[0001] The present invention is related to a screw cap for containers with a threaded neck
portion.
[0002] A screw cap according to the preamble of claim 1 is known from
EP 3 224 152 A1.
[0003] The object of the invention is to improve the design of the cap so that it can be
screwed onto the threaded neck portion of a container more easily.
[0004] This object is solved by the screw cap according to claim 1. Preferred embodiments
are described in the subordinate claims and the description following hereafter.
[0005] The invention is based on the basic idea to have the material of the engagement protrusion
be arranged preceding the start of the thread. The cap that in conjunction with the
tool and the method described in
EP 3 224 152 A1 is to be brought into a certain alignment with the threaded portion of the threaded
neck portion of the container will engage more easily with the threaded portion of
the threaded neck portion of the container, if the material of the engagement protrusion
precedes the start of the thread. If used in the context of the tool and the method
described in
EP 3 224 152 A1, the cap would be held preceding the threaded portion of the threaded neck portion
of the container a little. It has shown that this arrangement allows the cap to be
screwed on more easily.
[0006] The invention is directed to a screw cap for containers with a threaded neck portion.
In a preferred embodiment, the screw cap is a unitary piece. The screw cap preferably
is made up of HDPE (high-density polyethylene), R-HDPE (recycled high-density polyethylene),
PP (polypropylene), R-PP (recycled polypropylene), Bio-HPDE (bio high-density polyethylene),
Bio-PP (bio polypropylene),. In a preferred embodiment, the screw cap is made by way
of Continuous Compression Moulding (CCM) or Injection Moulding.
[0007] The screw cap according to the invention has a base portion comprising a top surface
and a bottom surface. The top surface is the surface that is intended to be on the
outside of the cap, when the cap is attached to the container. The bottom surface
is that surface that faces and borders the space that is delimited by the annular
portion that raises from the base portion.
[0008] The bottom surface has a center. In a preferred embodiment, the bottom surface is
circular and the center is the center of the circle that prescribes the outer end
of the bottom surface, which typically is that end that merges into the inner surface
of the annular portion.
[0009] In a preferred embodiment, the bottom surface is a flat surface. The bottom surface
being a flat surface does not exclude projections or recesses to raise from the bottom
surface or to go into the bottom surface.
[0010] The screw cap according to the invention has an annular portion raised from the base
portion. The annular portion is a wall that raises at an angle, preferably at an angle
of 45° to 134°, more preferably at an angle of 60° to 120°, more preferably at an
angle of 90° to the bottom surface. The wall preferably has the shape of the outer
circumferential surface of a truncated cone or the outer circumferential surface of
a cylinder.
[0011] The annular portion has an inner surface and an outer surface. The outer surface
may be a smooth surface or a riffled surface for easier opening or may have some other
texture. The inner surface preferably is - apart from the threaded portion arranged
on it - a smooth surface.
[0012] The screw cap according to the invention has a threaded portion arranged on the inner
surface of the annular portion. The threaded portion has at least one thread. Preferably
the threaded portion has several threads, preferably two or more, preferably three
or more threads. In a preferred embodiment, the threaded portion has several threads
that have their respective start arranged at the same height relative to the bottom
surface.
[0013] The thread extends from a start into a first circumferential direction around the
inner surface. The start being that part of the thread, where the material of which
the thread is made, starts to rise from the inner surface. Threads can be designed
to start with a steep step that extends radially inwards from the inner surface. In
such a design, the step would be the start of the thread. More often, however, a thread
has a section of constant height, where the material that makes up the thread in that
section rises above inner surface with a constant height, but the thread in these
designs has a starting portion, where the material that makes the thread in said starting
portion rises ramp-like. The start in such a design will be the point where the ramp
starts to rise from the inner surface.
[0014] The thread can be considered to have a start and an end and to extend from the start
to the end. In a preferred embodiment, the start is the point where a first ramp starts
to rise from the inner surface, where the ramp ends in a section of constant height,
whereby in this preferred embodiment the end is the point, where a second ramp arranged
at the other side of the section of constant height starts to rise from the inner
surface. The start is arranged at a different distance to the bottom surface than
the end. In a preferred embodiment, the start is arranged further away from the bottom
surface than the end. In an alternative embodiment, the start is arranged closer to
the bottom surface than the end.
[0015] In a preferred embodiment, where the threaded portion of the screw cap has several
threads, the threads are preferably spaced at equal distance around the inner surface.
In a preferred embodiment, the shape and size of each thread of the threaded portion
is the same.
[0016] The screw cap according to the invention has an engagement portion arranged on the
bottom surface and protruding from the bottom surface.
[0017] The reference line of the engagement portion is defined to run along the bottom surface
and to cross the center, whereby all material that makes up the engagement portion
is arranged on one side of the reference line, the reference line touching at least
one point of material that makes up the engagement portion. If the engagement portion
has a side that runs along a line that crosses the center, the reference line will
be touching this side.
[0018] The engagement portion has two lines, each of which runs along the bottom surface
and to cross the center, whereby all material that makes up the engagement portion
is arranged on one side of the reference line, the reference line touching at least
one point of material that makes up the engagement portion. The one of these two lines
will delimit the engagement portion on one side, for example the right hand side and
the other of these two lines will delimit the engagement portion on the opposite side,
for example on the left hand side. Of these two lines, the reference line is the line
that is closer to the start of the thread.
[0019] In a preferred embodiment, the engagement portion protrudes from the bottom surface
with constant or with reducing width, but without an undercut.
[0020] According to the invention the angle between
- a plane that contains the center and the start and is orientated perpendicular to
the bottom surface and
- the reference line is larger than 0° and smaller than 30°, more preferably larger
than 2° and smaller than 26°, more preferably larger than 5° and smaller than 30°,
more preferably larger than 5° and smaller than 26°, more preferably larger than 10°
and smaller than 30°, more preferably larger than 10° and smaller than 26°.
[0021] The material that makes up the engagement portion is arranged on one side of the
reference line and the plane that contains the center and the start and is orientated
perpendicular to the bottom surface is arranged on the other side of the reference
line.
[0022] The thread extends away from the plane in a direction away from the reference line.
[0023] In a preferred embodiment the thread and the engagement portion are parts of an one
piece element.
[0024] In a preferred embodiment a recess is arranged next to the engagement portion.
[0025] In a preferred embodiment the engagement portion is a rectangular block.
[0026] In a preferred embodiment, the screw cap has two or more engagement portions, preferably
three or more engagement portions arranged on the bottom surface. In a preferred embodiment
the screw cap has the same number of engagement portions and threads. In a preferred
embodiment the angle between
- a plane that contains the center and the start of a respective thread and is orientated
perpendicular to the bottom surface and
- the reference line of a respective engagement portion is the same for all pairs of
threads and engagement portions, a pair of a thread and an engagement portion being
defined as an engagement portion and that thread that has its end closest to the reference
line of the respective engagement portion.
[0027] The screw cap may be applied to a packaging container for foodstuffs itself comprising
a body portion and a threaded neck portion of polymer material.
[0028] The cap according to the invention can be used with the tool and can be used as part
of the method described in
EP 3 224 152 A1.
[0029] In the following, the invention will be described with reference to Fig. that show
only embodiments of the invention.
Fig. 1 shows a perspective view onto the cap according to the invention,
Fig. 2 shows a top view onto the cap of Fig. 1.
[0030] Fig. 1 shows a screw cap 200 for containers with a threaded neck portion. The screw
cap 200 has a base portion 210 comprising a top surface 212 and a bottom surface 214,
the bottom surface 214 having a center 216. The screw cap 200 has an annular portion
220 raised from the base portion 210, the annular portion 220 having an inner surface
224 and an outer surface 222. The screw cap 200 has a threaded portion 252 arranged
on the inner surface 224 of the annular portion 220. The thread 218 extends from a
start 226 into a first circumferential direction A around the inner surface 224, the
start 226 being that part of the thread 218, where the material of which the thread
218 is made, starts to rise from the inner surface 224. The thread 218 has a section
of constant height, where the material that makes up the thread 218 in that section
rises above inner surface 224 with a constant height, but the thread 218 in this design
has a starting portion 228, where the material that makes the thread 218 in said starting
portion 228 rises ramp-like. The start 226 is the point where the ramp starts to rise
from the inner surface 224
[0031] The screw cap 200 an engagement portion 240 arranged on the bottom surface 214 and
projecting from the bottom surface 214, the engagement portion 240 having a reference
line R that runs along the bottom surface 214 and crosses the center 216, whereby
all material that makes up the engagement portion 240 is arranged on one side of the
reference line R, the reference line R touching at least one point of material that
makes up the engagement portion 240. In the design shown in Fig. 1 the engagement
portion 240 is a rectangular block and the reference line R touches the inner most
corner of the rectangular block.
[0032] The angle between
- a plane P (symbolized by the dashed line that shows where the plane P would intersect
the screw cap 200) that contains the center 216 and the start 226 and is orientated
perpendicular to the bottom surface 224 and
- the reference line R is larger than 0° and smaller than 30°. In the embodiment shown
in Fig. 1 it is about 5°.
[0033] The bottom surface 214 is a circular surface and the center 216 is the center of
the circle.
[0034] Three engagement portions 240 are arranged on the bottom surface 214.
[0035] The material that makes up the engagement portion 240 is arranged on one side of
the reference line R and the plane P that contains the center 216 and the start 226
and is orientated perpendicular to the bottom surface 224 is arranged on the other
side of the reference line R.
[0036] The tread 218 extends away from the plane P in a direction away from the reference
line R.
[0037] The thread 218 and the engagement portion 240 are parts of an one piece element.
[0038] A recess 242 is arranged next to the engagement portion 240.
1. Screw cap (200) for containers with a threaded neck portion, comprising:
- a base portion (210) comprising a top surface (212) and a bottom surface (214),
the bottom surface (214) having a center (216);
- an annular portion (220) raised from the base portion (210), the annular portion
having (220) an inner surface (224) and an outer surface (222);
- a threaded portion (252) arranged on the inner surface (224) of the annular portion
(220), the threaded portion (252) having at least on thread (218), the thread (218)
extending from a start (226) into a first circumferential direction (A) around the
inner surface (224), the start (226) being that part of the thread (218), where the
material of which the thread is made, starts to rise from the inner surface (224),
- an engagement portion (240) arranged on the bottom surface (214) and projecting
from the bottom surface (214), the engagement portion (240) having a reference line
(R) that runs along the bottom surface (214) and crosses the center (216), whereby
all material that makes up the engagement portion (240) is arranged on one side of
the reference line (R), the reference line (R) touching at least one point of material
that makes up the engagement portion (240),
characterized in that the angle between
• a plane (P) that contains the center (216) and the start (226) and is orientated
perpendicular to the bottom surface (214) and
• the reference line (R)
is larger than 0° and smaller than 30°,
whereby the material that makes up the engagement portion (240) is arranged on one
side of the reference line (R) and the plane (P) that contains the center (216) and
the start (226) and is orientated perpendicular to the bottom surface (214) is arranged
on the other side of the reference line (R) and the thread (218) extends away from
the plane (P) in a direction away from the reference line (R).
2. Screw cap according to claim 1,
characterized in that the angle between
• a plane (P) that contains the center (216) and the start (226) and is orientated
perpendicular to the bottom surface (224) and
• the reference line (R)
is larger than 2° and smaller than 26°.
3. Screw cap according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the bottom surface (214) is a circular surface and that the center (216) is the center
of the circle.
4. Screw cap according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that three engagement portions (240) are arranged on the bottom surface (214).
5. Screw cap according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the thread (218) and the engagement portion (240) are parts of an one piece element.
6. Screw cap according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that a recess (242) is arranged next to the engagement portion (240).
7. Screw cap according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the engagement portion (240) is a rectangular block.
1. Schraubkappe (200) für Behälter mit einem mit Gewinde versehenen Halsabschnitt, umfassend:
- einen Basisabschnitt (210), der eine obere Fläche (212) und eine untere Fläche (214)
umfasst, wobei die untere Fläche (214) eine Mitte (216) aufweist;
- einen ringförmigen Abschnitt (220), der von dem Basisabschnitt (210) erhöht ist,
wobei der ringförmige Abschnitt (220) eine Innenfläche (224) und eine Außenfläche
(222) aufweist;
- einen mit Gewinde versehenen Abschnitt (252), der an der Innenfläche (224) des ringförmigen
Abschnitts (220) angeordnet ist, wobei der mit Gewinde versehene Abschnitt (252) mindestens
ein Gewinde (218) aufweist, wobei sich das Gewinde (218) von einem Beginn (226) aus
in eine erste Umfangsrichtung (A) um die Innenfläche (224) erstreckt, wobei der Beginn
(226) der Teil des Gewindes (218) ist, wo das Material, aus dem das Gewinde hergestellt
ist, beginnt, sich von der Innenfläche (224) zu erheben,
- einen Eingriffsabschnitt (240), der an der unteren Fläche (214) angeordnet ist und
von der unteren Fläche (214) vorsteht, wobei der Eingriffsabschnitt (240) eine Bezugslinie
(R) aufweist, die entlang der unteren Fläche (214) verläuft und die Mitte (216) kreuzt,
wodurch das gesamte Material, das den Eingriffsabschnitt (240) bildet, auf einer Seite
der Bezugslinie (R) angeordnet ist, wobei die Bezugslinie (R) mindestens einen Punkt
des Materials berührt, das den Eingriffsabschnitt (240) bildet,
dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der Winkel zwischen
• einer Ebene (P), die die Mitte (216) und den Beginn (226) enthält und senkrecht
zu der unteren Fläche (214) orientiert ist, und
• der Bezugslinie (R)
größer als 0° und kleiner als 30° ist,
wodurch das Material, das den Eingriffsabschnitt (240) bildet, auf einer Seite der
Bezugslinie (R) angeordnet ist, und die Ebene (P), die die Mitte (216) und den Beginn
(226) enthält und senkrecht zu der unteren Fläche (214) orientiert ist, auf der anderen
Seite der Bezugslinie (R) angeordnet ist und sich das Gewinde (218) von der Ebene
(P) weg in einer Richtung weg von der Bezugslinie (R) erstreckt.
2. Schraubverschluss nach Anspruch 1,
dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der Winkel zwischen
• einer Ebene (P), die die Mitte (216) und den Beginn (226) enthält und senkrecht
zur unteren Fläche (224) orientiert ist, und
• der Bezugslinie (R) größer als 2° und kleiner als 26° ist.
3. Schraubkappe nach Anspruch 1 oder 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die untere Fläche (214) eine Kreisfläche ist und dass die Mitte (216) der Kreismittelpunkt
ist.
4. Schraubkappe nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 3, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass drei Eingriffsabschnitte (240) an der unteren Fläche (214) angeordnet sind.
5. Schraubkappe nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 4, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das Gewinde (218) und der Eingriffsabschnitt (240) Teile eines einstückigen Elements
sind.
6. Schraubkappe nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 5, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass eine Aussparung (242) neben dem Eingriffsabschnitt (240) angeordnet ist.
7. Schraubverschluss nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 6, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der Eingriffsabschnitt (240) ein rechteckiger Block ist.
1. Bouchon à vis (200) pour récipients avec une portion de col filetée, comprenant :
- une portion de base (210) comprenant une surface supérieure (212) et une surface
inférieure (214), la surface inférieure (214) ayant un centre (216) ;
- une portion annulaire (220) surélevée à partir de la portion de base (210), la portion
annulaire ayant (220) une surface interne (224) et une surface externe (222) ;
- une portion filetée (252) agencée sur la surface interne (224) de la portion annulaire
(220), la portion filetée (252) ayant au moins un filetage (218), le filetage (218)
s'étendant à partir d'un début (226) dans une première direction circonférentielle
(A) autour de la surface interne (224), le début (226) étant la partie du filetage
(218), où le matériau dont le filetage est fait, commence à s'élever à partir de la
surface interne (224),
- une portion d'engagement (240) agencée sur la surface inférieure (214) et faisant
saillie depuis la surface inférieure (214), la portion d'engagement (240) ayant une
ligne de référence (R) qui se déploie le long de la surface inférieure (214) et croise
le centre (216), moyennant quoi tout le matériau qui constitue la portion d'engagement
(240) est agencé d'un côté de la ligne de référence (R), la ligne de référence (R)
touchant au moins un point du matériau qui constitue la portion d'engagement (240),
caractérisé en ce que l'angle entre
• un plan (P) qui contient le centre (216) et le début (226) et est orienté perpendiculairement
à la surface inférieure (214) et
• la ligne de référence (R)
est supérieure à 0° et inférieure à 30°,
moyennant quoi le matériau qui constitue la portion d'engagement (240) est agencé
d'un côté de la ligne de référence (R) et le plan (P) qui contient le centre (216)
et le début (226) et est orienté perpendiculairement à la surface inférieure (214)
est agencé de l'autre côté de la ligne de référence (R) et le filetage (218) s'étend
en éloignement du plan (P) dans une direction s'éloignant de la ligne de référence
(R).
2. Bouchon à vis selon la revendication 1,
caractérisé en ce que l'angle entre
• un plan (P) qui contient le centre (216) et le début (226) et est orienté perpendiculairement
à la surface inférieure (224) et
• la ligne de référence (R) est supérieur à 2° et inférieur à 26°.
3. Bouchon à vis selon la revendication 1 ou 2, caractérisé en ce que la surface inférieure (214) est une surface circulaire et en ce que le centre (216) est le centre du cercle.
4. Bouchon à vis selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 3, caractérisé en ce que trois portions d'engagement (240) sont agencées sur la surface inférieure (214).
5. Bouchon à vis selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 4, caractérisé en ce que le filetage (218) et la portion d'engagement (240) font partie d'un élément monobloc.
6. Bouchon à vis selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 5, caractérisé en ce qu'un évidement (242) est agencé à côté de la portion d'engagement (240).
7. Bouchon à vis selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 6, caractérisé en ce que la portion d'engagement (240) est un bloc rectangulaire.