|
(11) | EP 1 440 014 B1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION |
|
|
| (54) |
A CLOSING ELEMENT FOR CONTAINERS VERSCHLUSSVORRICHTUNG FÜR BEHÄLTER ELEMENT DE FERMETURE POUR CONTENEURS |
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Note: Within nine months from the publication of the mention of the grant of the European patent, any person may give notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to the European patent granted. Notice of opposition shall be filed in a written reasoned statement. It shall not be deemed to have been filed until the opposition fee has been paid. (Art. 99(1) European Patent Convention). |
Technical Field
[0001] The present invention relates to a closing element made of plastic for containers for liquids, in particular for beverages.
Background Art
[0002] At present, the basic technical solutions in the known systems for closing containers, that is to say, "caps" for plastic and glass bottles, are the traditional metal crown cap or alternatively aluminium or plastic screw caps.
[0003] In the current beverage container market these two solutions are not enough to satisfy both the technical and marketing requirements of new products.
[0004] As a result, valid alternatives to the traditional caps are needed, above all for beverage containers, for example the latest containers for beer or soft drinks which normally need to or do allow excess gas pressure caused by handling the container to be relieved (an operation known as "venting" to experts in the field). Other requirements that have become standard for traditional caps, especially those made of plastic are "tamper evidence" or "tamper proofing", that is, a feature of the closure which, if breached or missing, provides evidence to consumers that tampering has occurred, and the feature of not damaging the neck of the container, so that the container can be re-used.
[0005] As already indicated, three types of closures are basically used to close such containers, two of which require threading on the bottle neck and one of which is applied by pressing onto the neck of the container, this being the traditional crown cap.
[0006] The latter type of cap, which can also be applied onto a threaded glass container to yield a twist-off crown cap, is the most widespread type of cap on the market thanks to its excellent sealing properties and low cost not only in terms of machinery used to apply it, but also in terms of the product itself. The disadvantages of the crown cap applied using pressure are due to: the high axial loads on the neck of the container when the closure is applied, making it difficult (or impossible) to apply it to plastic containers owing to the risk of damaging or destroying the container itself during the capping process; the impossibility, or difficulty, of opening the container manually; the impossibility of re-using the container - if it is made of plastic - since the corrugations and the tightening force applied during capping irremediably scratch the mouth of the container. Crown caps which can be screwed open have further disadvantages owing to the difficulty of gripping and moving them and, normally, the lack of tamper evidence which allows the consumer to check if the container seal is intact .
[0007] Document US A 4359166, on which the preamble of claim 1 is based, discloses a closure device which solves all these problems. The known closure device comprises a pressure ring fabricated in one-piece with a claw cap; the pressure ring is connected with the claw cap by means of webs which are disposed between its engagement portions and the roof wall of the claw cap. By pressing the pressure ring downwardly over arms and claws of the closure cap, while tearing the webs, the claws are pressed against the underside of a mouth bead of the neck of a bottle and are pressed into a constricted portion of the bottle neck. By rotating the pressure ring such that its engagement portions or parts depart from the U-shaped claws and by lifting the same it is possible to remove the closure cap from the dispensing or pour opening of the bottle neck, since the engagement parts upwardly raise the claw cap at a lower edge of the roof wall of such claw cap. Due to the design and manufacturing constraints, there is a visible gap between the ring and the claw cap.
[0008] For this reason, the Applicant has invented and designed a closing element made of plastic structured in a simple way and which can be applied using pressure on unthreaded containers of the type typically sealed by crown corks, creating an excellent seal, providing effective tamper evidence enabling consumers to check if the seal is intact before opening it for the first time, yet with opening functionality similar to that of threaded closures.
Disclosure of the Invention
Brief Description of the Drawings
[0010] The technical characteristics of the invention, with reference to the above aims, are clearly described in the claims below and its advantages are apparent from the detailed description which follows, with reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention provided merely by way of example without restricting the scope of the inventive concept, and in which:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a container closing element, made in accordance with the present invention;
Figure 2 is a perspective view of part of the closing element illustrated in Figure 1;
Figures 3, 4, 5 and 6 are front views with some parts cut away to better illustrate others, of the closing element in a succession of element closing steps on a container;
Figure 7 is a schematic front view of a detail of the closing element illustrated in the previous figures, that is to say, the cam means and pins, in a step of opening the container on which the closing element is applied.
Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments of the Invention
[0011] With reference to the accompanying drawings, and in particular, Figure 3, the closing element disclosed, labelled 100 as a whole, is made of a plastic material and is used to close containers 1 for liquids such as beer or soft drinks.
[0012] This type of container 1 comprises a mouth 2 for dispensing the beverage and defined by the neck 3 of the container 1 which has an annular bead 4.
[0013] As illustrated in Figure 1, the closing element 100 basically comprises a first and a second body 5 and 9.
[0014] The first, outer body 5, (see also Figure 2) has a circular - cylindrical shape and is defined by an upper surface 6 and a lower annular liner 7 made in a single piece.
[0015] The first body 5 also has a plurality of projecting pins 8, evenly arranged on the inside of the annular liner 7.
[0016] The second, inner body 9, also circular - cylindrical, can be inserted in the first body 5 and has cam means 10 arranged on its outer annular liner 11, designed to allow, in conjunction with the pins 8: a stable minimum radial dimension configuration, or tightening, of the second body 9, by the radial thrust of the pins 8 (see Figure 6); and a maximum radial dimension configuration, by non-reversible rotation of the first body 5 about the second body 9, with radial opening of the second body 9 relative to the first body 5.
[0017] The second body 9 also comprises an upper surface 12 and the lower annular liner 11, which is divided into a plurality of sectors 13 extending vertically, separated from one another, and each having cam means 10.
[0018] The number of above-mentioned vertical sectors 13 is equivalent to the number of pins 8 on the annular surface 7 of the first body 5.
[0019] More specifically, see Figures 3 to 6, the cam means 10 comprise an additional annular surface 14 on the outside of the annular liner 11, this extra surface defining a sliding zone for the pins 8 of the first body 5 and, at the lower end, an undercut 15 which engages with the pins 8: this allows the second body 9 to assume the minimum radial dimension configuration.
[0020] In particular, this additional annular surface 14 adapts to the shape of the annular liner 11 and allows the annular liner 11 to be "flattened" to form the minimum radial dimension configuration.
[0021] At the zone forming the undercut 15, the annular liner 11 has a plurality of protrusions 16 which guide the pins 8 and can be used during the non-reversible rotation, the protrusions 16 forming a groove or slide for the pins 8 which ends with a seat 17 that holds and locks the pins 8 in place. This seat 17 is created in a through-space which also separates the sectors 13, so that the second body 9 stable maximum radial dimension configuration can be achieved.
[0022] More specifically (see Figure 7), the pins 8 have a pentagonal cross-section and the holding and locking seat 17 has a matching profile, for at least three sides of the pentagon and such that it allows the pin 8 to engage, following rotation of the first body 5, holding the pin 8 in a plane offset from the annular liner 11 and so locking the first body 5 relative to the second body 9, that is to say, preventing a return to the minimum radial dimension configuration of the first body 5.
[0023] The second body 9 also has a seal 18 at the upper surface 12 in the zone opposite that facing the first body 5.
[0024] Returning to the first body 5, it has a central protrusion 19 in stable contact with the outer surface of the upper surface 12 of the second body 9 and a second, peripheral annular protrusion 20 in stable contact with the outer surface of the upper surface 12 of the second body 9 to achieve constant and even pressure on the second body 9 in the minimum radial dimension configuration.
[0025] As Figures 3 to 6 clearly show, the second body 9 has an inner annular tooth 21 which engages the annular bead 4 on the mouth 2 of the container 1.
[0026] The first body 5 may also have a plurality of beads 5a evenly arranged on the outer part of the upper surface 6 so that the first body 5 is easier to grip during rotation.
[0027] A container 1 for beverages may, therefore, have the closing element 100 described and is substantially closed by this element 100 by means of simple positioning of the two bodies 5 and 9 (see Figure 3) on the container mouth and a subsequent vertical thrust (see arrow F1 in Figure 4) on the first body 5, allowing the first body 5 to move towards the second body 9, with the second body 9 encompassing the mouth 2 of the container 1.
[0028] The thrust on the first body 5 stops at the moment when the pins 8 reach the undercut 15 and the second body 9 is locked on the mouth 2 of the container 1 by engagement of the annular tooth 21 with the annular bead 4 (see arrow F).
[0029] To open the container 1 with this type of closing element 100, the consumer must turn the first body 5 in the direction indicated by the arrow F2 in Figures 1 and 7, to allow the pins 8 to move along the protrusions 16 which allow the pins 8 to reach the seat 17 (see arrow F3 in Figure 7).
[0030] When each pin 8 reaches the seat 17, the pin 8 engages thanks to the separating zone between the sectors 13 at the seat 17, allowing the container 1 to open thanks to the radial distancing of the second body 9 from the mouth 2 of the container 1 (see arrow F4 in Figure 6).
[0031] This is a non-reversible opening action and, thanks to the architecture in which the pins 8 lock in the seats 17 in a plane which is offset relative to the rest of the annular liner 11 of the second body 9, prevents the whole closing element 100 from being returned to the original closing or minimum radial dimension position.
[0032] A closing element structured in this way, therefore, fulfils the preset aims thanks to an extremely rational construction architecture with many advantages.
[0033] One of these is the possibility of having a closing element which can be applied to containers for beverages in a simple way and with low machinery costs, since the process is similar to that for closing with crown caps.
1. A closing element (100) made of plastic for containers for liquids, the container
(1) comprising a mouth (2) for dispensing the beverage and defined by a neck (3) of
the container (1), the neck (3) having an annular bead (4), the closing element comprising:
- a first, outer body (5) with a circular - cylindrical shape having an annular liner (7) the first body (5) also having a plurality of projecting pins (8), evenly arranged on the inside of the annular liner (7);
- a second, inner body (9) with a circular - cylindrical shape, which can be inserted in the first body (5) and has cams (10) on its own, outer surface (11) designed, in conjunction with the pins (8) of the first body (5), to allow a stable minimum radial dimension configuration, or tightening, of the second body (9) on the neck (3) of the container (1), by the radial thrust of the pins (8), and a maximum radial dimension configuration, by non-reversible rotation of the first body (5) about the second body (9), with radial opening of the second body (9) relative to the first body (5); characterised in that the outer body (5) has an upper surface (6) made in a single piece with said annular liner (7).
2. The element according to claim 1, characterised in that the second body (9) comprises an upper surface (12) and the lower annular liner (11)
is divided into a plurality of sectors (13) extending vertically, separate from one
another, and each having a cam (10).
3. The element according to claims 1 and 2, characterised in that the number of vertical sectors (13) is equal to the number of pins (8) on the annular
surface (7) of the first body (5).
4. The element according to claim 1, characterised in that the cams(10) comprise at least one annular surface (14) on the outer part of the
annular liner (11) designed to form a sliding zone for the pins (8) of the first body
(5) and, at the lower end, an undercut (15) which engages the pins (8), allowing the
minimum radial dimension configuration of the second body (9) to be achieved.
5. The element according to claim 1, characterised in that the cams (10) comprise an annular surface (14) on the outer part of the annular liner
(11) designed to form a sliding zone for the pins (8) of the first body (5) and, at
the lower end, an undercut (15) which engages the pins (8), allowing the minimum radial
dimension configuration of the second body (9) to be achieved; at the zone which forms
the undercut (15), the annular liner (11) having a plurality of protrusions (16) for
guiding the pins (8), during the non-reversible rotation, with each protrusion (16)
forming a sliding groove for the pins (8) terminating with a seat (17) for holding
and locking the pins (8), to achieve the stable maximum radial dimension configuration
of the second body (9).
6. The element according to claims 1 and 2, characterised in that the second body (9) has a seal (18) at the upper surface (12) in the zone opposite
that facing the first body (5).
7. The element according to claim 1, characterised in that the first body (5) has a central protrusion (19) in stable contact with the outer
surface of the upper surface (12) of the second body (9).
8. The element according to claim 1, characterised in that the first body (5) has a first, central protrusion (19) and a second, peripheral
annular protrusion (20) which are in stable contact with the outer surface of the
upper surface (12) of the second body (9).
9. The element according to claims 1 and 2, characterised in that the second body (9) has an inner annular tooth (21) which engages the annular bead
(4) on the mouth (2) of the container (1).
10. The element according to claim 5, characterised in that the pins (8) have a pentagonal cross-section and the holding and locking seat (17)
has a matching profile, for at least three sides of the pentagon, allowing the pin
(8) to engage following rotation of the first body (5), holding the pin (8) in a plane
offset from the annular liner (11), locking the first body (5) relative to the second
body (9).
11. The element according to claim 1, characterised in that the first body (5) has a plurality of beads (5a) evenly arranged on the outer part
of the upper surface (6), allowing the consumer to grip the first body (5).
12. A container (1) for liquids, comprising a mouth (2) for dispensing the liquid and
defined by the neck (3) of the container (1), the neck (3) having an annular bead
(4); characterised in that the container comprises a closing element (100) according to claim 1.
1. Verschlussvorrichtung (100) aus Kunststoff für Flüssigkeitsbehälter, wobei der Behälter
(1) eine Öffnung (2) zur Abgabe des Getränkes enthält, beschrieben durch einen Hals
(3) des Behälters (1), wobei der Hals (3) einen ringförmigen Wulst (4) hat, und wobei
die Verschlussvorrichtung wie folgt enthält:
- einen ersten, äusseren Körper (5) von einer kreisförmigzylindrischen Ausbildung und eine ringförmige Verkleidung (7) aufweisend, wobei der erste Körper (5) ebenfalls eine Anzahl von hervorstehenden Zapfen (8) enthält, letztere gleichmässig angeordnet an der Innenseite der ringförmigen Verkleidung (7);
- einen zweiten, inneren Körper (9) von einer kreisförmigzylindrischen Ausbildung, der in den ersten Körper (5) eingesetzt werden kann und an seiner eigenen äusseren Oberfläche (11) Nocken (10) aufweist, die dazu bestimmt sind, in Zusammenwirkung mit den Zapfen (8) des ersten Körpers (5) eine Konfiguration der stabilen, minimalen radialen Abmessung oder des Abdichtens des zweiten Körpers (9) auf dem Hals (3) des Behälters (1) zu erlauben, und zwar durch den radialen Druck der Zapfen (8), sowie die Konfiguration einer maximalen radialen Abmessung durch das nicht umkehrbare Drehen des ersten Körpers (5) um den zweiten Körper (9), mit einem radialen Öffnen des zweiten Körpers (9) im Verhältnis zu dem ersten Körper (5); dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der äussere Körper (5) eine obere Oberfläche (6) hat, die in einem Stück mit der genannten ringförmigen Verkleidung (7) hergestellt ist.
2. Vorrichtung nach Patentanspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der zweite Körper (9) eine obere Oberfläche (12) enthält und die untere ringförmige
Verkleidung (11) in eine Anzahl von sich vertikal erstreckenden Abschnitten (13) unterteilt
ist, die voneinander getrennt sind, und von denen jeder eine Nocke (10) aufweist.
3. Vorrichtung nach den Patentansprüchen 1 und 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Zahl der vertikalen Abschnitte (13) gleich der Zahl der Zapfen (8) an der ringförmigen
Oberfläche (7) des ersten Körpers (5) ist.
4. Vorrichtung nach Patentanspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Nocken (10) wenigstens eine ringförmige Oberfläche (14) enthalten, aufgewiesen
am äusseren Teil der ringförmigen Verkleidung (11) und dazu bestimmt, einen Gleitbereich
für die Zapfen (8) des ersten Körpers (5) zu bilden, und an dem unteren Ende einen
Unterschnitt (15), welcher die Zapfen (8) greift, wodurch die Konfiguration der minimalen
radialen Abmessung des zweiten Körpers (9) erhalten werden kann.
5. Vorrichtung nach Patentanspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Nocken (10) eine ringförmige Oberfläche (14) enthalten, aufgewiesen am äusseren
Teil der ringförmigen Verkleidung (11) und dazu bestimmt, einen Gleitbereich für die
Zapfen (8) des ersten Körpers (5) zu bilden, und an dem unteren Ende einen Unterschnitt
(15), welcher die Zapfen (8) greift, wodurch die Konfiguration der minimalen radialen
Abmessung des zweiten Körpers (9) erhalten werden kann; wobei in dem Bereich, welcher
den Unterschnitt (15) bildet, die ringförmige Verkleidung (11) eine Anzahl von Vorsprüngen
(16) zum Führen der Zapfen (8) während der nicht umkehrbaren Umdrehung aufweist, und
zwar mit jedem Vorsprung (16) eine Gleitrille für die Zapfen (8) bildend und mit einem
Sitz (17) zum Halten und Blockieren der Zapfen (8) endend, um die Konfiguration der
stabilen, maximalen radialen Abmessung des zweiten Körpers (9) zu erhalten.
6. Vorrichtung nach den Patentansprüchen 1 und 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der zweite Körper (9) eine Dichtung (18) an der oberen Oberfläche (12) hat, und zwar
in dem entgegengesetzten Bereich von jenem dem ersten Körper (5) zugewandten.
7. Vorrichtung nach Patentanspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der erste Körper (5) einen mittleren Vorsprung (19) in stabilem Kontakt mit der äusseren
Oberfläche der oberen Oberfläche (12) des zweiten Körpers (9) hat.
8. Vorrichtung nach Patentanspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der erste Körper (5) einen ersten mittleren Vorsprung (19) hat, sowie einen zweiten,
umlaufenden ringförmigen Vorsprung (20), welche sich in stabilem Kontakt mit der äusseren
Oberfläche der oberen Oberfläche (12) des zweiten Körpers (9) befinden.
9. Vorrichtung nach den Patentansprüchen 1 und 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der zweite Körper (9) einen inneren ringförmigen Zahn (21) aufweist, welcher sich
mit dem ringförmigen Wulst (4) an der Öffnung (2) des Behälters (1) verbindet.
10. Vorrichtung nach Patentanspruch 5, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Zapfen (8) einen fünfeckigen Querschnitt haben und die Halte- und Blockiersitze
(17) ein passrechtes Profil aufweisen, und zwar für wenigstens drei Seiten des Fünfecks,
so dass infolge der Umdrehung des ersten Körpers (5) das Einrasten des Zapfens (8)
erlaubt ist und der Zapfen (8) in einer von der ringförmigen Verkleidung (11) versetzten
Ebene gehalten wird, wobei der erste Körper (5) im Verhältnis zu dem zweiten Körper
(9) blockiert wird.
11. Vorrichtung nach Patentanspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der erste Körper (5) eine Anzahl von Wülsten (5a) aufweist, gleichmässig angeordnet
am äusseren Teil der oberen Oberfläche (6), wodurch es dem Verbraucher ermöglicht
wird, den ersten Körper (5) zu greifen.
12. Behälter (1) für Flüssigkeiten, enthaltend eine Öffnung (2) zur Abgabe der Flüssigkeit,
beschrieben durch den Hals (3) des Behälters (1), wobei der Hals (3) einen ringförmigen
Wulst (4) hat; dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der Behälter (1) eine Verschlussvorrichtung (100) nach Patentanspruch 1 enthält.
1. Un élément de fermeture (100) en plastique pour conteneurs pour liquides, le conteneur
(1) comprenant une ouverture (2) prévue pour la distribution de la boisson et définie
par le col (3) du conteneur (1) lui-même, le col (3) présentant un bourrelet annulaire
(4), l'élément de fermeture comprenant :
- un premier corps (5), extérieur et de forme circulaire-cylindrique, ayant un fourreau annulaire (7), le premier corps (5) présentant aussi une pluralité de broches saillantes (8) uniformément réparties sur la face intérieure du fourreau annulaire (7) ;
- un second corps (9), intérieur et de forme circulaire-cylindrique, pouvant être inséré dans le premier corps (5) et présentant des cames (10) sur sa propre surface extérieure (11) destinées à permettre, en association avec les broches (8) du premier corps (5), une configuration stable d'encombrement radial minimum, ou serrage, du second corps (9) sur le col (3) du conteneur (1), par le biais de la poussée radiale des broches (8), et une configuration d'encombrement radial maximum, par le biais d'une rotation irréversible du premier corps (5) autour du second corps (9), avec ouverture radiale du second corps (9) par rapport au premier corps (5) ; ledit élément de fermeture étant caractérisé en ce que le corps extérieur (5) présente une surface supérieure (6) réalisée en corps unique avec ledit fourreau annulaire (7).
2. L'élément selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que le second corps (9) comprend une surface supérieure (12) et en ce que le fourreau annulaire (11) inférieur est divisé en une pluralité de secteurs (13)
s'étendant verticalement, séparés les uns des autres et présentant chacun une came
(10).
3. L'élément selon les revendications 1 et 2, caractérisé en ce que le nombre de secteurs verticaux (13) est égal au nombre de broches (8) prévues sur
la surface annulaire (7) du premier corps (5).
4. L'élément selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que les cames (10) comprennent au moins une surface annulaire (14) située sur la partie
extérieure du fourreau annulaire (11) et destinée à définir une zone de glissement
pour les broches (8) du premier corps (5) et, à l'extrémité inférieure, une contre-dépouille
(15) qui assujettit les broches (8) afin de permettre la configuration d'encombrement
radial minimum du second corps (9).
5. L'élément selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que les cames (10) comprennent une surface annulaire (14) située sur la partie extérieure
du fourreau annulaire (11) et destinée à définir une zone de glissement pour les broches
(8) du premier corps (5) et, à l'extrémité inférieure, une contre-dépouille (15) qui
assujettit les broches (8) afin de permettre la configuration d'encombrement radial
minimum du second corps (9) ; le fourreau annulaire (11) présentant, au niveau de
la zone définissant la contre-dépouille (15), une pluralité de protubérances (16)
destinées à guider les broches (8) durant ladite rotation irréversible, chaque protubérance
(16) définissant une gorge de glissement pour les broches (8) se terminant par un
logement (17) destiné à retenir et à bloquer les broches (8) elles-mêmes afin d'obtenir
la configuration stable d'encombrement radial maximum du second corps (9).
6. L'élément selon les revendications 1 et 2, caractérisé en ce que le second corps (9) présente un joint d'étanchéité (18) au niveau de la surface supérieure
(12) dans la zone opposée à celle qui fait face au premier corps (5).
7. L'élément selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que le premier corps (5) présente une protubérance centrale (19) qui est en contact stable
avec la surface extérieure de la surface supérieure (12) du second corps (9).
8. L'élément selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que le premier corps (5) présente une première protubérance (19), centrale, et une seconde
protubérance (20), annulaire et périphérique, qui sont en contact stable avec la surface
extérieure de la surface supérieure (12) du second corps (9).
9. L'élément selon les revendications 1 et 2, caractérisé en ce que le second corps (9) présente une dent annulaire intérieure (21) qui vient en prise
avec le bourrelet annulaire (4) de l'ouverture (2) du conteneur (1).
10. L'élément selon la revendication 5, caractérisé en ce que les broches (8) ont une section pentagonale et le logement (17) de retenue et de
blocage a un profil complémentaire, pour au moins trois côtés du pentagone, afin de
permettre l'assujettissement de la broche (8) suite à la rotation du premier corps
(5), le maintien de la broche (8) elle-même dans un plan décalé par rapport au fourreau
annulaire (11), pour bloquer ainsi le premier corps (5) par rapport au second corps
(9).
11. L'élément selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que le premier corps (5) a une pluralité de nervures (5a) uniformément réparties sur
la partie extérieure de la surface supérieure (6) afin de permettre la prise, par
le consommateur, du premier corps (5) lui-même.
12. Un conteneur (1) pour liquides, comprenant une ouverture (2) prévue pour la distribution
du liquide et définie par le col (3) du conteneur (1) lui-même, le col (3) présentant
un bourrelet annulaire (4) ; caractérisé en ce que le conteneur comprend un élément de fermeture (100) selon la revendication 1.