EP2318285A1

EP2318285A1 - Cap with tamper evident ring

Info

Publication number: EP2318285A1
Application number: EP09786689A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Alessandro Falzoni
Original assignee: Sacmi Imola SC
Current assignee: Sacmi Imola SC
Priority date: 2008-07-24
Filing date: 2009-07-23
Publication date: 2011-05-11
Also published as: WO2010010528A1; ITMO20080201A1; IT1390868B1

Abstract

Cap comprising a cup body (2) suitable for engaging with a mouth of a container, opening indicating means (10, 12) connected to said cup body (2) by breakable connecting means (13), first retaining means (16) and second retaining means (18) suitable for interacting with a ridge of said mouth for retaining axially said opening indicating means (10, 12), said first retaining means (16) and said second retaining means (18) projecting respectively from a first portion (19, 20) and from a second portion (21, 22) of said opening indicating means (10, 12), said first retaining means (16) being nearer said cup body (2) than said second retaining means (18), said connecting means (13) comprising bridges (23) that project from zones (24) substantially interposed between said first portion (19, 20) and said second portion (21, 22), said connecting means (13) comprising further bridges (25) positioned at said first portion (19, 20).

Description

CAP WITH TAMPER EVIDENT RING

The invention relates to cap means that is suitable for being applied to a threaded end of a container and provided with opening indicating means suitable for informing a user of the wholeness of a packaged product in the container. A cap is known comprising a cup body that is defined by a bottom wall and by a cylindrical skirt that is internally provided with a thread. The thread is suitable for engaging with a threaded end of a bottle. The cap is provided with a safety ring, which acts as an opening indicator, connected to a lower edge of the cup body by means of bridge elements that are suitable for being broken during a first opening of the container. From an internal surface of the safety ring retaining elements project radially towards a longitudinal axis of the cap that are suitable for interacting with an annular ridge of the container for axially retaining the safety ring when the cap is unscrewed. In this manner, during a first opening of the container, breaking of the bridge elements and thus separating of the safety ring from the cup body is promoted.

The retaining elements comprise a first pair of retaining elements, arranged diametrically opposite one another, and a second pair of retaining elements, which are diagonally opposite one another and arranged at an angular distance that is equal to 90° with respect to the retaining elements of the first pair. The first pair of retaining elements is nearer the cup body than the second pair of retaining elements. In this way, during packaging, the first pair of retaining elements and the second pair of retaining elements interact with the annular ridge at different times so that the ring, by deforming, for example assuming an approximately oval shape, is able to go beyond the annular ridge to be arranged substantially below the latter.

The bridge elements are distributed circumferally on the cap so as to be, in a plan view, interposed between adjacent retaining elements. In other words, the bridge elements are angularly staggered with respect to the retaining elements . When the cap is applied to the container during packaging of the product, the safety ring, by deforming with the object¹ of overcoming the annular ridge, may receive stresses so as to cause the breaking of bridge elements. In this case, the safety ring is no longer able reliably to perform the function of opening indicator and the safety of the wholeness of the packaged product is compromised. An object of the invention is to improve known caps. Another object is to obtain a cap provided with an opening indicating device that is more reliable and secure. A further object is to obtain a cap provided with an opening indicating device that is able to support better the stresses that are generated during packaging, so as to remain whole once it has been applied to a container.

According to the invention, cap means is provided comprising a cup body that is suitable for engaging with a mouth of a container, opening indicating means connected to said cup body by breakable connecting means, first retaining means and second retaining means suitable for interacting with ridge means of said mouth for axially retaining said opening indicating means, said first retaining means and said second retaining means projecting respectively from first portion means and from second portion means of said opening indicating means, said first retaining means being nearer said cup body with respect to said second retaining means, said connecting means comprising bridge means that project from zones substantially interposed between said first portion means and said second portion means, characterised in that said connecting means comprises further bridge means positioned on said first portion means.

Owing to the invention it is possible to obtain a cap provided with opening indicating means that is able to support better the stresses that are generated during the first application to a mouth of a container. This is made possible owing to the further bridge means that is positioned on the first portion means - i.e. that it has an angular position comprised in the corner portion defined by the first retaining means - and which helps the opening indicating means to support better the stresses during interaction with the ridge means during packaging. In particular, when the first retaining means, during screwing of the cap for the first time on the mouth, is pushed against the ridge means compression forces are generated that are prevalently contrasted by the further bridge means. As the further bridge means absorbs part of the stresses exerted on the opening indicating means, it significantly reduces the risk of the bridge means being excessively stressed so as to be damaged. This thus enables a cap to be obtained that is provided with an opening indicating device that is able to remain whole when applied to the mouth of the container during packaging. The opening indicating means is thus more reliable and is able to inform a user with greater safety of the wholeness of the product packaged in the container. The invention can be better understood and implemented with reference to the attached drawings, which illustrate some embodiments thereof by way of non- limiting example, in which: Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of cap means; Figure 2 is a transverse view of the cap means taken along a plane II-II of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a view like that of Figure 3 in which another embodiment of cap means is shown.

In Figure 1 a cap 1 is shown that is suitable for being applied to a mouth provided with external threading of a container, for example a bottle. The cap 1 can be made of plastics by means of compression moulding, or by means of injection moulding.

The cap 1 comprises a cup body 2 that is defined by a side wall 4, which may have a cylindrical shape, and by a bottom wall 3 that bounds, at one end, the side wall 4. The side wall 4 comprises an internal side surface 5 on which an internal thread 6 is obtained that is suitable for engaging with the external thread of the bottle. On the bottom wall 3 there can be provided a sealing portion 7 that enables the product contained in the bottle to be isolated from the external environment .

The side wall 4 comprises an external side surface 8 which can be provided with a knurled zone 9 that enables a user to grasp the cup body 2 more easily to screw the cup body 2 on the bottle or to unscrew the cup body 2 therefrom.

The cap 1 comprises opening indicating means 10 that is used to inform a user of the wholeness of a product packaged in the bottle.

The opening indicating means 10 is associated with an edge 11 of the cup body 2 opposite the bottom wall 3. The opening indicating means 10 comprises a safety ring 12. The safety ring 12 has an internal edge 26 that lies on a plane G that is substantially parallel to the bottom wall 3 and faces and is near the cup body 2. The safety ring 12 comprises an external edge 27, opposite the internal edge 26.

The safety ring 12 is connected to the edge 11 by connecting means 13 that is suitable for being broken during first opening of the bottle.

Between the cup body 2 and the safety ring 12 an intended separating line 17 is defined that may comprise a plurality of cuts or of openings spaced apart by the connecting means

13.

Retaining means 15 that is suitable for interacting with an annular ridge of the bottle for axially retaining the safety ring 12 projects substantially radially from an internal surface 14 of the safety ring 12 towards a longitudinal axis

A of the cap 1. In other words, the retaining means 15 acts substantially to prevent the safety ring 12 from moving parallel to the longitudinal axis A when the cap 1 is unscrewed from the mouth during the first opening of the container, and in this manner promotes the breaking of the connecting means 13, consequently enabling the safety ring to be separated from the cup body 2.

In one embodiment, the retaining means 15 comprises first retaining elements 16, in particular a pair of first retaining elements 16. The first retaining elements 16, in particular, can be arranged diametrically opposite one another, as more clearly visible in Figure 2.

The first retaining elements 16 project from first portion means of the safety ring 12, the first portion means comprising a first portion 19 and a further first portion 20 of the safety ring 12. The first portion 19 and the further first portion 20, which are opposite one another, each define a circumferal arch with which an angle B is associated. Each first retaining element 16 thus extends so as to be positioned inside the zone defined by the angle B. The retaining means 15 comprises second retaining elements 18, in particular a pair of second retaining elements 18. The second retaining elements 18, in particular, can be arranged diametrically opposite one another, as shown in Figure 2. Each second retaining element 18 is positioned circumferally so as to be interposed between the two first retaining elements 16. Similarly, each first retaining element 16 is positioned circumferally so as to be interposed between the two second retaining elements 18.

The second retaining elements 18 project from second portion means of the safety ring 12, the second portion means comprising a second portion 21 and a further second portion 22 of the safety ring 12. The second portion 21 and the further second portion 22, which are opposite one another, each define a circumference arch with which a further angle C is associated. Each second retaining element 18 thus extends so as to be positioned inside the zone defined by the further angle C. The further angle C can be equal to the angle B. The first portion 19 and the further first portion 20 are separated respectively from the second portion 21 and from the further second portion 22 by an angular distance F. In the embodiment shown, the angular distance F is substantially equal to 90°, but can also have different values .

As can be seen in Figure 1, the first retaining elements 16 and the second retaining elements 18 are positioned at different heights, measured parallel to the longitudinal axis A. In particular, the first retaining elements 16 are nearer the cup body 2 than the second retaining elements 18. The first retaining elements 16 are separated from the edge 11 of the cup body 2 by a first distance Dl. The second retaining elements 18 are separated from the first retaining elements 16 by a second distance D2.

On the safety ring 12 interposition zones 24 are defined, which are defined between the first portion means and the second portion means. In particular, the interposition zones 24 are interposed between the first portion 19 and the second portion 21, and between the first portion 19 and the further second portion 22. Similarly, interposition zones 24 are defined between the further first portion 20 and the second portion 21, and between the further first portion 20 and the further second portion 22.

The connecting means 13 comprises first bridge elements 23 which are positioned in the interposition zones 24, and which are thus angularly spaced away from the first retaining elements 16 and from the second retaining elements 18. In the embodiment shown in Figure 2 a pair of first bridge elements 23 is arranged on each interposition zone 24. The first bridge elements 23 can be positioned substantially in the centre of each interposition zone 24, as shown in Figure 2. On the second portion 21 and on the further second portion 22 bridge elements are not provided.

The connecting means 13 comprises second bridge elements 25 that are positioned on the first portion 19 and on the further first portion 20. The second bridge elements 25 are thus angularly arranged near the first retaining elements 16. In other words, in the plan view of Figure 2, the second bridge elements 25 are positioned inside the areas defined by the angles B. The second bridge elements 25 are separated from the first retaining elements 16 by a distance, measured parallel to the longitudinal axis A, that is less than a further distance measured similarly between the first bridge elements 23 and the second retaining elements 18. Figure 3 shows another embodiment of the cap 1, in which the first bridge elements 23 are located at end areas of each interposition zone 24. The first bridge elements 23 are thus near the ends of the first portion 19, of the further first end 20, of the second portion 21 and of the further second portion 22.

In this embodiment, unlike the embodiment in Figure 2, the first bridge elements 23 are thus angularly positioned nearer the first retaining elements 16 and the second retaining elements 18.

During packaging of a product inside the container, the cap 1 is screwed on the mouth of the bottle to reach a final configuration in which both the first retaining elements 16 and the second retaining elements 18 are positioned below the annular ridge. Initially, the cap 1 is screwed on the mouth so as to move the safety ring 12 progressively nearer the annular ridge until the second retaining elements 18 are brought in contact with the latter. Whilst the cap 1 continues to be screwed on the mouth, the second retaining elements 18, pushed against the annular ridge, cause the safety ring 12 to become deformed. In particular, the zones of the safety ring 12 that are near the second retaining elements 18 are elastically deformed and are subjected, in addition to compression forces, also to rotations such as to move the external edge 27 away from the longitudinal axis A and such as to move the internal edge 26 nearer the longitudinal axis A. The deformation is greatest near the central zones of the second retaining elements 18 and is least near the end zones of the second retaining elements 18. At the central zones of the second retaining elements 18, which are more deformed, bridge elements are not provided to prevent the latter being possibly damaged during packaging. The first bridge elements 23 are in fact placed at a distance from the central zones of the second portion 21 and of the further second portion 22 and this means that they are less stressed during deformation of the latter.

Whilst the cap 1 is further screwed on the mouth of the container, also the first retaining elements 16 come into contact with the annular ridge and are pushed against the latter in order to go beyond the annular ridge and arrange themselves below the annular ridge. As the first retaining elements 16 are nearer the internal edge 26 than the second retaining elements 18, the first portion 19 and the further first portion 20 receive substantially direct actions parallel to the longitudinal axis A. In other words, the zones of the safety ring 12 comprised between the first retaining elements 18 and the internal edge 16 are prevalently subjected to compression forces that are at least partially absorbed by the second bridge elements 25. Owing to the second bridge elements 25, the stresses acting on the first bridge elements 23 are substantially reduced. In this manner the risk that the first bridge elements 23 get damaged is significantly reduced.

Screwing the cap 1 on the bottle ends when also the first retaining elements 16 go beyond the annular ridge, becoming arranged therebelow. The opening indicating means 10 is whole in the final position and is thus able to provide information correctly on possible tampering with the bottle.

Claims

1. Cap means comprising a cup body (2) suitable for engaging with a mouth of a container, opening indicating means (10, 12) connected to said cup body (2) by- breakable connecting means (13) , first retaining means

(16) and second retaining means (18) suitable for interacting with ridge means of said mouth for retaining axially said opening indicating means (10, 12), said first retaining means (16) and said second retaining means (18) projecting respectively from first portion means (19, 20) and from second portion means (21, 22) of said opening indicating means (10, 12), said first retaining means (16) being nearer said cup body (2) than said second retaining means (18) , said connecting means (13) comprising bridge means (23) that projects from zones (24) substantially interposed between said first portion means (19, 20) and said second portion means (21, 22), characterised in that said connecting means (13) comprises further bridge means (25) positioned on said first portion means (19, 20) .

2. Cap means according to claim 1, wherein said further bridge means (25) , in a plan view of said cap means (1) , have an angular position comprised in a region angularly defined by said first retaining means (16) .

3. Cap means according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein said further bridge means (25) is positioned substantially centrally on said first portion means (19, 20) .

4. Cap means according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein said bridge means (23) is positioned substantially centrally on said zones (24) .

5. Cap means according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein said bridge means (23) is positioned near ends of said zones (24) .

6. Cap means according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein said first portion means comprises a first portion (19) and a second portion (20) arranged on opposite sides with respect to a longitudinal axis (A) of said cap means (1) and wherein said second portion means comprises a second portion (21) and a further second portion (22) arranged on opposite parts with respect said longitudinal axis (A) and angularly spaced by a quantity (F) from said first portion (19) and from said further first portion (20) .

7. Cap means according to any one of claims 1 to 6 , wherein said bridge means (23) comprises pairs of bridge elements (23) , each pair being positioned on a respective zone (24) .

8. Cap means according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein said further bridge means comprises two further bridge elements (25) , positioned respectively on said first portion (19) and on said further first portion (20) .

9. Cap means according to claim 6, or according to claim 7 or 8 as appended to claim 6, wherein said quantity (F) is substantially equal to 90° .

10. Cap means according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein said opening indicating means comprises a safety ring (12) , said bridge means (23) and said further bridge means (25) extending transversely to a plane (G) defined by said safety ring (12) .