Container And Closure

Abstract

A container and closure includes a closure secured to the container through projections comprising a series of horizontal, circumferentially spaced apart elements arranged so that the elements on the closure can pass though the spaces between the elements on the container and locate beneath them to secure the closure to the container. The elements of the projection on the container are separated from each other in the circumferential direction and do not overlap with each other in the vertical direction and the elements of the projection on the closure are separated from each other in the circumferential direction and do not overlap with each other in the vertical direction. The closure carries a sealing member for providing a seal with either an internal or external sealing surface of the container. The seal is driven down from a lead-in surface to engage the sealing surface as the closure is rotated.

1 . A container and a closure therefor, the container having an opening defining an axis and an outwardly projecting first member around an external surface of the container, said first member comprising a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart first portions, each first portion having an element with elongate upper and lower surfaces, said upper and lower surfaces thereof being substantially horizontal in the circumferential direction, the closure having a top part and a skirt part, the skirt part comprising an inwardly projecting second member around an internal surface thereof, said second member comprising a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart second portions, each second portion having an element with elongate upper and lower surfaces, said upper and lower surfaces thereof being substantially horizontal in the circumferential direction, said elements of the second portions being of a length such that they can pass through spaces between the first portions and being locatable beneath the first portions so as to secure the closure to the container. 
     
     
         2 . A container and a closure as claimed in  claim 1 , in which each of the first portions, or each of the second portions, has an upwardly inclined end at one end thereof and/or a downwardly inclined end at the other end thereof. 
     
     
         3 . A container and a closure as claimed in  claim 2 , in which the upwardly and/or downwardly inclined ends of the second portions extend beyond said elongate upper and lower surfaces thereof, respectively. 
     
     
         4 . A container and a closure as claimed in  claim 2  in which upon rotation of the closure in a first direction about axis A, said downwardly inclined ends acts to drive the second portions downwards relative to the first portions. 
     
     
         5 . A container and a closure as claimed in  claim 2  in which upon rotation of the closure in a second direction about axis A, said upwardly inclined ends acts to drive the second portions upwards relative to the first portions. 
     
     
         6 . A container and a metal closure as claimed in  claim 1  in which the closure has a sealing member for providing a seal with a sealing surface of the container, the sealing surface being a substantially vertical surface about the interior or exterior of a neck portion of the container. 
     
     
         7 . A container and closure as claimed in  claim 3  in which said downwardly inclined ends act to drive the second portions downwards from a position in which said sealing member contacts the container in a non-sealing position to a position in which said sealing member sealingly engages the sealing surface of the container. 
     
     
         8 . A container and closure as claimed in  claim 7  in which the sealing member comprises an o-ring mounted in a gland. 
     
     
         9 . A container and closure as claimed in  claim 1  in which the closure is movable between a first secured sealed position and a second secured venting position in which venting of the container is enabled. 
     
     
         10 . A container and closure as claimed in  claim 9  in which the skirt portion of the closure comprises a further inwardly projecting member comprising a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart third portions each of the third portions having an upper surface which is at a lower level than said upper surfaces of the second portions, said third portions being arranged to engage the lower surfaces of the first portions when the closure is in a venting position. 
     
     
         11 . A container and a closure therefor, the container having an opening defining an axis and an outwardly projecting first member around an external surface of the container, said first member comprising a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart first portions, each first portion comprising an element having an upper surface and a lower surface, said upper surface being substantially horizontal in the circumferential direction and said lower surface being substantially horizontal in the circumferential direction, the closure having a top part and a skirt part, and a sealing member for providing a seal with a sealing surface of the container, the skirt part comprising an inwardly projecting second member around an internal surface thereof, said second member comprising a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart second portions, the closure being securable to the container by interaction between said first and second portions, the closure being movable between a first position in which at least part of said second portions engage the upper surfaces of said first portions, a second position, following rotation in a first direction and downward movement of the closure relative to the container, in which said sealing member contacts the container in a non-sealing position and elements of said second portions are aligned with spaces between said first portions and a third position, following further rotation of the closure in the first direction relative to the container and further downward movement of the closure relative to the container, in which said sealing member has been moved downwards to sealingly engage said sealing surface and said elements of said second portions are located beneath said first portions in contact with said lower surfaces thereof. 
     
     
         12 . A container and closure as claimed in  claim 11  in which the skirt portion of the closure comprises a further inwardly projecting member comprising a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart third portions each of the third portions having an upper surface which is at a lower level than said upper surfaces of the second portions, said third portions being arranged to engage the lower surfaces of the first portions when the closure is in said second position. 
     
     
         13 . A closure and container as claimed in  claim 1  comprising a widemouth container as defined herein. 
     
     
         14 . A container and closure as claimed in  claim 11  in which said sealing member is compressed in a substantially horizontal direction between the container and the closure as the closure is moved downwards by rotation thereof to move it into sealing engagement with said sealing surface. 
     
     
         15 . A container and closure as claimed in  claim 1  in which the metal closure is formed from sheet metal and shaped by forming processes. 
     
     
         16 . A container and metal closure as claimed in  claim 15  in which the first member and/or the second member is formed by an indentation in the external surface of the skirt portion of the closure so as to form said spaced apart first portions and/or said spaced apart second portions projecting from an inner surface of the skirt portion. 
     
     
         17 . A container and closure as claimed in  claim 15  in which the closure comprising two, initially separate, components: an annular skirt portion adapted to be releasably secured to the container and a closing portion which has been irreversibly secured to the skirt portion so as to close an opening therein, preferably by a seamed joint. 
     
     
         18 . A container and closure as claimed in  claim 11  in which the container comprising a container body having a first opening at a first end thereof and a second opening at a second end thereof, the closure being releasably mounted on the container body so as to releasably close the first opening, and the second opening of the container body being closed by a container closing portion which has been irreversibly secured to the container body to close permanently the second end thereof, preferably by a seamed joint. 
     
     
         19 . A container and metal closure as claimed in  claim 1  in which the container comprises a container body with said opening at one end thereof and a base portion closing the other end thereof, said first member being provided on an external surface of a neck portion of the container, said neck portion being an integral part of the container body and being at or towards an upper end thereof. 
     
     
         20 . A plastic container and a metal closure therefor, the container having an opening defining an axis and first engagement means for releasably securing the metal closure thereto so as to releasably close said opening, the closure having a sealing member for providing a seal with a sealing surface of the container, the sealing member comprising an o-ring provided within a recess in the closure and the sealing surface being an external surface of the container, said recess and sealing surface together defining a gland in which the o-ring is located.