Patent Application
20220017269
The invention relates to a closing cap for closing a container and a container with such a closing cap.
From the prior art in the field of plastic closing caps with a tamper-proof strip, closing caps are known which are retained captive on the container and close its pouring opening. The retaining function is also important because statutory provisions are to be expected which require the closures of beverage bottles to be captively connected to the beverage bottle even when they are open.
DE 24 30 775 A1 discloses such a captive closing cap. The cap consists of a screwable upper part and a lower collar that engages behind a bead on the container mouth. The upper threaded part of the cap is connected to the lower collar via an easily tearable cylindrical tongue. This tongue extends over the entire circumference and is connected to the upper part and the lower collar via an upper and a lower row of connecting prongs, respectively. This cylindrical tongue is interrupted at one point on the circumference so that it has two ends, one of which is fixedly connected to the screwable cap part and the other is fixedly connected to the lower collar. The connecting prongs of the upper and lower rows tear in an undefined manner as the cap is unscrewed. As a result, after unscrewing, prongs on the upper and lower rows are partly torn and partly still connected to the cap part and the lower collar. The cap dangling from the container may interfere with pouring out liquid, since it can protrude into the liquid stream and cause liquid to be spilled.
A captive closing cap for closing a container is also known from DE 93 18 243 U1. After the threaded part of the cap has been unscrewed, it is retained on the tamper-proof strip with a tether. The tether is kept as short as possible so that it is heavily deformed when it is unscrewed for the first time and therefore clearly indicates that it has already been unscrewed. The short tether has the disadvantage, however, that the threaded part is in an interfering position for the user when drinking from the container.
The invention prevents the disadvantages described above by creating a captive closing cap that does not impede any use of the container to be closed.
The advantages are achieved in the case of a closing cap for closing a container by the features cited in the independent claims. Further developments and/or advantageous embodiment variants are the subject of the dependent claims.
The invention comprises at least one first predetermined breaking element and the at least second predetermined breaking element have different tensile strengths or tear strengths. When the threaded part is unscrewed, the first and second predetermined breaking elements do not tear in an undefined manner, but rather the predetermined breaking element with the lower tear strength tears when unscrewing. When the threaded part is unscrewed, the first or second predetermined breaking element therefore tears in a defined manner. The predetermined breaking element with the greater tear strength, however, does not tear when the threaded part is unscrewed for the first time. The retaining strip is therefore retained on the threaded part or the tamper-proof strip after unscrewing and is located in a position close to the container neck. In this position of the threaded part, it is retained captively on the container and the filling material can be poured out of the container without the threaded part getting in the way of the pouring stream. To this end, the container or the threaded part with the tamper-proof strip must be twisted so that the threaded part is above the pouring stream.
For drinking directly from the container, the threaded part can be too close to the face of the user and consequently interferes when the user is drinking. Therefore, the predetermined breaking element with the greater tear strength can be broken manually. As a result, the threaded part hangs on the retaining strip and is at a distance from the container neck and the tamper-proof strip, respectively. In this position of the threaded part, it is possible to drink comfortably from the container. In addition, the threaded part can be held by the hand that also holds the container while drinking. Depending on how the container is used, the invention enables the threaded part to be brought into a position in which it does not hinder the pouring out of the filling material. In any case, the threaded part is retained captively on the container. Regardless of the position in which the threaded part is brought, it is always indicated whether the container has already been opened. When the threaded part is unscrewed for the first time, the first or second predetermined breaking element breaks and indicates that the original seal of the container is no longer intact.
It is also conceivable that an internal screw thread is formed on the inside of the retaining strip, which can interact with the external screw thread of the container neck. This design has the effect that the retaining strip is positioned at a fixed distance from the threaded part by the external screw thread, as long as the internal screw threads of the threaded part and the retaining strip run in the external screw thread. As a result, the at least one second predetermined breaking element must tear when unscrewing, regardless of whether its tear strength and the tear strength of the at least one first predetermined breaking element are the same or whether its tear strength is greater than the tear strength of the at least one first predetermined breaking element. Consequently, in this design of the invention, the retaining strip remains on the threaded part after unscrewing, regardless of the magnitude of the tear strength of the at least one first and second predetermined breaking elements.
In one embodiment of the invention, the first predetermined breaking element is a first web and the second predetermined breaking element is a second web. The webs can be easily adapted to a tear strength to be achieved through their dimensioning, in particular through the dimensioning of their cross-section. Walls with an appropriate wall thickness, which extend between the threaded part and the retaining strip or between the retaining strip and the tamper-proof strip, are also conceivable as predetermined breaking elements.
A plurality of first webs is expediently arranged between the open edge of the threaded part and the first edge of the retaining strip. The first webs can be produced with a certain tear strength. An additional advantage is that not all of the first webs have to be torn off by the user if the first webs have a higher tear strength than the second webs. As a result, by tearing off more or fewer first webs, the retaining strip can have a certain length which can be adapted to the use of the container.
A plurality of second webs is expediently arranged between the tamper-proof strip and the second edge of the retaining strip. The advantages mentioned in the previous paragraph for the first webs also apply to a plurality of second webs.
In another embodiment of the invention, the tear strength of the first webs is the same and is greater than the tear strength of the second webs. In this embodiment, the retaining strip remains on the threaded part when the threaded part is unscrewed. If necessary, after unscrewing, the retaining strip can be separated from the open edge of the threaded part. This can also be done in stages if not all of the first webs are torn off.
In another embodiment of the invention, the tear strength of the second webs is the same and is greater than the tear strength of the first webs. In this embodiment, the retaining strip remains on the tamper-proof strip when the threaded part is unscrewed. Since only the threaded part has to overcome the height of the container neck without a retaining strip, it can be unscrewed in a simplified manner. Since the retaining strip remains on the tamper-proof strip, its height does not have to be overcome when unscrewing.
It proves to be advantageous if the first and second webs are evenly spaced along the first and the second edge, respectively. As a result, the threaded part can be unscrewed with even force. In addition, the length of the retaining strip can be selected in increments of equal size after the threaded part has been unscrewed.
It has proven to be expedient if the first webs have the same cross-sectional area and the second webs have the same cross-sectional area. The tear-off force is therefore constant for the first webs and the second webs, respectively.
In another embodiment, the retaining strip extends over a circular arc with an angle between 180 and 350 degrees or with an angle between 270 and 350 degrees. The required length of the retaining strip can be established by the magnitude of the angle of the circular arc. It should be understood that in addition to the choice of the angle of the circular arc, the diameter of the threaded part also has a bearing on the length of the retaining strip. The retaining strip has an optimal length, for example, when it extends to the recessed grip of the container. This allows the user to hold the container and the threaded part with one hand at the same time. As a result, the threaded part does not dangle in an interfering manner on the container when filling material is poured or drunk directly from the container.
A gap is expediently provided between the first end and the second end of the retaining strip. The first and second ends of the retaining strip are separated from one another by the gap. Advantageously, the gap is as narrow as possible so that the bottle neck area located behind the retaining strip is protected as extensively as possible. In addition, the narrowest possible gap leads to the longest possible retaining strip. The gap may be between 0.5 mm and 5 mm wide.
In another embodiment of the invention, the position of the tamper-proof strip relative to the annular protrusion of the container neck can be changed in the axial direction and in the circumferential direction.
Because the tamper-proof strip can be moved upward in the axial direction, it is pulled upward when the threaded part is unscrewed until it abuts the annular protrusion of the container neck. If the threaded part is turned further, the weaker first or second webs are torn off. Then the threaded part has reached a sufficient height to be able to be folded away from the container neck. The height required for this is achieved without the webs with the greater tear strength having to be torn off. Because the tamper-proof strip can be rotated in the circumferential direction, a force is exerted on the webs only in the axial direction and not in the circumferential direction. As a result, the tear strength of the first and second webs can be designed for a defined axial force.
Expediently, a recess for receiving the retaining strip is provided on the edge of the tamper-proof strip facing the retaining strip. If the retaining strip is designed to be short, the second end of the retaining strip is correspondingly long, so that a gap can be provided between the first and the second end. The second end is connected to the tamper-proof strip along its entire length and is part of the tamper-proof strip. As a result, a recess for the retaining strip is formed on the tamper-proof strip.
In another embodiment of the invention, the first fixed connection between the first end of the retaining strip and the open edge of the threaded part and/or the second fixed connection between the second end of the retaining strip and the tamper-proof strip is bendable. As a result, after being unscrewed from the container neck, the threaded part can be folded away along the first or second end and is not in the way when filling material is poured out.
It has proven to be expedient if an inwardly protruding inner cone, e.g., in the form of a sealing cylinder or a sealing ring is formed on the base of the threaded part, which is designed to interact sealingly with the inner wall of the container neck in the closed position. The closing cap can therefore act as a so-called “cone-sealer” and reliably seals the bottle neck.
In another embodiment of the invention, the retaining strip has a width between 3 mm and 7 mm or a width between 4 mm and 5 mm. This dimensioning ensures that the retaining strip does not tear off unintentionally, especially when the webs with the higher tear strength are torn off. In addition, the closing cap is not too high and can be joined together sealingly with standardized container necks with an external screw thread.
The invention is also characterized in that the closing cap is designed to interact with a standardized container neck with an external screw thread and an annular protrusion. The closing cap can therefore be placed on standardized container necks, in particular on PET beverage bottles. Containers which are joined together with the closing cap according to the invention therefore do not have to be specially adapted to the closing cap.
The closing cap is expediently made of a plastic material, such as HDPE (high density polyethylene) or PP (polypropylene). The closing cap can therefore be produced with standard plastic materials, from which known closing caps with a guarantee ring are also produced.
In another embodiment of the invention, the threaded part, the inner cone, the tamper-proof strip, the retaining strip and the at least one first and second predetermined breaking element are produced integrally. As a result, the closing cap can be produced in an injection mold without the need for further processing steps in order to shape the retaining strip.
Another aspect of the invention relates to a container comprising a container body, a container neck adjoining the container body, an external screw thread formed on the container neck and a closing cap according to the description above. Due to the fact that the at least one first predetermined breaking element and the at least second predetermined breaking element have different tensile strengths or tear strengths or that an internal screw thread is formed on the inside of the retaining strip, which internal screw thread can interact with the external screw thread of the container neck, all of the first or all of the second predetermined breaking elements break when the closing cap is unscrewed from the container neck. The predetermined breaking elements on the retaining strip opposite the broken first or second predetermined breaking elements remain intact when unscrewed and retain the retaining ring on the threaded part or on the tamper-proof strip. As a result, after unscrewing, the threaded part is in a defined position relative to the container neck. In this position of the threaded part, the threaded part is not a hindrance when pouring out a filling material. If the threaded part is to be at a larger distance from the container neck, any number of unbroken predetermined breaking elements can be torn off manually. This can prevent the threaded part from getting in the way of the user of the container, for example when drinking from the container, due to its short distance from the container neck.
In another embodiment of the invention, a recess having a depth is provided on the container body, in which recess the closing cap can be received. As a result, when removed or unscrewed from the container neck, the closing cap has a defined retainer and prevents it from protruding into the pouring stream during use of the container and thereby interfering with the use of the container. Due to the possibility of being received or retained in the recess, the closing cap is also not in the way when drinking directly from the container.
It has proven to be advantageous when the closing cap is retained in the recess by a form fit and/or force fit when the closing cap is received in the recess. As a result, the closing cap can be inserted into the recess at any time when the container is in use. After the container has been used, the closing cap can be removed from the recess and screwed back onto the container. The form fit and/or the force fit enable a detachable connection between the recess and the closing cap. The force fit can be achieved in that the internal dimensions of the recess are slightly smaller than the external dimensions of the closing cap. As a result, there is a press fit between the recess and the closing cap. It is also conceivable that the recess has an elliptically shaped wall and the cylindrically shaped closing cap is retained on the two minor vertices of the elliptical recess. A form fit can be implemented by protrusions on the inner wall of the recess and/or on the outer wall of the closing cap, which interact with corresponding depressions on the outer wall of the closing cap and the inner wall of the recess, respectively. This allows the closing cap to snap into place in the recess. The form fit can be released at any time by pulling the closing cap out of the recess.
The distance between the recess and the tamper-proof strip is expediently at most as great as the length of the retaining strip between the first and second ends. As a result, the closing cap reaches the recess and can be inserted into it without the retaining strip being too short.
In another embodiment of the invention, the recess has a cylindrical shape with a base and a lateral jacket surface defining the depth of the recess, the inner diameter of the recess being essentially the same as the outer diameter of the closing cap. The recess is therefore essentially the negative form of the closing cap. If there is a force fit between the closing cap and the recess, the inside diameter of the recess is slightly smaller than the outside diameter of the closing cap and accordingly there is a press fit between the recess and the closing cap.
The depth of the recess is advantageously the height of the closing cap. As a result, the closing cap protrudes from the recess and, for removal from the recess, can be easily gripped in the area of the jacket which protrudes beyond the recess. It would also be conceivable for the closing cap to be pulled out of the recess on the retaining strip.
Further advantages and features emerge from the following description of an exemplary embodiment of the invention with reference to the schematic representations. In a representation that is not true to scale:
The threaded part 15 comprises a base 21 and a first cylindrical jacket 23 with an open edge 25. An internal screw thread 27 is formed on the inside of the jacket 23. The container 13 comprises a container body 28 and a container neck 29 adjoining the container body 28. The container neck 29 is designed as a second cylindrical jacket. An external screw thread 31, which interacts with the internal screw thread 27, is formed on the container neck 29. As a result, the threaded part 15 can be screwed onto and unscrewed from the container neck 29. The closing cap 11 closes the pouring opening 32 which is provided inside the container neck 29.
The tamper-proof strip 17 is retained in a form-fitting manner on the container neck 13. For this purpose, an annular protrusion is formed on the outside of the container neck 29; protrusions, formed on the inside of the tamper-proof strip 17, can engage under said annular protrusion (not shown in the figures). The tamper-proof strip 17 can be rotated relative to the container neck 29.
The retaining strip 19 has a first end 33 and a second end 35. The first end 33 is fixedly connected to the open edge 25. The second end 35 is fixedly connected to the tamper-proof strip 17. As a result, the closing cap 11 is retained captively on the container 13. The retaining strip also has a first edge 37 and a second edge 39. The first edge 37 is connected to the open edge 25 by means of several first predetermined breaking webs 41, and the second edge 39 is detachably connected to the tamper-proof strip 17 by means of several second predetermined breaking webs 43. The retaining strip 19 may have a width between 4 mm and 5 mm so that it is sufficiently stable and that it can be pulled off manually from the threaded part 15 or the tamper-proof strip 17.
The first and second predetermined breaking webs 41, 43 have different tear strengths. That is to say, the first predetermined breaking webs 41 can have a greater tear strength than the second predetermined breaking webs 43 or the second predetermined breaking webs 43 can have a greater tear strength than the first predetermined breaking webs 41. The first and second predetermined breaking webs 41, 43 may be arranged or formed evenly spaced on the first edge 37 and on the second edge 39, respectively. The cross-sectional areas of the first predetermined breaking webs 41 may be of the same size and that the cross-sectional areas of the second predetermined breaking webs 43 may be of the same size.
Because the first and second predetermined breaking webs 41, 43 have different tensile strengths and tear strengths, either the first predetermined breaking webs 41 or the second predetermined breaking webs 43 break when the threaded part 15 is unscrewed. After the threaded part 15 has been unscrewed, the retaining strip 19 therefore remains on the threaded part 15 or on the tamper-proof strip 17. The tamper-proof strip 17 can be displaced by a few millimeters in the axial direction with respect to the annular protrusion of the container neck. As a result, the retaining strip 19 can remain completely on the threaded part 15 or on the tamper-proof strip 17, since the retaining strip 19 does not have to provide a “height” between the threaded part 15 and the tamper-proof strip 17 when the threaded part 15 is unscrewed.
When drinking directly from the bottle 13, the threaded part 15, in the position shown in
The length of the retaining strip 19 can be determined by the angle of the circular arc the length of which corresponds to the length of the retaining strip 19. The angle of the circular arc may be between 270 and 350 degrees. The retaining strip 19 has the correct length at this angle so that the threaded part 15 can be held together with the bottle 13 with one hand while drinking from the bottle 13. It should be understood that the length of the retaining strip is also dependent on the diameter of the closing cap 11. For larger diameters, for example closing caps with an outer diameter of 38 mm, it can therefore make sense to reduce the angle of the circular arc so that the retaining strip 19 has the desired length and the captive threaded part 15 is not in the way when the container 13 is used.
A gap 47 is provided on the closing cap 11 between the first and the second ends 33, 35 of the retaining strip 19, so that the retaining strip 19 has a first and a second end 33, 35.
The closing cap 11 is made of a plastic. Example plastics include PP and HDPE among others.
A force fit between the outer wall 59 and the lateral surface 53 can be achieved most simply by the outer diameter of the closing cap 11 being slightly larger than the inner diameter of the recess 49. As a result, a press fit is achieved and the closing cap 11 is locked in the recess.
A form fit can be achieved in that protrusions or depressions are formed on the outer wall 59, which interact with corresponding depressions or protrusions formed on the lateral jacket surface 53. As a result, the closing cap 11 can snap into place with the recess 49.
The recess 49 is positioned on the container 13 in such a way that the closing cap 11 reaches the recess 49 although the closing cap 11 is hanging on the retaining strip 19. The distance between the recess 49, in particular the area of the recess 49 which is closest to the container neck 29, must therefore be selected so that it is at most as large as the length of the retaining strip 19 between the first end 33 and the second end 35.
The depth 61 of the recess 49 may be smaller than or equal to the height 63 of the closing cap 11. These coordinated dimensions of the closing cap 11 and the recess 49 make it possible for the closing cap 11 to be gripped at its area protruding from the recess 49 and to be pulled out of the recess 49 in order to close the container 11 again.
The recess 49 enables the closing cap 11 that has been removed from the container neck 29 to be secured to the container 13 so that it does not interfere with drinking from the container 11 or when pouring out the contents of the container.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01315/18 | Oct 2018 | CH | national |
| 00498/19 | Apr 2019 | CH | national |
This application is a national phase entry under 35 U.S.C. § 371 of PCT/EP2019/079353 filed Oct. 28, 2019, which claims priority to Swiss Patent Application No. 01315/18 filed Oct. 29, 2018, and Swiss Patent Application No. 00498/19 filed Apr. 12, 2019, the entirety of each of which is incorporated by this reference.
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/EP2019/079353 | 10/28/2019 | WO | 00 |
