Closure for a container

Abstract

A closure assembly for use on a container neck finish has an inner cap which threadedly engages the neck finish and an outer cap which is received by the inner cap. Torque lugs on the outer cap cooperate with abutment formations on the inner cap such that rotation of the outer cap drives the inner cap onto the neck finish. Cooperative engagement between the two caps is achieved by downward axial movement of the outer cap. An arrangement of ramp sections on the inner cap and an arrangement of interior lugs on the outer cap provide an assist feature helping to pull the outer cap in the axially downward direction. Another feature of the closure assembly includes a spring-biasing relationship between the inner and outer caps. The inner cap also includes an abutment structure which cooperates with the container to limit drop test deformation of the container.

1 . A closure assembly for use with a container, said closure assembly comprising:
 a first cap which is constructed and arranged for assembly to said container, said first cap including a sidewall having a ramp section;   a second cap which is received by said first cap, said second cap including a lug which is constructed and arranged to engage said ramp section; and   wherein rotation of said second cap moves said lug into engagement with said ramp section and wherein continued rotation of said second cap pulls said second cap axially downwardly.   
     
     
         2 . The closure assembly of  claim 1  wherein said first cap further includes an abutment lug arrangement and said second cap further includes a cooperating plurality of torque lugs which are constructed and arranged for driving said first cap onto said container. 
     
     
         3 . The closure assembly of  claim 1  wherein said ramp section is one of a plurality of ramp sections. 
     
     
         4 . The closure assembly of  claim 3  wherein said lug is one of a plurality of lugs. 
     
     
         5 . The closure assembly of  claim 1  wherein said first cap includes a sidewall and an abutment structure extending radially inwardly from said sidewall for cooperating with said container to help limit drop test deformation of said container. 
     
     
         6 . The closure assembly of  claim 1  wherein said first cap further includes a first spring-biasing member and said second cap further includes a cooperating spring-biasing member which is constructed and arranged to engage said first spring-biasing member. 
     
     
         7 . A closure assembly for use with a container, said closure assembly comprising:
 a first cap which is constructed and arranged for assembly to said container, said first cap including first means for being driven onto said container;   a second cap including second means for driving said first cap onto said container; and   wherein one of said first means and said second means includes a torque lug having a clockwise leading edge with a first axial thickness dimension and a clockwise trailing edge with a second axial thickness dimension wherein said first axial thickness dimension is greater than said second axial thickness dimension.   
     
     
         8 . The closure assembly of  claim 7  wherein said first means includes an abutment lug. 
     
     
         9 . The closure assembly of  claim 8  wherein said abutment lug is one of a plurality of abutment lugs. 
     
     
         10 . The closure assembly of  claim 7  wherein said torque lug is one of a plurality of torque lugs. 
     
     
         11 . The closure assembly of  claim 10  wherein the number of torque lugs is equal to the number of abutment lugs. 
     
     
         12 . The closure assembly of  claim 7  wherein said first cap includes a sidewall having a ramp section. 
     
     
         13 . The closure assembly of  claim 12  wherein said second cap includes a lug which is constructed and arranged to engage said ramp section. 
     
     
         14 . The closure assembly of  claim 13  wherein said ramp section is one of a plurality of ramp sections. 
     
     
         15 . The closure assembly of  claim 13  wherein said lug is one of a plurality of lugs. 
     
     
         16 . The closure assembly of  claim 7  wherein said first cap includes a sidewall and an abutment structure extending radially inwardly from said sidewall for cooperating with said container to help limit drop test deformation of said container. 
     
     
         17 . The closure assembly of  claim 7  wherein said first cap includes a first spring-biasing member and said second cap includes a cooperating spring-biasing member which is constructed and arranged to engage said first spring-biasing member. 
     
     
         18 . A container assembly comprising:
 a container having a neck finish with a threaded portion and a spout portion, said neck finish defining a container opening; and   a closure cap which is constructed and arranged for threaded engagement with said neck finish and for closing said container opening, said closure cap including a sidewall and an abutment protrusion extending radially inwardly from said sidewall, wherein with said closure cap assembled to said neck finish, said abutment protrusion is positioned adjacent said spout portion.   
     
     
         19 . The closure assembly of  claim 18  further includes an outer cap which is received by said closure cap, and wherein said closure cap includes an abutment lug arrangement and said outer cap includes a cooperating plurality of torque lugs which are constructed and arranged for driving said closure cap onto said container. 
     
     
         20 . The container assembly of  claim 18  wherein said closure cap includes a sidewall having a ramp section. 
     
     
         21 . The container assembly of  claim 20  wherein said outer cap includes a lug which is constructed and arranged to engage said ramp section. 
     
     
         22 . The container assembly of  claim 21  wherein said ramp section is one of a plurality of ramp sections. 
     
     
         23 . The container assembly of  claim 22  wherein said lug is one of a plurality of lugs. 
     
     
         24 . The closure assembly of  claim 18  wherein said closure cap further includes a first spring-biasing member and said outer cap further includes a cooperating spring-biasing member which is constructed and arranged to engage said first spring-biasing member. 
     
     
         25 . The closure assembly of  claim 18  wherein said abutment protrusion is annular and has an inside diameter dimension and wherein said thread portion has a major thread diameter dimension which is larger than said inside diameter dimension. 
     
     
         26 . A closure assembly for use with a container, said closure assembly comprising:
 a first cap which is constructed and arranged for assembly to said container, said first cap including first means for being driven onto said container;   a second cap including second means for driving said first cap onto said container; and   wherein one of said first means and said second means includes a torque lug having a clockwise leading edge with a first axial thickness dimension and a clockwise trailing edge with a second axial thickness dimension wherein said first axial thickness is substantially equal to said second axial thickness.