EP0912412B1 - Screw cap - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention provides a safety seal device which includes a tear-off strip and a band section. The band section is subdivided into circular arc sections and U-shaped sections. The band section is provided with wedge-shaped locking elements. In addition, the band section is joined to the body of the screw cap via first breakaway webs. The U-shaped sections form spring elements in the band section thereby elastically suspending the locking elements. For this reason, the locking elements can elastically give when the screw cap is first screwed on, so that the safety closure cannot be plastically deformed when the screw cap is screwed on, which would jeopardize its security.

Description

The present invention relates to a

Screw cap for closing a container, which Screw cap, a screw cap body and a guarantee band device with a circumferential band section and has a pull tab connected to the same, which section of the band has internal locking members on its inside each with a ramp and a locking surface contains which container at its mouth arranged along its outer circumference, at sealed container with the inner locking members has intermeshing outer locking members, and which Belt section over the first predetermined breaking bars with the screw cap body connected is.

The first closing of such containers in order to snap the locking members into place by a screwing movement between the screw cap and the container. Start when the thread is reached the toothed locking members of the screw cap and of the container to slide over each other, the locking members over their ramp into the locking position slide or snap and a movement in Opening direction by mutual concern of Locking surfaces of the locking members is prevented.

The locking members of the screw cap are open a guarantee tape arranged to open the Container is torn away from the body of the screw cap. In addition, the guarantee band is over webs with the body of the Screw cap connected, which webs when tearing off the Guarantee tape from the screw cap due to the force broken by the user.

If the locking members during the closing movement it snaps over each other inevitably evasive movements of these locking members. During the especially elastic in the case of plastic Deformations occur in locking members of the type mentioned, can also cause permanent plastic deformation occurrence. Conversely, if a relatively soft, i.e. elastic material is used, there is Risk of locking between the locking members is not safe because the locking members at one Dodge the unauthorized unscrewing movement, too can and thus release the screw cap.

Containers, in particular compressible containers and tubes used to dispense e.g. eye drop or nasal drops are elongated Pouring spout, a spout, on. In the preparation of such containers by means of e.g. an injection molding process, the spout is initially closed at its tip and to expose the spout at the tip the tip of the spout was separated by a knife. In order to the spout has a sharp opening Edge that can cause injury. That edge is so far rounded off, among other things, by exposure to heat with the risk that the passage at the spout too narrowed or even melted becomes.

DE-A-22 43 220 discloses a bottle stopper, that of a plastic cap exists, which has locking members, the spring members are connected to the predetermined breaking bars. However, this cap does not have a guarantee tape device on, the further predetermined breaking bars with a smaller one Breaking strength than the first-mentioned predetermined breaking bars contains which further predetermined breaking webs also via further spring members with the one containing the locking members Section of the sealing cap.

The aim of the invention is a screw cap to create a guarantee band device in which when screwing the screw cap with the attached guarantee band the possibility of plastic deformation of the Locking members do not exist and still a safe one Locking of the screw cap on the container ensured is.

Another goal is such a screw cap to create, by means of which a risk of injury Edge at the spout opening can.

The screw cap according to the invention is through characterized the features of claim 1. Beneficial Training results from the dependent claims.

Figur 1 eine Ansicht von unten auf die Schraubkappe nach Figur 2,

Figur 2 eine Schraubkappe, teils im Schnitt und teils in einer Seitenansicht gezeichnet,

Figur 3 eine Ansicht von oben auf den in Figur 4 gezeigten oberen Teil eines Behälters, und

Figur 4 den oberen Teil eines Behälters, teils im Schnitt und teils in einer Seitenansicht gezeichnet.

The subject matter of the invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the drawings, for example. It shows:

FIG. 1 shows a bottom view of the screw cap according to FIG. 2,

FIG. 2 shows a screw cap, partly in section and partly in a side view,

Figure 3 is a top view of the upper part of a container shown in Figure 4, and

Figure 4 shows the upper part of a container, partly in section and partly in a side view.

The screw cap shown in Figures 1 and 2 1 has a screw cap body 3, which with a guarantee band device, which is equipped as the main parts are a circumferential band section 4 and one connected to the band section 4 Tear tab 5 contains. These parts are from a suitable one Made of plastic.

Along the circumferential band section 4 are against the internally projecting, wedge-shaped locking members 6 educated. Each locking member 6 has an ramp 7 and a locking surface 8.

The band section 4 is in alternation arranged circular arcuate sections 14 and U-shaped Sections 15 split, with the legs of the U shape point towards the inside of the screw cap 1. In particular each U-shaped section 15 has a first leg 16 and a second leg 17, which legs 16, 17 in connection with one another via a base section 18 stand.

The revolving band section 4 of the guarantee band is over the first predetermined breaking webs 10 with the screw cap body 3 connected. As is well known, are this first predetermined breaking webs 10 weaker than the band section 4 designed so that when subjected to a force this predetermined breaking webs 10 and not about the band section 4 tear. It can be seen from FIG. 1 that in principle the second leg 17 of each U-shaped band section 15 over such a predetermined breaking web 10 with the Screw cap body 3 is connected.

The tear tab 5 runs along the outer Side of the band section 4. At one end is it for easier grasping by a toothed section 28 structured. With the opposite The end is the tear tab 5 over a rigid transition piece 19 connected to the band section 4, in particular with the first leg 16 of the relevant U-shaped section 15. It can also be seen that the rigid transition piece 19 with the adjacent circular arc Section 14 includes an acute angle, so that a tear-open notch 29 is formed.

The tear tab 5 is further over Breakaway webs 12 with some of the U-shaped sections 15 connected, which further predetermined breaking webs 12 in particular each with a base section 18 of the U-shaped Section 15 is connected.

The other predetermined breaking webs 12 are weaker formed as the first predetermined breaking webs 10, so that at a force on the pull tab 5 and the Band section 4, the further predetermined breaking webs 12 in front of the tear first predetermined breaking bars 10.

The inner locking members 6 are now not rigid, but arranged to be elastically evasive. In particular extends between each inner locking member 6 and that seen in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. 1, neighboring first predetermined breaking web 10 one by one Part of the band section 4 formed first spring member 11. Another spring member 13 between each inner locking member 6 and seen in the clockwise direction neighboring further predetermined breaking web 12 and also the first Breakaway web 10 is through part of the base section 18 of the adjacent U-shaped section 15 is formed.

It can thus be seen that the inner Locking members 6 can dodge elastically towards the outside.

It will now refer to Figure 2 of the drawings referred. The screw cap body 3 of the screw cap 1 has an inner wall 20 and an outer wall 21. For easier actuation of the screw cap body 3, i.e. rotate, its outer wall 21 is corrugated, as indicated by reference number 30. At the bottom Part of the inner wall 20 has an internal thread 31.

At the upper end of the screw cap body 3 a pin 22 protrudes into the interior of the screw cap body 3. This is in the zenith of the screw cap body 3 an annular space 24 formed on the one hand by the peripheral wall 23 of the pin 22 and on the other hand by a Section of the inner wall 20 is circumscribed. This inner wall 20 has at its upper end one against the pin 22 towards curved section 25. On this curved one Section 25 closes a straight surface section 26, with the sections 25 and 26 at their Transition point 27 with one another at least approximately include right angle.

For the sake of completeness there are teeth 32 drawn. These teeth 32 serve to receive one Tool during demoulding, by means of which tool the Screw cap 1 is rotated to remove from the thread of each Mold to be unscrewed.

Reference is now made to FIGS. 3 and 4, in which a part of the container 2 is shown. This container 2 is for receiving eye drops, for example determined from a suitable plastic manufactured and compressible to deliver the eye drops educated.

The container neck is from outer locking members 9 surrounds that as counterparts to the inner Locking members 6 of the screw cap 1 are formed and consequently also a ramp 33 and a locking surface 34 have. Above the locking members 9 there is an external thread 35, which finally followed by the dispensing spout 36.

To close the container 2 Screw cap 1 placed on the nozzle 36 and screwed on. Start towards the end of the unscrewing movement the ramp 7 of the locking members 6 of the belt section 4 on the ramp ramps 33 of the locking members 9 of the container 2. Because now the locking members 6 due to the spring members 11 and 13 resilient can dodge is a plastic deformation both the locking members 6 and the locking members 9 excluded, being noted that obviously also the locking members 6 and 9 a certain amount Have elasticity.

If the screw cap 1 is completely screwed on, it cannot be screwed back because a such rotary movement through the locking surfaces lying one on top of the other 8 and 34 of the circumferential band section 4 the screw cap or the container 2 is impossible.

To remove the screw cap 1 from the container 2 to open the same, the tear tab 5 at toothed section 28 captured and lifted away. Tear it the other predetermined breaking webs 12. Because these weaker than the first predetermined breaking webs 10 are formed the latter is not initially affected by the tear force. Are all in the drawn embodiment three, further breaking webs 12 torn, begins by a continued pull on the tear tab 5 that rigid transition piece 19 to the outside, i.e. based on the figure 1 clockwise to pivot. At the tear notch 29 is now the connection area between the first leg 16 and the band section there torn open. By continuing to tear away the Tear tab 5, the first predetermined breaking webs 10 are successive torn and ultimately the whole can Guarantee tape, i.e. Band section 4 and tear tab 5, be removed from the screw cap 1 so that this can be unscrewed from the container 2.

Attention is once again drawn to FIGS. 2 and 4. In Figure 4, the spout 36 with a sharp edge 37 shown at the pouring opening 38.

If the screw cap 1 is on the container 2 screwed on, the pin 22 penetrates into the pouring opening 38 a. The edge 37 begins along the curved section 25 accrued and is deformed inward, so that the top surface area of the pouring spout 38 comes to rest against the rectilinear section 26. Thus, the spout 36 at the pouring opening 38 is plastic deformed so that there is no free edge, which could cause an injury.

Claims (4)

1. Screw cap (1) closing a container (2), which screw cap (1) includes a screw cap body (3) and a warranty band device (4, 5) with a circumferentially extending band section (4) and a tear-off strip (5) joined to it, which band section (4) has internal locking elements (6) on its inner side, each with a sloping ramp (7) and a locking surface (8), which container (2) includes outer locking elements (9) that mesh with the inner locking elements (6) when container (2) is closed and are arranged along the outer periphery of the container at its outlet and which band section (4) is joined to the screw cap body (3) via first frangible webs (10), which inner locking elements (6) are each joined to one of the first frangible webs (10) via a corresponding first spring element (11), characterised in that the tear-off strip (5) is joined via additional frangible webs (12) to the circumferentially extending band section (4) and that the inner locking elements (6) which are arranged in the region of the tear-off strip (5) are joined to the additional frangible webs (12) via additional spring elements (13), whereby the rupture strength of the first frangible webs (10) is higher than the rupture strength of the additional frangible webs (12).
2. Screw cap according to claim 1, characterised in that the circumferentially extending band section (4) has alternately arranged circular arc-shaped (14) and U-shaped sections (15), whereby each U-shaped section (15) includes a first (16) and a second leg (17), which legs (16, 17) are joined to each other via a base section (18), and that each first leg (16) is structured integral with one of the inner locking elements (6), each second leg (17) is structured integral with one of the first frangible webs (10) and each base section (18) is structured integral with one of the additional frangible webs (12).
3. Screw cap according to claim 2, characterised in that the tear-off strip (5) is joined at one end via a rigid transition piece (19) to the first leg (16) of one of the U-shaped sections (15) and forms an acute angle with the circular arc-shaped band section (14) adjacent to the U-shaped section (15) to form a tear-off notch (29).
4. Screw cap according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the screw cap body (3) is an elongate hollow body with an inner wall (20) and an outer wall (21), which is open at one end containing the inner locking elements (6) and closed on the opposite end to form a zenith, that a pin (22) at the zenith with a peripheral wall (23) projects towards the inner space of the hollow body, so that between the inner wall of the hollow body and the peripheral wall (23) of pin (22) an annular space (24) is formed, that the section (25) of the inner wall (20) of the hollow body arranged in the annular space (24) is curved towards the pin (22) and is followed by a linear wall section (26), which extends towards the peripheral wall (23) of pin (22) and forms at its area of transition (27) to the curved wall section (25) with same at least approximately a right angle.

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