AU2012206593A1

AU2012206593A1 - Closure

Info

Publication number: AU2012206593A1
Application number: AU2012206593A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Rodney Druitt; Mark Smith
Original assignee: Creanova Universal Closures Ltd
Current assignee: Creanova Universal Closures Ltd
Priority date: 2011-01-14
Filing date: 2012-01-12
Publication date: 2013-08-08
Anticipated expiration: 2032-01-12

Description

CLOSURE

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a closure, especially a closure for packages for liquids such as beverages. In particular the invention relates to a closure for containers for carbonated liquids such as soft drinks, but is well adapted to seal other containers such as glass or PET containers with contents at above or below atmospheric pressure or having gaseous components or requiring a hermetic seal.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Screw cap closures (closures) are well known from the prior art and are a subject of continuous optimization. One attempt is to reduce the weight of the closure because the major share of the price is caused by the material used to make the closure. Therefore, in other words, reduction of the material used to make the closure means a reduction of the price of the closure. Furthermore, less material consumption results in an improved environmental compatibility.

From the same inventor several patent applications are known in the field of the invention, which are primarily directed to sealing technology and/or closures. Examples are WO06024550, WO06024656, WO060971 51 , WO03022701 , WO005661 5, WO005661 6, WO9903746, WO9402371 , W0891 2584, US6874648 and USD613162.

EP0076778 of Albert Obrist AC was filed in 1 982 and is directed to a closure cap made of plastics material, which has a circular outer sealing lip having a thickness which continuously decreases versus its free end. The outer sealing lip is arranged in the region of the joint between an outer vertical skirt and a disc like top portion and points obliquely inwards. At its smallest diameter, the sealing lip has a rounded sealing portion. Below the sealing portion, the sealing lip is widened outwards in the manner of a funnel to receive a container opening. However, due to the obliged arrangement of the sealing lip, the sealing lip often tends to be distorted during application, especially crooked application onto a neck of a container. A further disadvantage consists in that, due to the inclined arrangement, this seal is relatively rigid and therefore not very good in adjusting in lateral direction.

US4489845 was filed in 1984 and assigned to Albert Obrist AC. US4489845 is directed to a screw-cap for closing a container opening. The cap has a sealing lip which is affixed to the cap top. The inner side-wall of the outer sealing lip has a diameter which is greater than the outer diameter of the container outer wall. A clamping device, which can be designed as an inner seal, creates a contraction of the cap top when the screw-cap is screwed onto the container due to deformation of the outer shell of the closure, by which means the sealing lip shall be pressed against the container mouth. In this manner the sealing lip is only pressed radially against the container mouth during the course of the screwing-on process. Thereby, over-stretching and damage to the material of the sealing lip shall be prevented. In an engaged position the sealing lip engages around the upper outer rim of the neck of a container opening. One disadvantage is that the described deformation of the closure is related to extensive operating forces. A further disadvantage consists in that the outer shell tends to break due to extensive stress and deformation (stress cracking), which results in complete failure of the closure and loss of the product.

WO0301 1699 filed in 2002 by Bericap is directed to a closure cap comprising an internal sealing skirt, which is substantially truncated and converges from the sealing skirt base towards the free end of the sealing skirt. The inside of the sealing skirt is designed to cooperate with the outside of the neck. The internal diameter of the sealing skirt towards its free end portion is designed smaller than the external diameter of the neck. As described, the closure can comprise an annular v-notch designed to improve attachment of a liner to the rim of the neck or contact between the liner and the rim.

Further patent publications showing several sealing technologies and/or closures are e.g. JP571 33851 , JP58073551 , US4489845, US6874648, JP91 50846, JP3872546, JP4392873, JP2000109105, JP4456681 , US7014055, WO0187725, US66951 61 , JP4533597, WO05039996, JP441 3071 , US75751 21 , JP2007145341 or US7607547.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the invention to provide a closure with a reduced weight, which can withstand internal pressure e.g. from carbonated soft drinks. It is a further object of the invention to provide a closure with improved performance, such as venting, removal torque and so forth.

The closure is foreseen to be used with standardized neck finishes as known from prior art. The standardized neck finishes comprise an outer peripheral surface with an external thread. The outer peripheral surface blends by an edge surface into an annular top surface, which forms the upper end of the container when it is standing upright. Between the annular top surface and the external thread an outer free surface extends over a length of approximately 1 mm to 3 mm of the neck, which is not covered by the thread and suitable for sealing purposes. Furthermore, the neck of the container comprises an in general cylindrical, inner peripheral surface adjacent to the annular top surface.

The object of the invention is solved by a closure which comprises a shell with reduced weight and which is foreseen to withstand internal pressure, e.g. resulting from a carbon- ated liquid. I n general, saving of weight, i.e. reducing of material, is contradictory to capability to withstand internal pressure. The capability to withstand internal pressure is linked to a certain stiffness or rigidity of the closure, namely the outer shell of the closure to avoid unwanted deformation. Critical areas are namely the seal or the top deck of the closure. If the outer shell of the closure is not sufficiently stiff (rigid) or designed in a wrong way, the closure tends to deform and is therefore not capable to fulfill the required specifications. Namely at elevated temperatures and under internal pressure, insufficient closures tend to fail and are therefore not acceptable.

A closure according to the present invention is designed to have on the one hand a very low weight compared to closures known from prior art and on the other hand a high performance to withstand internal pressure. The design of the closure is based on a certain deformation tolerance, which allows the closure to deform under certain extreme conditions. The outer shell and the seal are thereby interacting with each other in a balanced manner. The seal is designed that it can adjust to the deformation of the outer shell such that within the specification no unwanted leaking or loss of pressure occurs.

A closure according to the present invention comprises a base with a disc like top portion and a therewith adjacent outer skirt with an internal thread or similar retaining means suitable to be engaged with the external thread of a neck finish as described above.

The closure may further comprise a tamper band attached to a lower free end of the outer skirt and integrally attached thereto by frangible bridges or similar means such as a thin web of material.

In a preferred embodiment, a closure according to the invention comprises a top deck and a therewith adjacent outer skirt. The outer skirt comprising on the inside a segmented thread, whereby between two in circumferential direction adjacent thread segments first channel- like recesses are arranged extending in an axial direction of the skirt. The channel-like recesses are arranged alternating with the rows of thread segments. On the outside of the skirt at least one second channel-like recess is arranged, which extends in the axial direction of the skirt. Said second recess is arranged radial outside to and aligned with at least two 5 thread segments adjacent to each other in an axial direction of the closu re. I n general, the nu mber of the first recesses on the inside and the rows of second recesses on the outside are equ ivalent with respect to each other. I n a preferred embodiment, the at least one second recess on the outside of the skirt is arranged adjusted (symmetric) with respect to the adjacent thread segments on the inside of the skirt. If appropriate, third recesses are arranged lo between the second recesses. Thereby, the weight of the closu re can be additionally reduced.

Good resu lts can be achieved when the nu mber of rows of thread segments and first recesses is equ ivalent to 1 0-1 5 rows. Preferably, on the outside of each row of thread segments a second recess is arranged adjusted with respect to the thread segments at least in circu mferential direction. The second recesses are preferably arranged coaxial to the rows of i s thread segments.

To compensate and balance the deformation of the outer shell, a sealing means is arranged on the inside of the closu re, which has with respect to its cross-section an outer leg extending in general perpendicu lar from the top deck of the closu re and being arranged such that the outer leg in an applied position of the closu re on a neck finish interacts with an outer

20 su rface of the neck finish forming a first sealing area. The outer leg may be arranged pointing slightly radially inwardly, whereby the inner side wall of the outer leg is arranged at an angle a between 86 ° to 90° with respect to the top deck (horizontal direction; direction perpendicu lar to the closure axis). Depending on the field of application, the outer leg may comprise on the inside a bu mp arranged at the inner root of the outer leg next to the top

25 deck. The bu mp is designed and arranged to interact with a rim su rface and/or an annu lar end su rface of the neck finish forming a second sealing area, whereby the bu mp seal is fu nc- tionally separated from the outer leg by a notch. When the closu re is applied onto a neck finish, the bu mp tends to deform significantly.

Very good resu lts are achieved by a seal comprising blend, which interconnects the outer leg and the top deck. The blend thereby acts in applied position of the closu re as a second sealing area. The blend is designed to provide a fu nctional interaction between the outer leg and the second sealing area. A fu rther advantage is that the blend does not deform as much as the bu mp and in general the deformation is reversible. When the closu re is applied onto a neck finish, a rim su rface of the neck finish presses onto the blend after a first sealing area between the outer leg and the outer su rface of the neck finish has been established. The thereby resu lting foreshortening of the blend causes that the outer leg is pu lled inwardly in an increased manner, thereby improving the sealing performance of the outer leg.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF TH E DRAWINGS

The herein described invention will be more fu lly u nderstood from the detailed description given herein below and the accompanying drawings, which shou ld not be considered limiting to the invention described in the appended claims. The drawings are showing:

Fig. 1 A first embodiment of a closu re according to the invention in a perspective view;

Fig. 2 The closu re according to Figu re 1 in a top view;

Fig. 3 The closu re according to Figu re 1 in a bottom view;

Fig. 4 The closu re according to Figu re 1 in a side view;

Fig. 5 The closu re according to Figu re 1 in a section view along section line D-D; Fig. 6 Detail A of Figu re 5;

Fig. 7 The closu re according to Figu re 1 in a side view;

Fig. 8 The closu re according to Figu re 7 in a section view along section line E-E;

Fig. 9 The closu re according to Figu re 7 in a section view along section line F-F;

Fig. 1 0 The closu re according to Figu re 7 in a section view along section line C-C;

Fig. 1 1 A second embodiment of a closu re according to the invention in a side view;

Fig. 1 2 The closu re according to Figu re 1 1 in a section view along section line H-H;

Fig. 1 3 The closu re according to Figu re 1 1 in a section view along section line l-l;

Fig. 14 Detail B according to Figure 1 2.

DESCRIPTION OF TH E EMBODIMENTS

Figure 1 shows a first embodiment of a closu re 1 according to the invention in a perspective view. Figure 2 shows the same closu re 1 in a top view, Figure 3 in a bottom view and Figures 4 and 7 in a side view. Figure 5 shows a section view of the closu re along section line D-D and Figure 6 shows detail A according to Figu re 5 in a magnified manner. Figure 8 shows a section view of the closu re along section line E-E, Figure 9 a section view along section line F-F and Figure 10 a section view along section line C-C. As it can be seen in Figure 1 , the closu re 1 comprises a circu lar top deck 2 and a therewith adjacent in outer skirt 3. A tamper band 4 is interconnected to the lower free end of the outer skirt 3. A closu re shell 5 consists out of the top deck 2 and the outer skirt 3.

As it can be seen in Figures 5 and 6, the outer skirt 3 comprises on the inside a thread 6, 5 which consists out of thread segments 6.1 . The thread 6 extends in the shown embodiment over a total angle of 765 ° (2 ¼ coils). Between two in circu mferential (helical) direction adjacent thread segments 6.1 , channel-like recesses 7 are arranged on the inside of the skirt 3 in a vertical direction (parallel to a closu re axis z; vertical means in general vertical). The shown embodiment comprises in total twelve channel-like recesses 7, which are circu mferen- lo tially evenly distributed between the thread segments 6.1 . As it can be seen, the recesses 7 extend in axial direction at least across two in axial direction adjacent thread segments 6.1 . By the evenly distributed and balanced arrangement of the thread segments 5.1 and the channel-like recesses 7, a balanced distribution of the load is achieved, which e.g. may occu r due to internal pressu re or the like. i s The majority of the channel-like recesses 7 are extending over approximately 70-90% of the outer free length of the outer skirt 3. Only the recess 7 above the extended thread start segment 6.2 has a shorter length (see Figure 5). The recesses 7 of the shown embodiments have an in general constant cross-section. If appropriate, the cross-section may vary over the length of the recess 7. If appropriate, the recesses 7 may have - instead of a straight design

20 as shown - a cu rved, e.g. helical shape.

As best visible in Figures 1 and 2 the outer skirt 3 of the closu re 1 comprises on the outside knu rls 8, which are foreseen to increase the grip of the closu re 1 . I n radial outside direction behind and aligned to the thread segments 6.1 channel-like second recesses 9 are arranged, which extend in axial direction of the closu re having a first depth d l . The second recesses 9 on the outside and the first recesses 8 on the inside of the skirt 3 alternate with respect to each other in a circu mferential direction. I ntermediate to the second recesses 9 channel-like third recesses 10 are arranged having a second depth d2 compared to the second recesses 9. The third recesses extend in axial direction (z-direction) of the closu re 1 . The dept and the 5 orientation of the recesses 8, 9, 1 0 may vary over their length, e.g. due to draft angle and/or design reasons. It has been fou nd that the herein shown arrangement of smaller knu rls, recesses 7, 9, 1 0 and thread segments 6.1 in a balanced and equalized manner resu lts in a closu re shell 5 (top deck and outer skirt) with a very low weight still having a high stiffness to withstand the occu rring loading conditions. If appropriate the second and the lo third recesses 9, 10 may have the same dimensions/cross-sections. If appropriate the second and/or the third recesses can be left away although the overall weight of the closu re thereby increases. The recesses 9, 1 0 preferably have an in general cylindrical or slightly conical shape to increase the axial stiffness and rigidity of the closu re shell 5.

The closu re 1 comprises on the inside a sealing means 1 1 which interacts at least with an i s outer su rface 1 3 and a rim su rface 14 of the neck finish 1 2, when the closu re 1 is applied to a neck finish 1 2 (cross-section in Figure 6 schematically indicated by dash line). The rim su rface 14 interconnects the outer su rface 1 3 with an annu lar end su rface 1 5.

Figure 6 shows the seal 1 1 in a cross-sectional view. The seal is shown in a non-deformed manner. As it can be seen the seal 1 1 comprises in the shown embodiment an outer leg 1 6

20 with an in general constant thickness. The outer leg 1 6 is separated by a gap 33 from the outer skirt 3. The gap 33 allows that the outer leg to be deformed freely in a radial direction. Under normal circu mstances no interaction with the outer skirt is foreseen. An inner side wall 1 7 of the outer leg 1 6 is arranged perpendicu lar or at an angle a pointing slightly radial inwardly. Good resu lts are achieved when the angle a is in a range between 85 °-90° .

25 Larger angles may reduce the effectiveness of the seal, because they are difficu lt to produce and therefore tend to be distorted while ejection of the closu re out of the mold. I n the shown embodiment the inner side wall 1 7 merges at the lower end of the outer leg 1 6 into a herein toroidal lead-in su rface 18 having a first radius R l . Alternatively or in addition, the lead-in su rface 18 may be fu nnel shaped. The lead-in su rface 18 helps to apply the outer leg 1 6 onto the neck finish 1 2. When applied onto the neck finish 1 2, the outer leg 1 6 forms a first sealing area with the outer su rface 1 3 of the neck finish 1 2.

On the outside, the outer leg 1 6 comprises an outer side wall 1 9, which is arranged in general parallel to the inner side wall 1 7. Versus the lower end of the outer leg 1 6, the outer side wall merges into an outer transition su rface 20, which has in the shown embodiment a circu lar cross-section with a second radius R2, which is depending on the field of application in the range of 0.25 mm to 1 .5 mm.

At the inner rear end of the outer leg 1 6, a bu mp 21 is visible which is designed and arranged such that when the closu re is applied onto the neck finish 1 2 the bu mp 21 interacts with the rim su rface 14 forming a second sealing area. The bu mp 21 is fu nctionally separated from the outer leg 1 6 by a notch 22. The fu nctional interaction between the outer seal 1 6 and the bu mp 21 can be adjusted by the shape of the notch 22. I n a preferred embodiment the notch 22 has a depth in the range of 0.1 to 0.3 mm. I n the shown embodiment the bu mp 21 has a toroidal shape with a radius preferably in the range of 0.1 to 0.5 mm. The notch 22 avoids u nwanted interaction between the outer leg 1 6 and the bu mp 21 when deformation of the shell of the closu re 1 occu rs.

As it can be seen in Figure 6, the sealing means 1 1 fu rther comprises a bore seal 36 having a cross-section consisting of an inner leg 23, which reaches into the neck finish 1 2 when the closu re is applied on the neck finish 1 2 and acts as a bore seal. The inner leg 23 has a protrusion 24 extending radial outwardly and forming in applied position a third sealing area between the sealing means 1 1 and the neck finish 1 2. The bore seal 36 may have different shapes depending on the field of application. The bore seal 36 comprises a series of grooves 37 (see Figure 3) arranged at the lower free end of the bore seal 36. The grooves are 37 which are foreseen to improve venting of the closu re du ring opening in that the gas stored inside the container can be released more qu ickly.

If appropriate, the herein shown sealing means 1 1 can be used with a different closu re shell although this will resu lt in a less efficient solution with a higher material consu mption.

As it can be best seen in Figures 5, 7 and 9 the tamper band 4 is interconnected to the closu re shell 5 by frangible bridges 25 which are integrally formed when making of the closu re 1 . The frangible bridges are pyramidal shaped with a tip arranged in the direction of the skirt 3. Depending on the field of application and the performance of the closu re alternatively the frangible bridges can be made by a scoring process. The tamper band 4 comprises on the inside radial inwardly directed protrusions 26 which are foreseen to latch with a corresponding bead (not shown in detail) on the neck finish. As it can be seen in Figures 9 and the sectional view according to Figure 10, the protrusions 26 are having in the shown embodiment in a top view an in general circu lar cross-section.

As it can be seen best in Figure 5 the frangible bridges 25 are arranged in-between the protrusions 26 of the tamper band 4 and between the rows of thread segments 6. The frangible bridges are in aligned to the first recesses 7 on the inside of the skirt 3. By this balanced and symmetrical setu p in combination with the sealing means compensating the deformation of the outer shell 5 when internal pressu re and/or elevated temperatu res occu r a very light-weight closu re can be achieved which still has a su perior performance with respect to the closu res known from prior art. As it can be seen in the tamper band 4 according to the embodiment shown in Figure 5 further weight saving is achieved by skeletonizing of the band, i.e. by fou rth and fifth recesses 27, 28 evenly distributed on the circumference of the tamper band 4.

Figure 1 1 shows a second embodiment of the closu re 1 in a side view. Figure 1 2 shows a section view of the closu re 1 according to Figu re 1 1 along section line H-H and Figure 1 3 a section view along section line l-l . Figure 14 shows Detail B according to Figure 1 2.

The outer shell 5 of the closu re 1 is in general similar to the shell 5 of the closu re 1 according to Figures 1 through 10. Therefore, regarding the general explanations of these elements it is referred to said drawings. The differences between the closu re 1 according to Figu res 1 through 1 0 and the closu re 1 according to Figu re 1 1 through 14 are the slightly tamper band 4 and the different sealing means 1 1 .

The sealing means 1 0 comprises an outer leg 1 6 which extends in a perpendicu lar direction (general z-direction) from the top deck 2. The sealing means 10 is shown in an u ndeformed manner. The outer leg 1 6 is separated by a gap 33 from the outer skirt 3 and in general free-standing, i.e. no contact with the outer skirt 3 occurs u nder normal conditions. The outer leg 1 6 comprises at its lower end a sealing su rface 29 foreseen to interact with the outer su rface 1 3 of the neck finish 1 1 (dash line) forming a first sealing area 30 when the closu re is applied onto neck finish 1 1 . The outer leg 1 6 comprises at its inner root a blend 31 forming a transition area between the outer leg 1 6 and the top deck 2. The blend 30 is foreseen to establish a second sealing area 32 with a rim su rface 14 of neck finish 1 1 . As it can be seen in Figure 14 in applied position the rim su rface 14 of neck finish 1 1 may significantly dive into and deform the blend 31 . Thereby sealing su rface 29 is pu lled radial inwardly resu lting in an increased sealing force in the first sealing area 30. Due to that effect the negative influence which may occu r due to a deformation of the outer shell 5 of the closu re 1 can be significantly reduced. I n the shown embodiment the blend 31 has a circular shape with a radius R3. The radius is preferably in the range between 0.5 mm to 1.2 mm. In the shown embodiment the radius is 1 mm. In the shown embodiment the sealing surface 29 protrudes above the inner surface of the blend 31 forming the most inner point. On the out- side the outer leg 16 is defined by an outer side wall 34 which is arranged in general perpendicular to the top deck 2. At the free end the outer side wall 34 turns into an outer transition surface 35 having a radius R4. The radius R4 is preferably in the range of 0.25 mm to 1.5 mm. The sealing means 1 1 further comprises a bore seal 36 having a cross-section consisting out of an inner leg 23 and a protrusion directed in radial outward direction.

LIST OF DESIGNATIONS

Rl First Radius (outer leg 16)

R2 Second Radius (outer leg 16)

R3 Third Radius (outer leg 16)

R4 Fourth Radius (outer leg 16)

dl First Depth (second recess 9)

d2 Second Depth (third recess 10)

1 Closure

2 Top Deck

3 Outer skirt; skirt

4 Tamper Band

5 Closure shell (Top Deck 2 + Outer Skirt 3)

6 Thread (6.1 : Thread Segments; 6.2: Thread Start Seg

7 Channel-like first recess; first recess

8 Knurls

9 Channel-like second recesses

10 Channel-like third recesses

11 Sealing means (Seal)

12 Neck finish

13 Outer surface of neck finish

14 Rim surface of neck finish

15 Annular end surface

16 Outer Leg

17 Inner side wall

18 Lead-in surface

19 Outer side wall Outer transition su rface

Bu mp

Notch

I nner leg (bore seal)

Protrusion (inner leg)

Frangible bridge

Protrusion (tamper band)

Fou rth recess (inside tamper band)

Fifth recess (outside tamper band)

Sealing su rface (outer leg)

First sealing area

Blend (outer leg)

Second sealing area

Cap

Outer side wall (outer leg 1 6)

Outer transition su rface

Bore seal

Groove (bore seal)

Claims

PATENT CLAIMS What is claimed is:

1 . A closu re having a. a top deck and b. a therewith adjacent outer skirt, c. said outer skirt comprising on the inside a segmented thread whereby d. between two in circu mferential direction adjacent thread segments a first channel-like recess is arranged extending in an axial direction of the skirt and whereby e. on the outside of the skirt at least one second channel-like recess is arranged which extends in the axial direction of the skirt, whereby said second recess is arranged radial outside to and aligned with at least two thread segments adjacent to each other in an axial direction of the closu re.

2. The closu re according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one second recess is arranged symmetric with respect to the adjacent thread segments.

3. The closu re according to one of the previous claims, wherein the second recesses and the thread segments are arranged in a symmetric manner with respect to each other.

4. The closu re according to one of the previous claims wherein between two second recesses a third recess is arranged.

5. The closu re according to one of the previous claims, wherein on the inside of the skirt in circu mferential direction 1 0-1 5 rows of thread segments and first recesses are ar- ranged.

6. The closu re according to claim 5, wherein the outside of each row of thread segments a second recess is arranged.

7. The closu re according to claim 6, wherein the second recesses are arranged coaxial to the rows of thread segments.

8. The closu re according to one of the previous claims, wherein at least one frangible bridge is in the circu mferential direction aligned with a first recess.

9. The closu re according to one of the previous claims, wherein at least one protrusion of the tamper band is in the circu mferential direction aligned with a thread segment.

10. The closu re according to one of the previous claims, wherein a sealing means is ar- ranged on the inside of the closu re and wherein the sealing means with respect to its cross-section comprises an outer leg extending in general perpendicu lar from the top deck of the closu re and being arranged such that the outer leg in an applied position of the closu re on a neck finish interacts with an outer su rface of the neck finish forming a first sealing area.

1 1 . The closu re according to claim 10, wherein the sealing means comprises a bu mp arranged at the inner root of the outer leg foreseen to interact with a rim su rface and/or an annu lar end su rface of the neck finish forming a second sealing area, whereby the bump seal is fu nctionally separated from the outer leg by a notch.

1 2. The closu re according to claim 10, wherein between the outer leg and the top deck of a blend is arranged, which acts as a second sealing area, wherein the blend is de- signed such that it provides a fu nctional interaction between the outer leg and the second sealing area.

13. The closu re according to claim 1 2, wherein the blend has a concave shape with respect to its cross-section.