EP0755349B1 - Sealing cap with a guarantee strip - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a cap with a tearable Guarantee tape according to the preamble of claim 1. With such caps, the condition of the Guarantee bands recognize whether the container has already been opened has been. When the cap is on, this grips under Guarantee tape a bead at the container mouth, making it at least partially when opening the container for the first time tears off.

Guarantee tapes are particularly common for screw caps used, especially with screw caps for closing of beverage containers. But also other types of caps, such as. Snap locks, can with one tearable guarantee tape.

As a rule, are used to close disposable containers Caps with an all-round guarantee band used, which after opening the Remains on the neck of the container. Against that Guarantee tape preferred for closures of reusable containers connected to the cap wall in such a way that when the Container only partially tears off and therefore always with the Cap wall remains connected. With this variant, too often uses a shorter guarantee band that just extends over part of the circumference of the cap wall.

The tearable connection between the guarantee tape and the Cap wall can be designed in many different ways which is widely documented in the relevant patent literature are. For sealing caps which are made of one piece of plastic are made, the guarantee tape is special often due to tear-off connecting webs with the lower one Edge of the cap wall connected.

Latching means are arranged on the inner surface of the guarantee band, which with a cap attached to a bead reach under the container mouth. Often become rigid locking elements connected to the guarantee tape are used. At these locking elements become the assembly of the sealing cap pressed radially outwards when they are over the bead on the Container mouth are pushed. Because the locking elements are rigid connected to the guarantee band, this leads at the same time to a deformation of the guarantee band and thus to a Load on the tearable connection between the guarantee tape and the cap wall. With screw caps this load is additionally caused by shear forces between the Cap wall and through the on the bead of the container mouth adjacent locking device braked guarantee ring reinforced. in EP-A2 117 104 has therefore already been proposed by Radially inward protruding inside of the guarantee band To use tongues as locking means when attached Cap upwards, directed against the bottom of the cap and reach under the bead at the mouth of the container. This Tongues are only at one end with the guarantee band connected and its free end is relative in the radial direction pivotable to the guarantee band. These tongues can therefore be pivoted outwards in the radial direction, if they are over when the cap is installed for the first time slide the bead on the container mouth. The one that occurs Loading of the guarantee tape and its tearable Connection with the cap wall can thus be significantly reduced become.

A problem with the known tongues is their lack of strength, especially the lack of pressure resilience in Longitudinal direction of the tongues. This load occurs when opening the cap, or when trying to Pull the guarantee tape over the bead of the container mouth without tearing it off. The well-known tongues are in bent in the longitudinal direction, resulting in a reduced locking effect which results in tongues. In extreme cases, this can cause the tongues to rest against the bulge of the container mouth leave the directed locking position and assume a downward position away from the base of the cap.

From WO 94/14673 is a sealing cap with a guarantee band known that a zigzag-shaped retaining element having. The retaining element consists of a plurality of Tongues through a thin, flexible joint be held together. The tongues are along a center line curved. The curvature is designed such that the middle of the tongue forming the thickest part of the tongue at tongues directed towards the top of the container is. Therefore, the area with which the tongues are under reach under a retaining bead, relatively low.

It is therefore an object of the invention, the resilience to further improve the already known tongues and the The tongues engage under a bulge at the container mouth to improve. According to the invention, this object is achieved by a Closure cap with the features of claim 1 solved.

The middle of the tongue are thicker than the side Edge areas of the tongues. The lateral edge areas of the tongues directed against the cap bottom become inward directed that they have at least one place have a smaller distance to the cap axis than the center of the tongue. For this, the surfaces facing the cap axis must be of the tongues directed against the base of the cap on at least have a point of curvature, the radius of curvature is smaller than the distance between the tongue and the cap axis. The tongues are preferably symmetrical to the middle of the tongue trained, particularly good results were obtained with Tongues folded symmetrically to the middle of the tongue. The previously mentioned curvature is also in the Area of the middle of the tongue.

The curvature of the tongues makes their resilience essential elevated. The load in the longitudinal direction, in particular Bend occurring when the cap is opened the tongue is greatly reduced by its curved shape. The stability of the tongues can be further improved, if the middle of the tongue is thicker than the lateral edge areas of the tongues are formed. Most of the Forces acting on a tongue are then replaced by the thicker ones Transfer the middle of the tongue. Because the middle of the tongue is a bigger one Has a distance to the cap axis as its lateral edge areas this has the added benefit of being the point of attack the main force radially outwards, near the Guarantee band is shifted. The bending stress on the tongues is further reduced.

The tongues are preferably designed so that their against the Bead of the container mouth facing the cap axis is inclined. This ensures that the radial Areas of this end face lying further inside in the vertical direction further down and thus further from Cap base are removed than their radially further outside lying areas. When the cap is on thus the radially outer area of the tongue on the bead of the The mouth of the container, whereas the lower one, radially inner part of the tongue below the bead on the Creates the neck of the container. The curved inner surface lies against it two places, left and right of the middle of the tongue, at the Outer surface of the container neck. The are preferred End faces of the tongues stronger than one perpendicular to neutral The normal plane of the respective tongue Cap axis inclined.

In a preferred embodiment, each of the Tongues from a left and a right half of the tongue, the meet at an angle in the middle of the tongue is therefore a folded symmetrically to the middle of the tongue Tongue. The angle at which the two tongue halves in the middle meet is preferably about 120 °. But even if this angle is only slightly below the 180 ° limit there is always a place to the left and right of the middle of the tongue, at which their distance to the cap axis is smaller than in the middle of the tongue itself.

The tongue halves of those facing the bottom of the cap Tongues each have an inner, facing the cap axis Surface and an outer, directed against the guarantee band Boundary surface. The tongue halves are preferred in this way designed that their inner and outer boundary surface to Divide the middle of the tongue at an angle of 5 ° to 30 °. This ensures that the middle of the tongue is thicker is than the lateral edge areas of the tongue. This will the resilient effect of the tongues in the radial direction supports: if the tongues when installing the sealing cap pushed over the bulge of the container mouth are initially their thinner, lateral edge areas on the bead. When continuing the touchdown movement on the one hand, the entire free end of the tongue is radial swiveled outside, but the tongue is also in bent up and its thinner, lateral edge areas are also outwards in relation to the middle of the tongue shifted.

The tongues can be along the Guarantee tape can be arranged. In particular, the distance different between tongues arranged side by side to get voted. In a preferred embodiment variant the tongues close together along the guarantee band arranged. The side edges from side by side tongues are arranged by a flexible material bridge articulated together. In this way creates a longer one, consisting of several tongues Tongue tape. This ensures that the tongues are mutual hold in position so they are no longer like that can be pivoted easily. This is an advantage if the cap is poured in a mold in which the Tongues facing downwards, away from the base of the cap. This The position of the tongues is used to pour the cap preferred, as the cap can be removed from the mold better after casting leaves. However, the tongues must then come out of their downward position can be pivoted inwards. This is preferably done in a separate operation before putting on the sealing cap. Have the tongues but basically the tendency to go back to their original, return cast position. One way around Avoiding this now consists of placing them side by side Connect tongues together, as already mentioned above has been described. The tongues then hold each other in their inner, directed against the cap bottom Location.

Are individual, spaced tongues used, they can be used in a different way in their against the Fixed to the base of the cap, e.g. by brief heat supply after the tongues in this position were pivoted. A possible alternative is the tongues directly when the cap is put on to pivot the container mouth inwards. Is to however, usually a specially designed container mouth required.

A circumferential guarantee ring is preferred as the guarantee band used with the tongues evenly along the circumference the guarantee rings are distributed.

Figur 1

die Schnittdarstellung einer erfindungsgemässen Verschlusskappe gemäss Schnittebene B-B in Figur 2.

Figur 2

Das Garantieband der in Figur 1 dargestellten Verschlusskappe von oben, gemäss Ebene A-A in Figur 1,

Figur 3

die Schnittdarstellung der bereits in Figur 1 gezeigten Verschlusskappe mit nach unten gerichteten Zungen,

Figur 4

die Schnittdarstellung einer weiteren Verschlusskappe mit mehreren im Abstand voneinander angeordneten Zungen und

Figur 5

eine auf eine Behältermündung aufgesetzte Verschlusskappe.

The invention is explained in more detail below on the basis of exemplary embodiments. Show it:

Figure 1

the sectional view of a closure cap according to the invention according to section plane BB in Figure 2.

Figure 2

The guarantee band of the closure cap shown in FIG. 1 from above, according to level AA in FIG. 1,

Figure 3

2 shows the sectional view of the closure cap already shown in FIG. 1 with the tongues pointing downwards,

Figure 4

the sectional view of a further closure cap with a plurality of spaced tongues and

Figure 5

a closure cap placed on a container mouth.

The closure cap shown in Figure 1 has one Cap base 1, an adjoining cap wall 2 and a Tearable located at the bottom of the cap wall Guarantee band 3 on. The guarantee band 3 is through predetermined breaking bars 4 integrally connected to the cap wall 2. In which here guaranteed band 3 is a revolving Guarantee ring. This is shown in one in FIG from above, according to the sectional plane drawn in FIG. 1 A-A shown. From the inside surface of the guarantee ring 3, several tongues 5 extend radially inwards. This one tongues 5 shown are arranged close to each other and through flexible material bridges 17 to a circumferential inner tongue band connected. On these connecting bridges 17 can also be dispensed with, so that side by side arranged tongues are independent of each other.

The tongues 5 are only at one end by an articulated connection 19 connected to the guarantee ring 3. This articulation 19 allows the free end of the tongues 5 in radial direction to pivot, so this in particular when the cap is put on radially for the first time on the outside if it is over the bulge at the mouth of the container slides. The hinge connection 19 is preferably on arranged at the bottom of the guarantee ring, in principle however, it is also possible that the guarantee ring will cover the Connection point of the articulation 19 downwards extends.

In the left half of Figure 1 is a section through a The middle of the tongue is shown, whereas in the right half of the Figure 1 shows a section through the edge region of a tongue becomes. This is also from the section plane B-B in Figure 2 evident. The lateral edge areas 7 against the Cap bottom 1 directed tongues 5 are inward directed that they have a smaller in their edge area Have a distance 9 from the cap axis than the tongue center 8.

The lateral edge areas 7 are symmetrical to Tongue center 8 folded inwards. The tongues 5 are thus in the Area of the tongue center 8 curved, which increases the pressure resistance the tongue is significantly increased. They are also Tongue centers 8 thicker than the lateral edge areas 7 of the Tongues trained. This ensures that the largest Part of the forces acting on the tongues through the middle of the tongue is transmitted. The mechanical stability of the tongues is further increased.

The thinner edge regions 7 give the tongues one in itself spring action, which is the spring action of the articulation 19 additionally supported. When putting on for the first time the sealing cap is initially the lateral edge areas 7 of the tongues on the bead of the container mouth. Becomes the unscrewing movement continues, so they pivot individual tongues 5 einersetis around their hinge 19 radially outwards. In addition, the tongues 5 also have a resilient effect on the bulge of the container mouth adjacent edge regions 7 of the tongues are relative to the tongue centers 8 pressed radially outwards.

The individual tongues each consist of two tongue halves 7a, 7b, each with an inner boundary surface 14 and one inner boundary surface 15. The tongue halves meet in the middle together at an angle β of approx. 120 °. The boundary surfaces 14, 15 of the tongue halves go to the middle of the tongue apart at an angle (γ) of approx. 15 °, see above that the middle of the tongue 8 thicker than the lateral edge areas 7 of the tongues is.

The end faces 11 directed against the cap base 1 Tongues 5 are stronger than an angle α by an angle normal plane to the neutral fiber 12 of the respective tongue 18 inclined towards the cap axis 13. This will make the Height difference between the radially outward Tongue center 8 and the inward edge regions 7 the tongues additionally reinforced. Because of this height difference the middle of the tongue lies when the cap is on 8 on the underside of the bead 6 (Figure 5). On the other hand are the lateral edge regions 7 of the tongues 5 below of the bead 6 on the outer surface 20 of the container neck.

Figure 3 shows the closure cap already shown in Figure 1 in a down position from the bottom of the cap tongues 5a directed away. The tongues are preferred in poured this position and then in a separate Working in their inner, directed against the cap bottom Folded position. In this context, it is advantageous if the tongues, as shown in this example, are close together are arranged. After the tongues inside were given away, can be arranged close to each other Hold tongues in this position. If the tongues were arranged at a greater distance from one another, so they would have a tendency to go back to their original (created by casting) downward position to return. This can be prevented particularly effectively, when the side edges are arranged side by side Tongues articulated by a flexible material bridge 17 (Figure 1) are interconnected.

Figure 4 shows the sectional view of an alternative Variant in which individual tongues are spaced equally distributed along the circumference of the guarantee ring are. For the basic function and effect of this Tongue also applies here as for the ones shown in FIG. interconnected tongues. The tongues 5b can either in the position shown or in an analogous to FIG. 3 is poured downward position, then before installing the cap have to be folded inwards. The one shown here Example are only six tongues along the circumference of the Guarantee band distributed. However, one is preferred larger number of tongues used, which then accordingly denser, that is, with smaller distances along the To be distributed circumferentially.

Claims (7)

1. A closure cap for closing a container mouth having a cap end portion (1) and a cap wall (2) which adjoins same and at the lower edge of which is arranged an anti-tamper strip (3) which can be torn away, and a plurality of tongues (5) which project radially inwardly from the inside surface of the anti-tamper strip and which when the closure cap is fitted are directed upwardly towards the cap end portion (1) to engage under a bead (6) at the container mouth, characterised in that the tongue centres (8) are thicker than the lateral edge regions (7) and that the lateral edge regions (7) of the tongues (5) which are directed towards the cap end portion (1) are directed inwardly in such a way that at at least one location they are at a smaller spacing (9) relative to the cap axis than the tongue centre (8).
2. A closure cap according to claim 1 characterised in that the end faces (11) of the tongues (5), which end faces are directed towards the bead (6) of the container mouth when the closure cap is fitted on, are inclined towards the cap axis (13) more greatly than a normal plane (18) which is disposed perpendicularly to the neutral fibre (12) of the respective tongue.
3. A closure cap according to one of claims 1 and 2 characterised in that each of the tongues (5) has a left-hand and a right-hand tongue half (7a, 7b), the surfaces of which meet at an angle (β) at the centre (8) of the tongue.
4. A closure cap according to claim 3 characterised in that the surfaces of the tongue halves (7a, 7b) are arranged relative to each other at an obtuse angle (β), preferably an angle of about 120°.
5. A closure cap according to one of claims 3 and 4 characterised in that the inner and outer boundary surfaces (14, 15) of each tongue half (7a, 7b) diverge towards the tongue centre at an angle (γ) of 5° to 30° so that the tongue centre (8) is thicker than the lateral edge regions (7) of the tongue.
6. A closure cap according to one of claims 1 to 5 characterised in that the tongues (5) are arranged in closely mutually juxtaposed relationship along the anti-tamper strip (3) and the lateral edges (16) of mutually juxtaposed tongues are pivotably connected together by a flexible material bridge (17).
7. A closure cap according to one of claims 1 to 6 characterised in that the anti-tamper strip (3) is a peripherally extending anti-tamper ring and the tongues (5) are arranged in a uniformly distributed array along the periphery of the anti-tamper ring.

Images