Container With Affixable Head

This application claims priority, as a non-provisional of provisional of U.S. provisional application 63/639,052, filed Apr. 26, 2024. The entire disclosure of the parent application is incorporated herein by reference.

This application related to containers with affixable top portions for dispensing materials contained within.

Disclosed herein, there may be a container, comprising: a main portion and an upper portion, the upper portion including an opening, with an outside surface of the opening including a circumferential flange and at least one alignment tab; a head, with a receiving portion, a skirt, a lip on an inside surface of the skirt; and the head being removably affixable to the container, such that the lip of the skirt engages with the circumferential flange to seal the receiving portion into the opening, securely attaching the head to the container.

There may be an embodiment in which the skirt is comprised of more than one segment around its circumference. Further, the skirt may be comprised of four segments, the upper portion with two alignment tabs positioned diametrically opposite from one another, and in which two alignment tabs engage with diametrically opposite open sections between the skirt segments. Further, there may be at least one rib located between an outside surface of each skirt segment and an inside surface of a lower side wall. Further, at least one rib may stiffen each skirt segment and increase the force required for the lip to disengage with the circumferential flange.

There may be an embodiment in which a seal is secured over the opening; and/or in which the upper portion and the head are circular in cross-section; and/or in which a ball is rotatably mounted in and retained in the head; and/or in which the upper portion is smaller in diameter than that of the main portion; and/or in which two alignment tabs engage with the open sections between segments of the skirt to align the head with the upper portion; and/or in which the container and the head are manufactured from different materials.

There may be an embodiment which has a main portion and an upper portion, the upper portion including an opening, with an outside surface of the opening including a circumferential flange and at least one alignment tab; a head, with a receiving portion, a skirt, a lip on an inside surface of the skirt; the head being removably affixable to the container, such that the lip of the skirt engages with the circumferential flange to seal the receiving portion into the opening, securely attaching the head to the container; a ball rotatably mounted in and retained in the head; an outer wall of the head having a first portion and a second portion, the first portion of the outer wall having threads formed thereon, the second portion of the outer wall having a locking mechanism thereon; and a cap, the cap having a cap side wall and a cap top wall, the cap side wall having a cap wall upper portion, a cap wall lower portion, first and second screw threads formed on the cap wall upper portion, each of the screw threads extending for approximately half of a circumference of the upper portion of the upper outer wall, a locking member formed on the cap wall lower portion, a protrusion formed on an inner surface of the cap top wall, the protrusion engaging the ball when the cap is tightened on the container.

There may be an embodiment in which wherein the locking mechanism comprises a stop formed on the lower portion of the outer wall, and the locking member on the cap wall lower portion comprises a rib arranged to abut the stop when the cover is screwed on the container, the rib extending along the cap wall lower portion, the rib having a tapering height with a smallest height proximate a bottom of the cap wall lower portion.

There may be an embodiment in which the locking mechanism on the lower portion of the outer wall has a first wall extending outwardly from the lower portion of the outer wall and a second wall extending from a free end of the first wall to merge with the lower portion of the outer wall, the second wall thereby forming a ramp to permit the locking member formed on the lower portion of the cap side wall to ride therealong prior to engaging with the locking member on the lower portion of the outer wall.

There may be an embodiment in which wherein the cap side wall has a stepped configuration; and/or wherein the protrusion formed on the inner surface of the cap wall has a circular configuration; and/or wherein the screw threads formed on the upper portion of the outer wall have a double start; and/or wherein there are provided two screw threads, each of the screw threads extending approximately half of the circumference of the upper portion of the outer wall; and/or wherein the cap side wall and the top wall include indicators showing how to remove the cap; and/or wherein the cap side wall includes interior ribs.

The specific embodiments given in the drawings and following description do not limit the disclosure. On the contrary, they provide the foundation for one of ordinary skill to discern the alternative forms, equivalents, and modifications that are contemplated by the inventors and encompassed in the claim scope. The disclosed is best understood in the context of the larger environments in which they operate.

Referring to the drawings in greater detail and by reference characters thereto, there is illustrated a container with a affixable head which is generally designated by reference numeral. Container with a affixable headincludes a top generally designated by reference numeral, a main body generally designated by reference numeraland an applicator roller or ball generally designated by reference numeral.

Top or caphas, as may be seen in the drawings, a lower side walland an upper side wall. Capalso includes a top wall.

Intermediate upper side walland lower side wallis a stepped portion generally designated by reference numeral. A further stepped portionextends between top walland upper side walland includes a plurality of vertical wall segmentsand a plurality of horizontal wall segmentswhich form the step pattern. Formed on the under side of top wallis a protrusionwhich has an annular ring configuration for reasons which will become apparent herein below.

Main bodyis defined largely by a cylindrical side walland a bottom wall or base. At its upper end, main bodyhas a neck portion generally designated by reference numeral. Neck portionincludes an upper side walland a lower side wall.

Upper side wallhas first and second threads,formed on an exteriorly facing surface thereof. Each thread,extends approximately half of the circumference of upper side wall. Upper side wallmerges with an inwardly tapering wallwhich in turn meets an intermediate vertical wall segment.

Situated below intermediate vertical wall segmentis an outwardly tapering wallwhich meets lower vertical side wall. A pair of locking membersand′ are formed on the exterior surface of lower side wall. As will be seen, locking memberhas a first wallwhich extends outwardly from lower side wall. First wallmay be substantially perpendicular or form an acute angle with lower side wall. Second wallextends from the end of first walland merges with lower side wall. Second wallthus forms a ramp for a further locking member (to be discussed herein below) to slide along. A top wallis angled downwardly from lower side wall. This helps to create a clearance of a further locking member when opening the top.

Interiorly of neck portion, there is provided a circular valve seatwhich is designed to receive roller or ball. A lipextends about the mouth of neck portion. In the manufacture, roller or ballis inserted through the opening and is retained in position by lip. The insertion of rollermay be accomplished with the rollerbeing of a harder material such as polypropylene than the containerwhich may be formed of a polyethylene material.

Referring back to the top, it will be seen that the interior is provided with a pair of locking members,′. Locking memberhas an acute angled wall; locking members,′ are designed to engage with locking members,′. As seen in, locking membermay extend the complete length of lower side walland also may have a tapering height with the greatest height being adjacent upper side walland the smallest height being at the end of lower side wall. The tapered profile of locking membersand′ may be thinnest at portion, and thickest at point. This may serve to create a desired height at the interior surface of topfor the desired engagement with locking members,′ near point, while the thicker portion nearmay add stiffness and structure to the locking member and/or top. A plurality of reinforcing ribsmay be provided on the interior of lower side wall. Threads,are designed to engage with threads,.

It will be seen that both side walland upper side wallmay be provided with a knurled surface. Lower side wallcontains a pair of indiciaindicating where to push on the wall to disengage the locking members,′. A further indiciamay be provided on the top wallalso indicating the action to be taken to remove the top.

The rollerand neckare dimensioned so as to provide a small gap between rollerand valve seatto permit application of the material within body. During transport, inner ringwill force rollerinto a tight seal with valve seat. The locking action of the cap with the neck of the container will prevent accidental loosening of the same.

Referring to, there is illustrated aan embodiment of the cap which may be utilized in the present disclosure and which cap is generally designated by reference numeral. Caphas a side wall which is comprised of a lower side walland an upper side wall. Lower side wallmay transition into upper side wallby means of a ledge or horizontal side wall.

On its outer surface, lower side wallmay be provided with a knurled surfacewhich has a knurled free portion. A plurality of ribsare formed on the exterior of upper side wall. Each ribhas a lower side walland an upper tapered portion. A top wallof caphas a rounded upper side portionon which tapered portionis located. Interiorly of the cap, there is a lower side wall inner surfaceand an upper side wall inner surface. Interconnecting the inner surfacesandis an interior surfaceof horizontal side wall.

As may be seen in, wedgesare formed where lower side wall inner surfacemeets with the interior of horizontal side wall. Top wall inner surfaceincludes an annular protrusionto seat on the roller and ensure that the same will seal in a leak proof manner with the valve. Reinforcing ribsextend along the interior surface.

The arrangement of having ribs extending up in conjunction with the upper tapered portionprovides a cap which may be manufactured relatively inexpensively due to less material being required. At the same time, the cap is sufficiently strong to maintain a downward pressure by annular protrusionto seat on the roller. Since containers may be put in situations where reduced air pressure is present, such as when flying, a leak proof seal may be advantageous.

show an embodiment in which previously described neck portionis comprised of a head, which is formed as a separate piece from previously described main body. In this configuration, most all components previously described as part of neck portionmay be configured into head. While roller ballis included as a reference number in this embodiment, other elements previously described which allow neck portionto mate with capare shown, but reference numerals are omitted for brevity.

Headis removably installable on to an upper portionof container, also referred to as the main portion ofUpper portionincludes an opening, which may be smaller in diameter than that of the diameter of the main chamber of container. Alignment tabsandare located at approximately opposing positions on upper portion. Flangeis circumferential around opening, abutting into alignment tabsandas shown.

Headincludes components that allow it to be removably installable to upper portion. Collarmay include locking members,′ as in other embodiments. As shown in, there may be a skirt, shown here in four segmentsThe slots created by the space between each segment are shown as slots. The inner side of skirtmay include a circumferential lip; herein each skirt segment includes its own portion of such a lip. The segmented configuration of skirtcreates flexibility to allow the skirt segments to flex outward. One or more ribsmay be present on the outer side of skirt, abutting an inner portion ofcollaras shown, on an inside surface of the lower side wall of collar. Ribsmay serve to stiffen each skirt segment and increases the force required for the lipto disengage with the circumferential flange.

While the drawings show a configuration with skirtin four segments, configurations with greater or fewer than four segments may be used in conjunction with a corresponding appropriate quantity of alignment tabs, such asandHerein, the skirt segments, as well as the corresponding open sections are created between each segment, may be diametrically opposite one another.

Removably installing headon to containerinvolves placing the two pieces together, by first positioning alignment tabsandinto slots. Headis then pressed against container, wherein skirtflexes outward, with lipmoving over flange, thereby securely snapping headinto place on container, and engaging the components togetherA receiving portionof headis configured to align with opening, creating a sealed joint. Headmay be removable from containerby applying appropriate force to separate the two parts, with skirtflexing around lip, in a reversal of installation. Thus, headis affixable to container, and in one embodiment is removable.

If desired, a removable seal (such as a foil, plastic membrane, or other suitable material) may be placed over opening. This prohibits the contents of the container from being dispensed through the roller balluntil the head is removed from the container, and the seal removed or punctured. This may be advantageous for child-proof and tamper-evident considerations.

There are advantages to such a configuration of a head that is a separate piece from a container. This allows each piece to be manufactured from separate types of materials. For example, a head unit could be molded from high-density polyethylene, allowing it to strip off the core rods in the molding process. Different materials may be used for a main container portion, such as but not limited to clear PET, polypropylene, acrylics, styrene and others appropriate materials available now or in the future. A configuration in which the bottle is made from the same material as the head (particularly a head with a roll-on applicator) may not allow certain types of liquids to be used, thus a two-material provides advantages. Alternately, the removable head and the container can be molded from the same material.

Numerous alternative forms, equivalents, and modifications will become apparent to those skilled in the art once the above disclosure is fully appreciated. The invention is not limited to the described embodiments. It is intended that the claims be interpreted to embrace all such alternative forms, equivalents, and modifications where applicable.