Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6257463
-
Patent Number
6,257,463
-
Date Filed
Friday, May 26, 200024 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, July 10, 200123 years ago
-
Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
Agents
- Modiano; Guido
- Josif; Albert
- O' Byrne; Daniel
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
An aseptic closure for containers of liquids comprising a main body provided with a threaded ring, which is designed to be associated with a neck of a container and from which there protrudes a tubular projection which is coupled to an upper closure. A step protrudes from the inside wall of the projection, proximate to the main body, and forms a passage hole which is controlled by a flow control element which is monolithic, by means of radial supporting bridges, with respect to the upper closure; the upper closure has a tubular structure and can slide axially along the projection from a lowered position, which closes the hole because the flow control element forms a seal against its wall, to a raised position for opening the hole for the passage of the liquid.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an aseptic closure for containers of liquids, particularly beverages.
It is well-known that there is a strongly felt need to provide containers for beverages with aseptic closures which allow to remove part of the contents and then ensure adequate sealing upon re-closure.
This is the case, for example, of containers for sodium replenishment beverages, i.e., beverages rich in mineral salts, which are widely used and appreciated by people who practice sports and need to replace the substances lost with perspiration.
In particular, the user must not be forced to drink the beverage all at once; the closure, after being opened, must allow re-closure so that the beverage can be preserved and can be consumed over a short period of time, keeping its characteristics unchanged.
The containers are normally constituted by a bottle-shaped container which has a neck and an opening through which the beverage is automatically introduced during packaging; a closure is subsequently fixed in order to provide aseptic closure.
Currently, one type of these closures is constituted by a main body which is provided with a threaded ring and must be screwed onto the neck of the container; a tubular projection protrudes axially from the main body.
The projection is coupled to an upper closure which is also tubular and can slide externally along the projection.
The upper closure is shaped complementarily to the projection and is provided with a flat wall in which there is provided a central hole through which the beverage can flow out.
Radial bridges protrude from the internal walls of the projection, proximate to its upper end, and support an internal island which is coaxial to the projection and whose dimensions conveniently match those of the hole formed in the upper closure and are such as to have no slack.
In this way, the aseptic closure is perfectly closed when the upper closure, which can slide along the projection, is lowered completely and the hole formed in the wall is closed hermetically by the island arranged inside the projection.
In order to make the beverage flow out from the container, it is instead sufficient to slide upward the upper closure, so as to release the internal island, disengaging it from the rims of the hole.
Once the user has lifted the upper closure, he can drink directly by bringing the closure to his mouth.
The main body of the closure is normally screwed onto the neck of the container, and as a guarantee of the integrity of the package it can be disengaged from the container only after separating it, by tearing, from a strip-ring of the per se known type, which is inserted so as to wrap around the neck of the container.
The upper closure is further provided with a cap-like closure element which covers it, so as to protect the region that is placed in the user's mouth.
The above-described closure effectively performs its task, but unfortunately suffers the drawback of making the sterilization step difficult.
According to statutory provisions, the beverage must in fact be stored in a fully sterilized environment and accordingly the inside of the closure must be sterilized beforehand, before it is screwed onto the neck of the container.
This sterilization is normally performed by spraying sanitizing liquid, but due to the presence of the radial bridges and of the internal disk which protrude monolithically from the upper end of the projection, the liquid is never able to reach all the internal points of the closure.
Up to now, this drawback has been dealt with by separating the liquid, which must be confined inside the container alone, from the closure, by providing on the opening of the neck a disk made of a paper-aluminum bonded material which acts as a diaphragm and is fixed, for example, along the rims by gluing.
In this manner, the liquid remains inside the container and cannot access the internal region of the closure, unless the paper-aluminum disk is removed after tearing the strip-ring and unscrewing the main body of the closure.
This operation is in any case awkward for the user.
Another type of conventional closure comprises a main body provided with a threaded ring, arranged to be associated with the neck of a container, from which a tubular projection protrudes which is coupled to an upper closure.
Proximate to the main body, radial bridges protrude from the internal wall of the projection and support an internal island so as to form, together with the island, axial channels for the passage of the liquid of the container.
The upper closure is tubular and forms, with its lower end, an annular flow control element which provides a seal between the outer wall of the island and the internal wall of the tubular projection.
While solving the above-cited sterilization problems (when the upper closure is lowered, the liquid passage channels are closed by the flow control element and the sanitizing liquid encounters the internal island, the radial bridges and the flow control element), the above-described closure has given rise to other problems linked to the double sealing wall, which does not always ensure a hermetic seal due to molding tolerances.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The aim of the present invention is to provide an aseptic closure for containers of liquids which solves all the above-described drawbacks.
An object of the present invention is to provide a closure which can be easily sterilized internally with sanitizing liquid according to per se known methods.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a closure for containers which allows repeated opening and closure.
A further object of the present invention is to provide an aseptic closure for containers which can be provided by means of a very simple structure.
Still a further object is to provide an aseptic closure which does not require the use of paper-aluminum disks.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a closure for containers which ensures good durability and strength over time, in accordance with the requirements of the user.
Still a further object is to provide an aseptic closure for containers which can give the user assurance, at the time of purchase, of the integrity of the container, so that it is certain that that package has never been opened before.
Still a further object of the present invention is to provide an aseptic closure for containers which can be manufactured at costs which can be compared to those of conventional closures.
This aim and these and other objects which will better become apparent hereinafter are achieved by an aseptic closure for containers of liquids according to the present invention, comprising a main body provided with a threaded ring, which is designed to be associated with a neck of a container and from which a tubular projection protrudes which is coupled to an upper closure, characterized in that a step protrudes from an inside wall of said projection, proximate to the main body, and forms a passage hole which is controlled by a flow control element which is monolithic, by means of radial supporting bridges, with respect to said upper closure, said upper closure having a tubular structure and being able to slide axially along said projection from a lowered position, which closes said hole because said flow control element forms a seal against said wall, to a raised position for opening said hole for the passage of the liquid.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become better apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof, illustrated only by way of non-limitative example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:
FIG. 1
is a side view of an aseptic closure for containers of liquids according to the present invention, in the operating configuration;
FIG. 2
is a perspective view of the aseptic closure of
FIG. 1
, in the closed configuration;
FIG. 3
is a perspective view of the closure of
FIG. 1
in the open configuration;
FIG. 4
is a sectional view, taken along a longitudinal plane, of the aseptic closure of
FIG. 1
in the closed configuration;
FIG. 5
is a bottom view of the aseptic closure of
FIG. 4
;
FIG. 6
is a sectional view, taken along a transverse plane, of the aseptic closure shown in
FIG. 3
in the open configuration;
FIG. 7
is a bottom perspective view of a component of the aseptic closure.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
With reference to the above figures, an aseptic closure for containers according to the present invention is generally designated by the reference numeral
10
and comprises a main body
11
provided with a threaded ring, from one end of which a first annular plane
12
and a second annular plane
13
protrude; the second annular plane is raised and coaxial to the first plane.
A tubular projection
14
protrudes monolithically from the second annular plane and is coaxial to the main body
11
; its dimensions are conveniently smaller than those of the second plane
13
.
A thread
15
is formed on the internal wall of the main body
11
for screwing against the neck
16
of a container
17
, while a lip
18
protrudes internally from the first annular plane
12
; the lip also has a cylindrical annular shape and forms, together with the remaining body
11
, a seat
19
for accommodating the end rims of the neck
16
.
A base region
20
, contiguous to the main body
11
, and an upper end
21
can be identified on the projection
14
.
A step
22
protrudes from the inside wall of the projection at the base region
20
and delimits a passage hole
23
which is controlled by a cylindrical flow control element
24
, which is monolithic with respect to an upper closure
25
by means of radial supporting bridges
24
a
which in any case leave liquid passage regions.
The wall of the hole
23
ends, in a downward region, with a lip
23
a
(which protrudes downward from the plane
13
) which is elastically flexible and has a slightly narrower diameter than the rest of the hole
23
and than the flow control element
24
.
The lid
23
a
therefore ensures the seal on the flow control element
24
by deforming elastically when the flow control element passes completely through the hole
23
.
The closure
25
has a double-tube structure and comprises, in practice, a cylindrical wall
26
which lies outside the projection
14
and a wall
27
which is arranged inside it; both walls are monolithic with respect to an annular upper flange
28
.
An annular guiding slot
30
is provided between walls
26
and
27
; its dimensions are adapted to contain the projection
14
for the sliding of the upper closure
25
along the projection
14
.
The flow control element
24
provides a closure seal against the wall of the hole
23
, since it is conveniently shaped complementarily.
At the upper end
21
of the projection
14
there is provided a first annular stroke limiting raised portion
32
which protrudes outward.
A second annular raised portion
33
protrudes inward correspondingly from the wall
26
of the upper closure
25
so as to limit the annular guiding slot
30
.
In this way, the upper closure
25
can slide along the projection
14
, rising until the second raised portion
33
abuts against the first stroke limiting raised portion
32
and is locked by it so as to prevent its disengagement from the projection
14
.
The locking, however, is not fixed, since the upper closure
25
can be removed by forcing it appropriately.
A third annular raised portion
34
protrudes outward at an intermediate portion from the wall of the projection
14
so as to limit the guiding slot
30
; the third annular raised portion is smaller than the first annular raised portion
32
and the second annular raised portion
33
and constitutes a stop element for the closure and opening of the hole
23
.
When the aseptic closure
10
is closed, the upper closure
25
is in fact lowered and the flow control element
24
closes the hole
23
, forming the appropriate seal with the internal wall thereof.
In order to open the closure
10
, it is necessary to lift the upper closure
25
, making it slide along the projection
14
, whose wall is accommodated in the annular guiding slot
30
, after making the second raised portion
33
move beyond the third raised retention portion
34
.
Likewise, in order to re-close the closure
10
it is necessary to lower the upper closure
25
, making the second raised portion
33
move beyond the third raised retention portion
34
, so that the flow control element
24
closes the hole
23
.
An annular raised portion
38
protrudes outward at the lower part of the wall
27
and forms a seal against the inside wall of the projection
14
, so that when the upper closure
25
is raised and the liquid is poured none of the liquid can enter the slot
30
and therefore flow out under the wall
26
.
The main body
11
is fixed to a first strip-ring
35
, which is conveniently inserted so as to wrap around the neck
16
of the container
17
, so that it guarantees the integrity of the container
17
.
Finally, the closure
10
is completed by a cap-shaped covering element which is adapted to cover the upper closure
25
and whose rims rest at the outer profile of the second annular plane
13
of the main body
11
.
The covering element
36
has a cylindrical axial internal projection
36
a
which enters the wall
27
.
The covering element
36
also is fixed to a second strip-ring
37
, which is associated so as to wrap around the raised portion of the second annular plane
13
of the main body
11
.
The second strip-ring
37
gives the user of the container
17
assurance of the integrity of the container, since the upper closure
25
cannot be lifted without tearing the covering element
36
away from the second strip-ring
37
.
Thanks to the structure of the aseptic closure
10
, sterilization can be performed very simply.
When the upper closure
25
is lowered, the hole
23
is in fact closed by the flow control element
24
and the sanitizing liquid sprayed inside the closure
10
encounters, at the base region
20
of the projection
14
, a substantially flat surface constituted by the flow control element
24
and by the annular plane
13
.
As regards the closure seal, it is provided on a single surface; this allows to provide a hermetic closure, ensured by the lip
23
a.
In practice it has been observed that the present invention widely achieves the intended aim and objects.
In particular, an important advantage is achieved with the present invention in that an aseptic closure for containers of liquids has been provided which allows repeated closures and re-openings and a sterilization process according to conventional methods and with conventional equipment.
Another advantage is achieved with the present invention in that an aseptic closure has been provided which has a simple and reliable structure.
Another advantage has been achieved in that an aseptic closure has been provided which can be manufactured at costs which are comparable to those of conventional closures.
The present invention is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the same inventive concept.
Moreover, the materials employed, so long as they are compatible with the contingent use, as well as the dimensions, may be any according to requirements.
All the details may be replaced with other technically equivalent elements.
The disclosures in Italian Patent Application No. PD99A000142 from which this application claims priority are incorporated herein by reference.
Claims
- 1. An aseptic closure for containers of liquids, comprising a main body provided with a threaded ring, which is arranged to be associated with a neck of a container and from which a tubular projection protrudes which is coupled to an upper closure, wherein a step protrudes from an inside wall of said projection, proximate to the main body, and forms a passage hole which is controlled by a flow control element which is monolithic, by means of radial supporting bridges, with respect to said upper closure, said upper closure having a tubular structure and being able to slide axially along said projection from a lowered position, which closes said hole because said flow control element forms a seal against its wall, to a raised position for opening said hole for the passage of the liquid.
- 2. The aseptic closure according to claim 1, wherein said flow control element has a cylindrical structure at least at a portion to be inserted in said hole.
- 3. The aseptic closure according to claim 1, wherein the wall of said passage hole ends, in a downward region, with a flexible lip which has a slightly smaller diameter than said flow control element.
- 4. The aseptic closure according to claim 1, wherein said upper closure is shaped like a double tube, which comprises a cylindrical wall which lies outside said projection and said wall which is monolithic with respect to said flow control element and is internal to said projection, said projections being monolithic with respect to an annular upper flange.
- 5. The aseptic closure according to claim 4, wherein a first annular raised stroke limiting portion protrudes outward at an upper end from said tubular projection, and a second annular raised portion protrudes inward from the external cylindrical wall of said closure at an intermediate portion, said closure being able to slide along said projection so as to be lifted until said second annular raised portion abuts against said first one, so as to prevent its disengagement.
- 6. The aseptic closure according to claim 5, wherein a third annular raised portion protrudes outward from said tubular projection at an intermediate portion in order to retain said second raised portion when said upper closure is completely lowered.
- 7. The aseptic closure according to claim 4, wherein an annular raised portion for forming a seal against the inside wall of said projection protrudes outward at a lower part of the internal wall which is monolithic with respect to said flow control element.
- 8. The aseptic closure according to claim 1, wherein said main body is fixed, at its free end, to a strip-ring which is inserted so as to wrap around the neck of said container in order to ensure the integrity of the container.
- 9. The aseptic closure according to claim 1, wherein said tubular projection is provided with a cap-shaped covering element whose rims abut, during closure, against an annular plane which is monolithic to said main body.
- 10. The aseptic closure according to claim 9, wherein said covering element is fixed to a strip ring which is inserted so as to laterally wrap around a portion of said main body so as to ensure the integrity of said closure.
- 11. The aseptic closure according to claim 9, wherein said covering element has an axial cylindrical internal projection which enters the internal wall of said upper closure, against which it forms a seal.
Priority Claims (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
Kind |
PD99A0142 |
Jun 1999 |
IT |
|
US Referenced Citations (4)
Foreign Referenced Citations (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
0 909 718 |
Apr 1999 |
EP |