Food or beverage package and container closure

Abstract

A package is disclosed that includes a container and a closure. The container includes a container neck finish having a radially inner surface, a radially outer surface, and an axial outward end surface extending between the radially inner and outer surfaces. The radially outer surface includes a straight cylindrical upper portion and a threaded cylindrical lower portion. The closure includes a base wall engaging the axial outward end surface of the container neck finish, an external skirt extending away from the base wall and having a threaded section with internal threads engaging the container neck finish, and a pleated section between the threaded section and the base wall.

1 . A package, comprising:
 a container including a container neck finish having a radially inner surface, a radially outer surface, and an axial outward end surface extending between the radially inner and outer surfaces, wherein the radially outer surface includes a straight cylindrical upper portion and a threaded cylindrical lower portion including one or more external threads; and   a closure including a base wall engaging the axial outward end surface of the container neck finish, an external skirt extending away from the base wall and having a threaded section with internal threads engaging the external threads of the container neck finish, and a pleated section between the threaded section and the base wall.   
     
     
         2 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein, in use, as the closure is threaded to the container, the base wall of the closure engages the axial outward end surface of the container neck finish, and, as the closure continues to be threaded to the container, the pleated section elongates to accommodate the continued threading and to ensure continued contact between the closure base wall and the container neck finish. 
     
     
         3 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the container is a wide-mouth glass container and the closure is a metal closure. 
     
     
         4 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the metal closure is composed of aluminum. 
     
     
         5 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the pleated closure skirt serves as a lockdown feature to urge the base wall of the closure against the axial outward end surface of the neck finish for desired sealing between the closure and the container. 
     
     
         6 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the pleated closure skirt serves as a pressure relief feature to allow the base wall of the closure to separate from the axial outward end surface of the neck finish to allow the package to vent excess internal pressures. 
     
     
         7 . A threaded and pleated closure, comprising:
 a base wall; and   an external skirt extending away from the base wall and including:
 an open end distal the base wall, 
 an internally threaded section distal the base wall and proximate the open end, and 
 a pleated section axially between the internally threaded section and the base wall. 
   
     
     
         8 . The closure of  claim 7 , wherein the closure is composed of metal. 
     
     
         9 . The closure of  claim 8 , wherein the metal closure is composed of aluminum. 
     
     
         10 . The closure of  claim 7 , wherein the pleated section includes a plurality of pleats. 
     
     
         11 . The closure of  claim 7 , wherein the pleated section is elongated during application of the closure to a container impose an axial bias force on a lip of the container by the base wall of the closure.