Patent Application
20230264873
The invention relates to a container closure for closing a container, and to a container having 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. Given this achievement of a captive closure cap, there is a plurality of open positions for the threaded part. Without instructions, the user therefore does not recognize in which of the possible open positions they are to transition the threaded part in order to be able to pour fill material from the bottle as unhindered as possible through the threaded part.
It is therefore an advantage of the present invention to provide a container closure which does not have the above disadvantages, in which the user intuitively chooses an open position in which the threaded part does not interfere with the use of the bottle, and in which fill material residues in the threaded part do not contaminate the bottle shoulder.
The stated advantages are achieved by a container closure for closing a container by the features listed in the independent claims. Developments and/or advantageous alternative embodiments form the subject matter of the dependent claims.
The invention is comprised with the first, second, third, and fourth ends arranged on the free edge or on the security ring one after the other in the circumferential direction, and with the length of the first or the second holding strip corresponds to between 27% and 32%, or between 29% and 30%, of the outer diameter of the screw cap. The arrangement of the first, second, third, and fourth ends one after the other, and the precisely matched length of the holding strips, enable that the screw cap independently turns so its inner side turns upward and jumps in the direction of the support ring, in a sudden manner, upon being pushed away from the bottle neck after being unscrewed. With its free edge, the screw cap can be fixed under the support ring in the vertex formed by bottle neck and support ring. The snapping in below the support ring takes place intuitively for the user of the container closure. In addition, the inner side of the cap is oriented upward in the open position. Adhering fill material residues thereby remain in the screw cap and cannot contaminate the outside of the container.
Accordingly, the lengths of the first and second holding strip may enable the screw cap to be latched with its free edge in the open position on the underside of a support ring formed below the container neck. In addition, the holding strips have an articulation function via which, after unscrewing, the screw cap is oriented with inner side upward and is positioned under the support ring. The open position therefore results on its own, and the correct use of the container closure does not require any instructions. The first and second holding strip are preferably of equal length.
In another embodiment of the invention, a first or a second kink is provided at the second and fourth end on the first or on the second holding strip. These kinks enable a facilitated outward pivoting of the holding strips, whereby their articulation function is improved.
A first and a second recess for receiving the first and second holding strip are expediently provided on the edge of the security ring facing toward the first and second holding strip. 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.
An extension is expediently formed on the security ring between the second end and the second recess. The extension keeps the security ring sufficiently stable, even though the first and second recess are provided on it.
In a further embodiment of the invention, a third recess is provided on the security ring between the second end and the second recess. The third recess is preferably V-shaped, and improves the articulation function of the first holding strip.
In a further embodiment of the invention, the second and fourth ends enclose an opening angle of at least 60 degrees and at most 90 degrees, and preferably of at least 70 and at most 80 degrees, with respect to the center point of the screw cap as the apex. The first and second holding strip thereby have a distance from one another which enables the above-described functions together with the holding strip lengths.
The break-off webs may be arranged at regular intervals along the free 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.
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. The sealing can also take place via a “liner”.
In a further embodiment of the invention, the first and the second holding strip have a width of between 1.5 mm and 2.5 mm, or a width of between 1.8 mm and 2.2 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 holding strips may have a cross-sectional area of 1 mm2.
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 a further embodiment of the invention, the screw cap, the security ring, the holding strips, and the break-off webs are produced as a single piece. The container closure can thereby be produced in an injection mold, without the need for further processing steps to form the first and second holding strip. The inner cone may also be produced in one piece together with the other parts of the container closure.
In a particular 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 inwardly 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 inwardly 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 portions such that the break-off webs are certain to tear before the retention of the wall portions 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 a further 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 external thread formed on the container neck, and a support ring formed at the transition from the container neck to the container body, wherein the length of the first or second holding strip corresponds to between 28% and 32%, or between 29% and 31%, of the outer diameter of the support ring. Due to this length dimensioning of the first and second holding strip, the screw cap can latch with its free end on the underside of the support ring.
In another embodiment of the invention, the screw cap is locked with its free edge in the open position on the underside of the support ring. The length of the holding strips and the articulation function thereof makes it possible that the screw cap can pivot on its own in the direction of the support ring, and be clamped there, upon being pushed away from the bottle neck.
In a further embodiment of the invention, the screw cap is oriented in the open position with its free edge in the direction of the pour opening. After the opening, remaining fill material residues, for example sugar-containing soft drink, remain in the screw cap in the open position, and therefore cannot contaminate or stick to the container neck.
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:
Shown in
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 onto the outside of the container neck 29, which holding ring 35 may be engaged from below by protrusions 37 formed on the inside of the security ring 17 (
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 are arranged at regular intervals on the security ring 17.
The first and second arms 19a, 19b have a width of between 1.8 mm and 2.2 mm, or have a width which corresponds to at least 15% of the height of the security ring, so that they are sufficiently stable. The holding strips 19a, 19b may have a cross-sectional area of 1 mm2.
According to
A first and a second 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 from 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. An extension 43 is formed between the second end 41 of the first holding strip 19a and the third end 51 of the second holding strip 19b, which extension is part of the security ring 17 between the two holding strips 19a, 19b. A third recess 57 is provided on the security ring 17, whereby an articulation function is provided at the second end 41 of the first holding strip 19a. The third recess 57 therefore makes it possible that the first holding strip 19a can bend outwards without the material resistance of the security ring 17.
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 hinge effect is improved by a first and second kink 69, 71. The first and second kink 69, 71 are provided at the second and/or at the fourth ends 41, 53.
A support ring 72 is formed at the transition between the container neck 29 and the container body 28. The first and second holding strips 19a, 19b are dimensioned in terms of their length such that the free edge 25 of the screw cap 15 can, in the open position, be latched on the underside of the support ring. In the open position, the first and second holding strips 19a, 19b may be tensioned or elastically extended.
The arrangement of the ends of the holding strips 19a, 19b - that is to say, that the first end 39, the second end 41, the third end 51, and the fourth end 53 follow in the circumferential direction, and a certain length of the first and second holding strip 19a, 19b - has the advantage that the screw cap 15 can be intuitively rotated upward and can latch with its free edge 25 in the support ring 72.
For this purpose, it is necessary that the length of the first and/or second holding strip 19, 19b corresponds to between 27% and 32%, or between 29% and 30%, of the outer diameter of the screw cap. Possible dimensions, given a ratio of the outer diameter of the support ring to the holding strip length of 1 : 3.3, apportioned for common support ring outer diameters, are:
Since the closure cap 11 or the security ring 17 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 straighten.
As already described above, the screw cap 15 is flipped into the open position after being unscrewed from the container neck 29, in that the screw cap 15 automatically jumps with its free edge facing upward and in the direction of the support ring 72. The free edge 25 can then be fixed under the support ring 72. The length of the first and second holding strip 19a, 19b is thereby to be matched precisely in order to enable the latching function. If the length of the holding strips 19a, 19b is too long, the free edge 25 is not pulled sufficiently tight against the support ring 72. If the length of the holding strips 19a, 19b is too short, the free edge 25 cannot be pulled under the support ring 72, and this hinders the pouring of fill 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. In the open position, the inner side of the cap points upward, whereby fill material adhering on the screw cap 15 remains therein and cannot contaminate the container neck 29. This is a great advantage in particular given sugar-containing beverages, since they cannot stick to the container body.
The first and second holding strip 19a, 19b enable that the screw cap 15 can be transitioned into the open position in a positively guided folding movement after it has been unscrewed from the container neck 29. Via the positive guidance and the length of the holding strips 19a, 19b, there exists only one open position and not a plurality. The length and cross-section of the first and the second holding strip 19a, 19b are preferably 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. The screw cap 15 in the open position is thereby pulled into the vertex between the container neck 29 and the support ring 72, and is held in this vertex 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. The container 13 can thereby 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 Figure description of
Each wall section 101 has a first subsection 105 and two second subsections 107. The first subsection 105 represents an inwardly folded casing section and is preferably 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 may have a lesser wall thickness than the remaining security ring 17. In
Shown in
A first and second inclination angle 113, 115 are plotted in
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 inwardly projecting inner cone 87 (
The closure cap 11 is made of a plastic. Such plastics may include, inter alia, PP and HDPE.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 00672/20 | Jun 2020 | CH | national |
This application is a national phase entry under 37 U.S.C § 371 of PCT/EP2021/064978 filed Jun. 4, 2021, which claims priority to 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/EP2021/064978 | 6/4/2021 | WO |
