EP1492713B1 - Container screw-closure cap - Google Patents

Container screw-closure cap Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP1492713B1
EP1492713B1 EP02787652A EP02787652A EP1492713B1 EP 1492713 B1 EP1492713 B1 EP 1492713B1 EP 02787652 A EP02787652 A EP 02787652A EP 02787652 A EP02787652 A EP 02787652A EP 1492713 B1 EP1492713 B1 EP 1492713B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
cap
container
screw
closure cap
container mouth
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP02787652A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP1492713A1 (en
Inventor
Hans Umiker
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Plamatec AG
Original Assignee
Plamatec AG
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Plamatec AG filed Critical Plamatec AG
Priority to EP02787652A priority Critical patent/EP1492713B1/en
Publication of EP1492713A1 publication Critical patent/EP1492713A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP1492713B1 publication Critical patent/EP1492713B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D41/00—Caps, e.g. crown caps or crown seals, i.e. members having parts arranged for engagement with the external periphery of a neck or wall defining a pouring opening or discharge aperture; Protective cap-like covers for closure members, e.g. decorative covers of metal foil or paper
    • B65D41/02—Caps or cap-like covers without lines of weakness, tearing strips, tags, or like opening or removal devices
    • B65D41/04—Threaded or like caps or cap-like covers secured by rotation
    • B65D41/0407—Threaded or like caps or cap-like covers secured by rotation with integral sealing means
    • B65D41/0414—Threaded or like caps or cap-like covers secured by rotation with integral sealing means formed by a plug, collar, flange, rib or the like contacting the internal surface of a container neck
    • B65D41/0421—Threaded or like caps or cap-like covers secured by rotation with integral sealing means formed by a plug, collar, flange, rib or the like contacting the internal surface of a container neck and combined with integral sealing means contacting other surfaces of a container neck
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D51/00—Closures not otherwise provided for
    • B65D51/16—Closures not otherwise provided for with means for venting air or gas
    • B65D51/1633—Closures not otherwise provided for with means for venting air or gas whereby venting occurs by automatic opening of the closure, container or other element
    • B65D51/1661—Closures not otherwise provided for with means for venting air or gas whereby venting occurs by automatic opening of the closure, container or other element by means of a passage for the escape of gas between the closure and the lip of the container mouth

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a container screw-closure cap which is made of plastic and is provided, on the inner side of its cap base, with an annular sealing lip which, when the screw-closure cap is screwed onto the container mouth, seals against an inner side of the container mouth, and a further annular rib having a tapering cross section for acting in a sealing manner on an outer side of the container mouth (see for example document DE-U-9 208 944).
  • the annular sealing lip engages in a sealing manner with the inner edge of the container mouth. It has been found in practice that the sealing action of the annular sealing lip is not sufficient in many cases, in particular on account of a deformation of the cap base under the internal pressure of the container. Moreover, even in the case of new containers which are filled for the first time, but in particular in the case of refilled containers, the container mouths may exhibit irregularities or damage which counteract(s) satisfactory sealing of the container.
  • the object of the invention is thus to provide a screw-closure cap which has an annular seal on the cap base which seals against an inner side of a container mouth and in the case of which the problems outlined are avoided and by means of which satisfactory sealing is ensured even in the case of the container being reclosed and in the case of irregularly formed mouths.
  • the screw-closure cap according to the invention is distinguished in that the annular sealing lip, which has a predetermined bending strength, at a radial spacing in the outward direction, is assigned a double annular rib which extends away from the inner side of the cap base with a downwardly double tapering cross section and with a smaller height than the sealing lip and engages with the end side of the container mouth when the screw-closure cap is screwed on, and in that extending away from the transition region of the cap base into the lateral cap surface is another annular rib, with tapering cross section, which acts in a sealing manner on the outer side of the container mouth.
  • the double annular rib on its end side, has two spaced-apart annular protrusions, for engaging with a top border of the container mouth when the screw-closure cap is screwed on, and the further annular rib extending at right angles to the double annular rib away from a transition region between the cap base and the cap side.
  • the cap base is bowed (doming effect) in the event of a build-up in pressure of the medium in the container, the lever action resulting in an additional pressure being exerted on the outer and radial sealing region of the container mouth and in an increase in the contact pressure per unit surface area. It is precisely on account of the wide range of different types of damage in this region of the container mouth that this seal design performs an additional important function specifically for use in the drinks industry.
  • the annular rib which acts on the outer side of the container mouth, is preferably of essentially V-shaped design in cross section.
  • a screw-closure cap 1 (illustrated only in part in Fig. 7), which is produced from plastic, e.g. by injection moulding or compression moulding.
  • the cap 1 is intended for mounting on a container mouth 2, and has a lateral surface 3 and a base 4.
  • the lateral cap surface 3 bears, on its inner side, a thread 6 via which the screw-closure cap 1 can be screwed onto a mating thread 5 on the outer side of the container mouth 2.
  • the base 4 of the screw-closure cap 1 bears on its inner side, in the region of the inner edge 2" of the container mouth 2, an annular sealing lip 7, which projects integrally downwards from the base 4 and in axial section, in the non-deformed state, has a substantially vertical inner side 7', a radially outwardly curving top outer-wall section and a conically downwardly and inwardly running bottom outer-wall section.
  • the annular sealing lip 7 by way of its outher-wall sections (obliquely inwardly running conical outer-wall section and curved outer-wall section), comes into contact with the inner edge 2", before the thread engagement, when the screw-closure cap 1 is screwed on and, when it penetrates into the cylindrical inner side 2" of the container mouth 2, is deformed by compression such that a relatively wide annular zone is produced as a sealing surface in relation to the inner side 2" of the container mouth 2.
  • the contact and/or sealing pressure per unit surface area is reduced as a result.
  • a double annular rib 8 extends away from the base 4 of the screw-closure cap 1, said double annular rib 8 being of a considerably smaller height than the annular sealing lip 7 and acting on the end side of the container mouth 2 via two annular protrusions 8', 8".
  • a further annular rib 9 is provided from the transition region of the cap base 4 into the lateral cap surface 3, said further annular rib 9 acting on the outer side of the container mouth 2 and being designed to taper in an essentially V-shaped manner in cross section.
  • the cap base 4 is bowed (doming effect) in the event of a build-up in pressure of the medium within the closed container. Consequently, an additional pressure is exerted on the radially outer sealing region 8"of the container mouth 2 and the sealing rib 9 as a result of lever action, which means that there is an increase in the contact pressure per unit surface area in this region. It is on account of the wide range of different types of damage in this region of the container mouth 2 that the screw cap 1 according to the invention performs an additional important function, specifically for use in the drinks industry.
  • the screw cap 1 according to the invention is preferably produced from plastic by injection moulding or by compression moulding.
  • the container screw-closure cap 1 is made of plastic, preferably polyethylene, and has four sealing elements.
  • the main sealing element is the tongue-like sealing lip 7 which engages a sealing contact border in the inner side of the container 2.
  • a second extension 9 seals the container on the outer side.
  • a fixed stop 8 with annular protrusions 8' and 8" is located on the top border of the container 2. Said annular protrusions are of different heights. The inner annular protrusion 8' is higher than the outer protrusion 8".
  • the cap base 4 bows in a dome-like manner.
  • the inner seal 7 moves away from the container wall 2".
  • the annular protrusion 8' lifts up slightly, but the outer side of the cap 1 presses more in the direction of the center of the container 2 and the extension 9 and the annular protrusion 8" is thus pressed to a more pronounced extent against the container mouth 2 and, in the process, seals the closure 1 again on the top out side of the container 2 and via the extension 9.
  • a tamper evidence band (Fig. 2, 3 or Fig. 5, 6, respectively) is fixed to the base body 1 by means of weak bridges 13.
  • a wraparound projection element 14 snaps on an overhang at the lower end of the bottle outlet 2. The shaping of the wraparound projection element 14 guarantees the function of the tamper evidence band. After the bottle 2 has been opened the band remains on the container 2 (Fig. 4 to 6) or the band remains on the cap body 1 (Fig. 1 to 3).
  • the described sealing system 7, 8, 9 of the closure cap 1 is applicable for disposable containers as well as for returnable containers.
  • the outer diameter of the bottle neck 2 having the screw thread 5 at the container mouth 2 is standardized, so that the outer sealing 9 and the double annular rib 8 of the closure cap 1 may have the same dimensions, regardless whether a non-returnable bottle or a returnable bottle is to be closed. It is only the wall thickness and, thus, the clear opening 2" of the bottle neck 2 that may differ. This difference is taken into account by forming the inner seal 7 further inwards or further outwards with respect to the cap base 4. In other words, the position of the inner seal 7 is designed such that its spacing from the outer seal 9 increases as the clear opening 2" of the bottle neck 2 decreases.
  • the tamper evidence band (Fig. 2, 3) of a closure cap for returnable bottles (Fig. 1) has a more complex design than the tamper evidence band (Fig. 5, 6) of a closure cap belonging to a non-returnable bottle (Fig. 4).
  • the tamper evidence band in the case of returnable containers, is to break off at only part of the circle (crack point 12 in Fig. 2) and shall remain connected to the cap 1 at the residual part of the circle.
  • the sealing system 7, 8, 9 and the tamper evidence band of such a closure cap are tuned as described below. The point is to close a filled bottle by the closure cap 1 in such a way that neither the sealing system 7, 8, 9 nor the tamper evidence band (Fig. 1 to 3) are damaged.
  • the counter screw 6 of the closure cap 1 which is adapted to the standardized container 2 is drawn downwards to a relatively large extent (Fig. 1).
  • an intervention of the screw 6 occurs before the inner seal 7 touches the bottle neck 2 and before the tamper evidence band 10-14 touches the pilfer proof ring of the bottle 2.
  • the screw 6 Only after the screw 6 has performed approximately a half turn so that the axis of the closure cap 1 is aligned with the axis of the bottle neck 2, the first snap-on of the tamper evidence band 10-14 occurs at the pilfer proof ring. In this manner, the crack point 12 of the tamper evidence band 10-14 is guarded against premature extension.
  • the tamper evidence band is, on a part of the circuit, fixed to the cap body 1 by week bridges 13.
  • the band grips below the pilfer proof ring of the bottle neck 2, although the protrusion 14 of the tamper evidence band (Fig. 1-3) does not have the same form all along the circle.
  • the tamper evidence band is designed such that the consumer may immediately recognize the occurrence of a first opening. On the other hand, no part of the tamper evidence band remains at the bottle neck because the bottle shall be cleanly re-usable.
  • the tamper evidence band has several crescent-shaped cams 11 gripping under the pilfer proof ring of the bottle.
  • cams 11 Preferably three such cams 11 are arranged in the vicinity of the crack point 12 of the tamper evidence band.
  • the cams 11 are provided with a sharp-edged upper surface and have a tapering extension downwards to be able to slide over the pilfer proof ring of the bottle neck 2.
  • Stretch windows 10 are arranged between the cams 11.
  • the stretch windows 10 extend like narrow stripes in vertical direction and close in re-inforcements at the lower edge of the band.
  • the stretch windows 10 are designed to lessen the material of the tear-off part of the tamper evidence band.
  • the longish notches 10 extend downwards at the outer circle (Fig. 2) and at the opposite location of the inner circle (Fig. 3).
  • the stretch windows 10 at the inner side when approaching the lower edge of the tamper evidence band pass into the re-inforcements (Fig. 3). In this way, the tamper evidence band does not tear off at its lower edge (apart from the crack point 12), but may be stretched in the upper part where the cams 11 are located. It is by this design that the caps 1 may be screwed on without damaging the crack point 12, while the cams 11 are interlocking at the first opening thus tearing off the crack point 12.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Closures For Containers (AREA)
EP02787652A 2002-04-05 2002-11-12 Container screw-closure cap Expired - Lifetime EP1492713B1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP02787652A EP1492713B1 (en) 2002-04-05 2002-11-12 Container screw-closure cap

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP02007341 2002-04-05
EP02007341 2002-04-05
EP02787652A EP1492713B1 (en) 2002-04-05 2002-11-12 Container screw-closure cap
PCT/EP2002/012630 WO2003084833A1 (en) 2002-04-05 2002-11-12 Container screw-closure cap

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1492713A1 EP1492713A1 (en) 2005-01-05
EP1492713B1 true EP1492713B1 (en) 2006-07-26

Family

ID=28685838

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP02787652A Expired - Lifetime EP1492713B1 (en) 2002-04-05 2002-11-12 Container screw-closure cap

Country Status (6)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1492713B1 (es)
AR (1) AR037657A1 (es)
AT (1) ATE334067T1 (es)
AU (1) AU2002351976A1 (es)
DE (1) DE60213480D1 (es)
WO (1) WO2003084833A1 (es)

Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE102018116295A1 (de) 2018-07-05 2020-01-30 Bericap Gmbh & Co. Kg Schraubverschluss mit kontrollierter Dichtung
JP2022538951A (ja) * 2019-06-26 2022-09-07 ミソジウム カンパニー，リミテッド エンドリング同時分離型ペット容器蓋
FR3103470B1 (fr) 2019-11-26 2021-12-24 El Sakkaf Sherif Bouchon de bouteille amélioré

Family Cites Families (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPH01139348A (ja) * 1987-11-11 1989-05-31 Dainippon Ink & Chem Inc 合成樹脂製容器とキャップとの組み合わせ
US5248050A (en) * 1990-04-27 1993-09-28 Crown Cork Ag Cap having expandable guarantee strip
DE4104103A1 (de) * 1991-02-11 1992-08-13 Huebner Gmbh & Co Max Flaschenkappe mit sicherungsring
DE9208944U1 (de) * 1992-07-03 1992-10-08 Schellenbach, Frank, 75391 Gechingen Verschlußkappe
EP1117596B1 (de) * 1998-03-03 2005-08-03 Frank Schellenbach Behälter mit einer kunststoffverschlusskappe mit abtrennbarem garantieband und innendichtung

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE60213480D1 (de) 2006-09-07
ATE334067T1 (de) 2006-08-15
AU2002351976A1 (en) 2003-10-20
EP1492713A1 (en) 2005-01-05
WO2003084833A1 (en) 2003-10-16
AR037657A1 (es) 2004-12-01

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