Container and closure

Abstract

A closure for a container is described. The container has an opening through which contents of the container are dispensed and a holding member ( 255, 285, 295, 305, 315, 316, 317, 340, 350 ) for cooperating with the closure to retain the closure on the container. A sealing member ( 220 ) is configured to sealingly close the container opening. The sealing member includes a retention member ( 260, 275, 290, 300, 310, 325, 335, 345, 355 ) engageable with the holding member of the container to retain the sealing member in sealing engagement with the container. A cap member ( 225 ) has a top rim and a sidewall depending from the top rim. The sidewall includes an attachment member ( 160 ) for attachment to the container and an engagement member ( 245 ) that operatively couples the sealing member to the cap member upon placement of the cap member on the container. The cap member is rotatable relative to the container and relative to the sealing member.

1 - 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . A closure for a container, the container having an opening through which contents of the container are dispensed, and a holding member for cooperating with the closure to retain the closure on the container, the closure comprising:
 a sealing member configured to sealingly close the container opening, the sealing member including a retention member engageable with the holding member of the container to retain the sealing member in sealing engagement with the container, and   a cap member having a top rim and a sidewall depending from the top rim, the sidewall including an attachment member for attachment to the container, and an engagement member that operatively couples the sealing member to the cap member upon placement of the cap member on the container, the cap member being rotatable relative to the container and relative to the sealing member.   
     
     
         17 . The closure according to  claim 16 , wherein the holding member of the container comprises a groove disposed in the container, the retention member comprising an annular protrusion projecting transversely of the sealing member. 
     
     
         18 . The closure according to  claim 16 , wherein the retention member of the sealing member imparts an axial force to the holding member to hold the sealing member in sealing engagement with the container upon placement of the sealing member on the container. 
     
     
         19 . The closure according to  claim 16 , wherein the sealing member comprises a gasket material disposed along a periphery of a first surface of the sealing member. 
     
     
         20 . The closure according to  claim 19 , wherein the attachment member comprises one or more screw threads for threaded engagement with the container. 
     
     
         21 . A method of applying a closure to a container, the container including at least one opening through which contents of the container are dispensed, the method comprising:
 press-fitting a sealing member onto the container over the container opening such that a retention member of the sealing member engages a holding member of the container, an axial force resulting from said press-fitting retaining the sealing member in sealing engagement with the container to sealingly close the container opening;   applying a cap member to the container at the sealed container opening, the cap member including a top rim and a sidewall depending therefrom, the sidewall including an attachment member for engagement with the container, and an engagement member coupling the sealing member to the cap member upon application of the cap member to the container, the cap member being rotatable relative to both the container and the sealing member;   wherein the press-fitting occurs in a sterile area of a capping zone and before the screwing a cap member to the container occurs outside of the sterile area.   
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 21 , wherein the press-fitting comprises applying a force to the sealing member parallel to a longitudinal axis of the container until the retention member engages with the holding member. 
     
     
         23 . The closure according to  claim 16 , wherein the container includes a neck and the holding member is disposed on an outer periphery of the neck, the neck having a rim defining an opening to the container. 
     
     
         24 . The closure according to  claim 23 , wherein the cap member further includes a tamper evident band frangibly connected to the cap member, the tamper evident band comprising at least one ramp, and the container further includes at least one locking projection, the tamper evident band configured to be secured to the container via a ratcheting engagement of the at least one ramp with the locking projection of the container. 
     
     
         25 . The closure according to  claim 23 , wherein the retention member is an annular protrusion projecting radially inwardly and the holding member is a groove. 
     
     
         26 . The closure according to  claim 23 , wherein the sealing member further includes a gasket material disposed on a first surface of the sealing member, the gasket member configured for hermetic or aseptic sealing of the sealing member to the rim of the container. 
     
     
         27 . The closure according to  claim 23 , wherein the sealing member comprises at least one of an adhesive layer or a heat sealable material. 
     
     
         28 . A press-on, twist-off closure for a container, comprising:
 a top wall;   a substantially cylindrical sidewall that extends from an outer circumference of the top wall, the sidewall including threads configured for rotational engagement with a threaded neck of the container;   an annular lip that extends from a lower surface of the top wall and is substantially parallel to the sidewall and spaced apart from the sidewall such that a rim of the container is sealable at the space between the annular lip and the sidewall;   wherein the sidewall is configured to flex radially outwardly upon application of an axial force to the top wall such that the closure is capable of being pressed onto the rim of the container, and wherein the threads are configured to hold the space between the annular lip and the sidewall in sealing engagement with the rim of the container.