IP Library Granted Patent US 7,007,816
Granted Patent B2
US 7,007,816 · App. 10/306,766 · Granted Mar 7, 2006

Cap with angled upper skirt

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,007,816
App. No.
10/306,766
Granted
Mar 7, 2006
Kind
B2
Abstract

A bottle cap ( 10 ) having a top ( 12 ) and a downwardly depending skirt ( 14 ). Skirt ( 14 ) includes an angled upper portion ( 20 ) and a generally cylindrical lower portion ( 22 ) with an exterior bead ( 24 ) thereon. Angled upper skirt portion ( 20 ) extends from a perimeter bead ( 23 ) down to a locking bead ( 34 ), which allows upper skirt ( 20 ) to transfer an application force from perimeter bead ( 23 ) radially to locking bead ( 34 ) in order to push the locking bead down around the upper crown ( 42 ) of a bottle neck ( 40 ). A method of applying the bottle cap is also disclosed.

Claims (38)

1. A closure for a container of the type having a rounded neck with an upper crown defining a neck opening, comprising:

a top for closing off the neck opening;

a skirt depending from the top for covering upper side portions of the neck;

a locking bead extending inwardly from and interior side of the skirt at a location spaced from the top, the locking bead adapted to mount underneath the upper crown upon full mounting of the closure on the neck; and

a cylindrical lower portion of the skirt extending below the locking bead;

wherein the upper portion of the skirt from the locking bead to the top is angled inwardly, to direct at least a portion of the application force radially outwardly to assist the locking bead in clearing the upper crown, and

wherein the skirt includes a pair of tear lines that extend up into the upper portion of the skirt, and

wherein the closure includes a non-spill central opening and a removable plug.

2. A closure for a container of the type having a rounded neck with an upper crown defining a neck opening, comprising:

a top for closing off the neck opening;

a skirt depending from the top for covering upper side portions of the neck;

a locking bead extending inwardly from and interior side of the skirt at a location spaced from the top, the locking bead adapted to mount underneath the upper crown upon full mounting of the closure on the neck; and

a cylindrical lower portion of the skirt extending below the locking bead;

wherein the upper portion of the skirt from the locking bead to the top is angled inwardly, to direct at least a portion of the application force radially outwardly to assist the locking bead in clearing the upper crown, and

wherein the skirt includes a pair of tear lines that extend up into the upper portion of the skirt, and

wherein the closure includes a non-spill central well having an opening formed by an inner skirt depending from the top, a bottom closing the opening, and a score line positioned on the bottom.

3. The closure of claim 2 , wherein the bottom includes a frustoconical upper portion and a lower portion, wherein the score line extends along the lower portion.

4. The closure of claim 3 , wherein the bottom is concave, wherein the score line extends across the concave lower bottom portion.

5. The closure of claim 3 , wherein the bottom includes a frustoconical upper portion and a lower portion, wherein the score line extends across the lower portion.

6. The closure of claim 5 , wherein the score line extends down the frustoconical upper portion and across the lower portion.

7. A closure for a container of the type having a rounded neck with an upper crown defining a neck opening, comprising:

a top for closing off the neck opening, said top having an applicator contact surface extending around a periphery of the top;

an angled upper skirt depending from the top below the applicator contact surface;

a cylindrical lower skirt depending from a bottom portion of the angled upper skirt;

a locking bead extending inwardly from the intersection of the angled upper skirt and the cylindrical lower skirt, the locking bead adapted to mount underneath the upper crown upon full mounting of the closure on the neck; and

wherein the angled upper skirt forms a substantially straight and uninterrupted path of material between said applicator contact surface and at least a portion of the locking bead, and

wherein the closure includes a non-spill central opening and a removable plug.

8. A closure for a container of the type having a rounded neck with an upper crown defining a neck opening, comprising:

a top for closing off the neck opening, said top having an applicator contact surface extending around a periphery of the top;

an angled upper skirt depending from the top below the applicator contact surface;

a cylindrical lower skirt depending from a bottom portion of the angled upper skirt;

a locking bead extending inwardly from the intersection of the angled upper skirt and the cylindrical lower skirt, the locking bead adapted to mount underneath the upper crown upon full mounting of the closure on the neck; and

wherein the angled upper skirt forms a substantially straight and uninterrupted path of material between said applicator contact surface and at least a portion of the locking bead, and

wherein the closure includes a non-spill central well having an opening formed by an inner skirt depending from the top, a bottom closing the opening, and a score line positioned on the bottom.

9. The closure of claim 8 , wherein the bottom includes a frustoconical upper portion and a lower portion, wherein the score line extends along the lower portion.

10. The closure of claim 9 , wherein the bottom is concave, wherein the score line extends across the concave lower bottom portion.

11. The closure of claim 9 , wherein the bottom includes a frustoconical upper portion and a lower portion, wherein the score line extends across the lower portion.

12. The closure of claim 11 , wherein the score line extends down the frustoconical upper portion and across the lower portion.

Assignments (11)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 14, 2013
From: WAYZATA INVESTMENT PARTNERS LLC, AS AGENT
To: PORTOLA PACKAGING, INC.
Reel/Frame 031637/0520 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 29, 2013
From: GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL CORPORATION, AS U.S. AGENT AND CANADIAN AGENT
To: PORTOLA PACKAGING, INC.
Reel/Frame 031510/0065 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 6, 2010
From: WELLS FARGO CAPITAL FINANCE, LLC, AS AGENT, (F/K/A WELLS FARGO FOOTHILL, LLC, AS AGENT)
To: PORTOLA PACKAGING, INC.
Reel/Frame 024933/0821 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 2, 2010
From: PORTOLA PACKAGING, INC.
To: GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL CORPORATION, AS US AGENT AND CANADIAN AGENT
Reel/Frame 024933/0037 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Dec 12, 2008
From: PORTOLA ALLIED TOOL, INC.
To: WAYZATA INVESTMENT PARTNERS, LLC (AGENT FOR THE SUBORDINATED CREDITORS)
Reel/Frame 021965/0621 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Dec 2, 2008
From: PORTOLA PACKAGING, INC.
To: WELLS FARGO FOOTHILL, LLC, AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 021912/0088 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 26, 2008
From: WAYZATA INVESTMENT PARTNERS LLC
To: PORTOLA PACKAGING, INC.
Reel/Frame 021890/0715 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 26, 2008
From: GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL CORPORATION, AS AGENT
To: PORTOLA PACKAGING, INC.
Reel/Frame 021890/0580 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 20, 2008
From: PORTOLA PACKAGING, INC.
To: WAYZATA INVESTMENT PARTNERS LLC
Reel/Frame 020963/0731 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 11, 2008
From: PORTOLA PACKAGING, INC.
To: GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL CORPORATION, AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 020783/0630 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 22, 2003
From: VERDERBER, RUDOLPH R.
To: PORTOLA PACKAGING, INC.
Reel/Frame 013987/0918 →