Method and apparatus for forming a closure device and a container

Abstract

A method for forming a closure device for a container is disclosed including providing a first mold component having a first annular groove. The first annular groove is configured to form a skirt of the closure device. A plurality of ejector blades are provided and are positioned within the mold component. The blades include a notch for forming a lug on an inner surface of the skirt. The lug is back-locked relative to the mold component. A moldable material is introduced into a mold cavity to form the closure device. The device is removed from the mold component by moving the blades along a path defined by tracks formed in the mold component that is generally along a vertical axis of the mold component, wherein the path includes a radially outward component, and the moving of the blades relieves the back-lock of the lug formed on the closure device.

1 . A generally cylindrical container having an open end portion and a closed end portion comprising:
 an intermittent ridge having a tapered profile formed on an inner surface of the open end portion of the container, the ridge being configured to cooperate with a snap ring formed on a first closure device to releasably secure the first closure device to the container.   
   
   
       2 . The container defined in  claim 1  wherein the intermittent ridge has a profile having a narrow thickness at a first end, a narrow thickness at a second end, and a relatively greater thickness at a center of the ridge, thereby forming the tapered profile of the ridge. 
   
   
       3 . The container defined in  claim 1  wherein an outer surface of the open end of the container includes a lip portion having a bayonet closure mechanism formed thereon, the bayonet closure mechanism being configured to cooperate with a second closure device for releasably securing the second closure device to the container. 
   
   
       4 . A system for providing containers and closure devices for the containers comprising:
 providing a plurality of containers, each of the containers having a lip portion having a substantially similarly sized diameter, the lip portion being configured to cooperate with a closure device, the lip portion having an intermittent ridge on an inner surface of the lip portion, and having a bayonet closure mechanism on an outer surface of the lip portion;   providing a first closure device, the first closure device being configured to cooperate with both the snap ring and the bayonet closure mechanism to releasably retain the closure device with the container so that the closure device can be attached to the container in either a child-resistant or a non-child-resistant mode;   providing a second closure device, the second closure device being configured to cooperate with the intermittent ridge to releasably retain the closure device with the container;   providing a third closure device, the third closure device being configured to cooperate with the bayonet closure mechanism to releasably retain the closure device with the container;   selecting one of the first closure device, the second closure device and the third closure device, each closure device being configured to releasably seal the container; and   assembling the selected closure device and container.   
   
   
       5 . The system defined in  claim 4  wherein the second closure device comprises a snap ring configured to cooperate with the intermittent ridge of the container. 
   
   
       6 . The system defined in  claim 4  wherein the third closure device comprises a lug formed on an inner surface of a skirt, the lug configured to cooperate with the bayonet closure mechanism of the container. 
   
   
       7 . The system defined in  claim 4  wherein the first closure device comprises an upper portion and a lower portion;
 wherein the upper portion includes a snap ring, the snap ring being configured to cooperate with the intermittent ridge of the container;   wherein the lower portion includes a skirt having at least one lug formed thereon, the lug being configured to cooperate with the bayonet closure mechanism of the container.   
   
   
       8 . The system defined in  claim 4  wherein the second closure device is a non-child resistant closure device. 
   
   
       9 . The system defined in  claim 4  wherein the third closure device is a child resistant closure device. 
   
   
       10 . The system defined in  claim 4  wherein the first closure device is reversible for use as one of a child resistant and non-child resistant closure device.