EP0810952A1

EP0810952A1 - Closure cap with retaining strip

Info

Publication number: EP0810952A1
Application number: EP96900823A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Udo Bösl; Michael Kirchgessner
Original assignee: Crown Cork AG
Current assignee: Crown Cork AG
Priority date: 1995-02-21
Filing date: 1996-02-01
Publication date: 1997-12-10
Anticipated expiration: 2016-02-01
Also published as: CA2210633A1; CN1175930A; IL116937A; EP0810952B1; ZA961311B; HUP9702245A3; HUP9702245A2; AU4479996A; AU701971B2; AR001541A1; JPH11500091A; KR19980702295A; US5725115A; BR9607515A; IL116937A0; NZ300142A; WO1996026122A1; KR19987002295A; MX9706346A; DE59600869D1

Abstract

A captive closure cap is retained to the neck of a container by a retaining strip (5). A retaining ring (3) engages with a bead (4) around the opening of the container when the closure cap is set on the container. The cap wall (2) is firmly secured to said retaining ring (3) by the retaining strip (5). The retaining ring (3) forms at the same time a warranty seal for the closure cap. In the original state, the retaining strip (5) extends between the cap wall (2) and the retaining ring (3) around the circumference of the closure cap and is linked by breaking webs (14, 14a) both to the retaining ring and to the cap wall lower edge. In order to reduce the risk of said breaking webs (14, 14a) being destroyed while the closure cap is mounted and at the same time to ensure that the retaining ring (3) firmly retains a closure cap on the opening of the container, the retaining ring is provided with several latchets (8) that project radially inwards from its inner surface and that extend upwards against the cap bottom (1) when the closure cap is set on the container, engaging with the bead (4) around the container opening.

Description

Cap with tether

The invention relates to a closure cap with a tether, according to the preamble of claim 1. In such closure caps, a retaining ring is arranged at the lower edge of the cap wall, which engages under a bead on the container mouth when the closure cap is attached. When the container is opened, only the upper cap part is removed, while the lower retaining ring remains firmly connected to the container mouth. An elongated tether connects the retaining ring to the lower edge of the cap wall, so that the cap remains connected to the tether even after the container has been opened and cannot be lost.

As a rule, such tether straps are used to captively bind screw caps to a container. But also other caps such as Snap locks can be equipped with a tether and a retaining ring to prevent the cap from being lost. At the same time, the catching strap substantially reduces the risk of injury when the closure cap is pressed off. With a screw cap, such a situation can e.g. then occur if the cap is accidentally rotated in the wrong direction when opening the container, so that the thread snaps over. If the container is under pressure, e.g. in the case of carbonated beverages, the cap can be pressed directly from the mouth of the container when the thread is snapped on. Due to the tether, however, the closure cap cannot fly away or is at least inhibited in acceleration, even if the tether breaks. The risk of injury is thus significantly reduced.

The longer the tether, the easier it is When the container is open, move the removable cap part out of the area of the mouth opening so that handling of the container, such as pouring out the contents of the container, is not hindered. In the case of screw caps, a certain length of the tether is also necessary in order to enable the container to be opened at all, since the screw cap must be moved vertically upward when unscrewing. The tether is arranged so that it runs along the circumference of the cap between the cap wall and the retaining ring when the cap is in place. In this arrangement, the maximum length of the tether is limited by the circumference of the closure cap.

The retaining ring is also used as a guarantee ring, which indicates the opening of the container for the first time. For this purpose, the retaining ring is connected to the lower edge of the cap wall by predetermined breaking bars. When the container is opened for the first time, these predetermined breaking bars are destroyed, so that it is visible from the outside that the container has already been opened. For this purpose, two rows of predetermined breaking bars are preferably provided in the area of the tether, a first between the retaining ring and the lower edge of the tether and a second row of predetermined breaking bars between the upper edge of the tether and the lower edge of the cap wall. As a rule, the tether has an upper and a lower side surface, the upper side surface being connected to the lower edge of the cap wall by predetermined breaking webs and the lower side surface being connected to the retaining ring by predetermined breaking webs. Normally, the tether has the same height over its entire length, only the two side surfaces are slightly inclined in the radial direction in order to make it easier for the closure cap to be removed during manufacture.

DE-Al-24 30 775 shows a captive bottle cap of the type described above. The cap consists of a screwable upper part and a lower collar, one Bead engages behind the container mouth. The upper threaded part of the cap is connected to the lower collar via an easily tearable, cylindrical tongue. This tongue extends over the entire circumference and is connected to the upper part and the lower collar via two rows of connecting prongs. This cylindrical tongue is interrupted at one point on the circumference, so that it has two ends, one of which is firmly connected to the screwable cap part and the other is firmly connected to the lower collar (retaining ring). It therefore gives the upper part of the cap the property of captivity, since the lower collar is firmly anchored to the container.

Sealing caps with a tether are often used instead of the widespread standard sealing caps with a conventional guarantee ring for closing container shapes that have been known for a long time. The structure and the dimensions of the closure cap with a tether is therefore essentially determined by the container shapes which have existed for a long time. This also applies in particular to the placement process on containers, in which the guarantee band and in this case the retaining ring must be pressed over a bead, individual projections or other retaining elements. Due to the specified dimensioning of the retaining ring, the danger cannot be ruled out in the known sealing caps with a tether that the retaining ring can be pushed over the bulge at the container mouth when the container is first opened and removed from the container together with the upper cap part. There is therefore a risk that the function of the retaining ring is not reliably guaranteed, both in terms of the guarantee function and in terms of the holding function in combination with the tether. Another problem is the additional predetermined tear line, which is caused by the arrangement of the tether between the retaining ring and the lower edge of the cap wall. The well-known danger in guarantee rings that the predetermined breaking webs breaking the first time the cap is screwed on is additionally increased.

It is an object of the invention to provide a closure cap with a retaining ring and a tether, the retaining ring of which can be pushed over the bulge of the mouth of the container when the closure cap is first installed without endangering the predetermined breaking webs and which subsequently holds securely on the container mouth . This object is achieved according to the invention by a closure cap with the features of claim 1.

The retaining ring of this closure cap has a plurality of tongues protruding radially inwards from its inner surface, which tongues are directed upwards against the cap base when the closure cap is in place and engage under the bulge at the container mouth. These tongues are only connected to the retaining ring at one end and their free end can be pivoted in the radial direction relative to the guarantee band. These tongues can therefore be swiveled outwards in the radial direction if they slide over the bead on the container mouth when the closure cap is first assembled. The load on the retaining ring and its tear-off connection to the cap wall that occurs in this way can thus be significantly reduced .

With regard to the holding function, these tongues also have advantages over the retaining elements rigidly connected to the retaining ring, which were previously used in combination with tether straps. If the cap of a container is raised, the retaining elements of the retaining ring are pressed against the bulge of the container mouth, which leads to a load and deformation of the retaining ring. This is particularly strong in the case of caps with a tether, since the retaining ring of these caps has a relatively low height. In particular, the load on the restraint Elements a rotation of the ring cross-section, which in the case of retaining elements rigidly connected to the retaining ring leads to them tilting downward and thus releasing the retaining ring or at least facilitating stripping of the retaining ring. Deformation of the retaining ring cannot be prevented entirely by the inwardly directed tongues. The tongues have the advantage, however, that their free end can move largely independently of the retaining ring, so that the tongues also stand securely against the bulge of the container mouth when the retaining ring is deformed.

In order to obtain sufficient space for the tether with the smallest possible height, a retaining ring is preferably used, the vertical height of which is at most three times its radial thickness. A retaining ring with such a small cross-section has the disadvantage that it can be deformed more easily, but the guarantee function can nevertheless be reliably guaranteed by using the retaining elements already mentioned in the form of tongues projecting radially inwards. By further reducing the height of the guarantee ring, additional material can be saved and at the same time more space can be created for the arrangement of the tether. A retaining ring is therefore particularly preferably used, the vertical height of which in the area of the tether is at most twice its radial thickness. Even a retaining ring with an approximately square cross-section is reliably held on the mouth of the container by the inwardly directed tongues. This is still very possible even with a retaining ring with an approximately square cross-section; on the one hand, the low design of the retaining ring allows material to be introduced save and on the other hand there is more space for the arrangement of the tether.

Another advantage of the low design of the retaining ring is that the tongues, which are directed against the base of the cap when the closure cap is in place, extend over the upper edge of the retaining ring can extend upwards. By suitable dimensioning and arrangement of the tongues, an arrangement is even possible in which the steeply upwardly directed tongues extend upward beyond the lower side surface of the tether arranged along the circumference of the cap. The tongues assume a steeply upward position during the initial assembly of the closure cap when they slide over the bead of the container mouth. They are pressed outwards in the radial direction by the bead. If the tongues extend into the area of the tether, this has the advantage that the tongues lie against the inner surface of the tether in the critical phase of the screwing-on process, when they slide over the bead of the container mouth. In the case of screw caps, the maximum load on the predetermined breaking webs occurs in this critical phase, since the retaining ring is braked by the tongues resting on the bulge of the container mouth and therefore a relatively strong torque must be transmitted from the cap wall to the retaining ring. The tongues resting on the inner surface of the tether strap bridge the gap between the tether strap and the retaining ring and thus relieve the predetermined breaking webs arranged between these two elements, since part of the torque is transmitted via the tongues themselves.

The tongues can be arranged along the retaining ring in different ways. In particular, the distance between tongues arranged next to one another can be selected differently. In a preferred embodiment variant, the tongues are arranged closely next to one another along the retaining ring. The lateral edges of tongues arranged next to one another are connected to one another in an articulated manner by a flexible material bridge. In this way, a longer tongue band consisting of several tongues is created. This ensures that the tongues hold each other in their position so that they no longer pivot so easily can be. This is advantageous if the closure cap is cast in a mold in which the tongues are directed downwards away from the base of the cap. This position of the tongues is preferred for casting the closure cap, since the cap can be removed from the mold better after the casting. However, the tongues would then have to be pivoted inward from their downward position. This is preferably done in a separate operation before the closure cap is put on. However, the tongues generally have a tendency to return to their original, cast position. One way to avoid this is to connect tongues arranged next to one another, as has already been described above. The tongues then hold each other in their inner, directed against the bottom of the cap.

If individual tongues arranged at a distance from one another are used, they can be fixed in another way in their position directed against the base of the cap, e.g. by briefly applying heat after the tongues have been pivoted into this position. A possible alternative is to swivel the tongues inwards through the mouth of the container as soon as the cap is put on. However, this usually requires a specially designed container mouth.

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

FIG. 1 shows a container mouth with a screwed off closure cap,

FIG. 2 shows the sectional view of a container mouth with the closure cap attached,

3 shows the container mouth of FIG. 2 at the beginning of the opening. process,

FIG. 4 shows the side view of a closure cap with a retaining ring and a tether,

FIG. 5 shows the sectional view of a screw cap according to level A-A in FIG. 6,

FIG. 6 shows the retaining ring of the screw cap shown in FIG. 5 according to section plane B-B,

FIG. 7 shows a sectional illustration of the screw cap already shown in FIG. 5 with the tongues pointing downward, and

8 shows the sectional view of a further screw cap with a plurality of tongues arranged at a distance from one another.

FIG. 1 shows a container mouth with a screwed-off cap. The removable cap part consists of a cap base 1 and a cap wall 2 connected thereto. This is connected to a retaining ring 3 by a tether 5. The retaining ring 3 has on its inner surface radially inwardly projecting tongues 8 which engage under a bead 4 at the container mouth. It goes without saying that the screw cap cannot hover in the position shown, it must be held by a hand that is not drawn. After opening, it is removed from the area of the mouth opening and then hangs in a position not shown below the retaining ring 3. One end 6 of the tether 5 is fixed to the lower edge of the cap wall

2 connected and the other end 7 is fixed to the retaining ring

3 connected. Before the retaining ring is torn off, the tether runs between the cap wall and the retaining ring along the circumference of the closure cap. The catch shown here band 5 extends only over part of the circumference of the cap. The upper side surface of the tether 5 is connected to the lower edge of the cap wall by predetermined breaking webs 14 and the lower side surface of the limiting strap 5 is connected to the retaining ring 3 by predetermined breaking webs 14a. Outside the tether area, the retaining ring 3 is connected directly to the lower edge of the cap wall by predetermined breaking webs 14b.

In Figure 2, the sectional view of a container mouth is shown with the cap attached. The retaining ring 3 of this closure cap has a plurality of tongues 8 directed radially inwards against the cap base 1, of which only two can be seen in this sectional view. These engage under a bead 4 of the container mouth. The tongues 8 are connected to the retaining ring 3 only at one end by an articulated connection 17. This articulated connection 17 makes it possible to pivot the free end of the tongues 8 in the radial direction, so that this can give way radially outwards in particular when the closure cap is put on for the first time if it slides over the bead at the container mouth. The hinge connection 17 is preferably arranged at the lower edge of the retaining ring 3, but in principle it would also be possible for the retaining ring to extend downward beyond the connection point of the hinge connection 17.

Arranged between the retaining ring 3 and the cap wall 2 is a tether 5 which has two approximately parallel side surfaces 12, 13. Only in the radial direction are the two side surfaces 12, 13 usually inclined slightly to one another (not shown) in order to facilitate the removal of the mold from the closure cap during manufacture. The upper side surface 12 of the tether 5 is connected to the lower edge 15 of the cap wall by predetermined breaking webs 14 and the lower side surface 13 of the limiting strap 5 is connected to the holding ring 3 connected. In the area of the tether 5, the vertical height 9 of the retaining ring 3 is less than three times its radial thickness 10. Due to the low height of the retaining ring 3, space for the arrangement of the tether 5 is gained between the retaining ring and the cap wall.

The tongues 8 extend beyond the lower side surface 13 of the tether 5 upwards. If the tongues 8 are pressed radially outwards by the bead 4 of the container mouth when the closure cap is put on for the first time, they therefore lie against the inner surface 16 of the tether 5, which leads to a relief of the lower predetermined breaking webs 14a during assembly, which connect the tether 5 to the retaining ring 3.

The relatively low cross-sectional height 9 of the retaining ring 3 leads to the retaining ring being deformed when the tongues 8 are loaded. This can be seen from FIG. 3, in which the container mouth of FIG. 2 is shown at the beginning of the opening process. When unscrewing the cap, the tongues 8 are loaded by a force 18. This force 18 acts on the retaining ring 3, which due to its relatively small cross-sectional height 9 is rotated, in particular in the area of the tether 5, and is bent outwards. The rotation of the retaining ring cross section by the angle .alpha. With retaining elements firmly connected to the retaining ring 3 would result in these being pivoted downward. This can be effectively prevented by using the movable tongues 8, so that the retaining ring 3 is reliably held on the mouth of the container despite its relatively small ring cross section. FIG. 4 shows the side view of a closure cap with retaining ring 3 and tether 5. In this embodiment, the tether 5 extends only over a portion of the cap circumference. In principle, however, a longer tether could be used, which extends practically over the entire circumference of the closure cap stretches.

FIG. 5 shows the sectional view of a screw cap according to section plane A-A in FIG. 6. The tongues 8a shown in this exemplary embodiment are folded symmetrically inwards towards the middle of the tongue, which gives them greater pressure resistance than flat tongues. The tongues 8a are arranged close to one another and connected by flexible material bridges 16 to form a circumferential, inner tongue band. This can also be clearly seen in FIG. 6, in which the retaining ring of the screw cap shown in FIG. 5 is shown from above in a view according to section plane B-B. However, the connecting bridges 16 can also be dispensed with, so that tongues arranged next to one another are independent of one another.

FIG. 7 shows the screw cap already shown in FIG. 5 with the tongues pointing downward and away from the cap base. The tongues are preferably cast in this position and then folded in a separate operation into their inner position directed against the base of the cap. In this context, it is advantageous if the tongues, as shown in this example, are arranged close to each other. After the tongues have been pivoted inwards, the tongues arranged closely next to one another can hold one another in this position. If the tongues were arranged at a greater distance from one another, they would have a tendency to return to their original downward position (produced by casting). This can be prevented particularly effectively if the lateral edges of tongues arranged next to one another are connected to one another in an articulated manner by a flexible material bridge 16 (FIG. 5).

FIG. 8 shows the sectional illustration of an alternative embodiment variant, in which individual tongues 8b are distributed at equal intervals along the circumference of the guarantee ring are arranged. The tongues 8b can either be cast in the position shown or in a downward position analogous to FIG. 3, in which case they must first be folded inwards before the closure cap is installed. In the example shown here, only six tongues are arranged distributed along the circumference of the guarantee band. However, a larger number of tongues is preferably used, which are then arranged correspondingly more densely, ie with smaller distances, distributed around the circumference.

Claims

claims

1. Cap for closing a container mouth, with a cap base (1) and a cap wall (2) adjoining it, on the lower edge of which a retaining ring (3) is arranged, which, when the cap is attached, has a retaining element, in particular a bead ( 4) engages under the container mouth, and with a tether (5), one end (6) of which is firmly connected to the lower edge of the cap wall and the other end (7) of which is firmly connected to the retaining ring (3), the tether (5) runs between the cap wall and the retaining ring along the circumference of the closure cap, characterized in that the retaining ring (3) has a plurality of tongues (8) which protrude radially inward from its inner surface and which, when the closure cap is attached, face upwards against the cap base (1) are directed to engage the retaining element (4) at the container mouth.

2. Cap according to claim 1, characterized in that the vertical height (9) of the retaining ring (3) is at most three times its radial thickness (10).

3. Cap according to claim 2, characterized in that the retaining ring (3) has an approximately square cross section.

4. A closure cap according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the tongues (8), which are directed against the base of the cap when the closure cap is in place, extend upward beyond the upper edge (11) of the retaining ring (3).

5. Cap according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the retaining ring (3) by target break webs (14a) with the tether (5) and / or the lower edge of the cap wall (2) is connected.

6. Cap according to one of claims 1 to 6, da¬ characterized in that the tether (5) by Soll¬ break webs (14) is connected to the lower edge of the cap wall (2).

7. Cap according to one of claims 5 or 6, characterized in that the upwardly directed tongues (8) extend upward beyond the lower side surface (13) of the tether (5) arranged along the circumference of the cap that they can be pressed onto the inner surface (16) of the tether (5) and / or the cap wall (2) when the closure cap is placed on, and at least partially cover the predetermined breaking webs (14, 14a).

8. Cap according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the tongues (8a) along the retaining ring (3a) are arranged closely next to one another and the side edges of tongues arranged next to one another are connected to one another in an articulated manner by a flexible material bridge (16) are.

CHANGED REQUIREMENTS

[Received at the International Bureau on July 5, 1996 (July 5, 1996), original claims 1-8 replaced by new claims 1-7 (3 pages)].

1. Cap for closing a container mouth, with a cap base (1) and a cap wall (2) adjoining it, on the lower edge of which a retaining ring (3) is arranged, which, when the cap is attached, has a retaining element, in particular a bead ( 4) engages under the container mouth, and with a tether (5), one end (6) of which is firmly connected to the lower edge of the cap wall and the other end (7) of which is firmly connected to the retaining ring (3), the tether (5) runs between the cap wall and the retaining ring along the circumference of the closure cap, characterized in that the retaining ring (3) has a plurality of tongues (8) which protrude radially inward from its inner surface and which, when the closure cap is attached, face upwards against the cap base (1) are directed in order to engage under the retaining element (4) at the container mouth and that the tongue directed against the base of the cap when the closure cap is in place n (8) over the top edge (11) of the retaining ring (3) extend upwards.

2. Cap for closing a container mouth, with a cap base (1) and a cap wall (2) adjoining it, on the lower edge of which a retaining ring (3) is arranged, which, when the cap is attached, has a retaining element, in particular a bead ( 4) engages under the container mouth, and with a tether (5), one end (6) of which is firmly connected to the lower edge of the cap wall and the other end (7) of which is firmly connected to the retaining ring (3), the tether (5) runs between the cap wall and the retaining ring along the circumference of the closure cap characterized in that the retaining ring (3) has a plurality of tongues (8) which protrude radially inward from its inner surface and which, when the closure cap is attached, are directed upwards against the cap base (1), around the retaining element (4) at the container mouth to grip, the retaining ring (3) being connected to the tether (5) and / or the lower edge of the cap wall (2) by predetermined breaking webs (14a).

3. Cap according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the vertical height (9) of the retaining ring (3) is at most three times its radial thickness (10).

4. Cap according to claim 3, characterized in that the retaining ring (3) has an approximately square cross section.

5. Cap according to one of claims 1 to 4, da¬ characterized in that the tether (5) by Soll¬ break webs (14) is connected to the lower edge of the cap wall (2).

6. A closure cap according to claim 5, characterized in that the upwardly directed tongues (8) extend upward beyond the lower side surface (13) of the tether (5) arranged along the circumference of the cap, so that when the closure cap is put on the Inner surface (16) of the tether (5) and / or the Kappen¬ wall (2) can be pressed and thereby at least partially cover the predetermined breaking webs (14, 14a).

7. Cap according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the tongues (8a) along the retaining ring (3a) are arranged closely next to each other and the side edges are arranged next to each other Tongues are articulated together by a flexible material bridge (16).