EP0593396B1 - Tamper proof plastic closure - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a guarantee closure cap made of plastic for a container, on the container neck of which at least one radially outwardly projecting blocking surface is provided, according to the preamble of claim 1. The guarantee function of such closures is that when the closure cap is removed for the first time, a guarantee band is torn or at least partially is torn down. The tearing or tearing off indicates to the consumer that the container has already been opened.

The guarantee band can completely surround the container neck or extend only over part of the circumference. The dividing lines at which the guarantee tape tears or tears can be horizontal, i.e. run parallel to the cap base as well as vertically. E.g. it can be provided that the guarantee tape can be torn off as a complete ring from the closure cap and remains on the neck of the container. In other cases, it is desirable that the guarantee tape or the torn-off parts of the guarantee tape get caught on the sealing cap. All of these embodiments encompass the present invention.

The containers to be closed can be glass or plastic beverage bottles. It can also be other containers, e.g. Canned jars, wide-mouth containers and the like.

In most of these containers, a bead is provided on the neck of the container, the underside of which forms the blocking surface with which the guarantee band of the closure cap comes into engagement. Of course, the invention is not limited to such circumferential beads. For example, individual, segment-like cams or other retaining elements can also be used or depressions can also be provided in the neck of the container without departing from the scope of the invention. It is only important that there is an outwardly protruding locking surface that is straight, curved, regular or irregular, engages with a locking element on the sealing cap or on the guarantee band when the sealing cap is put on, in order to prevent the sealing cap from being unscrewed can be damaged without damaging the predetermined breaking points.

As a rule, such caps have a single-start or multi-start thread. Of course, the invention can also be applied to closure caps which are connected to the container neck in a different way. These include e.g. Caps with snap devices or bayonet locks.

Such guarantee closures are e.g. known from US-PS-4,978,017, US-PS-5,090,788 or US-PS-4,784,280 and US-PS-4,635,808.

In the known guarantee closures, elastic tongues or "flaps" are provided as retaining elements for mechanically engaging the guarantee band on the container neck. These tongues or flaps reduce the free inside diameter of the guarantee band so that it snaps over the locking surface on the neck of the container and snaps into place. In the snap-in position, the tongues or flaps run horizontally or slightly inclined downward in some of the known guarantee closures. In order to be able to exercise their locking function, they must therefore be designed to be relatively rigid. This can lead to difficulties when placing the closure on the container neck. For this reason, it has already been proposed to use somewhat more elastic flaps and to support them by cams arranged below the flaps. However, such cams in turn reduce the free inside diameter diameter of the guarantee band, which can also lead to difficulties when putting on the fasteners.

In another category of closures, for example described in US-A-5,107,998, the flaps point obliquely upwards and inwards after being put on. In order to enable the closure to be placed on the neck of the container, the flaps are connected to the guarantee band by a flexible connection, so that they can be pivoted around this connection point. The swivel range is limited at the bottom by a projection arranged below the flaps, against which the flaps rest when the container is opened. The disadvantage of these flaps is that they can only be pivoted upwards to a very limited extent. Even in their upper end position, in which they rest on the inner surface of the guarantee band, the flaps are still directed clearly inwards and hinder the fitting of the closure cap. In addition, it is relatively difficult to produce such flaps, which point obliquely to the cap bottom into the closure cap. Particularly in the case of guarantee closures, which are injection molded from plastic, such a shape is usually associated with a separate manufacturing step, which makes the manufacturing more expensive.

The object of the invention is therefore to provide a guarantee closure cap of the type described above (US-A-5,107,998) for closing such containers, which on the one hand is easy to manufacture in mass production and which on the other hand reliably fulfills its guarantee function and is easy on the The neck of the container must be put on without damaging the predetermined breaking points as soon as it is put on.

According to the invention, this task is solved by a guarantee cap with the features of claim 1.

According to the invention, the arrangement is particularly advantageous of the locking elements proposed, which are connected to the guarantee band by at least one articulated element, and which after the guarantee closure has been placed on the container neck engage under the blocking surface and the guarantee band block at the neck of the container. While in the known guarantee closures, the flaps or retaining elements themselves are designed to be elastic so that they can snap resiliently over the locking surface when they are put on, the invention proposes the use of a practically rigid locking element which also has an elastic / resilient joint element the guarantee band is connected. The locking elements have an upper retaining surface with which they can be brought into engagement with the locking surface on the container neck. In addition, they are provided with a lower support surface which can be supported on the surface of the inner wall of the guarantee band. The locking elements can thus, on the one hand, deflect through the articulation elements when the guarantee closure is put on and pivot upwards, as a result of which the fitting process proceeds without any problems. If, on the other hand, the locking elements are pivoted in the opposite direction around the joint elements when the guarantee closure is opened, they are supported with the support surface on the inner wall of the guarantee band. The engagement of the locking elements with the locking surface on the container neck is fixed in such a way that it is practically impossible to open the guarantee closure without destroying the predetermined breaking points. The locking elements can be supported with their support surfaces either directly on the surface of the inner wall of the guarantee band or indirectly, for example by support cams or projections on the guarantee band. It is only essential that the force exerted on the locking elements when the guarantee closure is opened is conducted into the guarantee band, so that the predetermined breaking points break or tear.

It is also an essential feature that the locking elements are fastened to the joint elements in such a way that they protrude radially inwards in an intermediate position before the guarantee closure is applied to the container. "Radially inwards" is intended to be both an approximately horizontal position and an obliquely upward position towards the cap base or include a position inclined in the opposite direction. It is essential for the intermediate position that the locking element protrudes radially inwards from the guarantee band so that when the guarantee closure is placed on a container, the latter can pivot the locking elements upwards to the cap base and outwards to the cap jacket around the joint elements, so that the container neck can penetrate the guarantee closure without damaging the predetermined breaking points. This is possible because the locking elements move outward from the container when pivoting around the joint elements and increase the free inside diameter of the guarantee band.

After the guarantee closure has been applied, the locking elements pivoted elastically around the joint elements snap back again and are located below the locking surfaces on the container neck. Such an elastic or resilient deflection can be realized practically with all plastic materials customary for such closures. This applies e.g. especially for polyethylene or polypropylene.

It is therefore essential that the locking elements are pivoted far enough upwards and outwards when pivoting into the closed position of the guarantee closure, that the container neck and the blocking surface can pass unhindered, and that after the guarantee closure is put on, the blocking elements spring under the blocking surface on the container neck or snap.

Another essential feature of the closure according to the invention is that when the closure is first removed from the container neck, the locking elements are moved downward and radially inward through the locking surfaces. The radial inward pivoting obviously causes a reduction in the free inside diameter of the guarantee band, so that the locking elements continue with the locking surface or surfaces engage on the neck of the container and overlap this or these and thereby fix the guarantee tape on the neck of the container. In contrast to known flap arrangements, the pivoting movement of the locking elements therefore causes the free inside diameter of the guarantee band to be reduced and thus fixed on the container neck.

In this second opening position with a reduced free inner diameter, the support surfaces of the locking elements engage with the guarantee band and support the locking elements in this position.

The guarantee closure exhibits particularly good opening and locking properties if the locking elements can be pivoted between the closed position and the open position by an angle of more than 100 °, preferably more than 140 °. Particularly with commercially available beverage bottles, particularly good results have been achieved if the swivel angle is approximately 160 ° to 180 °.

A particularly stable locking function of the locking elements is obtained if their retaining surface forms an angle of more than 60 °, preferably of approximately 70 ° to 100 °, with the supporting surface.

The locking elements can connect particularly securely to the locking surface on the container neck if the locking elements, viewed in plan view, have the shape of a segment of a circle, the circle of which runs coaxially with the guarantee band. The length and the number of these circular segments can easily be determined depending on the configuration of the container neck and the support surface. A number of about 10 to 14 locking elements have proven particularly good in the case of beverage bottles with a 28 mm diameter.

Depending on the shape of the support surfaces, the locking elements in However, the plan view also have a different shape, for example they can run in a straight line if, for example, the support surface in the plan view has the shape of a polygon.

Flexible material bridges between the guarantee band and the locking elements are particularly suitable as a joint element. The material bridges can be provided over the entire length of the locking element. However, it is also conceivable to provide the material bridges only in partial areas of the locking elements, e.g. on the two outer edges or in the middle.

The predetermined breaking points for connecting the guarantee band or individual guarantee band segments with the sealing cap or with other guarantee band segments can best be formed as material webs which are correspondingly thinly dimensioned to tear when the guarantee closure is opened. Of course, it would also be conceivable to provide thin material skins instead of the webs that tear under load.

The best results are usually achieved by using several locking elements. In some cases it is also conceivable that, for example, only one locking element on one side of the diameter, combined with one or more beads or other protruding parts, is used on the opposite side of the guarantee band. It is also possible to use larger blocking elements, which have the shape of a larger segment of a circle or an entire circle, for example.

Figur 1

eine schematische Darstellung eines Garantieverschlusses mit den Merkmalen der Erfindung im Querschnitt,

Figur 2

das Garantieband gemäss Figur 1 in vergrösserter Darstellung und in der Position vor dem Aufsetzen und während des Aufsetzens auf einen Behälterhals,

Figur 3

das Garantieband gemäss Figur 1 und 2 nach dem Aufsetzen auf den Behälterhals,

Figur 4

das Garantieband gemäss Figur 1 bis 3 während des Öffnens des Garantieverschlusses,

Figur 5

eine weiter vergrösserte Darstellung eines Garantiebands mit den Merkmalen der Erfindung,

Figur 6

ein Garantieband mit Darstellung eines Sperr-Elements in der ersten Schliessposition und der zweiten Öffnungsposition,

Figur 7

ein Garantieband mit einem abgewandelten Sperr-Element,

Figur 8

ein Garantieband mit einer weiteren Ausführungsform eines Sperr-Elements,

Figur 9

die Draufsicht auf ein Garantieband mit einer Mehrzahl von Sperr-Elementen, und

Figur 10 bis 15

abgewandelte Ausführungsformen von Sperr-Elementen.

The invention is explained below in exemplary embodiments with reference to the drawings. Show it:

Figure 1

1 shows a schematic representation of a guarantee closure with the features of the invention in cross section,

Figure 2

1 in an enlarged representation and in the position before being placed on and while being placed on a container neck,

Figure 3

the guarantee band according to FIGS. 1 and 2 after being placed on the container neck,

Figure 4

the guarantee tape according to FIGS. 1 to 3 during the opening of the guarantee closure,

Figure 5

3 shows a further enlarged representation of a guarantee tape with the features of the invention,

Figure 6

a guarantee tape showing a locking element in the first closing position and the second opening position,

Figure 7

a guarantee band with a modified locking element,

Figure 8

a guarantee tape with a further embodiment of a locking element,

Figure 9

the top view of a guarantee tape with a plurality of locking elements, and

Figure 10 to 15

modified embodiments of locking elements.

According to FIG. 1, a guarantee closure 1 has a closure cap 2, which consists of a cap base 3 and a cylindrical cap jacket 4. A guarantee band 6 is fastened to the closure cap 2 by means of a plurality of predetermined breaking bars 5.

As can be seen particularly well from FIGS. 2 to 6, a number of locking elements 8 are arranged on the guarantee band 6 by means of material bridges acting as a joint element 7.

The closure cap 2 is made together with the guarantee tape 6 and the locking elements 8 in one piece in a known manner in the plastic injection molding process. Of course, the guarantee closure could also be produced using the compression molding process or in another suitable manner. It would also be conceivable to produce the guarantee band 6 and the closure cap 2 separately and to connect them to one another in a form-fitting manner or in some other way in a separate operation, without thereby departing from the scope of the invention. Warranty tapes manufactured separately are e.g. known from U.S. Patent 4,578,857.

Before screwing onto a container neck 9, the locking elements 8 are in position N according to FIG. 1 and the upper illustration in FIG. 2. As soon as the closure cap is displaced downward relative to the container neck during the screwing-on process, the locking element 8 arrives with threaded sections 10 and with a circumferential, annular projection 11 in engagement. The locking elements 8 are thereby pivoted upwards and radially outwards about the pivot element 7 as a fulcrum, so that the free inside diameter of the guarantee band 6 increases and the guarantee band 6 can reach the position shown in FIG. 3 without the projection 11 that the predetermined breaking webs 5 would be damaged. In the intermediate position N, the locking elements 8 are directed radially inwards, it being not important in this position whether they additionally point slightly upwards or slightly downwards, since the elasticity of the joint element 7 causes them to pivot into the first closed position I is possible in any case. In the closed position I, the support surfaces 12 of the locking elements 8 determine the enlarged first inner diameter D1 (FIG. 6).

After the guarantee cap 1 has been completely screwed onto the container neck 9, the locking elements 8 are located below the projection 11 and its locking surface 13, which faces the retaining surface 14 of the locking elements 8.

FIGS. 4 and 6 show how the retaining surface 14 engages with the blocking surface 13 when the guarantee closure is opened, the retaining elements 8 being pivoted radially inwards and downwards into the second opening position II and thereby determining the second reduced inside diameter D2. The locking elements 8 thereby increase their engagement with the locking surface 13, so that the guarantee tape 6 cannot be pulled over the projection 11. When the guarantee lock is opened, the predetermined breaking bars 5 therefore tear.

As indicated in FIG. 5, the retention surface 14 and the support surface 12 of the locking elements 8, viewed from the joint elements 7, enclose an angle of approximately 80 °. This configuration ensures particularly good stability of the locking elements 8 and, on the other hand, enables the locking elements to be pivoted by an angle of approximately 160 °, which is advantageous for the opening and closing function, as shown in FIG.

Figure 7 shows a modified embodiment in which the locking elements have an approximately V-shaped cross section. Such a cross-sectional shape enables particularly easy and quick demolding of the guarantee closure from an axially ejecting injection molding tool.

In order to additionally ensure the stability and support function of these locking elements 8, a support projection 6a is provided on the inner wall of the guarantee band 6, on which the support surface 12 can be supported. In the embodiment according to FIG. 7 encloses the support surface 12 with the retention surface 14 at an angle of approximately 60 °. Due to the arrangement of the hinge element 7, the locking element 8 can be pivoted from the first closed position I into the second open position II by approximately 180 °.

Figure 8 shows a modified embodiment in which the support surface 12 of the locking elements 8 is designed as a cam-like projection which can be supported in a corresponding recess 6b of the guarantee band 6. The guarantee band 6 shown in FIG. 8 is not connected to the cap jacket 4 by individual material webs 5 but by a very thin, continuous material skin 5b (over 360 °).

Figure 9 shows a top view of the guarantee tape (from below). It can be seen from this that the joint elements 7 for fastening the locking elements 8 to the guarantee band 6 each extend over the entire length of the locking elements 8. Both the hinge elements 7 and the locking elements 8 are shaped as circular segments and run coaxially with the guarantee band 6.

FIG. 10, on the other hand, shows an embodiment in which the locking elements 8 are each connected to the guarantee band 6 on both sides by a joint element 7a, 7b. This design allows particularly easy pivoting of the locking elements 8 when applied to a container neck.

In addition, the blocking elements 8 in the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 10 are straight and not designed as circular segments.

The exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 11 shows the schematic representation of a locking element 8, which is arranged by means of a centrally arranged, web-like articulated element 7c is connected to the guarantee band 6.

In the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 12, a multiplicity of relatively narrow locking elements 8 are provided, wherein in addition to the predetermined breaking points 5 shown in FIGS allow radial tearing of the guarantee band 6.

In the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 13, a protrusion 6c is provided on the guarantee band 6 and carries the associated locking element 8 by means of joint element 7. On the one hand, this arrangement allows the guarantee band 6 to be made particularly thin and, on the other hand, increases the pivoting angle of the locking elements 8 from the first closing position I into the second opening position II (FIG. 6).

The exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 14 shows a modified version of the locking element 8 from FIG. 8. The support surface 12b is shaped like a hook so that it can snap into the corresponding recess 6c. If the locking element 8 is bent downward by turning the guarantee lock 1 or another manipulation, the locking element fixes in its lower position. This increases security against manipulation.

The exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 15 shows a modified version of the guarantee band 6. The guarantee band 6 has an outer band 6d which runs downwards from the thin, continuous predetermined breaking point 5b. Furthermore, the guarantee band 6 has an inner band 6e, which is connected to the outside along line 15 and is directed radially inwards, obliquely upwards. Locking elements are attached to the inside of the inner band 6e, as were shown in the exemplary embodiments according to FIGS. 1-14. When mounting these caps on a container can the inner band 6e bend outwards and the locking elements 8 are pivoted upwards and outwards. This determines the larger diameter D1. When the guarantee closure 1 is opened, the locking elements 8 are pivoted inwards downwards, the inner band 6e being able to bend inwards and thus further reducing the free inner diameter defined by the inner surface of the locking elements 8.

The examples given should not be interpreted as a limitation of the invention, since these further modifications and variations are possible. The invention is primarily defined by the following claims and their various possible combinations.

Claims (13)

1. A guarantee closure cap of plastics material for a container, on the neck (9) of which there is provided at least one radially outwardly projecting locking surface (13), comprising a cap end portion (3) and a cylindrical cap wall portion (4) and a tear-off guarantee strip (6) arranged at the lower edge of the cap wall portion (4) and at least one locking element (8) which is connected to the inside surface of the guarantee strip (6) pivotably by a hinge element (7) and which is in engagement with the locking surface (13) when the closure cap is fitted, characterised in that the locking elements (8) have on the one hand an upper retaining surface (14) which in a first position I extends upwardly and radially outwardly from the hinge elements, in which case the locking elements (8) define an enlarged inside diameter D1, and on the other hand a lower support surface (12) which in a second position II bears against the inside surface of the guarantee strip beneath the hinge element, in which case the locking elements (8) define a smaller inside diameter D2.
2. A guarantee closure cap according to claim 1 characterised in that before the closure cap is fitted the locking elements (8) project radially inwardly in an intermediate position (N) between their upper position (I) and their lower position (II).
3. A guarantee closure cap according to claim 1 or claim 2 characterised in that the locking elements (8) are pivotable between the first position and the second position through an angle of at least 100°.
4. A guarantee closure cap according to claim 3 characterised in that the locking elements (8) are pivotable between the first and the second positions in an angle of at least 140°.
5. A guarantee closure cap according to claim 4 characterised in that the locking elements (8) are pivotable between the first and the second positions through an angle of about 160° to 180°.
6. A guarantee closure cap according to one of claims 1 to 5 characterised in that the retaining surface (14) and the support surface (12) include an angle of at least 60°.
7. A guarantee closure cap according to claim 6 characterised in that the retaining surface (14) and the support surface (12) include an angle of about 70° to 100°.
8. A guarantee closure cap according to one of claims 1 to 7 characterised in that the hinge element (7) has at least one flexible material bridge portion connecting the guarantee strip (6) to a locking element (8).
9. A guarantee closure cap according to one of claims 1 to 8 characterised in that as viewed in plan the locking elements (8) are in the shape of a segment of a circle, the circle of which extends coaxially with the guarantee strip (6).
10. A guarantee closure cap according to one of claims 1 to 8 characterised in that as viewed in plan the locking elements (8) extend approximately rectilinearly.
11. A guarantee closure cap according to one of claims 1 to 10 characterised in that the guarantee strip has both an outer strip (6d) and an inner strip (6e) which is directed inwardly upwardly from the lower edge of the outer strip (6d) and that the locking elements (8) are disposed on the inner strip (6e).
12. A guarantee closure cap according to one of claims 1 to 11 characterised in that the support surface (12) of the locking elements (8) is in the form of a dog-like projection which can be supported in a corresponding recess (6b) in the guarantee strip.
13. A guarantee closure cap according to claim 12 characterised in that the dog-like projection of the support surface (12) is shaped in a hook-like configuration so that it can engage into a corresponding recess (6c).

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