Locking bottle transport ring for a stopper

Abstract

The present invention discloses a stopper affixed to a bottle. The bottle comprises a bottle finish, a tamper evident ring, a transport ring, a neck including an integrally formed locking feature. The bottle finish is configured to receive a stopper comprising a closure shell and a tamper band, where the closure shell and the tamper band being separably connected. The transport ring is located below the tamper evident ring and the tamper band is configured to be positioned between the tamper evident ring and the transport ring. The locking feature is configured to receive and retain at least a portion of the closure shell between a bottom surface of the transport ring and a bottom surface of the neck when the closure shell is separated from the tamper band. Also, the present invention discloses a method for locking a stopper onto a bottle.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A bottle, comprising:
 a bottle finish having a tubular shape configured to receive a stopper comprising a closure shell and a tamper band, the closure shell and the tamper band being separably connected;   a tamper evident ring positioned peripherally on the bottle finish;   a transport ring having a bottom surface, the transport ring positioned peripherally on the bottle finish and located below the tamper evident ring, wherein the tamper band is configured to be positioned between the tamper evident ring and the transport ring;   a neck located below the transport ring, the neck comprising a bottom surface and a locking feature integrally formed therein; and   a shoulder located below the neck, wherein   the locking feature is configured to receive and retain at least a portion of the closure shell between the bottom surface of the transport ring and the bottom surface of the neck when the closure shell is separated from the tamper band.   
     
     
         2 . The bottle according to  claim 1 , wherein the locking feature is integrally formed into the neck during a preform molding process. 
     
     
         3 . The bottle according to  claim 1 , wherein the locking feature is integrally formed into the neck during a blow molding process. 
     
     
         4 . The bottle according to  claim 1 , wherein the locking feature forms a continuous locking feature around the perimeter of the neck. 
     
     
         5 . The bottle according to  claim 1 , wherein the neck comprises a plurality of locking features each positioned below the transport ring and distributed around the perimeter of the neck. 
     
     
         6 . The bottle according to  claim 1 , the stopper further comprising a strip configured to connect the closure shell and the tamper band the closure shell is separated from the tamper band. 
     
     
         7 . The bottle according to  claim 1 , wherein the locking feature is dimensioned relative to the closure shell height, such that at least a portion of the closure shell is received and retained by the locking feature. 
     
     
         8 . A method for locking a stopper onto a bottle having a neck, comprising:
 providing the bottle having a stopper inserted onto a neck of a bottle, the stopper comprising a tamper band and a separably connected closure shell, wherein the tamper band is secured between a tamper evident ring and a transport ring;   separating the closure shell from the tamper band; and   inserting at least a portion of closure shell into a locking feature positioned between a bottom surface of a transport ring and a bottom surface of the neck.   
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the locking feature is integrally formed into the neck during a preform molding process. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the locking feature is integrally formed into the neck during a blow molding process. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the locking feature forms a continuous locking feature around the perimeter of the neck.