Package with glass container and glass closure

The present disclosure relates to a closure and container package that is constructed primarily of glass.

A general object of the present disclosure is to provide a closure and container package that is constructed primarily of glass, and which is readily suited for elevated temperature applications such as hot-fill and retort applications.

The present disclosure embodies a number of aspects that can be implemented separately from or in combination with each other.

A closure and container package in accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure includes a glass container having an open mouth surrounded by an annular neck. An annular finish has at least one external attachment feature and is non-rotatably secured to the neck of the container. An annular plastic skirt has at least one internal attachment feature for removable securement to the finish, and a glass closure has a circular periphery coupled to the skirt such that the skirt removably mounts the glass closure to the glass container. The finish can be of plastic or rubber, and the skirt preferably has a radially inwardly directed flange. The circular periphery of the glass closure preferably has a peripheral edge captured between the flange and a retention feature of the skirt. The peripheral edge of the glass closure preferably is annular and planar.

A closure and container package in accordance with another aspect of the disclosure includes a glass container having an open mouth surrounded by an annular neck and an annular finish having at least one external thread segment. An annular plastic skirt has at least one internal thread segment for removable threaded securement to the finish, and a glass closure has a circular periphery coupled to the plastic skirt such that the plastic skirt removably threadably mounts the glass closure to the finish and the glass container. The plastic skirt preferably has a radially inwardly directed flange, and the circular periphery of the glass closure preferably has a peripheral edge captured between such flange and a retention feature of the skirt. The flange preferably is annular and continuous, and the peripheral edge of the closure preferably is annular and planar. The finish of the glass container preferably is a separate plastic finish non-rotatably secured to the neck of the container, and preferably has a radially inwardly directed seal flange for capture between an axially facing surface of the glass container and the circular periphery of the glass closure.

The disclosure, together with additional objects, features, advantages and aspects thereof, will best be understood from the following description, the appended claims and the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a closure and container package in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the package in FIG. 1 ; and

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along the line 3 - 3 in FIG. 1 .

The drawings illustrate a package 10 that includes a glass container 12 having a neck 14 with an external bead 16 . Bead 16 preferably is circumferentially continuous around neck 14 , which preferably is annular and continuous. Neck 14 has an axially facing sealing end surface 18 . Container 12 is illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 as ajar, but could be any type of glass container.

An annular finish 20 is non-rotatably secured to neck 14 . Finish 20 preferably is of plastic or rubber construction, having a substantially cylindrical wall 22 with at least one external attachment feature 24 and an internal bead 26 received by snap fit over bead 16 on neck 14 . Attachment feature 24 preferably is a continuous or segmented thread, but could be a snap-on or bayonet feature, for example. Bead 26 can be continuous or segmented. FIG. 2 . illustrates a four-segment external thread 24 , although any number of thread segments can be employed. Finish 20 also has a radially inwardly directed circumferentially continuous annular seal flange 28 . A circumferentially continuous seal bead 30 is disposed at a radially inward periphery of flange 28 for sealing engagement with sealing surface 18 of neck 14 , as will be described below.

An annular plastic skirt 32 has a cylindrical wall 34 with at least one internal attachment feature 36 for engagement with external attachment feature(s) 24 on finish 20 . Features 24 , 36 preferably comprise spiral thread segments. Skirt 32 also has a radially inwardly directed flange or lip 38 . A glass closure 40 has a periphery 42 , preferably planar and circular, that is captured between flange 38 and a radially inwardly directed retention feature(s) 44 carried by the skirt 32 . The retention feature(e) may include, for example, an annular bead that may be circumferentially continuous or segmented. The central portion of closure 40 can be of any suitable geometry, with a generally flat planar geometry being illustrated in the drawings. Skirt 32 has spaced external lugs 37 on wall 34 to facilitate gripping and unthreading of skirt 32 and closure 40 . The seal bead 30 is disposed for sealing engagement with the sealing surface 18 of the neck 14 and with an undersurface of the closure 40 . As shown in FIG. 3 , a transverse cross section of the seal bead 30 may be semi-circular. Accordingly, the seal bead 30 may be bulbous, and is shown in FIG. 3 in solid and hidden lines according to an uncompressed state of the seal bead 30 .

Finish 20 is made non-rotatable with respect to neck 14 of container 12 by any suitable means, such as by adhesive or interference features such as lugs and detents on any surface of the neck or finish. A segmented bead 26 could cooperate with a detent or lug on the finish to prevent rotation of finish 20 , for example. See, for example, US 2006/0278642, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Thus, the subassembly of skirt 32 and closure 40 can be readily threaded onto and unthreaded from the subassembly of finish 20 and container 12 . Container 12 and closure 40 preferably are of glass construction. Finish 20 and skirt 32 preferably are of rubber or plastic construction. Any suitable rubber or plastic can be employed, such as polypropylene, polycarbonate, polyethylene, thermoset material or composite material.

There thus has been disclosed a closure and container package that fully satisfies all of the objects and aims previously set forth. The package is eminently suitable for hot-fill applications of product at 185 F and above, and can be developed for retort applications at temperatures of 260° F. and above. The disclosure has been presented in conjunction with an exemplary embodiment, and modifications and variations have been discussed. Other modifications and variations readily will suggest themselves to persons of ordinary skill in the art in view of the foregoing discussion. The disclosure is intended to embrace all such modifications and variations as fall within the spirit and broad scope of the appended claims.