Closure for refillable containers

Abstract

A closure system for refillable containers includes a closure ring with a central opening and an annular skirt with a tab, a flange adjacent to the central opening and an annular recess between the flange and a wall of the closure ring; a sealing member having a central portion with a diameter larger than the central opening and an annular flange, the flange fitting within the annular recess, an upper portion fitting within the central opening; a container neck with external screw threads that engage the internal screw threads, a locking ring with a notch defined by at least one ramp adjacent to the notch, the notch configured to accept and hold the tab as the closure ring is screwed onto the container neck; the sealing member compressed between the closure ring and the container neck when the closure ring is screwed onto the container neck.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A closure system for refillable containers, comprising:
 a closure ring comprising:
 internal screw threads; 
 a central opening at an upper end of the closure ring with a first diameter; 
 an annular skirt at a lower end of the closure ring, the skirt further comprising a tab and one or more slots adjacent to the tab; 
 a flange adjacent the upper opening; and 
 an annular recess between the flange and a wall of the closure ring; 
   a sealing member comprising;
 a central portion having a second diameter greater than the first diameter; 
 an upwardly extending annular flange adjacent to a perimeter of the central portion, the upwardly extending annular flange configured to fit within the annular recess of the closure ring; and 
 an upper portion having a third diameter configured to fit within the first diameter of the central opening; 
   a container neck comprising:
 external screw threads configured to engage the internal screw threads of the closure ring; 
 a locking ring extending at least partially around the container neck and comprising a notch therein with at least one ramp adjacent to the notch, the notch being configured to accept and hold the tab as the closure ring is screwed on to the container neck; and 
   wherein when the closure ring is screwed on to the container neck, the sealing member is compressed between the closure ring and the container neck to form a seal.   
     
     
         2 . The closure system for refillable containers of  claim 1 , wherein the container neck further comprises a visual indicator in alignment with the notch. 
     
     
         3 . The closure system for refillable containers of  claim 1 , wherein each ramp contains a notch shoulder on an end adjacent to the notch, the notch shoulder being rounded. 
     
     
         4 . The closure system for refillable containers of  claim 1 , wherein a transition section of the sealing member connects the central portion to the upper portion, the transition section having a fourth diameter that is smaller than the third diameter to form an undercut. 
     
     
         5 . The closure system for refillable containers of  claim 4 , wherein the flange is captured in the undercut of the transition section when the sealing member is engaged with the closure ring. 
     
     
         6 . The closure system for refillable containers of  claim 1 , wherein the sealing member includes a lower flange, the lower flange extending downwardly from the central portion and configured to fit within an opening of the container neck. 
     
     
         7 . The closure system for refillable containers of  claim 1 , wherein the flange has a fourth diameter, that is smaller than the third diameter. 
     
     
         8 . The closure system for refillable containers of  claim 7 , wherein the sealing member comprises a resiliently deformable material. 
     
     
         9 . The closure system for refillable containers of  claim 1  wherein the internal screw threads have four leads. 
     
     
         10 . A refillable container for use in a dispensing system, comprising:
 a cap, the cap further comprising:
 a closure ring comprising:
 internal screw threads; 
 a central opening at an upper end of the closure ring with a first diameter; 
 an annular skirt at a lower end of the closure ring, the skirt further comprising a tab and one or more slots adjacent to the tab; 
 a flange with a second diameter adjacent the upper opening; and 
 an annular recess between the flange and a wall of the closure ring; 
 
 a sealing member comprising:
 a central portion with a third diameter greater than the first diameter; 
 an upwardly extending annular flange adjacent to a perimeter of the central portion, the upwardly extending annular flange configured to fit within the annular recess of the closure ring; 
 an upper portion with a fourth diameter configured to fit within the first diameter of the central opening and larger than the second diameter; and 
 wherein the upper portion of the sealing member is captured between the flange and the upper end of the closure ring; and 
 
   a container body having a container neck, the container neck further comprising;
 external screw threads configured to engage the internal screw threads of the closure ring; and 
 a locking ring extending at least partially around the container neck and having a notch therein with at least one ramp adjacent to the notch, the notch being configured to accept and hold the tab as the closure ring is screwed on to the container neck. 
   
     
     
         11 . The refillable container for use in a dispensing system of  claim 10 , wherein the container neck each include a visual indicator in alignment with the notch. 
     
     
         12 . The refillable container for use in a dispensing system of  claim 10 , wherein each ramp contains a notch shoulder on an end adjacent to the notch, the notch shoulder being rounded. 
     
     
         13 . The refillable container for use in a dispensing system of  claim 10 , wherein a transition section connects the central portion to the upper portion, the transition section having a fifth diameter that is smaller than the third diameter to form an undercut. 
     
     
         14 . The refillable container for use in a dispensing system of  claim 13 , wherein the flange is captured in the undercut of the transition section when the sealing member is engaged with the closure ring. 
     
     
         15 . The refillable container for use in a dispensing system of  claim 10 , wherein more force is required to dislodge the tab from the notch that to otherwise unscrew the closure ring from the container neck. 
     
     
         16 . The refillable container for use in a dispensing system of  claim 10 , wherein the sealing member includes a lower flange, the lower flange extending downwardly from the central portion and configured to fit within an opening of the container neck. 
     
     
         17 . The refillable container for use in a dispensing system of  claim 10 , wherein the sealing member comprises a resiliently deformable material. 
     
     
         18 . The refillable container for use in a dispensing system of  claim 10 , wherein the internal screw threads have four leads.