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EP-4735340-A2 - CONTAINER CLOSURE

EP4735340A2EP 4735340 A2EP4735340 A2EP 4735340A2EP-4735340-A2

Abstract

A container includes a bottle and a closure. The bottle includes a base, a sidewall, a neck, and a finish defining an opening. The closure includes an end wall, a skirt extending away from the end wall, a rim, threads protruding from the skirt and configured to engage with the finish, and a tamper evidence feature connecting the skirt to the rim. A rigid bond affixes the rim to the bottle.

Inventors

  • DE CLEIR, PIARAS
  • BROWN, Jessica, T.

Assignees

  • Niagara Bottling, LLC

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20240628

Claims (20)

  1. 1. A container comprising: a bottle including a base, a sidewall, a neck, and a finish defining an opening; and a closure including an end wall, a skirt extending away from the end wall, a rim, threads protruding from the skirt and configured to engage with the finish, and a tamper evidence feature connecting the skirt to the rim; wherein a rigid bond affixes the rim to the bottle.
  2. 2. The container of claim 1, wherein the closure and the bottle are both primarily formed from a same material.
  3. 3. The container of claim 2, wherein the same material is polyethylene terephthalate (PET).
  4. 4. The container of claim 1, the tamper evidence feature comprises a breakable connection that is configured to break in response to application of a removal force to the closure.
  5. 5. The container of claim 4, wherein the breakable connection comprises at least one bridge connecting between the skirt and the rim.
  6. 6. The container of claim 4, wherein the breakable connection comprises no more than three bridges connecting between the skirt and the rim.
  7. 7. The container of claim 1, wherein the finish comprises a multi-functional ledge protruding in a radial direction, and wherein the rigid bond affixes the rim to the multi-functional ledge.
  8. 8. The container of claim 1, wherein the finish comprises a vertical wall, and wherein the rigid bond affixes the rim to the vertical wall.
  9. 9. A container comprising: a bottle including a base, a sidewall, a neck, and a finish, the finish including a multifunctional ledge protruding in a radial direction, and the finish defining an opening; and a closure including an end wall, a skirt extending away from the end wall, a rim affixed to the multi-functional ledge by a rigid bond, and threads protruding from the skirt and configured to engage with the finish; wherein the bottle and the closure are both primarily formed from a same material.
  10. 10. The container of claim 9, wherein the same material is polyethylene terephthalate (PET).
  11. 11. The container of claim 9, wherein the rigid bond comprises a bridge connecting the rim to the multi-functional ledge, and wherein the bridge is primarily formed from the same material.
  12. 12. The container of claim 9, wherein the rigid bond is formed by a welding process.
  13. 13. The container of claim 9, wherein the closure further includes a tamper evidence feature that comprises at least one bridge connecting the skirt to the rim.
  14. 14. The container of claim 13, wherein the rim comprises a first rim segment and a second rim segment spaced apart from the first rim segment in a circumferential direction.
  15. 15. The container of claim 14, wherein the rigid bond is a first rigid bond affixing the first rim segment to the multi-functional ledge, and wherein the second rim segment is affixed to the multi-functional ledge by a second rigid bond.
  16. 16. The container of claim 15, wherein the at least one bridge comprises a first bridge and a second bridge, and wherein the first bridge connects the skirt to the first rim segment, and wherein the second bridge connects the skirt to the second rim segment.
  17. 17. A container comprising: a bottle including a base, a sidewall, a neck, and a finish defining an opening; and a closure including an end wall, a skirt extending away from the end wall, a rim rigidly attached to the finish, threads protruding from the skirt and configured to engage with the finish, and a tamper evidence feature connecting the skirt to the rim; wherein the bottle and the closure are both primarily formed from a same material.
  18. 18. The container of claim 17, wherein the same material is polyethylene terephthalate (PET).
  19. 19. The container of claim 17, wherein the finish comprises at least one of: (a) a vertical wall, and (b) a multi-functional ledge protruding radially outward; and wherein at least one of: (a) the rim is rigidly attached to the finish via a rigid bond connecting the rim to the vertical wall, and (b) the rim is rigidly attached to the finish via a rigid bond connecting the rim to the multi-functional ledge.
  20. 20. The container of claim 19, wherein the rim comprises a first rim segment and a second rim segment spaced apart from the first rim segment in a circumferential direction.

Description

CONTAINER CLOSURE CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/511,116, filed June 29, 2023, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. FIELD [0001] The present disclosure relates to plastic containers, and more particularly closures for plastic containers. BACKGROUND [0002] Plastic containers are an alternative to glass or metal containers. The plastic containers are generally formed of a plastic polymer, such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET). Containers made of PET are generally transparent, thin walled, and can maintain their shape in response to force exerted on the walls by the contents of the container. SUMMARY [0003] In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a container including: a bottle including a base, a sidewall, a neck, and a finish defining an opening; and a closure including an end wall, a skirt extending away from the end wall, a rim, threads protruding from the skirt and configured to engage with the finish, and a tamper evidence feature connecting the skirt to the rim; wherein a rigid bond affixes the rim to the bottle. [0004] In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a container including: a bottle including a base, a sidewall, a neck, and a finish, the finish including a multi-functional ledge protruding in a radial direction, and the finish defining an opening; and a closure including an end wall, a skirt extending away from the end wall, a rim affixed to the multi-functional ledge by a rigid bond, and threads protruding from the skirt and configured to engage with the finish; wherein the bottle and the closure are both primarily formed from a same material. [0005] In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a container including: a bottle including a base, a sidewall, a neck, and a finish defining an opening; and a closure including an end wall, a skirt extending away from the end wall, a rim rigidly attached to the finish, threads protruding from the skirt and configured to engage with the finish, and a tamper evidence feature connecting the skirt to the rim; wherein the bottle and the closure are both primarily formed from a same material. [0006] Other aspects of the disclosure will become apparent by consideration of the detailed description and accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0007] FIG. l is a side view of a container according to an embodiment of the disclosure, including a bottle and a closure. [0008] FIG. 2 is a side view of a finish of the bottle of FIG. 1. [0009] FIG. 3 is a partial cross sectional view of the closure of FIG. 1. [0010] FIG. 4 is a partial cross sectional view of the finish of FIG. 2. [0011] FIG. 5 is a top perspective view of a closure according to an embodiment of the disclosure. [0012] FIG. 6 is partial cross sectional view of the closure of FIG. 1 coupled to the finish of the bottle of FIG. 1. [0013] FIG. 7 is a partial cross sectional view of a closure coupled to a finish of a bottle according to another embodiment of the disclosure. [0014] FIG. 8 is a partial cross sectional view of a closure coupled to a finish of a bottle according to another embodiment of the disclosure. [0015] FIG. 9 is a partial cross sectional view of a closure coupled to a finish of a bottle according to another embodiment of the disclosure. [0016] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a closure including a continuous tab coupled to a finish of the bottle. [0017] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a closure including three tabs coupled to a finish of the bottle. [0018] FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a closure including two tabs coupled to a finish of the bottle. [0019] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a closure including two tabs coupled to a finish of the bottle. [0020] FIG. 14 is a detailed partial cross sectional view of the closure of FIG. 9. [0021] FIG. 15 is a partial cross sectional view of a closure coupled to a finish of a bottle according to another embodiment of the disclosure. [0022] FIG. 16 is perspective view of a closure including a continuous tab coupled to a finish of the bottle. [0023] FIG. 17 is a perspective view of a closure including three tabs coupled to a finish of the bottle. [0024] FIG. 18 is a bottom perspective view of a closure including two tabs coupled to a finish of the bottle. [0025] FIG. 19 is a bottom perspective view of a closure including two tabs coupled to a finish of the bottle. [0026] FIG. 20 is a detailed partial cross sectional view of the closure of FIG. 15. DETAILED DESCRIPTION [0027] With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the present disclosure is directed to a container 10 including a closure 100 coupled to a bottle 104. The closure 100 improves the sustainability of the container 10. The closure 100 can be recycled and broken down to raw material that is used to re-from a new closure and/or bottle. The closure 100 is formed from a strong material, but still a