Container and Closure Assembly

Abstract

A container and closure assembly includes a container and a closure. The container defines an opening and includes a lip positioned around the opening. The closure includes a top portion defining a periphery, a skirt, a first and second blocking structure, a tab, a plurality of spaced apart first ribs, a plurality of spaced apart second ribs, and a plurality of first rib extensions. The skirt defines an internal closure space and including (i) a first skirt portion extending downwardly from the periphery, and (ii) a second skirt portion extending downwardly from a first part of the first skirt portion. The second skirt portion includes a first side edge and a second side edge that are spaced apart from each other to form a gap. The first blocking structure is secured to the skirt. The tab extends downwardly from a second part of the first skirt portion and is positioned in the gap.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A container and closure assembly, comprising:
 a container defining an opening and having a lip positioned around said opening;   a closure configured to be attached to said container, said closure including:
 a top portion defining a periphery, 
 a skirt defining an internal closure space and including (i) a first skirt portion extending downwardly from said periphery, and (ii) a second skirt portion extending downwardly from a first part of said first skirt portion, said second skirt portion having a first side edge and a second side edge that are spaced apart from each other to form a gap, 
 a first blocking structure secured to said skirt, 
 a tab extending downwardly from a second part of said first skirt portion and positioned in said gap, 
 a second blocking structure secured to said tab, 
 a plurality of spaced apart first ribs each of which is misaligned with said first blocking structure and said second blocking structure, each of said plurality of spaced apart first ribs being (i) positioned in said internal closure space, and (ii) attached to both said top portion and said skirt, 
 a plurality of spaced apart second ribs each of which is aligned with one of said first blocking structure and said second blocking structure, each of said plurality of spaced apart second ribs being (i) positioned in said internal closure space, and (ii) attached to both said top portion and said skirt, and 
 a plurality of first rib extensions each being (i) secured to a respective one of said plurality of spaced apart first ribs, and (ii) spaced apart from said skirt, 
   wherein a plurality of first lip spaces is respectively defined between said plurality of first rib extensions and said skirt, and   wherein said lip of said container is positioned in each of said first lip spaces when said closure is attached to said container.   
     
     
         2 . The container and closure assembly of  claim 1 , the closure further comprising:
 a plurality of second rib extensions each being (i) secured to a respective one of said plurality of spaced apart second ribs, and (ii) spaced apart from said skirt,   wherein a plurality of second lip spaces is respectively defined between said plurality of second rib extensions and said skirt, and   wherein said lip of said container is positioned in each of said second lip spaces when said closure is attached to said container.   
     
     
         3 . The container and closure assembly of  claim 1 , wherein:
 each of said plurality of spaced apart second ribs includes (i) an interiorly facing side, (ii) an exteriorly facing side secured to said skirt, (iii) a lower side, and (iv) an upper side secured to said top portion, and   said lower side is configured as a flat edge surface that extends from said exteriorly facing side to said interiorly facing side.   
     
     
         4 . The container and closure assembly of  claim 1 , wherein:
 said lip is interposed between said first blocking structure and one of said plurality of spaced apart second ribs when said closure is attached to said container, and   said lip is interposed between said second blocking structure and another of said plurality of spaced apart second ribs when said closure is attached to said container.   
     
     
         5 . The container and closure assembly of  claim 1 , wherein each of said plurality of spaced apart first ribs is interposed between said lip and said top portion when said closure is attached to said container. 
     
     
         6 . The container and closure assembly of  claim 5 , wherein each of said plurality of spaced apart second ribs is interposed between said lip and said top portion when said closure is attached to said container. 
     
     
         7 . The container and closure assembly of  claim 1 , wherein:
 said closure is configured so that, when a plane is superimposed on the closure so as to intersect both said first blocking structure and said second blocking structure, the closure is divided into a first closure portion and a second closure portion, and   said first closure portion and said second closure portion possess an equal number of said plurality of spaced apart first ribs.   
     
     
         8 . The container and closure assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said closure is configured so that, when a plane is superimposed on the closure so as to intersect both said first blocking structure and said second blocking structure, the closure is divided into a first closure half portion and a second closure half portion. 
     
     
         9 . The container and closure assembly of  claim 8 , wherein said plane further intersects each of said plurality of spaced apart second ribs. 
     
     
         10 . The container and closure assembly of  claim 1 , wherein:
 said plurality of spaced apart first ribs includes a first lateral group of spaced apart first ribs and a second lateral group of spaced apart first ribs,   said closure is configured so that, when a plane is superimposed on the closure so as to intersect each of said plurality of spaced apart second ribs, the closure is divided into a first closure portion and a second closure portion,   said first closure portion includes said first lateral group of spaced apart first ribs, and   said second closure portion includes said second lateral group of spaced apart first ribs.   
     
     
         11 . The container and closure assembly of  claim 1 , wherein:
 said lip defines a top surface, a bottom surface, an outer surface, and an inner surface,   said closure is configured so that, when said closure is attached to said container, (i) said top surface faces each of said plurality of spaced apart first ribs and each of plurality of spaced apart second ribs, (ii) said bottom surface faces each of said first blocking structure and said second blocking structure, (iii) said outer surface faces said skirt, and (iv) said inner surface faces each of said plurality of first rib extensions.   
     
     
         12 . The container and closure assembly of  claim 1 , wherein each of said plurality of lip spaces is respectively defined by (i) an exteriorly facing side of one of said plurality of first rib extensions, (ii) a lower side of one of said plurality of spaced apart first ribs, and (iii) an interiorly facing side of said skirt. 
     
     
         13 . The container and closure assembly of  claim 12 , wherein each of said plurality of lip spaces is defined by a generally U-shaped receptacle structure formed by (i) said exteriorly facing side of one of said plurality of first rib extensions, (ii) said lower side of one of said plurality of spaced apart first ribs, and (iii) said interiorly facing side of said skirt. 
     
     
         14 . A closure assembly adapted to be attached to a container, comprising:
 a top portion defining a periphery,   a skirt defining an internal closure space and including (i) a first skirt portion extending downwardly from said periphery, and (ii) a second skirt portion extending downwardly from a first part of said first skirt portion, said second skirt portion having a first side edge and a second side edge that are spaced apart from each other to form a gap,   a first blocking structure secured to said skirt,   a tab extending downwardly from a second part of said first skirt portion and positioned in said gap,   a second blocking structure secured to said tab,   a plurality of spaced apart first ribs each of which is misaligned with said first blocking structure and said second blocking structure, each of said plurality of spaced apart first ribs being (i) positioned in said internal closure space, and (ii) attached to both said top portion and said skirt,   a plurality of spaced apart second ribs each of which is aligned with one of said first blocking structure and said second blocking structure, each of said plurality of spaced apart second ribs being (i) positioned in said internal closure space, and (ii) attached to both said top portion and said skirt, and   a plurality of first rib extensions each being (i) secured to a respective one of said plurality of spaced apart first ribs, and (ii) spaced apart from said skirt,   wherein a plurality of first lip spaces is respectively defined between said plurality of first rib extensions and said skirt.   
     
     
         15 . The closure assembly of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 a plurality of second rib extensions each being (i) secured to a respective one of said plurality of spaced apart second ribs, and (ii) spaced apart from said skirt,   wherein a plurality of second lip spaces is respectively defined between said plurality of second rib extensions and said skirt.   
     
     
         16 . The closure assembly of  claim 14 , wherein:
 each of said plurality of spaced apart second ribs includes (i) an interiorly facing side, (ii) an exteriorly facing side secured to said skirt, (iii) a lower side, and (iv) an upper side secured to said top portion.   
     
     
         17 . The closure assembly of  claim 16 , wherein:
 a first additional lip space is defined between said first blocking structure and one of said plurality of second ribs, and   a second additional lip space is defined between said second blocking structure and another of said plurality of second ribs.   
     
     
         18 . The closure assembly of  claim 17 , wherein:
 said one of said plurality of spaced apart second ribs is interposed between said first additional lip space and said top portion, and   said other of said plurality of spaced apart second ribs is interposed between said second additional lip space and said top portion.   
     
     
         19 . The closure assembly of  claim 14 , wherein each of said plurality of spaced apart first ribs is respectively interposed between said plurality of first lip spaces and said top portion. 
     
     
         20 . The closure assembly of  claim 14 , wherein:
 said closure is configured so that, when a plane is superimposed on the closure so as to intersect both said first blocking structure and said second blocking structure, the closure is divided into a first closure portion and a second closure portion, and   said first closure portion and said second closure portion possess an equal number of said plurality of spaced apart first ribs.   
     
     
         21 . The closure assembly of  claim 14 , wherein said closure is configured so that, when a plane is superimposed on the closure so as to intersect both said first blocking structure and said second blocking structure, the closure is divided into a first closure half portion and a second closure half portion. 
     
     
         22 . The closure assembly of  claim 21 , wherein said plane further intersects each of said plurality of spaced apart second ribs. 
     
     
         23 . The closure assembly of  claim 14 , wherein:
 said plurality of spaced apart first ribs includes a first lateral group of spaced apart first ribs and a second lateral group of spaced apart first ribs,   said closure is configured so that, when a plane is superimposed on the closure to intersect each of said plurality of spaced apart second ribs, the closure is divided into a first closure portion and a second closure portion,   said first closure portion includes said first lateral group of spaced apart first ribs, and   said second closure portion includes said second lateral group of spaced apart first ribs.   
     
     
         24 . The closure assembly of  claim 14 , wherein each of said plurality of lip spaces is respectively defined by (i) an exteriorly facing side of one of said plurality of first rib extensions, (ii) a lower side of one of said plurality of spaced apart first ribs, and (iii) an interiorly facing side of said skirt. 
     
     
         25 . The closure assembly of  claim 24 , wherein each of said plurality of lip spaces is further defined by a generally U-shaped receptacle structure formed by (i) said exteriorly facing side of said one of said plurality of first rib extensions, (ii) said lower side of said one of said plurality of spaced apart first ribs, and (iii) said interiorly facing side of said skirt.