Bottle with retained ring finish feature

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a bottle neck finish and a tamper resistant bottle cap that satisfy the need to retain the ratchet ring in place after the bottle cap has been removed from the bottle. Specifically, the present inventions incorporate features onto one or both of a bottle neck and a threaded cap having a frangibly connected ratchet ring. In one embodiment of the present invention, the claimed features create frictional engagement between the ratchet ring and the bottle neck. The frictional resistance effectively prevents the ratchet ring from falling off the bottle neck when the user pours the contents of the bottle. In another embodiment, the claimed features create an interference between the ratchet ring and the bottle neck. The interference prevents the ratchet ring from falling off the bottle neck.

1 . A bottle neck adapted to engage with a cap having an offset ratchet ring comprising: 
 an opening at an upper end of the neck;    an exterior surface having at least one thread adapted to engage with the cap;    at least one ratchet portion disposed on the exterior surface below the at least one thread, wherein the at least one ratchet portion has at least one ratchet tooth and is adapted to engage with the ratchet ring; and,    at least one projection disposed on the exterior surface below the at least one thread, wherein the at least one projection is adapted to hold the ratchet ring on the bottle neck after the cap is removed from the bottle neck.    
     
     
         2 . The bottle neck of  claim 1  further comprising the cap having the ratchet ring.  
     
     
         3 . The bottle neck of  claim 1  wherein the at least one projection has a chamfered top edge.  
     
     
         4 . The bottle neck of  claim 1  wherein the at least one projection is formed by a lip.  
     
     
         5 . The bottle neck of  claim 1  wherein the at least one projection is formed by at least one enlarged ratchet tooth.  
     
     
         6 . The bottle neck of  claim 1  wherein there are two diametrically opposite projections and two diametrically opposite ratchet portions.  
     
     
         7 . The bottle neck of  claim 1  wherein the at least one projection is adapted to hold the ratchet ring on the bottle neck by friction.  
     
     
         8 . The bottle neck of  claim 7  wherein the at least one projection is adapted to contact an inside surface of the ratchet ring.  
     
     
         9 . The bottle neck of  claim 8  wherein the inside surface is a tip of a ratchet tooth.  
     
     
         10 . The bottle neck of  claim 1  wherein the at least one projection is adapted to hold the ratchet ring on the bottle neck by interference.  
     
     
         11 . The bottle neck of  claim 10  wherein the at least one projection is adapted to contact an upper surface of the ratchet ring when the ratchet ring is moved axially along the bottle neck.  
     
     
         12 . The bottle neck of  claim 1  wherein the at least one projection and the at least one ratchet portion are in approximately a same cross-sectional plane.  
     
     
         13 . In combination, a bottle neck and a bottle cap: 
 the bottle cap comprising a circular cover, a skirt depending from the periphery of the cover, the skirt including an interior surface having at least one thread, and a tamper evidencing ratchet ring frangibly connected below the skirt, wherein the ratchet ring has at least one ratchet tooth;    the bottle neck comprising an opening at an upper end of the neck, an exterior surface having at least one corresponding thread, at least one ratchet portion disposed on the exterior surface below the at least one corresponding thread, wherein the at least one ratchet portion has at least one corresponding ratchet tooth which is adapted to engage with the at least one ratchet tooth of the cap when the cap is placed on the bottle neck, and at least one projection disposed on the exterior surface below the at least one thread, wherein the at least one projection is adapted to hold the ratchet ring on the bottle neck after the cap is removed from the bottle neck.    
     
     
         14 . The combination of  claim 13  wherein the at least one projection has a chamfered top edge.  
     
     
         15 . The combination of  claim 13  wherein the at least one projection is formed by a lip.  
     
     
         16 . The combination of  claim 13  wherein the at least one projection is adapted to hold the ratchet ring on the bottle neck by friction.  
     
     
         17 . The combination of  claim 13  wherein the at least one projection is adapted to hold the ratchet ring on the bottle neck by interference.  
     
     
         18 . The combination of  claim 13  wherein the at least one projection and the at least one ratchet portion are in approximately a same cross-sectional plane.  
     
     
         19 . The combination of  claim 13  wherein there are two diametrically opposite projections and two diametrically opposite ratchet portions.  
     
     
         20 . The combination of  claim 19  wherein: 
 the ratchet ring has a plurality of inward facing ratchet teeth, each having a tip;    the plurality of tips defining a first diameter;    the two projections each having an outside edge;    the distance between the two outside edges defining a second diameter; and,    the second diameter is greater than the first diameter.    
     
     
         21 . The combination of  claim 20  wherein the at least one projection is adapted to hold the ratchet ring on the bottle neck by friction.  
     
     
         22 . The combination of  claim 20  wherein the at least one projection is adapted to hold the ratchet ring on the bottle neck by interference.  
     
     
         23 . In combination, a bottle neck and a bottle cap: 
 the bottle cap being molded from a two plate mold;    the bottle cap comprising a circular cover, a skirt depending from the periphery of the cover, the skirt including an interior surface having at least one thread, and a tamper evidencing ratchet ring frangibly connected below the skirt, wherein the ratchet ring has a plurality of ratchet teeth;    the bottle neck comprising an opening at an upper end of the neck, an exterior surface having at least one corresponding thread, two diametrically opposite ratchet portions disposed on the exterior surface below the at least one corresponding thread, wherein each ratchet portion has a plurality of corresponding ratchet teeth which are adapted to engage with the plurality of ratchet teeth of the cap when the cap is placed on the bottle neck, and two diametrically opposite projections disposed on the exterior surface below the at least one thread, wherein the two projections are adapted to hold the ratchet ring on the bottle neck after the cap is removed from the bottle neck.