HERCKNER, Carl, E. (59 Roberts Ave, Haddonfield, NJ, 08033, US)
STEINHAGEN, Ingolf (Weenerstr. 94, Bunde, 26831, DE)
BRAUER, Jens (Annenstrasse 8, Leer, 26789, DE)
HERCKNER, Harry, M. (37 Oakwood Dr, Medford, NJ, 08055, US)
HERCKNER, Carl, E. (59 Roberts Ave, Haddonfield, NJ, 08033, US)
STEINHAGEN, Ingolf (Weenerstr. 94, Bunde, 26831, DE)
BRAUER, Jens (Annenstrasse 8, Leer, 26789, DE)
CLAIMS What is claimed is:
1. A closure for closing a container opening, the closure comprising: a cap including an annular cap top forming an upper cap opening, a skirt depending from the cap top, and a tube depending from the cap top at the upper cap opening and terminating at a lower tube opening, the tube including an inner tube bead extending radially inward from an inner surface of the tube at the lower tube opening; and a plug movable through the lower tube opening, the plug including: an end wall; a sidewall depending from the end wall and terminating at an open plug end, the sidewall including an outside sidewall surface and an inside sidewall surface; an inward flange extending radially inward from the inside sidewall surface; an outward flange extending radially outward from the outside sidewall surface; a first rib protruding radially outward from the outside sidewall surface and axially closer to the open plug end than the outward flange; and a second rib protruding radially outward from the outside sidewall surface and axially closer to the open plug end than the first rib, wherein the outermost diameter of the outside sidewall surface is located between the outward flange and the first rib.
2. The closure of claim 1, wherein the outward flange extends radially outward at the end wall.
3. The closure of claim 1, wherein the end wall includes an outer surface facing away from the open plug end, and the outward flange includes an outer surface lying in the same plane as the outer surface of the end wall.
4. The closure of claim 1, wherein the plug is positioned in the tube such that the inner tube bead contacts a portion of the outside sidewall surface between the outward flange and the first rib.
5. The closure of claim 1, wherein the plug is positioned in the tube such that the inner tube bead contacts a portion of the outside sidewall surface between the first rib and the second rib.
6. The closure of claim 1, wherein the respective outermost diameters of the first and second ribs are each greater than the outermost diameter of the outside sidewall surface.
7. The closure of claim 1, wherein the outside sidewall surface between the outward flange and the second rib is free of reduced-diameter features and is continuous except for the first rib.
8. The closure of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first rib and the second rib has a barbed profile.
9. The closure of claim 1, wherein the inner tube bead includes a ledge generally facing away from the lower tube opening, and the plug is movable through the tube to a first position at which the first rib abuts the ledge and to a second position at which the second rib abuts the ledge.
10. The closure of claim 1, wherein the inward flange extends in a direction approximately ninety degrees relative to a direction in which the sidewall extends.
11. A closure for closing a container opening, the closure comprising: a cap including an annular cap top forming an upper cap opening, a skirt depending from the cap top, and a tube depending from the cap top at the upper cap opening and terminating at a lower tube opening, the tube including an inner tube bead extending radially inward from an inner surface of the tube at the lower tube opening; and a plug movable through the lower tube opening, the plug including: an end wall; a sidewall depending from the end wall and terminating at an open plug end, the sidewall including an outside sidewall surface and an inside sidewall surface; an inward flange extending radially inward from the inside sidewall surface; an outward flange extending radially outward from the outside sidewall surface; a first rib protruding radially outward from the outside sidewall surface and having a barbed profile, the first rib axially closer to the open plug end than the outward flange; and a second rib protruding radially outward from the outside sidewall surface and having a barbed profile, the second rib axially closer to the open plug end than the first rib.
12. The closure of claim 11, wherein the outward flange extends radially outward at the end wall.
13. The closure of claim 11, wherein the end wall includes an outer surface facing away from the open plug end, and the outward flange includes an outer surface lying in the same plane as the outer surface of the end wall.
14. The closure of claim 11, wherein the plug is positioned in the tube such that the inner tube bead contacts a portion of the outside sidewall surface between the outward flange and the first rib.
15. The closure of claim 11, wherein the plug is positioned in the tube such that the inner tube bead contacts a portion of the outside sidewall surface between the first rib and the second rib.
16. The closure assembly of claim 11, wherein the first rib and the second rib each include a tapered surface extending from the outside sidewall surface to an outermost diameter of the rib, and a shoulder adjoining the tapered surface at the outermost rib diameter, the shoulder oriented generally orthogonal to the outside sidewall surface and facing away from the open plug end.
17. The closure of claim 11, wherein the outermost diameter of the outside sidewall surface is located between the outward flange and the first rib.
18. The closure of claim 11, wherein the outside sidewall surface between the outward flange and the second rib is free of reduced-diameter features and is continuous except for the first rib.
19. The closure of claim 11, wherein the inner tube bead includes a ledge generally facing away from the lower tube opening, and the plug is movable through the tube to a first position at which the first rib abuts the ledge and to a second position at which the second rib abuts the ledge.
20. The closure of claim 11, wherein the inward flange extends in a direction approximately ninety degrees relative to a direction in which the sidewall extends.
21. A closure for closing a container opening, the closure comprising: a cap including an annular cap top forming an upper cap opening, a skirt depending from the cap top, and a tube depending from the cap top at the upper cap opening and terminating at a lower tube opening, the tube including an inner tube bead extending radially inward from an inner surface of the tube at the lower tube opening, the inner tube bead including a ledge generally facing away from the lower tube opening; and a plug including: an end wall; a sidewall depending from the end wall and terminating at an open plug end, the sidewall including an outside sidewall surface and an inside sidewall surface; an inward flange extending radially inward from the inside sidewall surface; an outward flange extending radially outward from the outside sidewall surface; a first rib protruding radially outward from the outside sidewall surface and including a first shoulder generally facing away from the open plug end, the first rib axially closer to the open plug end than the outward flange; and a second rib protruding radially outward from the outside sidewall surface and including a second shoulder generally facing away from the open plug end, the second rib axially closer to the open plug end than the first rib, wherein the plug is movable through the tube to a first position at which the first shoulder abuts the ledge, and to a second position at which the second shoulder abuts the ledge.
22. The closure assembly of claim 21, ' wherein the outward flange extends radially outward at the end wall.
23. The closure of claim 21, wherein the end wall includes an outer surface facing away from the open plug end, and the outward flange includes an outer surface lying in the same plane as the outer surface of the end wall.
24. The closure of claim 21, wherein at the first position the inner tube bead contacts the outside sidewall surface.
25. The closure of claim 21, wherein at the second position the inner tube bead contacts the outside sidewall surface.
26. The closure of claim 21, wherein the outermost diameter of the outside sidewall surface is located between the outward flange and the first rib.
27. The closure of claim 21, wherein the outside sidewall surface between the outward flange and the second rib is free of reduced-diameter features and is continuous except for the first rib.
28. The closure of claim 21, wherein at least one of the first rib and the second rib includes a tapered surface extending from the outside sidewall surface to an outermost diameter of the rib at which the tapered surface transitions to the shoulder, and the shoulder is oriented generally orthogonal to the outside sidewall surface.
29. The closure of claim 21, wherein the first rib includes a first tapered surface extending from the outside sidewall surface to an outermost diameter of the first rib at which the first tapered surface transitions to the first shoulder, the second rib includes a second tapered surface extending from the outside sidewall surface to an outermost diameter of the second rib at which the second tapered surface adjoins the second shoulder.
30. The closure of claim 21, wherein the inward flange extends in a direction approximately ninety degrees relative to a direction in which the sidewall extends.
31. A closure for closing a container opening, the closure comprising: a cap including an annular cap top forming an upper cap opening, a skirt depending from the cap top, and a tube depending from the cap top at the upper cap opening and terminating at a lower tube opening, the tube including an inner tube bead extending radially inward from an inner surface of the tube at the lower tube opening; and a plug movable through the lower tube opening, the plug including: an end wall; a sidewall depending from the end wall along an axial direction and terminating at an open plug end, the sidewall including an outside sidewall surface and an inside sidewall surface; an inward flange extending inward from the sidewall, the inward flange including an inside flange surface adjoining the inside sidewall surface and an outside flange surface, wherein a portion of the inside flange surface and a portion of the outside flange surface extend substantially orthogonal to the axial direction; an outward flange extending radially outward from the outside sidewall surface; and a rib protruding radially outward from the outside sidewall surface and axially closer to the open plug end than the outward flange.
32. The closure of claim 31, wherein at least one of the inside flange surface and the outside flange surface predominantly extends substantially orthogonal to the axial direction.
33. The closure of claim 31, wherein the sidewall includes a cross-sectional thickness extending between the outside sidewall surface and the inside sidewall surface, the inward flange terminates at a flange face, and the flange face is oriented substantially orthogonal to the cross-sectional thickness of the sidewall.
34. The closure of claim 31 , wherein the inward flange terminates at a flat flange face.
35. The closure of claim 31, wherein the inward flange includes a cross-sectional thickness between the inside flange surface and the outside flange surface, and the inward flange terminates at a flange face having a thickness greater than 50% of the cross- sectional thickness.
36. The closure of claim 31, wherein the sidewall includes a cross-sectional thickness extending between the outside sidewall surface and the inside sidewall surface, the inward flange includes a cross-sectional thickness between the inside flange surface and the outside flange surface, and the respective cross-sectional thicknesses of the sidewall and the inward flange are substantially equal.
37. The closure of claim 31, wherein the inward flange includes a cross-sectional thickness between the inside flange surface and the outside flange surface, and the cross- sectional thickness is substantially constant along a predominant length of the inward flange.
38. The closure of claim 31, wherein the outward flange extends radially outward at the end wall.
39. The closure of claim 31, wherein the end wall includes an outer surface facing away from the open plug end, and the outward flange includes an outer surface lying in the same plane as the outer surface of the end wall.
40. The closure of claim 31, wherein the plug is positioned in the tube such that the inner tube bead contacts a portion of the outside sidewall surface between the outward flange and the rib.
41. The closure of claim 31, wherein the rib axially closer to the open plug end than the outward flange is a first rib, and the closure further includes a second rib protruding radially outward from the outside sidewall surface and axially closer to the open plug end than the first rib.
42. The closure of claim 41, wherein the plug is positioned in the tube such that the inner tube bead contacts a portion of the outside sidewall surface between the first rib and the second rib.
43. The closure of claim 41, wherein the outermost diameter of the outside sidewall surface is located between the outward flange and the first rib.
44. The closure of claim 41, wherein the outside sidewall surface between the outward flange and the second rib is free of reduced-diameter features and is continuous except for the first rib.
45. The closure of claim 41, wherein at least one of the first rib and the second rib has a barbed profile.
46. The closure of claim 41, wherein the inner tube bead includes a ledge generally facing away from the lower tube opening, and the plug is movable through the tube to a first position at which the first rib abuts the ledge and to a second position at which the second rib abuts the ledge.
47. The closure of claim 31, wherein the inner tube bead includes a ledge generally facing away from the lower tube opening, and the plug is positioned in the tube such that the rib abuts the ledge.
48. The closure of claim 31 , further including a label removably attached to the cap top and covering the cap top opening.
49. The closure of claim 31, wherein the cap includes a depression formed in the cap top and extending outward in a direction away from the tube.
50. The closure of claim 31, wherein the cap includes a depression formed in the tube and extending in a direction away from the cap top.
51. A method for operating a closure for a container, the closure including a cap and a plug movable in a tube of the cap, the tube including an inner tube bead, the inner tube bead including a ledge protruding radially inward from an inside surface of the tube and a radially inward-facing bead face adjoining the ledge, the method comprising: moving the cap in an axial direction from a first position to a second position, wherein at the first position, a first shoulder protruding radially outward from an outside surface of the plug abuts the ledge arid the bead face contacts the outside surface of the plug; at the second position, a second shoulder protruding radially outward from the outside surface of the plug abuts the ledge; and during moving, the inner tube bead slides around the first shoulder.
52. The method of claim 51 further including, prior to moving the cap from the first position to the second position, moving the cap relative to a fixed liquid-dispensing probe such that the probe is inserted into the tube and into contact with the plug.
53. The method of claim 52 further including, after the probe contacts the plug, engaging an inward-facing flange of the plug with a groove of the probe to secure the plug to the probe.
54. The method of claim 53 further including moving the cap beyond the second position while the plug remains secured to the probe.
55. A method for assembling a closure for a container, the closure including a cap and a plug movable in a tube of the cap, the tube including an inner tube bead, the inner tube bead including a radially inward-facing bead face, the method comprising: moving the cap in an axial direction to a first position at which a first tapered rib surface protruding radially outward from an outside surface of the plug contacts the inner tube bead; moving the cap in the axial direction from the first position to a second position, during which time the inner tube bead slides past the first tapered rib and a second tapered rib protruding radially outward from the outside surface of the plug comes into contact with the inner tube bead; and moving the cap in the axial direction from the second position to a third position, during which time the inner tube bead slides past the second tapered rib and the bead face contacts a portion of the outside surface of the plug between the second tapered rib and a radially outward-extending flange of the plug.
56. The method of claim 55 wherein, prior to moving the cap, a fixed liquid-dispensing probe extends through the tube and an inward-facing flange of the plug is engaged with a groove of the probe, and the method further includes disengaging the plug from the probe while moving the cap such that a seal forms between, the inner tube bead and the outside surface of plug.
57. The method of claim 56 further including, after moving the cap in the axial direction from the second position to a third position, continuing to move the cap such that the probe exits the tube and the plug is retained in the tube.
58. A closure device for closing a container opening of a container, the closure device comprising: a cap including an annular cap top forming an upper cap opening and including an inside cap surface, a skirt depending from the cap top, and a tube depending along an axial direction from the inside cap surface at the upper cap opening and terminating at a lower tube opening; and an annular, deformable sealing member coaxially disposed between the tube and the skirt, the sealing member including a top surface contacting the inside cap surface and a lower surface, wherein the axial thickness of the sealing member between the top surface and the lower surface increases generally in the outward radial direction.
59. The closure device of claim 58, wherein the lower surface is shaped to contact a container rim of the container forming the container opening and including a generally flat section adjoining a radially outward curved section, and the lower surface is shaped to conform to both the generally flat section and the curved section of the container rim.
60. The closure device of claim 58, wherein the sealing member includes a plurality of annular ribs radially separated by one or more annular grooves formed into the sealing member from the lower surface, whereby the lower surface is segmented by respective ends of the ribs.
61. The closure device of claim 60, wherein the respective axial lengths of the ribs increase generally in the outward radial direction.
62. The closure device of claim 58, further including a plug movable through the lower tube opening. |
CLOSURE DEVICE FOR CONTAINERANDRELATED METHODS
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application
Serial No. 60/836,175, filed August 7, 2006, titled "CLOSURE ASSEMBLY FOR CONTAINER" and U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/899,776, filed February 6, 2007, titled "CLOSURE ASSEMBLY FOR CONTAINER," the contents of which are both incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] This invention relates generally to a closure device for a container, such as a bottle cap adapted for sealing a neck of a bottle. The closure device is particularly suited for enabling the container to be fluidly coupled to and subsequently decoupled from a liquid dispensing device, while preventing liquid from leaking out from the container. [0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] Various closure devices have been employed to seal containers such as bottles and particularly liquid containers. Of particular interest are closure devices utilized in conjunction with bottles of the type that may be coupled to a spigot-equipped dispensing device, such as water dispensers often employed in home and office environments. These dispensers are often termed water coolers, although not all dispensers are capable of actively cooling water or maintaining water in an insulated, cooled state. The bottles are often 5-gallon or IS-L bottles but more generally may have any volumetric size. The closure device often includes a 55-mm-diameter cap, but more generally the cap may have any suitable diameter. Such closure devices should be designed so as to prevent leakage of liquid from the bottle at all times prior to coupling the bottle to a dispenser device, during the coupling of the bottle to the dispenser device, during the decoupling of the bottle from the dispenser device, and during shipment back to a refilling, recycling, or disposal service.
[0006] Some closure devices are designed to operate with a probe that extends vertically upward from the top of a liquid dispensing device. The probe typically consists of a hollow tube having a closed top and one or more holes formed in the sidewall of the
tube. In this case, the closure device consists of an outer cap sized to fit around the neck of a container, and a central tube (or shaft) integral with the outer cap that is sized to receive the probe. A container filled with liquid, and with the closure device sealing its neck, is initially provided to an end-user. To mount the container to the liquid dispensing device, the container is turned upside-down (i.e., inverted) and lowered onto the liquid dispensing device such that probe extends through the tube of the closure device. At the fully lowered (installed) position, the probe extends far enough through the tube of the closure device that the holes of the probe are positioned beyond the tube and in fluid communication with the interior of the container (typically still within the neck of the container). As a result, liquid from the container flows through the holes of the probe, through the hollow shaft of the probe, and into other portions of the liquid dispensing device, whereby a spigot or other component of the liquid dispensing device can be operated to dispense liquid from the container.
[0007] Closure devices designed to operate with a probe as just summarized include one-piece designs and two-piece designs. In the typical one-piece design, the tube of the closure device is initially closed off at one end by material provided with one or more score lines. Thus, when the one-piece closure device is installed onto the neck of the container, the container is sealed and leak-free. When lowering the container equipped with the one-piece closure device onto the liquid dispensing device, the probe penetrates the scored end of the tube of the closure device. Thus, because the breakage of the scoring is irreversible, a one-piece cap cannot reseal a container after the initial installation of the container onto the dispensing device.
[0008] Closure assemblies having two-piece designs have also been developed.
Such a closure device typically includes an outer cap and an inner cap or plug. The outer cap may be attached around the neck of a bottle, while the plug is attached to the central tube of the outer cap. When the plug is attached to the outer cap in this manner, the plug seals off the central tube of the outer cap. Consequently, assuming the seal between the plug and the tube is effective, the bottle is sealed and leak-free. The plug is also designed to be coupled to the above-described hollow probe extending from the top of a liquid dispensing device. As described above, to mount the bottle onto the liquid dispensing device, the bottle is typically turned upside-down and lowered onto the probe such that the probe enters the tube of the outer cap. In the case of the two-piece closure device, the probe comes into engagement with the plug. If the engagement between the probe and the plug is sufficiently secure, the probe and plug move together farther into the neck of the
bottle, thereby establishing fluid communication between the interior of the bottle and the interior of the hollow probe via one or more holes formed in the probe. To remove the bottle from the liquid dispensing device, the bottle is lifted from the liquid dispensing device such that the probe effectively moves back out from the tube of the outer cap. If the closure device is designed properly, the plug should come back into secure engagement with the tube of the outer cap and thus reseal the bottle neck. Moreover, the probe should become disengaged from the plug without adversely affecting this re- engagement of the plug with the tube.
[0009] Ideally, the two-piece closure device is designed such that the bottle and closure device remain leak-free during the mounting of the bottle to the dispensing device and removal of the bottle from the dispensing device. In addition, the plug should not become disengaged from either the tube of the outer cap or the probe during these operations, which would result in the plug floating freely within the bottle. In addition, when the bottle is returned to the provider of the bottle (e.g., the bottler) with the plug reengaged with the outer cap, the bottler accordingly has evidence that the bottle has not been tampered with during the return. Hence, a well-designed two-piece closure device serves as a closed hygienic and tamper-evident system. For this reason, two-piece closure assemblies by this time should have supplanted previously developed one-piece and open systems that are prone to leaking and contamination.
[0010] Unfortunately, it has been estimated that a conventional two-piece closure device has design flaws that result in failures (the "floater" problem) occurring during about 30% of uses of the closure device. This floater problem is undesirable for a number of reasons. First, the problem generates quality-related complaints from the consumer or end-user of the liquid dispensing system, because the floating plug prevents the closure device from operating in a leak-free manner and the appearance of the plug floating in the bottle is unpleasant. The bottler is often required to send a service technician to the office or residence and replace the bottle having the failed closure device, at significant expense to the bottler. Second, the bottler then needs to the remove the plug from the bottle prior to rewasbing and refilling the bottle to prevent the plug from jamming the machine employed to wash the bottle. Third, when the bottle is returned to the bottler with the plug inside the bottle and detached from the outer cap, the bottler cannot determine whether the bottle has been tampered with.
[0011] Due to the design flaws in existing two-piece closure assemblies, one-piece closure assemblies are still quite popular. The floater problem is significant enough that
consumers and bottlers are willing to forego the closed, hygienic, two-piece tamper- evident bottle cap in favor of the one-piece bottle cap, which in all cases remains open after initial installation onto a dispensing device and hence not re-sealable. Accordingly, there is an ongoing need in the art for improvements in two-piece closure assemblies.
SUMMARY
[0012] According to one implementation, a closure for closing a container opening includes a cap and a plug movable through a lower tube opening of the cap. The cap includes an annular cap top forming an upper cap opening, a skirt depending from the cap top, and a tube depending from the cap top at the upper cap opening and terminating at the lower tube opening. The tube includes an inner tube bead extending radially inward from an inner surface of the tube at the lower tube opening. The plug includes an end wall. A sidewall depends from the end wall and terminates at an open plug end. The sidewall includes an outside sidewall surface and an inside sidewall surface. An inward flange extends radially inward from the inside sidewall surface. An outward flange extends radially outward from the outside sidewall surface. A first rib protrudes radially outward from the outside sidewall surface and is axially closer to the open plug end than the outward flange. A second rib protrudes radially outward from the outside sidewall surface and is axially closer to the open plug end than the first rib.
[0013] According to another implementation, the outward flange extends radially outward at the end wall.
[0014] According to another implementation, the outermost diameter of the outside sidewall surface is located between the outward flange and the first rib. [0015] According to another implementation, the closure device further includes a label removably attached to the cap top and covering the cap top opening. [0016] According to another implementation, the cap includes a depression formed in the cap top and extending outward in a direction away from the tube. [0017] According to another implementation, the cap includes a depression formed in the tube and extending in a direction away from the cap top.
[0018] According to another implementation, the respective outermost diameters of the first and second ribs are each greater than the outermost diameter of the outside sidewall surface.
[0019] According to another implementation, the outside sidewall surface between the outward flange and the second rib is free of reduced-diameter features and is continuous except for the first rib.
[0020] According to another implementation, at least one of the first rib and the second rib has a barbed profile.
[0021] According to another implementation, the inner tube bead includes a ledge generally facing away from the lower tube opening, and the plug is movable through the
tube to a first position at which the first rib abuts the ledge and to a second position at which the second rib abuts the ledge.
[0022] According to another implementation, the inward flange extends in a direction approximately ninety degrees relative to a direction in which the sidewall extends.
[0023] According to another implementation, at least one of the first rib and the second rib includes a tapered surface extending from the outside sidewall surface to an outermost diameter of the rib, and a shoulder adjoining the tapered surface at the outermost rib diameter, the shoulder oriented generally orthogonal to the outside sidewall surface and facing away from the open plug end.
[0024] According to another implementation, the inner tube bead includes a ledge generally facing away from the lower tube opening. The first rib includes a first shoulder generally facing away from the open plug end, and the second rib includes a second shoulder generally facing away from the open plug end. The plug is movable through the tube to a first position at which the first shoulder abuts the ledge, and to a second position at which the second shoulder abuts the ledge.
[0025] According to another implementation, a closure for closing a container opening includes a cap and a plug movable through a lower tube opening of the cap. The cap includes an annular cap top forming an upper cap opening, a skirt depending from the cap top, and a tube depending from the cap top at the upper cap opening and terminating at the lower tube opening. The tube includes an inner tube bead extending radially inward from an inner surface of the tube at the lower tube opening. The plug includes an end wall. A sidewall depends from the end wall along an axial direction and terminates at an open plug end. The sidewall includes an outside sidewall surface and an inside sidewall surface. An inward flange extends radially inward from the sidewall. The inward flange includes an inside flange surface adjoining the inside sidewall surface and an outside flange surface. A portion of the inside flange surface and a portion of the outside flange surface extend substantially orthogonal to the axial direction. An outward flange extends radially outward from the outside sidewall surface. A rib protrudes radially outward from the outside sidewall surface and is axially closer to the open plug end than the outward flange. [0026] According to another implementation, at least one of the inside flange surface and the outside flange surface predominantly extends substantially orthogonal to the axial direction.
[0027] According to another implementation, the sidewall includes a cross- sectional thickness extending between the outside sidewall surface and the inside sidewall surface, the inward flange terminates at a flange face, and the flange face is oriented substantially orthogonal to the cross-sectional thickness of the sidewall. [0028] According to another implementation, the inward flange terminates at a fiat flange face.
[0029] According to another implementation, the inward flange includes a cross- sectional thickness between the inside flange surface and the outside flange surface, and the inward flange terminates at a flange face having a thickness greater than 50% of the cross-sectional thickness.
[0030] According to another implementation, the sidewall includes a cross- sectional thickness extending between the outside sidewall surface and the inside sidewall surface, the inward flange includes a cross-sectional thickness between the inside flange surface and the outside flange surface, and the respective cross-sectional thicknesses of the sidewall and the inward flange are substantially equal.
[0031] According to another implementation, the inward flange includes a cross- sectional thickness between the inside flange surface and the outside flange surface, and the cross-sectional thickness is substantially constant along a predominant length of the inward flange.
[0032] According to another implementation, a method is provided for operating a closure for a container. The closure includes a cap and a plug movable in a tube of the cap. The tube including an inner tube bead, which includes a ledge protruding radially inward from an inside surface of the tube and a radially inward-facing bead face adjoining the ledge. In the method, the cap is moved in an axial direction from a first position to a second position. At the first position, a first shoulder protruding radially outward from an outside surface of the plug abuts the ledge and the bead face contacts the outside surface of the plug. At the second position, a second shoulder protruding radially outward from the outside surface of the plug abuts the ledge. During movement, the inner tube bead slides around the first shoulder.
[0033] According to another implementation, a method is provided for assembling a closure for a container. The closure includes a cap and a plug movable in a tube of the cap. The tube includes an inner tube bead, which includes a radially inward-facing bead face. In the method, the cap is moved in an axial direction to a first position at which a first tapered rib surface protruding radially outward from an outside surface of the plug
contacts the inner tube bead. The cap is moved in the axial direction from the first position to a second position, during which time the inner tube bead slides past the first tapered rib and a second tapered rib protruding radially outward from the outside surface of the plug comes into contact with the inner tube bead. The cap is moved in the axial direction from the second position to a third position, during which time the inner tube bead slides past the second tapered rib and the bead face contacts a portion of the outside surface of the plug between the second tapered rib and a radially outward-extending flange of the plug.
[0034] According to another implementation, a closure device for closing a container opening of a container includes a cap and an annular, deformable sealing member. The cap includes an annular cap top forming an upper cap opening and including an inside cap surface, a skirt depending from the cap top, and a tube depending along an axial direction from the inside cap surface at the upper cap opening and terminating at a lower tube opening. The sealing member is coaxially disposed between the tube and the skirt. The sealing member includes a top surface contacting the inside cap surface and a lower surface. The axial thickness of the sealing member between the top surface and the lower surface increases generally in the outward radial direction. The closure device may be a one-piece design that does not include a plug or a two-piece design that does include a plug.
[0035] According to another implementation, the lower surface of the sealing member is shaped to contact a container rim of the container that forms the container opening, the container rim including a generally flat section adjoining a radially outward curved section. The lower surface of the sealing member is shaped to conform to both the generally flat section and the curved section of the container rim.
[0036] According to another implementation, the sealing member includes a plurality of annular ribs radially separated by one or more annular grooves formed into the sealing member from the lower surface of the sealing member, whereby the lower surface is segmented by respective ends of the ribs.
[0037] According to another implementation, the respective axial lengths of the ribs of the sealing member increase generally in the outward radial direction. [0038] Other devices, apparatus, systems, methods, features and advantages of the invention will be or will become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following figures and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional
systems, methods, features and advantages be included within this description, be within the scope of the invention, and be protected by the accompanying claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0039] The invention can be better understood by referring to the following figures.
The components in the figures are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. In the figures, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the different views.
[0040] Figure 1 is a cross-sectional elevation view a typical container installed on a typical liquid dispensing device, in which a closure device is installed onto a neck of the container and a hollow probe of the liquid dispensing device extends through a tube of the closure ,device to enable liquid in the container to flow through one or more holes of the probe and into the liquid dispensing device, while a plug of the closure device is retained on the probe.
10041] Figure 2 is an elevation view of the probe illustrated in Figure 1.
[0042] Figure 3 is a detailed view of a grooved section of the probe illustrated in
Figure 2.
[0043] Figure 4 is a side elevation view of an example of an outer cap of a closure device according to one implementation.
[0044] Figure 5 is a cross-sectional elevation view of an example of an outer cap of a closure device according to one implementation.
[0045] Figure 6 is a cross-sectional elevation view of an example of an inner cap or plug of the closure device according to one implementation. [0046] Figure 7 is a perspective view of the inner cap illustrated in Figure 6.
[0047] Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view of the inner cap illustrated in Figures 6 and 7, taken through a horizontal plane orthogonal to the vertical axis illustrated in Figure 6.
[0048] Figure 9 is a cross-sectional elevation view of the closure device in which the inner cap illustrated in Figures 6-8 is coupled to the outer cap illustrated in Figures 4 and 5.
[0049] Figure 10 is a detailed cross-sectional view of a region of Figure 9 circumscribed by a dotted-dashed circle, illustrating the interface between the inner cap and the outer cap.
[0050] Figure 11 is a top plan view of the outer cap illustrated in Figures 4 and 5.
[0051] Figure 12 is a top plan view of the closure device illustrated in Figures 9 and 10.
[0052] Figure 13 is an inside perspective view of an inner cap (or plug) according to another implementation.
[0053] Figure 14 is an outside perspective view of the inner cap illustrated in
Figure 13.
[0054] Figure 15 is a top plan view of the inner cap illustrated in Figures 13 and 14, from the perspective of the outside of an end wall of the inner cap.
[0055] Figure 16 is a bottom plan view of the inner cap illustrated in Figures 13-15, from the perspective of its interior.
[0056] Figure 17 is a cross-sectional elevation view of the inner cap illustrated in
Figures 13-16.
[0057] Figure 18 is a detailed view of a transitional area designated in Figure 17.
[0058] Figure 19 is a cross-sectional elevation view of the closure device in which a plug, such as for example the plug illustrated in Figures 13-18, is coupled to a cap, such as for example the cap illustrated in Figures 4 and 5, with the closure device being lowered onto a probe.
[0059] Figure 20 is a cross-sectional elevation view similar to Figures 19, illustrating the plug being pushed onto a probe.
[0060] Figure 21 is a cross-sectional elevation view similar to Figures 19 and 20, illustrating the plug being pushed out from a shaft of the cap while the plug is secured to the probe.
[0061] Figure 22 is a cross-sectional elevation view similar to Figures 19-21, illustrating the plug being pulled back into the shaft of the cap.
[0062] Figure 23 is a cross-sectional elevation view similar to Figures 19-22, illustrating the closure device being pulled out from the probe, with the plug having been re-secured to the cap of the closure device.
[0063] Figure 24 illustrates a conventional plug interfaced between a probe and an outer cap.
[0064] Figure 25 illustrates a plug provided according to an implementation of the invention interfaced with an outer cap.
[0065] Figure 26 illustrates the plug illustrated in Figure 25 interfaced with an outer cap, with the conventional plug illustrated in Figure 24 projected onto the plug illustrated in Figure 25 for comparison.
[0066] Figure 27 is a side elevation view of an example of an outer cap of a closure device according to another implementation.
[0067] Figure 28 is a top plan view of the outer cap illustrated in Figure 27.
[0068] Figure 29 is a cross-sectional elevation view of an example of a label applied to the outer cap illustrated in Figures 27 and 28.
[0069] Figure 30 is a bottom plan view of an outer cap according to another implementation.
[0070] Figure 31 is a partially cut-away perspective view of an outer cap according to another implementation.
[0071] Figure 32 is a cross-section view of a closure device fitted onto a container neck according to another implementation.
[0072] Figure 33 is a cross-sectional view of an example of a sealing member that may be provided with a closure device according to an implementation.
[0073] Figure 34 is a bottom plan view of a closure device that includes the sealing member illustrated in Figure 33.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0074] In general, the term "communicate" (for example, a first component
"communicates with" or "is in communication with" a second component) is used herein to indicate a structural, functional, mechanical, electrical, optical, magnetic, ionic or fluidic relationship between two or more components or elements. As such, the fact that one component is said to communicate with a second component is not intended to exclude the possibility that additional components may be present between, and/or operatively associated or engaged with, the first and second components. [0075] Figure 1 is a cross-sectional elevation view of a typical liquid bottle or other container 102 mounted to a typical liquid dispensing device 106 such that liquid stored in the container 102 may be dispensed by a user of the liquid dispensing device 106. The container 102 includes a main body 110 that transitions to a neck 114. Other features of the container 102 are not illustrated for simplicity, but are well-known to persons skilled in the art. The liquid dispensing device 106 includes a main enclosure 118. A top surface 122 of the liquid dispensing device 106 supports a funnel-type member (funnel) 126. The liquid dispensing device 106 also includes a probe 130 of typical or standard design that extends upward into the funnel 126. The probe 130 includes a hollow shaft or body 134, a closed top end or probe tip 138, and a circumferential groove 142 generally between the shaft 134 and the probe tip 138. The hollow shaft 134 has one or more holes 144. Other features of the liquid dispensing device 106 are not illustrated for simplicity, but are well-known to persons skilled in the art. For instance, the probe 130 typically fluidly communicates with one or more liquid reservoirs, one or more of which may be configured to cool liquid, heat liquid, or at least keep liquid insulated. The probe 130 may likewise communicate with a spigot or like device, such as via a reservoir or other liquid conduits, which may be operated by an end-user to dispense liquid supplied by the container.
[0076] Figure 2 further illustrates the probe 130 in an elevation view. All or part of the probe tip 138 is typically rounded or domed.
[0077] Figure 3 illustrates a detailed section designated 202 in Figure 2.
Specifically, Figure 3 illustrates in detail the area of the probe tip 138, the groove 142, and the hollow shaft 134.
[0078] Referring back to Figure 1, a two-piece closure device 146 is secured to the neck 114 of the container 102. The closure device 146 includes an outer cap (or cap) 150 and an inner cap (or plug) 154. A central tube or shaft 158 is formed with the cap 150.
The tube 158 and the plug 154 are configured to enable the plug 154 to be secured to the tube 158 such that the closure device 146 is initially in a closed state. While in the closed state, the closure device 146 is initially secured to the container neck 114 after the container 102 has been filled with liquid by a supplier, such that the closure device 146 seals the container 102 and prevents liquid from leaking out from the container 102. [0079] Referring primarily back to Figure I 5 to install the container 102 on the liquid dispensing device 106, the user turns the container 102 upside-down and lowers the inverted container 102 into the funnel 126. As the container 102 is so lowered, the probe 130 enters into the tube 158 of the closure device 146. With continued movement of the closure device 146 (with the container 102) relative to the probe 130, the probe 130 passes through the tube 158 and the probe tip 138 eventually encounters the plug 154. The probe tip 138 enters the interior of the plug 154 and the plug 154 becomes secured to the groove 142 of the probe 130. With continued movement, the plug 154 becomes disengaged from the tube 158 of the closure device 146. With further continued movement, the probe 130 and plug 154 move together further into the container 102. At the fully installed position illustrated in Figure 1, the probe 130 is positioned far enough into the container neck 114 that the holes 144 of the probe 130 fiuidly communicate with the interior of the container 102, thereby establishing one or more flow paths for liquid to flow from the container 102, through the holes 144, through the hollow probe shaft 134, and into additional conduits and reservoirs of the liquid dispensing device 106. Ideally, the plug 154 remains engaged with the probe 130 during this installation and after the installation is completed, such that the plug 154 does not float in the liquid residing in the container 102. [0080] The probe 130 may thereafter be decoupled from the closure assembly 146 in an essentially reverse process. To decouple the probe 130, the container 102 is lifted upward away from the liquid dispensing device 106. During this time, the probe 130 pulls the plug 154 back into engagement with the tube 158 of the closure device 146 and becomes disengaged from the plug 154. Ideally, the plug 154 becomes fully re-secured to the tube 158 such that any liquid remaining in the container 102 does not leak from the container 102 either during de-installation or after de-installation while the container 102 is transported back to the supplier for washing, refilling, etc.
[0081] The present disclosure provides implementations of closure devices for a container such as, for example, a liquid container. The closure device may be provided in the form of a bottle cap adapted for sealing the opening of the neck of a bottle or other type of container employed to store a liquid to be dispensed such as, for example, water.
As an example, the closure device may be configured to seal a container of the type illustrated in Figure 1. The closure device may be adapted to be coupled with a hollow probe of a liquid dispensing device in a sealed manner so as to establish fluid communication between the interior of the bottle and the interior of the probe. An example of a liquid dispensing device is a spigot-equipped water cooler often utilized in home and office environments, such as for example illustrated in Figures 1-3. Such liquid dispensing devices, the probes provided with the devices, as well as bottles and other liquid containers typically utilized with such devices, are well-known and therefore need not be described further in this disclosure. In addition, the closure device may be adapted to be decoupled from the probe in such a manner that the opening of the bottle remains sealed and water or other liquid does not leak out from the bottle after decoupling. [0082] In one implementation, the closure device includes an outer cap 400 illustrated in Figures 4 and 5 and an inner cap or plug 600 illustrated in Figures 6-8. In another implementation, the closure device includes an outer cap such as illustrated in Figure 1 or a similarly configured outer cap, and an inner cap or plug 1300 illustrated in Figures 13-18. Additional implementations are also described below. [0083] Generally, the outer cap and the inner cap or plug may be fabricated from any material suitable for use as a closure device that prevents liquid from leaking from an associated container before, during, and after dispensation of liquid from the container. For example, the outer cap and the plug may be fabricated from a suitable polymeric or plastic material. Non-limiting examples include various resins and polyolefϊns such as polyethylene (e.g., low-density polyethylene or LDPE) and polypropylene. In some implementations, the outer cap and the plug are fabricated from different materials. For instance, the outer cap may be fabricated from polyethylene and the plug may be fabricated from polypropylene, or vice versa.
[0084] Figure 4 is a side elevation view of the outer cap 400 of a closure device according to one implementation. In this example, the outer cap 400 includes a top portion or base 404 that is typically flat. A cap skirt or sidewall 408 depends vertically downward (from the perspective of Figure 4) from the outer perimeter of the top portion 404. Typically, the skirt 408 is cylindrical. The cap 400 may also include an annular transitional area 412 between the base 404 and the skirt 408, which may be rounded. The outer cap 400 may also include a pull tab 416 depending from the bottom end of the cap skirt 408, which is described further below.
[0085] Figure 5 is a cross-sectional elevation view of the outer cap 400, taken along line A-A shown in Figure 4 in the direction indicated by the arrows in Figure 4. The base 404 is annular and a typically cylindrical inner tube or shaft 512 depends vertically downward from the inner perimeter of the top portion 404, such that the cap skirt 408 is concentrically disposed around the inner tube 512. The inner tube 512 terminates at an inside, open end 516 within the interior surrounded by the cap skirt 408. The interior surrounded by inner tube 512 defines an open, central bore 520 of the outer cap 400. At the open end 516 of the inner tube 512, a circumferential inner bead or flange 524 may protrude radially inward from the inside surface of the inner tube 512. In this context, "at * ' is taken to mean "directly at" or "near" ("proximate," etc.).
[0086] The outer cap 400 may also include one or more circumferential inner beads or raised features 528, 532 and 536 protruding radially inward from the inside surface of the cap skirt 408. In use, the inner beads 528, 532 and 536 may engage complementary features on the outside surface of a container neck to secure the outer cap 400 to the bottle neck. A frangible score line 544 may be formed in the cap skirt 408. The score line 544 may extend from one side of the juncture of the pull tab 416 and the cap skirt 408, and upward along the cap skirt 408, following a path that curves around a central axis 548 of the outer cap 400, and may include a horizontal (circumferential) section. In use, the pull tab 516 is pulled to break the score line 544, thus permitting the outer cap 400 to be removed from the container after the container has been used to dispense liquid. Thickened features 552 may be provided on the skirt 408 at the juncture with the pull tab 516 to prevent unintentional breakage of the score line 544. [0087] Figure 6 is a cross-sectional elevation view of an example of the inner cap or plug 600 of the closure device according to one implementation. In this example, the inner cap 600 has a cylindrical plug skirt or sidewall 604 extending from a closed end 608 of the inner cap 600 to an open end 612 of the inner cap 600. The closed end 608 may include a flat end wall 616 that closes off one axial end of the plug skirt 604. The inside surfaces of the plug skirt 604 and the end wall 616 define an interior 620 of the plug 600. The end wall 616 may radially extend outward beyond an outside surface 622 of the plug skirt 604 to form an annular outward flange 624. At the open end 612, a circumferential inner bead or flange 628 may protrude radially inward from the inside surface of the plug skirt 604. A circumferential outer rib 632 may protrude radially outward from the outside surface 622 of the plug skirt 604. Thus, in this example, a circumferential sealing area 636 is defined between the outer bead 628 and the underside of the outward flange 624.
[0088] Figure 7 is a perspective view of the inner cap 600 illustrated in Figure 6.
The inner cap 600 may be fabricated in a one-piece or two-piece injection molding process. One or more vertical parting lines or seams 704 may run along the entire outside surface of the inner cap 600, including the plug skirt 604, outer bead 632, sealing area 636, and outward flange 624. Alternatively, the parting line 704 may run along only a portion of the outside surface of the inner cap 600. The parting line 704 may protrude radially outward beyond the outside surface of the inner cap 600, or may be substantially flush with the outside surface, or may define a recess into the thickness of the inner cap material. [0089] Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view of the inner cap 600 illustrated in Figures
6 and 1, taken through a horizontal plane orthogonal to the vertical axis illustrated in Figure 6. The cross-sectional view of Figure 6 is taken along line B-B shown in Figure 8, in the direction indicated by the arrows in Figure 8.
[0090] Figure 9 is a cross-sectional elevation view of a closure device 900 in which the inner cap 600 illustrated in Figures 6-8 is coupled to the outer cap 400 illustrated in Figures 4-5. Figure 9 illustrates the closure device 900 in a condition when the closure device 900 would be mounted around the neck of a bottle such that the closure device 900 seals the open end of the bottle neck. This condition would occur prior to the closure device 900 being coupled to the probe of a liquid dispensing device. The inner cap 600 is inserted through the inner tube 512 of the outer cap 400 such that the inner cap 600 seals off the open bore 520 of the inner tube 512. In this position, the inner cap 600 is securely engaged with the inner tube 512 at an interfacial sealing region 904, which is circumscribed by a dotted-dashed circle in Figure 9.
[0091] Figure 10 is a detailed cross-sectional view of the interfacial sealing region
904, which is the interface between the inner cap 600 and the outer cap 400 while these components are secured to each other. The inner bead 524 of the inner tube 512 contacts the sealing area 636 of the outside surface 622 of the plug skirt 604, and the open end 516 of the inner tube 512 may contact the underside of the outward flange 624 of the inner cap 600. In this manner, the interfacial sealing region 904 forms a liquid-tight seal that prevents liquid in the container from leaking out from the container through the central bore 520 of the outer cap 400 (Figure 5).
[0092] Referring again to Figures 9 and 10, when a bottle or other container equipped with the closure device 900 is coupled to the probe (not shown) of a liquid dispensing device, the probe enters the central bore 520 of the inner tube 512 through the central opening of the outer cap 400 defined by the annular top portion 404, i.e., in a
downward direction from the perspective of Figures 9 and 10. As the probe moves farther into the central bore 520, the probe also enters the interior 620 of the inner cap 600 that is surrounded by the plug skirt 604. The inner bead 628 of the inner cap 600 eventually becomes secured in a circumferential groove formed around the outside of the probe, thereby securing the inner cap 600 to the probe. As the probe moves with the inner cap 600 farther through the inner tube 512, the probe pushes against the underside of the end wall 616 of the inner cap 600, disengaging the inner bead 524 of the inner tube 512 from the sealing area 636 of the inner cap 600. Thus, the inner cap 600 moves with the probe into the interior of the container, to a point where liquid in the container is able to flow through one or more holes of the probe into the interior of the probe. [0093] To decouple the closure device 900 from, the probe, the container is lifted off the probe, causing the probe to move back out from the inner tube 512, i.e., in an upward direction from the perspective of Figures 9 and 10. The open end 516 of the inner tube 512 acts as a stop for the inner cap 600. That is, as the probe moves out from the inner tube 512, the underside of the outward flange 624 of the inner cap 600 comes into abutment with the open end 516 of the inner tube 512, thereby preventing further backward movement of the inner cap 600. As this position, the inner bead 524 of the inner tube 512 becomes re-engaged with the sealing area 636 of the inner cap 600, thus re- securing the inner cap 600 to the outer cap 400. Further backward movement of the probe out from the inner tube 512 disengages the inner bead 628 of the inner cap 600 from the outer circumferential groove of the probe.
[0094] Figure 11 is a top plan view of the outer cap 400 illustrated in Figures 4 and
5, i.e., the closure device 900 without the inner cap 600 attached to the outer cap 400. The central bore 520 is open and unobstructed, thereby permitting liquid to flow through the central bore 520.
[0095] Figure 12 is a top plan view of the closure device 900 illustrated in Figure 9, i.e., with the inner cap 600 attached to the outer cap 400. In this state of the closure device 900, liquid flow through the central bore 520 is blocked and sealed by the inside surface of the end wall 616 of the inner cap 600 and the interfacial sealing region 904 established in the manner described above.
[0096] Figures 13-18 illustrate a plug or inner cap 1300 according to another implementation.
[0097] Figure 13 is an inside perspective view of the plug 1300. In this example, the plug 1300 includes a plug skirt or sidewall 1304 extending from a closed end 1308 of
the plug 1300 to an open end 1312 of the plug 1300. The plug sidewall 1304 is typically cylindrical. The closed end 1308 may include an end wall 1316 that closes off one axial end of the sidewall 1304. The end wall 1316 may be flat or substantially flat. The inside surface of the sidewall 1304 and the end wall 1316 define an interior 1320 of the plug 1300. An annular outward flange 1324 extends radially outward from the sidewall 1304. In one example, the outward flange 1324 extends radially outward at the end wall 1316. In this context, "at" is taken to mean "directly at" or "near" ("proximate," etc.). In the case where the outward flange 1324 is positioned directly at the end wall 1316, the end wall 1316 may be considered as extending radially outward beyond the diameter of the sidewall 1304 to form the outward flange 1324. At (directly at or near) the open end 1312, a circumferential inward flange 1328 may protrude radially inward from the inside surface of the sidewall 1304. One or more circumferential outer ribs 1332 and 1336 may protrude radially outward from the outside surface of the sidewall 1304. In the illustrated implementation, at least two ribs 1332 and 1336 are provided, axially spaced from each other with one rib 1332 located closer to the closed end 1308 of the plug 1300 and the other rib 1336 located closer to the open end 1312 of the plug 1300. Thus, in this example, a circumferential sealing area 1338 is defined between the rib 1332 closest to the closed end 1308 and the underside of the outward flange 1324. The rib 1336 closest to the open end 1312 may be located at (directly at or near) the open end 1312. The ribs 1332 and 1336 may be continuous around the circumference of the sidewall 1304. As in other implementations described above, one or more vertical parting lines or seams 1344 may run along an outside surface of the plug 1300.
[0098] Figure 14 is an outside perspective view of the same plug 1300. The end wall 1316 may be entirely flat or substantially flat, or as illustrated in Figure 14 may include a depression or recessed area 1402 as a result of, or to facilitate, an injection molding process.
[0099] Figure 15 is a top plan view of the plug 1300, from the perspective of the outside of the flat end wall 1316.
[00100] Figure 16 is a bottom plan view of the plug 1300, from the perspective of its interior 1320.
[00101] Figure 17 is a cross-sectional elevation view of the plug 1300, taken along line C-C shown in Figure 16 in the direction indicated by the arrows in Figure 16. The structure of the plug 1300 is generally arranged about a central longitudinal axis 1702 of the plug 1300. The end wall 1316 includes an outer surface 1706 and the outward flange
1324 includes an outer surface 1710. In implementations where the outward flange 1324 is located directly at the end wall 1316 as illustrated in Figure 17, the respective outer surfaces 1706 and 1710 of the end wall 1316 and the outward flange 1324 may be coplanar. The sidewall 1304 includes an inside surface 1714 extending between the inside surface of the end wall 1316 (facing the interior of the plug 1300) and the open end 1312 of the plug 1300 (or, in the present example, between the end wall 1316 and the inward flange 1328), generally in the direction of the axis 1702. The sidewall 1304 also includes an outside surface 1718 extending between the underside of the outward flange 1324 (i.e., the side of the outward flange 1324 generally facing away from the closed end 1308 of the plug 1300) and the open end 1312, generally in the direction of the axis 1702. A cross- sectional thickness (cross-section) of the sidewall 1304 is defined between the inside surface 1714 and the outside surface 1718, and is generally orthogonal to the axis 1702. The cross-section of the sidewall 1304 may be constant along the most of or the entire length of the sidewall 1304 in the axial direction. Alternatively, the cross-section may vary by a small amount. For instance, the inside surface 1714 of the sidewall 1304 may be parallel or substantially parallel with the axis 1702 while the outside surface 1718 may be slightly angled inward toward the axis 1702 in the direction of the open end 1312 of the plug 1300.
[00102] In one implementation, and in either case of the cross-section being constant or varying, the outermost diameter of the outside surface 1718 of the sidewall 1304 (or the greatest radial distance of the outside surface 1718 relative to the axis 1702) is located in the sealing area 1338 of the plug 1300, i.e., between the outward flange 1324 and the rib 1332 closest to the outward flange 1324. In one implementation, again in either case of the cross-section being constant or varying, the outside surface 1718 of the sidewall 1304 — at least in the area of the outside sidewall surface 1718 between the outward flange 1324 and the rib 1336 closest to the open plug end 1312 — does not include any reduced-diameter features such as grooves, channels, slots, etc. By this configuration, the ribs 1332 and 1336 protrude radially outward from the sidewall 1304 directly from the outside surface 1718 of the sidewall 1304, and thus are not formed in a groove or any other type of reduced-diameter feature. Thus, the respective outermost diameters of the ribs 1332 and 1336 may each be greater than the outermost diameter of the outside sidewall surface 1718. Moreover, at least the portion of the outside sidewall surface 1718 between the outward flange 1324 and the rib 1336 closest to the open plug end 1312 may
be continuous, with the exception of the rib 1332 between the outward flange 1324 and the rib 1336 closest to the open plug end 1312.
[00103] In one implementation, at least one of the ribs 1332 and/or 1336 has a barbed profile. In another implementation in which at least two ribs 1332 and 1336 are provided, both of these ribs 1332 and 1336 may have a barbed profile, as illustrated in Figure 17. In one implementation, the inward flange 1328 is oriented orthogonally (90 degrees) to the sidewall 1304, or substantially orthogonally (i.e., 90 degrees or approximately 90 degrees, e.g., 90 degrees plus or minus 5 degrees) to the sidewall 1304. Thus, from the perspective of Figure 17, the sidewall 1304 is generally vertical while the inward flange 1328 is generally horizontal.
[00104] Figure 18 is a detailed view of an area designated 1720 in Figure 17 in which the generally vertical plug skirt 1304 transitions to the generally horizontal inward flange 1328. The inward flange 1328 includes an inside surface 1802 generally facing the interior of the plug 1300 and an outside surface 1806 generally facing away from the interior of the plug 1300. The inside surface 1802 of the inward flange 1328 adjoins the inside surface 1714 of the sidewall 1304. The outside surface 1806 of the inward flange 1328 may adjoin the outside surface 1718 of the sidewall 1304. A cross-sectional thickness (cross-section) of the inward flange 1328 is defined between the inside surface 1802 and the outside surface 1806. In one implementation, the cross-section of the inward flange 1328 is generally parallel to the axis 1702 of the plug 1300 (Figure 17). In other implementations, at least one of the inside surface 1802 and the outside surface 1806 of the inward flange 1328 predominantly extends substantially orthogonal to the axis 1702. In another implementation, both the inside surface 1802 and the outside surface 1804 of the inward flange 1328 predominantly extend substantially orthogonal to the axis 1702, or portions of the inside surface 1802 and the outside surface 1804 extend substantially orthogonal to the axis 1702.
[00105] In one implementation, the thickness of the cross-section of the inward flange 1328 may be constant or substantially constant along the most of or the entire length of the inward flange 1328 in the radial direction. In one implementation, the thickness of the cross-section of the inward flange 1328 is not significantly reduced as compared to the thickness of the cross-section of the sidewall 1304. That is, the thickness of the cross-section of the inward flange 1328 may be the same or substantially the same as the thickness of the sidewall 1304. In addition, the inward flange 1328 terminates at a
radial tip section 1810 that may be generally blunt and not tapered as sharply as in the inner beads of conventional plug skirts.
[00106] In one implementation, the radial tip section 1810 may include a flange tip face 1814. The flange face 1814 may be flat and oriented orthogonal to the sidewall 1304. The bluntness of the radial tip section 1810 may be characterized in terms of the thickness of the flange face 1814 in comparison to the thickness of the cross-section in the remaining predominant portion of the inward flange 1328. In one example, the thickness of the flange face 1814 is greater than 50% of the thickness of the cross-section of the inward flange 1328. . In another example, the thickness of the flange face 1814 ranges from greater than 50% to 100% of the thickness of the cross-section of the inward flange 1328.
[00107] The configuration of the inward flange 1328 as illustrated in Figures 17 and
18 significantly improves the engagement and disengagement between the plug 1300 and the circumferential groove of a standard probe 130 such as the probe described above and illustrated in Figures 1-3. It is postulated that the 90-degree or substantially 90-degree bend of the inward flange 1328, the relatively blunt tip section 1810 of the inward flange 1328, and/or the relatively uniform thickness of the inward flange 1328 ensure that the inward flange 1328 becomes more fully and securely engaged with the probe as compared to conventional designs. It is also postulated that the engagement between the inward flange 1328 and the groove of the probe is more uniform around the circumferential interface between the inward flange 1328 and groove, with the inward flange 1328 being less prone to deflection or deviation from the intended 90-degree orientation during movement of the plug 1300 relative to the probe. As a result, the plug 1300 is less prone to failing during use. For instance, while a container to which the closure device is attached is coupled to a liquid dispensing device, the plug 1300 is less prone to becoming disengaged from the probe and floating freely in the liquid contents of the container. [00108] Figure 18 also illustrates an example of the barbed profile of the rib 1336 closest to the inward flange 1328, with the understanding that the other rib 1332 (Figure 17) may have the same or similar barbed profile. To form the barbed profile, the rib 1336 may include a tapered surface 1818 leading to a transitional area 1822 in turn leading to a shoulder 1826. The amount by which the tapered surface 1818 protrudes radially from the outside surface 1718 of the plug skirt 1304 increases, generally in the direction of the closed end 1308 (Figure 17), " toward the transitional area 1822. ' The tapered surface 1818 may be curved (convex or concave relative to the outside sidewall surface 1718) or may be
straight as a ramp. The transitional area 1822 is located at the maximum outer diameter of the rib 1336, and may be configured as a relatively sharp edge between the tapered surface 1818 and the shoulder 1826 or as a rounded or relatively blunt feature. The shoulder 1826 protrudes generally radially from the outside sidewall surface 1718 of the plug skirt 1304. In one example, the shoulder 1826 is orthogonal to the outside sidewall surface 1718. In other examples, the shoulder 1826 is substantially orthogonal or is tapered. [00109] The barbed configuration of the outer beads 1332 and/or 1336 improves the sealing/engagement interactions between the plug 1300 and the outer cap of the closure device of this example. Implementations in which at least two ribs 1332 and 1336 are provided, and further in which both ribs 1332 and 1336 have the barbed shape, may further improve the sealing/engagement interactions. The outer beads 1332 and 1336 enable a mechanical, locking engagement between the plug 1300 and an associated outer cap, instead of a fiictional engagement as in conventional designs. Moreover, the use of two outer beads 1332 and 1336 provides a double locking mechanism, as compared to the single line or area of contact between a conventional plug and outer cap. This configuration enables the outside sidewall surface 1718 itself to be utilized as a large sealing area 1338 for making sealing contact with a large inward-facing surface of an outer cap (e.g., the entire face of the inward flange 524 of the tube 512 of the cap 400 illustrated in Figure 5), and thereby enables the ribs 1332 and 1336 to function primarily as locking or retaining devices. Thus, this configuration improves both the liquid-tight sealing function and' the engagement/disengagement functions of the plug 1300, as described further below.
[00110] Figures 19-23 are cross-sectional elevation views illustrating a closure device 1900 including an outer cap 1902, the plug 1300 illustrated in Figures 13-18, and a probe 1930 employed for testing purposes. The outer cap 1902 may be similar to the outer cap 400 illustrated in Figures 4 and 5. Accordingly, the outer cap 1902 includes features such as a flat, annular base 1904, and a cap skirt or sidewall 1908 depending from the base 1904 and typically including a pull tab 1916. Also, the cap 1902 includes an inner tube or shaft 1912 depending from the base 1904 at an outer cap opening 1952 formed at the base 1904. The tube 1912 terminates at an inner tube opening 1956 and includes an inner tube bead or flange 1924 extending radially inward at the inner tube opening 1956. The test probe 1930 includes features of standard design and dimensions, including a shaft 1934, a probe tip 1938, and a circumferential groove 1942 formed between the shaft 1934 and the probe tip 1938.
[00111] Figure 19 illustrates the closure assembly 1900 in a closed, liquid-sealing state in which the plug 1300 is coupled to the cap 1902. When the plug 1300 is secured within the inner tube 1912 of the outer cap 1902, the inner bead 1924 of the inner tube 1912 is disposed in the sealing area 1338 of the sidewall 1304 between the underside of the flange 1324 and the shoulder of the upper rib 1332 of the plug 1300. Here, the term "upper" is used for illustrative purposes only from the perspective of Figure 19, and not as a limitation on the orientation of the components and features illustrated. The mechanical contact between the inner tube bead 1924 and the sealing area 1338 is sufficient to form a liquid-tight seal. That is, the inner tube bead 1924 does not need to contact either the outward flange 1324 or the upper rib 1332 to form the seal. It can be seen, however, that when the probe 1930 is inserted into the inner tube 1912. and comes into contact with the open plug end 1312 (such as by lowering the closure device 1900 onto the probe 1930 in the direction of arrow 1960), a force 1964 will be exerted on the plug 1300 as the probe 1930 begins to enter the interior of the plug 1300. This causes the shoulder of the upper rib 1332 to move into abutment with a ledge 1968 of the inner tube bead 1924 that generally faces away from the inner tube opening 1956, if this shoulder is not already abutting the ledge 1968 at this time. The contact area between the shoulder and the ledge 1968 is relative large. Thus, movement of the plug 1300 relative to the tube 1912 initially will be resisted due to the shoulder engaging the upper rib 1332. This interaction affords a better opportunity for the inward flange 1328 of the plug 1300 to become properly secured to the groove 1942 of the probe 1930, and is an improvement over conventional designs. [00112] Figure 20 illustrates the probe 1930 fully extending into the interior of the plug 1300 and the plug 1300 fully secured to the probe 1930, i.e., the inward flange 1328 of the plug 1300 fully engaged in the groove 1942 of the probe 1930. After the inner bead 1924 of the inner tube 1912 is able to move past the upper rib 1332 of the plug 1300, the plug 1300 and probe 1930 begin to move together farther into the bore of the inner tube 1912. The shoulder of the lower rib 1336 of the plug 1300 then encounters the ledge 1968 of the inner tube bead 1924. Further movement of the plug 1300 and the probe 1930 beyond this point may initially be resisted again, this time due to the shoulder of the lower rib 1336 abutting against the inner bead 1924. This second interaction may afford an additional opportunity for the inner bead 1328 of the plug 1300 to become properly secured to the groove 1942 of the probe 1930. However, the first interaction, between the shoulder of the upper rib 1332 and the inner tube bead 1924, should be sufficient to properly secure the plug 1300 on the probe 1930 such that any resistance to movement
effected by interaction between the shoulder of the lower rib 1336 and the inner bead 1924 should not be needed to improve the retention of the plug 1300 on the probe 1930. In most implementations, the role of the lower rib 1336 is more significant during the re- securing of the plug 1300 back in the tube 1912 of the cap 1902 as described below. [00113] Figure 21 illustrates the probe 1930 with the plug 1300 secured thereon after the inner bead 1924 of the inner tube 1912 of the cap 1902 has moved past the lower rib 1336 of the plug 1300, and the probe 1930 and plug 1300 have cleared the tube 1912. Throughout the movements illustrated in Figures 19-21, once the plug 1300 has been secured on the probe 1930 there is little risk that the plug 1300 will thereafter become disengaged from the probe 1930 and float freely in a container to which the cap 1902 is attached. The superior retention of the plug 1300 on the probe 1930 is due at least in part to the improved configuration of the inward flange 1328 as described above. It can be seen that the orthogonal or radial orientation of the inward flange 1328, the relatively large thickness of the inward flange 1328, and the relative bluntness of the radial plug tip 1810 of the inward flange 1328, alone or in combination, contribute to a stronger, more complete engagement of the inward flange 1328 in the plug groove 1942 of standard shape and dimensions. This may be due in part to a larger area of mechanical contact between the outer surfaces of the inward flange 1328 and the surfaces defining the groove 1942. [00114] Figure 22 illustrates the cap 1902 being moved back upward in the direction of arrow 2202 such that the probe 1930 with the plug 1300 secured thereon is in effect pulled back through the tube 1912 of the cap 1902 such that the plug 1300 becomes re-engaged with the tube 1912. Although not specifically shown, it can be seen that as the plug 1300 moves back into the tube 1912, the inner tube bead 1924 first passes around the lower-rib 1336 of the plug 1300 in contact with the tapered surface of the lower rib 1336. Once the inner tube bead 1924 passes the lower rib 1336, the plug 1300 is in effect locked within the tube 1912 due to the shoulder of the lower rib 1336 now being located below the ledge 1968 of the inner tube bead 1924. As a result, the plug 1300 is prevented from backing out of the tube 1912 because any backward movement (or upward movement from the perspective of Figure 22) will be resisted by the overlapping presence of the shoulder of the lower rib 1336 in relation to the ledge 1968. This configuration eliminates or at least significantly decreases the risk of the plug 1300 becoming disengaged from both the tube 1912 and the probe 1300 and floating freely in the container to which the cap 1902 is attached. As illustrated in Figure 22, with continued lifting upward of the cap 1902 relative to the probe 1300, the inner tube bead 1924 passes the upper rib 1332 and
makes sealing contact with the sealing area 1338 of the plug 1300 between the upper rib 1332 and the outward flange 1324. At this point, the plug 1300 is fully reseated in the tube 1912 and the closure device 1900 is returned to the original liquid-tight, closed state. [00115] Figure 23 illustrates continued movement of the closure device 1900 relative to the probe 1930. The outward flange 1324 of the probe 1300 acts as a stop, preventing further movement of the plug 1300 relative to the tube 1912 of the cap 1902. As a result, the probe 1930 becomes disengaged from the plug 1300 and completely decoupled from the closure device 1900. The plug 1300 remains secured in the tube 1912. The locking engagement of the plug 1300 with the tube 1912 is enhanced due to the presence of the shoulder of the upper rib 1332, thereby ensuring that the forces and movements attending the disengagement of the probe 1930 from the plug 1300 do not cause the plug 1300 to become disengaged from the tube 1912.
[00116] A closure device that included a plug 2500 as illustrated in Figure 25 with two ribs, both having the above-described barbed profile, and a closure device having a conventional plug 2400 as illustrated in Figure 24, were comparatively tested. This comparative test entailed the use of standard five-gallon bottles, some of which were sealed with the inventive closure device and some of which were sealed with the conventional closure device. Each five-gallon bottle was cyclically coupled to and decoupled from a standard liquid dispensing device a number of times. The liquid dispensing device included a probe of standard dimensions and shape similar to that as illustrated in Figures 1-3. In each test run, the bottles were coupled to the liquid dispensing device in the manner normally performed by a user. Specifically, a user typically turns a filled bottle upside-down, approaches the dispensing device, lifts the upside-down bottle at an angle, and drops the upside-down bottle onto the probe at an angle. Once the probe has been fully inserted into the bottle, the bottle is then positioned in a fully vertical (zero-angle relative to vertical) orientation, such as shown in Figure 1. 100117] The purpose of this test was to determine, for both the inventive plug 2500 and the conventional plug 2400, the amount of engagement/disengagement attempts made before a failure occurred. Failure in this test was defined as the event of the plug becoming disengaged from either the probe or the outer cap such that the plug floated freely within the bottle. The test runs demonstrated that the inventive plug 2500 was able to withstand as much as 327 trials before failing. By comparison, the conventional plug 2400 was able to withstand only 10 trials or less. By further comparison, as noted previously, it has been estimated that conventional plugs fail 30% of the time.
[00118] The significantly better sealing properties and performance of the inventive plug 2500 over the conventional plug 2400 may be understood by considering the mechanisms involved in the use of such a plug in conjunction with a closure system. While cycling the plug between pushing and pulling actions, the user creates at least four different forces as follows: 1) pushing the plug into engagement with the probe while the plug is engaged with the outer cap, which occurs during the loading of the closure-sealed bottle onto the dispensing device; 2) pushing the plug (with the probe still engaged with the plug) out of engagement with the outer cap, which also occurs during the loading of the closure-sealed bottle onto the dispensing device but subsequent to the preceding step; 3) pulling the plug back into engagement with the outer cap while the plug is still engaged with the probe, which occurs during the removal (lifting) of the closure-sealed bottle from the dispensing device; and 4) pulling the plug out of engagement with the probe, which also occurs during the removal of the closure-sealed bottle from the dispensing device but subsequent to the preceding step.
[00119] These actions and attendant forces may be visualized by referring back to
Figures 20-23. Specifically, Figure 20 illustrates the plug 1300 being pushed into engagement with a probe 1930 in one step, and Figure 21 illustrates the plug 1300 with the probe 1930 being pushed out from the outer cap 1902 in a subsequent step. Figure 22 illustrates the plug 1300 being pulled back into the outer cap 1902 in one step, and Figure 23 illustrates the plug 1300 being pulled back out from the probe 1930 in a subsequent step. The wide arrows shown in Figures 20-23 depict the forces or reaction forces involved. The requirements for a good working closure system are as follows. The force required to push the plug 1300 into engagement with the probe 1930 (Figure 20) should be much lower than the force required to push the plug 1300 out from the outer cap 1902 (Figure 21). The situation for pulling is analogous to that for pushing. The force required to pull the plug 1300 back into the outer cap 1902 (Figure 22) should be much lower than the force required to pull the plug 1300 back out from the probe 1930 (Figure 23). If any one of these requirements is not met, the plug 1300 is likely to fail and become disengaged from either the probe 1930 or the outer cap 1902 and thus float freely within the bottle. [00120] During testing, it was found that the conventional plug 2400 has a much higher risk of failing at least in part because there was very little difference between the two types of pulling forces illustrated in Figures 22 and 23, whereas in the case of the inventive plug 2500 there was a significant difference between the two types of pulling forces as well as between the two types of pushing forces. The significantly improved
performance of the inventive closure device over the conventional closure device may also be understood by comparing the structures, features and shapes (profiles, contours, etc.) of the inventive plug 2500 and the conventional plug 2400.
[00121] Figure 24 illustrates, by way of outlines or traces, the conventional plug
2400 interfaced between a probe 2430 and a central tube 2412 of an outer cap. The outlines of these components shown in Figure 24 were created by a measurement device. There is an interference of the respective shapes of the plug 2400 and the tube 2412 of the outer cap. This indicates that high friction values are associated with pushing and pulling the conventional plug 2400 along the tube 2412. It is believed that these high forces, particularly the pulling force, prevent the conventional system from performing optimally. [00122] By comparison, Figure 25 illustrates the inventive plug 2500 interfaced with the tube 2412 of the outer cap. The outlines of these components were again created by the measurement device. In the inventive closure system, free space exists between the plug 2500 and the tube 2412 in many areas, which results in easy entering of the plug 2500 into the tube 2412. In addition, the plug 2500 utilizes the locking barrier shapes presented by the barbed ribs 2532 and 2536 to interface with the tube 2412 (including with the inner tube bead 2424) instead of relying on a great amount of friction as in conventional plugs. The use of two barrier shapes creates double security. Additionally, the sealing area 2538 between the plug 2500 and the inner tube bead 2424 is clearly defined. The maximum pressure at the interface between the plug 2500 and the tube 2412 occurs only at this sealing area 2538, where such pressure is needed to avoid leakages. Moreover, the inward flange 2528 of the plug 2500 is angled relative to the sidewall 2504 of the plug 2500 to a much more flat position (e.g., 90 degrees or substantially 90 degrees) as compared to the conventional plug 2400 shown in Figure 24. This feature allows the inward flange 2528 to be secured to the probe 2430 more effectively. [00123] Figure 26 illustrates the inventive plug 2500 illustrated in Figure 25 interfaced with the probe 2430, with the conventional plug 2400 illustrated in Figure 24 projected onto the inventive plug 2500 for comparison. The differences in the shapes of the respective inward flanges 2528 and 2428 of the inventive plug 2500 and the conventional plug 2400, and in the angles the inward flanges 2528 and 2428 make with the plug sidewalls 2504 and 2404, are clearly evident.
[00124] Figure 27 is a side elevation view of an example of an outer cap 2700 of a closure device according to another implementation. The outer cap 2700 may generally be similar to the outer cap 400 described above and illustrated in Figure 4, and accordingly
like reference numerals designate like components or features. In the example of Figure 27, however, the closure device includes a label 2706 applied to the surface of the top portion 2704 of the outer cap 2700. As illustrated in the top plan view of Figure -28, the label 2706 may be circular or substantially circular, although in other examples may have any other suitable shape. The characteristic dimension (e.g., diameter) of the label 2706 is large enough so that the label 2706 covers the inner tube 2812 and thus the central bore 2820 of the outer cap 2700. The label 2706 may serve the purpose of sealing the central bore 2720 at the top portion 2704 so as to prevent the ingress of contaminants into the central bore 2720. The label 2706 may also serve the purpose of providing tamper evidence. The label 2706 may further include printed information for a variety of purposes, such as providing identification of the contents or origin of an associated container, instructions for use, etc.
[00125] Figure 29 is a cross-sectional elevation view of an example of the label
2706 illustrated in Figures 27 and 28. The label 2706 may include a single layer of material or, as illustrated, may be a multi-laminate composite of two or more different layers, cores, substrates, films, coatings, etc. The thicknesses of the label 2706 and its constituent components are exaggerated in Figure 29 for illustrative purposes. In the illustrated multi-laminate example, label 2706 may include a first layer 2904 that serves as a primary structural substrate or core. The first layer 2904 may be fabricated from any suitable materials, non-limiting examples being polymers, paper, and metals (e.g., foils). The label 2906 may also include a second layer 2908 underlying the first layer 2904. The second layer 2908 may function as a structural backing for the first layer 2904, in which case a suitable adhering vehicle such as, for example, an adhesive, glue or hot-melt resin, may be applied the second layer 2908 to seal the label 2706 to the outer cap 2700. Alternatively, the adhering vehicle may be applied directly to the underside of the first layer 2904, in which case the second layer 2908 would not be included. As a further alternative, the second layer 2908 may itself serve as an adhering or welding vehicle for sealing the label 2906 to the outer cap 2700. As one example, the second layer 2908 may be an adhesive film or coating. In another example, in which the first layer 2904 is a metal, a conductive or inductive heating technique may be utilized to weld the polymeric material of the second layer 2908 to the outer cap 2700. The foregoing sealing techniques may be of the "one-stick" type in which the label 2706, after being peeled off the outer cap 2700 by a user, cannot thereafter adhere to any portion of the closure device or an associated container. In implementations employing an adhesive, the adhesive may be a
"one-stick" adhesive. In some examples, the one-stick adhesive may be of the type that leaves no residue on the outer cap 2700 upon removal of the label 2706. [00126] As also illustrated in Figure 29, the label 2706 may include additional layers, components, or features. For example, the label 2706 may include a third layer 2912 on the side of the first layer 2904 opposite to the second layer 2908. The third layer 2912 may function as a structural backing for the first layer 2904, and may include printed information if desired. Alternatively, the third layer 2912 may be transparent or translucent, and the first layer 2904 may include printed information that is visible through the third layer 2912.
[00127] Figure 30 is a bottom plan view of an outer cap 3000 according to another implementation. The outer cap 3000 includes an inside surface 3004 surrounding an inner tube 3008, with the inner tube 3008 defining a central bore 3012 as in other implementations described above. The inside surface 3004 includes one or more raised sections (or depressions) 3016 and 3020 defining cavities or recesses. In the illustrated example, two raised sections 3016 and 3020 are formed on either side of the inner tube 3008. The raised sections 3016 and 3020 may be oriented at an angle to the horizontal (from the perspective of Figure 30). Relative to the main flat portion of the inside surface 3004, the raised sections 3016 and 3020 may be raised in the direction into the drawing sheet of Figure 30 such that the resulting cavities face the interior of the outer cap 3000. Alternatively, the raised sections 3016 and 3020 may be raised in the direction out from drawing sheet such that the cavities face the top portion of the outer cap 3000 opposite to the inside surface 3004. The raised sections 3016 and 3020 may be advantageous during the injection molding process of the outer cap 3000 and particularly when a single injection point is utilized. The raised sections 3016 and 3020 may spread the flow of material out more evenly and faster, allowing the injection mold of the outer cap 3000 to fill more precisely or uniformly and faster, and displace trapped air created during filling of the mold, thereby allowing for faster cycle time.
[00128] Figure 31 is a partially cut-away perspective view of an outer cap 3100 according to another implementation. The outside surface of the inner tube 3108 of the outer cap 3100 includes one or more raised sections (or depressions) 3124 defining cavities or recesses generally along the axis of the inner tube 3108. The raised section(s) 3124 may have a function analogous to that of the raised sections 3016 and 3020 described above and illustrated in Figure 30, allowing the injection mold of the inner tube 3108 to fill more precisely or uniformly and faster. As in the implementation illustrated in Figure
30, the outer cap 3100 may also include raised sections 3116 and 3120 formed on either side of the inner tube 3108 of similar shape, size and location to the raised sections 3016 and 3020 of Figure 30. In the example illustrated in Figure 31, a raised section 3124 is formed on the inner tube 3108 generally centrally relative to the raised sections 3116 and 3120.
[00129] Figure 32 is a cross-section view of a closure device 3200 fitted onto a container neck 3204 according to another implementation. The closure device 3200 includes an outer cap 3208 and a plug 3212. The outer cap 3208 and the plug 3212 may be configured according to implementations taught in the present disclosure, but more generally may have any configuration suitable for providing a closure device. The container neck 3204 may have a standard configuration in which the upper opening of the container neck 3204 is formed by a rim that includes a generally flat or horizontal section (top or inside section) 3216 transitioning to a radially outwardly curved (e.g., convex) section (peripheral section) 3220. In the present implementation, the closure device 3200 includes an annular or ring-shaped sealing member or gasket 3224 axially located between the inside surface of a top section 3228 of the outer cap 3208 and the outside (or upper) surface of the container neck 3204 at the rim. The sealing member 3224 contacts both the flat section 3216 and the curved section 3220 of the rim, thereby conforming to the varied, transitional shape of the rim. When the closure device 3200 is installed on the container neck 3204, the sealing member 3224 may be compressed against the rim of the container neck 3204, thereby increasing the contact area and improving the conformity between the sealing member 3224 and the container neck 3204. The sealing member 3224 thus provides an improved liquid-tight seal between the closure device 3200 and the container neck 3204 as compared to conventional closure devices that provide a flat, disk-shaped foam liner. Moreover, the provision of the sealing member 3224 may eliminate the need for one or more circumferential sealing beads conventionally formed on one or more inside surfaces of the outer cap 3208 and one or more outside surfaces of the container neck 3204. In addition, the deformability or resiliency of the sealing member 3224 renders the contact area provided by the lower surface of the sealing member 3224 variable (or conformable), thereby making the sealing member 3224 compatible with different designs of container necks 3204.
100130] The sealing member 3224 may be constructed from any material suitable for the above-described purposes. As an example, the sealing member 3224 may be constructed from an injection-moldable, deformable or resilient material such as, for
example, a suitable thermoplastic elastomer (TPE). The sealing member 3224 may be adhered or bonded to the inside surface of the top section 3228 of the outer cap 3208 such as with a suitable glue or adhesive. Alternatively, the sealing member 3224 may initially be free-standing prior to installing the closure device 3200 on the container neck 3204. In an example of assembling the closure device 3200, the sealing member 3224 and the closure device 3200 may initially be fabricated separately, followed by the sealing member 3224 being inserted into the closure device 3200. Insertion of the sealing member 3224 into the closure device 3200 may be performed in an automated fashion by operating appropriate production equipment.
[00131] Figure 33 is a cross-sectional view of one example of the sealing member
3224. The cross-sectional area of the sealing member 3224 is defined by a top surface 3304, an inside lateral surface 3308 depending from the top surface 3304, an outside lateral surface 3312 depending from the top surface 3304, and a lower surface 3316. The top surface 3304 is shaped to conform to the inside surface of the top section 3228 of the outer cap 3208 (Figure 32), and thus typically the top surface 3304 is generally flat. The lower surface 3316 is shaped to conform to the contour or shape of the rim of the container neck 3204 (Figure 32). Specifically, the lower surface 3316 is shaped to conform to the shape of the flat section 3216 and the curved section 3220 of the rim (Figure 32). Thus, the lower surface 3316 of the sealing member 3224 may lie in a plane that is non-parallel to the plane of the top surface 3304. Stated in another way, the elevation of the lower surface 3316 relative to the top surface 3304 varies in the radial direction (i.e., from the inside lateral surface 3308 to the outside lateral surface 3312, vice versa). Stated in another way, the thickness or height of the sealing member 3224 in the axial direction between the top surface 3304 and the lower surface 3316 varies in the radial direction. For instance, the lower surface 3316 may be angled or curved relative to the top surface 3304 of the sealing member 3224. It will be noted, however, that because its material is deformable, the lower surface 3316 of the sealing member 3224 does not need to precisely conform to the shape of the rim of the particular container neck 3204 to which the sealing member 3224 is to be applied.
[00132] In one implementation, as illustrated in Figure 33, one or more annular grooves or channels 3320 are formed into the sealing member 3224 from the lower surface 3316 such that the lower surface 3316 is in effect segmented into two or more annular feet, columns or ribs 3324. When the sealing member 3224 is compressed, the grooves 3320 may fully or partially close to provide an improved sealing surface. To facilitate providing
an angled or curved lower surface 3316 as described above, one or more ribs 3324 may differ in axial length from one or more other ribs 3324. In the illustrated example, the respective lengths of the ribs 3324 increase in the outward radial direction from the inside lateral surface 3308 to the outside lateral surface 3312, with the innermost rib 3324 being the shortest and the outermost rib 3324 being the longest. The ribs 3324 may increase the ability of the sealing member 3224 to deform and conform to the shapes of the flat section 3216 and the curved section 3220 of the rim, provide a greater area of sealing contact with the flat section 3216 and the curved section 3220, and enhance the compatibility of the sealing member 3224 with different designs of container necks 3204. [00133] Figure 34 is a bottom plan view of the closure device 3200 that includes the sealing member 3224 configured as described above and illustrated in Figures 32 and 33. Figure 34 further illustrates the conformable sealing area provided by the annular ribs 3324 of the sealing member 3224.
[00134] While Figures 32-34 illustrate the sealing member 3224 provided with a two-piece closure device 3200, in other implementations the sealing member 3224 is provided with a one-piece closure device. That is, the provision of the sealing member 3224 does not require the associated closure device to include a plug. [00135] The foregoing description of implementations has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not exhaustive and does not limit the claimed inventions to the precise form disclosed. Modifications and variations are possible in light of the above description or may be acquired from practicing the invention. The claims and their equivalents define the scope of the invention.
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