Cap for Container and Packaged Product Having the Same

Abstract

A cap (100) for a container (120) is provided. The cap (100) may include a skirt (102) component and a seal component (104). The skirt (102) component is formed of a metal material and includes an annular outer sidewall (103) defining a skirt cavity (123) that extends along a skirt axis and has an open bottom end (107). The seal component (104) is formed of a plastic material and includes an annular seal sidewall (111) having a threaded inner surface (108) configured to mate with a threaded outer surface of a neck of a container body (120). The annular seal sidewall (111) may define a neck cavity (113) having a closed top end (104) and an open bottom end (115) for receiving the neck of the container (124). The seal component (104) may be mounted to the skirt (102) component and/or located within the skirt cavity (123) so that the annular outer sidewall (103) of the skirt component (102) circumscribes the annular seal (111) sidewall of the seal component (104).

1 . A cap for a container, the cap comprising:
 a skirt component formed of a metal material, the skirt component comprising an annular outer sidewall defining a skirt cavity that extends along a skirt axis and has an open bottom end; and   a seal component formed of a plastic material, the seal component comprising an annular seal sidewall having a threaded inner surface configured to mate with a threaded outer surface of a neck of a container body, the annular seal sidewall defining a neck cavity having a closed top end and an open bottom end for receiving the neck of the container;   wherein the seal component is mounted to the skirt component and located within the skirt cavity so that the annular outer sidewall of the skirt component circumscribes the annular seal sidewall of the seal component.   
     
     
         2 . The cap according to  claim 1  wherein the skirt component is a stamped metal material component; and wherein the seal component is an injection molded plastic material component. 
     
     
         3 . The cap according to  claim 1  wherein the seal component is injection molded separately and friction fit into the skirt component. 
     
     
         4 . The cap according to  claim 1  wherein each of the skirt component and the seal component is a singular monolithic component. 
     
     
         5 . The cap according to  claim 1  further comprising:
 the skirt component comprising a first interference element; and 
 the seal component comprising a second interference element that mates with the first interference element of the skirt component. 
 
     
     
         6 . The cap according to  claim 5  wherein the mating of the first and second interference elements of the skirt and seal component prevents relative rotation between the skirt component and the seal component and establishes a friction fit between the skirt component and the seal component. 
     
     
         7 . The cap according to  claim 5  further comprising:
 the skirt component comprising:
 an inner annular sidewall that is surrounded by the outer annular sidewall so that an annular space exists between the inner and outer annular sidewalls of the skirt component; and 
 a skirt end wall, the inner and outer annular sidewalls of the skirt component extending downward from the skirt end wall; 
 wherein the first interference element of the skirt component is located on an inner surface of the inner annular sidewall of the skirt component; and 
 wherein the second interference element of the seal component is located on an outer surface of the annular seal sidewall. 
 
 
     
     
         8 . The cap according to  claim 7  wherein the seal component further comprises a seal end wall, the annular seal sidewall extending downward from the seal end wall, and the seal end wall having an annular flange portion extending beyond the outer surface of the annular seal sidewall, the annular flange portion engaging an annular shoulder formed in the inner surface of the inner annular sidewall of the skirt component. 
     
     
         9 . The cap according to  claim 1  further comprising:
 the skirt component comprising:
 an inner annular sidewall that is surrounded by the outer annular sidewall so that an annular space exists between the inner and outer annular sidewalls of the skirt component; and 
 an annular skirt end wall defining a central opening into the skirt cavity, the inner and outer annular sidewalls of the skirt component extending downward from the skirt end wall; 
 
 the seal component comprising a seal end wall having a top surface and a bottom surface, the annular seal sidewall extending downward from the bottom surface of the seal end wall; and 
 the seal component mounted to the skirt component to close the central opening such that each of a top surface of the skirt end wall and the top surface of the seal end wall remain exposed. 
 
     
     
         10 . The cap according to  claim 9  wherein the annular seal sidewall of the skirt extends downward beyond a bottom edge of the inner annular sidewall of the skirt component. 
     
     
         11 . The cap according to  claim 9  wherein the annular outer sidewall of the skirt component extends downward beyond a bottom edge of the annular seal sidewall of the skirt component. 
     
     
         12 . A container comprising:
 a container body having:
 a body portion defining a product chamber; 
 a neck having a threaded outer surface, the neck defines a passageway into the product chamber; 
   a cap according to  claim 1 ;   the cap coupled to the container body via threaded engagement between the threaded outer surface of the neck and the threaded inner surface of the cap so that the seal component seals the passageway, the neck at least partially located within the neck cavity of the cap.   
     
     
         13 . The container according to  claim 12  wherein the container body further comprises a should portion, the neck extending upward from the shoulder portion, a bottom edge of annular outer wall of the skirt component adjacent the shoulder portion of the container body. 
     
     
         14 . The container according to  claim 12  wherein the body portion of the container body is collapsible tube comprising a multi-layer laminate structure, wherein a bottom end of the collapsible tube is sealed and the neck is coupled to a top end of the collapsible tube. 
     
     
         15 . The container according to  claim 14  wherein the multi-layer laminate structure comprises an innermost layer, a first interdisposed layer, second interdisposed layer, a first interdisposed layer, and an outermost layer. 
     
     
         16 . The container according to  claim 12  wherein the body portion of the container body is a thermoformed bottle. 
     
     
         17 . The container according to  claim 12  wherein the neck is formed of a plastic material. 
     
     
         18 . A packaged product comprising:
 the container according to  claim 12 ; and   an oral care material in the product chamber.   
     
     
         19 . The packaged product according to  claim 18  wherein the oral care material is a toothpaste. 
     
     
         20 . The packaged product according to  claim 18  wherein the oral care material is a mouthwash.