Bottle cap having liner retainer

Abstract

A closure including a cap and a liner. The bottle cap includes a top, a skirt and a liner retaining protrusion. The top has a perimeter and an inside surface. The skirt depends downwardly from the perimeter. The liner retaining protrusion depends downwardly from the inside surface of the top and is adapted to prevent shifting of the liner with respect to the cap. the top, skirt and liner retaining protrusion may be monolithically formed. The liner retaining protrusion may be conical. The liner retaining protrusion may be spike-shaped. Alternatively, the liner retaining protrusion may include a cylindrical wall which depends downwardly from the inside surface of the top. The liner retaining protrusion may include an outwardly extending bead extending from a lower portion of the cylindrical wall. The liner retaining protrusion extends into the liner to retain the liner and prevent the liner from axially shifting with respect to the cap. The liner retaining protrusion may extend into and through the liner. Alternatively, the liner retaining protrusion may extend through the liner such that an intermediate portion extends axially through the liner and an end portion extends below the liner, the end portion extending at an angle with respect to the intermediate portion.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A bottle cap comprising: 
 a top having a perimeter and an inside surface;    a skirt depending downward from said perimeter; and    a liner retaining protrusion depending downwardly from said inside surface of said top adapted to prevent shifting of a liner with respect to said cap.    
     
     
         2 . A cap according to  claim 1  wherein said top, skirt and liner retaining protrusion are monolithically formed.  
     
     
         3 . A cap according to  claim 1  wherein said liner retaining protrusion is conical.  
     
     
         4 . A cap according to  claim 1  wherein said liner retaining protrusion has a height of approximately 0.125 to 0.25 inches.  
     
     
         5 . A cap according to  claim 1  wherein said cap comprises two or more liner retaining protrusions.  
     
     
         6 . A cap according to  claim 1  wherein said liner retaining protrusion is spike-shaped.  
     
     
         7 . A cap according to  claim 1  wherein said liner retaining protrusion comprises a cylindrical wall depending downwardly from said inside surface of said top.  
     
     
         8 . A cap according to  claim 1  wherein said liner retaining protrusion further comprises an outwardly extending bead extending from a lower portion of said cylindrical wall.  
     
     
         9 . A cap according to  claim 1  wherein said skirt includes a bottom edge, said cap further comprising: 
 a locking bead radially extending inward from an interior of said skirt intermediate said top and said bottom edge;  
 a tear tab extending downward from said bottom edge; and  
 a first line of weakness proximate said tear tab and extending upward along said skirt from said bottom edge and through said locking bead.  
 
     
     
         10 . A cap according to  claim 1  further comprising a sealing bead radially extending inward from an interior surface of said skirt approximately midway between said top and said locking bead.  
     
     
         11 . A cap according to  claim 1  wherein said skirt includes a bottom edge, said cap further comprising: 
 gripping structure for facilitating gripping of said tear tab portion by a user as the tear tab portion is torn away from said skirt, said ribbing located on said tear tab portion intermediate said bottom edge and said top.  
 
     
     
         12 . A closure comprising: 
 a cap including a top having a perimeter and an inside surface, a skirt depending downward from said perimeter, and a liner retaining protrusion depending downwardly from said inside surface of said top; and    a liner adjacent said inside surface of said cap within said skirt;    wherein said liner retaining protrusion extends into said liner to retain said liner and prevent said liner from axially shifting with respect to said cap.    
     
     
         13 . A closure according to  claim 12  wherein said liner retaining protrusion extends into and through said liner.  
     
     
         14 . A closure according to  claim 13  wherein said liner retaining protrusion extends through said liner such that an intermediate portion extends axially through said liner and an end portion extends below said liner, said end portion extending at an angle with respect to said intermediate portion.  
     
     
         15 . A closure according to  claim 12  wherein said skirt includes a bottom edge, said closure further comprising: 
 a locking bead radially extending inward from an interior of said skirt intermediate said top and said bottom edge;  
 a tear tab extending downward from said bottom edge; and  
 a first line of weakness proximate said tear tab and extending upward along said skirt from said bottom edge and through said locking bead.  
 
     
     
         16 . A closure according to  claim 12  further comprising a sealing bead radially extending inward from an interior surface of said skirt approximately midway between said top and said locking bead.  
     
     
         17 . A closure according to  claim 12  wherein said skirt includes a bottom edge, said closure further comprising: 
 gripping structure for facilitating gripping of said tear tab portion by a user as the tear tab portion is torn away from said skirt, said ribbing located on said tear tab portion intermediate said bottom edge and said top.