EP2332851A1

EP2332851A1 - Closure for container with labyrint seal

Info

Publication number: EP2332851A1
Application number: EP10194743A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Guglielmo Ferrari; Silvia Ferrari
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: ROEM Srl
Priority date: 2009-12-14
Filing date: 2010-12-13
Publication date: 2011-06-15
Anticipated expiration: 2030-12-13
Also published as: IT1397513B1; ITMI20092181A1; EP2332851B1

Abstract

An improved closure (11) for containers, in particular drinks, comprising a main body (12), with a threaded locking ring, to be associated with a neck of a container, from which a tubular projection (14) extends, coupled with a cap element (21), said main body (12) having a central hole (15) concentric to said projection (14) and intercepted by an island flow control element (27) fixedly connected through radial bridges (26) with respect to said cap element (21), said cap element (21) having a tubular structure and being able to slide axially along said projection (14) from a lowered position, closing said hole (15) through said island flow control element (27), to a raised position opening up said hole (15) for the passage of the liquid, characterised in that said hole (15) is surrounded by an annular ridge (20) that extends coaxially inside said projection (14) towards said island flow control element (27) making a labyrinth seal when associated with the island flow control element (27) itself.

Description

The present invention refers to an improved closure for containers.
In the field of systems for closing containers in general, in particular in the field of drinks, there is a great need to equip containers with closures that on one hand make it possible to take out part of the content and on the other hand ensure that there is a suitable seal, once they are re-closed. Moreover, such closures must be of the aseptic type.
For example, people who practice sport activities certainly need to restore the substances lost with sweat, by using salt integrating drinks, rich in mineral salts, arranged in containers.
In these containers, the user must have a closure available that, after being opened, can be closed easily. This is in order to preserve the characteristics of the drink when it is drunk over a length of time.
It is common for containers to contain a bottle-shaped body having a neck and a mouth where, during manufacturing, the drink is inserted, and where a closure is fixed to aseptically close it.
Usually, a composite closure of this kind comprises a main body with a threaded locking ring that can be screwed onto the neck of the container, at the top of which a tubular projection is axially arranged equipped with a central hole made in the main body. When completed, a cap element is foreseen coupled with the projection and able to slide outside of it.
This cap element foresees a flat top wall, equipped with a central hole for the drink to come out from. From this flat wall, two coaxial tubular portions, in which the inner one is connected through bridges to an island flow control element that identifies a passage with many openings for the drink, extend downwards.
The closure is thus closed when the upper cap element, able to slide on the projection, is completely lowered and closes the hole formed in the top wall of the main body.
Such a closure should form a seal between the aforementioned island flow control element and the hole coaxial and inside the projection. When it is desired to make the drink come out from the container, it is necessary to slide the top cap element upwards unlocking and disengaging the inner island flow control element from the hole in the main body. In such a way, the user can drink bringing the whole thing towards his mouth.
When completed, it should be specified that the main body of the closure is usually screwed onto a threaded portion of the neck of the container, with the presence of the pull-ring to ensure the integrity of the closed container. The upper cap element is equipped with a covering element that covers the projection-upper cap element pair and protects the closure area to be brought to the mouth.
A closure of this kind has some difficulties both during sealing and during sterilization.
The island flow control element that is inserted into the central hole of the upper wall of the main body is not indeed able to ensure a reliable seal.
Moreover, there are some difficulties during sterilization of the inner part of the closure before it is screwed onto the neck of the container.
A further problem linked to such a closure is due to the fact that the liquid content has gas added to it and that therefore, when the closure is opened, liquid escapes with a certain degree of a jet, due to the pressure in the container, which leads to stain the user and the surrounding area.
The purpose of the present invention is that of overcoming the aforementioned drawbacks of the closures known to this day.
Another purpose of the present invention is that of providing a closure of this type that can be easily sterilized inside.
A further purpose of the present invention is that of providing a closure that allows repeated openings and closings.
Yet another purpose of the present invention is that of making a closure that makes it possible to drink in an easy manner and that has a very simple structure.
A further purpose of the present invention is that of making a closure that is long-lasting and that satisfies the requirements of users.
Last but not least purpose is that of making a closure that is capable of obtaining an optimal seal while having a simple structure.
Yet another purpose of the present invention is to make a closure that, when there is a fizzy liquid or beverage, allows opening without liquid escaping in a jet.
These and other purposes according to the invention are achieved by making an improved closure for containers as outlined in claim 1.
Further characteristics of the closure are object of the dependent claims.
The characteristics and the advantages of an improved closure for containers according to the present invention shall become clearer from the following description, given as an example and not for limiting purposes, with reference to the attached schematic drawings, in which:

figure 1 is a half sectioned side elevational view of an improved closure for containers according to the invention in a first closed and sealed position;
figure 2 is a view that is completely similar to that of figure 1, in a second completely open position with the cover removed;
figure 3 is a top perspective view, partially in section, of the closure of figure 1;
figure 4 is a top perspective view, partially in section, of the closure of figure 2.
figure 5 is a half sectioned side elevation view of a further embodiment of the closure according to the invention with the closure cap exploded with respect to the main body;
figures 6a, 6b and 6c are section views, half complete and half partial, of the top part of the closure shown in figure 5.

With reference to the figures, an improved closure for containers is shown, in particular of the aseptic type, according to the invention wholly indicated with reference numeral 11.
The closure 11 is arranged on a container, not shown, at a threaded portion formed at its mouth.
Therefore, the closure 11 usually comprises a main body 12 with a threaded locking ring 13, that can be screwed onto the neck of the container (not shown), at the top of which a tubular projection 14 is axially arranged equipped with a central hole 15 obtained in an upper wall 16 of the main body 12.
In particular, the main body 12 foresees a step-shaped profile at the top identified by a first annular plane 17 and a second annular plane with a smaller diameter, coinciding with the upper wall 16, raised and coaxial with respect to the first plane 17.
The tubular projection 14, coaxial with respect to the main body 12, extends as a single piece from it.
In the main body 12 from the first annular plane 17 an annular cylindrical lip 18 extends forming a housing 19 with it for an upper free edge of the container (not shown).
The central hole 15 is surrounded by an annular shaped ridge 20 that extends coaxially inside the projection 14.
A cap element 21 is arranged on the projection 14 able to slide outside it between a raised position for opening the hole 15 and a lowered position for closing the hole 15.
Indeed, the cap element 21 foresees a duct passage 23 on its top wall 22 from which the drink can come out. From this top wall 22 two coaxial tubular portions 24 and 25 extend downwards, where the inner one 24 is connected through bridges 26 to an island flow control element 27 coaxial to it and identifying a passage with many windows 28 for the drink to flow towards the duct passage 23.
The closure is thus closed when the cap element 21, able to slide on the projection 14, is completely lowered closing the hole 15 defined in the upper wall 16 of the main body 12.
According to the present invention, the island flow control element 27, that has a substantially cylindrical shape, has a wedge-shaped free end 29 at the bottom in the part facing the hole 15 and also the annular shaped ridge 20. At the upper end, the cylindrical island flow control element 27 extends outwards with an inverted and annular L-shaped portion 30 that identifies with its cylindrical surface an annular seat 31 suitable for receiving the annular shaped ridge 20. In such a way, with the parts closed in engagement, a labyrinth seal is formed that ensures the optimal and safe seal closure of the closure, when the cap element 21 is lowered.
Moreover, at the upper end of the projection 14 there is a first annular end stop ridge 32 that extends outwards. Moreover, from the outer tubular portion 25 of the cap element 21 a second annular ridge 33 extends inwards that, together with a third annular end stop ridge 34, that extends outwards from a lower area of the projection 14, defines the space for the lowering and raising strokes of the cap element 21. In such a way the upper cap element 21 can slide along the projection 14 raising until the second ridge 33 abuts against the first end stop ridge 32 and is locked by this to avoid its disengagement from the projection 14.
The operation of the closure according to the present invention should be clear from what has been said.
In order to open the closure 11, it is sufficient to raise the cap element 21 making it slide along the projection 14, considering the limitation of the stroke due to the ridges 32 and 34.
Similarly, in order to re-close the closure 11 it is sufficient to lower the cap element 21 in order to ensure that the shutter 27 engages to form the labyrinth seal with the annular shaped ridge 20.
Moreover, it should be specified that the main body 12 is fixed to a pull-ring 35 inserted to wrap around the neck of the container (not shown) in order to ensure the integrity of the container.
Finally, there is a capsule-shaped covering element 36 that covers the cap element 21 resting against an outer surface of a cylindrical portion 37 of the main body 12 arranged between the first annular plane 17 and a second annular plane 16.
Even such a covering element 36 can be equipped with a pull-ring 38 ensuring the integrity of the container as manufactured.
It should be clear how the particular structure of the closure according to the invention makes it possible to obtain an optimal sterilization operation. It is indeed possible, with the flow control element inserted in the hole 15 and with a labyrinth seal made, to spray the sanitizing liquid inside the closure 11.
As already highlighted, the aforementioned labyrinth arrangement achieves an optimal closing seal with ensured hermetic properties reaching the purposes of the invention.
The closure advantageously allows closing and opening while having the same functionality and optimal sterilization according to known methods and systems.
Figure 5 shows a half sectioned side elevation view of a further embodiment of a closure according to the invention. In this embodiment, illustrated here with the closure cap 21 exploded with respect to the projection 14 of the main body 12, it can be seen that the third annular ridge 34 of the projection 14 is replaced by a differennt arrangement.
Indeed, on the outer surface of the projection 14 there is a series of spiral scores 39, spaced apart and parallel to one another, projecting towards the outside that extend for a short section of the outer surface of the projection 14.
In a complementary fashion, the inner surface of the cap element 21 instead of the lower annular ridge foresees a series of spiral scores 40, spaced apart and parallel to one another, projecting towards the inside. The coupling of the series of spiral scores 39 of the projection 14 with the series of spiral scores 40 of the cap element 21 forces the latter to rotate when it is moved from the lowered position to the raised position (figures 6a, 6b and 6c).
This rotation ensures that the closure lifts up slowly and that the gas contained in the container is released, without causing a violent emission of the liquid contained in it.
The structure of the closure is extremely simple, cost-effective and it ensures an optimal seal.
Finally, it should be clear that the closure thus conceived can undergo numerous modifications and variants, all covered by the invention; moreover, all the details can be replaced by technically equivalent elements. In practice the materials used, as well as the sizes, can be any according to the technical requirements.

Claims

Improved closure (11) for containers, in particular drinks, comprising a main body (12), with a threaded locking ring, to be associated with a neck of a container, from which a tubular projection (14) extends, coupled with a cap element (21), said main body (12) having a central hole (15) concentric to said projection (14) and intercepted by an island flow control element (27) fixedly connected through radial bridges (26) with respect to said cap element (21), said cap element (21) having a tubular structure and being able to slide axially along said projection (14) from a lowered position, closing said hole (15) through said island flow control element (27), to a raised position opening up said hole (15) for the passage of the liquid, characterised in that said hole (15) is surrounded by an annular ridge (20) that extends coaxially inside said projection (14) towards said island flow control element (27) making a labyrinth seal when associated with the island flow control element (27) itself.
Improved closure (11) for containers according to claim 1, characterised in that said island flow control element (27) extends outwards with an inverted and annular L-shaped portion (30) suitable for coupling with said annular ridge (20).
Improved closure (11) for containers according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that said cap element (21) consists of two coaxial tubular portions (24, 25), the inner one (24) being connected through said bridges (26) to said island flow control element (27).
Improved closure (11) for containers according to one or more of the previous claims, characterised in that a covering element (36) is also foreseen that covers said cap element (21) removably fixed to said main body (12) through a pull-ring (38).
Improved closure (11) for containers according to one or more of the previous claims, characterised in that said island flow control element (27) has a substantially cylindrical shape and exhibits, at the bottom in the part facing the hole (15) and the annular ridge (20), a wedge-shaped free end (29).
Improved closure (11) for containers according to one or more of the previous claims, characterised in that on the outer surface of the projection (14) there is a series of spiral scores (39), spaced apart and parallel to one another, projecting towards the outside that extend for a short section and in that on the inner surface of the cap element (21) there is a series of spiral scores (40), spaced apart and parallel to one another, projecting towards the inside, which couples in a complementary fashion with the series of spiral scores (39) of the projection (14), forcing said cap element (21) to rotate when it is moved from the lowered position to the raised position.