Method of Making A Bayonet Sealing Closure For Containers and Lids

Abstract

A method for forming a container assembly having a lid, a container and a cooperative closure mechanism, includes providing a lid form and flexible members biased toward the lid form, wherein the lid form and the flexible members are operable between a forming position defined by the lid form exerting a biasing force against the flexible members, and an extraction position defined by the biasing force being substantially removed from the flexible members, creating a lid form cavity defined by the lid form and the flexible members disposed in the forming position, injecting a lid material throughout the lid form cavity to form a lid, disposing the lid form and the flexible members in the extraction position, wherein the lid form is moved distal from the lid and the flexible members are biased away from the lid to separate the lid from the flexible members.

The invention claimed is: 
     
         1 . A container having a bayonet sealing closure, comprising:
 a body defining an internal volume, the body defining a vertical axis L that runs along a central length of the container, the body defining a perpendicular line D with respect to the vertical axis L; and   a neck extending from an upper end of the body, the neck defining a container opening having an opening outer diameter and an opening inner diameter, the opening outer diameter and the opening inner diameter defining a neck thickness, the neck thickness separates a neck outer periphery and a neck inner periphery, the neck exterior surface includes at least one channel defined by an upper wall and a lower wall, the channel having a connection end opposite of a channel open end;   wherein the at least one channel has a slope S defining an obtuse angle with respect to the vertical axis L on the neck outer periphery as defined by the perpendicular line D; and   wherein the lower wall has a detent located in a middle region of the channel, such that the channel has a beginning length between the channel open end an end length between the detent and the connection.   
     
     
         2 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one channel comprises three channels. 
     
     
         3 . The container of  claim 2 , wherein the three channels are radially equidistant from each other about the neck exterior surface such that the three channels are spaced 120 degrees from each other. 
     
     
         4 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the upper wall and the lower wall are substantially parallel to each other. 
     
     
         5 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the upper wall further comprises an indent. 
     
     
         6 . The container of  claim 5 , wherein the indent is located in the middle region of the channel such that it is substantially aligned with the detent. 
     
     
         7 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the container opening defines a proximal edge, and the channel is located adjacent to the proximal edge. 
     
     
         8 . A lid for a container assembly, the lid defining a central vertical axis L and a perpendicular line D with respect to the vertical axis L, comprising:
 an upper surface; and   a lower surface having an edge, the edge defining an interior lid diameter, the lower surface having an inner periphery including three protrusions.   
     
     
         9 . The lid of  claim 8 , wherein the three protrusions are radially equidistant such that the protrusion are spaced 120 degrees from each other. 
     
     
         10 . The lid of  claim 8 , wherein the protrusions are coaxial such that they are all positioned at the a height along the vertical axis L. 
     
     
         11 . The lid of  claim 8 , wherein the three protrusions are circular. 
     
     
         12 . The lid of  claim 8 , wherein the inner periphery extends upward onto the upper surface, the inner periphery in the upper surface having a flange extending downwardly towards the edge. 
     
     
         13 . The lid of  claim 8 , further comprising an outer protrusion on an outer surface of the upper surface, wherein the outer protrusion aligns with one of the three protrusions. 
     
     
         14 . A bayonet sealing closure for a container assembly, comprising:
 a lid comprising:
 an upper surface; and 
 a lower surface having an edge, the edge defining an interior lid diameter, the lower surface having a lid inner periphery including at least one protrusion. 
   a container comprising:
 a body defining an internal volume, the body defining a vertical axis L that runs along a central length of the container, the body defining a perpendicular line D with respect to the vertical axis L; and 
 a neck extending from an upper end of the body, the neck defining a container opening at a proximal edge having an opening outer diameter and an opening inner diameter, the opening outer diameter and the opening inner diameter defining a neck thickness, the neck thickness separates a neck outer periphery and a neck inner periphery, the neck exterior surface includes at least one channel defined by an upper wall and a lower wall, the channel having a connection end opposite of a channel open end; 
 wherein the at least one channel has a slope S defining an obtuse angle with respect to the vertical axis L on the neck outer periphery as defined by the perpendicular line D; and 
 wherein the lower wall has a detent located in a middle region of the channel, such that the channel has a beginning length between the channel open end an end length between the detent and the connection. 
   
     
     
         15 . The bayonet sealing closure of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one protrusion is three protrusions, and the at least one channel is three channels, wherein the three protrusions and the three channels are radially equidistant from each other, respectively, such that the three protrusions are spaced 120 degrees from each other and the three channels are spaced 120 degrees from each other. 
     
     
         16 . The bayonet sealing closure of  claim 14 , wherein the upper wall and the lower wall are substantially parallel to each other. 
     
     
         17 . The bayonet sealing closure of  claim 14 , further comprising a lid external protrusion on a lid outer periphery on the upper surface of the lid, wherein the lid external protrusion aligns with the at least one protrusion. 
     
     
         18 . The bayonet sealing closure of  claim 17 , further comprising a cup external protrusion on a neck outer periphery, wherein the cup external protrusion aligns with the lid external protrusion when the container assembly is in a sealed relationship. 
     
     
         19 . The bayonet sealing closure of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one protrusion engages the at least one channel such that the at least one protrusion engages the detent thereby providing an indication that the container has achieved a sealed relationship. 
     
     
         20 . The bayonet sealing closure of  claim 19 , wherein upon achieving a sealed relationship, the proximal edge engages the flange.