Assembly for securing and sealing a dispenser to a flanged container

Claim 2

A container assembly comprising: a container having a neck with an opening for dispensing product, the neck having a flange including an upper surface surrounding the opening, a cylindrical sidewall about its periphery, said sidewall of said flange having a diameter and said neck including an inwardly directed ledge at the bottom thereof, for each said container the sidewall having a length which may vary within manufacturing tolerances; a mounting cup comprising a substantially rigid material, said cup having a skirt around its periphery, said cup slideable through a path of movement over said container flange to an assembled position; and a sealing collar comprising a resilient deformable molded polymeric material, said collar having a central opening for receiving said dispenser, said collar including a generally cylindrical sleeve having a diameter sized to receive said flange sidewall and sized to be encased by said mounting cup skirt, at least a portion of said sleeve having an inner diameter less than said diameter of said flange sidewall to provide an annular area of contact between the sleeve and the flange sidewall and a snug, frictional fit therebetween, said sleeve including at the bottom thereof a camming surface protruding in said path of movement of said mounting cup for securing said sleeve, said sleeve bottom having an interior surface consisting essentially of a cylindrical shape adjacent said inwardly directed ledge of said container, said interior surface deforming radially inwardly under said ledge, said sleeve accommodating said normal manufacturing tolerances in said sidewall length, said camming surface being forced radially inwardly under said ledge as said mounting cup contacts it and moves said sleeve to said assembled position, said frictional fit between said flange sidewall and said sleeve maintaining said mounting cup, said sealing collar and said bottle flange in a fixed assembled position.

Claim 3

An assembly according to claim 1 wherein said skirt has an annular retaining ring projecting inwardly from said skirt, said retaining ring being positioned beneath said deformed end portion of said collar to maintain said collar and mounting cup in said assembled position.

Claim 4

An assembly according to claim 2 wherein said mounting cup comprises a hard plastic material and said collar comprises a soft plastic material.

Claim 5

A container assembly comprising: a container having a neck with an opening for dispensing product, the neck having a generally circular flange symmetric to an axis, said flange including an upper surface surrounding the opening, a cylindrical sidewall about periphery, said sidewall of said flange having a diameter, and said neck including an inwardly directed ledge at the bottom thereof, for each said container the sidewall having a length which may vary within manufacturing tolerances; a mounting cup comprising a substantially rigid material, said cup having a substantially continuous cylindrical skirt around its periphery, said skirt having a step protruding radially outwardly with respect to a central axis of said mounting cup, said cup being slideable through a path of movement wherein the central axis of the mounting cup is coincident with the axis of said container flange, said cup being movable to an assembled position; a sealing collar comprising a resilient deformable molded polymeric material, said collar having a central opening for receiving said dispenser, said collar having a central axis, said collar being movable through a path of movement wherein said collar axis is coincident with said cup axis and said flange axis, said collar having an annular ring including a floor, said floor being in contact with said upper surface in said assembled position, said collar including a generally cylindrically shaped sleeve depending from said ring, said sleeve having a diameter sized to receive said flange sidewall and sized to be encased by said mounting cup wall, at least a portion of said sleeve having an inner diameter less than said diameter of said flange sidewall to provide an annular area of contact between the sleeve and the flange sidewall and a snug, frictional fit therebetween, said radial step of said mounting cup forcing said collar toward said flange as said cup slides through its path of movement, said sleeve including an end portion protruding radially in said path of movement of said mounting cup, said end portion being deformed radially inwardly under said ledge to secure said sealing collar with respect to said flange, said sleeve having an interior surface consisting essentially of a cylindrical shape adjacent said inwardly directed ledge of said container, said interior surface deforming downwardly and radially inwardly under said ledge, said sleeve accommodating said normal manufacturing tolerances in said sidewall length, said frictional fit between said flange sidewall and said sleeve maintaining said mounting cup, said sealing collar and said bottle flange in a fixed assembled position.

Claim 6

A container assembly comprising: a container having a neck with an opening for dispensing product, the neck having a generally circular flange symmetric to an axis, said flange including an upper surface surrounding the opening, a cylindrical sidewall about periphery, said sidewall of said flange having a diameter, and said neck including an inwardly directed ledge at the bottom thereof, for each said container the sidewall having a length which may vary within manufacturing tolerances; a mounting cup comprising a substantially rigid material, said cup having a substantially continuous cylindrical skirt around its periphery, said skirt having a step protruding radially outwardly with respect to a central axis of said mounting cup, said cup being slideable through a path of movement wherein the central axis of the mounting cup is coincident with the axis of said container flange, said cup being movable to an assembled position; a sealing collar comprising a resilient deformable molded polymeric material, said collar having a central opening for receiving said dispenser, said collar having a central axis, said collar being movable through a path of movement wherein said collar axis is coincident with said cup axis and said flange axis, said collar having an annular ring including a floor, said floor being in contact with said upper surface in said assembled position, said collar including a generally cylindrically shaped sleeve depending from said ring, said sleeve having a diameter sized to receive said flange sidewall and sized to be encased by said mounting cup wall, at least a portion of said sleeve having an inner diameter less than said diameter of said flange sidewall to provide an annular area of contact between the sleeve and the flange sidewall and a snug, frictional fit therebetween, said radial step of said mounting cup forcing said collar toward said flange as said cup slides through its path of movement, said sleeve including an end portion protruding radially in said path of movement of said mounting cup, said end portion being deformed radially inwardly under said ledge to secure said sealing collar with respect to said flange, said sleeve having an interior surface consisting essentially of a cylindrical shape adjacent said inwardly directed ledge of said container, said interior surface deforming downwardly and radially inwardly under said ledge, said sleeve accommodating said normal manufacturing tolerances in said sidewall length, said frictional fit between said flange sidewall and said sleeve maintaining said mounting cup, said sealing collar and said bottle flange in a fixed assembled position.

Claim 7

An assembly according to claim 4 wherein at least a portion of said mounting cup above said step has an inner diameter substantially equal to the outer diameter of said sealing collar sleeve, said inner diameter of said mounting cup wall frictionally engaging the outer diameter of sealing collar to retain said mounting cup in an assembled position with respect to said container.

Claim 8

An assembly according to claim 4 wherein said sleeve includes a frustoconical portion having an upper region having a diameter less than said flange diameter and having a lower portion having a diameter at least equal to said flange diameter, said frustoconical portion deforming and being in contact with said flange sidewall in an annular area.

Claim 9

An assembly according to claim 4 wherein said end portion of said sleeve includes a plurality of slots about its periphery, said slots defining a plurality of deformable tabs about the periphery of the end portion of said sleeve, said tabs being deformed as said mounting cup moves through its path of movement.

Claim 10

An assembly according to claim 4 wherein said end portion of said sleeve includes a camming surface in said path of movement of said mounting cup, said camming surface being forced radially inwardly by said sleeve to position said end portion beneath said edge.

Claim 11

A container assembly comprising a container having a neck with an opening for dispensing the product, the neck having a flange surrounding the opening, a sidewall about its periphery, said sidewall of said flange having a diameter, and said neck including an inwardly directed ledge at the bottom thereof, for each said container the sidewall having a length which may vary within manufacturing tolerances; a mounting cup comprising a substantially rigid material, said cup having a skirt about at least a portion of its periphery, the cup slideable through a path of movement over the container flange to an assembled position; a sealing collar comprising a resilient deformable molded polymeric material, said collar having a central opening for receiving said dispenser, said sealing collar including a sleeve having a diameter sized to receive the flange and sized to be encased by said mounting cup skirt, a portion of said sleeve having an inner diameter less than said diameter of said flange sidewall to provide an annular area of contact between the sleeve and the flange sidewall and a snug, frictional fit therebetween, said sleeve including a camming surface protruding into the path of movement of the mounting cup, said camming surface being forced by said mounting cup to a position under said ledge as the mounting cup moves to an assembled position, said sleeve having an interior surface consisting essentially of a cylindrical shape adjacent said inwardly directed ledge of said container, said interior surface deforming radially inwardly under said ledge, said sleeve accommodating said normal manufacturing tolerances in said sidewall length.

Claim 12

A container assembly comprising a container having a neck with an opening for dispensing the product, the neck having a flange surrounding the opening, a sidewall about its periphery, said sidewall of said flange having a diameter, and said neck including an inwardly directed ledge at the bottom thereof, for each said container the sidewall having a length which may vary within manufacturing tolerances; a mounting cup comprising a substantially rigid material, said cup having a skirt about at least a portion of its periphery, the cup slideable through a path of movement over the container flange to an assembled position; a sealing collar comprising a resilient deformable molded polymeric material, said collar having a central opening for receiving said dispenser, said sealing collar including a sleeve having a diameter sized to receive the flange and sized to be encased by said mounting cup skirt, a portion of said sleeve having an inner diameter less than said diameter of said flange sidewall to provide an annular area of contact between the sleeve and the flange sidewall and a snug, frictional fit therebetween, said sleeve including a camming surface protruding into the path of movement of the mounting cup, said camming surface being forced by said mounting cup to a position under said ledge as the mounting cup moves to an assembled position, said sleeve having an interior surface consisting essentially of a cylindrical shape adjacent said inwardly directed ledge of said container, said interior surface deforming radially inwardly under said ledge, said sleeve accommodating said normal manufacturing tolerances in said sidewall length.

Claim 13

An assembly according to claim 9 and further including limiting means comprising a ring integral with the sealing collar, said ring including a floor contacting said flange in said assembled position, said sleeve depending from said ring.

Claim 14

An assembly according to claim 10 wherein said limiting means comprises a tapered portion of said sleeve having a diameter less than the diameter of said flange sidewall, said tapered portion contacting said flange sidewall and deforming to seat said collar on said flange.

Claim 15

An assembly according to claim 11 wherein said tapered portion has a frustoconcial shape.

Claim 16

An assembly according to claim 9 wherein said skirt has an annular retaining ring projecting inwardly from said skirt, said retaining ring and skirt adjacent said retaining ring deforming outwardly as said retaining ring slides over said collar sleeve, said ring returning to its undeformed condition beneath said deformed end portion of said collar to maintain said collar and mounting cup in said assembled position.

Claim 17

A container assembly comprising: a container having a neck with an opening for dispensing product, the neck having a generally circular flange symmetric to a central axis, said flange including an upper surface surrounding the opening, a cylindrical sidewall about periphery, said sidewall of said flange having a diameter, and said neck including an inwardly directed ledge at the bottom thereof, for each said container the sidewall having a length which may vary within manufacturing tolerances; a mounting cup comprising a substantially rigid material, said cup having a substantially continuous cylindrical skirt around its periphery, said skirt being symmetrical with respect to a central axis of said mounting cup, said cup being slideable through a path of movement wherein the central axis of the mounting cup is coincident with the axis of said container flange, said cup being movable to an assembled position, said cup including an appearance cover spaced radially outwardly from and secured with respect to the cylindrical skirt, said mounting cup considering essentially of a single piece molded polymeric material; and a sealing collar comprising a resilient deformable molded polymeric material, said collar having a central opening for receiving said dispenser, said collar having a central axis, said collar being movable through a path of movement wherein said collar axis is coincident with said cup axis and said flange axis, said collar including a generally cylindrically shaped sleeve depending from said ring, said sleeve having a diameter sized to receive said flange sidewall and sized to be encased by said mounting cup wall, at least a portion of said sleeve having an inner diameter less than said diameter of said flange sidewall to provide an annular area of contact between the sleeve and the flange sidewall and a snug, frictional fit therebetween, said mounting cup forcing said collar toward said flange as said cup slides through its path of movement, said sleeve including an end portion protruding radially in said path of movement of said mounting cup, said end portion being deformed radially inwardly under said ledge to secure said sealing collar with respect to said flange, said sleeve having an interior surface consisting essentially of a cylindrical shape adjacent said inwardly directed ledge of said container, said interior surface deforming radially inwardly under said ledge, said sleeve accommodating said normal manufacturing tolerances in said sidewall length, said frictional fit between said flange sidewall and said sleeve maintaining said mounting cup, said sealing collar and said bottle flange in a fixed assembled position.

Claim 18

A container assembly comprising: a container having a neck with an opening for dispensing product, the neck having a generally circular flange symmetric to a central axis, said flange including an upper surface surrounding the opening, a cylindrical sidewall about periphery, said sidewall of said flange having a diameter, and said neck including an inwardly directed ledge at the bottom thereof, for each said container the sidewall having a length which may vary within manufacturing tolerances; a mounting cup comprising a substantially rigid material, said cup having a substantially continuous cylindrical skirt around its periphery, said skirt being symmetrical with respect to a central axis of said mounting cup, said cup being slideable through a path of movement wherein the central axis of the mounting cup is coincident with the axis of said container flange, said cup being movable to an assembled position, said cup including an appearance cover spaced radially outwardly from and secured with respect to the cylindrical skirt, said mounting cup considering essentially of a single piece molded polymeric material; and a sealing collar comprising a resilient deformable molded polymeric material, said collar having a central opening for receiving said dispenser, said collar having a central axis, said collar being movable through a path of movement wherein said collar axis is coincident with said cup axis and said flange axis, said collar including a generally cylindrically shaped sleeve depending from said ring, said sleeve having a diameter sized to receive said flange sidewall and sized to be encased by said mounting cup wall, at least a portion of said sleeve having an inner diameter less than said diameter of said flange sidewall to provide an annular area of contact between the sleeve and the flange sidewall and a snug, frictional fit therebetween, said mounting cup forcing said collar toward said flange as said cup slides through its path of movement, said sleeve including an end portion protruding radially in said path of movement of said mounting cup, said end portion being deformed radially inwardly under said ledge to secure said sealing collar with respect to said flange, said sleeve having an interior surface consisting essentially of a cylindrical shape adjacent said inwardly directed ledge of said container, said interior surface deforming radially inwardly under said ledge, said sleeve accommodating said normal manufacturing tolerances in said sidewall length, said frictional fit between said flange sidewall and said sleeve maintaining said mounting cup, said sealing collar and said bottle flange in a fixed assembled position.

Claim 19

An assembly for securing and sealing a dispenser with respect to flanged containers comprising: a mounting cup comprising a substantially rigid material, said cup having a skirt around its periphery, said cup slideable through a path of movement over a sealing collar to an assembled position; said sealing collar comprising a resilient deformable molded polymeric material, said collar having a central opening, said collar including a generally cylindrical sleeve having a diameter sized to be encased by said mounting cup skirt, said sleeve including at the bottom thereof a camming surface protruding in said path of movement of said mounting cup for securing said sleeve, said sleeve having an interior surface consisting essentially of a cylindrical shape, said interior surface deforming radially inwardly said camming surface being forced radially inwardly as said mounting cup contacts it and moves past said camming surface said sleeve to said assembled position, said sleeve maintaining said mounting cup, said sealing collar in a fixed assembled position.

Claim 20

An assembly for securing and sealing a dispenser with respect to flanged containers comprising: a mounting cup comprising a substantially rigid material, said cup having a skirt around its periphery, said cup slideable through a path of movement over a sealing collar to an assembled position; said sealing collar comprising a resilient deformable molded polymeric material, said collar having a central opening, said collar including a generally cylindrical sleeve having a diameter sized to be encased by said mounting cup skirt, said sleeve including at the bottom thereof a camming surface protruding in said path of movement of said mounting cup for securing said sleeve, said sleeve having an interior surface consisting essentially of a cylindrical shape, said interior surface deforming radially inwardly said camming surface being forced radially inwardly as said mounting cup contacts it and moves past said camming surface said sleeve to said assembled position, said sleeve maintaining said mounting cup, said sealing collar in a fixed assembled position.

Claim 21

An assembly for securing and sealing a dispenser with respect to flanged containers comprising: a mounting cup comprising a substantially rigid material, said cup having a substantially continuous cylindrical skirt around its periphery, said skirt having a step protruding radially outwardly with respect to a central axis of said mounting cup, said cup being slideable through a path of movement to an assembled position; a sealing collar comprising a resilient deformable molded polymeric material, said collar having a central opening, said collar having a central axis, said collar being movable through a path of movement wherein said collar axis is coincident with said cup axis, said collar having an annular ring including a floor, said floor being in contact with said upper surface in said assembled position, said collar including a generally cylindrically shaped sleeve depending from said ring, said sleeve having a diameter sized to be encased by said mounting cup wall, said radial step of said mounting cup forcing said collar radially inwardly as said cup slides through its path of movement, said sleeve including an end portion protruding radially in said path of movement of said mounting cup, said end portion being deformed radially inwardly, said sleeve having an interior surface consisting essentially of a cylindrical shape, said interior surface deforming radially inwardly, said sleeve maintaining said mounting cup and, said sealing collar in a fixed assembled position.

Claim 22

An assembly for securing and sealing a dispenser with respect to flanged containers comprising: a mounting cup comprising a substantially rigid material, said cup having a substantially continuous cylindrical skirt around its periphery, said skirt having a step protruding radially outwardly with respect to a central axis of said mounting cup, said cup being slideable through a path of movement to an assembled position; a sealing collar comprising a resilient deformable molded polymeric material, said collar having a central opening, said collar having a central axis, said collar being movable through a path of movement wherein said collar axis is coincident with said cup axis, said collar having an annular ring including a floor, said floor being in contact with said upper surface in said assembled position, said collar including a generally cylindrically shaped sleeve depending from said ring, said sleeve having a diameter sized to be encased by said mounting cup wall, said radial step of said mounting cup forcing said collar radially inwardly as said cup slides through its path of movement, said sleeve including an end portion protruding radially in said path of movement of said mounting cup, said end portion being deformed radially inwardly, said sleeve having an interior surface consisting essentially of a cylindrical shape, said interior surface deforming radially inwardly, said sleeve maintaining said mounting cup and, said sealing collar in a fixed assembled position.

Claim 23

An assembly according to claim 16 wherein at least a portion of said mounting cup above said step has an inner diameter substantially equal to the outer diameter of said sealing collar sleeve, said inner diameter of said mounting cup wall frictionally engaging the outer diameter of sealing collar to retain said mounting cup in an assembled position.

Claim 24

An assembly according to claim 16 wherein said skirt has an annular retaining ring projecting inwardly from said skirt, said retaining ring being positioned beneath said deformed end portion of said collar to maintain said collar and mounting cup in said assembled position.

Claim 25

An assembly according to claim 18 wherein said mounting cup comprises a hard plastic material and said collar comprises a soft plastic material.

Claim 26

An assembly according to claim 16 wherein said sleeve includes a frustoconical portion having an upper region having a diameter less than said flange diameter and having a lower portion having a diameter at least equal to said flange diameter, said frustoconical portion deforming and being in contact with said flange sidewall in an annular area.

Claim 27

An assembly according to claim 16 wherein said end portion of said sleeve includes a plurality of slots about its periphery, said slots defining a plurality of deformable tabs about the periphery of the end portion of said sleeve, said tabs being deformed as said mounting cup moves through its path of movement.

Claim 28

An assembly according to claim 16 wherein said end portion of said sleeve includes a camming surface in said path of movement of said mounting cup, said camming surface being forced radially inwardly by said sleeve.

Claim 29

An assembly for securing and sealing a dispenser with respect to a flanged container comprising: a mounting cup comprising a substantially rigid material, said cup having a skirt about at least a portion of its periphery, the cup slideable through a path of movement to an assembled position; a sealing collar comprising a resilient deformable molded polymeric material, said collar having a central opening, said sealing collar including a sleeve having a diameter sized to be encased by said mounting cup skirt, said sleeve including a camming surface protruding into the path of movement of the mounting cup, said camming surface being forced by said mounting cup radially inwardly as the mounting cup moves to an assembled position, said sleeve having an interior surface consisting essentially of a cylindrical shape.

Claim 30

An assembly for securing and sealing a dispenser with respect to a flanged container comprising: a mounting cup comprising a substantially rigid material, said cup having a skirt about at least a portion of its periphery, the cup slideable through a path of movement to an assembled position; a sealing collar comprising a resilient deformable molded polymeric material, said collar having a central opening, said sealing collar including a sleeve having a diameter sized to be encased by said mounting cup skirt, said sleeve including a camming surface protruding into the path of movement of the mounting cup, said camming surface being forced by said mounting cup radially inwardly as the mounting cup moves to an assembled position, said sleeve having an interior surface consisting essentially of a cylindrical shape.

Claim 31

An assembly according to claim 23 wherein said limiting means comprises a ring integral with the sealing collar, said ring including a floor, said sleeve depending from said ring.

Claim 32

An assembly according to claim 24 wherein said limiting means comprises a tapered portion of said sleeve having a diameter less than the diameter of said flange sidewall, said tapered portion deforming to seat said collar.

Claim 33

An assembly according to claim 25 wherein said tapered portion has a frustoconcial shape.

Claim 34

An assembly according to claim 23 wherein said skirt has an annular retaining ring projecting inwardly from said skirt, said retaining ring and skirt adjacent said retaining ring deforming outwardly as said retaining ring slides over said collar sleeve, said ring returning to its undeformed condition beneath said deformed end portion of said collar to maintain said collar and mounting cup in said assembled position.

Claim 35

An assembly for securing and sealing a dispenser with respect to flanged containers comprising: a mounting cup comprising a substantially rigid material, said cup having a substantially continuous cylindrical skirt around its periphery, respect to a central axis of said mounting cup, said cup being slideable through a path of movement along the central axis of the mounting cup, said cup being movable to an assembled position, said cup including an appearance cover spaced radially outwardly from and secured with respect to the cylindrical skirt, said mounting cup consisting essentially of a single piece molded polymeric material; a sealing collar comprising a resilient deformable molded polymeric material, said collar having a central opening, said collar having a central axis, said collar being movable through a path of movement wherein said collar axis is coincident with said cup axis, said collar including a generally cylindrically shaped sleeve depending from said ring, said sleeve having a diameter sized to be encased by said mounting cup wall, said mounting cup forcing said collar radially inwardly as said cup slides through its path of movement, said sleeve including an end portion protruding radially in said path of movement of said mounting cup, said end portion being deformed radially inwardly to secure said sealing collar with respect to said flange, and said sleeve having an interior surface consisting essentially of a cylindrical shape adjacent said inwardly directed ledge of said container, said interior surface deforming radially inwardly.

Claim 36

An assembly for securing and sealing a dispenser with respect to flanged containers comprising: a mounting cup comprising a substantially rigid material, said cup having a substantially continuous cylindrical skirt around its periphery, respect to a central axis of said mounting cup, said cup being slideable through a path of movement along the central axis of the mounting cup, said cup being movable to an assembled position, said cup including an appearance cover spaced radially outwardly from and secured with respect to the cylindrical skirt, said mounting cup consisting essentially of a single piece molded polymeric material; a sealing collar comprising a resilient deformable molded polymeric material, said collar having a central opening, said collar having a central axis, said collar being movable through a path of movement wherein said collar axis is coincident with said cup axis, said collar including a generally cylindrically shaped sleeve depending from said ring, said sleeve having a diameter sized to be encased by said mounting cup wall, said mounting cup forcing said collar radially inwardly as said cup slides through its path of movement, said sleeve including an end portion protruding radially in said path of movement of said mounting cup, said end portion being deformed radially inwardly to secure said sealing collar with respect to said flange, and said sleeve having an interior surface consisting essentially of a cylindrical shape adjacent said inwardly directed ledge of said container, said interior surface deforming radially inwardly.