The invention relates to a container closure for closing a container, and to a container with such a container closure.
Closure caps which are captively held on the container and close the pour opening thereof are known from the prior art in the field of plastic closure caps with a security ring. Closure caps which have two holding strips, which connect a threaded part of the closure cap to a security ring of the closure cap, are also known. The two holding strips can act as a hinge about which the threaded part can be folded away from the security ring or from the container to be closed.
Such a closure cap is known from EP 2 308 772 A1. The holding strips are C-shaped and each have, at their center of curvature, a weakened portion at which the holding strip can be bent. As a result, the holding strips act together as a hinge for the threaded part. On the open edge of the threaded part, a projecting piece is formed which projects downward. When the threaded part is in the unfolded position, the projecting piece comes into contact with the holding ring of the container neck, which holding ring holds the security ring on the container neck. The projecting piece holds the threaded part in the unfolded position and prevents the threaded part from being a hindrance when a product contained in the container is poured out. However, when drinking from the bottle onto which the closure cap is placed, the threaded part is a hindrance since it is in the way of the user.
US 2018/0370701 A1 discloses a closure cap which likewise has two holding strips. However, the ends of the holding strips are alternately connected to the security ring and the open edge of the threaded part, i.e., the ends of the holding strips which are connected to the open edge of the threaded part and to the security ring alternate. As a result, the threaded part has a certain stability when it is held on the bottle neck in the open position. With its upper side or its cylindrical side wall, the threaded part can rest against the bottle neck. In this solution of a captive closure cap, however, the threaded part in the open position is still closer to the container neck than in the above solution and therefore proves to be very inconvenient when drinking from the bottle.
It is therefore an advantage of the present invention to provide a container closure which does not have the above disadvantages and thus allows the user to drink from the container or bottle with as little hindrance as possible.
The stated advantage is achieved in a container closure for closing a container by the features listed in the independent claims. Developments and/or advantageous alternative embodiments are the subject matters of the dependent claims.
The invention provides that the first, second, third and fourth ends are arranged one after the other in the circumferential direction on the free edge and on the security ring, and that the first tongue and a second tongue that has a second tongue end and is adjacent to the first tongue are arranged between the second and the third end, wherein the second tongue is part of the security ring and in the open position, the first tongue end comes into contact with the second tongue end. Surprisingly, the first and second tongues interact with the specially arranged holding strips. The successive arrangement of the first, second, third and fourth ends and the precisely matched length of the holding strips allow the first and second tongues to be brought into alignment when the screw cap is unscrewed. Because the first and second tongues are arranged directly next to one another, only a small pivoting of the tongues relative to one another is necessary for them to overlap. Since the tongues overlap, they can latch to one another in the open position and fix the screw cap in the open position.
In one embodiment of the invention, the second tongue end is formed as an extension on the edge of the security ring facing the screw cap. As a result, the first tongue end can latch on the second tongue end in the open position of the screw cap.
It has proven to be expedient if the extension is a radially outward protruding step. As a result, the first tongue end can latch stably in the open position at the transition from the extension to the second tongue. It is also conceivable for the extension to be oriented obliquely downward in the direction of the container in order to reinforce the holding effect of the screw cap.
It has proven to be advantageous if the extension has a height of between 1 and 4 mm, or between 2 and 3 mm. This height is sufficient to hold the screw cap stably in the open position and to thus prevent the first tongue end from skipping over the extension. On the other hand, the height is not so high that the first and second holding strips would have to be stretched in order to pull the first tongue end over the extension. When the first tongue is pulled over the extension, it can advantageously be bent and then snaps in under the step on the second tongue.
In another embodiment of the invention, the first tongue is adjacent to the second end or the third end, and the second tongue is adjacent to the second or third end depending on the position of the first tongue. As a result, the two tongues directly adjoin the second and third ends. In combination with the direct arrangement of the first and second tongues next to one another, a rotation of the first tongue in the circumferential direction is made possible when the screw cap is unscrewed, whereby the two tongues are brought into alignment.
In another embodiment of the invention, the first tongue is received in the closed position in a first recess provided on the security ring. As a result, the first tongue can be made as long as possible without having to increase the height of the security ring. The long first tongue makes it possible to arrange the screw cap in the open position as far away as possible from the container neck. As a result, the screw cap is not in the way of the user when drinking from the container.
A reinforcement section is expediently formed below the first recess on the security ring. Since the first recess inevitably forms a weakened portion for the security ring, the region of the security ring is reinforced below the first recess. For example, the security ring can have an enlarged outward thickness at this point. The reinforcement ensures that the security ring is sufficiently stable despite the first recess, in particular when the container closure is pressed onto the container neck and when the screw cap is unscrewed for the first time from the container neck.
Thee length of the first tongue may be between 70 and 90% of the height of the security ring or between 75 and 85% of the height of the security ring. This dimensioning results in the first tongue being as long as possible without the height of the security ring deviating from the standard height of a conventional security ring.
In another embodiment of the invention, the length of the first and second holding strips is dimensioned in such a way that the first and the second tongues are brought into alignment when the screw cap is transferred into the open position. As already stated above, the precisely dimensioned length of the holding strips in combination with the particular arrangement of the tongues and the holding strips relative to one another leads to the alignment of the two tongues. This is particularly advantageous since the rotation of the tongues relative to one another takes place automatically when the screw cap is unscrewed, which in turn leads to particularly simple handling of the container closure.
The break-off webs may be arranged at regular intervals along the open edge. The security ring is therefore held sufficiently stably on the screw cap for the container closure to be pressed onto the container neck. The screw cap can also be unscrewed with uniform force due to the regular intervals between the break-off webs.
A second and a third recess for receiving the first and second holding strips are expediently provided on the edge of the security ring facing the first and second holding strips. As a result, the first and second holding strips can be molded from the security ring in a space-saving manner and without additional material expenditure. For example, the first and second holding strips can be cut out of the security ring or molded during the production process of the closure cap. Furthermore, the height of the security ring is not enlarged by the provision of the holding strips, and no additional material expenditure is necessary.
In another embodiment of the invention, the second and fourth ends enclose an opening angle of at least 60 degrees and at most 90 degrees, or of at least 70 and at most 80 degrees, with respect to the center point of the screw cap as the apex. As a result, the first and second holding strips have exactly the length which leads to the functions described above, in particular to the alignment of the first and second tongues during unscrewing.
It has proven to be expedient if an inward projecting inner cone, e.g., in the form of a sealing cylinder or a sealing ring, is molded on the cover disk and is designed to interact in a sealing manner with the inner wall of the container neck in the closed position. The closure cap can therefore act as a so-called cone sealer and reliably seals the bottle neck.
In another embodiment of the invention, the first and the second holding strip have a width between 3 mm and 7 mm, or a width between 4 mm and 5 mm. This dimensioning has the effect that the holding strips are not unintentionally torn off, in particular when the break-off webs are torn off. Moreover, the security ring does not become too high and can be joined in a sealing manner to standardized container necks with an outer thread.
The invention is also characterized in that the closure cap is designed to interact with a standardized container neck with an outer thread and a holding ring. The closure cap can therefore be placed on standardized container necks, in particular PET beverage bottles. Containers that are joined to the closure cap according to the invention therefore do not have to be specifically adapted to the closure cap.
The closure cap is expediently made of a plastic material, such as HDPE (high-density polyethylene) or PP (polypropylene). The closure cap can therefore be produced with standard plastic materials from which known closure caps with a security ring are also produced.
In another embodiment of the invention, the screw cap, the security ring, the holding strips, the break-off webs, and the first and second tongues are produced in one piece. As a result, the container closure can be produced in an injection mold, without the need for further processing steps to form the first and second holding strips and the first and second tongues. Preferably, the inner cone is also produced in one piece together with the other parts of the container closure.
In another embodiment of the invention, the security ring has slots which are distributed over the circumference and have an upper edge and a lower edge, wherein the upper edge is formed by a circular-arc-shaped section of the security ring, and the lower edge is formed by a wall section inclined inward in the radial direction, and the lower edge of each slot forms the protrusions, whereby engagement means for form-fitting engagement with the holding ring are formed. Since the engagement means in the form of the inward inclined wall sections are not on the entire circumference of the security ring, and since slots are also present, by the molding of which the amount of material used is even further reduced, the material requirement of plastic can be significantly reduced by up to 5%. In addition, the wall section is immovable inward in the radial direction, whereby the security ring is held on the holding ring and cannot be pulled over it until the security ring is stretched along its circumference. The security ring is fixedly held on the holding ring by the wall sections such that the break-off webs safely tear before the holding of the wall sections is overcome. However, the wall sections are flexible or movable outward in the radial direction. As a result, the wall sections can be demolded from the injection mold or the injection-molding tool with little exertion of force. For the same reason, the application force for pressing the container closure on is significantly reduced in comparison to the prior art. Expansion of the security ring, which can lead to permanent damage to the container closure, is largely prevented during demolding and pressing on.
In another embodiment, a protrusion is in each case formed on the security ring below the first and second recesses. As a result, the security ring is held reliably on the holding ring in the region of the holding strips and tongues. This is in particular important when the screw cap is unscrewed and pivoted into the open position.
A further aspect of the invention relates to a container having a container body, a container neck adjoining the container body, an outer thread formed on the container neck, and a container closure in accordance with the above description.
In another embodiment of the invention, a support ring is formed at the transition from the container neck to the container body, and in the open position, the screw cap is in contact with the second tongue and the support ring. Due to the additional contact on the support ring in the open position, the holder becomes more stable since two support points are present. In addition, the screw cap is unfolded to the maximum extent.
Further advantages and features become apparent from the following description of three exemplary embodiments of the invention with reference to the schematic representations. Shown, in a representation not true to scale, are:
The screw cap 15 comprises a cover disk 21 and a first cylindrical casing 23 with a free edge 25. An inner thread 27 is molded on the inside of the casing 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 casing. An outer thread 31 is molded on the container neck 29 and interacts with the inner thread 27. As a result, the screw cap 15 can be screwed onto and unscrewed from the container neck 29. The closure cap 11 closes the pour opening 33 which is provided within the container neck 29. The closure cap 11 is designed to interact with a standardized container neck 29 with an outer thread 31 and a holding ring 35.
The security ring 17 is held in a form fit on the container neck 13. For this purpose, a holding ring 35 is molded on the outside of the container neck 29, under which holding ring protrusions 37 formed on the inside of the security ring 17 can engage (
The first arm 19a has a first end 39 and a second end 41. The first end 39 is fixedly connected to the free edge 25. The second end 41 is fixedly connected to the security ring 17. As a result, the container closure 11 is captively held on the container 13.
The second arm 19b has a third end 51 and a fourth end 53. The third end 51 is fixedly connected to the free edge 25. The fourth end 53 is fixedly connected to the security ring 17. As a result, the closure cap 11 is additionally captively held on the container 13.
The security ring 17 is held on the free edge 25 with a plurality of break-off webs 63, which break when the screw cap 15 is unscrewed from the container neck 29. The break-off webs 63 may be arranged at regular intervals on the security ring 17 as shown.
The first and second arms 19a, 19b have a width between 4 mm and 5 mm or have a width which corresponds to at least 15% of the height of the security ring, so that they are sufficiently stable.
According to
A second and a third recess 65, 67 are provided on the security ring 17. The first and the second holding strips 19a, 19b are received in the first and the second recesses 65, 67, respectively. This makes it possible to produce the first and second holding strips 19a, 19b directly from the security ring 17, for example by cutting out of the security ring 17.
The first, second, third and fourth ends 39, 41, 51, 53 are arranged one after the other in the circumferential direction on the free edge 25 and on the security ring 17. A first tongue 43 with a first tongue end 45 and a second tongue 47 with a second tongue end 49 are arranged between the second end 41 of the first holding strip 19a and the third end 51 of the second holding strip 19b. The first tongue 43 is formed on the free edge 25 in continuation of the casing 23. The second tongue 47 is part of the security ring 17. The first and second tongues 43, 47 may be directly adjacent to one another. Furthermore, the first and second tongues 43, 47 may be directly adjacent to the second end 41 and the third end 51, respectively. The second tongue end is designed as an extension, in particular as a radially outward protruding step 55. The step has a height of 2 to 3 mm. A first recess 57 in which the first tongue 43 is received in the closed position is provided on the security ring 17. As a result, the first tongue 43 can be made as long as possible. This in turn has the advantage that in the open position, the screw cap 15 is far away from the container neck 29 and does not hinder the user when drinking from the container. The first tongue 43 has a length of 75 to 85% of the height of the security ring 17.
Since the first recess 57 forms a weakened portion for the security ring 17, the latter is reinforced below the first recess 57. The reinforcement section 59 is realized in that the wall thickness of the security ring 17 is enlarged below the first recess 57. The wall thickness of the reinforcement section 59 is between 2 and 3 mm. As a result of the provision of the reinforcement section, the security ring 17 is sufficiently stable to be able to be pressed onto the container neck 29.
When the screw cap 15 is transferred from its unscrewed position into its open position, the first and second holding strips 19a, 19b act as a hinge about which the screw cap 15 can be unfolded into the open position. The length of the first and second holding strips 19a, 19b is dimensioned in such a way that the first tongue end 45 in the open position is pulled to the step 55 and is pulled into the step corner. In the open position, the first and second holding strips 19a, 19b are tensioned or elastically extended. In the open position, the casing 23 can also have contact with the support ring 72 of the container 13, which is formed at the transition between the container neck 29 and the container body 28.
The arrangement of the ends of the holding strips 19a, 19b, that is to say that the first end 39 is followed by the second end 41, the third end 51 and the fourth end 53 in the circumferential direction, and a certain length of the first and second holding strips 19a, 19b have the advantage that the first tongue 43 and the second tongue 47 or the tongue ends 45, 49 thereof are brought into alignment when the screw cap 15 is unscrewed from the container neck 29. The tongues 43, 47 can therefore be automatically transferred, by rotation of the screw cap 15, from an arrangement in which they are arranged next to one another into an arrangement in which the tongue ends 45, 49 overlap.
Since the closure cap 11 is rotationally symmetrical, it has a center point 73. The center point 73 lies in the imaginary plane between the free edge 25 and the security ring 17. The second end 41 and the fourth end 53 enclose an opening angle 75 of at least 60 degrees and at most 90 degrees, or at least 70 and at most 80 degrees, with respect to the center point 73 as the apex.
If the closure cap 11 is pressed onto the container neck 29, the pour opening 33 is closed by the closure cap 11, and the closure cap 11 is in the closed position. When the screw cap 15 is unscrewed from the container neck 29, the break-off webs 63 break. The security ring 17 rotates along with the screw cap 15. During unscrewing, the first and second holding strips 19a, 19b can stand up, and the first and second tongues 43, 47 are displaced relative to one another.
As already described further above, the screw cap 15 is folded into the open position after unscrewing from the container neck 29 by latching the first tongue end 45 to the step 55. As a result of the choice of the opening angle 75, the first and second holding strips 19a, 19b have a length which allows the screw cap 15 to be unscrewed from the container neck 29 and the tongues 43, 47 to be rotated relative to one another. The length of the first and second holding strips 19a, 19b must be adapted precisely. If the length of the holding strips is too long, the first tongue end 45 is not held sufficiently fixedly on the step 55. If the length of the holding strips is too short, the screw cap 15 snaps back out of the open position and impedes the pouring out of filling material from the pour opening 33.
In the open position, the screw cap 15 is captively held on the container 13 and is fixed to the container neck 29 in such a way that it does not protrude into the pour opening 33 when liquid is poured out of the container 13. The first and second holding strips 19a, 19b enable the screw cap 15 to be transferred into the open position in a positively guided folding movement after it has been unscrewed from the container neck 29. As a result of the positive guidance and the step 55, there is only one open position and not a plurality thereof. The length and cross-section of the first and the second holding strip 19a, 19b are dimensioned in such a way that the first and second holding strips 19a, 19b are elastically tensioned in the open position of the screw cap 15. As a result, the screw cap 15 in the open position is pulled onto the container neck 29 and the step 55 and is held thereon in a wobble-free manner. The elastic pretensioning of the first and second holding strips 19a, 19b also makes it possible for the screw cap to be transferred multiple times from the open position into the closed position and vice versa. As a result, the container neck 29 can be opened and closed multiple times, and after opening, the screw cap 15 is held in the open position in a stable and wobble-free manner each time.
The protrusions 37 can be designed in accordance with the following description of
Each wall section 101 has a first subsection 105 and two second subsections 107. The first subsection 105 represents an inward folded casing section and designed to be flat. The second subsections 107 adjoin the inward facing sides of the first subsection 105 and connect it to the security ring 17. The second subsections 107 can be curved or flat and face one another obliquely inward. The lower edge 101 of the slot 97 corresponds to the free edges of the first subsection 105 and of the second subsections 107 and lies in a plane 109, which is shown in
The inclined wall sections 103 have a lesser wall thickness than the remaining security ring 17.
The second inclination angle 115 indicates the inclination of the slot 97 with respect to the plane of the lower edge 111. The connecting line 117, which represents the inclination of the slot 97, is a connection of the upper edge 99 to the lower edge 101 in a plane spanned by the axis of rotation 110 and the connecting line 117. The second inclination angle 115 is enclosed by the connecting line 117 and the plane 109. The second inclination angle 115 has a magnitude between 30 and 50 degrees, or between 35 and 45 degrees. The greater the second inclination angle 115, the easier it is to demold the security ring 17.
An inward projecting inner cone 87 (
The closure cap 11 is made of a plastic. Preferred plastics include inter alia PP and HDPE.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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01467/19 | Nov 2019 | CH | national |
01695/19 | Dec 2019 | CH | national |
00672/20 | Jun 2020 | CH | national |
This application is a national phase entry under 37 U.S.C. § 371 of PCT/EP2020/082486 filed Nov. 18, 2020, which claims priority to Swiss Patent Application No. 01467/19 filed Nov. 20, 2019, and Swiss Patent Application No. 01695/19 filed Dec. 23, 2019, and Swiss Patent Application No. 00672/20 filed Jun. 5, 2020, the entirety of each of which is incorporated by this reference.
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/EP2020/082486 | 11/18/2020 | WO |