EP1961669A2

EP1961669A2 - Receptacle with a pour-out spout and a screw cap with a guarantee strip

Info

Publication number: EP1961669A2
Application number: EP08101725A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Ronald H. Berman
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Syntegon Pouch Systems AG
Priority date: 2007-02-20
Filing date: 2008-02-19
Publication date: 2008-08-27
Also published as: EP1961669A3; US20080197135A1

Abstract

A beverage spout and threaded cap are joined by a safety tether that further acts as a guarantee strip to establish the integrity of the contents prior to opening. The safety tether as it is wrapped around the pour spout is connected by a series of break-away tabs the cooperate to form the guarantee strip, whereupon when the cap is unscrewed off the tabs are ruptured to unfurl the safety tether. The break-away tabs can be selected to promote ordered extension of the safety tether as the cap is removed from the spout.

Description

The present invention relates to a receptacle with a pour-out spout and a screw cap of plastic, with a guarantee strip which is arranged at the lower edge of the peripheral lateral wall of the screw cap, which is held secured at least in the axial direction on the pour-out spout of a receptacle in a direct or indirect manner.
Receptacles with a pour-out spout and a screw cap of plastic, which may be placed thereon, are known in many design forms. Thereby, the receptacles may be glass or plastic bottles, or soft packages of laminates or of plastic films. If the receptacles are glass or plastic bottles, then the bottle neck forms the pour-out spout. If the receptacle is a tube, then the tube opening of the tube head forms the pour-out spout. In any case however, the pour-out spout comprises an outer thread, on which correspondingly a screw cap with an inner thread integrally formed on its lateral wall may be screwed.
Nowadays, screw caps are usually provided with a guarantee strip. For ecological reasons, the guarantee strips are designed such that after separation from the pour-out spout or from the screw cap, they respectively either remain on the pour-out spout or on the screw cap. In one case, the guarantee strip is held on the pour-out spout with a positive fit, by way of the guarantee strip forming a retaining ring, which by way of a suitable positive-fit means between the retaining ring and the pour-out spout, is held on the latter. This guarantee strip, or retaining ring as the case may be, may be rotated relative to the pour-out spout, or the positive-fit means may be designed such that a rotational securing is simultaneously realized. On opening for the first time, the break-off bridges between the retaining ring, or the guarantee strip, and the screw cap are destroyed. If the strip can co-rotate, then the break-off bridges are loaded in tension practically only in the axial direction relative to the axis of the pour-out spout, which requires relatively much force, since an alignment of the molecules is effected in the break-off bridges, so that the break-off bridges have a greater tear resistance. If the guarantee strip or the securing ring is also secured in the radial movement direction, then the break-off bridges are loaded in shearing on opening for the first time, and accordingly may be severed with a low force effort.
The guarantee strip which is practically always arranged on the lower edge of the lateral wall flush below this, in another known embodiment, is formed of different part sections which are connected to one another via radially running break-off bridges. On opening for the first time, a widening of the guarantee strip is effected, wherein the break-off bridges break, and the sections of the guarantee strip remain on the cap.
It is more often than not that the screw caps are relatively small, and the danger exists that such screw caps get lost or fall on the ground and become contaminated. Since in many cases, these screw caps are attached to receptacles in which foodstuffs are accommodated, accordingly the danger exists that the contents are contaminated.
In particular, if such screw caps with a relatively small diameter are attached on receptacles with foodstuffs, which in particular are also consumed by infants, the danger exists that children may choke on such a closure, with the not inconsiderable danger of these getting into the trachea. This danger is particularly the case, since infants hardly have sufficient strength in their fingers to screw open such a closure, and accordingly hold the closure with the teeth.
There therefore exists the need to hold a screw cap on the receptacle, or on the pour-out spout in a secured manner. This is already known per se. In particular with adhesive tubes with a cap which may be placed on or screwed on, this is often held on the tube head via a safety strip, so that the cap does not get lost. Such a strip thereby merely serves as a securing means against loss, but not simultaneously as a guarantee strip. The integrity guarantee is accordingly realized with other means, for example by way of sealing the tube head by way of a film, and this film having to be broken through, before first time use. Such an integrity guarantee however has the great disadvantage that the integrity of the product may not be ascertained on purchase, but only at home when using for the first time.
It is therefore the object of the present invention, to provide a receptacle with a pour-out spout and a screw cap of plastic, with which a guarantee strip visibly displays the integrity guarantee, and simultaneously the screwed-off screw cap remains captively connected to the receptacle, or its pour-out spout.
This object is achieved by a receptacle with a pour-out spout and with a screw cap of plastic, with the features of patent claim 1.
It is a further object of the invention to specify alternative connection possibilities between the retaining ring and the pour-out spout, which are suitable for different receptacles. These solutions are to be deduced from the dependent patent claims.
A preferred embodiment of the subject-matter of the invention is represented in the drawing, and is explained in detail by way of the subsequent description. There are shown in:

Figure 1: a first embodiment of a screw cap in the condition of integrity, on a pour-out spout with a flange.
Figure 2: shows the closure in a first intermediate position of opening,
Figure 3: the same screw cap in a further opened position, and
Figure 4: in a completely screwed-off position, before the lifting of the screw cap from the pour-out spout
Figure 5: shows a part cut-out of Figure 4 in a larger scale, and
Figure 6: the screw cap and the pour-out spout in a position of use, which is also shown in
Figure 7,: wherein here, the screw cap and the pour-out spout are on a receptacle in the form of bag-like receptacle manufactured from a flexible film.
Figure 8: shows an enlarged part section through a screw cap according to the invention, in the guarantee position on a bottle-like receptacle, and
Figure 9: shows the screw cap according to the invention in the non-assembled condition, in the integrity position, in an axial section

Figure 7 is referred to first of all for explaining the complete construction. Here, a receptacle 1 is represented, which comprises a pour-out spout 2 and a screw cap 3 which may be screwed thereon and is captively connected to the pour-out spout 5 via a guarantee strip 4 which here also serves as a securing strip, by way of a retaining ring 5.
Basically, the invention may be realized independently of the type and design of the receptacle 1. Thus the receptacle, as shown here, consist of a soft packaging of plastic film or of a combined plastic-cardboard laminate, or may also be realized as a glass bottle or plastic bottle. In any case however, the receptacle 1 is provided with a pour-out spout 2. This pour-out spout 2 is of course realized as part of the bottle neck with glass or plastic bottles.
With soft packages such as represented here in Figure 7, the pour-out spout is a separate component, consisting of a cylindrical tube section on which a peripheral flange 22 is integrally formed at the lower end. The flange 22, depending on whether it is welded onto the soft packaging 1 from the inside or from the outside, may be provided with welding ribs 23 on the upper side or on the lower side as is shown here. Of course, the cylindrical tube section 21 of the pour-out spout 2 is provided with an outer thread 25. This is all shown clearly and evidently in Figure 6. Here, the screw cap according to the invention is represented in the opened condition. The screw cap 3 is completely screwed from the pour-out spout 2, but is connected to the pour-out spout 2 via the guarantee strip 4, which in this case only continues to have the function as a securing strip. A retaining ring 5 is provided for this connection. The type of the connection of the retaining ring 5 to the pour-out spout 2 may be realized in various manners, but this is not evident in Figure 6. These connection possibilities are dealt with later in a more detailed manner.
In Figure 1, one recognizes the screw cap 3 which is placed onto a spout in the integrity position. The screw cap 3 has a lateral wall 31 and is closed at the top by a cover surface 32. The screw cap 3 is provided on the outer side of the lateral wall 31 with a ribbing 33 increasing the grip. The inner thread incorporated on the inner side of the lateral wall 31 may not be recognized. On the lower side, a peripheral collar 34 is integrally formed on the lateral wall 31. The retaining ring 5 which is connected to the pour-out spout 2 in a rotatable but axial secured manner, lies directly above the flange 22. The guarantee strip 4 is arranged between the retaining ring 5 and the collar 34, which does not necessarily have to be present. The guarantee strip 4 in this position only has the function of an integrity guarantee. The outer surface 41 of the guarantee strip 4 is flush with the outer surface 51 of the retaining ring 5, and likewise lies flush below the outer surface of the peripheral collar 34. In this guarantee position, all break-off bridges are intact. The break-off bridges in this position are practically hardly evident. For this reason, the detail of Figure 5 is referred to, with which a cut-out is represented in a larger scale, wherein the break-off bridges here however are already shown in the destroyed condition. With the screw cap according to the invention, first break-off bridges 35 are present, which in the intact condition form the connection between the retaining ring 5 and the guarantee strip 4. Two break-off bridges form the connection between two adjacent windings 42 of the guarantee strip 4. Finally, only third break-off bridges 37 continue to be present, which form the connection between an uppermost winding 42 and the collar 34, or the lower edge of the lateral wall 31 of the screw cap. In the position, as shown in Figure 1, which represents the guarantee position before opening for the first time, all break-off bridges 35, 36, 37 are intact. On opening for the first time, the steps as shown in Figure 2, 3 and 4 are then effected. With a first screwing off movement, the break-off bridges 35 are severed. A connection location 38 between the guarantee strip 4 and the retaining ring 5 however remains intact.
With a continued unscrewing of the screw cap, as is shown in Figure 3, the break-off bridges 36 which are arranged between two adjacent bindings 42, are severed. Finally, as shown in the Figures 4 and 5, also the break-off bridges 37 between the uppermost binding 42 of the guarantee strip 4 and the collar 34 or the lower edge of the lateral wall 31 are destroyed. The screw cap 3 may now be completely released, and removed from the pour-out spout. With this, the connection of the screw cap 3 to the retaining ring 5 however remains. Accordingly, a section connection location 39 is present, which represents the indestructible connection of the guarantee strip 4 to the screw cap 3.
Per se, it is not significant with regard to the sequence in which the break-off bridges 35, 36, 37 break when unscrewing. The double function that the guarantee strip 4 firstly acts as an integrity guarantee element and thereafter as a securing strip, is not changed by the sequence of the destruction of the break-off bridges.
Although the sequence of the destruction of the first to third break off bridges is not significant, as has been explained above, this sequence may be influenced by certain measures. Thus the break-off bridges in the most obvious version may be designed differently in their cross section at the thinnest location, wherein for example the first break-off bridges 35 would have the smallest cross section, whilst the second break-off bridges would have a slightly larger cross section, and the third break-off bridges could again have a larger cross section. This solution may be realized most simply with regard to manufacturing technology. A second, somewhat more complex solution, lies in designing the first break-off bridges running inclined relative to the rotation axis of the screw cap 3, or to the longitudinal axis of the pour-out-spout 2. By way of this design of the first break-off bridges 35, a shear-off force occurs with the forces running in the axial direction, which realizes an easy destruction of the first break-off bridges 35. With the second break-off bridges 36, one may then form the inclination of these break-off bridges with regard to the deviation from the axial direction to a lesser extent, so that here the shear forces are not so large and thus tear later than the first break-off bridges 35. Finally, the third break-off bridges 37 may be arranged running exactly in the axial direction, so that the shear-off forces practically do not exist by way of this, and thus these break-off bridges 37 tear last of all. With the sequence of destruction of the first to third break-off bridges described here, the first opening of the screw cap is effected in an aesthetically satisfactory manner, and it is ensured than no kneeing of the guarantee strip occurs on opening for the first time. Such a kneeing not only leads to the destruction of the guarantee strip 4, but may also render the screwing away of screw cap briefly more difficult.
The screw cap may again be screwed onto the spout 2 without any problem after the opening for the first time. With this, it is however impossible to wind on the guarantee strip 4 around the pour-out spout 2 such that the guarantee strip again assumes the position according to Figure 1. This is prevented alone on account of the restoring force of the guarantee strip being low, and secondly because the tensile forces occurring on opening for the first time effect a certain plastic deformation, so that the guarantee strip tends to unwind. Even if one firmly holds the retaining ring 5 during the screwing-on until the screw cap 3 is completely screwed on and the guarantee strip 4 has assumed practically the same position as in Figure 4, then the strip 4 again tends to relax and accordingly the retaining ring 5 and the guarantee strip always evidently rotates away from the pour-out spout 2, so that its destruction is obvious.
With a solution with which the pour-out spout 2 is provided with a flange 22, it is also possible to screw the retaining ring 5 to the flange 22. In this case, the plastic deformation forces which occur on the guarantee strip on opening for the first time, are significantly larger and accordingly the guarantee strip 4 may also not be brought back into the shape as is shown in Figure 1.
In Figure 8, a part of a bottle neck 2' is represented in a larger scale, which for example may be manufactured of glass. The bottle neck 2' which thus forms the pour-out spout 2 comprises a peripheral retaining bead 25 which has a saw-tooth-shaped cross section, and forms a positive-fit connection means which cooperates with a connection means on the securing ring 5. In the example shown here, the retaining ring 5 on its surface directed towards the pour-out spout, is provided with a peripheral annular groove 51. This annular groove 51 may have a rectangular cross section or roughly an equal and opposite shape to the retaining bead 25. In the shown example, the retaining bead 25 has a saw-tooth-shaped cross-sectional shape. This permits the screw cap to be placed on with a low force effort. The occurring tensile forces are however accommodated fully by the part surfaces running perpendicular to the tensile direction.
Finally, a screw cap 3 according to the invention is shown in an axial longitudinal section in Figure 9. Here one clearly recognizes the lateral wall 31 which is terminated by a cover surface 32. The collar 34 is realized as a lateral wall covering at the lower edge of the lateral wall 31. In this representation, one now recognizes also the inner thread 38 in the screw cap 3. This thread is preferably designed relatively steep, in order to realize a rapid and secure severing of the break-off bridges 35 to 37. The position represented here again corresponds to the integrity position in which the guarantee strip 4 is connected to its windings 42 amongst one another, and to the collar 34 as well as the retaining ring 5 via the break-off bridges. The retaining ring 5 here, on its inner side, comprises retaining bead sections 52 as positive fit means, which in the assembled condition are engaged in a corresponding annular retaining groove on the pour-out spout 2. These retaining bead sections 52 provide for a greater flexibility of the retaining ring 5 than a peripheral continuous retaining bead, with which in turn it is ensured that no destruction occurs on placing on the screw cap.
In order to ensure that the break-off bridges are not destroyed when placing on the screw cap, support elements 43 may be integrally formed on the guarantee strip 4, which ensure that with an occurring pressure, the break-off bridges are not completely compressed together and may thereby get destroyed. The support elements 43 are of course arranged distributed over the periphery, and in each case arranged offset with respect to the break-off bridges 35 to 37.

List of reference numerals

1: receptacle
2: pour-out spout
2': bottle neck
3: screw cap
4: guarantee strip, securing strip
5: retaining ring
21: cylindrical tube section
22: flange
23: welding ribs
24: outer thread
25: retaining bead
31: lateral wall
32: cover surface
33: ribbing
34: collar
35: first break-off bridges
36: second break-off bridges
37: third break-off bridges
38: connection location
39: second connection location
39': inner thread
41: outer surface of the guarantee strip
42: windings of the guarantee strip
43: support elements
51: annular groove
52: retaining bead sections

Claims

A receptacle (1) with a pour-out spout (2) and with a screw cap (3) of plastic with a guarantee strip (4) which is arranged at the lower edge of the peripheral lateral wall (31) of the screw cap and which is held in a secured manner at least in the axial direction, directly or indirectly on the pour-out spout (2) of a receptacle, characterized in that the guarantee strip (4) simultaneously serves as a securing strip which keeps the screw cap (3) in connection with the pour-out spout (2) after opening for the first time.
A receptacle (1) with a pour-out spout (2) and with a screw cap (3) of plastic with a guarantee strip (4) which is arranged at the lower edge of the peripheral lateral wall (31) of the screw cap and which is unreleasably (38) held in a secured manner at least in the axial direction, directly or indirectly on the pour-out spout (2) of a receptacle (1), characterized in that the guarantee strip (4) in the guarantee position is arranged flush below the lateral wall (31) peripherally by at least 540° and is non-detachably connected to the cap (3) and to a retaining ring (5) remaining on the pour-out spout (2) of a receptacle (1) for securing, wherein the guarantee strip comprises break-off bridges (35, 36, 37) which are arranged distributed over the whole length of the guarantee strip (4) and form connections (35) between the guarantee strip (4) and the retaining ring (5), connections (37) between the guarantee strip (4) and the cap (3), as well as connections (36) between two winding sections (42) of the guarantee strip (4) which lie over one another.
A receptacle with a screw cap according to claim 1, characterized in that the pour-out spout (2) and the retaining ring (5) comprise positive-fit connection means (25, 51, 52) which form a connection which is non-detachable but able to be rotated relative to one another.
A receptacle with a screw cap according to claim 3, characterized in that at least part sections (52) of a retaining bead as a connection means, are integrally formed on the retaining ring (5), and the pour-out spout (2) comprises an annular groove in which the connection means engage.
A receptacle with a screw cap according to claim 3, characterized in that an annular groove (51) as a connection means is formed in the retaining ring (5), and at least part sections of a retaining bead (25) which engage into the annular groove, are integrally formed on the pour-out spout (2').
A receptacle with a screw cap according to claim 1, characterized in that the pour-out spout (2) comprises a flange (22) for connection to a soft packaging as a receptacle (1), wherein the retaining ring (5) has a non-detachable fixed connection to the flange (22).
A receptacle with a screw cap according to claim 6, characterized in that the non-detachable connection is a welding connection.
A receptacle with a screw cap according to claim 1, characterized in that the guarantee strip (4) in the guarantee position has at least approximately a 720° wrapping angle.
A receptacle with a screw cap according to claim 2, characterized in that the break-off bridges (35, 36, 37) with respect to the middle axis of the pour-out spout (2), run parallel to its axial direction.
A receptacle with a screw cap according to claim 2, characterized in that the break-off bridges (35, 36, 37) with respect to the middle axis of the pour-out spout (2) run inclined to its axial direction.
A receptacle with a screw cap according to claim 9, characterized in that first break-off bridges (35) between the retaining ring (5) and the guarantee strip (4) have a smaller cross section than the remaining break-off bridges (36, 37).
A receptacle with a screw cap according to claim 11, characterized in that second break-off bridges (36) between two adjacent windings (42) have a larger cross section than the first break-off bridges, but a smaller cross section than third break-off bridges (37) between an uppermost winding (42) of the guarantee strip and the lateral wall (31) of the screw cap (3).
A receptacle with a screw cap according to claim 10, characterized in that the inclination of the break-off bridges (35, 36, 37) relative to the middle axis of the pour-out spout reduces from the connection location (38) of the guarantee strip (4) on the retaining ring (5) up to the connection location (39) of the guarantee strip (4) on the cap (3).