Snap-on, screw off cap and container neck

Claim 2

In combination, a container neck and a container closure, said neck having an upper opening, a downward extending upper neck stretch portion below said opening, said upper neck stretch portion having an exterior, at least one first helical engagement means around said exterior of said upper deck stretch portion, a locking wall portion below said upper neck stretch portion, said locking wall portion comprising a lower neck stretch portion offset outwardly relative to said upper neck stretch portion and a first shoulder interconnecting said upper neck stretch portion and said lower neck stretch portion, at least one external tooth on said locking wall portion, said closure having a top, a downward extending upper skirt portion depending from said top, said upper skirt portion having an interior, at least one second helical engagement means around said interior of said upper skirt portion shaped to mate with said at least one first helical engagement means, a lower skirt portion below said upper skirt portion, said lower skirt portion comprising an outer skirt portion offset relative to said upper skirt portion and a second shoulder extending inwardly from said outer skirt portion to said upper skirt portion, frangible means interconnecting said upper skirt portion and said second shoulder, at least one substantially vertical fin joined to and upstanding from said second shoulder to prevent upward deformation of said lower skirt portion without breaking said frangible means, at least one internal tooth on said lower skirt portion shaped to engage said at least one external tooth to prevent unscrewing of said closure relative to said neck without breaking said frangible means, said at least one first and second helical engagement means being shaped such that when said closure is moved directly axially downward on said neck without rotation of said closure relative to said neck, said at least one first and second helical engagement means slip past each other and then interengage.

Claim 3

The combination of claim 1 in which said at least one substantially vertical fin is joined to said upper skirt.

Claim 4

The combination of claim 2 in which said at least one substantially vertical fin is formed with a substantially vertical line of weakness extending through said at least one substantially vertical fin adjacent said upper skirt portion, whereby said at least one substantially vertical fin is a tamperevident feature of said combination.

Claim 5

The combination of claim 1 in which said frangible means comprises a plurality of radially spaced bridges.

Claim 6

The combination of claim 1 in which said at least one external tooth is located on said lower neck stretch and said at least one internal tooth is located on said outer skirt portion.

Claim 7

In combination, a container neck and a container closure, said neck having an upper opening, a downward extending upper neck stretch portion below said opening, said upper neck stretch portion having an exterior, at least one first helical engagement means around said exterior of said upper neck stretch portion, a locking wall portion below said upper neck stretch portion, said locking wall portion comprising a lower neck stretch portion offset outwardly relative to said upper neck stretch portion and a first shoulder interconnecting said upper neck stretch portion and said lower neck stretch portion, at least one external tooth on said locking wall portion, said closure having a top, a downward extending upper skirt portion depending from said top, said upper skirt portion having an interior, at least one second helical engagement means around said interior of said upper skirt portion shaped to mate with said at least one first helical engagement means, a lower skirt portion below said upper skirt portion, said lower skirt portion comprising an outer skirt portion offset relative to said upper skirt portion and a second shoulder extending inwardly from said outer skirt portion to said upper skirt portion, frangible means interconnecting said upper skirt portion and said second shoulder, at least one substantially vertical fin upstanding from said second shoulder to prevent upward deformation of said lower skirt portion without breaking said frangible means, at least one internal tooth on said lower skirt portion shaped to engage said at least one external tooth to prevent unscrewing of said closure relative to said neck without breaking said frangible means, said at least one first and second helical engagement means being shaped such that when said closure is moved directly axially downward on said neck without relative rotation of said closure and said neck, said at least one first and second helical engagement means slip past each other and then interengage. said lower skirt portion being formed with a line of weakness extending through said second shoulder and said outer skirt portion.

Claim 8

In combination, a container neck and a container closure, said neck having an upper opening, a downward extending upper neck stretch portion below said opening, said upper neck stretch portion having an exterior, at least one first helical engagement means around said exterior of said upper neck stretch portion, a locking wall portion below said upper neck stretch portion, said locking wall portion comprising a lower neck stretch portion offset outwardly relative to said upper neck stretch portion and a first shoulder interconnecting said upper neck stretch portion and said lower neck stretch portion, at least one external tooth on said locking wall portion, said closure having a top, a downward extending upper skirt portion depending from said top, said upper skirt portion having an interior, at least one second helical engagement means around said interior of said upper skirt portion shaped to mate with said at least one first helical engagement means, a lower skirt portion below said upper skirt portion, said lower skirt portion comprising an outer skirt portion offset relative to said upper skirt portion and a second shoulder extending inwardly from said outer skirt portion to said upper skirt portion, frangible means interconnecting said upper skirt portion and said second shoulder, at least one substantially vertical fin upstanding from said second shoulder to prevent upward deformation of said lower skirt portion without breaking said frangible means, at least one internal tooth on said lower skirt portion shaped to engage said at least one external tooth to prevent unscrewing of said closure relative to said neck without breaking said frangible means, said at least one first and second helical engagement means being shaped such that when said closure is moved directly axially downward on said neck without relative rotation of said closure and said neck, said at least one first and second helical engagement means slip past each other and then interengage. said lower skirt portion being formed with a line of weakness extending through said second shoulder and said outer skirt portion.

Claim 9

The combination of claim 6 in which said line of weakness comprises a groove formed through aid lower skirt portion, said second shoulder formed having a first web material bridging said groove and said outer skirt portion formed having a second web material bridging said groove.

Claim 10

The combination of claim 7 in which said first and second web materials are separated by a gap adjacent the intersection of said second shoulder and said outer skirt portion.

Claim 11

The combination of claim 6 further comprising a tear tab connected to said lower skirt portion.

Claim 12

In combination, a container neck and a container closure, said neck having an upper opening, a downward extending upper neck stretch portion below said opening, said upper neck stretch portion having an exterior, at least one first helical engagement means around said exterior of said upper neck stretch portion, a locking wall portion below said upper neck stretch portion, said locking wall portion comprising a lower neck stretch portion offset outwardly relative to said upper neck stretch portion and a first shoulder interconnecting said upper neck stretch portion and said lower neck stretch portion, at least one external tooth on said locking wall portion, said closure having a top, a downward extending upper skirt portion depending from said top, said upper skirt portion having an interior, at least one second helical engagement means around said interior of said upper skirt portion shaped to mate with said at least one first helical engagement means, a lower skirt portion below said upper skirt portion, frangible means interconnecting said upper skirt portion and said lower skirt portion, a line of weakness extending through said lower skirt portion, at least one internal tooth on said lower skirt portion shaped to engage said at least one external tooth to prevent unscrewing of said closure relative to said neck without breaking said frangible means, said at least one first and second helical engagement means being shaped such that when said closure is moved directly axially downward on said neck without rotation of said closure relative to said neck said at least one first and second helical engagement means slip past each other and then interengage.

Claim 13

In combination, a container neck and a container closure, said neck having an upper opening, a downward extending upper neck stretch portion below said opening, said upper neck stretch portion having an exterior, at least one first helical engagement means around said exterior of said upper neck stretch portion, a locking wall portion below said upper neck stretch portion, said locking wall portion comprising a lower neck stretch portion offset outwardly relative to said upper neck stretch portion and a first shoulder interconnecting said upper neck stretch portion and said lower neck stretch portion, at least one external tooth on said locking wall portion, said closure having a top, a downward extending upper skirt portion depending from said top, said upper skirt portion having an interior, at least one second helical engagement means around said interior of said upper skirt portion shaped to mate with said at least one first helical engagement means, a lower skirt portion below said upper skirt portion, frangible means interconnecting said upper skirt portion and said lower skirt portion, a line of weakness extending through said lower skirt portion, at least one internal tooth on said lower skirt portion shaped to engage said at least one external tooth to prevent unscrewing of said closure relative to said neck without breaking said frangible means, said at least one first and second helical engagement means being shaped such that when said closure is moved directly axially downward on said neck without rotation of said closure relative to said neck said at least one first and second helical engagement means slip past each other and then interengage.

Claim 14

The combination of claim 10 in which said lower skirt portion comprises an outer skirt portion offset outwardly relative to said upper skirt portion and a second shoulder extending inwardly from said outer skirt portion to said upper skirt portion and in which said line of weakness comprises a groove formed through said lower skirt portion, said second shoulder formed having a first web material bridging said groove and said outer skirt portion formed having a second web material bridging said groove.

Claim 15

The combination of claim 11 in which said first and second web materials are separated by a gap adjacent the intersection of said second shoulder and said outer skirt portion.

Claim 16

The combination of claim 10 in which said lower skirt portion comprises an outer skirt portion offset outwardly relative to said upper skirt portion and a second shoulder extending inwardly from said outer skirt portion to said upper skirt portion and which further comprises at least one substantially vertical fin upstanding from said second shoulder to prevent upward deformation of said lower skirt portion without breaking said frangible means, whereby said at least one substantially vertical fin is a tamper-evident feature of said combination.

Claim 17

The combination of claim 13 in which said at least one substantially vertical fin is located adjacent said line of weakness.

Claim 18

The combination of claim 10 in which said at least one external tooth is located on said lower neck stretch portion and said at least one internal tooth is located on said lower skirt portion.

Claim 19

The combination of claim 10 which further comprises a tear tab connected to said lower skirt portion.

Claim 20

The combination of claim 10 in which said upper skirt is formed with external ribs having lower edges, said lower edges of said ribs comprising said frangible means.

Claim 21

A container closure for use with a container neck of the type having an upper opening, a downward extending upper neck stretch portion below said opening, said upper neck stretch portion having an exterior, at least one first helical engagement means around said exterior of said upper neck stretch portion, a locking wall portion below said upper neck stretch portion, said locking wall portion comprising a lower neck stretch portion offset outwardly relative to said upper neck stretch portion and a first shoulder extending inwardly from said lower neck stretch portion to said upper neck stretch portion, at least one external tooth on said locking wall portion, said closure having a top, a downward extending upper skirt portion depending from said top, at least one second helical engagement means around said interior of said upper skirt portion shaped to mate with said at least one first helical engagement means, a lower skirt portion below said upper skirt portion, said lower skirt portion comprising an outer skirt portion offset outwardly relative to said upper skirt portion and a second shoulder extending inwardly from said outer skirt portion to said upper skirt portion, frangible means interconnecting said upper skirt portion and said second shoulder, at least one substantially vertical fin joined to and upstanding from said second shoulder to prevent upward deformation of said lower skirt portion without breaking said frangible means, at least one internal tooth on said lower skirt portion shaped to engage said at least one external tooth to prevent unscrewing of said closure relative to said neck without breaking said frangible means, said at least one first helical engagement means and said at least one second helical engagement means being shaped such that when said closure is moved directly axially downward on said neck without rotation of said closure relative to said neck, said at least one first helical engagement means and said at least one second helical engagement means slip past each other and then interengage.

Claim 22

A container closure for use with a container neck of the type having an upper opening, a downward extending upper neck stretch portion below said opening, said upper neck stretch portion having an exterior, at least one first helical engagement means around said exterior of said upper neck stretch portion, a locking wall portion below said upper neck stretch portion, said locking wall portion comprising a lower neck stretch portion offset outwardly relative to said upper neck stretch portion and a first shoulder extending inwardly from said lower neck stretch portion to said upper neck stretch portion, at least one external tooth on said locking wall portion, said closure having a top, a downward extending upper skirt portion depending from said top, at least one second helical engagement means around said interior of said upper skirt portion shaped to mate with said at least one first helical engagement means, a lower skirt portion below said upper skirt portion, said lower skirt portion comprising an outer skirt portion offset outwardly relative to said upper skirt portion and a second shoulder extending inwardly from said outer skirt portion to said upper skirt portion, frangible means interconnecting said upper skirt portion and said second shoulder, at least one substantially vertical fin joined to and upstanding from said second shoulder to prevent upward deformation of said lower skirt portion without breaking said frangible means, at least one internal tooth on said lower skirt portion shaped to engage said at least one external tooth to prevent unscrewing of said closure relative to said neck without breaking said frangible means, said at least one first helical engagement means and said at least one second helical engagement means being shaped such that when said closure is moved directly axially downward on said neck without rotation of said closure relative to said neck, said at least one first helical engagement means and said at least one second helical engagement means slip past each other and then interengage.

Claim 23

The closure of claim 18 in which said substantially vertical fin is joined to said upper skirt portion.

Claim 24

The closure of claim 19 in which said at least one substantially vertical fin is formed with a substantially vertical line of weakness extending through said at least one substantially vertical fin adjacent said upper skirt portion, whereby said at least one substantially vertical fin is a tamperevident feature of said closure.

Claim 25

The closure of claim 18 in which said at least one internal tooth is located on said outer skirt portion.

Claim 26

The closure of claim 18 in which said at least one substantially vertical fin is spaced from said upper skirt portion.

Claim 27

A container closure for use with a container neck of the type having an upper opening, a downward extending upper neck stretch portion below said opening, said upper neck stretch portion having an exterior, at least one first helical engagement means around said exterior of said upper neck stretch portion, a locking wall portion below said upper neck stretch portion, said locking wall portion comprising a lower neck stretch portion offset outwardly relative to said upper neck stretch portion and a first shoulder extending inwardly from said lower neck stretch portion said upper neck stretch portion, at least one external tooth on said locking wall portion, said closure having a top, a downward extending upper skirt portion depending from said top, said upper skirt portion having an interior, at least one second helical engagement means around said interior of said upper skirt portion shaped to mate with said at least one first helical engagement means, a lower skirt portion below said upper skirt portion, said lower skirt portion comprising an outer skirt portion offset outwardly relative to said upper skirt portion and a second shoulder extending inwardly from said outer skirt portion to said upper skirt portion, frangible means interconnecting said upper skirt portion and said second shoulder, at least one substantially upstanding from said second shoulder to prevent upward deformation of said lower skirt portion without breaking said frangible means, at least one internal tooth on said lower skirt portion shaped to engage said at least one external tooth to prevent unscrewing of said closure relative to said neck without breaking said frangible means, said at least one first helical engagement means and said at least one second helical engagement means being shaped such that when said closure is moved directly axially downward on said neck without relative rotation of said closure and said neck, said at least one first helical engagement means and said at least one second helical engagement means slip passes each other and then interengage, said second shoulder and said outer skirt portion are formed with a line of weakness extending through said second shoulder and said outer skirt portion.

Claim 28

A container closure for use with a container neck of the type having an upper opening, a downward extending upper neck stretch portion below said opening, said upper neck stretch portion having an exterior, at least one first helical engagement means around said exterior of said upper neck stretch portion, a locking wall portion below said upper neck stretch portion, said locking wall portion comprising a lower neck stretch portion offset outwardly relative to said upper neck stretch portion and a first shoulder extending inwardly from said lower neck stretch portion said upper neck stretch portion, at least one external tooth on said locking wall portion, said closure having a top, a downward extending upper skirt portion depending from said top, said upper skirt portion having an interior, at least one second helical engagement means around said interior of said upper skirt portion shaped to mate with said at least one first helical engagement means, a lower skirt portion below said upper skirt portion, said lower skirt portion comprising an outer skirt portion offset outwardly relative to said upper skirt portion and a second shoulder extending inwardly from said outer skirt portion to said upper skirt portion, frangible means interconnecting said upper skirt portion and said second shoulder, at least one substantially upstanding from said second shoulder to prevent upward deformation of said lower skirt portion without breaking said frangible means, at least one internal tooth on said lower skirt portion shaped to engage said at least one external tooth to prevent unscrewing of said closure relative to said neck without breaking said frangible means, said at least one first helical engagement means and said at least one second helical engagement means being shaped such that when said closure is moved directly axially downward on said neck without relative rotation of said closure and said neck, said at least one first helical engagement means and said at least one second helical engagement means slip passes each other and then interengage, said second shoulder and said outer skirt portion are formed with a line of weakness extending through said second shoulder and said outer skirt portion.

Claim 29

The closure of claim 23 in which said at least one substantially vertical fin is located adjacent said line of weakness.

Claim 30

The closure of claim 23 in which said line of weakness comprises a groove formed through said second shoulder and said outer skirt portion, said second shoulder formed having a first web material bridging said groove and said outer skirt portion formed having a second web material bridging said groove.

Claim 31

The closure of claim 26 in which said first and second web materials are separated by a gap adjacent the intersection of said second shoulder and said outer skirt portion.