Closure for thin-walled containers having a multi-lead threaded neck

1 - 9 . (Cancelled).

10 . In combination, a thin walled, flexible container and a closure for sealing an open mouth of said container;

said container being a blow molded thin walled and flexible bottle said container including a cylindrical neck having a multi-lead thread construction on an outer surface thereof, said neck being flexible, said multi-lead construction of said neck including at least two separate threads, the end portions of which are in axially-spaced, overlapping relation to each other, said neck also including a generally flat annular sealing surface, said generally flat annular sealing surface of the neck being flexible and having an inner edge that extends into an inner-cylindrical rim that defines a generally circular container mouth;

said closure including a substantially cylindrical cap shell having an end panel that extends into a downwardly depending cylindrical side wall forming a skirt portion thereof, said cylindrical side wall having an inner surface which includes a multi-lead construction sized and positioned to mate with the multi-lead thread construction of said container neck, said multi-lead thread construction of said end cap including at least two separate threads having end portions which are in axially-spaced, overlapping relation to each other; and,

a generally cylindrical gasket adhered to said end panel, said gasket including a generally flat annular surface that cooperates with the generally flat sealing surface of said container neck to form a seal therewith when said closure is applied to said container, said generally flat annular surface of said gasket extending into an inwardly and downwardly inclined surface sized and positioned to engage the inner edge of the container rim to provide support to said container rim for resisting mouth-distorting forces produced by the mating engagement of the respective overlapping portions of said multi-lead thread constructions on said cap shell and container neck during application of said closure to said container.

11 . The combination of claim 10 wherein said container is a blow molded bottle.

12 . The combination of claim 10 wherein said container comprises a polyolefin.

13 . The combination of claim 10 wherein said container comprises polypropylene.

14 . The combination of claim 10 wherein said container comprises high density polyethylene.

15 . The combination of claim 10 wherein said container comprises polyethylene terephthalate.

16 . The combination of claim 10 wherein the overlapping end portions of said multi-lead thread construction on the outer surface of the container neck are oppositely disposed from each other along the circumference thereof.

17 . The combination of claim 10 wherein the overlapping end portions of said multi-lead thread construction on said cap shell are oppositely disposed from each other along the circumference of said cylindrical side wall.

18 . The combination of claim 10 wherein said gasket comprises a thermoplastic elastomer.

19 . The combination of claim 10 wherein said thermoplastic elastomer is a styrene/ethylene/butylene/styrene block copolymer.

20 . In combination, a thin walled, blow molded bottle and a closure for sealing an open mouth of said bottle;

said bottle being blow molded, thin walled and flexible, said bottle including a cylindrical neck having a multi-lead thread construction on an outer surface thereof, said neck being flexible, said multi-lead construction of said neck including at least two separate threads, the end portions of which are in axially spaced, oppositely disposed, overlapping relation to each other, said neck also including a generally flat annular sealing surface, said generally flat annular sealing surface of the neck being flexible and having an inner edge that extends into an inner-cylandrical rim that defines a generally circular container mouth;

said closure including a substantially cylindrical cap shell having an end panel that extends into a downwardly depending cylindrical side wall forming a skirt portion thereof, said cylindrical side wall having an inner surface which includes a multi-lead construction sized and positioned to mate with the multi-lead thread construction of said container neck, said multi-lead thread construction of said end cap including at least two separate threads having end portions which are in axially spaced, oppositely disposed, overlapping relation to each other; and,

a generally cylindrical gasket adhered to said end panel, said gasket including a thermoplastic elastomer and having a generally flat annular surface that cooperates with the generally flat sealing surface of said container neck to form a seal therewith when said closure is applied to said container, said generally flat annular surface of said gasket extending into an inwardly and downwardly inclined surface sized and positioned to engage the inner edge of the container rim to provide support to said container rim for resisting mouth distorting forces produced by the mating engagement of the respective overlapping portions of said multi-lead thread constructions on said cap shell and container neck during application of said closure to said container.

21 . The combination of claim 20 wherein said container comprises high density polyethylene.

22 . The combination of claim 20 wherein said thermoplastic elastomer is a styrene/ethylene/butylene/styrene block copolymer.