US3861550A - Liquid container with perforatable locking closure - Google Patents

Abstract

A plastic container having a perforatable primary seal which is locked on after the container is filled, and cannot be unlocked. The container is also fitted with a removable protective cap providing a secondary seal. Provision is made for the release of gas and vapor from the container without loss of liquid. The container of the present invention has particular application in the handling of hazardous liquids where automatic feeding from the container in the inverted position without handling is desired.

Description

United States Patent Taylor et al.

[451 Jan. 21, 1975 LIQUID CONTAINER WITH PERFORATABLE LOCKING CLOSURE Inventors: John R. Taylor, Mountain Lakes; I-Iarold F. Jones, Dover; David L. Ousterling, Mountain Lakes, all of NJ.

Allied Chemical Corporation, New York, N.Y.

Filed: May 21, 1973 Appl. No.: 362,596

Assignee:

US. Cl. 215/250 Int. Cl 1365:! 41/32 Field of Search 215/38, 42, 56, l C, DIG. 3,

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,326,401 6/1967 DeLong 215/56 X 3,504,818 4/1970 3,685,676 8/1972 Gach 3,746,200 7/1973 Flider 215/1 C FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 695,839 8/1953 Great Britain u 215/010 3 701,978 3/1966 Italy 215/42 Primary Examiner-Herbert F. Ross Attorney, Agent, or F irm-Jay P. Friedenson; Michael L. Dunn {57] ABSTRACT 19 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJANZI 1915 3861.550

SHEU10F 3 FIG. I

1 1 1 HI I LIQUID CONTAINER WITH PERFORATABLE LOCKING CLOSURE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION l. Field of the Invention This invention is related to plastic containers for liquids wherein the contents are removed by cutting, piercing, puncturing or otherwise perforating the closure rather than by the usual practice of removing the closure.

II. Description of the Prior Art Plastic containers have been used having conventional screw caps which can be perforated in order to remove the contents.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Although the container of our invention may have many different applications with various types of flowable liquids, it is particularly applicable to the handling of hazardous liquids, generally in quantities of a gallon or less.

The packaging and distribution of substantially all hazardous liquids in small packages is currently done using screw cap bottles.

In use. the cap is removed and the contents manually poured from the bottle. When the cap is removed, the worker is exposed to possible contact with the hazardous liquid. Instances of serious personal injury, including disfigurement, have resulted from such contact.

A typical usage is encountered in the electronics industry where semi-conductor devices are immersed in a Hydrogen Peroxide and sulfuric acid bath to strip off protective coatings applied at an earlier stage of fabrication. The present method involves pouring the liquids into the bath from an open bottle and manually dipping a basket containing the devices into the bath. The worker exposure to potential injury is appreciable.

One method of discharging the contents of the container of the present invention without exposing a worker to danger, and to control the rate of discharge, is based on the use of a cooperating chamber sized to receive the container of hazardous liquid in the inverted position. A receptacle in the chamber sized to fit the neck of the bottle is fitted with a perforating device to open the bottle.

A liquid reservoir is located below the container chamber. When the container closure is perforated, the liquid flows from the bottle as air or other gas enters through the perforation to balance the pressure. When the liquid level rises to seal the mouth of the container, however, no more air enters the container, and the discharge of liquid stops as the gas pressure above the liquid level in the container, plus the hydrostatic head of liquid, equals the atmospheric pressure. When the liquid level of the reservoir falls below the neck of the bottle, air or gas enters and further liquid discharge occurs until the liquid level again seals the mouth, hence the liquid is not only discharged but discharged at a controlled intermittent rate to any operation to which the chamber is attached. This method of controlling the flow of liquid from a container, per se, is old, being exemplified in the old fashioned office water-cooler, and in many automatic liquid feeders.

In the case of many hazardous liquids suchas sulfuric acid, there is no evolution of gas or significant vapor pressure so that a positive primary seal is used. In the case of hazardous, high strength hydrogen peroxide,

LII

gas pressure develops in a sealed container, but one embodiment of the container of the present invention permits the escape of pressurized gas and vapor without the loss of liquid, by employing a vapor permeable membrane, impermeable to liquids, and generally supported by impermeable films having one or more slits or other minute openings for passage of gas or vapor.

More importantly, the inner closure of the container of the present invention with its primary liquid seal, is easily applied during the filling operation but once tightened in place it is locked on by the engagement of ratchet teeth encircling the bottle neck with protrusions extending inwardly from the skirt of the inner closure, thus thwarting any misguided attempt by a worker to handle the new package by the previous method of unscrewing the cap. The outer closure or overcap pro tects the perforatable plate (liner or wafer) against premature puncture, and also provides a secondary liquid seal. Where the container is used for hazardous liquids from which vapor or gas will escape, means are provided in the outer closure, such as a small opening, for the escape of such vapor or gas.

To further summarize, the present invention is directed to a container for flowable liquid mate rials comprising a reservoir for containing the material having a cylindrical hollow neck extending from the reservoir. The upper portion of the neck carries a male thread. A readily perforatable plate is provided for placement over the end of the neck or the mouth of the container in a sealed relationship. This plate constitutes the primary liquid seal. A multiplicity of ratchet teeth at least partially encircle the cylindrical neck below the male thread. An inner screw closure, including the perforatable plate is provided, having a female thread for engaging the male thread on the neck of the container, said innerclosure extending down over the neck of the container a sufficient distance to at least partially encompass the ratchet teeth. This inner closure also exposes a portion of the sealed perforatable plate so that it is accessible for perforation. The inner closure has additionally a multiplicity of protrusions projecting inwardly for cooperation with the ratchet teeth, said ratchet teeth being oriented with respect to the engaging threads so that when the inner closure is screwed on, the protrusions engage the ratchet teeth to permanently retain the inner closure in a sealed relationship with the mouth of the container.

The hollow neck is enlarged below the ratchet teeth to accept an outer closure, said outer closure being sufficiently capacious as to completely enclose the inner closure, and having an annular surface for tight-fitting contact with a matching annular surface on the enlarged portion of the hollow neck, thus providing a secondary liquid seal.

Objects and attendant advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The description refers to the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the several views.

FIG. I is a partial view of the bottle neck of the preferred embodiment shown in elevation, with a cross section of its inner closure directly above. The inner cylindrical surface of the skirt of the cap is shown with protrusions extending inwardly to engage ratchet teeth on the bottle neck. in this instance, the ratchet teeth do not completely encircle the neck. but rather there are two diametrically opposite groups of seven ratchet teeth. A single ply, readily perforatable plate, or cap liner, is shown exposed by a central opening in the top of the capv FIG. 2 is a plan view of the bottle neck of FIG. 1, showing the two groups of ratchet teeth partially encircling the neck.

FIG. 3 is a partial view in elevation of one embodiment of the plastic container with both inner and outer closure in place. In this modification, the ratchet teeth completely encircle the neck, and as further frustration to anyone attempting to remove the locked or inner closure, it is shown with a left hand thread. This container is further characterized by having an off-center neck to minimize the danger of adding the incorrect ingredient to a process.

FIG. 4 illustrates one type of readily perforatable plate designed to permit the release of pressurized vapor or gas. lt comprises a gas-permeable membrane sandwiched for support between two wafers of impermeable film, which however, have small slits to permit passage of any gas permeating the inner membrane.

FIG. is a partial perspective view of another embodiment of our invention wherein the bottle neck is encircled with pyramidal ratchet teeth sloping upwardly from the cylindrical surface in the direction of rotation of the closure when applied and also extending outwardly from the surface of the neck in the direction away from the mouth of the container. The third and locking surface of each pyramidal ratchet tooth lies substantially in a plane which includes the axis of the containers neck.

The closure of the same figure, also shown in perspective directly above the neck in cross section, has inwardly projecting protrusions which in this variation are inwardly directed pyramidal ratchet teeth for cooperation locking engagement with the oppositely directed ratchet teeth of the containers neck.

DESCRlPTlON OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT WITH REFERENCE TO THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1: The bottle for liquids of the preferred embodiment of the present invention is fabricated of polymeric material, and comprises first, a reservoir 1 for containing the liquid, only the upper part of which is shown. It includes ahollow neck 2 extending from the reservoir and in communication therewith forming the neck andmouth 3 of the bottle for the charge and discharge of fluids. The hollow neck has on the upper portion of the outer cylindrical surface, amale thread 4. Athin plate 5 for placement over themouth 3 of the bottle in sealed relationship therewith, is a readily perforatable liner or wafer, also of polymeric composition, preferably having a thickness of no more than about 0.06 inch. This plate may be a single ply of impermea ble film for sealing in liquids which do not liberate appreciable vapor or gas, or of a gas permeable membrane which is impermeable to liquids if vapor or gas is to be liberated.

Since permeable membranes often lack strength, the membrane can be supported by a heavier impermeable film having one or more slits or very small openings for the escape of the gas permeating the permeable membrane. Preferably, a sandwich is used for gas-liberating liquids, such as that illustrated in FIG. 4. In this case,perforatable plate 5 comprisespermeable membrane 6 sandwiched between two wafers ofimpermeable film 7 having tiny slits 8 therethrough. Thehollow neck 2 has concentrically disposed below themale thread 4, and at least partially encircling the neck, a multiplicity ofratchet teeth 9. In the illustration of FIG. 1, these ratchet teeth are arranged in diametrically opposed groups. They could as well consist of single teeth uniformly positioned about the neck or groups of two or more, preferably spaced at substantially equidistant points about the neck. The ratchet teeth can also completely encircle the neck as in FIG. 3.

An inner closure or screw cap 11 for the bottle, preferably of polymeric composition, serves to retainperforatable plate 5 against the mouth of the bottle when said closure has been applied and tightly secured to the bottle neck.

Normally, the perforatable plate and inner closure are one, in that the perforatable plate lies in the inner closure or cap as a liner. The top of the inner closure has anopening 12 substantially coincident with the mouth of the bottle, to provide access to the perforatable plate. in one embodiment the perforatable plate is merely the top of the inner closure itself, which has been molded thin enough to be readily perforatable. Preferably, this perforatable section of the inner closure is less than about 0.06 inch in thickness.

Theskirt 13 of the inner closure extends downward to envelope the upper portion of the hollow neck and to at least partially encompass theratchet teeth 9. This inner closure has additionally, a multiplicity ofprotrusions 14 projecting inwardly from the lower inner cylindrical surface of the skirt beneath the female thread. in FIG. 1 they are shown as short ribs, but they may take other forms, as for example, inwardly projecting ratchet teeth for cooperation with those of the neck.

The ratchet teeth are oriented with respect to the threads of the neck and closure, so that the closure may be screwed on to retain the perforatable plate in a liquid seal relationship with the mouth of the bottle. When once screwed on, however, it cannot be unscrewed because of the engagement of theprotrusions 14 of the inner screw cap with theratchet teeth 9 encircling the neck.

Whereas the ratchet teeth may either completely or partially encircle the neck as in FIGS. 3 and 1, respectively, there are at least two reasons why partial encirclement may be preferable. First, is the very practical consideration that encircling ratchet teeth present a problem when molding the plastic bottle. Secondly, partial encirclement can provide greater flexibility by allowing slight distortion of the closure, hence easier application of the inner closure to the bottle. Although in FIGS. 1 and 2 the ratchet teeth are shown in diametrically opposed groups of seven, the number included in a group is not critical. A fair number in each group is preferable, however, as for example, from three to seven, so that no appreciable degree of back-off of the inner closure, once tightened, is possible.

The holow cylindrical neck is enlarged in diameter below the ratchet teeth, saidenlarged portion 15 being substantially cylindrical. This enlarged portion carries a righthand male thread 16.

An outer closure orscrew cap 17 of H6. 3 is provided, having afemale thread 18 for engagement with the righthand male thread 16. This outer screw cap is sufficiently capacious to completely envelop the inner cap ll, and has anannular surface 19 for liquid tight contact with the matchingannular surface 21 on the enlarged portion of the neck. Where the liquid packaged liberates a vapor or gas, and a gas permeable pri' mary seal is used, the outer cap or closure is also provided with means for permitting escape of the vapor or gas passing the primary seal. With this type of liquid, asmall hole 22 in the outer cap serves to vent the closed space between the inner and outer closure to permit the escape of vapor or gas.

Whereas the bottle may be fabricated of any suitable polymeric material, polyethylene or polyisobutylene are especially preferred. This also applies to the inner and outer closure and to the perforatable plate, although in the case of the latter a wide variety of materials are suitable both for the gas permeable membrane and the impermeable films.

The material selected will depend on the nature of the liquid being packaged, but polyethylene is especially preferred, and can be obtained in both gas permeable and impermeable form.

With further reference to FIG. 2, it will be noted that theratchet teeth 9, arranged in groups of seven, are relatively small, to provide many points of engagement with the protrusions in the lower part of theskirt 13 of inner closure 11. The ratchet teeth are also slightly truncated to reduce the amount of required lift of the ribs over the ratchet teeth without reducing their strength.

In FIG. 3, a bottle is shown with an off-set neck and an indented hand-hold 23. Normally the neck would be centrally located, but an off-set neck can be of value in making sure that only the proper bottle is discharged into a particular operation. Thus if, for example, 35 percent hydrogen peroxide were always furnished in this type of bottle, and the receiving chamber for the bottles was shaped to accomodate only this bottle, one could not inadvertently charge in the wrong material, even if supplied in a bottle which was similar except for the off-set feature.

FIG. 3 also shows a bottle wherein the outer removable cap has the usual right hand thread, but the inner, non-removable closure has a left hand thread. Although the inner cap is locked on, with the ratchet teeth in this case sloping upwardly from the neck in a counter-clockwise direction, and cannot be removed because of the ratchet, anyone attemping to unscrew the thread, and assuming a right hand thread had been used, particularly as the outer cap has a right hand thread, would unknowingly attempt to turn the closure in a direction to tighten it further.

In FIG. 4, gaspermeable membrane 6 having a thickness ranging from about 0.0005 to 0.005 inch is sandwiched betweenimpermeable films 7, each of which has a thickness ranging from 0.015 to 0.025 inch, which films, however, permit the escape of gas through slits 8. Of course, any type of opening or a multiplicity of openings can be used providing they are very small, so that the degree of support desired is not sacrificed.

The perspective drawing of FIG. 5, with the inner closure shown in cross section, portrays still another embodiment of our invention wherein theratchet teeth 9 encircling or partially encircling the neck are pyramidal in form, sloping outward and upward from the neck in the direction in which the inner closure is to be turned on tightening. These pyramidal teeth also slope outward from the neck in the direction away from the mouth of the bottle. Although theinward protrusions 14 from the skirt of the inner closure are shown as cooperating, inwardly extending ratchet teeth, these could alternately be ribs. ln this modification, the skirt of the inner closure flares outwardly to form a conical surface and conform to the slope of theratchet teeth 9. This inner conical surface of theskirt 13 would carry the ribs, spaced to cooperate with the ratchet teeth, and extending downwardly and outwardly on the conical surface. As with FIG. 1, the ratchet teeth, both on the bottle neck and in the closure can be discontinuous and grouped in accordance with molding requirements. A benefit of this form is to increase the area of contact between the protrusions and the ratchet teeth, hence to increase the strength of the lock obtained on tightening the closure. Furthermore, the lower portion of the skirt of the closure becomes thinner, thereby providing flexibility and resilience to increase the ease of application of the closure to the bottle. if desired, these pyramidal ratchet teeth can also be truncated as with the ratchet teeth of FIG. 2, thus increasing the ease of applying the cap still further, without appreciable loss of strength of the lock obtained.

A screw cap bottle fabricated to include the preferred embodiments of our invention may be described as follows:

A polyethylene bottle with a special neck finish. This neck has, at the top, a threaded finish. Below this threaded finish the neck is fitted with ratchets on two opposite sides. Below the ratchets the diameter of the neck is enlarged producing an unthreaded section terminating in a flat area, at which point the neck is further enlarged and equipped with a second threaded area.

An inner closure, or screw cap, sized to fit the upper threaded section of the neck finish described above is used. This cap is designed with a skirt fitted with locking ribs which engage the ratchets of the neck finish, permitting turning of the cap in the tightening direction only. The configuration of the ratchets on the neck of the bottle prevent removal of this cap.

A 34 inch circular opening isprovided in the top section of this cap. For liquids which do not require venting of vapors (for example, sulfuric acid), a 0.04 inch thick plastic liner is inserted in the cap prior to application to the bottle. This liner makes the primary seal.

For liquids which do require venting of vapors (for example, hydrogen peroxide, 30-37 percent) a composite liner is inserted in the cap prior to application to the bottle. This composite liner consists of a 0.001 inch thick polyethylene membrane permeable to vapor but not to liquid, sandwiched between two 0.02 inch thick impermeable polyethylene liners, each of the latter having a 0.1 inch long slit in the center. The vapor per meable liner prevents liquid leakage when the package is inverted and placed in a receiving chamber. The slit liners are to provide physical strength to prevent rupture of the permeable membrane by the weight of the liquid. The slits are to permit passage of vapor.

An outer screw cap is provided, sized to cover the entire neck of the bottle including the permanently installed inner cap described above. This outer closure or overcap is threaded at the bottom to fit the lower thread on the neck finish and is designed with a flat annular sealing area positioned to mate with the corresponding flat annular sealing area on the neck finish which is located below the encircling ratchet teeth.

The manner in which this new package may be used is as follows:

The overcap is removed and discarded exposing the permanently attached upper cap described above.

The bottle is inverted and placed in a container chamber of a machine with the neck protruding through an appropriately sized opening into a reservoir below. As the neck of the bottle is pushed into this opening, a pre-positioned, sharp metallic probe contacts the exposed plastic liner in the inner screw cap, puncturing the liner. The liquid then flows into the reservoir by gravity, stopping when the liquid level seals the neck of the bottle.

The plastic bottle of the present invention when emptied as above at a controlled rate, offers the following advantages:

A worker cannot, without destroying the package, remove the primary liquid seal, thus is not exposed to possible contact with a hazardous liquid contained therein. Since the package cannot be opened without destroying the seal, it cannot be reused, thus contamination of materials brought about by refilling containers, is avoided.

The primary seal is protected from accidental puncture during transportation by means of a protective overcap.

The discharge of the contents is accomplished in a closed system.

The structure of the package is such that discharge of the contents from the package by the method described, is self-regulated.

While we have described several embodiments of our invention, it will be understood that various modifications and changes can be made in the liquid container with the perforatable locking closure described, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

We claim:

1. A container for liquid materials comprising:

a. a reservoir for containing the material;

b. a cylindrical hollow neck extending from the reservoir and in communication therewith, forming the neck and mouth of the container for the charge and discharge of flowable materials;

c. said hollow cylindrical neck having a male thread on the upper portion thereof;

d. a readily perforatable plate for placement over the mouth of the container in sealed relationship therewith;

e. a multiplicity of ratchet teeth at least partially encircling the cylindrical neck below the male thread;

f. an inner screw closure, including the perforatable plate for the mouth of the container, said inner closure having a female thread for engaging the male thread on the neck of the container, said inner closure extending down over the neck of the container a sufficient distance to at least partially encompass the ratchet teeth, said inner closure also exposing a portion of the sealed perforatable plate, said inner screw closure having additionally a multiplicity of protrusions, projecting inwardly for cooperation with the ratchet teeth, said ratchet teeth being oriented with respect to the engaging threads so that when the inner closure is screwed on, the protrusions engage the ratchet teeth to permanently retain the inner closure in sealed relationship with the mouth of the container; g. an outer closure, sufficiently capacious as to completely enclose the inner closure, and having an annular surface for tight-fitting contact with a matching annular surface on an enlarged portion of the hollow neck below the ratchet teeth.

2. The container of claim 1 wherein the readily perforatable plate for placement over the mouth of the container and the inner closure including said perforatable plate are unitary, comprising a plastic cap, the top of which is a readily perforatable plate for coincidence with the mouth of the container.

3. The container of claim 1 wherein the inner screw closure comprises an inner screw cap having an opening in the top for coincidence with the mouth of the container, said opening being closed by the perforata= ble plate as a cap liner, said liner disposed within the cap for liquid-tight contact with the mouth of the container when pressed thereto by application of the screw cap to the container.

4. The container of claim 1 wherein the plate is a polymeric film having a thickness of no more than about 0.06 inch.

5. The container of claim 1 wherein the inner screw closure is a molded plastic cap, and the central portion of the top of the cap constitutes the perforatable plate, and is no more than about 0.06 inch thick.

6. The container of claim 1 wherein the readily perforatable plate is gas permeable, permitting the passage of vapor but not liquid, and wherein the outer closure has means to permit the release of said gas and vapor.

7. The container of claim 1 wherein the readily perforatable plate comprises a gas permeable plate permitting the passage of vapor but not liquid, supported by a plate of impermeable composition containing at least one small opening.

8. The container of claim I wherein the readily perforatable plate comprises a plastic membrane permeable to gas but not liquid, sandwiched between two impermeable films for support and where each impermeable film has a small opening for the escape of gas.

membrane has a thickness ranging between about 0.0005 and 0.005 inch, the impermeable films each have a thickness ranging between about 0.015 and 0.025 inch, and each of the impermeable films has a slit therethrough between about 0.05 and 0.3 inch in length.

10. The container of claim I wherein the ratchet teeth slope upwardly from the bottle neck in the direction in which the closure rotates when applied to the bottle.

11. The container of claim 10 wherein the ratchet teeth are pyramidal, sloping upwardly from the bottle neck in the direction in which the closure rotates when applied to the bottle.

12. The container of claim I wherein the encircling ratchet teeth are discontinuous, one or more teeth being separated by sections of the circle in which they are disposed, which have no ratchet teeth.

13. The container of claim 1 wherein the encircling ratchet teeth are arranged in two groups of between about three and I0 teeth arranged in diametric opposition.

9. The container of claim 8 wherein the permeable 14. The container ofclaim 1 wherein the multiplicity of protrusions projecting inwardly for cooperation with the ratchet teeth are inwardly projecting longitudinal ribs, parallel to the axis of the closure and spaced for cooperation with the ratchet teeth encircling the neck of the container.

15. The container of claim 1 wherein the multiplicity of protrusions of the inner closure for cooperation with the ratchet teeth, are also ratchet teeth, projecting inwardly, in a direction opposite to that in which the closure rotates when applied to the bottle for engagement with the corresponding ratchet teeth of the neck of the container.

16. The container of claim 1 wherein the outer closure is a molded outer plastic cap having a small opening through its wall at a point above the annular surface, to allow the escape of gas.

17. The container of claim 1 wherein the neck of the container is off-set with respect to the longitudinal axis of the container.

18. The container of claim 1 wherein the upper part of the neck, and the inner cap have a left hand thread.

19. In combination. a bottle for liquids fabricated of polymeric material comprising:

a. a reservoir for containing liquid;

b. a cylindrical hollow neck extending from the reservoir and in communication therewith, forming the neck and mouth of the bottle for the charge and discharge of liquids;

c. said hollow neck having on the upper portion of its outer cylindrical surface, a male thread;

cl. a thin plastic plate for placement over the mouth of the bottle in sealed relationship therewith, said plate being readily perforatable, and having a thickness of no more than about 0.6 inch;

. an inner plastic screw cap for the bottle for retaining the thin plate in sealed relationship with the mouth of the bottle, said inner screw cap comprising a top with an opening for exposing the central portion of the thin plate. a skirt extending downwardly to envelop the upper portion of the hollow neck, and at least partially encompass the ratchet teeth, said inner screw cap having additionally a multiplicity of protrusions projecting inwardly from the lower inner cylindrical surface of the skirt, beneath the female thread, for engagement with the ratchet teeth, said ratchet teeth being oriented with respect to the male threads so that the cap may be screwed on to retain the perforatable plate in a liquid seal relationship with the mouth of the bottle, but not unscrewed, because of the action of the ratchet teeth on the protrusions of the inner screw cap;

g. said hollow cylindrical neck having an enlarged portion below the ratchet teeth, said enlarged portion being substantially cylindrical, and having a right hand male thread on its outer cylindrical surface;

h. an outer screw cap having a female thread for engagement with the right hand male thread of the enlarged portion of the neck, said outer screw cap being sufficiently capacious to completely envelop the inner cap, and having an annular surface for liquid tight contact with a matching annular surface on the enlarged portion of the neck.

Claims (19)

1. A container for liquid materials comprising: a. a reservoir for containing the material; b. a cylindrical hollow neck extending from the reservoir and in communication therewith, forming the neck and mouth of the container for the cHarge and discharge of flowable materials; c. said hollow cylindrical neck having a male thread on the upper portion thereof; d. a readily perforatable plate for placement over the mouth of the container in sealed relationship therewith; e. a multiplicity of ratchet teeth at least partially encircling the cylindrical neck below the male thread; f. an inner screw closure, including the perforatable plate for the mouth of the container, said inner closure having a female thread for engaging the male thread on the neck of the container, said inner closure extending down over the neck of the container a sufficient distance to at least partially encompass the ratchet teeth, said inner closure also exposing a portion of the sealed perforatable plate, said inner screw closure having additionally a multiplicity of protrusions, projecting inwardly for cooperation with the ratchet teeth, said ratchet teeth being oriented with respect to the engaging threads so that when the inner closure is screwed on, the protrusions engage the ratchet teeth to permanently retain the inner closure in sealed relationship with the mouth of the container; g. an outer closure, sufficiently capacious as to completely enclose the inner closure, and having an annular surface for tight-fitting contact with a matching annular surface on an enlarged portion of the hollow neck below the ratchet teeth.

2. The container of claim 1 wherein the readily perforatable plate for placement over the mouth of the container and the inner closure including said perforatable plate are unitary, comprising a plastic cap, the top of which is a readily perforatable plate for coincidence with the mouth of the container.

3. The container of claim 1 wherein the inner screw closure comprises an inner screw cap having an opening in the top for coincidence with the mouth of the container, said opening being closed by the perforatable plate as a cap liner, said liner disposed within the cap for liquid-tight contact with the mouth of the container when pressed thereto by application of the screw cap to the container.

4. The container of claim 1 wherein the plate is a polymeric film having a thickness of no more than about 0.06 inch.

5. The container of claim 1 wherein the inner screw closure is a molded plastic cap, and the central portion of the top of the cap constitutes the perforatable plate, and is no more than about 0.06 inch thick.

6. The container of claim 1 wherein the readily perforatable plate is gas permeable, permitting the passage of vapor but not liquid, and wherein the outer closure has means to permit the release of said gas and vapor.

7. The container of claim 1 wherein the readily perforatable plate comprises a gas permeable plate permitting the passage of vapor but not liquid, supported by a plate of impermeable composition containing at least one small opening.

8. The container of claim 1 wherein the readily perforatable plate comprises a plastic membrane permeable to gas but not liquid, sandwiched between two impermeable films for support and where each impermeable film has a small opening for the escape of gas.

9. The container of claim 8 wherein the permeable membrane has a thickness ranging between about 0.0005 and 0.005 inch, the impermeable films each have a thickness ranging between about 0.015 and 0.025 inch, and each of the impermeable films has a slit therethrough between about 0.05 and 0.3 inch in length.

10. The container of claim 1 wherein the ratchet teeth slope upwardly from the bottle neck in the direction in which the closure rotates when applied to the bottle.

11. The container of claim 10 wherein the ratchet teeth are pyramidal, sloping upwardly from the bottle neck in the direction in which the closure rotates when applied to the bottle.

12. The container of claim 1 wherein the encircling ratchet teeth are discontinuous, one or more teeth being separated by sections of the circle in which theY are disposed, which have no ratchet teeth.

13. The container of claim 1 wherein the encircling ratchet teeth are arranged in two groups of between about three and 10 teeth arranged in diametric opposition.

14. The container of claim 1 wherein the multiplicity of protrusions projecting inwardly for cooperation with the ratchet teeth are inwardly projecting longitudinal ribs, parallel to the axis of the closure and spaced for cooperation with the ratchet teeth encircling the neck of the container.

15. The container of claim 1 wherein the multiplicity of protrusions of the inner closure for cooperation with the ratchet teeth, are also ratchet teeth, projecting inwardly, in a direction opposite to that in which the closure rotates when applied to the bottle for engagement with the corresponding ratchet teeth of the neck of the container.

16. The container of claim 1 wherein the outer closure is a molded outer plastic cap having a small opening through its wall at a point above the annular surface, to allow the escape of gas.

17. The container of claim 1 wherein the neck of the container is off-set with respect to the longitudinal axis of the container.

18. The container of claim 1 wherein the upper part of the neck, and the inner cap have a left hand thread.

19. In combination, a bottle for liquids fabricated of polymeric material comprising: a. a reservoir for containing liquid; b. a cylindrical hollow neck extending from the reservoir and in communication therewith, forming the neck and mouth of the bottle for the charge and discharge of liquids; c. said hollow neck having on the upper portion of its outer cylindrical surface, a male thread; d. a thin plastic plate for placement over the mouth of the bottle in sealed relationship therewith, said plate being readily perforatable, and having a thickness of no more than about 0.6 inch; e. an inner plastic screw cap for the bottle for retaining the thin plate in sealed relationship with the mouth of the bottle, said inner screw cap comprising a top with an opening for exposing the central portion of the thin plate, a skirt extending downwardly to envelop the upper portion of the hollow neck, and at least partially encompass the ratchet teeth, said inner screw cap having additionally a multiplicity of protrusions projecting inwardly from the lower inner cylindrical surface of the skirt, beneath the female thread, for engagement with the ratchet teeth, said ratchet teeth being oriented with respect to the male threads so that the cap may be screwed on to retain the perforatable plate in a liquid seal relationship with the mouth of the bottle, but not unscrewed, because of the action of the ratchet teeth on the protrusions of the inner screw cap; g. said hollow cylindrical neck having an enlarged portion below the ratchet teeth, said enlarged portion being substantially cylindrical, and having a right hand male thread on its outer cylindrical surface; h. an outer screw cap having a female thread for engagement with the right hand male thread of the enlarged portion of the neck, said outer screw cap being sufficiently capacious to completely envelop the inner cap, and having an annular surface for liquid tight contact with a matching annular surface on the enlarged portion of the neck.

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