Tab-interconnected dispensing closure and container neck finish

Abstract

A package includes a container having a neck finish with at least one external thread segment and at least one pair of angularly spaced external lugs disposed beneath the thread segment. A closure has a cylindrical wall with at least one internal thread segment for mating engagement with the external thread segment on the container neck finish and at least one tab extending from the wall for receipt between the lugs to resist removal of the closure from the container neck finish and aligns the closure with the container body. The clockwise-disposed lug prevents over-tightening of the closure on the container neck finish, while the counterclockwise-disposed lug resists unthreading of closure from the container neck finish when the tab on the closure skirt has been received between the lugs. The clockwise-disposed lug that prevents over-tightening of the closure on the container neck finish has a greater radial dimension than the counterclockwise-disposed lug, preferably by being radially thicker than the counterclockwise-disposed lug.

1 . A package that includes: 
 a container having a neck finish with at least one external thread segment and at least one pair of angularly spaced external lugs disposed beneath said at least one thread segment, and    a closure having a cylindrical wall with at least one internal thread segment for mating engagement with said at least one external thread segment and at least one tab extending from said wall for receipt between said lugs to resist removal of said closure from said neck finish,    one of said lugs being disposed in a clockwise direction from the other of said lugs as viewed from above said neck finish, with the clockwise-disposed lug cooperating with said tab to prevent over-tightening of said closure on said neck finish and the counterclockwise-disposed lug resisting unthreading of said closure from said neck finish when said tab is received between said lugs,    characterized in that said clockwise-disposed lug has a greater radial dimension than said counterclockwise-disposed lug.    
   
   
       2 . The package set forth in  claim 1  wherein said container has two pair of said lugs on diametrically opposed sides of said neck finish and said closure has two of said tabs on diametrically opposed sides of said wall.  
   
   
       3 . The package set forth in  claim 2  wherein said closure has an inner wall on which said at least one internal thread segment and said tabs are disposed, and an outer skirt spaced radially outwardly from said inner wall.  
   
   
       4 . A container having a neck finish with at least one external thread segment and at least one pair of angularly spaced external lugs disposed beneath said at least one thread segment, one of said lugs being disposed in a clockwise direction from the other of said lugs as viewed from above said neck finish, characterized in that said one of said lugs has a greater radial dimension than the other of said lugs.  
   
   
       5 . The container set forth in  claim 4  having two pair of said lugs on diametrically opposed sides of said neck finish.  
   
   
       6 . A method of making a container that includes the step of molding a plastic container having a neck finish with at least one external thread segment and at least one pair of angularly spaced external lugs disposed beneath said at least one thread segment, one of said lugs being disposed in a clockwise direction from the other of said lugs as viewed from above said neck finish, said one of said lugs having a greater radial dimension than the other of said lugs.