Patent Application
20240391649
The invention relates to a cap for a container, which is particularly obtainable by moulding a polymeric material. The cap according to the invention is particularly suitable for closing containers such as bottles, in particular intended to contain carbonated beverages, for example beverages to which carbon dioxide has been added, although it may be used for closing bottles containing other types of liquid, for example liquids without carbon dioxide or liquids pressurised with nitrogen (N2), or for closing other containers.
Caps for containers are known, which comprise a cylindrical lateral wall or skirt on an inner surface of which one or more anchoring elements are made, for example threads, suitable for allowing the cap to be removably fastened to a neck of the container. The prior art caps furthermore comprise a flat upper wall, having a substantially circular shape in plan view, from which the cylindrical lateral wall projects.
One or more sealing lips may project from the flat upper wall, the sealing lip(s) extending towards the inside of the cap and being intended to engage with a container neck, so as to obstruct passage of substances from the inside of the container to the outside or vice versa.
It is desirable that the caps for containers have a sufficient rigidity to keep the container well closed even in the presence of deformations which may occur during the life of the container closed by the cap. More specifically, relatively high pressures may be generated inside the container, for example because the container is exposed to relatively high temperatures, or because the container is accidentally deformed and crushed.
It is further desirable that the cap guarantees good sealing properties, that is to say, it prevents the escape of substances contained in the container and the entry into the container of extraneous substances coming from the outside environment.
Lastly, in recent years, the need has been increasingly felt to reduce the consumption of synthetic polymeric material with which the cap is made, for reasons linked to the protection of the environment and the reduction of pollution.
Some examples of prior art caps are disclosed in WO 2017/139902, JP 2013-129430, US 2015/129534, EP 0076778.
An object of the invention is to improve the caps for containers, in particular but not exclusively, the caps intended to close containers in which gaseous substances are present.
Another object is to provide a cap for a container which possesses a good structural rigidity.
A further object is to provide a cap for a container which is able to close the container in a substantially hermetic manner.
Another object is to provide a cap made of polymeric material, in which the consumption of polymeric material compared with the prior art caps is reduced.
According to the invention, there is provided a cap for a container, comprising an end wall, a skirt which extends about an axis, a corner zone interposed between the end wall and the skirt, the corner zone comprising a first wall portion which projects from the skirt towards the inside of the cap and a second wall portion which protrudes from the end wall and joins the first wall portion, wherein the cap further comprises an annular sealing lip which extends towards a free edge of the skirt from a region in which the first wall portion is joined to the second wall portion.
The annular sealing lip is suitable for engaging, in use, with the neck of the container, by coming into contact with an outer lateral surface of the neck, in such a way that a sealing action is exerted between the annular sealing lip of the cap and the outer lateral surface of the neck.
Thus, the annular sealing lip gives the cap good sealing properties, since it is able to engage with the outer lateral surface of the neck not only when the cap is undeformed, but also when the cap deforms, for example because a relatively high pressure has been generated inside the container.
The first wall portion and the second wall portion define a step on an outer surface of the corner zone.
The step makes it possible to eliminate material in a connecting zone between the end wall and the skirt, thus guaranteeing a saving in the use of polymeric material with respect to the case in which the end wall is joined to the skirt along a full corner.
In an embodiment, the edge zone may have a plurality of outer ribs.
The outer ribs may be distributed along the step defined by the first wall portion and by the second wall portion.
The outer ribs, if present, guarantee a good rigidity of the cap and prevent excessive deformations.
The invention can be better understood and implemented with reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate non-limiting example versions thereof and in which:
The cap 1 is made of polymeric material, for example by moulding. In particular, the cap 1 may be made by injection moulding or compression moulding, although other production technologies are not to be excluded. The cap 1 comprises a lateral wall or skirt 2, which extends about an axis Z. According to the example shown, the skirt 2 is substantially cylindrical. When the cap 1 is applied on a neck of the container, the skirt 2 is substantially vertical.
The skirt 2 is provided, on an inner surface thereof, with one or more anchoring elements 3 which allow the cap 1 to be removably fixed to a neck of the container to be closed. According to the example shown, the anchoring elements 3 comprise a plurality of portions of thread suitable for engaging with corresponding threads made on the neck of the container.
According to an alternative embodiment not illustrated, the anchoring elements 3 may have a shape different from the portions of thread shown in
The cap 1 further comprises an end wall 4 positioned transversally, in particular perpendicularly, to the axis Z. The end wall 4 is substantially flat and has a substantially circular shape in plan view.
The end wall 4 closes the skirt 2 at one end of the skirt 2. At a further end of the skirt 2 opposite the end closed by the end wall 4, the skirt 2 has a free edge 30.
When the cap 1 is applied on a container neck, the end wall 4 is positioned at a height greater than the skirt 2, so as to close an open upper end of the container. The end wall 4 may therefore be defined as an upper wall of the cap 1, the adjective “upper” referring to the position of the end wall 4 during use.
An corner zone 5 is interposed between the skirt 2 and the end wall 4. The corner zone 5 is shown in detail in the enlarged portion of
The corner zone 5 comprises a first wall portion 6 which projects towards the inside of the cap 1 from the skirt 2. The first wall portion 6 extends about the axis Z. The first wall portion of 6 is positioned transversally relative to the axis Z. The first wall portion 6 projects towards the inside of the cap 1, that is to say, towards the axis Z, from an upper edge zone of the skirt 2.
The first wall portion 6 is tilted relative to the skirt 2.
The first wall portion 6 has an overall shape like a truncated cone or a substantially flat circular crown, concentric with the axis Z.
The corner zone 5 further comprises a second wall portion 7 which is interposed between the first wall portion 6 and the end wall 4. More specifically, the second wall portion 7 connects the first wall portion 6 to a peripheral edge of the end wall 4.
Also the second wall portion 7 extends about the axis Z.
The second wall portion 7 has an inclination different from the first wall portion 6. In particular, the second wall portion 7 may be less tilted, that is to say, arranged in a configuration closer to a vertical configuration, than the first wall portion 6. The adjective “vertical” is used here with reference to the position which the cap adopts when it is applied on a container, in which the axis Z is substantially vertical and the end wall 4 is positioned at a height greater than the skirt 2.
According to the example shown, the second wall portion 7 is substantially vertical.
The first wall portion 6 may have a thickness which decreases from the skirt 2 towards the second wall portion 7, or a substantially constant thickness.
The first wall portion 6 and the second wall portion 7, which have different inclinations to each other, define a step in the corner zone 5, in particular on an outer surface of the corner zone 5.
The term “step” does not imply that the first wall portion 6 and the second wall portion 7 are substantially perpendicular to each other, as shown for example in
In a cross section taken on a plane containing the axis Z, the first wall portion 6 extends transversely to the second wall portion 7.
The cap 1 comprises an annular sealing lip 8 which projects towards the free edge 30 from a region in which the first wall portion 6 is joined to the second wall portion 7. The annular sealing lip 8 protrudes towards the at least one anchoring element 3 inside the cap 1 to engage with a neck of the container on which the cap 1 is applied, as described in more detail below.
The annular sealing lip 8 extends about the axis Z. More specifically, in the example shown the annular sealing lip 8 extends mainly parallel to the axis Z. If the cap 1 is positioned as shown in
The annular sealing lip 8 extends like a continuation of the second wall portion 7 towards the inside of the cap 1. The annular sealing lip 8 is delimited by an inner surface 9 which defines a continuation, without discontinuity, of an inner surface 10 delimiting the second wall portion 7 inside the cap 1.
The annular sealing lip 8 protrudes towards the free edge 30 relative to the first wall portion 6.
The annular sealing lip 8 has a thickness which decreases towards the free edge 30.
Optionally, the inner surface 9 which delimits the annular sealing lip 8 is a curved surface, for example having an internal diameter which increases in a direction directed from the end wall 4 towards the free edge 30.
The annular sealing lip 8 is further delimited by an outer surface 11 which may, for example, have the shape of a cylinder coaxial with the axis Z, or a truncated cone shape.
In the example of
The inner surface 9 of the annular sealing lip 8 is suitable for engaging with an outer lateral surface of the neck of the container, in order to apply a sealing action in contact with the neck of the container.
The cap 1 may comprise a plurality of outer ribs 12 arranged in the corner zone 5 outside the first wall portion 6 and the second wall portion 7. Each outer rib 12 joins the first wall portion 6 to the second wall portion 7.
The outer ribs 12 have a substantially flat shape. Each outer rib 12 extends mainly in a plane containing the axis Z. The outer ribs 12 are therefore radial ribs.
The outer ribs 12 have a rounded outer profile.
The outer ribs 12 have a thickness which is substantially constant between one rib and the other, as well as along the single rib.
The outer ribs 12 may be angularly equidistant.
The outer ribs 12 protrude outwards from the step defined between the first wall portion 6 and the second wall portion 7.
A recess 13 is interposed between two consecutive outer ribs 12.
Each recess 13 is delimited by the first wall portion 6 and by the second wall portion 7, as well as by the two outer ribs 12 between which it is interposed.
Consequently, it is possible to identify, in the corner zone 5 of the cap 1, a plurality of recesses 13 which can be distributed in an angularly equidistant manner about the axis Z.
The recesses 13 may have an angular extension about the axis Z equal between one recess 13 and the other.
The outer ribs 12 are optional. According to an embodiment not illustrated, the outer ribs 12 might be absent.
The cap 1 may further be provided with an inner sealing element 14, having an annular shape, which projects from the end wall 4 towards the inside of the cap 1, more specifically towards the free edge 30. The inner sealing element 14 is suitable for being inserted inside the neck of the container to sealingly engage with the inner lateral surface of the neck. In particular, the inner sealing element 14 may be delimited by a convex sealing surface 15 for coming into contact with the lateral inner surface of the neck of the container.
The inner sealing element 14 is positioned inside the annular sealing lip 8, that is to say, it has an average diameter less than the average diameter of the annular sealing lip 8.
The inner sealing element 14 has a height H1 greater than the height of the annular sealing element 8. This means that the inner sealing element 14 has a free end 18 closer to the free edge 30 with respect to an end 19 of the annular sealing lip 8.
The cap 1 may comprise a front sealing element 20, shaped like an annular protrusion which projects from the end wall 4 towards the inside of the cap 1. The front sealing element 20 is interposed between the annular sealing lip 8 and the inner sealing element 14. In other words, the front sealing element 20 has an average diameter less than the annular sealing lip 8, but greater than the average diameter of the inner sealing element 14.
The front sealing element 20 is shorter than the annular sealing lip 8 and the inner sealing element 14, so as to engage with an upper edge 39 of the neck of the container, shown in
In an embodiment, the front sealing element 20 may be omitted.
Knurling lines 21 may be present on an outer surface of the skirt 2 to make it simpler both to apply the cap 1 to a container in an automatic capping line and to grip the cap 1 by the user, when the cap 1 must be removed from the container or applied to the container.
The knurling lines 21 may have the shape of rows in relief which project from the outer surface of the skirt 2, parallel to the axis Z.
As shown in
Alternatively, the knurling lines 21 may be distributed according to other arrangements, for example they can be distributed equidistantly about the axis Z.
The knurling lines 21 may extend as a continuation, along the skirt 2, of all or a part of the outer ribs 12. In the latter case, as shown in
Furthermore, at least one separation line 23, shown in
Alternatively, the separation line 23 may be defined by one or more portions of thin thickness in which the material forming the cap 1 has a thickness less than in the rest of the skirt 2.
The separation line 2 may be obtained in different ways, for example by a cutting operation performed after the cap 1 has been moulded, or directly during moulding.
The tamper evident ring 24 may comprise an annular band 26, delimited by the separation line 23 and extending up to the free edge 30. The tamper evident ring 24 may further comprise a retaining element 27, suitable for engaging with the neck of the container to prevent the tamper evident ring 24 from being removed from the container when the container is opened for the first time. According to the example shown, the retaining element 27 comprises a flap connected to the annular band 26 at the free edge 30 and folded upwards inside the cap 1, so as to be surrounded by the annular band 26. The retaining element 27 is suitable for interacting with an annular protrusion located outside the neck of the container.
The retaining element 27 may also be shaped differently from what is indicated in
The cap 1 may have one or more vent passages 28, one of which is shown in
As an alternative to the vent passage 28 of the type described above, or in addition to the vent passage 28, it is possible to provide one or more partial interruptions 29 which, as shown in
The partial interruptions 29 have a vent function, that is to say, they allow the escape of gas possibly present in the container, even though in a more limited manner than the vent passages 28.
The partial interruptions 29 may be positioned in respective angular positions, about the axis Z, different from the angular positions in which the vent passages 28 are positioned.
The cap 1 is intended to be applied on a neck 31 of a container, as shown in
The neck 31, which is also visible in
As shown in
Between the annular element 32 and the fixing arrangement 34 an annular enlargement 33 is interposed, the annular enlargement 33 projecting outwards from the neck 31 and being suitable for engaging with the retaining element 27 of the tamper evident ring 24, as described in more detail below.
In use, the container is filled with the liquid or another desired substance, after which the cap 1 is applied on the neck 31.
The anchoring elements 13 engage with the fastening arrangement 34 to keep the cap 1 in a closed position.
The retaining element 27 made on the tamper evident ring 24 is positioned below the annular enlargement 33.
The annular sealing lip 8 is positioned outside the neck 31, that is to say, it surrounds an end portion of the neck 31.
The inner surface 9 of the annular sealing lip 8 is in contact with an outer lateral surface of the neck 31. In particular, the annular sealing lip 8, which is flexible, may bend slightly outwards when it engages with the neck 31.
The inner sealing element 14 is positioned inside the neck 31, in such a way that the convex sealing surface 15 is in contact with an inner lateral surface of the neck 31. More specifically, the inner sealing element 14 may bend towards the inside when it is inserted inside the neck 31.
An end portion of the neck 31 is thus inserted between the annular sealing lip 8 and the inner sealing element 14.
An upper edge of the neck 31 abuts against the front sealing element 20 which, if present, ensures that the neck 31 has penetrated in the cap 1 by the correct amount.
The annular sealing lip 8, the inner sealing element 14 and the front sealing element 20 prevent the substances, particularly gaseous ones, present inside the container from escaping into the outside environment and, at the same time, prevent the substances present in the outside environment from entering the container. The integrity and properties of the liquid or other substance present in the container are thus preserved.
The cap 1 is able to close the container in a substantially hermetic manner even when pressures develop inside the container such as to cause a swelling of the cap 1, in particular of the end wall 4 which, as shown in
More specifically, the annular sealing lip 8 and the inner sealing element 14 remain in contact with the neck 31 even when the pressure inside the container increases until causing detachment of the front sealing element 20 from the neck 31, more specifically from the upper edge 39 of the neck 31, as shown in
The inner sealing element 14 also deforms, for example adopting a tilted configuration in a different manner from that shown in
Owing to the recesses 13, the first wall portion 6 and the second wall portion 7 allow a corner zone 5 to be obtained which is lightened relative to the case in which the corner zone 5 is solid, that is to say, where no recesses 13 are provided between consecutive outer ribs 12. This makes it possible to limit the quantity of polymeric material to be used for producing the cap 1.
The outer ribs 12 allow the corner zone 5 to be stiffened, ensuring that the rigidity is sufficient practically for the main industrial requirements.
Moreover, the first wall portion 6 guarantees a good resistance in cases in which the skirt 2 tends to widen, for example because it is pushed towards the outside due to the effect of the thermal expansion of the neck 31, linked to the high temperatures to which the neck 31 can be subjected. Given the tilted configuration of the first wall portion 6, in order to deform the first wall portion 6 it is necessary that a component of the force applied to the first wall portion 6 compresses the first wall portion 6 in its direction of main extension, that is to say, transversely to the axis Z, which requires relatively high forces.
Both in the cap 1 shown in
When the container closed by the cap 1, 101 is stored, for example inside a storage unit or a container, high temperatures may be reached, even greater than 50° C., due in particular to exposure to the sun or the high external temperatures.
At these temperatures, the material which forms the neck 31 can soften, especially if the container is made of amorphous materials such as polyethylene terephthalate. The cap, which is usually made of semi-crystalline materials, which maintain a greater rigidity even at relatively high temperatures, is, on the other hand, stiffer and, under the action of high pressures generated inside the container, can deform and thus deform the neck 31, damaging it.
In order to prevent this from happening, it is possible to select, during the design of the cap, the thickness of the end wall 4 in such a way that the end wall 4 allows the gases present in the container to escape at least partly, so that the pressure present in the container decreases and permanent damage to the container by the cap 1, 101 is avoided.
In particular, it is possible to suitably select the thickness of the end wall 4 in some predetermined zones, such as, for example, in a central zone 41 of the end wall 4, close to the axis Z, and in a peripheral zone 42 of the end wall 4, close to the annular sealing lip 8.
The thickness of the end wall 4 may be constant, which means that, in the central zone 41, the thickness of the end wall 4 is equal to the thickness of the end wall 4 in the peripheral zone 42.
Alternatively, different zones of the end wall 4 may have different thicknesses. For example, the thickness of the end wall 4 in the central zone 41 may be different (greater or smaller) from the thickness of the end wall 4 in the peripheral zone 42.
If the container closed by the cap 1, 101 contains a carbonated drink, the thickness of the end wall 4 may vary from 0.6 to 1.5 mm, more specifically from 0.8 to 1.2 mm.
If the thickness of the end wall 4 in the central zone 41 is different from the thickness of the end wall 4 in the peripheral zone 42, the difference between these two thicknesses may vary from 0.1 to 0.6 mm, more specifically from 0.2 to 0.4 mm.
If the container closed by the cap 1, 101 is intended to contain a carbonated drink, the skirt 2 may have a thickness S of between 0.6 and 1.1 mm, more specifically between 0.7 and 0.9 mm.
As shown in
The vent passages 28 and/or the interruptions 29 may be shaped as recesses having a depth of between 0 and 0.5 mm. If the depth of the vent passages 28 and/or of the interruptions 29 is equal to 0, the vent passages 28 and/or the interruptions 29 are zones in which the anchoring elements 13 are not present.
More specifically, the depth of the vent passages 28 and/or of the interruptions 29 may be between 0.15 and 0.35 mm.
If the anchoring element 13 comprises an inner thread made on the cap, suitable for engaging with an outer thread made on the neck 31, the inner thread and the outer thread may have angular extensions different to each other.
In particular, the inner thread present on the cap may have an angular extension greater than the angular extension of the outer thread present on the neck.
More specifically, in the case of caps 1, 101 intended to be applied to containers having a volume greater than one litre, when the cap 1, 101 is screwed on the neck 31, the inner thread present on the cap can continue towards the free edge 30 beyond the outer thread present on the neck 31. The inner thread present on the cap 1, 101, which is screwed on the neck 31, can continue beyond the outer thread present on the neck 31, towards the free edge 30, for an angular extension of between 30° and 270°, in particular between 90° and 180°.
In addition or alternatively to the above, it may occur that, when the cap 1, 101 is screwed to the neck 31, the inner thread formed on the cap extends beyond the outer thread formed on the neck, towards the end wall 4, for an angular extension of between 10° and 90°, for example between 20° and 60°.
The cap 1, 101, or caps having a similar structure, may be applied to all the necks for carbonated drinks currently used.
In particular, the cap according to the invention may be applied to the low necks recently introduced, that is to say, to necks having a height X of between 12 and 17 mm and an internal diameter C (see
As shown in
The cap according to the invention may be applied both to necks having a single thread (that is to say, a thread extending along a single spiral), and to necks having more than one thread, for example to necks having two threads.
It is further possible to apply the cap according to the invention to necks having a nominal diameter equal to 38 mm, for example necks with a height X of approximately 24.5 mm, outer diameter T of the thread of approximately 37.2 mm (see
The cap according to the invention may further be used in combination with lower necks such as the so-called “38 mm” necks, for example necks with a height X of approximately 17.5 mm and an internal diameter C, in the opening zone, equal to approximately 32 mm.
Further, the cap according to the invention may be applied on special necks, for example of the type having a height X of approximately 12.6 mm, an inner diameter C, in the opening zone, equal to 25.1 mm and an outer diameter T of the thread of approximately 29.5 mm.
For a neck having a height X of approximately 15 mm and an outer diameter T of the thread of approximately 26.5 mm, intended to be applied on a container for carbonated drinks, it is possible to use a cap of the type described above having a minimum height of approximately 14 mm and an outer diameter approximately between 28 and 30 mm.
In general, the cap 1, 101, or a similar cap, may have a weight of between 1.5 and 2.2 grams, if intended to be applied to a container containing a carbonated drink.
The cap 1, 101, or a similar cap, may have a weight of between 1 and 1.8 grams, if intended to be applied to a container containing a non-carbonated drink.
The caps described above are made of polymeric material, for example polypropylene (PP) or polyethylene (PE).
If PE is used, its density may range from low density to high density. In particular, it is possible to use high-density polyethylene (HDPE).
The high-density polyethylene (HDPE) used to produce the caps described above can have the following properties:
If PP is used, the material may be in the form of a homopolymer, or heterophasic copolymer, or statistical copolymer.
The melt index of the PP may vary from 2 to 20 g, under the following measurement conditions: 10 minutes, 230° C., 2.16 kg.
The caps of the type described above are suitable for use, for example, on the necks shown in the following list, each neck being associated with a respective nomenclature which identifies the name of the neck, the diameter of the outer surface of the neck, and the diameter of the dispensing opening of the neck, as per CETIE (www.cetie.org) or ISBT (www.bevech.org) nomenclature.
For each acronym, if the neck is also a European standard, the reference number is also indicated.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 102021000025709 | Oct 2021 | IT | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/IB2022/059613 | 10/7/2022 | WO |
