Conopco, Inc.

800 Sylvan Avenue

Unilever Plc

Unilever, N.v.

Unilever IP Holdings B.v.

Unilever Global IP Limited

Slavica Cesare

Gregory Lalier

Timothy Hope Jebb

Lauren Alicia Shute

Graham Keith Lacy

Scot Lawrence Forrest

Richard Paul McNabb

Joshua Michael Sternthal

Jonathan Edward Mason

Lauren Alicia Ugliuzza

Richard Paul Mcnabb

An adapter which is readily applied to connect a dispensing container to a refill container. The adapter and one or more of the containers are structured so that the adapter can be readily and securely snapped onto the container and then easily rotated off without application of undue force by a consumer. The adapter features a snap on pipe having one or more retaining recesses and guidance recesses.

Adapter

A closure including an upper wall () defining an opening () and a cylindrical snap on pipe () depending from the upper wall. The pipe includes threads () designed to mate with external threads on a neck of the bottle. The threads on the pipe and threads on the neck of the bottle pass over each other when the closure is snapped onto the bottle during manufacture. The pipe includes a resistance recess () and a guidance recess (). The resistance recess and the guidance recess accommodate a forcing element () on a shoulder () of the bottle and permit unscrewing of the closure. The walls () of the resistance recess are preferably symmetrical.

Closure

A discrete product refill container and a rigid outer shell container. The refill container includes a product chamber and a fitment secured thereto. The fitment includes a ledge which is suitable for resting on a ledge of the rigid outer shell container while permitting the product chamber to pass into the shell interiorly to the ledge. It may also include a rim for grasping by transfer equipment. The fitment includes a destructive cover, i.e., one which cannot readily be re-closed, so that the consumer can easily make the product within the refill available for pumping, as desired. The rigid outer shell container can be snap fit closed. The refill bottle may be a pouch or a thin walled bottle, with a fitment. The fitment may serve to support the bottle in an inverted position for display or storage. The refill bottle may also include an integral ledge for support in the rigid outer shell container, instead of a discrete fitment. A modular fitment may be used which accommodates different types of closures, if desired.

Shell container suitable for housing a discrete refill container

An improved snap-on/twist off closure which is very durable. The invention is also directed to a package comprising the closure, e.g., a bottle in combination with the closure. The closure includes an upper wall defining an opening and a cylindrical snap on pipe depending from the upper wall. The pipe includes threads designed to mate with external threads on a neck of the bottle. The threads on the pipe and threads on the neck of the bottle pass over each other when the closure is snapped onto the bottle during manufacture. The pipe includes a resistance recess and a guidance recess. A bottom rim of the pipe, the resistance recess and the guidance recess are in contact with a forcing element on a shoulder of the bottle and guide the closure into positions permitting unscrewing of the closure.

An improved snap-on/twist off closure which is very durable. The invention is also directed to a package comprising the closure, e.g., a bottle in combination with the closure. The closure includes an upper wall defining an opening and a cylindrical snap on pipe depending from the upper wall. The pipe includes threads designed to mate with external threads on a neck of the bottle. The threads on the pipe and threads on the neck of the bottle pass over each other when the closure is snapped onto the bottle during manufacture. The pipe includes a resistance recess and a guidance recess. The resistance recess and the guidance recess accommodate a forcing element on a shoulder of the bottle and permit unscrewing of the closure.

A snap-on/twist off closure (), a package comprising the closure, e.g., a bottle in combination with the closure is disclosed. The closure includes an upper wall defining an opening and a cylindrical snap on pipe () depending from the upper wall. The pipe includes threads designed to mate with external threads on a neck of the bottle. The threads on the pipe and threads on the neck of the bottle pass over each other when the closure is snapped onto the bottle during manufacture. The pipe includes a resistance recess () and a guidance recess (). A bottom rim of the pipe, the resistance recess and the guidance recess are in contact with a forcing element () on a shoulder of the bottle and guide the closure into positions permitting unscrewing of the closure.

An improved snap-on/twist off closure which is very durable. The invention is also directed to a package comprising the closure, e.g., a bottle in combination with the closure. The closure includes an upper wall defining an opening and a cylindrical snap on pipe depending from the upper wall. The pipe includes threads designed to mate with external threads on a neck of the bottle. The threads on the pipe and threads on the neck of the bottle pass over each other when the closure is snapped onto the bottle during manufacture. The pipe includes a resistance recess and a guidance recess. The resistance recess and the guidance recess accommodate a forcing element on a shoulder of the bottle and permit unscrewing of the closure

Growing community of inventors

Trumbull, CT, United States of America

Slavica Cesare