MXPA00011868A - Ratchets for bottle necks - Google Patents

Abstract

Bottle necks (11) for screw-off caps are provided with external threads (14) to mesh with internal cap threads and external ratchet teeth (22) to engage internal cap ratchet teeth. The corners (28) are rounded off in a radius (R1) having its center offset from the intersection of the working flank (26) of the tooth (22) and the minor ratchet diameter (D1) without detrimentally reducing the length of the working flanks (26). Ratchet teeth (22) are usually located in two diametrically opposed quadrants. The transition tooth (23) of each quadrant has a greater radius than that of subsequent teeth and its center is inset toward the neck axis. In advance of the transition tooth (23) is a protective"tooth"(24) which is rounded and has no working flank (26).

Description

TICKETS FOR BOTTLE CUTS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to a new and improved ratchet tooth construction for bottle necks. More particularly, the invention relates to the structure of ratchet teeth, formed of a hard material. Said ratchet teeth of bottlenecks are coupled with ratchet teeth inside a band, which shows evidence of violations, on a bottle cap. 2. Description of Related Art Ratchet teeth of bottlenecks, for engaging corresponding teeth on a band, which shows evidence of violations, of a bottle cap, are well known in the art. So far, most bottlenecks have been formed from a high density polyethylene material, which, from the nature of the molding process, makes the edges of the teeth round or blunt. However, with the introduction of injection molded teeth of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and other hard materials, the intersections of the flanks of the ratchet teeth have resulted in sharp corners, which are dangerous. The present invention is distinguished from the configurations of the anterior teeth in the aspects indicated hereinafter.

COMPENDIUM OF THE INVENTION The bottle neck of the present invention is preferably formed as an injection molded insert of a rigid material, such as PET (polyethylene terephthalate) or polyvinyl chloride or polycarbonate, and the like. Due to the rigidity of the material and the fact that the injection molding of the neck insert is done for high definition, the injected surfaces tend to be sharp and can damage the user. Therefore, the corner where the working flank of the ratchet tooth and the supporting flank intersect have been rounded in an arc to preserve a sufficient surface of the working flank of the tooth, perform its function and still be sufficiently round. corner, to prevent injuries. Therefore, the intersection of the arch with the working flank of the tooth is at a radial point, smaller than the greater radius of the tooth. Thus, the curved greater radius of the tooth protects the user from cutting through the corner, where the arc intersects the working flank. It will be understood that it is common to form the ratchet teeth on a bottleneck in two quadrant diagonally spaced diameters. In accordance with the present invention, it will ordinarily be considered that the first tooth is replaced with a rounded projection or shield, which tends to direct the user's fingers away from the subsequent teeth and thus further reduce the likelihood of injury. The intermediate tooth, between the guard and the first tooth of the regular ratchet, is formed smaller than the subsequent ratchet teeth and thus acts as a bridge between the guard and the first ratchet tooth, thus tending to direct the fingers away from the teeth, which are subsequently found as the user twists his hand around the neck of the bottle. The ratchet teeth are formed with rounded corners in an arc, the radius of which has its central displacement from the intersection of the working flank of the tooth and the smaller ratchet diameter, without necessarily reducing the length of the working flank. DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a neck insert, in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 is its top floor view; Figure 3 is a fragmentary, enlarged view, in vertical section, taken substantially along line 3-3 of Figure 2; Figure 4 is an enlarged schematic view of the ratchet teeth, as shown in the circle marked "4" in Figure 2; and Figure 5 is a further enlarged schematic view of the protector and the intermediate ratchet tooth, as shown in the circle marked "5" in Figure 2. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED MODALITY Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. While the invention will be described in conjunction with the preferred embodiments, it will be understood that they do not attempt to limit the invention to these embodiments. On the contrary, the invention attempts to cover alternatives, modifications and equivalents, which may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention, as defined in the appended claims. The neck insert described herein is formed of a rigid material, such as PET. Ordinarily, the neck is formed as an injection molded part, which is placed in a blow molded die, the rest of the bottle being blow molded under this neck insert. For reasons of the construction material and the injection molding process, the dimensions and corners of the insert have to be more precise than those of the blow molded, high density polyethylene products, and thus the sharp corners or teeth of the ratchet tend to harm the user. The present invention eliminates these dangerous sharp corners. As shown in Figures 1 to 3 inclusive, the neck insert 11 has a smooth, generally vertical, internal surface. The external surface 13 is formed with external threads 14, which coincide with the internal threads (not shown) of the cover, which closes the neck 11. These threads 14 are subject to some variations. A preferred thread has eight equally spaced guides or principles, formed of a pitch of sixteen threads per inch (6.3 threads per centimeter), each thread comprising about 145 ° of arc. It will be understood that the dimensions of the threads and the number thereof are subject to considerable variations. Above the threads 14 is a portion 16 of enlarged outer diameter, which results in the lip 17 being slightly wider than the distance between the surfaces 12 and 13, to engage the inside of the cap and form an airtight seal with a hollow plug on the lower side of the lid and the wall of the upper portion of the interior of the lid skirt. Spaced downwardly of the lip 17, below the threads 14, is an external ratchet ring 21, formed in quadrants, which are diametrically opposed (see Figure 2). Each quadrant has approximately ten ratchet teeth of which the last eight teeth 22 are identical. The first "tooth" is really a shield 24 and there is an intermediate tooth 23,. which is somewhat smaller than the teeth 22 between the guard and the teeth 22. Drawing attention to Figure 4, the configuration of most of the ratchet teeth 22 is illustrated schematically. Each tooth 22 has a working flank 26, which engages the corresponding working flank of the ratchet of the cap and, at an angle alpha there is the supporting flank 27 of the tooth. As is evident from Figure 4, if flanks 27 and 26 continue at their intersection, a sharp corner will occur. However, according to the present invention, each tooth 2 is formed with an arc or a curved edge 28, which is preferably approximately tangent to the flank 27 at one end and intersects the flank 26 at a center 29 at its opposite end . The arc 28 is also tangent to the larger diameter 31 of the pawl and it will be noted that the corner 29 is interleaved from the arc 31, thus reducing the likelihood of injury to the user. The curved edge 28 is preferably a circular arc, having its center at 33. Such a center is offset from the intersection of the working flank 26 and the leading edge of the next tooth by a distance marked "c" in Figure 4. It will further be noted that the working flank 26 is at an angle marked with delta in Figure 4, at a tangent to the arch or curved surface 28 at corner 29. The delta angle is somewhat greater than 90 ° and less than 180 °. As illustrated, the working flanks 26 and the supporting flanks 27 intersect. However, as will be understood, by increasing the angle between the teeth, there will be a space between the intersections of the flanks 26 and 27, with a smaller ratchet diameter. Turning now to Figure 5, it will be noted that the intermediate tooth 23 is smaller than the teeth 22 of Figure 4. The arc or curved edge 38, which corresponds to the curved edge 28 of the teeth of Figure 4, has the center 40 of its radius of curvature R2, located in a diameter D3 or 29, which is substantially smaller than the diameter Dx or 32 in which the center is located 33. Referring further to Figure 4, it will be seen in advance that the intermediate tooth 23 is a shield 24, which has no working surface and comprises an arc 42, which has its corner 41 in a diameter D4, which is substantially smaller than the diameter D3. The arc 42 is tangent to the supporting flank 43 of the shield 24. The results of the shield 24 and the intermediate tooth 23 are that in the normal course of events, the user's finger or hand will normally first make contact with the shield 24, the which has no sharp corners, and will be directed outwardly away from the ratchet ring 21. The effect of the intermediate tooth 23, which is smaller than the tooth 22, is to further prevent the user's hand or fingers from being damaged by the subsequent ratchet teeth 22. Turning now to Figure 3, it is seen that, seen in a vertical section, the outer, upper and lower corners of the ring 31 are formed with curved corners or radii R¿ and R5 which further reduce the likelihood of injury to the user. Beneath the ratchet ring 21 is a gripping ring 51, which has a larger diameter than the ratchet ring 21. There is a slot 52 between the ring 21 and the ring 51 into which a tool can be inserted, in order to handle the neck insert 11 and transport it from a channel to the blow molding dies, which form the bottle. The grip ring 51 is also used to load and fill the bottle, as is well understood in the art.

The dimensions of the various diameters, radii and distances, as well as the angles alpha, beta, gamma and delta, which appear in Figures 4 and 5, are subject to variations, but are generally in the proportions shown in the following table. angles and lengths. The dimensions are given in centimeters. As already noted, there may be reasonable variations in these dimensions and in the proportions of the various dimensions, all in accordance with the present invention. The dimensions and angles indicated in the following table are typical for a 38m finish. It will be understood that these dimensions and angles may vary accordingly for finishes of another size.

TABLE OF ANGLES AND LENGTHS at angles between flanks 30o- 80 ° ß flank angle to radius 50o-80 ° and angle between teeth 6o- 15 ° d angle between tangent to curvature and 90 ° - 180 'working flank Dx greater diameter of the ratchet 3,967 cm D2 smaller diameter of the ratchet 3,810 D3 external diameter of the ring of 3,967 ratchet D4 external diameter of the neck 3. 312 D5 inside diameter of neck 2. 972 D6 external diameter of the gripper ring 4.262 x flank curvature of tooth 0. 020 min R2 curvature of the transition tooth 0. 044 R3 curvature of protective tooth 0.060 R4 corner radius upper ring 0.0635 R5 radius of the bottom ring corner 0.1524 e radius of the grip ring 0.0889 to 0.1651 b 0.1575 c 0.0432 d 0.0584 e 0.1118 f 0.0432 g 0.3988 The above descriptions of the specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They do not attempt to be exhaustive or limit the invention to the precise forms described, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings. The modalities are chosen and described in order to better explain the principle of the invention and its practical application, to enable other experts in the field to better use the invention and the various modalities, with various modifications, as appropriate for the use Particular considered. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims (6)

1. CLAIMS 1. A neck finish, comprising a threaded upper neck portion and a ratchet ring below said upper neck portion, said ratchet ring is formed with a plurality of ratchet teeth, at least one of said teeth, when seen in plan, it has a working flank, a supporting flank and a curved edge, which extends from the supporting flank to a corner, where the curved edge intersects the working flank, said curved edge being formed as a arc, having a center of curvature placed adjacent to a smaller circle of the ratchet, through the internal edges of said working flanks, and the center is spaced from said working flank towards said supporting flank, along said smaller ratchet circle, for a distance of approximately half the radius of said arc.
2. 2. A neck finish, according to claim 1, wherein said working flank is at an angle alpha to said supporting flank of about 60 °.
3. 3. A neck finish, according to claim 2, wherein said supporting flank is at a beta angle to said working flank of about 66 °.
4. 4. A neck finish, according to claim 3, in which a tangent to the curved edge at said corner is at a delta angle at an extension of said working flank, greater than 90 ° and less than 180 °.
5. 5. A neck finish, according to claim 1, wherein said collar ring in a vertical cross-section, has an external upper corner formed in a curved manner, and an outer supporting corner formed in a curved manner, in a smaller radius from that one of said outer top corner.
6. 6. A neck finish, according to claim 1, wherein the first of a series of ratchet teeth comprises a guard, having an arcuate protective surface, which is fused with a supporting flank, to deflect an object from contact with the protector facing out, away from the series of ratchet teeth.