Cap for fluid container with threaded neck

Claim 2

A cap for use with a container neck having a lip, a cylindrical portion below said lip formed with an external helical first screw thread and a crown bead below said cylindrical portion, said first screw thread having a top end and a bottom end, said top end being formed as a ramp of reduced thickness, said cap comprising a top and a skirt depending from said top, said skirt having a restricted diameter cylindrical upper stretch formed with an internal helical second screw thread shaped and positioned to mate with said first screw thread, said second screw thread having a top end and bottom end an enlarged diameter stretch below said upper stretch for engaging said crown bead and an internal locking bead for engaging the underside of said crown bead, and at least one barrier extending downward from adjacent said top end of said second screw thread to adjacent said bottom of said second screw thread, said at least one barrier being horizontally aligned with said ramp when said cap is installed on said neck, whereby turning said cap relative to said neck in an unwinding direction causes said cap skin to expand outward and said second screw thread to disengage from said first screw thread.

Claim 3

A cap according to claim 1 which further comprises a gasket on the underside of said top to seal said cap to said lip.

Claim 4

A cap according to claim 2 in which said gasket is of foam plastic.

Claim 5

A cap according to claim 1 in which said skirt extends below said enlarged diameter stretch to a bottom edge, a tear tab extending below said bottom edge and a tear line formed in said skirt adjacent said tear tab extending up from said bottom edge to said upper stretch.

Claim 6

A cap according to claim 1 in which said cap is of a resilient plastic whereby said second screw thread expands to slip over said first screw thread when said cap is pushed axially downward on said neck without relative rotation of said cap and said neck.

Claim 7

A cap according to claim 5 wherein said container has first orientation means, said cap further comprising second orientation means cooperable with said first orientation means whereby when said cap is pushed axially downward on said neck said first screw thread and said second screw thread are inter-engaged.

Claim 8

A cap according to claim 1 in which a well is formed in said top, the lower end of said well being open and which further comprises a plug slidable in said well between a first position sealing said well from the interior of said container to a second position opening communication from the interior to the exterior of said container.

Claim 9

A cap according to claim 7 which said plug further comprises attachment means for detachably securing said plug to an external dispenser probe.

Claim 10

A cap according to claim 7 which further comprises an annular gasket on the underside of said top around said well to seal said cap to said lip.

Claim 11

A cap for use with a container neck having a lip, a cylindrical portion below said lip formed with an external helical first screw thread and a crown bead below said cylindrical portion, said first screw thread having an end formed as a ramp, said cap comprising a top and a skirt depending from said top, said skirt having a restricted diameter cylindrical upper stretch formed with an internal helical second screw thread shaped and positioned to mate with said first screw thread, said second screw thread having a top end and a bottom end an enlarged diameter stretch below said upper stretch for engaging said crown bead and an internal locking bead for engaging the underside of said crown bead, said second screw extending helically from 0° of angle at said top end to approximately 360° of angle and at said bottom end, at least one barrier extending downwardly from approximately said 0° of angle to approximately the elevation of said 360° of angle, said at least one barrier being horizontally aligned with said ramp, whereby turning said cap relative to said neck in an unwinding direction causes said cap skirt to expand outward and said second screw thread to disengage from said first screw thread.

Claim 12

A cap for use with a container neck having a lip, a cylindrical portion below said lip formed with an external helical first screw thread and a crown bead below said cylindrical portion, said first screw thread having an end formed as a ramp, said cap comprising a top and a skirt depending from said top, said skirt having a restricted diameter cylindrical upper stretch formed with an internal helical second screw thread shaped and positioned to mate with said first screw thread, said second screw thread having a top end and a bottom end an enlarged diameter stretch below said upper stretch for engaging said crown bead and an internal locking bead for engaging the underside of said crown bead, said second screw extending helically from 0° of angle at said top end to approximately 360° of angle and at said bottom end, at least one barrier extending downwardly from approximately said 0° of angle to approximately the elevation of said 360° of angle, said at least one barrier being horizontally aligned with said ramp, whereby turning said cap relative to said neck in an unwinding direction causes said cap skirt to expand outward and said second screw thread to disengage from said first screw thread.

Claim 13

A cap accordingly to claim 10 which further comprises a plurality of downward extending second barriers angularly spaced apart and downwardly from said first-mentioned barrier and depending from said second screw thread.

Claim 14

In combination, a container neck and a cap, said container neck having a lip, a cylindrical portion below said lip formed with an external first screw thread and a crown bead below said cylindrical portion, said first screw thread having an end formed as a ramp, said cap comprising a top and a skirt depending from said top, said skirt having a restricted diameter cylindrical upper stretch formed with an internal second screw thread threadedly engaging said first screw thread and an enlarged diameter stretch below said upper stretch engaging said crown bead and an internal locking bead engaging the underside of said crown bead, at least one barrier extending substantially vertically downward relative to one of said screw threads into horizontal alignment with said ramp, said skirt being flexible, whereby turning said cap relative to said neck in an unwinding direction so long as said cap is intact causes said cap to expand outward and said screw threads to disengage from each other, and means to tear a portion of said skirt to release said cap from said neck.

Claim 15

In combination, a container neck and a cap, said container neck having a lip, a cylindrical portion below said lip formed with an external first screw thread and a crown bead below said cylindrical portion, said first screw thread having an end formed as a ramp, said cap comprising a top and a skirt depending from said top, said skirt having a restricted diameter cylindrical upper stretch formed with an internal second screw thread threadedly engaging said first screw thread and an enlarged diameter stretch below said upper stretch engaging said crown bead and an internal locking bead engaging the underside of said crown bead, at least one barrier extending substantially vertically downward relative to one of said screw threads into horizontal alignment with said ramp, said skirt being flexible, whereby turning said cap relative to said neck in an unwinding direction so long as said cap is intact causes said cap to expand outward and said screw threads to disengage from each other, and means to tear a portion of said skirt to release said cap from said neck.

Claim 16

The combination of claim 12 in which said at least one barrier is on said cap and extends downwardly from approximately 0° of angle of said second screw thread to approximately the elevation of 360° of angle of said second screw thread.

Claim 17

The combination of claim 12 in which said at least one barrier is on said neck and extends upwardly from approximately 360° of angle of said first screw thread to approximately 0° of angle of said first screw thread.

Claim 18

The combination of claim 12 which further comprises a gasket on the underside of said top to seal said cap to said lip.

Claim 19

The combination of claim 12 in which said skirt extends below said enlarged diameter stretch to a bottom edge, a tear tab extending below said bottom edge and a tear line formed in said skirt adjacent said tear tab extending up from said bottom edge to said upper stretch.

Claim 20

The combination of claim 16 in which said tear line is substantially vertically disposed and which further comprises a second tear line approximately parallel to said first-mentioned tear line disposed on the side of said tear tab opposite said first mentioned tear line extending up from said bottom edge to said upper stretch.

Claim 21

A container neck for use with a cap having a top and a skirt depending from said top, said skirt having a restricted diameter cylindrical upper stretch formed with an internal helical first screw thread having a top end and a bottom end, said first screw thread having said bottom end formed as a ramp of reduced thickness, an enlarged diameter stretch below said upper stretch and an internal locking bead below said enlarged diameter stretch, said neck comprising a lip, a cylindrical portion below said lip formed with an external helical second screw thread positioned to mate with said first screw thread, said second thread formed with a top end and a bottom end and a crown bead below said cylindrical portion positioned to engage over said internal locking bead, and at least one barrier extending upward between said lower and upper ends of said second screw thread, said at least one barrier being horizontally aligned with said ramp, whereby turning said cap relative to said neck in an unwinding direction causes said cap skin to expand outward and said first screw thread to disengage from said second screw thread.

Claim 22

A container neck for use with a cap having a top and a skirt depending from said top, said skirt having a restricted diameter cylindrical upper stretch formed with an internal helical first screw thread having a top end and a bottom end, said first screw thread having said bottom end formed as a ramp of reduced thickness, an enlarged diameter stretch below said upper stretch and an internal locking bead below said enlarged diameter stretch, said neck comprising a lip, a cylindrical portion below said lip formed with an external helical second screw thread positioned to mate with said first screw thread, said second thread formed with a top end and a bottom end and a crown bead below said cylindrical portion positioned to engage over said internal locking bead, and at least one barrier extending upward between said lower and upper ends of said second screw thread, said at least one barrier being horizontally aligned with said ramp, whereby turning said cap relative to said neck in an unwinding direction causes said cap skin to expand outward and said first screw thread to disengage from said second screw thread.

Claim 23

A neck according to claim 18 for use with a neck having first orientation means, said neck further comprising second orientation means cooperable with said first orientation means whereby when said cap is pushed axially downward on said neck said first screw thread and said second screw thread are inter-engaged.

Claim 24

A cap for use with a container neck having a lip, a cylindrical portion below said lip formed with an external first screw thread and a crown bead below said cylindrical portion, said first screw thread having an end formed as a ramp of reduced thickness, said cap comprising a top and a skirt depending from said top, said skirt having a restricted diameter cylindrical upper stretch formed with an internal second screw thread shaped and positioned to mate with said first screw thread, an enlarged diameter stretch below said upper stretch for engaging said crown bead and an internal locking bead for engaging the underside of said crown bead, and at least one barrier extending downward from said second screw thread, said at least one barrier being horizontally aligned with said ramp when said cap is installed on said neck, whereby turning said cap relative to said neck in an unwinding direction causes said cap skirt to expand outward and said second screw thread to disengage from said first screw thread, said skirt extending below said enlarged diameter stretch to a bottom edge, a tear tab extending below said bottom edge and a tear line formed in said skirt adjacent said tear tab extending up from said bottom edge to said upper stretch, said tear line being substantially vertically disposed and which further comprises a second tear line approximately parallel to said first-mentioned tear line disposed on the side of said tear tab opposite said first mentioned tear line extending up from said bottom edge to said upper stretch.

Claim 25

A cap for use with a container neck having a lip, a cylindrical portion below said lip formed with an external first screw thread and a crown bead below said cylindrical portion, said first screw thread having an end formed as a ramp of reduced thickness, said cap comprising a top and a skirt depending from said top, said skirt having a restricted diameter cylindrical upper stretch formed with an internal second screw thread shaped and positioned to mate with said first screw thread, an enlarged diameter stretch below said upper stretch for engaging said crown bead and an internal locking bead for engaging the underside of said crown bead, and at least one barrier extending downward from said second screw thread, said at least one barrier being horizontally aligned with said ramp when said cap is installed on said neck, whereby turning said cap relative to said neck in an unwinding direction causes said cap skirt to expand outward and said second screw thread to disengage from said first screw thread, said skirt extending below said enlarged diameter stretch to a bottom edge, a tear tab extending below said bottom edge and a tear line formed in said skirt adjacent said tear tab extending up from said bottom edge to said upper stretch, said tear line being substantially vertically disposed and which further comprises a second tear line approximately parallel to said first-mentioned tear line disposed on the side of said tear tab opposite said first mentioned tear line extending up from said bottom edge to said upper stretch.

Claim 26

A cap according to claim 20 which further comprises a plurality of angularly spaced apart guide ribs extending downward from said internal locking bead, said guide ribs being triangular in vertical cross-section.

Claim 27

A cap for use with a container neck having a lip, a cylindrical portion below said lip formed with an external first screw thread and a crown bead below said cylindrical portion, said cap comprising a top and a skirt depending from said top, said skirt having a restricted diameter cylindrical upper stretch formed with an internal second screw thread shaped and positioned to mate with said first screw thread, an enlarged diameter stretch below said upper stretch for engaging said crown bead and an internal locking bead for engaging the underside of said crown bead, said skirt extending below said enlarged diameter stretch to a bottom edge, a tear tab extending below said bottom edge and a tear line formed in said skirt adjacent said tear tab extending up from said bottom edge to said upper stretch, said tear line being substantially vertically disposed and which further comprises a second tear line approximately parallel to said first-mentioned tear line disposed on the side of said tear tab opposite said first mentioned tear line extending up from said bottom edge to said upper stretch.

Claim 28

A cap for use with a container neck having a lip, a cylindrical portion below said lip formed with an external first screw thread and a crown bead below said cylindrical portion, said cap comprising a top and a skirt depending from said top, said skirt having a restricted diameter cylindrical upper stretch formed with an internal second screw thread shaped and positioned to mate with said first screw thread, an enlarged diameter stretch below said upper stretch for engaging said crown bead and an internal locking bead for engaging the underside of said crown bead, said skirt extending below said enlarged diameter stretch to a bottom edge, a tear tab extending below said bottom edge and a tear line formed in said skirt adjacent said tear tab extending up from said bottom edge to said upper stretch, said tear line being substantially vertically disposed and which further comprises a second tear line approximately parallel to said first-mentioned tear line disposed on the side of said tear tab opposite said first mentioned tear line extending up from said bottom edge to said upper stretch.