EP0064047A1 - Closure cap for beverage bottles and bottles provided with such a cap - Google Patents

Abstract

A bottle closure cap stampable from sheet metal as a shallow cylindrical inverted dish having a rounded juncture forming a fillet between its crown and its cylindrical wall; a layer of elastomeric material being disposed in the fillet and engageable with the axial end of the bottle when the cap is attached. A generally radially extending rip tab is integral with the cylindrical wall at the bottom edge thereof and is adapted to tear through the cylindrical wall by a generally circumferential pull of the user to gain access to the container. A rip line is provided commencing at a corner defined by the bottom edge of the cylindrical wall where it meets the rip tab. The rip line extends at a shallow angle across the cylindrical wall to a level which is spaced below the crown, continuing parallel to the crown circumferentially about half-way around the closure cap. The installed closure cap can relieve excessive interior pressure and reseal itself, the closure cap pressure in the container being relievable gradually while the rip tab is being pulled to gain access to the container.

Description

The invention relates to a cap for containers, in particular to a novel cap made of thin sheet metal, which can be applied to the mouth of a glass or plastic beverage bottle.

Although its use is not restricted to this, the closure cap according to the invention is primarily intended for use on glass bottles, as are customary worldwide for non-alcoholic drinks (so-called "soft drinks") and brewery products, such as beer and ale. The shape and size of the mouth end of such bottles are standardized, e.g. according to DIN 6094, whereby the open end or the so-called mouthpiece is provided with a bead whose outer diameter is 26.5 mm.

As far as is known, there is currently no commercially available closure cap that is capable of relieving pressure existing inside a beverage container without throwing off the closure cap. Bottled drinks can essentially be divided into two types, namely gas-containing and gas-free (so-called "still") drinks. For both types, it may be necessary to pass the bottles through autoclaves for sterilization purposes, in which they are exposed to high pressures caused by the elevated temperatures used. For example, the germination of beer takes place at a temperature of about 72 ° C, the internal pressure of the container being significantly above 10 bar for a drink that contains at least 4 g of carbon dioxide dissolved per liter in the liquid (1 bar = 1 megadyn per _cm ² ) _.

When sterilizing gas-free liquids, the autoclave temperatures are between about 123 ° C and 133 ° C, these temperatures being maintained for about 40 minutes. The pressures that occur can therefore reach values that tear the containers, and in practice this also occurs. This applies in particular to reusable glass bottles. Fatigue and weakness in used bottles are difficult to detect and the result of a break is not only result of the loss of the container contents, but also the _{inconveniences)} resulting from the removal of debris from the machine.

Carbonated drinks, e.g. Non-alcoholic drinks and beer are also often subjected to high pressures during storage and transportation, even in the hands of the user. Heating and shaking the container cause an increase in internal pressure, which can lead to a container explosion. This results in loss of containers and their contents during transport, storage and even in retail sales where high temperatures occur. Container explosions in the hands of the end user mostly occur with used containers, but also with new containers. As there is always such a danger for carbonated beverages for the consumer, this subsequently leads to permanent costs for the bottle manufacturers or the bottlers, who have to insure themselves against the legal consequences of injuries through insurance.

Another problem which occurs with the known closure caps is the breakage or damage to the container when the closure cap is applied or when the closure is opened by the consumer. This applies in particular to the so-called crown cork closures, which are held by a large number of folds or upsets and require a bottle opener for removal.

Another disadvantage of known caps of all types occurs when a container is opened, the contents of which are under pressure. The level of this pressure depends on the temperature and the degree to which the container has been shaken beforehand, so that the opening process is unpredictable by the user, especially since there is no possibility of reliably reducing the excess pressure in a controlled manner. The overpressure reduction can therefore take place gradually or explosively, the latter mostly prevailing. In this way, the contents of the container can be spilled to a variable extent during the opening process, which means disadvantages and annoyance, and the closure cap can be thrown off dangerously.

Furthermore, it is difficult, if not entirely impossible, to apply caps in the axial direction to plastic bottles, since there is always a risk of the bottle breaking or collapsing its neck. Plastic bottles, which are intended for beverages, therefore mostly have a screw thread at the upper end, which requires a special screw cap provided with a screw thread and special machines for applying the same. This increases the cost of both the bottles and the caps. There are different types of caps become known except for the force applied by flanging crown caps or Kronenkorkabdrehverschlüssen, application find which ^one ter-. Each of these closures known as "Alka", "Rip Cap" and "Maxicap" has its disadvantages. The latter two have parallel tear lines that run across the top surface of the fastener, so that the user must either run a tear tab over the entire top surface of the fastener to split the fastener into three parts or separate the cap parts to separate them to remove the bottle, after which only access to the bottle contents is possible. These closures have the familiar unavailability and difficulties in hand have, especially since the torn parts can lead to finger injuries.

Caps of the type known under the name "Alka" have a tear tab and a tear line formed by a thinner, part of the wall of the cap being tearable. The users it is left, the remaining V _e rschlußkappenteil removed from the bottle.

A further disadvantage of crown cork closures is that the sides of the closure cap are corrugated, which makes the legible application of graphic characters difficult.

The invention avoids the disadvantages mentioned. The invention is based on a cap for beverage bottles of the type which have a bead at the mouth, the cap being made of thin, flexible sheet metal which is bent into the shape of an upside-down bowl-like part with an essentially cylindrical side wall and a top wall. In the upper part of the bowl-like component, a rounded connection point is provided at the transition point between the side wall and the top wall, which forms a seat for a layer of adhesive sealing material on the inside and extends only over part of the side wall and preferably only a part of the inner surface of the Top wall covered; so that a ring is formed from the sealing material. The sealing material is chosen so that it lies sealingly against the axial end of the bead of the bottle when the cap is attached to the bottle. At the bottom of the side wall a tear tab is attached, which projects from the side wall of the cap substantially horizontally after it is formed and, after the cap has been applied to the bottle, is generally bent downward over the roundness of the bottle below the bead edge. On the inner surface of the side wall, a tear line is incorporated in the manufacture of the closure cap, which begins in the area of that corner in which the one side edge of the Tear flap hits the lower edge of the side wall. This tear line extends from there upwards and in the circumferential direction along the side wall past the other side edge of the tear tab, this continued tear line part running at a short distance below the cover surface and essentially parallel to it. The tear line extends approximately over half the circumference of the side wall and preferably ends at the same height at which the aforementioned continuous tear line part runs. Under certain circumstances, the middle part of the tear line, that is the part lying between its ends, can extend into the rounded transition part in order to allow pressure to be reduced during the opening process. The bowl-like component and the tearing flap are formed in one piece, preferably by punching and deep drawing, from sheet metal, preferably aluminum or an aluminum alloy, and cold hardening of the material can occur during these operations. For the purpose of reliable pressure reduction, at least one groove is also provided on the inner surface of the side wall of the closure cap, which groove, however, must not cross the tear line at a substantially acute angle. The crossing angle between the tear line and the groove is preferably more than 75 °, since there is otherwise the risk that when the capsule tears open, the tear will follow the groove instead of the tear line.

The cap is placed on the bottle by means of a collar-like tool with fingers which engage the side wall and at the same time press the top wall against the axial end of the bottle, so that this end is sealed off from the sealing material. The fingers form the side wall into a shape which closely follows the contour of the bead edge, so that the lower edge of the side wall is folded into the groove which is arranged between the bead base and the neck of the bottle below the bead base in conventional beverage bottles.

An additional cold hardening process can be carried out during the this application occur. In any event, the material of the cap applied is so resilient that it relieves excessive pressure in the bottle through self-venting and subsequent resealing, which occurs at predetermined pressures. The groove in the side wall can form one or more passages or channels near the tear tab, through which a controlled pressure reduction can take place during the opening of the bottle.

The bottle is opened circumferentially by merely pulling on the tear tab, part of the side wall being separated from the main part of the cap, which part comprises a strip extending along the lower edge of the side wall over about half the circumference of the cap.

This simple-looking cap or a bottle sealed with it has significant advantages in terms of low effort, security and economy. Among these advantages, first of all, the ability to relieve pressure independently with subsequent resealing should be mentioned, furthermore the simple application possibility, the simple removal of the closure cap, the ability to relieve pressure during the opening of the bottle, and other advantages.

Closure caps according to the invention can be designed in such a way that the aforementioned automatic pressure reduction effect occurs at pressures of approximately 10 bar, this pressure reduction having no effect on the subsequent resealing of the container. The pressure in the container therefore drops to about 5 bar or similar values. If the pressure rises again, the described blowing off can take place again without an adverse effect. A breakage or loss of containers when sanitizing drinks is therefore less common unless it is completely avoided. Of course, the invention also makes it possible to design the closure caps in such a way that the automatic pressure reduction and connection Sending re-sealing take place at pressures that are significantly less than 10 bar. The pressure reduction by the pressure caps according to the invention therefore takes place long before the breaking value of the container is reached, so that the containers and their contents are retained and the sterilization process is not disrupted.

Another advantage of the closure caps according to the invention is that they can be applied to containers with a much lower axial pressure than previously used closure caps. For example, compared to crown cork closures, there is a reduction in the pressure required to achieve a reliably sealed closure of the container by at least 25%.

Furthermore, the subject of the invention is alleviated or even avoided by the controlled reduction of the internal pressure of the container during its opening that unpleasant surprises for the opening of the container. Users occur.

Another important advantage of the invention is that an automatic valve effect of the closure cap occurs during the time during which the container provided with the closure cap is pasteurized or heated for other purposes to temperatures which are below the temperatures required for sterilizing the contents of the container. This is due to the fact that the valve effect allows some of the air which may be trapped in the container during the filling process to be removed. A slight negative pressure can develop above the liquid level in the container if this is not compensated for by gases escaping from the liquid. In any case, the growth of aerobic bacteria is prevented.

Another advantage is that the axial pressure required to apply the closure cap according to the invention is so low that the application of the closure cap according to the invention on plastic bottles in the area of Possibility lies. There is therefore no need to provide expensive threaded closures for plastic bottles, which at the same time avoids the risk that the closure cap can be removed without authorization and the container contents can be replaced in whole or in part by another content. The closure cap according to the invention is completely theft-proof since the closure cap is physically and optically changed when it is removed.

Finally, the closure cap according to the invention is simple and yet effective, since it can be operated by a single handle running in the circumferential direction of the bottle neck in such a way that the closure cap can be completely loosened and easily lifted off by the user. However, the cap can then be placed back on the bottle and held there, so that the contents of the bottle can be kept clean for a limited time. There is no longer any excess pressure in the bottle after it has been opened, but the bottle can be covered by the closure cap in such a way that the contents of the bottle are sufficiently covered for a certain time.

The closure cap according to the invention is preferably made of aluminum or an aluminum alloy. It is therefore light and rustproof. However, other thin sheets can also be used with advantage if they are only shaped and applied in a suitable manner, which will be described in more detail later. Steel should have a rust-inhibiting coating, e.g. a lacquer, so the use of aluminum caps is preferable.

When using aluminum for the production of closure caps according to the invention, the caps can be applied very quickly and with lower pressures than are required with conventional steel closure caps.

The side wall of a closure cap according to the invention is smooth and has only a minimum of wrinkles, so that there is a relatively large space for the application of graphic material and the advantage is additionally achieved, that sharp protruding edges are avoided, which could lead to injuries.

• Fig. 1 ist eine perspektivische Ansicht einer erfindungsgemäßen Verschlußkappe vor der Aufbringung auf die Flasche od. dgl.
• Fig. 2 ist ein Schnitt nach der Linie II - II der Fig.1.
• Fig. 2a zeigt im Schnitt eine Ausführungsvariante zu Fig. 2.
• Fig. 3 ist ein Schnitt nach der Linie III - III der Fig. 1.
• Fig. 4 ist eine perspektivische Ansicht einer Ausführungsvariante der Verschlußkappe.
• Fig. 5 zeigt in perspektivischer Ansicht eine Verschlußkappe als Variante zu Fig. 1, die auf eine genormte Flasche aufgesetzt ist, von der nur ein Teil dargestellt ist.
• Fig. 6 ist ein Schnitt nach der Linie VI - VI der Fig.5.
• Fig. 7 ist ein Schnitt nach der Linie VII - VII der Fig.5.
• Fig. 8 ist eine Seitenansicht einer Ausführungsvariante des oberen Endes einer mit einer erfindungsgemäßen Verschlußkappe verschlossenen Flasche.
• Fig. 9 ist eine Ansicht ähnlich zu Fig. 8, bei welcher jedoch der Reißlappen in teilweise von der Flasche abgezogenen Zugstand dargestellt ist.
• Fig. 10 zeigt eine perspektivische Ansicht einer weiteren Ausführungsform einer erfindungsgemäßen Verschlußkappe.
• Fig. 11 zeigt eine Draufsicht auf einen Teil eines Blechrohlinges bei der Herstellung einer Verschlußkappe, die mit einer besonderen Entlüftungsrippe versehen ist.

Further advantages and characteristics of the invention result from the description of exemplary embodiments of the subject matter of the invention, the essential features of which are shown schematically in the drawings.

• Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a cap according to the invention or before the application to the bottle.
• Fig. 2 is a section along the line II - II of Fig.1.
• FIG. 2a shows an embodiment variant of FIG. 2 in section.
• Fig. 3 is a section along the line III - III of Fig. 1st
• Fig. 4 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the closure cap.
• Fig. 5 shows a perspective view of a cap as a variant of Fig. 1, which is placed on a standardized bottle, of which only a part is shown.
• Fig. 6 is a section along the line VI - VI of Fig.5.
• Fig. 7 is a section along the line VII - VII of Fig.5.
• 8 is a side view of a variant of the embodiment of the upper end of a bottle closed with a closure cap according to the invention.
• Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 8, but in which the tear tab is shown in the pull position partially pulled from the bottle.
• 10 shows a perspective view of a further embodiment of a closure cap according to the invention.
• Fig. 11 shows a plan view of a part of a sheet metal blank in the manufacture of a closure cap which is provided with a special ventilation rib.

1 shows a closure cap 10 according to the invention. It essentially has the shape of an inverted cylindrical bowl with a cylindrical screen tenwand 14, a top surface 14 formed by a flat flat disc and an annular transition zone 16 between the top surface 14 and the side wall 12, which connecting zone 16 is rounded such that it forms a seat 13 inside the cap 10 for a sealing ring 18, the has essentially elastomeric behavior and in particular consists of a compound based on polyethylene, PVC or other thermoplastic material which is elastic at the temperatures to which cold drinks are normally exposed and which does not become liquid at the temperatures which drinks normally during exposed to pasteurization and sterilization. The preferred material is a kind of plastic foam that runs into the seat 13 in liquid form and is cured there by heating.

The sealing material 18 does not extend to the lower edge of the side wall 12 and does not extend in the radial direction inwards on the bottom surface of the top wall 14 to a degree beyond which the sealing ring 18 lies against the upper axial end of the bottle (FIG. 6 , 7) brings, on which the cap 10 is placed. The seal achieved by the sealing cap 10 according to the invention makes it unnecessary to use additional sealing material in addition to the described sealing ring 18, although a full sealing washer can be used which completely covers the bottom surface of the top wall 14.

The lower edge 20 of the side wall 12 is pressed inwards when the closure cap 10 is placed on the bottle, but is essentially cylindrical with a cylindrical cavity in the manufacture of the closure cap from sheet metal by a stamping and deep-drawing process. In this way, the side wall 12 forms a circular cylinder and the bottom edge 20 essentially a circle. However, the bottom edge 20 can also be angled slightly outwards, as is shown in FIG. 2a for the closure cap 10. This facilitates the supply of the cap to the bottle mouth during application.

A tear tab 22 is integrally formed with the side wall 12, which normally extends approximately horizontally from the closure cap 10 after it has been formed (FIG. 2). The length of the tear tab 22 is selected so that the user can comfortably grasp the tear tab for the purpose of tearing open the closure cap. This tear tab 22 is expediently so long that, when the closure cap is attached, it extends down over the bottle bead, which bottle bead is provided directly below the rim bead of the bottle. In this way, the flap is not fully on the bottle bead and can therefore be easily removed from this when the bottle is to be opened.

The zipper flap 22 has a section 24 which forms a continuation of the side wall 12 downward and thus, as it were, an addition which ensures that the closure cap can be crimped when it is applied to the bottle without the zipper flap being deformed inadmissibly. For a standardized beverage bottle with an outer diameter of the bead edge of 26.5 mm, the width of the tear tab 22 is expediently 14 mm and its entire length including section 24 is approximately 17 mm. Since the circumference of the side wall 12 is approximately 84 mm before the capsule is applied to the bottle, the connection point of the tear tab on the lower edge of the side wall 12 runs only over a small part of its circumference. The end 25 of the tear tab 22 is rounded according to FIG. 1, but can also be designed in a different shape.

The transition points of the tear tab 22 into the lower edge 20 of the side wall 12 are preferably provided with roundings 26 in order to ensure a correct tear during the opening process.

A tear line 27 runs approximately in the side wall 12 around half the circumference of the side wall 12. This tear line has three sections 28, 29, 30 which in the embodiment according to FIGS. 1 and 2 merge continuously into one another. The tear line 27 begins at the rounded transition point 26 and its first section 28 rises at an acute angle to the horizontal. The second section 29 runs upwards towards the top wall 14 and then horizontally like the third section 30, namely somewhat below the top wall 14, about half the circumference of the side wall 12. The angle formed by the tear line portions 28, 29 enclose with the horizontal, should be less than 75 °, preferably less than 45 °, for example, between 15 ° and 45 ^0, to secure the best conditions in practice. The tear line section 30 can run about 2.5 mm below the level of the top surface 14 or slightly below, but should be arranged so low that the majority of the sealing ring 18 is not disturbed. This ensures that the seal is maintained as long as possible when the cap is removed. The arrangement should also be such that below the tear line 27 there remains a strip which absorbs the tension when the closure cap is opened, the width of which is about 2 to 3 mm.

The tear line 27 extends about half the circumference of the cap 10, approximately between 140 and 180 ° and its end 32 is at the same height as the section 30. The length of the tear line 27 should be large enough so that the cap after passing through Tear line or pulling off the lower edge of the cap by about half the circumference of the side wall 12 can be easily removed from the bottle.

The tear line 27 is formed in the cap 10 during its manufacture. It is incorporated into the sheet metal blank in the flat state thereof before the closure cap 10 contains the final shape in the deep-drawing mold. The tool for producing the tear line is preferably designed with a flat end to which the Tool runs tapered. The result is a groove as shown in Fig. 3 and the bottom wall 34 of which is flat. The material in the area 36 under the groove forming the tear line 27 should experience cold hardening during the formation of the tear line 27, so that this material area becomes brittle compared to the initial state, which makes it easier to pull the tear tab 22 along the tear line 27 without the Overall strength and thereby adversely affect the sealing behavior of the cap 10. The groove forming the tear line 27 is open to the inside of the side wall 12.

The tear tab 27 has a reinforcing rib 38 in the form of a U-shaped bulge, the upper ends 40, 42 of which extend substantially beyond the height of the lower edge 20 of the side wall for an important purpose, but do not cross the tear line section 28 and do not intersect in the sealing ring 18 extend. On the opposite side of the side wall 12, i.e. on the inside, the rib 38 forms a groove 38 '. In the area of the ends 40, 42 of the groove 38, there is an accumulation of folds of the cap material after the cap has been applied, so that the above-mentioned blow-off effect takes place primarily in this area. A closure cap 10 designed in such a manner according to the invention therefore reliably blows off the excessive excess pressure when a predetermined internal pressure occurs and then seals it properly again.

This blow-off effect can be optimally adjusted by suitable choice of material in connection with the design and type of fastening of the closure cap.

Versions tried and tested in practice blow off between 8 and 10 bar, the internal pressure in the container being reduced to about 5 bar and then sealed again. Such caps consisted of aluminum sheet, from which the caps were produced by a deep-drawing process in a manner known per se. According to one embodiment Example, the aluminum sheet was between 180 and 190 microns thick and had a tensile strength between 120 and 160 Newton / mm ² . The aluminum was about 99% pure. Drinks with an internal pressure of about 5 to 6 bar are mostly common, but reach a pressure of more than 10 bar when shaken and / or heated.

When the closure cap 10 is applied to a conventional bottle, the procedure is such that the closure cap is held in a sleeve provided with fingers and lowered with it onto the bottle. The cap is then pressed against the bottle mouth with such pressure that the material of the sealing ring 8 is compressed essentially elastically. The sleeve is then drawn together around the rim of the bottle and presses the lower edge 20 of the side wall 12 into the annular groove between the rim and the subsequent bulging of the bottle with the formation of folds. At the same time, the transition point 16 is pressed against the rounded profile of the bead edge of the bottle, which results in an increase in the radius of the curve of the material parts forming the connection point 16.

This application, together with the manufacture of the closure cap, results in material hardening by cold working of the metal, which should be substantially uniform over the circumference of the closure cap. At the same time, there is an increased compression of the material of the sealing ring. These effects are reproducible and can be adjusted by making minor changes in the thickness and tensile strength of the aluminum sheet used. For aluminum alloys, the appropriate parameters can be selected by little experimental work so that the desired blow-off effect occurs essentially within a predeterminable pressure range.

It has been found that the blow-off effect with aluminum sheet of conventional composition and a thickness between 140 and 250 microns and a tensile strength between 90 and 220 Newton / mm ² can be achieved. Preferred ranges are between 180 and 220 microns and between 130 and 180 Newtons / mm ² . The tensile strength mentioned applies before the sealing cap 10 is formed. It can be assumed that during the molding process a cold hardening of the aluminum takes place, which alone or in conjunction with the cold hardening of the material which occurs when the sealing cap is applied, creates a prerequisite for the occurrence of the described blow-off effect . There is a slight widening of the closure cap and / or a lifting thereof on the bottle neck, so that part of the gas can escape from the bottle neck. The elasticity of the cold-hardened sheet metal of the closure cap 10 then leads it back into the sealing starting position.

The following table shows some examples of aluminum alloys for the manufacture of successfully working caps, which show an automatic blow-off effect:

The blow-off effect mentioned is not necessary for all beverages after bottling, however most so-called "still" beverages have little or no trapped gases. exhibit, pasteurized or sterilized at elevated temperature immediately after filling. In these cases, the ability to blow off is desired to relieve an overpressure which arises from the expansion of the air contained in the bottle neck above the beverage level in order to prevent the bottle from breaking in the autoclave.

However, it is also the closure cap according to the invention Advantageous in those cases in which the ability to blow off is not required or exploited, since the closure cap according to the invention is simple in its construction and in its application to and at a distance from the bottle.

FIG. 4 shows a closure cap 10 which is similar to that of FIG. 1 with two exceptions. The first difference is that the end 25 of the tear tab 22 is more or less rectilinear, but angled in such a way that the edge 48 closer in FIG. 4 is longer than the edge 50 further away, so that the user is prompted to do so , in most cases grab the tear tab on the left and pull it to the right. Since the tear line 27 begins at the junction 26 between the closer edge 48 and the bottom edge 20 of the side wall 12, the tear along the tear line 27 begins in the correct direction. The tear line 27 is normally not visible to the user since it lies inside the cap. This angled design of the end 25 of the tear tab 22 therefore serves as an aid in opening the closure cap.

The second difference is that the upper end 42 of the U-shaped rib 38 extends up to the area of the top surface 14. In this way, a weak point of the material of the sealing ring 18 is formed there, since the internal groove on the rear of the upper end 42 of the rib 38 brings a channel or another connection from the sealing ring 18 to the tear line 27. Even if the sealing material should fill this groove, the upper end 42 of the rib 38 still forms the weakest point for the escape of excess pressure from the inside of the bottle when the cap 10 is opened, since at this point the sealing ring 18 against the Bottle pressing pressure is the least. The gas from the inside of the bottle has therefore escaped when the operation of the tear tab has ended is, so that the internal pressure is then reduced and the cap 10 is not thrown off.

It is not certain whether the path of the gas is between the ring 18 and the bottle end or between the ring 18 and the seat 13, but the weak point created by the non-uniformity on the inside of the end 42 of the rib 38, allows the gas to escape one way or the other, or both. If the ring 18 does not adhere to the inner metallic surface of the seat 13, the gas could flow between the ring and the metal surface to the groove under the rib end 42.

The second upper end 14 of the rib 38 of the closure cap 10 (FIG. 4) does not extend to the transition point 16 and does not cross the rising section of the tear line 27. A cross between this rib end 40 and the tear line may only occur in the substantially horizontal sections 29, 30 of the tear line 27 if it is desired to provide additional pressure reduction when the bottle is opened.

5, 6 and 7, the cap 10 is placed on a standardized shape of a beverage bottle 62, of which only the upper part is shown. The bottle 62 is shown as a glass bottle by appropriate hatching, but plastic beverage bottles can also be used.

The bottle 62 has at its upper end an edge bead 64, the axial end 66 of which has a somewhat flattened central section, but is otherwise rounded. The bottom of the edge bead 64 is drawn inward and ends in an annular groove 68 on the bottle neck 62. This forms the so-called mouthpiece of the bottle. Below this groove 68 there is a bulge 70 for strengthening the bottle. Such a bottle shape is standardized worldwide and in practically all cases has a maximum diameter of the edge bead 64 of 26.5 mm. The inside diameter of the side wall 12 of the cap 10 is selected such that the cap fits properly on the bottle end in the first step of its application. The axial end 66 of the edge bead is then pressed against the sealing ring 18 so that a good seal is achieved. As shown in Fig. 6, the side wall 12 is pressed under the bead 64 so that the lower edge 20 of the side wall 12 is in tight contact in the groove 68 and thereby holds the cap. This is achieved by means of a sleeve-like tool which has several fingers, the shape of which is modeled as closely as possible to the contour of the edge bead 64. The top wall 14 of the closure cap is pressed tightly against the edge end 66, but a much lower axial pressure than is required for other metallic closure caps is sufficient for this. The fingers of the sleeve-like tool are then pressed together so that the side wall 12 is brought into the shape shown in FIG. 6. In this way, the curvature of the transition point 16 is molded onto the contour of the edge bead, so that the sealing ring 18 is compressed and at the same time the curvature of the transition point 16 is reduced. The bottom of the side wall 12 has practically no visible grooves despite the wrinkling of the material, so that a label remains clearly legible, even if it is applied to the sheet metal before the closure cap is formed.

During the described press-on operation of the closure cap, the tear tab 22 is bent downward, as shown in FIG. 6, so that it extends over the bead 70 and extends downward beyond the bead, which facilitates the detection and handling of the tear tab 22 . The angular formation of the end 25 of the tear tab 22 causes the user to pull the tear tab in the correct direction when the closure cap 10 is opened.

The pressure reduction that occurs when blowing off is achieved automatically and is independent of the later opening of the bottle. The controlled pressure reduction when opening planning process, however, the tear is initiated ^one lobe 22 by the user only when activated.

When the user pulls the tear tab 22 to the right in the circumferential direction of the closure cap in order to open the bottle 62, the tear process begins at the corner 26 and increases along the course of the tear line 28 until the rib 38 is reached. From Fig. 7 it can be seen that a groove 78 is formed on the underside of the rib 38, which extends up to the end 42 of the rib, which in this embodiment essentially does not reach the sealing ring 18. As a result of the greater length of this end 42 in comparison with the embodiment according to FIG. 1, there is a greater formation of folds in the side wall material, these folds reaching as far as the sealing ring 18, so that a limited weak point of the seal is formed there weakest part of the seal and therefore any gas that emerges from the mouth of the bottle, especially this weak point, is found as an entry point. This weak point is very small because suitable ribs have a width of the order of about 1 mm, but this is sufficient to bring about the pressure reduction from the inside of the bottle before the tear tab 22 is guided over the entire length of the tear line 27. There is therefore little or no risk that the cap will be thrown off and that liquid will be lost. If the side wall 12 is torn out along the tear line 27, therefore, no more gas escapes, since at least a large part of the excess pressure has already been reduced during the tearing process. Although the rib 38 is pressed into the recess 68 by the pressure when the cap is placed on the bottle mouth and is therefore pressed, the groove below the upper part of the rib 38 still forms the weakest point along the circumference of the seal 18.

In the embodiment according to FIGS. 8 and 9, the Tear flaps 22 have a different arrangement of the ribs compared to the previously described design, namely the U-shaped rib 38 does not extend to the tear line 27 and serves mainly to reinforce and stiffen the tear tab. To reduce the pressure prevailing in the bottle during the opening process of the bottle 62 are a single central rib 82 which intersects the tear line 27 at least approximately at right angles and in the side wall 12 up to the upper part of the rounded transition point 16 and therefore up to Sealing ring 18 extends. In Fig. 9, the tear tab 22 is shown partially removed from the remainder of the cap 10, the upper end of the rib 82 being separated from its lower end. Arrows indicate how the gas escapes via the upper end of the channel formed under the rib 82 and / or in the vicinity thereof, so that the excess pressure in the bottle is reduced, although the remaining part of the cap 10 is still held on the bottle and therefore the user is protected against the cap being thrown off or against contamination by beverage liquid suddenly emerging from the bottle.

In the embodiment of Fig. 10, the initial portion 28 and the end portion 30 extend the tear line substantially as in the embodiment of Fig. 8, however, the central has cut _b 29 is an upwardly extending protrusion 92 which extends into the sealing ring 18 and extends to the top surface 14. Upon actuation of the tear tab 22, the interior of the bottle is opened to the ambient atmosphere when the bulge 92 of the tear line is reached, namely by lifting the sealing ring 18 in this area. In addition to this effect, the bulge 92 of the tear line delays the tearing of the tear line so that the overpressure in the bottle has more time to relax.

In Fig. 11 an aid is shown to the Ent to facilitate gas from the interior of the bottle between the metallic surface of the cap and the sealing ring 18 at the weak point described above. This figure shows a part of a development of the closure cap 10 in a top view, prior to the formation of the closure cap. A groove 82 is provided on the inside of a rib as in the embodiments according to FIGS. 8, 9 and 10. The parallel dashed lines 102, 104 represent the section in which the sealing ring 18 will lie. An adhesive in the form of a varnish or the like is preferably applied to the surface of the sheet only in zone 106 which has an interruption 108. In this way it is ensured that the sealing ring 18 does not adhere to the groove 82, although it fills this groove at the rear of the rib. Therefore, if the side wall 12 is divided into two parts while tearing along the tear line 27 and thereby intersects the groove 82, this creates an increased probability that the gas through the area of the groove between the sealing ring and the groove which is weakened with regard to the sealing effect can escape metallic surface, which probability is much higher than that for gas escape between the sealing ring and the axial end 66 of the bottle.

During automatic pressure release, i.e. when the cap is placed on the bottle and the internal pressure in the bottle reaches a predetermined value for which the cap is designed, the gas can escape between the sealing ring and the axial end 66 of the bottle. It is believed that the elasticity of the sidewall 12 allows for a slight expansion of the lower edge 20 of the sidewall 12 when the cap is raised somewhat along the bead 64. During this lifting of the sealing cap, the gas can flow under the sealing ring and emerge along the side wall 12 of the sealing cap.

The transition point 16 is to be understood as an extension of the side wall 12, so that the term “side wall” also includes the transition point. "Drink" means any liquid or pulpy substance that is edible and sold or dispensed in bottles.

When the closure cap is applied to a beverage bottle, the contents of which are under pressure and / or in the course of pasteurization or sterilization of the bottle contents by introducing the bottle into an autoclave, the top wall 14 can bulge somewhat out of its original flat, flat shape. The description of the top wall 14 is intended to include such bulges, as well as top surfaces that are bulged from the beginning or have a profile due to deep drawing, embossing or the like.

Of course, the invention can also be applied to steel caps which are suitably protected by corrosion-inhibiting coatings or coatings, as well as to caps made of other metals. However, the formation of the closure cap from sheet metal made from aluminum or from aluminum alloys is preferred since these materials are lighter than steel and can be more easily removed from the bottle.

Without departing from the scope of the claims, there may be significant changes to the described embodiments. For example, the tear tab can have a different shape than that shown in the figures. Furthermore, a single rib, which forms a groove on the underside of the tear tab, or a series of such ribs can be provided in or above the tear tab, in all of these cases a gradual reduction in pressure can be achieved when the closure cap is opened. Furthermore, reference is once again made to the widened lower edge 20 '(FIG. 2a) of the closure cap. Furthermore, the tear line can be formed by a row of perforations in the material of the side wall or along one or more interruptions have their course, whereby the speed of tearing along the tear line can be locally delayed or even stopped. Finally, the tear line can also be formed by at least two parallel lines, etc.

Claims (23)

1. Cap (10) for beverage bottles (62) which have an edge bead (64) with an annular axial end (66) and an annular groove (68) which lies at the transition point of the edge bead (64) in the bottle neck, and at which the drink in the bottle (62) is subjected to after the closure cap (10) has been placed, which effects an increase in the internal pressure in the space above the beverage, this closure cap (10) having the following features: A) An essentially cylindrical side wall (12) which merges into a cover surface (14) via a rounded transition point (16), the transition point (16) forming a seat for a seal (18) on the inside, this base body over the bead edge the bottle fits and its side wall (12) can be brought into contact with the annular groove (68)-B) a tear tab with opposing side edges and a free end, which is on the lower edge (20) of the side wall (12) along a fraction of its circumference is attached and an extension of the side wall - (12) forms, this tear tab (22) protrudes horizontally from the side wall (12), but can be bent to the bottle neck after the closure cap (10) has been applied to the bottle (62) C) A seal (18) in the intended seat (16) on the inside of the base body, which covers at least the upper portion of the inner surface of the side wall (12) and extends radially inwards along the top wall (14) at least so far that the seal (18) rests against the axial end (66) of the bottle (62) when the closure cap is in place, D) A tear line (27) which runs at least for the most part in the side wall (12) of the base body and has at least two sections (28, 29, 30), of which the starting section (28) begins in an area (26) that the transition place the one side edge (48) of the tear tab (22) in the lower edge (20) of the side wall (12), and rising from there along the circumference of the side wall (12) against the rounded transition point so that the other, side edge ( 50) of the tear tab (22) is passed, a further tear line section (30) running at a distance below the top surface (14) along the circumference of the side wall (12) to at least one point which is opposite the starting point (26) of the Tear line (27) is offset by approximately half the circumference of the side wall (12) E) That the base body and the tear tab (22) are integrally formed from sheet metal and the closure cap (10) in the state placed on the bottle (62) is able to withstand the pressures occurring inside the bottle, but with a slight opening of the closure cap by pulling on the tear tab essentially in the circumferential direction for the purpose of tearing the side wall (12) along the tear line (27) F) A device for the controlled reduction of the internal pressure in the bottle (62), which device has at least one groove (38 ') on the inner surface of the side wall (12), with an intersection at a substantially acute angle between the groove (38') and the tear line (27) is avoided. 2. A closure cap according to claim 1, wherein the second tear line part (30) extends at a height which is at or slightly above the height at which the largest outer diameter of the bead edge (64) lies. 3. The closure cap according to claim 1, wherein the two tear line sections (28, 30) are connected to one another and neither of these two tear line sections (28, 30) extends to the rounded transition zone (16) and the tear line (27) with the second section (30 ) at a distance below the top surface (14), but ends in the side wall (12). 4. Cap according to claim 1, wherein the two Tear line sections (28, 30) are connected to one another by a third section (29) which has a bulge (92) which leads the tear line (27) at least into the rounded transition zone (16) between the side wall (12) and the top surface (14) . 5. Cap according to claim 1, wherein the sheet of the cap (10) by the shape of the cap and / or by its application to the bottle (62) is cold-hardenable and has a predetermined composition, strength and tensile strength, by the cold hardening sufficient elasticity is achieved to allow the cap to automatically blow off and reseal when a certain internal pressure occurs in the bottle. 6. A closure cap according to claim 1, wherein the tear tab (22) has an inclined free end (25) so that the two side edges (48, 50) are of different lengths, the longer side edge (48) to the exit point (26) of the Tear line (27) leads. 7. A cap according to claim 1, wherein means for controlled venting of internal pressure when tearing of R _e ißlappens order to decrease the closure cap (10) of a bottle (62) is provided by the user (22). 8. The closure cap according to claim 7, wherein said device has at least one groove (38 ') on the inner surface of the side wall (12) in the vicinity of the tear tab (22), which groove (38) is substantially vertical and extends into the sealing ring ( 18) extends, whereby a weak point is created in this ring, which enables the gases to escape from the inside of the bottle when the tear line (27) is torn open by actuating the tear tab (22). 9. A closure cap according to claim 8, wherein the tear tab (22) has at least one shaped rib (38, 82) which forms a reinforcement of the tear tab, at least under a groove (38 ') is formed in part of these ribs. 10. Cap according to claim 1, wherein the tear line (27) is designed as a groove with converging walls and a: flat bottom (34). 11. Cap according to claim 1, wherein the sheet is made of aluminum. 12. A closure cap according to claim 1, wherein the tear line (27) runs on the inside of the side wall (12). 13. A closure cap according to claim 11, wherein the aluminum sheet has a thickness of 160 to 220 microns and a tensile strength of about 120 to 140 Newton / mm ² . 14. A closure cap according to claim 1, wherein the tear tab (22) has reinforcing ribs (38) which preferably run along its side edges (48, 50). 15. A closure cap according to claim 14, wherein on the inner surface of the side wall (12) there is at least one groove (38 ', 78) which is substantially aligned with the center of the tear tab (22) and extends beyond the tear line (27) extends upwards at least into the sealing ring (18) for the purpose of controlled release of internal pressure from the bottle while the tear tab (22) is being pulled along the tear line (27). 16.Capping cap made of aluminum or an aluminum alloy for containers, with an essentially disk-shaped cover (14), to which a cylindrical jacket (12) with a tear tab (22) is connected via a bead-shaped transition, an elastic sealing material arranged in a ring on the inside of the cap ( 18), which essentially lines the upper part of the cylindrical jacket (12), the throat in the transition from the cylindrical jacket (12) to the lid (14) and the area of the lid (14) adjoining the throat (16) and with one the inside of the cap provided tear line (27), starting from the lower edge (20) of the cylindrical jacket (12), near or at one end of the tear tab contour, crossing the tear tab area in cylindrical jacket (12) extends upwards in the circumferential direction, characterized in that the metal strip used for producing the closure cap (10) has a thickness between 0.14 and 0.25 mm, preferably between 0.18 and 0.22 mm and before the shape has a tensile strength between 90 and 220 Newton / mm ² , preferably between 130 and 180 N / mm ² , that the tear line (27) after reaching the upper part of the cylindrical shell (12) or the transition (16) between the cover ( 14) and jacket (12) runs essentially parallel to the lower jacket edge (20) and ends at a distance of at least about 140 °, preferably between about 140 ° and 180 °, from the starting point, the angle between the tear line tangent and the normal plane the axis of the cylindrical shell (12) is always less than 75 ⁰ , preferably less than 45 °. 17. A closure cap according to claim 16, characterized in that the tear line (27), starting from a point (26) close to or at the transition of the tear tab contour into the lower edge (20) of the cylindrical jacket (12) in a flat curve upwards in Direction to the cover (14) and runs approximately from the height of the other end of the tear tab contour to approximately parallel to the lower casing edge (20). 18. Cap according to claim 16 or 17, characterized in that the tear tab (22) has one or more linear reinforcing beads (38, 82), the ends of which are located below the tear line (27), adjoining the tear tab (22) Extend the area of the cylindrical jacket (12). 19. A beverage bottle provided with a closure cap, which contains a free space above the beverage in the bottle space and in which the beverage is subject to influences which increase the internal pressure in this free space, characterized by the following features: A) A bottle (62) with a bulge (64) at the mouth, which starts from the axial end (66) and into a: groove (68) ends at the bottle neck, which has a diameter which is significantly smaller than the outer diameter of the bead (64) B) A closure cap (10), which is placed sealingly on the beaded edge (64) and consists of thin, flexible sheet metal and can be removed from the bottle (62) by tearing open, essentially in the circumferential direction, by the user, this closure cap ( 10) has the following characteristics: I) A hollow base body (10) with a circular top wall (14) and a side wall (12) attached to it, which merges into the top wall (14) via a rounded transition zone (16) and whose shape follows the contour of the beaded edge (64) , wherein part of the side wall (12) is pressed against the beaded edge and pressed tightly into the groove (68) II) A seal (18), which is arranged on the inside of the transition zone (16) and bears at least on the axial end of the bottle (62) and on part of the side wall (12) and presses sealingly against the axial end (66) of the bottle is III) a tear tab (22) which is attached to the lower edge (20) of the side wall (12) and extends down along the bottle neck, said tear tab (22) opposite side edges (48, 50) and a free end (25 ), one (48) of these side edges forming a corner with the lower edge (20) of the side wall (12) IV) A tear line (27) in the side wall (12), which tear line (27) has at least two sections, the first of which begins at the corner (26) and from there in the circumferential direction against the top wall (14) or on the second side edge ( 50) of the tear tab (22) rises past, the second tear line section (30) lying below the top surface (14) and extending in the circumferential direction up to at least about half the circumference of the side wall (12) V) A facility for controlled mining of Internal pressure, which has at least one rib (38) on the outer surface of at least part of the tear tab (22) and the side wall (12) and forms a groove (38 ', 78) therein, with essentially the entire rise of the tear line (27 ) is free from crossings with the rib (38) or the groove (38 ') VI) The closure cap together with the tear tab is made of flexible sheet metal, wherein by tearing open the side wall (12) by means of the tear tab (22) along the tear line (27), a reduction of the excess pressure within the bottle can be achieved. 20. Bottle with a cap according to claim 19, characterized in that the two sections (28, 30) of the tear line (27) are interconnected, the first section (28) against the second section (30), which is within the Side wall (12) ends, rises and neither of the two sections reaches the transition zone (16). 21. Bottle with a cap according to claim 19, characterized in that the side wall (12) is substantially free of grooves. 22. Provided with a closure cap according to claim 19, characterized in that a weak point is formed in the seal (18), preferably transversely thereto, which in tearing off the tear tab (22) along the side wall (12) in order to reduce excess pressure in the bottle is exposed. 23. A method for closing a container with a closure cap, wherein the closure cap (10) is placed and pressed onto a laterally projecting annular edge (64) surrounding the container opening and the edge of the closure cap (20) is then pressed onto the laterally projecting underside (68) of the The edge of the opening is choked, characterized in that when the closure cap (10) is pressed on, the latter in the sense of a noticeable reduction in the curvature of the cover (14) and the cylindrical jacket (12) sensitive transition area (16) of the cap body is deformed.

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