Linerless closure for a container

Claim 2

In a closure for use on the neck of a container of the type wherein the closure includeS a top wall and a cylindrical skirt extending therefrom for engagement with the outer wall of the neck of the container, and wherein the top wall of the closure further includes an annular resilient bead extending toward the end of the neck of the container, and an annular sleeve inwardly of the annular bead and extending into alignment with the bead so that the sleeve can engage the end of the neck of the container to form a seal and bend upwardly to engage the annular bead, the improvement wherein said annular sleeve is formed pre-bent, providing a first relatively thick portion of arcuate cross section joined to the top wall and extending therefrom with generally arcuate side walls extending downwardly and outwardly from the surface of the top wall and a tapered thinner end portion joined to the arcuate cross section portion and extending into axial alignment with said resilient bead, whereby during sealing between the sleeve and the end of the neck of the container when the neck of the container engages the thinner end portion of the sleeve and the end portion of the sleeve is urged against the annular bead and during unsealing of the same, said pre-bent sleeve constitutes means for decreasing the torque required to seal and unseal the container.

Claim 3

In a linerless closure for sealing a container, wherein the container includes a neck portion adapted to receive the closure, and wherein the closure has a top wall and a cylindrical skirt extending therefrom for engagement with the outer wall of the neck of the container, and wherein an annular resilient bead extends from the inner surface of the top wall in alignment with the neck of the container, and an annular sleeve extends from the surface of the top wall radially inwardly of the annular bead, the annular sleeve extending downwardly and outwardly to engage the end of the neck of the container to form a seal and being bendable to engage the bottom of the annular bead and wherein the annular sleeve is supported from the top wall at a relatively thick base and at its free thinner end extending toward its point of contact with the annular bead; the improvement wherein said annular sleeve has a pre-bent shape when not engaging the end of the neck of the container that has said thin end adjacent the top wall that extends away from the wall at a greater angle than said thick base to thereby constitute the same as means for decreasing the force required to bend said annular sleeve into and out of contact with said annular bead and into and out of sealing engagement with the neck of the container by forces toward and away from said wall upon engagement of said sleeve with the end of the neck of said container.

Claim 4

In a linerless closure for sealing a container, wherein the container includes a neck portion adapted to receive the closure, and wherein the closure has a top wall and a cylindrical skirt extending therefrom for engagement with the outer wall of the neck of the container, and wherein an annular resilient bead extends from the inner surface of the top wall in alignment with the neck of the container, and an annular sleeve extends from the surface of the top wall radially inwardly of the annular bead, the annular sleeve extending downwardly and outwardly to engage the end of the neck of the container to form a seal and being bendable to engage the bottom of the annular bead and wherein the annular sleeve is supported from the top wall at a relatively thick base and at its free thinner end extending toward its point of contact with the annular bead; the improvement wherein said annular sleeve has a pre-bent shape when not engaging the end of the neck of the container that has said thin end adjacent the top wall that extends away from the wall at a greater angle than said thick base to thereby constitute the same as means for decreasing the force required to bend said annular sleeve into and out of contact with said annular bead and into and out of sealing engagement with the neck of the container by forces toward and away from said wall upon engagement of said sleeve with the end of the neck of said container.

Claim 5

The linerless closure of claim 2 for use on a container having threads on the outer surface of said neck, wherein said cylindrical skirt has internal threads formed therein for engaging the threads on the neck of said container.