ONE-PIECE CLOSURE FOR A CONTAINER

Abstract

A one-piece closure for a container has a closure body suitable for coupling to the container, a spout portion extending from the closure body and having a spout duct, a cap portion and a breakable membrane joining the spout portion and the cap portion. The cap portion has a plug portion suitable for again closing a dispensing opening of the spout portion, which is exposed as a result of the rupture of the breakable membrane. The cap portion has coupling means suitable for being coupled to the spout portion and/or to the closure body, after the breakable membrane has been ruptured and after the cap portion has been fully separated from the spout portion.

Description

The subject of the present invention is a one-piece break-away closure for a container usually used to contain liquid, dense or semi-dense food products.

Such containers, such as tubes, pouches and the like, are undergoing enormous development with several hundred million pieces produced annually. Particularly appreciated is their ease of use, mainly due to the ease of squeezing the container to get the product out.

In this context, the closure of the container acquires particular importance, and it is essential that the cap ensures sealing during transport but may also be easily removed to open the container.

Nevertheless, some problems in the prior art have been noted. Sometimes it is quite difficult to open the cap, and the user often has to rotate and bend the cap repeatedly. Furthermore, in cases wherein the substance contained in the container is not fully consumed the first time it is used, it is often necessary to be able to close the container again. In the case of a careful operator, the operation may seem easy, but it often happens that the cap for closing the container is lost, with the preservation of the substance contained consequently compromised.

The object of the present invention is to create a closure that satisfies the aforesaid requirements and at the same time overcomes the drawbacks mentioned with reference to the prior art. In particular, one of the objects of the present invention is to produce a closure that allows the cap not to be lost during the use of the container, i.e. during the dispensing of the contained product through the closure, and at the same time not to be a nuisance during dispensing.

Such object is achieved by a closure made according to claim 1. The dependent claims describe further advantageous embodiments.

The features and advantages of the closure according to the present invention will be apparent from the description given below, provided by way of non-limiting example, in accordance with the accompanying figures, wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a one-piece closure in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention in an intact configuration;

FIG. 1a shows the one-piece closure of FIG. 1 in breakage configuration, i.e. with a cap portion separated from a spout portion, wherein the cap portion is coupled and attached securely to a closure body, the latter, for example, suitable to be installed directly on the container to close an access opening to the contents of the container;

FIG. 2 shows a one-piece closure in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention in an intact configuration;

FIG. 2a shows the one-piece closure of FIG. 2 in breakage configuration, i.e. with a cap portion separated from a spout portion, wherein the cap portion is coupled and attached securely to a closure body, the latter, for example, suitable to be installed directly on the container to close an access opening to the contents of the container;

FIG. 2b shows a side view of FIG. 2a;

FIG. 2c shows a sectional view along the plane V-V of FIG. 2b;

FIG. 3 shows a one-piece closure in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention in an intact configuration;

FIG. 3a shows the one-piece closure of FIG. 3 in breakage configuration, i.e. with a cap portion separated from a spout portion, wherein the cap portion is coupled and attached securely to the spout portion of the closure;

FIG. 4 shows a one-piece closure in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the present invention in an intact configuration;

FIG. 4a shows the one-piece closure of FIG. 4 in breakage configuration, i.e. with a cap portion separated from a spout portion, wherein the cap portion is coupled and attached securely to the spout portion of the closure;

FIG. 5 shows a one-piece closure in accordance with a fifth embodiment of the present invention in an intact configuration;

FIG. 5a shows the one-piece closure of FIG. 5 in breakage configuration, i.e. with a cap portion separated from a spout portion, wherein the cap portion is coupled and attached securely to the spout portion of the closure;

FIG. 5b shows a side elevation view of the closure of FIG. 5;

FIG. 5c is a further side elevation view of the closure of FIG. 5, rotated 180° with respect to FIG. 5b;

FIG. 5d shows a sectional perspective view along the plane AB-AB of FIG. 5b;

FIG. 5e shows an enlargement of a detail AH of FIG. 5d;

FIG. 5f shows a sectional perspective view along the plane AF-AF of FIG. 5c;

FIG. 5g shows an enlargement of a detail AG of FIG. 5f;

FIG. 5h shows an axial section along the plane AB-AB of FIG. 5b;

FIG. 5i shows an axial section along the plane AB-AB of FIG. 5b of the closure according to the fifth embodiment in the closed configuration, wherein the cap portion is inserted in the spout portion to again close the closure, for example after the breakage operation has been carried out, i.e. the breakage configuration of FIG. 5a.

FIG. 6 shows a one-piece closure in accordance with a sixth embodiment of the present invention in an intact configuration;

FIG. 6a shows the one-piece closure of FIG. 6 in breakage configuration, i.e. with a cap portion separated from a spout portion, wherein the cap portion is coupled and attached securely to a closure body, the latter, for example, suitable to be installed directly on the container to close an access opening to the contents of the container;

FIG. 7 shows a one-piece closure in accordance with a seventh embodiment of the present invention in an intact configuration;

FIG. 7a shows the one-piece closure of FIG. 7 in breakage configuration, i.e. with a cap portion separated from a spout portion, wherein the cap portion is coupled and attached securely to a closure body, the latter, for example, suitable to be installed directly on the container to close an access opening to the contents of the container;

FIG. 8 shows a one-piece closure in accordance with an eighth embodiment of the present invention in an intact configuration;

FIG. 8a shows the one-piece closure of FIG. 8 in breakage configuration, i.e. with a cap portion separated from a spout portion, wherein the cap portion is coupled and attached securely to a closure body, the latter, for example, suitable to be installed directly on the container to close an access opening to the contents of the container;

FIG. 9 shows a one-piece closure in accordance with a ninth embodiment of the present invention in an intact configuration;

FIG. 9a shows the one-piece closure of FIG. 9a in breakage configuration, i.e. with a cap portion separated from a spout portion, wherein the cap portion is coupled and attached securely to the spout portion of the closure;

FIG. 10 shows a one-piece closure in accordance with a tenth embodiment of the present invention in an intact configuration;

FIG. 10a shows the one-piece closure of FIG. 10 in breakage configuration, i.e. with a cap portion separated from a spout portion, wherein the cap portion is coupled and attached securely to a closure body, the latter, for example, suitable to be installed directly on the container to close an access opening to the contents of the container;

FIG. 10b shows a side view of FIG. 10a;

FIG. 10c shows a sectional view along the plane N-N of FIG. 10b;

FIG. 10d shows an enlargement of the detail P of FIG. 10c;

FIG. 11 shows a one-piece closure in accordance with a tenth embodiment of the present invention in an intact configuration;

FIG. 11a shows the one-piece closure of FIG. 10 in breakage configuration, i.e. with a cap portion separated from a spout portion, wherein the cap portion is coupled and attached securely to a closure body, the latter, for example, suitable to be installed directly on the container to close an access opening to the contents of the container;

FIG. 11b shows a side view of FIG. 11a;

FIG. 11c shows a sectional view along the plane R-R of FIG. 11b;

FIG. 11d shows an enlargement of the detail U of FIG. 11c;

FIG. 12 schematically illustrates the partial circumferential extension (180°) of a closure membrane in accordance with the present invention, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

With reference to the accompanying figures, a closure according to an embodiment of the present invention is indicated collectively at 1 intended for a container containing preferably fluid or semi-fluid substances, wherein it is important that the dispensing is controlled by the geometry of the end portion of a spout. Preferably, the container is a generic cylindrical container or is a squeezable tube or a thin-walled flexible package, usually called a pouch.

In the case of a flexible package, preferably, the package comprises a pouch consisting of two flexible front walls made of single-layer or multi-layer film. The side edges and the lower edge may be welded together or welded to a bottom and/or side panels.

The closure 1 is one piece, i.e. made of a single piece of plastic material, typically by means of injection molding. The plastic material is preferably PP, PE, PET, PA, PBS, PBT, TPE, or a compostable or biodegradable polymeric material such as PLA.

The closure 1 comprises a closure body 3 suitable to couple with the container. Preferably, the closure body comprises a thread for coupling to the container by screwing or comprises bayonet or snap-on coupling means.

The closure 1 comprises a spout portion 2 extending in one piece from the closure body 3 comprising a spout duct 30 having extension along a spout axis Z.

In particular, the spout portion 2 is penetrated internally by a spout duct 30, coaxial to the spout axis Z, usually circular cylindrical, between an inner end, where it defines an inlet opening 36, and an outer end 37, where it defines a dispensing opening 21 of the substance contained in the container.

When the closure 1 is intact, the cap portion 4 closes the dispensing opening 21 and is joined to the outer end 37 of the spout portion 2 by means of a membrane 40 of the closure 1.

Said membrane 40 is preferably placed at an outer end 37 of the spout portion 2, lying substantially on a plane orthogonal to the spout axis Z and has a circular crown shape.

In particular, said membrane 40 extends radially internally with respect to the edge of the dispensing opening 41 defined by the extension of an imaginary surface on which lies an end segment of the side surface of the spout duct 30.

Preferably, this edge of the dispensing opening 41 and the membrane 40 are substantially flush, so as to define a surface substantially flat and perpendicular to the spout axis Z. This prevents any accumulation of dirt around the cap portion, above the membrane. In effect, if the membrane 40 were placed on a plane arranged more internally towards the spout duct with respect to the plane on which the edge of the dispensing opening 41 lies, it would create a concavity suitable to collect dirt. In an alternative embodiment (not illustrated), the membrane lies on a surface inclined with respect to the surface whereon the edge of the dispensing opening 41 lies and protruding from the side opposite the spout duct 30, so that, in addition to preventing the accumulation of dirt, sliding is also facilitated.

The membrane 40 is breakable by manipulating the cap portion 4; in other words, it has structural features, such as axial height and radial thickness, so as to break due to manipulating the cap portion 4, particularly by the bending thereof.

The membrane 40 has circumferentially a variable radial thickness Sr.

For example, the thickness Sr has a substantially constant first thickness Sr1 for a first segment of the circumferential extension and a second thickness Sr2 for a second segment of the circumferential extension.

In particular, the second thickness Sr2 is greater than the first thickness Sr1.

Preferably, moreover, between the first segment with thickness Sr1 and the second segment with thickness Sr2 there is a transition zone T with increasing thickness from the first thickness Sr1 to the second thickness Sr2.

Preferably, the first segment with thickness Sr1 extends for a large part of the circumferential extension of the membrane 40, while the second segment with thickness Sr2 extends for a limited predefined length, for example between 10% and 20% of the circumferential length or for an angular width between 30° and 60°.

In addition, the second segment of thickness Sr2 straddles the closure line between the mold and countermold. Advantageously, this allows the imperfection on the membrane due to the mold closing line to be masked.

The cap portion 4 comprises a plug portion 41, having a predefined axial extension, suitable to close the dispensing opening 21 of the spout portion 2 by means of relative engagement, for example by interlocking. The delivery opening 21 is exposed following the rupture of the breakable membrane 40. In other words, once the membrane is ruptured, for example by pulling or tearing by an operator, there is a dispensing opening 21 on the exposed spout in the outer environment and intended to dispense the substance contained in the container through the passage from the container through the spout duct 30 and to the dispensing opening 21.

The closure 1 is thus suitable to assume three configurations: an intact configuration, wherein the closure 1 is a single, intact piece and completely seals the container; a breakage configuration, wherein the cap portion 4 is separated from the spout portion 2 and wherein the cap portion 4 is coupled and attached securely to the closure body or to the spout portion 2; a closed configuration, wherein the plug portion 41 again seals the closure 1 (and therefore the container) due to its engagement with the spout portion 2, and in particular by means of insertion in the spout duct 30, through the dispensing opening 21.

In other words, as is evident from all the embodiments shown in the accompanying figures, in the breakage configuration, the dispensing opening 21 is open. That is to say, in the breakage configuration, when the cap portion 4 is coupled and attached to the closure body 4 or to the spout portion 2 itself, the dispensing opening 21 is left open so that one may dispense the product contained in the container, reducing the risk of losing the cap portion 4.

Preferably, the plug portion 41 comprises at least one sealing element, for example a pair of sealing elements 44, 46 protruding from the outer surface of the plug portion 41, preferably shaped to engage sealingly with the spout duct 30.

Preferably, the plug portion 41 consists of an annular wall 52 which internally delimits a plug compartment 53 and has an external cylindrical or frusto-conical side surface.

Preferably, the plug portion 41 is directly connected to the membrane 40 and may be sealingly inserted into the spout duct 30. This ensures that the contents of the container do not escape from the dispensing opening 21.

The cap portion 4 comprises coupling means 42 suitable to be coupled with the spout portion 2 and/or with the closure body 3, after the membrane 40 has been broken and after the cap portion 4 has been fully separated from the spout portion 2.

The coupling means allow the secure coupling between the cap portion 4 and the spout portion 2 and/or the closure body 3. In other words, “secure coupling” means that the cap portion 4 remains attached to the spout portion 2 and/or the closure body 3 without the need for the user to intervene to keep the cap portion 4 coupled to the spout portion 2 and/or the closure body 3, for example as a result of a friction bond between the coupled portions.

Therefore, as is evident from all the embodiments shown in the accompanying figures, the coupling means are suitable to allow the coupling of the cap portion 4 with the spout portion 2 and/or with the closure body 3, leaving the dispensing opening 21 open.

In an embodiment in accordance with the invention, for example as shown in FIGS. 1 to 2c, 6 to 8a, 10 to 10d, 11 to 11d, the coupling means comprise shape-coupling means between the cap portion 4 and the closure body 3. The shape-coupling means comprise, for example, a pair of complementary geometries, wherein one geometry of said pair is obtained on the cap portion and the other is obtained on the spout portion 2 or on the closure body 3.

Preferably, the shape-coupling means are interlocking couplings or shape interference couplings.

In another embodiment in accordance with the invention, for example as shown in FIGS. 3 to 3a and 9 to 9a, the coupling means comprise screw-on coupling means between the cap portion 4 and the spout portion 2.

Preferably, the cap portion 4 comprises a gripping portion 60 intended to be manipulated by a user to remove the cap portion 4 from the spout portion 2.

In one embodiment, for example shown in FIGS. 1 to 2a, 6 to 8a, 10 to 11d, the gripping portion 60 comprises a blade element 70 in which is obtained a notch 71 or a gripping portion protuberance 78 suitable to couple with a protuberance 33 or with a seat or a notch obtained on the closure body 3.

For example, in one embodiment, a blade element 70 comprises a pair of side walls 72, 73 facing each other and a base wall 74 joining the side walls, said notch 71 being open on the side opposite the base wall 74 and being suitable to couple with a respective protuberance 33 projecting from a side wall 34 of the closure body 3, to store the cap portion 4 while dispensing the contents of the container from the dispensing opening 21.

In one embodiment, for example shown in FIGS. 3 to 3a, the gripping portion 60 comprises a through-hole 61, preferably provided with a thread 62, suitable to screw onto a spout thread 24 made on the spout portion 2.

In another embodiment, for example shown in FIGS. 3 to 5i, the gripping portion 60 comprises an engagement through-hole 65 having a diameter such that the inner surface 65′ which defines the engagement through-hole 65 is intended to be coupled in a secure manner with an annular groove 26 obtained on the spout portion 2.

In a further embodiment in accordance with the invention, for example as shown in FIGS. 9 and 9a, the coupling means comprise screw-on coupling means between the cap portion 4 and the spout portion 2 and shape-coupling means between the cap portion 4 and the spout portion 2. In particular, the gripping portion 60 comprises a non-continuous ring, i.e. a split ring that has a circumferential interruption 67 of the continuity of the ring shape, such as to leave space to allow the elastic deformation of the ring so as to vary its diameter when subjected to mechanical stress. This geometry of the gripping portion 60 allows one to screw the split ring onto the spout thread 24, or to snap the ring on by means of mechanical force from the top to the bottom on the thread.

Innovatively, the closure according to the present invention overcomes the drawbacks of the prior art, because after breaking the membrane it is possible to store the removed cap portion directly on the spout portion or on the closure body without running the risk of losing the cap portion. This, on the one hand, makes it easier to use the closure and, on the other, allows the dosing spout to be reused effectively due to the possibility of quickly closing it again.

In other words, once the cap portion 4 has been removed, due to the fact that it is possible to store it directly on the spout portion 2 and/or on the closure body 3, leaving the dispensing opening open, it follows that it is possible to conveniently dispense the product contained in the container through the dispensing opening, without running the risk of losing the cap portion 4.

Another advantage is represented by the maintenance of a high level of hygiene during use, because one does not have to set down the removed cap portion (for example on a table or a counter or other support) thus avoiding contamination of the product contained in the container in the subsequent stage of reclosing the same for a second use.

Moreover, the breakage of the membrane is advantageously facilitated along a first stretch, to then continue along a second stretch, due to the presence of a membrane with variable thickness.

The separation of the cap portion from the spout portion is thus particularly simple, especially if the cap portion is bent in the correct direction.

Advantageously, moreover, the container provided with the closure according to the invention is also safer, because, if the container is accidentally dropped, the thicker portion of the membrane allows the blow to be cushioned.

It is apparent that, according to the present invention, in addition to being installed on the container to close an access opening to the contents thereof, for example by means of a screw-on or bayonet or snap coupling, the closure 1 may also be made in one piece with the container.

It is moreover apparent that a person skilled in the art, in order to meet contingent needs, may make changes to the closure described above, all contained within the scope of protection as defined by the following claims.

Claims

1. A one-piece closure for a container, comprising: a closure body suitable for coupling to the container;a spout portion extending in one piece from the closure body and comprising a spout duct having extension along a spout axis (Z); anda cap portion and a breakable membrane joining the spout portion and the cap portion in a single piece;wherein said cap portion comprises a plug portion suitable for again closing a dispensing opening of the spout portion by a respective engagement, said dispensing opening being exposed as a result of a rupture of the breakable membrane;wherein the cap portion further comprises coupling means suitable for being coupled to the spout portion and/or to the closure body, after the breakable membrane has been ruptured and after the cap portion has been fully separated from the spout portion, leaving the dispensing opening open.

2. The one-piece closure of claim 1, wherein the coupling means comprise shape-coupling means between the cap portion and the closure body.

3. The one-piece closure of claim 1, wherein the coupling means comprise screw-on coupling means between the cap portion and the spout portion.

4. The one-piece closure of claim 1, wherein the coupling means comprise screw-on coupling means between the cap portion and the spout portion and shape-coupling means between the cap portion and the spout portion.

5. The one-piece closure of claim 2, wherein the shape-coupling means are interlocking or shape-interference couplings.

6. The one-piece closure of claim 1 wherein the plug portion is directly joined to the breakable membrane and is sealingly insertable into the spout duct.

7. The one-piece closure of claim 6, wherein said plug portion comprises at least one sealing element, for example a pair of sealing elements protruding from an outer surface of the plug portion.

8. The one-piece closure of claim 6, wherein the plug portion consists of an annular wall internally delimiting a plug compartment and has an external cylindrical or frusto-conical side surface.

9. The one-piece closure of claim 1, wherein the cap portion further comprises a gripping portion intended to be manipulated by a user to remove the cap portion from the spout portion.

10. The one-piece closure of claim 9, wherein the gripping portion comprises a blade element, a notch being obtained in said blade element, said notch comprising a pair of side walls facing each other and a base wall joining the pair of side walls, said notch being open on a side opposite the base wall and being suitable for coupling to a corresponding protuberance projecting from a side wall of the closure body, to store the cap portion while dispensing contents of the container from the dispensing opening.

11. The one-piece closure of claim 9, wherein the gripping portion comprises a through-hole suitable for screwing onto a spout thread obtained on the spout portion.

12. The one-piece closure of claim 9, wherein the gripping portion comprises a through-hole with a diameter such that an inner surface of the through-hole is intended to couple securely to an annular groove made on the spout portion.

13. The one-piece closure of claim 1, wherein said breakable membrane has a variable radial thickness (Sr).

14. The one-piece closure of claim 1, wherein the breakable membrane is placed at an outer end of the spout portion, lies substantially on a plane orthogonal to the spout axis (Z) and has a circular crown shape.

15. The one-piece closure of claim 1, wherein the breakable membrane extends radially internally with respect to a perimeter edge of the dispensing opening defined by an imaginary extension of a surface on which lies an end segment of a side surface of the spout duct.

16. The one-piece closure of claim 15, wherein the perimeter edge of the dispensing opening and the breakable membrane are substantially flush, so as to define a surface substantially flat and perpendicular to the spout axis (Z), or wherein the breakable membrane lies on a surface inclined with respect to the surface on which lies the edge of the dispensing opening and protruding externally and on a side opposite the spout duct.

17. The one-piece closure of claim 1, wherein the breakable membrane has a first circumferential segment having a first constant thickness (Sr1) and a second circumferential segment having a second thickness (Sr2), wherein the second thickness (Sr2) is greater than the first constant thickness (Sr1) (Sr2>Sr1).

18. The one-piece closure of claim 17, wherein a transition zone lying between the first circumferential segment and the second circumferential segment has an increasing thickness from the first constant thickness (Sr1) to the second thickness (Sr2).

19. A container comprising the one-piece closure of claim 1.

20. The one-piece closure of claim 11, wherein the through-hole is a threaded through-hole.

21. The one-piece closure of claim 1, wherein the closure body is suitable for coupling to the container by a screw-on or bayonet coupling.