provide a vent for venting gas from the container body, at least when the cap is in an intermediate position (between fully secured and fully released). 
   
   
       13 . A container as claimed in  claim 12  in which the collar and the cap include means to block or restrict removal of the cap from the collar beyond an intermediate position (between fully secured and fully released) when the cap is under an axial pressure in a direction emerging from the container body. 
   
   
       14 . A container comprising a container body including an opening, a cap to close the opening and a collar arranged to fit between the container body and the cap, the collar having a plurality of spaced apart flaps or other radially moveable parts provided thereon and the cap having a first set of cam surfaces for urging the flaps or other radially moveable parts radially inwards to engage the container body and a second set of cam surfaces for urging the flaps or other radially moveable parts radially outwards to disengage from the container body upon rotation of the cap relative to the collar. 
   
   
       15 . A container as claimed in  claim 14  in which the cams of the first and second sets of cam surfaces are arranged alternately around an inner surface of the cap and rotation of the cap relative to the collar moves the flaps or other radially moveable parts from engagement with the first set of cam surfaces into engagement with the second set of cam surfaces. 
   
   
       16 . A container as claimed in  claim 14  in which the collar comprises a ring from which said flaps, or other radially moveable parts, extend in a substantially axial direction. 
   
   
       17 . A container as claimed in  claim 14  in which the collar has one or more inwardly directed projections for engaging one or more features of the container body, said projection being provided on a resilient arm which is prevented from flexing radially outwards by a part of the cap when the cap is in the fully secured position. 
   
   
       18 . A container as claimed in  claim 17  in which said part of the cap also provides one of said second set of cam surfaces. 
   
   
       19 . A container comprising a container body including an opening, a cap to close the opening and a collar, the collar being arranged to fit between the container body and the cap so as to secure the cap to the container body, the collar having one or more inwardly directed projections for engaging one or more features of an external surface of the container body whereby rotation of the collar relative to the container body is limited, said one or more projections being provided on a resilient arm extending from said collar so as to be radially moveable into the out of engagement with said one or more features of the external surface of the container body. 
   
   
       20 . A container as claimed in  claim 19  in which said inwardly directed projection is provided on a resilient arm which extends substantially vertically from said ring. 
   
   
       21 . A container as claimed in  claim 20  in which said inwardly directed projection is prevented from moving radially outwards by a part of the cap when the cap is in the fully secured position. 
   
   
       22 . A container comprising a container body including an opening, a cap to close the opening and a collar arranged to fit between the container body and the cap, the cap being rotatable relative to the collar between a first position in which the cap is secured to the container body via the collar and a second position in which the cap is removable from the container body, the cap being secured to the collar by a threaded engagement therebetween, said threaded engagement being arranged to provide a vent for venting gas from the container body, at least when the cap is in an intermediate position (between fully secured and fully released). 
   
   
       23 . A container as claimed in  claim 22  in which said threaded engagement includes means to block or restrict removal of the cap from the collar beyond said intermediate position when the cap is under an axial pressure in a direction emerging from the container body. 
   
   
       24 . A container as claimed in  claim 23  in which said threaded engagement is provided by mutually engageable thread surfaces on the cap and collar respectively and said means is provided by a projection in one thread surface a recess on another thread surface, the projection and recess engaging with each other in said intermediate position. 
   
   
       25 . A container as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the container body has a smooth lip extending around the opening thereof and one or more isolated retaining features on an external surface thereof. 
   
   
       26 . (canceled) 
   
   
       27 . A container as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the cap and collar which are arranged so as to be manufactured as a single component and then separated either before or after the collar has been assembled within the cap.