AU735306B2

AU735306B2 - Threaded device to be applied on unthreaded bottle's neck

Info

Publication number: AU735306B2
Application number: AU55722/98A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Rino Rubini
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1997-02-18
Filing date: 1998-01-17
Publication date: 2001-07-05
Anticipated expiration: 2018-01-17
Also published as: WO1998036984A1; EP1009675A1; AU5572298A; CA2281796A1

Description

1 THREADED DEVICE TO BE APPLIED ON UNTHREADED BOTTLES' NECKS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a threaded device to be applied to the unthreaded neck of a bottle.

It is known that it is difficult to hermetically re-close bottles with unthreaded necks once the initial closure has been opened.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a threaded device for application, in use, to an unthreaded bottle neck, the threaded device including a generally cylindrical ring having a through bore for fitting around the unthreaded neck of the bottle, an upper end, a lower end, and an outer surface, the outer surface of the ring having an external thread extending at least partially between the upper end and the lower end of the ring, having a longitudinal opening extending between the upper end and the lower end, the opening being of predetermined angular width to allow the ring to be applied laterally over the neck of the bottle.

0.g i According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a bottle closure assembly including a bottle having an unthreaded neck of predetermined "25 outer diameter, the neck having an open upper end and an annular collar of enlarged diameter adjacent the open upper end; a ring having a longitudinal opening of predetermined angular width for allowing said ring to be fitted laterally over the neck beneath said collar, the ring having an external thread extending along at least part of its length; and a cap for releasable engagement over said neck and ring, the cap having an internal screw thread for releasable threaded engagement with the external thread of said ring, the cap having an inner end face for sealing engagement with the open upper end of said neck when said cap is threadably secured over said ring.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a bottle closure assembly for closing an open upper end of a bottle having an unthreaded bottle neck and an annular collar about said neck, the assembly including: a generally cylindrical ring having a through bore for fitting around the unthreaded neck of the bottle, an upper end, a lower end, and an outer surface, the outer surface of the ring having an external thread extending at least partially between the upper end and the lower end of the ring, having a longitudinal opening extending between the upper end and the lower end, the opening being of predetermined angular width to allow the ring to be applied laterally over the neck of the bottle; and a cap for releasable engagement over said neck and said ring, the cap having an internal screw thread for releasable threaded engagement with the external thread of said ring, the cap having an inner end face for sealing engagement with the open upper end of said neck when said cap is threadably secured over said ring.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present invention will be better understood from the following detailed o description of an exemplary embodiment of the invention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like reference numerals refer to like parts and o in which: Figure 1 is a longitudinal section through a closure assembly including a threaded device according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the threaded ring of Figure 1; and Figure 3 is a plan view of the threaded ring.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 illustrates a closure assembly according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention for hermetically closing an unthreaded bottle neck 1. The assembly basically comprises a threaded ring or body 2 to be applied over the bottle neck, and a closure cap 8 for threaded engagement with ring 2.

The threaded ring 2 is illustrated in more detail in Figures 2 and 3, and is a generally cylindrical member having a through bore, an upper end 4, a lower end, and an external thread 3 extending from the upper end and terminating short of the lower end of the device. The device also has a longitudinal opening 9 of predetermined angular width for allowing the device to be inserted over the bottle neck from one side, as best illustrated in Figure 3. The upper and lower ends of the device are generally flat, annular surfaces with no projections. An annular rim or shoulder is provided at the lower end of the device.

0:i The bottle neck has an annular collar adjacent its open end, and the collar has a generally flat lower surface 5 which engages against the upper end 4 of the threaded device 2 when the device is installed over the neck as illustrated in Figure 1. The oi 20 closure cap 8 has an internal thread for threaded engagement with the external thread 3 of the device 2, as indicated in Figure 1, and an inner sealing surface 7 which i bears against the upper open end 6 of the bottle neck when the cap is threaded onto device 2. The flat inner sealing surface 7 of the cap is then in face-to-face sealing engagement with the matching flat end face 6 of the bottle neck, in order to ensure 4:•.6:25 hermetic closing of the bottle when the cap is firmly threaded over the device 2.

Although an exemplary embodiment of the invention has been described above by way of example only, it will be understood by those skilled in the field that modifications may be made to the disclosed embodiment without departing from the scope of the invention, which is defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A threaded device for application, in use, to an unthreaded bottle neck, the threaded device including a generally cylindrical ring having a through bore for fitting around the unthreaded neck of the bottle, an upper end, a lower end, and an outer surface, the outer surface of the ring having an external thread extending at least partially between the upper end and the lower end of the ring, having a longitudinal opening extending between the upper end and the lower end, the opening being of predetermined angular width to allow the ring to be applied laterally over the neck of the bottle.

2. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the thread extends from the upper end of the ring and terminates short of the lower end of the ring.

3. The device as claimed in claims 1 or 2, wherein the ring has a radially :b outwardly projecting annular rim at the lower end. i

4. A bottle closure assembly, including: 0. a bottle having an unthreaded neck of predetermined outer diameter, the neck having an open upper end and an annular collar of enlarged diameter adjacent the open upper end; •0 •a ring having a longitudinal opening of predetermined angular width for allowing said ring to be fitted laterally over the neck beneath said collar, the ring °•66 having an external thread extending along at least part of its length; and a cap for releasable engagement over said neck and ring, the cap having an internal screw thread for releasable threaded engagement with the external thread of said ring, the cap having an inner end face for sealing engagement with the open upper end of said neck when said cap is threadably secured over said ring.

5. The assembly as claimed in claim 4, wherein the external thread on said ring extends from the upper end along only a part of the length of the ring.

6. The assembly as claimed in claims 4 or 5, wherein the upper end of the ring has a flat end face and the annular collar on said neck has a corresponding lower flat end face, said end faces bearing against one another in face to face engagement when said cap is secured over said ring.

7. The assembly as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein the lower end of the ring comprises a flat annular end face with no downwards projections.

8. The assembly as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 7, wherein the ring has an annular, radially outwardly projecting rim at its lower end.

9. A threaded device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the ring has a flat lower end face with no downwards projections.

10. A bottle closure assembly for closing an open upper end of a bottle having an Sunthreaded bottle neck and an annular collar about said neck, the assembly including: a generally cylindrical ring having a through bore for fitting around the unthreaded neck of the bottle, an upper end, a lower end, and an outer surface, the "20 outer surface of the ring having an external thread extending at least partially 0 between the upper end and the lower end of the ring, having a longitudinal opening extending between the upper end and the lower end, the opening being of predetermined angular width to allow the ring to be applied laterally over the neck of the bottle; and a cap for releasable engagement over said neck and said ring, the cap having an internal screw thread for releasable threaded engagement with the external thread of said ring, the cap having an inner end face for sealing engagement with the open upper end of said neck when said cap is threadably secured over said ring.

11. The assembly as claimed in claim 10, wherein the upper end of the ring has a flat end face and the annular collar on said neck has a corresponding lower flat end face, said end faces bearing against one another in face to face engagement when said cap is secured over said ring.

12. The assembly as claimed in claims 10 or 11, wherein the lower end of the ring comprises a flat annular end face with no downwards projections.

13. The assembly as claimed in any one of claims 10 to 12, wherein the ring has an annular, radially outwardly projecting rim at its lower end.

14. The assembly as claimed in any one of claims 10 to 13, wherein the ring has a flat lower end face with no downwards projections.

A threaded device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to 1 the accompanying drawings.

16. A bottle closure assembly including a bottle, ring and cap substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

17. A bottle closure assembly including a ring and cap substantially as herein 20 described with reference to the accompanying drawings. DATED this 1 st day of May, 2001 RINO RUBINI 0..25 By his Patent Attorneys MADDERNS