System and method for screw on tamper evident closures

Abstract

A method for securing a tamper evident closure to a container includes providing a prethreaded closure that is defined by a top portion and a skirt portion that extends from the top portion. The skirt portion defines an inner closure thread surface and an opposed outer closure thread surface of at least one closure thread. The skirt portion also includes a tamper evident band. The prethreaded closure is rotated to engage the at least one closure thread with at least one container thread of a container. The inner closure thread surface contacts a surface of the at least one container thread. The tamper evident band of the prethreaded closure is rolled to secure the tamper evident band to the container.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A prethreaded closure, comprising:
 a top portion defining an underside surface;   a skirt portion extending from the top portion, the skirt portion having at least one thread formed therein, the at least one thread forming an inner thread surface and an outer thread surface;   the skirt portion defining a frangible portion;   a band extending below the frangible portion and disposed aligned with the skirt portion, the band having a diameter sized to fit over a finish portion of a bottle-shaped container.   
     
     
         2 . The prethreaded closure of  claim 1  wherein the frangible portion comprises a plurality of slits separated from each other by a bridge. 
     
     
         3 . The prethreaded closure of  claim 1  wherein the at least one thread is only one spiral thread. 
     
     
         4 . The prethreaded closure of  claim 3  wherein the only one spiral thread extends approximately 2.5 times around the skirt portion. 
     
     
         5 . The prethreaded closure of  claim 1  wherein the at least one thread is a plurality of threads. 
     
     
         6 . The prethreaded closure of  claim 1  further comprising a sealing liner formed of a resilient material secured to the underside surface of the top portion. 
     
     
         7 . The prethreaded closure of  claim 1  further comprising knurling formed in the skirt portion. 
     
     
         8 . The prethreaded closure of  claim 1  further comprising a reform portion disposed axially between the top portion and the skirt portion. 
     
     
         9 . The prethreaded closure of  claim 1  wherein the prethreaded closure is formed of metal. 
     
     
         10 . The prethreaded closure of  claim 1  wherein the prethreaded closure is formed of aluminum. 
     
     
         11 . The prethreaded closure of  claim 1  wherein the band is configured to be crimped to a neck portion of the bottle-shaped container. 
     
     
         12 . A beverage container, comprising:
 a bottle-shaped container defining a finish portion and a cylindrical portion, the finish portion defining a curl and at least one container thread;   a prethreaded closure, comprising:
 a top portion defining an underside surface; 
 a sealing liner secured to the underside surface; 
 a skirt portion extending from the top portion and defining at least one closure thread engaged with the at least one container thread; 
 a frangible portion; and 
 a tamper-evident band extending below the frangible portion and crimped to the finish portion of the bottle-shaped container; and 
   wherein a torque creates a seal between the sealing liner and the curl of the bottle-shaped container.   
     
     
         13 . The beverage container of  claim 12  wherein the bottle-shaped container and the prethreaded closure are formed of metal. 
     
     
         14 . The beverage container of  claim 13  wherein the metal is aluminum. 
     
     
         15 . The beverage container of  claim 12  wherein the bottle-shaped container has a volume of approximately sixteen fluid ounces. 
     
     
         16 . The beverage container of  claim 15  wherein the bottle-shaped container has an axial pressure resistance against deformation of less than 275 pounds. 
     
     
         17 . A method of capping a container, comprising:
 providing a bottle-shaped container defining a finish portion and a cylindrical portion, the finish portion defining a curl and at least one container thread;   providing a prethreaded closure, comprising:
 a top portion defining an underside surface; 
 a skirt portion extending from the top portion and defining at least one closure thread forming an inner thread surface and an outer thread surface; 
 a frangible portion; and 
 a tamper-evident band extending below the frangible portion; 
   rotating the prethreaded closure to engage the at least one closure thread with the at least one container thread, the inner thread surface contacting a surface of the at least one container thread; and   rolling the tamper evident band of the prethreaded closure to secure the tamper evident band to the finish portion.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the at least one closure thread is only one continuous spiral thread extending about 2.5 times around a circumference of the skirt portion and wherein the prethreaded closure is rotated about 2.5 times to engage the only one continuous spiral thread to the at least one container thread. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the prethreaded closure further comprises a sealing liner secured to the underside surface and rotating the prethreaded closure to engage the at least one closure thread applies an axial force in a range of 10-140 pounds to the bottle-shaped container to form a seal between the sealing liner and the curl. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the applied axial force is in a range of 40-60 pounds. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the bottle-shaped container and the prethreaded closure including the at least one closure thread are formed of metal. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the metal is aluminum. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 17  further comprising placing a disk liner proximate the underside surface of the top portion. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 17  further comprising in-shell molding a liner to the underside surface of the top portion. 
     
     
         25 . A kit in parts, comprising:
 a) a beverage container, comprising:
 a bottle-shaped container defining a finish portion and a cylindrical portion, the finish portion defining a curl and at least one container thread; and 
   b) a prethreaded closure, comprising:
 a top portion defining an underside surface; 
 a skirt portion extending from the top portion, the skirt portion having at least one thread formed therein, the at least one thread forming and outer thread surface and an inner thread surface, the skirt portion configured to cooperate with the finish portion of the bottle-shaped container; 
 the skirt portion defining a frangible portion; and 
 a band extending below the frangible portion and disposed aligned with the skirt portion, the band having a diameter sized to fit over the finish portion of the bottle-shaped container. 
   
     
     
         26 . The kit in parts of  claim 25 , the beverage container having an axial pressure resistance against deformation of less than 275 pounds. 
     
     
         27 . The kin in parts of  claim 26  wherein the axial pressure resistance against deformation is less than 260 pounds. 
     
     
         28 . The kit in parts of  claim 25 , wherein the beverage container and prethreaded closure are formed of metal. 
     
     
         29 . A kit in parts, comprising:
 a) a beverage container, comprising:
 a bottle-shaped container defining a finish portion and a cylindrical portion, the finish portion defining a curl and at least one container thread; and 
   b) a prethreaded closure, comprising:
 a top portion defining an underside surface; 
 a skirt portion extending from the top portion, the skirt portion having at least one thread formed therein, the at least one thread forming an inner thread surface configured to cooperate with the at least one container thread of the bottle-shaped container; 
 wherein the top portion, the skirt portion, and the at least one thread are all formed in a single material; 
 the skirt portion defining a frangible portion; and 
 a band extending below the frangible portion and disposed aligned with the skirt portion, the band having a diameter sized to fit over the finish portion of the bottle-shaped container. 
   
     
     
         30 . A kit in parts, comprising:
 a) a beverage container, comprising:
 a bottle-shaped container defining a finish portion and a cylindrical portion, the finish portion defining a curl and at least one container thread, the bottle-shaped container having an axial pressure resistance against deformation of less than 275 pounds; and 
   b) a prethreaded closure, comprising:
 a top portion defining an underside surface; 
 a skirt portion extending from the top portion, the skirt portion having at least one thread formed therein, the at least one thread forming an inner thread surface configured to cooperate with the at least one container thread of the bottle-shaped container; 
 the skirt portion defining a frangible portion; and 
 a band extending below the frangible portion and disposed aligned with the skirt portion, the band having a diameter sized to fit over the finish portion of the bottle-shaped container. 
   
     
     
         31 . The kit in parts of  claim 30  wherein the axial pressure resistance against deformation is less than 260 pounds.