EP1632437B1 - Dispensing caps for beverage containers - Google Patents

Dispensing caps for beverage containers Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1632437B1
EP1632437B1 EP04255277A EP04255277A EP1632437B1 EP 1632437 B1 EP1632437 B1 EP 1632437B1 EP 04255277 A EP04255277 A EP 04255277A EP 04255277 A EP04255277 A EP 04255277A EP 1632437 B1 EP1632437 B1 EP 1632437B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
tubular portion
cap
tubular
web
portions
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
EP04255277A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP1632437A1 (en
Inventor
Matthew Eric Smith
Karl Mondszein
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.)
Carbonite Corp
Original Assignee
Carbonite Corp
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 Carbonite Corp filed Critical Carbonite Corp
Priority to AT04255277T priority Critical patent/ATE380150T1/de
Priority to ES04255277T priority patent/ES2295785T3/es
Priority to PL04255277T priority patent/PL1632437T3/pl
Priority to DE602004010508T priority patent/DE602004010508T2/de
Priority to EP04255277A priority patent/EP1632437B1/en
Publication of EP1632437A1 publication Critical patent/EP1632437A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP1632437B1 publication Critical patent/EP1632437B1/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
    • B65D5/00—Rigid or semi-rigid containers of polygonal cross-section, e.g. boxes, cartons or trays, formed by folding or erecting one or more blanks made of paper
    • B65D5/42—Details of containers or of foldable or erectable container blanks
    • B65D5/72—Contents-dispensing means
    • B65D5/74—Spouts
    • B65D5/746—Spouts formed separately from the container
    • B65D5/747—Spouts formed separately from the container with means for piercing or cutting the container wall or a membrane connected to said wall
    • B65D5/748—Spouts formed separately from the container with means for piercing or cutting the container wall or a membrane connected to said wall a major part of the container wall or membrane being left inside the container after the opening
    • 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
    • B65D47/00—Closures with filling and discharging, or with discharging, devices
    • B65D47/04—Closures with discharging devices other than pumps
    • B65D47/20—Closures with discharging devices other than pumps comprising hand-operated members for controlling discharge
    • B65D47/24—Closures with discharging devices other than pumps comprising hand-operated members for controlling discharge with poppet valves or lift valves, i.e. valves opening or closing a passageway by a relative motion substantially perpendicular to the plane of the seat
    • B65D47/241—Closures with discharging devices other than pumps comprising hand-operated members for controlling discharge with poppet valves or lift valves, i.e. valves opening or closing a passageway by a relative motion substantially perpendicular to the plane of the seat the valve being opened or closed by actuating a cap-like element
    • B65D47/243—Closures with discharging devices other than pumps comprising hand-operated members for controlling discharge with poppet valves or lift valves, i.e. valves opening or closing a passageway by a relative motion substantially perpendicular to the plane of the seat the valve being opened or closed by actuating a cap-like element moving linearly, i.e. without rotational motion
    • 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
    • B65D47/00—Closures with filling and discharging, or with discharging, devices
    • B65D47/04—Closures with discharging devices other than pumps
    • B65D47/20—Closures with discharging devices other than pumps comprising hand-operated members for controlling discharge
    • B65D47/24—Closures with discharging devices other than pumps comprising hand-operated members for controlling discharge with poppet valves or lift valves, i.e. valves opening or closing a passageway by a relative motion substantially perpendicular to the plane of the seat
    • B65D47/245—Closures with discharging devices other than pumps comprising hand-operated members for controlling discharge with poppet valves or lift valves, i.e. valves opening or closing a passageway by a relative motion substantially perpendicular to the plane of the seat the valve being opened or closed by actuating a stopper-type element
    • B65D47/247—Closures with discharging devices other than pumps comprising hand-operated members for controlling discharge with poppet valves or lift valves, i.e. valves opening or closing a passageway by a relative motion substantially perpendicular to the plane of the seat the valve being opened or closed by actuating a stopper-type element moving linearly, i.e. without rotational motion

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to dispensing caps for beverage bottles or other beverage containers.
  • Such caps may be fitted to the mouth of a beverage bottle and provide the ability to drink from the bottle without removing the cap.
  • Such caps are referred to as drinking caps.
  • Such caps may also be provided on an upper surface of a larger beverage container, e.g. of waxed cardboard, of the type which are commonly used to store milk or fruit juice. In this form one may drink from the cap or use it to pour the beverage into a drinking glass or the like.
  • Drinking caps typically include two moulded plastic components which are connected together and are relatively movable between a first position, in which the bottle, to which the cap is connected, is sealed and a second position, in which the interior of the bottle communicates with the exterior through one or more openings through which a liquid in the bottle may flow. Such caps thus also provide a resealing facility.
  • a dispensing cap according to the preamble of claim 1 is known from WO/9414588 A .
  • a dispensing cap constitutes a one-piece moulding of polymeric material, such as polypropylene, and includes a first circular section tubular portion with a first radius for connection to a beverage container and a second circular section tubular portion with a second radius smaller than the first radius, one end of the first tubular portion being connected to one end of the second tubular portion by a resilient, annular, integral web, in which one or more flow openings are formed, the width of the web being equal to or greater than the difference between the first and second radii, the other end of the second tubular portion being closed, the second tubular portion carrying a peripheral flange whose radius is equal to or greater than that of the first tubular portion, the first and second tubular portions being coaxial and relatively movable in the axial direction between an open position, in which the second tubular portion is located outside the first tubular portion and the flow openings are unobstructed, and a closed position, in which the said one end of the second tubular portion is located within the said one end
  • the dispersing cap in accordance with the invention includes two circular section tubular portions of different radius, one end of each of which is connected by a resilient web whose width, that is to say length in the generally radial direction, is equal to or greater than the difference between the two radii.
  • the other end of the tubular portion of greater radius is adapted for connection to the mouth of a bottle or the like or to the upper surface of a larger beverage container whilst the other end of the tubular portion of lesser radius is closed.
  • the second tubular portion carries a peripheral flange, preferably at its upper end, whose radius is equal to or greater than that of the first tubular portion.
  • the resilient web has at least one and preferably a number of spaced flow openings formed in it.
  • the tubular portion of lesser diameter is movable in the axial direction with respect to the other tubular portion between an open position, in which it is situated wholly outside the tubular portion of greater diameter and the flow openings are unobstructed, and a closed position in which its end connected to the web is situated inside the adjacent end of the tubular portion of greater diameter.
  • the flow apertures are situated within the tubular portion of greater diameter and the peripheral flange is in sealing engagement with the upper end of the first tubular portion. This means that the flow openings are sealed from, that is to say do not communicate with the exterior, that is to say the atmosphere.
  • the beverage container to which the dispensing cap is connected is thus also sealed and no liquid may leave it.
  • the force exerted by the web on the tubular portion of smaller diameter will act on it to urge it towards the closed position.
  • the tubular portion of smaller diameter is thus effectively bistable and if no external force is applied to it it will automatically move to either the open or the closed position.
  • the peripheral flange is positioned and dimensioned such that it is moved into sealing contact with the opposing end surface of the tubular portion of larger diameter before the web has reached the fully relaxed position. This means that, in the closed position, the underside of the peripheral flange is biased into contact with the upper end surface of the first tubular portion and forms a constant substantially line seal with it.
  • the web carries a projecting annular first sealing flange, whereby when the first and second tubular portions are in the closed position the flow openings are prevented from communicating with the interior of the first tubular portion by the sealing engagement of the first sealing flange with the internal surface of the first tubular portion.
  • the sealing flange is positioned and dimensioned such that it is moved into sealing contact with the opposing surface on either the internal surface of the tubular portion of larger diameter or the web before the web has reached the fully relaxed position. A secondary seal is thus formed.
  • first sealing flange is integral with the web.
  • the first sealing flange projects from the web in a direction substantially parallel to the axis of the first and second tubular portions, when they are in the open position. This is particularly convenient because it enables the drinking cap to be readily removed from an injection mould at the end of the injection moulding process in the axial direction.
  • the web and thus the first sealing flange integral with it, will typically rotate through about 90° when moving from the open to the closed position, which means that if the first sealing flange extends in the axial direction, when the cap is in the open position, it will extend in the generally radial direction, when the cap is in the closed position, which will mean that its free edge will form a substantially line seal with the opposing surface.
  • first sealing flange may form a seal directly with the internal surface of the tubular portion of greater diameter
  • the internal surface of the first tubular portion carries a resilient annular second sealing flange, which projects at an acute angle to the axis of the first and second tubular portions and away from the second tubular portion and is positioned so that it is sealingly engaged by the first sealing flange, when the first and second tubular portions are in the closed position.
  • This second sealing flange will be caused to yield somewhat in the generally radial direction by the engagement of the first sealing flange and this is found to result in a further enhancement of the sealing integrity.
  • the first tubular portion carries an external annular stiffening or reinforcing bead adjacent its connection with the web. This stiffening bead will resist deformation forces and thus minimise the risk of inadvertent leakage occurring.
  • the dispensing cap may be attached to the mouth of a beverage bottle and used as a drinking cap. It may, however, also be attached and sealed to an upper surface, which may be horizontal or inclined, of a beverage container of the type which is commonly used to accommodate milk, fruit juice or the like and is typically made of waxed cardboard or a laminate material, typically comprising paper and polyethylene and optionally aluminium. In this event, it will be secured to the surface over an aperture in the container. This aperture is typically sealed by a membrane of polyethylene or other plastic material, aluminium or a laminated material. This membrane must be ruptured before the beverage may be dispensed.
  • the dispensing cap may include an elongate piercing member, one end of which is connected to the second tubular portion, the piercing member being so dimensioned and arranged that, when the first and second tubular portions are in the open position, the other end is situated within the first tubular portion and when they are in the closed position it projects beyond the other end of the first tubular portion.
  • the beverage container would be sold with the dispensing cap in the open position.
  • the cap When it is desired to dispense the beverage, the cap is moved into the closed position so as to move the lower end of the piercing member, which is preferably relatively sharp, out of the first tubular portion. This will press it against the membrane and rupture it, thereby opening the container.
  • the cap is then returned to the open position by grasping the peripheral flange with the fingers and the beverage may be dispensed.
  • the cap may be moved again into the closed position in which it seals the container by virtue of the seal between the underside of the peripheral flange and the upper edge of the first tubular portion and optionally also the seal formed by the first sealing flange and the surface with which it comes into engagement.
  • the piercing member is of generally cruciform cross-sectional shape, at least at its end remote from the second tubular portion.
  • each limb of the cruciform shape carries lateral displacement members on each side projecting in opposite directions to the length of the associated limb.
  • the beverage container may be sold with the dispensing cap in the open position. Loss of the beverage will be prevented by the sealing member over the aperture in the beverage container.
  • the cap includes removable retaining means which retain the first and second tubular portions in the open position.
  • the retaining means may take various forms and they are constituted by an annular strip or band integrally connected to the first tubular portion and to the peripheral flange on the second tubular portion by respective lines of weakness, whereby the annular strip may be manually removed when the cap is first used and will serve, prior to removal, as a tamper evident indicator.
  • the underside of the peripheral flange affords a radial shoulder whose shape and position match those of the upper end of the first tubular portion, whereby when the second tubular portion is moved into the closed position, the underside of the peripheral flange forms a seal with the end surface of the first tubular portion and the side surface of the shoulder forms a seal with a side surface of the first tubular portion adjacent the said end surface.
  • the dispensing cap is a one-piece injection moulded component of polymeric material, such as polypropylene, and comprises a first circular section tubular portion 2 of relatively large diameter, which is integrally connected at one end by a resilient, flexible web 4 to one end of a second circular section tubular portion 6 of relatively smaller diameter.
  • the larger tubular portion 2 is adapted to be connected and sealed to an upper surface of a beverage container around a dispensing aperture, which is initially sealed by a membrane.
  • the upper end of the smaller diameter tubular portion 6 is closed by an integral lid 14, the diameter of which is greater than that of the tubular portion 6, whereby its radially outer edge constitutes a projecting peripheral flange or lip 16, which may be grasped by the user and whose radius is equal to that of the larger tubular portion 2.
  • a plurality of holes 18 is formed in the resilient web 4.
  • the width of the resilient web 4 that is to say its length between the lower end of the tubular portion 6 and the upper end of the tubular portion 2, is greater than the difference between the radii of the two tubular portions.
  • Integral with the internal surface of the web 4 is a first annular sealing flange 20, which extends substantially in the axial direction, when the cap is in the open position illustrated in Figure 3.
  • a second resilient sealing flange 22 Integral with the internal surface of the upper end of the larger tubular portion 2 is a second resilient sealing flange 22, which extends both downwardly, that is to say away from the smaller diameter tubular portion 4, and inwardly towards the axis of the cap, whereby it subtends an acute angle with the axial direction of the cap.
  • the underside of the peripheral flange 16 has an annular shoulder 8 formed in it with a radius equal to that of the upper edge of the tubular portion 2, whereby this underside has an annular portion whose shape precisely matches that of the upper edge of the tubular portion 2.
  • the upper end of the lower tubular portion thus forms a seal not only with the underside of the flange 16 but also with the side surface of the shoulder 8.
  • the tubular portion 4 When the cap is in the open position shown in Figures 1 and 3, the tubular portion 4 is located wholly outside the tubular portion 2.
  • the web 4 extends upwardly out of the tubular portion 2 and also inwardly in the axial direction and the flow openings 18 communicate with the interior of the cap, whereby liquid in the container to which the cap is connected can flow out through the openings 18.
  • the tubular portion 6 If a downward force is exerted on the cap 14, the tubular portion 6 begins to move downwardly. This results in compression and distortion of the web 4, which thus exerts a restoring force on the tubular portion 6 urging it back towards the fully open position.
  • the tubular portion 6 moves downwardly until the web 4 extends approximately horizontally, that is to say in the radial direction.
  • the dispensing cap as so far described is suitable for application to the mouth of a bottle for use as a drinking cap.
  • the illustrated cap is particularly intended for connection to the surface of a beverage carton or the like over an aperture in the surface sealed by a rupturable membrane.
  • the cap is provided with an elongate piercing member 30, the upper end of which is integral with the tubular portion 6 or the lid 14, which coaxially downwardly.
  • the length of the piercing member is such that it is wholly within the cap, when the cap is in the open position, but protrudes below the lower end of the tubular portion 2, when the cap is in the closed position.
  • the cap is provided with an integral tear-away plastic band 32 which is connected to the peripheral flange 16 and the tubular portion 2, which restrains relative movement of the two tubular portions.
  • the plastic band 32 is grasped by a projecting tag or the like and torn away from the cap.
  • the tubular portion is then moved downwardly into the closed position and this causes the lower end of the piercing member to extend out of the lower end of the tubular portion 2 and thus rupture the membrane sealing the aperture in the container.
  • beverage may now be dispensed, whereafter the cap may be closed again.
  • the fact that the plastic band has been removed is clearly visible and this band thus acts also as a tamper evident indicator.
  • the piercing member is of simple, regular cruciform shape in cross-section, preferably with a relatively sharp lower end in order to facilitate rupturing the membrane.
  • the four portions or flaps of the ruptured membrane can return to their original position after the piercing member has been withdrawn and recreate a substantial seal.
  • This problem is eliminated in the modified embodiment shown in Figure 6, in which the piercing member is again of generally cruciform cross-section.
  • the piercing member is again of generally cruciform cross-section.
  • at the lower edge of each limb 34 of the cruciform there are two lateral projections 36 extending transversely to the limb. These projections force the flaps of the ruptured membrane aside to positions from which they are unlikely to be able to return to their original position. Accordingly, use of this embodiment results in the beverage container remaining able to dispense beverage, once the membrane has been ruptured and eliminates the risk of a seal being recreated by the flaps of the ruptured membrane.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Closures For Containers (AREA)
  • Apparatus For Making Beverages (AREA)
  • Freezing, Cooling And Drying Of Foods (AREA)
  • Non-Alcoholic Beverages (AREA)
EP04255277A 2004-09-01 2004-09-01 Dispensing caps for beverage containers Expired - Lifetime EP1632437B1 (en)

Priority Applications (5)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AT04255277T ATE380150T1 (de) 2004-09-01 2004-09-01 Zapfen für getränkebehälter
ES04255277T ES2295785T3 (es) 2004-09-01 2004-09-01 Tapones dispensadores para recipientes de bebidas.
PL04255277T PL1632437T3 (pl) 2004-09-01 2004-09-01 Dozujące kapsle dla pojemników z napojami
DE602004010508T DE602004010508T2 (de) 2004-09-01 2004-09-01 Zapfen für Getränkebehälter
EP04255277A EP1632437B1 (en) 2004-09-01 2004-09-01 Dispensing caps for beverage containers

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP04255277A EP1632437B1 (en) 2004-09-01 2004-09-01 Dispensing caps for beverage containers

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1632437A1 EP1632437A1 (en) 2006-03-08
EP1632437B1 true EP1632437B1 (en) 2007-12-05

Family

ID=34930618

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP04255277A Expired - Lifetime EP1632437B1 (en) 2004-09-01 2004-09-01 Dispensing caps for beverage containers

Country Status (5)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1632437B1 (es)
AT (1) ATE380150T1 (es)
DE (1) DE602004010508T2 (es)
ES (1) ES2295785T3 (es)
PL (1) PL1632437T3 (es)

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP5362611B2 (ja) * 2010-02-12 2013-12-11 日本テトラパック株式会社 開封具付き注出具

Family Cites Families (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE8518074U1 (de) * 1985-06-21 1986-02-20 Henkel KGaA, 4000 Düsseldorf Einteiliger, wiederverschließbarer Streuverschluß
WO1994014588A1 (en) * 1992-12-22 1994-07-07 Sdt Technologies, Inc. Closure for dispensing produce from a container
US5597096A (en) * 1996-02-15 1997-01-28 Dart Industries Inc. Shaker for condiments

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP1632437A1 (en) 2006-03-08
DE602004010508T2 (de) 2008-11-27
DE602004010508D1 (de) 2008-01-17
ATE380150T1 (de) 2007-12-15
PL1632437T3 (pl) 2008-05-30
ES2295785T3 (es) 2008-04-16

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