Pressure lock bayonet closure

Claim 2

A closure assembly for a material packaged under pressure in a container having a hollow body defining an internal cavity and including a finish region having a substantially cylindrical neck portion formed at an upper end of said hollow body, said finish region terminating in a generally annular mouth defining an opening, a closure cap being engageable with said finish region in an obstructing relationship with said opening to close said container, said closure assembly comprising: a plurality of spaced apart retaining tabs formed on said finish region, a plurality of spaced apart primary tabs formed on said closure cap and being engageable with said retaining tabs to sealingly engage said closure cap with said finish region and maintain the pressure within the container, said closure cap being disengageable from said finish region upon rotation of less than three hundred and sixty degrees relative to said finish region, said closure cap being rotatable to a vent position in which said primary tabs are between said retaining tabs allowing said closure cap to move upwardly, a plurality of secondary tabs formed on said closure cap and being engageable with said retaining tabs in response to upward movement of said closure cap, means for preventing removal of said closure cap from said hollow body until the pressure has been substantially vented from the container.

Claim 3

A container as set forth in claim 1 wherein said retaining tabs are equidistantly spaced around said finish region, said primary tabs also being equidistantly spaced around said closure cap, and said secondary tabs also being equidistantly spaced around said closure cap.

Claim 4

A container as set forth in claim 2 wherein said primary tabs are formed on an interior surface of said closure cap and extend generally transversely inward therefrom, said primary tabs exhibiting generally sloped upper engagement surface.

Claim 5

A container as set forth in claim 3 wherein said secondary tabs are formed on said interior surface and extend generally radially inward therefrom, said secondary tabs also including a generally sloped upper engagement surface.

Claim 6

A container as set forth in claim 4 wherein said secondary tabs are longitudinally spaced apart from said primary tabs so as to be positioned lower on said closure cap, said secondary tabs also being angularly offset from said primary tabs.

Claim 7

A container as set forth in claim 4 wherein said retaining tabs are formed on an exterior surface of said finish region and extend generally radially outward therefrom, said retaining tabs including a generally sloped lower engagement surface which coacts with said sloped upper engagement surfaces of said primary tabs to retain said closure cap on said finish region thereby closing said container, said sloped lower engagement surface coacting with said sloped upper engagement surface of said secondary tabs to retain said closure cap on said finish region while permitting venting of pressure within the container.

Claim 8

A container as set forth in claim 2 wherein said preventing means includes a finger extending upwardly from said secondary tabs.

Claim 9

A container as set forth in claim 7 wherein said retaining tabs include a recessed notch being formed in a lower engagement surface thereof, said notch generally corresponding to said finger, said finger and said notch coacting to prevent further rotation of said closure cap relative to said hollow body until the internal pressure of the container has been substantially released.

Claim 10

A closure assembly for a material packaged under pressure in a container having a hollow body defining an internal cavity and including a finish region having a substantially cylindrical neck portion formed at an upper end of said hollow body, said finish region terminating in a generally annular mouth defining an opening, a closure cap being engageable with said finish region in an obstructing relationship with said opening to close said container, said closure assembly comprising: a plurality of spaced apart retaining tabs formed on said finish region, a plurality of spaced apart primary tabs formed on said closure cap and being engageable with said retaining tabs to sealingly engage said closure cap with said finish region and maintain the pressure within the container, said closure cap being disengageable from said finish region upon rotation of less than three hundred and sixty degrees relative to said finish region, said closure cap being rotatable to a vent position in which said primary tabs are between said retaining tabs allowing said closure cap to move upwardly, a plurality of secondary tabs formed on said closure cap and being engageable with said retaining tabs in response to upward movement of said closure cap to prevent removal of said closure cap from said hollow body until the pressure has been substantially vented from the container, said secondary tabs including a finger extending upwardly therefrom and interferingly engaging said retaining tabs when said secondary tabs are engaged therewith.

Claim 11

A closure assembly for a material packaged under pressure in a container having a hollow body defining an internal cavity and including a finish region having a substantially cylindrical neck portion formed at an upper end of said hollow body, said finish region terminating in a generally annular mouth defining an opening, a closure cap being engageable with said finish region in an obstructing relationship with said opening to close said container, said closure assembly comprising: a plurality of spaced apart retaining tabs formed on said finish region, a plurality of spaced apart primary tabs formed on said closure cap and being engageable with said retaining tabs to sealingly engage said closure cap with said finish region and maintain the pressure within the container, said closure cap being disengageable from said finish region upon rotation of less than three hundred and sixty degrees relative to said finish region, said closure cap being rotatable to a vent position in which said primary tabs are between said retaining tabs allowing said closure cap to move upwardly, a plurality of secondary tabs formed on said closure cap and being engageable with said retaining tabs in response to upward movement of said closure cap to prevent removal of said closure cap from said hollow body until the pressure has been substantially vented from the container, said secondary tabs including a finger extending upwardly therefrom and interferingly engaging said retaining tabs when said secondary tabs are engaged therewith.

Claim 12

A closure assembly for a carbonated beverage container as set forth in claim 9 wherein said primary and secondary tabs are interiorly formed on said skirt and extend generally radially inward therefrom.

Claim 13

A closure assembly for a carbonated beverage container as set forth in claim 10 wherein said primary tabs are substantially equidistantly spaced circumferentially around said skirt.

Claim 14

A closure assembly for a carbonated beverage container as set forth in claim 11 wherein said secondary tabs are substantially equidistantly spaced circumferentially around said skirt.

Claim 15

A closure assembly for a carbonated beverage container as set forth in claim 12 wherein said primary tabs and said secondary tabs are longitudinally spaced apart from one another on said skirt positioning said secondary tabs lower thereon.

Claim 16

A closure assembly for a carbonated beverage container as set forth in claim 13 wherein said primary tabs and secondary tabs are angularly spaced apart from one another in an offset relation around said skirt.

Claim 17

A closure assembly for a carbonated beverage container as set forth in claim 14 wherein said primary tabs and said secondary tabs are angularly spaced apart and coact to define a vent channel when said secondary tabs are engaged with said retaining tabs.

Claim 18

A closure assembly for a carbonated beverage container as set forth in claim 15 wherein said vent channel is substantially vertical.