This description relates to the field of caps for use in closing and sealing a discharge opening at a container's neck such as that of a liquid container.
Several types of cap are already provided for sealing an opening at a container's neck. The main problem generally encountered is that there is a large variation of dimension of the necks, depending on the method used for making necks (e.g. extrusion blow, extruded blow with compressed neck or injection blow). For reducing number of type of caps and for facilitating cap mounting, manufacturers search to produce the most robust cap as possible. A cap must be able to seal a large variety of neck finishes and design. Also, the cap has to seal the container even if neck's external surface is rough/damaged or the pressure in the container is different than outside. In order to seal properly, the cap has to absorb neck surface defects, dents or scratches due to manufacturing imperfections or handling accidents.
Some molded caps comprise one or more flexible lips made of the same material than the cap with a view to provide a seal. The more lips on a cap the more material is used to manufacture the cap.
Other types of cap comprise a seal gasket located on the inner top of the cap. It is generally a ring-shaped seal which is compressed while the cap is mounted on the neck. For sealing necks having various dimensions, the seal gasket must be voluminous for adapting itself. Usually the seal gasket material is more costly than cap material.
There is therefore a need for improved sealing cap providing a water-tight closure at a lower cost.
It is an object of the present disclosure to provide sealing cap that overcomes or mitigates one or more disadvantages of known cap or at least provides a useful alternative.
To this end, the subject of the invention is a cap for closing a container, as defined in appended claim 1.
This arrangement creates conditions for a cost-efficient solution since it provides for a minimum amount of seal gasket material.
Also, this arrangement can be applied to all kinds of closures, including without limitation, screw cap, threadless cap, crown cork, tamper-evident and tamper-resistant caps, among others.
Additional advantageous features of this cap are specified in dependent claims 2 to 30.
Thus, according to an embodiment of the invention, there is provided a threadless cap for closing a container, the container having a neck with an upper edge defining a discharge opening; the cap comprising:
The lid of the cap according to the invention may be made of glass, aluminum, metal, polymer material, polyolefin materials including, but not limited to propylene or ethylene polymers or copolymers, cellulose-based plastics, polystyrene, pvc, nylon, rubber, synthetic rubber, acrylic, polyester, silicone, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyurethane or combinations thereof. Preferably, the lid is formed of a low-density polyethylene (LDPE), however, one should appreciate that other suitable materials can be used including, but not limited to, high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and other olefinic copolymers and mixtures, and flexible vinyl compositions.
The extending projection of the cap according to the invention may be made of a same or different material than the lid. Preferably, the projection is made of a polymer material including, without limitation, cellulose-based plastics, polystyrene, pvc, nylon, rubber, synthetic rubber, acrylic, polyester, silicone, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyurethane. Most preferably, the projection is pliable allowing for a synergetic spring effect with a seal gasket to allow for a better sealing of the container. Preferably, the projection is formed of a low-density polyethylene (LDPE), however, one should appreciate that other suitable materials can be used including, but not limited to, high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and other olefinic copolymers and mixtures, and flexible vinyl compositions
The seal gasket of the cap according to the invention is formed of a material that is more pliable than that which forms the lid. Preferably, the seal gasket is formed of a resilient material having more elasticity than that of the lid which allows the seal gasket to more readily conform to the container crown finish and provide a more effective seal than which cap could alone. For example, the seal gasket may be formed of Ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA), elastomers, silicones, or urethanes. Preferably, the liner is formed of a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE). One should appreciate that other suitable materials can be used in accordance with the present invention including, but not limited to, olefin-based thermoplastic elastomers. One should appreciate that the seal gasket may also be formed with foaming agents to form a thermoplastic elastomer foam which may further enhance sealing characteristics of the seal gasket.
Further features and advantages of the present disclosure will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in combination with the appended drawings, in which:
a is an axonometric view of a cap for closing a container's neck in accordance with an embodiment.
b is an axonometric view of the neck of the container shown in
a is a schematic partial cross-sectional view of a cap, mounted on a neck, in accordance with the cap of
b is a schematic expanded partial cross-sectional view of the cap of
c is a schematic expanded partial cross-sectional view of the cap of
a and 4b are schematic partial cross-sectional views of a cap, being mounted on a neck, in accordance with another embodiment;
a is cross-sectional view of a cap in accordance with another embodiment;
b is cross-sectional view of a cap in accordance with another embodiment;
c is cross-sectional view of a cap in accordance with another embodiment;
d is cross-sectional view of a cap in accordance with another embodiment;
e is cross-sectional view of a cap in accordance with another embodiment;
It will be noted that throughout the appended drawings, like features are identified by like reference numerals.
Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly concurrently to
Referring to
It has been observed that the maximum diameter 140 of neck of water bottles are statistically more precise than the shape of the recess 130 characterized by a distance J between an inflexion 142 of the recess 130 and a top 144 of the neck 112. Many blown finish water bottle manufacturers rework or grind the outside of the bottle at the maximum diameter 140 area to control the size of the maximum diameter, among others. That means that it is easier to laterally seal the cap as shown on
Referring to
The projection 132 is in a form of a continuous projection 132 extending along a substantial portion of the perimeter of the shoulder 123. In other embodiments the projection 132 can be segmented so that the projection 132 is discontinuous and formed of individual segments disposed along the periphery of the shoulder 123 rather than a continuous structure.
Referring to
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The skirt 824 includes a line of weakness 858 for facilitating a manual tear of the skirt 824 thereby creating a line of tear propagating as a result of a manual pull applied on the skirt. The cap 810 may further include a tear stop 860 at a location intersecting the line of weakness 858. The tear stop 860 prevents the line of tear to propagate beyond the tear stop 860. The line of weakness 858 may include a portion extending across a tension ring 862, namely an engaging means, to reduce a retaining force exerted by the tension ring 862 on the neck of the container when a tear line propagating as a result of a manual pull applied on the skirt 824 extends across the tension ring 862.
In
The cap 910 has a central recess 964 including a tubular guiding portion 966 projecting from the cap 910 in a same direction as the skirt 924. The guiding portion 966 is sized and positioned to receive a supply tube 968 of a dispenser. The central recess 964 may also include a bottom portion 970 in the shape of a cone that projects away from the guiding portion 966. The cone is provided with a number of frangible lines extending within meridian planes in such a manner so as to allow splitting of said cone into a corresponding number of petal-shaped segments each having a tip when the container is installed onto the dispenser and its cap 910 and neck are penetrated by the supply tube 968. The cone also having a truncated top and a peripheral surface forming an annular, outwardly projecting step of a generally V-shaped cross-section that is adjacent to the guiding portion and defines an annular inner flange at a distance from the top, whereby, in use, when the cone is split, the flange comes into contact with the supply tube 968 and causes the tips of the segments to extend at a short distance away from the supply tube 968.
Referring to
a is a cross-sectional view of the cap 1010 in which a first possible projection 1032 is having an end portion 1034.
b is a cross-sectional view of the cap 1010 in which a second possible projection 1032 is having an end portion 1034.
c shows the seal gasket 1036 being supported by the projections 1032 and 1034 which adopts a “V shape” structure.
d is a cross-sectional view of the cap 1010 in which a third possible projection 1032 is having an end portion 1034.
e is a cross-sectional view of the cap 1010 in which a fourth possible projection 1032 is having an end portion 1034. The seal gasket 1036 is supported by the end portion 1034 of the projection 1032.
In any embodiments previously described, the seal gasket can be made of a polymer material being pliable or flexible to allow a watertight contact with any water bottle irrespective of the neck size or variation in necks.
While preferred embodiments have been described above and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, it will be evident to those skilled in the art that modifications may be made therein without departing from the essence of the invention as defined in the appended claims. Such modifications are considered as possible variants comprised in the scope of the disclosure.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/378087 filed on Aug. 30, 2010.
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
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PCT/EP2011/064818 | 8/29/2011 | WO | 00 | 4/12/2013 |
Number | Date | Country | |
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61378087 | Aug 2010 | US |