Bottle closure

Abstract

A closure system for a container reduces the needed torque for assembly by minimizing frictional resistance to rotation of the closure into its desired alignment with the container before the closure is driven home onto the container neck. The reduction in the torque resistance during the application of the closure allows the rotary filling machinery to work within its torque limits and minimizes damage to the parts during the filling and sealing operation in a bottle filling line.

1 . A closure system for a container, comprising: 
 a container terminating in a neck terminating in an end, said neck comprising one of an indexing groove and a key on an exterior potion thereof;    a closure further comprising the other of an indexing key and an indexing groove for selective insertion of said key into said indexing groove to prevent relative rotation between said closure and said neck;    a first support surface on said closure selectively engaging a second support surface on said neck to support said closure in a position where said indexing member provides no substantial resistance to relative rotation between said closure and said neck to facilitate alignment of said key with said indexing groove.    
   
   
       2 . The closure system of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said second support surface comprises a support groove and said first support surface comprises a projection that rides in said support groove during said relative rotation to align said key with said indexing groove.    
   
   
       3 . The closure system of  claim 2 , wherein: 
 said support groove is formed between a pair of rings.    
   
   
       4 . The closure system of  claim 3 , wherein: 
 said rings are continuous.    
   
   
       5 . The closure system of  claim 3 , wherein: 
 said projection comprises a ridge that jumps over one of said rings to land in said support groove to support said closure in a position with said key extending past said end of said neck and above said rings.    
   
   
       6 . The closure system of  claim 5 , wherein: 
 said ridge jumps over another of said rings when said key is aligned with said indexing groove.    
   
   
       7 . The closure system of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a guide surface on said closure that enters said end of said neck when said first and second support surfaces initially engage to guide said relative rotation between said closure and said neck without providing substantive resistance to said relative rotation.    
   
   
       8 . The closure system of  claim 7 , wherein: 
 said neck is circular and defines an inner wall extending from said end thereof;    said guide surface comprises a tapered annular surface that is suspended adjacent said inner wall as said indexing key is rotated into alignment with said indexing groove.    
   
   
       9 . The closure system of  claim 8 , wherein: 
 said tapered annular surface wedges against said inner wall as said closure is advanced over said neck with said key aligned to said indexing groove.    
   
   
       10 . The closure system of  claim 5 , wherein: 
 a guide surface on said closure that enters said end of said neck when said first and second support surfaces initially engage to guide said relative rotation between said closure and said neck without providing substantive resistance to said relative rotation.    
   
   
       11 . The closure system of  claim 10 , wherein: 
 said neck is circular and defines an inner wall extending from said end thereof;    said guide surface comprises a tapered annular surface that is suspended adjacent said inner wall as said indexing key is rotated into alignment with said indexing groove.    
   
   
       12 . The closure system of  claim 11 , wherein: 
 said tapered annular surface wedges against said inner wall as said closure is advanced over said neck with said key aligned to said indexing groove.    
   
   
       13 . A method of mounting a closure on the neck of a container, comprising: 
 providing an indexing key on one of said closure and said neck;    providing an indexing groove on the other of said closure and said neck    temporarily supporting the closure on the neck so that said key does not provide substantive resistance to relative rotation between said neck and said closure as said key is brought into alignment with said indexing groove.    
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13 , comprising: 
 defeating said temporary support of said closure when said indexing key is aligned with said indexing groove.    
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , comprising: 
 extending a guide between said closure and said neck when said closure is in said temporarily supported position in a manner where said guide does not substantively impede relative rotation between said neck and said closure as said indexing key is brought into alignment with said indexing groove.    
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15 , comprising: 
 wedging said guide to said neck as a result of said defeating of said temporary support.    
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16 , comprising: 
 providing a projection to extend into a recess as said temporary supporting.    
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17 , comprising: 
 defining said recess as a pair of spaced rings on said neck and said projection as a circumferential bead on said closure;    jumping one of said rings with said bead to provide temporary support for said closure in said recess using said bead.    
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18 , comprising: 
 positioning said indexing key on said closure and above said rings when said bead is disposed in said recess.    
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19 , comprising: 
 jumping a second of said rings with said bead after aligning said indexing key with said indexing groove;    using said bead disposed against said second ring after jumping it to retain said closure to said neck.