Ratchets for bottle necks
US6044992A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 3, 1998 |
| Grant date | Apr 4, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 3, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB65D41/3404
- WIPO fieldHandling
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
Bottle necks for screw-off caps are provided with external threads to mesh with internal cap threads and external ratchet teeth to engage internal cap ratchet teeth. When the neck is formed of a rigid material (e.g., PET), the sharp corners of the intersecting flanks of the teeth are hazardous. To reduce the chance of injury, in accordance with this invention the corners are rounded off in a radius having its center offset from the intersection of the working flank of the tooth and the minor ratchet diameter without detrimentally reducing the length of the working flanks. Ratchet teeth are usually located in one of two diametrically disposed quadrants. The first or transition tooth 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 first or transition tooth is a protective "tooth" which is rounded and has no working flank, which tends to deflect the fingers of the user away from the subsequent teeth, for reducing the chance of injury.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.