Container with interference projection

Abstract

A closure and container combination having an anti-splash up element is provided. The container includes an annular projection about the neck of the container at a point below the closure-engagements and within the closure skirt, when the closure is engaged. The placement of the annular projection stops the splashing up of liquid and solid adulterating materials from reaching the mouth of the container and either the liner on the mouth of the container or the actual product within the container. The annular projection of the present invention protects the product from splash up occurring after container capping, during hot fill cooling and washing, during transportation and storage and while in use by the consumer.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A container and closure combination for preventing adulterating materials from contaminating said container within said closure, comprising: 
 a container, with a neck portion, having an opening;    a closure having a top and an annular skirt depending from said top, said annular skirt defining an inner wall;    said neck portion, having at least one closure engagement for cooperation with one or more complimentary container engagements of said closure;    an annular projection extending outwardly from said neck portion below said closure engagement of said neck portion, said projection extending proximate to said inner wall of said annular skirt when said closure is engaged on said container, such that adulterating material is prevented from contaminating said container neck portion and said opening.    
     
     
         2 . The container and closure combination of  claim 1 , wherein said projection prevents adulterating material from rising onto said container neck portion and to said opening.  
     
     
         3 . The container and closure combination of  claim 1 , wherein said opening of said container is sealed with a liner and said annular projection prevents contamination of said liner.  
     
     
         4 . The container and closure combination of  claim 1 , wherein said projection is an annular flexible thin web fin.  
     
     
         5 . The container and closure combination of  claim 1 , wherein when said closure is engaged on said container said projection extends to said inner wall of said annular skirt.  
     
     
         6 . The container and closure combination of  claim 1 , wherein said annular projection has a greater diameter that the diameter of said inner wall such that said annular projection is bent by said inner wall of said closure when said closure is engaged on said container, forming a seal between said container and closure.  
     
     
         7 . The container and closure combination of  claim 1 , wherein said container and projection are molded from the same material  
     
     
         8 . The container and closure combination of  claim 1 , wherein said container engagements and said closure engagements are complimentary threads formed on said closure and neck  
     
     
         9 . The container and closure combination of  claim 1 , wherein said annular projection extends from said neck portion of said container to proximate to said inner wall of said closure, when said container and closure are engaged, and said annular projection defines at least one gap extending between said container neck portion and proximate said inner wall of said closure along said annular projection such that adulterating materials may rise said neck portion, but generally not onto said opening, and subsequently may fall back down through said gap.  
     
     
         10 . The container and closure combination of  claim 9 , wherein said gap allows air circulation on said neck portion within said closure.  
     
     
         11 . The container and closure combination of  claim 1 , wherein said annular projection extends from said neck portion of said container to proximate to said inner wall of said closure, when said container and closure are engaged, and said annular projection defines a plurality of gaps extending between said container neck portion and proximate said inner wall of said closure along said annular projection such that adulterating materials may rise onto said neck portion, but generally not onto said opening, and subsequently may fall back down through said gaps.  
     
     
         12 . The container and closure combination of  claim 11 , wherein said gaps allows air circulation on said neck portion within said closure.  
     
     
         13 . A container and closure combination for preventing adulterating materials from contaminating said container within said closure, comprising: 
 a container with a neck portion having an opening;    a closure having a top and an annular skirt depending from said top, said annular skirt defining an inner wall;    said neck portion and closure each defining complimentary engagement threads;    an annular flexible thin web fin extending outwardly from said neck portion below said closure engagement threads of said neck portion, said flexible thin web fin being in engagement with said inner wall of said annular skirt, when said closure is engaged on said container, such that adulterating material is prevented from contaminating said neck portion and said opening.    
     
     
         14 . The container and closure combination of  claim 13 , wherein said annular flexible thin web has a greater diameter than the diameter of said inner wall such that said annular flexible thin web is bent by said inner wall of said closure when said closure is engaged on said container, forming a seal between said container and closure.  
     
     
         15 . The container and closure combination of  claim 13 , wherein said thin web fin prevents adulterating material from rising onto said container neck portion and to said opening.  
     
     
         16 . The container and closure combination of  claim 13 , wherein said opening of said container is sealed with a liner and said thin web fin prevents contamination of said liner.  
     
     
         17 . The container and closure combination of  claim 13 , wherein said container is produced by injection molding and said annular thin web fin is molded integrally with said container.  
     
     
         18 . A container and closure combination for preventing adulterating materials from contaminating said container within said closure, comprising: 
 a container, with a neck portion, having an opening;    a closure having a top and an annular skirt depending from said top, said annular skirt defining an inner wall and an outer wall and an inwardly projecting annular section on said inner wall of said annular skirt;    said neck portion, having at least one closure engagement for cooperation with one or more complimentary container engagements of said closure;    an annular projection, extending outwardly from said neck portion below said closure engagement of said neck portion, to engage said inwardly projecting annular section of said skirt, when said closure is engaged with said container.    
     
     
         19 . The container and closure combination of  claim 18 , wherein said outward annular projection is constructed of pliant material so as to aid in the placement and subsequent removal of said closure from said container.  
     
     
         20 . The container and closure combination of  claim 18 , wherein said outward annular projection is constructed with a thin cross-section of material so as to aid in the placement and subsequent removal of said closure from said container.  
     
     
         21 . The container and closure combination of  claim 18 , wherein said outward annular projection is constructed between two generally parallel inward annular projections, on said neck portion, such that said outward annular projection bends upon the placement and subsequent removal of said closure from said container.  
     
     
         22 . The container and closure combination of  claim 18 , wherein a flexible second outward projection extends from said outward annular projection so as to aid in the placement and subsequent removal of said closure from said container.  
     
     
         23 . A container and closure combination for preventing adulterating materials from rising onto said container within said closure, comprising: 
 a container, with a neck portion, having an opening;    a closure having a top and an annular skirt depending from said top, said annular skirt defining an inner wall and a terminal end, said terminal end defining an inwardly projecting annular lip;    said neck portion, having at least one closure engagement for cooperation with one or more complimentary container engagements of said closure;    an annular projection extending outwardly from said neck portion below said closure engagement of said neck portion and extending to said inner wall above said annular lip of said skirt, when said closure is engaged with said container.