Container closure

Abstract

A closure for a container having a top wall, a first tubular wall with a radial exterior surface and a radial interior surface, and a second tubular wall with a radial exterior surface and a radial interior surface. The first tubular wall extends generally transversely downwardly from a peripheral edge of the top wall and the second tubular wall extends generally transversely downwardly from an interior surface of the top wall radially inwardly from the first tubular wall to establish an unobstructed void between the interior surface of the first tubular wall and the exterior surface of the second tubular wall. The interior surface of the second tubular wall has first screw threads configured to removably engage second screw threads formed on the container.

1 . A closure for a container comprising:
 a top wall with a peripheral edge, an exterior surface and an interior surface;   a first tubular wall with a radial exterior surface and a radial interior surface, the first tubular wall extending generally transversely downwardly from the peripheral edge of the top wall; and   a second tubular wall with a radial exterior surface and a radial interior surface, the second tubular wall extending generally transversely downwardly from the interior surface of the top wall radially inwardly from the first tubular wall to establish an unobstructed void between the interior surface of the first tubular wall and the exterior surface of the second tubular wall below the interior surface of the top wall, the radial interior surface of the second tubular wall having first screw threads configured to removably engage second screw threads formed on the container, wherein   rotating the closure in a first direction, when viewing the top wall, without applying a force to the exterior surface of the top wall or to the exterior surface of the first tubular wall, causes the first screw threads of the second tubular wall to disengage from the second screw threads of the container.   
     
     
         2 . The closure of  claim 1 , wherein the first tubular wall is flexible and the second tubular wall is rigid. 
     
     
         3 . The closure of  claim 1 , wherein the first tubular wall is rigid and the second tubular wall is rigid. 
     
     
         4 . The closure of  claim 1  further comprising a cylindrical protrusion extending downwardly from the interior surface of the top wall at a central longitudinal axis of the top wall. 
     
     
         5 . The closure of  claim 1 , wherein the first tubular wall is connected only to the top wall. 
     
     
         6 . The closure of  claim 5 , wherein the first tubular wall and second tubular wall are integrally formed with the top wall. 
     
     
         7 . The closure of  claim 1  further comprising a plurality of concentric and spaced-apart ribs extending generally transversely downwardly from the interior surface of the top wall. 
     
     
         8 . The closure of  claim 7 , wherein the second tubular wall extends generally transversely downwardly from the interior surface of the top wall radially outwardly from an outermost concentric rib of the plurality of concentric ribs. 
     
     
         9 . The closure of  claim 7 , wherein the degree of spacing between each of the plurality of ribs decreases in a direction leading toward the peripheral edge of the top wall. 
     
     
         10 . The closure of  claim 1 , wherein a plurality of gripping members protrude from the exterior surface of the first tubular wall. 
     
     
         11 . The closure of  claim 10 , wherein the plurality of gripping members are a plurality of elongated ribs. 
     
     
         12 . A method of manufacturing a container closure having a top wall, a first tubular wall integrally formed with the top wall and extending generally transversely downwardly from a peripheral edge of the top wall, and a second integrally formed tubular wall integrally formed with the top wall and extending generally transversely downwardly from an interior surface of the top wall radially inwardly from the first tubular wall to establish an unobstructed void between the first tubular wall and the second tubular wall, the method comprising providing a single open mold, injecting a polymeric material into the single mold, allowing the polymeric material to cool until substantially solidified, and removing the single mold.