EP2391555B1 - Ensemble de fermeture de contenant avec joint d'etancheite par pression - Google Patents

Ensemble de fermeture de contenant avec joint d'etancheite par pression Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP2391555B1
EP2391555B1 EP10703089.2A EP10703089A EP2391555B1 EP 2391555 B1 EP2391555 B1 EP 2391555B1 EP 10703089 A EP10703089 A EP 10703089A EP 2391555 B1 EP2391555 B1 EP 2391555B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
cap
sealing
container
neck
skirt
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.)
Revoked
Application number
EP10703089.2A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP2391555A1 (fr
Inventor
Roger Milner King
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.)
Beeson and Sons Ltd
Original Assignee
Beeson and Sons Ltd
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
Family has litigation
First worldwide family litigation filed litigation Critical https://patents.darts-ip.com/?family=40469361&utm_source=google_patent&utm_medium=platform_link&utm_campaign=public_patent_search&patent=EP2391555(B1) "Global patent litigation dataset” by Darts-ip is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Application filed by Beeson and Sons Ltd filed Critical Beeson and Sons Ltd
Publication of EP2391555A1 publication Critical patent/EP2391555A1/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP2391555B1 publication Critical patent/EP2391555B1/fr
Priority to CY20131100970T priority Critical patent/CY1114828T1/el
Revoked legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

Links

Images

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
    • B65D1/00—Containers having bodies formed in one piece, e.g. by casting metallic material, by moulding plastics, by blowing vitreous material, by throwing ceramic material, by moulding pulped fibrous material, by deep-drawing operations performed on sheet material
    • B65D1/02—Bottles or similar containers with necks or like restricted apertures, designed for pouring contents
    • B65D1/0223—Bottles or similar containers with necks or like restricted apertures, designed for pouring contents characterised by shape
    • B65D1/023—Neck construction
    • B65D1/0246—Closure retaining means, e.g. beads, screw-threads
    • 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
    • B65D41/0471—Threaded or like caps or cap-like covers secured by rotation with means for positioning the cap on the container, or for limiting the movement of the cap, or for preventing accidental loosening of the cap
    • 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
    • B65D2401/00—Tamper-indicating means
    • B65D2401/15—Tearable part of the closure
    • B65D2401/20—Frangible elements completely enclosed in closure skirt

Definitions

  • the present invention rotates to improved seals for container closure assemblies.
  • the invention is especially applicable to the sealing of containers in substantially gas-tight and liquid-tight fashion, such as the sealing of carbonated and non-carbonated beverage containers.
  • Certain existing container and cap assemblies make use of an elastomeric liner in the base of the cap. This liner is pressed against the lip of the bottle neck when the cap is screwed firmly onto the bottle neck, and the compression between the soft, deformable liner and the lip of the container provides a tight seal.
  • the manufacture and insertion of the liner into the cap are relatively costly additional process steps.
  • care must be taken not to over tighten such caps onto the container neck, since the liner can become brittle or damaged if excessive pressure is applied thereto.
  • WO02/42171 describes a container closure assembly, comprising: a sealing plug extending from the base portion of the cap inside and substantially concentric with the skirt portion of the cap, wherein the sealing plug comprises a plurality of circumferential sealing ribs on an outer surface of the sealing plug for engagement with the inner surface of the container neck when the cap is secured on the container neck; at least one flexible sealing fin between the sealing plug and the cap skirt for engagement with the lip of the container when the cap is secured on the container neck; and at least one circumferential sealing rib on an inner surface of the cap skirt for engagement with an outer surface of the container neck proximate to the lip when the cap is secured on the container neck.
  • the lip of the container neck is pinched between the ribs on the outer surface of the sealing plug and the sealing rib on the inner surface of the cap skirt to form a pressure-tight seal.
  • WO2007/057706 describes a container closure assembly according to the preamble of claim 1 comprising: a sealing plug extending from the base portion of the cap inside and substantially concentric with the threaded skirt portion of the cap, wherein the sealing plug comprises two or more longitudinally spaced circumferential sealing ribs on an outer surface of the sealing plug for engagement with an inner surface of the container neck proximate to the lip when the cap is secured on the container neck.
  • the cap further comprises a sealing skirt extending from the base portion of the cap intermediate the sealing plug and the threaded skirt portion of the cap and substantially concentric with the sealing plug and the threaded skirt portion of the cap, wherein the sealing skirt comprises two or more longitudinally spaced circumferential sealing ribs on an inner surface of the sealing skirt for engagement with an outer surface of the container neck proximate to the lip when the cap is secured on the container neck.
  • two of the sealing ribs on the sealing plug are located at substantially the same longitudinal distances from the base portion of the cap as a two of the circumferential sealing ribs on the sealing skirt, whereby the lip of the container neck is pinched between the sealing ribs on the cap plug and the sealing skirt at two or more longitudinally spaced locations when the cap is in the secured position on the container neck.
  • Sealing arrangements for plastic container closures are also known that make use of a sealing olive extending from the base of the cap that forms an interference fit inside the container neck for sealing against an inside surface of the container neck proximate to the lip of the container neck.
  • the sealing olive is a sealing plug that is characterized by having a smooth, bulbous circumferential projection (when viewed in longitudinal cross-section) on its radially outer surface.
  • the olive seal is robust, easy to mould, and can maintain a good seal even when the base of the cap is distorted (domed) by pressure from inside the container.
  • the olive seal on its own is not sufficient to provide a good, pressure-tight seal on carbonated beverage containers.
  • US-A-5871111 and WO-A-9944896 , US-A-20040060893 , US-A-20020158037 , GB-A-2131774 , EP-A-0076778 , WO-A-2007132254 , US-A-20010027957 , EP-A-1627821 and WO-A-2008012426 show arrangements in which a sealing olive or sealing plug is used together with one or more circumferential sealing ribs or ledges on the base of the cap that abut against the top of the lip of the container neck in the sealing position.
  • WO98/35881 describes container closures in which a sealing olive is used together with a highly flexible sealing skirt that deforms to cover the lip of the container neck when the cap is secured on the neck.
  • the contact area between the sealing skirt and the neck is quite large in the sealing position, which reduces problems caused by defects or dirt on the lip.
  • Caps of this type manufactured by Bericap GmbH, probably represent the most effective sealing caps on the market.
  • the large contact area between the sealing skirt and the container neck in the sealing position results in an undesirably high sealing and opening torque.
  • over-tightening of the cap can result in damage to the sealing skirt.
  • WO2008/012426 describes a similar cap with an olive seal and a relatively short sealing skirt. However it appears that this cap further requires an elastomeric liner in the base of the cap and a further sealing rib near the bottom of the cap in order to produce a satisfactory seal.
  • the present inventors have found that the above sealing arrangements in which a portion of the cap abuts directly against the top of the container lip present a problem, which is that the application of an axial force on the cap to displace it further towards the neck from the fully closed and sealing position results in permanent deformation and damage to the cap and impaired subsequent sealing.
  • This excess axial displacement of the cap towards the neck can occur not only as a result of over-tightening of the cap on the neck (which can generally be prevented by means of suitable thread stops) but also as a result of the weight of superimposed containers when the containers are stacked, as is commonplace in the storage and transport of, for example, beverage containers.
  • the present invention provides a container closure assembly comprising:
  • the seal between the cap and the neck is maintained during said displacement.
  • the ability to displace the cap by axial force provides improved performance of the closure assembly when containers equipped with the assembly are stacked so that the assemblies at the bottom of the stack are subjected to axial force due to the superimposed containers.
  • the displacement is a resilient displacement, whereby the closure tends to spring back to substantially the original sealing position when the axial force is removed even in the absence of any external restoring force such as pressure inside the container. This resilience can be primarily due to the elastic flexure of the sealing skirt.
  • the prior art closure assemblies currently in use do not have this property, as they all require direct abutment between the top of the container lip and the cap at the sealing position that blocks further axial movement of the cap towards the neck under axial force and/or results in permanent, plastic deformation of the cap under the axial force that impairs the sealing properties of the assembly both'during and after the axial force is applied.
  • the axial displacement of the cap in the assemblies of the present invention takes place substantially or completely without plastic (permanent) deformation of the cap.
  • the resilient axial deformation may be at least 0.1mm, more suitably from about 0.2mm to about 2mm, typically from about 0.5mm to about 1 mm.
  • the axial force may be from about 1 N to about 1000N, for example from about 10N to about 100N.
  • the assemblies according to the invention have a clearance (gap) between the top of the container lip and the axially adjacent point on the cap at the sealing position.
  • the clearance between the topmost point of the lip and the axially adjacent point on the base of the closure at the sealing position should be at least about 0.1mm, suitably about 0.2mm to about 2mm, for example about 0.5mm to about 1mm.
  • top surface in this context refers to any portion of the lip that is inclined (in longitudinal cross-section) at an angle of more than about 45 degrees to the main axis of the assembly, preferably about 30 degrees to the main axis of the assembly.
  • a region of the radially inner surface of the sealing skirt is concave for engagement with an outer surface of the container neck proximate to said lip when the cap is secured on the container neck.
  • Such a concave sealing skirt is well adapted to slide around the side of the lip to maintain effective sealing during the axial displacement.
  • the combination of olive sealing plug and concave sealing skirt is new, and provides surprisingly improved sealing at low sealing forces, in addition to the improved performance when subjected to axial force at the sealing position.
  • the neck is moulded in one piece from thermoplastic material, such as polyethylene terephthalate.
  • the neck may form part of a beverage container, such as a molded plastic or glass carbonated beverage bottle.
  • the container lip is substantially fully radiused in longitudinal cross-section. That is to say, the longitudinal cross-section of the lip surface presents a substantially continuous curve extending from the inside surface of the neck to the outside surface of the neck, so that the top of the lip is rounded, not flat. More suitably, the surface of the lip is shaped substantially as a segment of a circle in cross-section, for example it may be substantially semi-circular.
  • the rounded lip provides for easy and comfortable drinking directly from the container neck. It is a further advantage of the present invention that the sealing arrangement is effective to provide a pressure-tight seal on a rounded container lip by engagement of the concave inner surface of the sealing skirt on the rounded surface of the lip.
  • the inner and/or the outer surfaces of the container neck adjoining the lip are slightly tapered. That is to say, the internal diameter of the neck adjacent to the bottom of the lip may be slightly tapered inwardly providing a substantially conical surface wherein the internal diameter decreases slightly with increasing distance from the junction with the (radiused part of) the lip.
  • this region of taper extends for an axial distance from about 1 mm to about 10mm, for example about 2mm to about 5mm. so that the olive seal abuts against the tapered inside surface as the sealing position is approached when screwing the cap onto the neck.
  • the outer diameter of the neck adjacent to the bottom of the lip may be slightly tapered outwardly so that the outer diameter increases slightly with increasing distance from the the junction with the (radiused part of) the lip.
  • this region of taper extends for an axial distance from about 1mm to about 10mm, for example about 2mm to about 5mm, so that the sealing skirt abuts against the tapered inside surface as the the sealing position of the cap on the neck is approached.
  • the angle of each taper, measured in longitudinal cross-section is suitably independently from about 1 degree to about 30 degrees, more suitably from about 5 degrees to about 20 degrees from the longitudinal axis of the assembly.
  • the slight taper of the neck below the lip results in a more constant torque being required to secure the cap on the neck close to the sealing position. In other words, there is a less abrupt increase in screwing torque as the sealing plug and sealing skirt first engage the neck.
  • the assembly according to the invention further comprises a cap having a base portion and a threaded skirt portion.
  • the cap is suitably moulded in one piece from thermoplastic material, for example by injection moulding or by compression moulding.
  • the cap includes a sealing plug and a sealing skirt depending from the base of the cap, as defined above.
  • the sealing plug is suitably in the form of a tube, typically projecting perpendicularly downwardly from the base of the cap and preferably substantially concentric with the threaded skirt and coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the cap.
  • the height of the sealing plug (measured from the inside surface of the base of the cap) is suitably from about 1mm to about 5mm, for example about 1.5mm to about 2.5mm.
  • the sealing plug is normally molded integrally with the base of the cap.
  • the mean thickness of the tubular wall of the sealing plug is suitably from about 0.5mm to about 2mm, for example about 0.7mm to about 1.2mm. This gives the sealing plug the right degree of resilience and strength for the desired sealing function.
  • the sealing plug is in the form of an olive seal. That is to say, the plug has a circumferentially projecting radially outer surface having a bulbous shape (when viewed in longitudinal cross-section).
  • the bulbous projection has a substantially smooth, continuous surface and a height suitably from about 10% to about 50% of the radial thickness of the plug.
  • the minimum radius of curvature of the bulbous projection is suitably no less than about the mean radial thickness of the plug.
  • the minimum radius of curvature of the bulbous projection is from about 0.5mm to about 1mm.
  • Such olive sealing plugs are relatively tolerant of small axial displacements of the plug, for example caused by doming of the cap base under pressure from inside the container, without loss of sealing effectiveness.
  • the container closure in the assembly according to the present invention further comprises a circumferential sealing skirt.
  • the sealing skirt is separate and radially spaced from the threaded cap skirt that engages the thread on the outside of the container neck.
  • the sealing skirt is substantially tubular, and projects downwardly from the base of the cap intermediate the cap skirt and the sealing plug.
  • the sealing skirt is preferably substantially concentric with the threaded skirt and the sealing plug, and coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the cap.
  • the height of the sealing skirt is suitably from about 1mm to about 5mm, for example about 1.5mm to about 2.5mm.
  • the height of the sealing skirt in certain embodiments is at least about 50%, for example at least about 75% of the height of the sealing plug.
  • the sealing skirt is normally molded integrally with the base of the cap.
  • the mean thickness of the tubular wall of the sealing skirt is suitably from about 0.5mm to about 2mm, for example about 0.7mm to about 1.2mm. This gives the sealing skirt the right degree of resilience and strength for the desired sealing function.
  • the sealing skirt in the arrangement of the present invention is suitably relatively thick relative to its height, and undergoes relatively little deformation upon sealing when compared to the sealing skirt of, for example, W098/35881 .
  • the sealing force applied by the skirt is provided by the resilience of the skirt itself, not by abutment of the outside of the sealing skirt against the inside of the threaded skirt or the cap base as taught in WO98/35881 .
  • the relatively thick and resilient sealing skirt is less likely to be damaged by repeated use, in particular by over-tightening.
  • the sealing skirt has a radial thickness at half-height (said height of the sealing skirt being measured from the base of the radially inner surface of the sealing skirt) equal to from about 40% to about 80% of the radial thickness of the sealing plug measured at the same height.
  • the sealing skirt has a radial thickness at half-height (said height of the sealing skirt being measured from the base of the radially inner surface of the sealing skirt) equal to from about 20% to about 50% of the height of the sealing skirt, for example from about 25% to about 40% of said height.
  • the inside diameter of the sealing skirt at half-height is from about 0.05mm to about 0.5mm less than the outside diameter of the container neck.
  • it may be from about 0.1mm to about 0.25mm less than the outside diameter of the container neck.
  • the inside diameter of the sealing skirt is only slightly less than the outside diameter of the container neck proximate to the rounded lip, whereby the skirt is only slightly deformed in the sealing position.
  • the resilience of the sealing skirt is sufficient for a slight deformation to produce a strong sealing force against the lip.
  • the resilience of the sealing skirt allows the skirt to flex outwardly without plastic deformation and without loss of sealing effectiveness when the cap is forced axially downwardly beyond the normal sealing position by an external force, for example the weight of another container stacked on top of the assembly.
  • the same resilience of the sealing skirt restores the original sealing position of the cap when the external axial force is removed.
  • the sealing effectiveness of the sealing skirt is further enhanced by providing at least one circumferential sealing rib in said concave region of said sealing skirt.
  • there are two of the sealing ribs on the sealing skirt but in some embodiments there could be from 3 to 10 of the ribs, and for example 4 to 6 ribs.
  • At least one of the sealing ribs has a substantially triangular cross-section when the cap is viewed in longitudinal cross-section, for example substantially equilateral triangular.
  • the contact angle between the sides of the sealing ribs and the radially inside surface of the sealing skirt is from about 30 degrees to about 75 degrees, for example from about 45 degrees to about 60 degrees. This enables the sealing force to be concentrated in the tip of the sealing rib to maximise sealing effectiveness.
  • at least one of the sealing ribs has a height in the range of 10 to 250 micrometers, more suitably 20 to 150 micrometers, for example 50 to 150 micrometers.
  • the height is defined as the maximum distance that the sealing rib projects above the adjacent surface of the sealing skirt, when the cap is viewed in longitudinal cross-section.
  • Such micro sealing ribs are especially effective to concentrate the sealing force and achieve an effective seal with a substantially smooth sealing surface on the container neck. Furthermore, such micro ribs are especially easy to mold in high-speed cap molding equipment, and to bump off the mold mandrel of the equipment after molding.
  • the plurality of sealing ribs may have more than one dimension in order to optimise sealing.
  • the size of the sealing rib closest to the base of the cap may be greater than the size of the sealing rib remote from the base of the cap. This allows the sealing rib closest to the base of the cap (i.e. closest to the lip of the container) to deform more that the sealing rib furthest from the base of the cap.
  • the caps in the assemblies according to the present invention suitably do not include a liner, i.e. they are linerless caps.
  • the cap assemblies do not require, and preferably do not include, any sealing elements on the cap other than the olive seal plug and the sealing skirt.
  • the assemblies according to the present invention do not require, and normally do not have, any sealing elements abutting against the top of the lip.
  • the cap is a low-profile cap having an axial height from the top of the base to the bottom of the threaded skirt (i.e. excluding any tamper-evident ring attached to the bottom of the threaded skirt), of from 10mm to 15mm, for example 12mm to 14mm.
  • the sealing arrangement of the present invention is especially suitable for use with low-profile caps, because the minimal distortion of the sealing skirt during sealing makes it possible to arrange the sealing skirt and plug so that they axially overlap the top of the threads on the cap skirt without interfering with the running of those threads.
  • the assemblies according to the invention provide excellent sealing of carbonated beverage containers even under high pressure/high temperature conditions such as storage at 38°C. This is because the distortion (doming) of the base of the cap cap leverages increased sealing force onto the sealing skirt, while the olive seal on the inside of the container neck is more tolerant of deformation of the cap base compared to the sealing plugs described in WO02142171 and WO2007/057706 .
  • the arrangements according to the present invention maintain the advantages of robustness, resistance to over-tightening, ease of moulding, and low sealing/opening torque of those prior art assemblies.
  • the container closure assembly according to the present invention is especially suitable for use in conjunction with thread arrangements that are quick and easy to secure and resecure, wherein the cap can be secured and resecured on the container neck by a single smooth rotation through 360° or less, more suitably 180° or less, and most suitably about 90°.
  • the first and second threads may be multiple start threads such as two-start threads or three-start threads, and more suitably they are four-start threads. This further assists securing of the cap on the neck, since the user needs to rotate the cap less in order to find a thread start.
  • the threads are substantially free-running or parallel threads. That is to say, the threads on the cap and the neck slide past each other freely without forming an interference fit between the thread segments on the cap and the neck.
  • the present invention is also applicable to embodiments in which the first and second threads may be more conventional, single-start, low-pitch continuous threads.
  • the first and second threads are continuous helical threads. That is to say, they are not bayonet-type threads that require a stepped motion of the cap to secure the cap on the neck, but rather they define a substantially continuous helical thread path having a thread gradient (pitch) less than 90 degrees substantially throughout.
  • the threads have a mean thread pitch of from 5° to 25°, more suitably from 10° to 20°.
  • the minimum vertical displacement of the cap between the fully secured position on the container neck and a fully disengaged position of the cap on the neck of from about 2mm to about 10mm, for example from about 4mm to about 8mm.
  • Steeply pitched threads provide advantages in terms of ease of use and more reliable separation of tamper-evident rings from the cap skirt.
  • steeply pitched threads result in a relatively small leverage of rotational force applied to the cap into downward force on the cap, and it is a feature of the sealing arrangement according to the invention that it can provide a reliable pressure-tight seal without strong downward force being applied to the cap as in previous sealing arrangements.
  • the torque required to secure the cap in a sealing position on the container neck is less than 1.2 Nm, more suitably less than 1 Nm and most suitably from 0.7 to 0.9 Nm. This is the torque required to engage the complementary locking arrangement (where present) at the sealing position, and/or otherwise the force required to substantially eliminate gas leakage at normal carbonated beverage pressure differentials.
  • the container closure assembly according to the invention, the container further comprises mutually engageable elements on the neck and the closure to block or restrict rotation of the closure in an unscrewing direction beyond an intermediate position when the closure is under axial pressure in a direction emerging from the container neck.
  • This is the so-called pressure safety feature that is intended to prevent the closure unscrewing uncontrollably or missiling as it is removed from a container neck under pressure.
  • the pressure safety feature is as described in WO95/05322 , WO97/21602 and WO99/19228 .
  • the first and second screw threads are constructed and arranged to permit axial displacement of the closure relative to the neck at least when the closure is at the said intermediate position, and preferably the engageable elements are adapted to engage each other when the closure is axially displaced in a direction emerging from the neck, for example by axial pressure from inside the pressurized container. More preferably, the mutually engageable elements are constructed and arranged not to mutually engage each other when the closure is axially displaced in a direction inwardly towards the neck at the intermediate position, for example when the closure is being screwed down onto the container neck.
  • the mutually engageable elements comprise a step or recess formed in the lower surface of one of the second screw thread segments to provide a first abutment surface against which a second abutment surface on one of the first screw thread segments abuts to block or restrict rotation of the closure in an unscrewing direction at the said intermediate position when the closure is under axial pressure in a direction emerging from the container neck, but which allows easy removal of the closure when the container is not unduly pressurized.
  • the second thread segment comprises a first thread portion having a first longitudinal cross section and a second thread portion having a second longitudinal cross section narrower than the first cross section, whereby the first thread segment abuts against the second thread portion.
  • the relatively broad first cross section is preferably adjacent to the circumferentially overlapping region of the second thread segments, resulting in a relatively narrow thread gap in that region.
  • the first and second threads on the container neck and closure are variable pitch threads, preferably as described in WO97/21602 .
  • the pitch of an unscrewing thread path defined by the first and the second thread segments is relatively lower in a first region and relatively higher in a second region displaced from the first region in an unscrewing direction.
  • the pitch of the thread path in the first region is preferably substantially constant.
  • the first region normally includes the position at which the closure is sealed on the container neck.
  • the first region extends for 20°-40° about the circumference of the container neck or the closure skirt.
  • the pitch of the lower thread surface in the first region is in the range of 1° to 12°, more preferably 2° to 8°.
  • the second region is adjacent to the first region of the thread path.
  • the pitch of the helical thread path in the second region is substantially constant, and the second region preferably extends for 15° to 35° about the circumference of the container neck or the closure skirt.
  • the pitch of the thread path in the second region is in the range of 15° to 35°.
  • variable pitch thread renders it easier to combine fast-turn threads having a steep average pitch that are elderly-and child-friendly with pressure safety.
  • a problem that could arise with fast-turn threads is that they are steeply pitched, which results in a tendency to back off from the fully secured position on the container neck when the container is pressurized.
  • This problem can be overcome by using bayonet-type threads, but the use of bayonet-type threads results in a number of different problems, as described above.
  • the variable pitch threads solve the problem of backing off of the closure under pressure, whilst retaining all of the advantages of continuous, fast-turn threads.
  • the helical unscrewing thread path further comprises a third region adjacent to the second region, wherein the third region has a relatively low pitch.
  • the third region has a relatively constant pitch, preferably in the range 1 to 12°, more preferably 2 to 8°.
  • the third region preferably includes the position of the closure on the container neck when the closure is blocked at the intermediate gas venting position.
  • the relatively low pitch of the third region reduces the tendency of the closure to override the blocking means at high gas venting pressures.
  • the container and cap assmblies according to the present invention comprise complementary locking elements on the container neck and the cap that block or resist unscrewing of the cap from the sealing position on the container neck until a predetermined minimum opening torque is applied.
  • the locking elements may comprise a longitudinal locking rib on one of the container neck or the skirt portion of the cap, and a complementary locking ramp on the other of the container neck and the skirt portion of the cap, the locking rib abutting against the retaining edge of the locking ramp when the cap is fully secured on the container neck.
  • first and second locking projections longitudinally overlap the first and/or the second thread segments when the cap is in said fully engaged position on the container neck.
  • first and second locking projections are not located entirely above or below the threads (the terms above and below refer to relative positions along the longitudinal axis of the assembly), but are located, at least in part, circumferentially in-between the threads.
  • the side catches are preferably located adjacent to an end of the threads. This enables the entire thread assembly to be made more compact in the longitudinal (vertical) direction, thereby reducing the total amount of moulding material needed to make the assembly, and the space taken up by the assembly. In certain embodiments, it also enables the neck thread to be made more suitable for consumption directly from the neck.
  • the first and second locking elements are situated near the lower end of the threads when the cap is fully secured on the container.
  • the first and/or second locking projections do not extend below the lower edge of the first or second thread segments when the cap is in said fully engaged position on the container neck.
  • the term "lower” refers to the part of the neck thread furthest from the opening of the container neck.
  • the locking projections are preferably located substantially completely circumferentially between the threads and not above or below the threads.
  • the locking projections on the neck are not joined at the lower edge to a circumferential flange or shoulder (e.g. the shoulder used to retain a tamper-evident band), thereby enhancing the flexibility of the locking projections and enhancing the "click-to-close" noise.
  • At least one, and preferably both of the complementary locking projections on the neck and/or the cap is substantially separate from the thread segments and can flex substantially independently of the thread segments in order to provide the snap-fitting and clearly audible click as the fully secured position of the cap on the neck is reached.
  • a radially innermost vertex of the second locking element on the cap skirt rides over a radially outermost vertex of the first locking element on the container neck as the fully secured position is approached.
  • the second locking element then rides back over the outermost vertex of the first locking element when the cap is removed from the secured position, for example when opening the assembly.
  • At least one, and preferably both of the complementary locking projections on the neck and/or the cap has a length in the longitudinal direction (i.e. along the rotational axis of the cap assembly) of from about 1 mm to about 6mm, for example from about 2mm to about 4mm. At least one, and preferably both of the complementary locking projections on the neck and/or the cap has a height of from about 0.25mm to about 2mm, for example from about 0.5mm to about 1.5mm. In any case the height of the locking projections is normally less than the average height of the respective thread segments. At least one, and preferably both of the complementary locking projections on the neck and/or the cap has a maximum width (i.e.
  • At least one, and preferably both of the complementary locking projections on the neck and/or the cap has a ratio of the maximum height to the maximum width of at least about 0.5, more preferably at least 1, for example from about 1 to about 5.
  • the first locking projection is located longitudinally overlapping with and circumferentially spaced from an upper end of a first thread segment.
  • the second locking projection is located longitudinally overlapping with and circumferentially spaced from a lower end of a second thread segment. These latter embodiments are preferred, since the first locking projections are then located further from the opening of the container neck.
  • the circumferential spacing between the projections and the respective thread segments in these embodiments is typically from about 1mm to about 10mm, for example from about 1mm to about 4mm. In these embodiments, the circumferentially spaced locking projections may abut against the thread segments of the other assembly component as the assembly is screwed together.
  • the circumferentially spaced projections may define a part of the thread path on the cap or neck.
  • the locking projections on the cap skirt may be circumferentially spaced from the lower end of the relatively long thread segments on the cap skirt and may thereby define an extension at the start of the thread path followed by the thread segments on the neck when the cap is applied to the neck.
  • This method of using the locking projections to form an extension of the thread path on one of the neck or the cap solves the problem of providing larger locking projections that overlap with the threads, but do not interfere with the running of the threads.
  • the locking projections are generally in the line of and, as it were, are extensions of the thread path on one of the neck or the cap.
  • the locking projections are as described in WO-A-2005058720 .
  • the assemblies according to the present invention may comprise more than one pair of complementary locking projections on the container neck and the cap. Preferably there are at least two such complementary pairs radially spaced around the neck and cap skirt. There will normally be at least one pair for each thread start, for example there may be four pairs radially spaced around the neck and cap skirt.
  • the said sealing position of the cap on the neck is thus normally the first rotational position in the screwing direction at which the locking projections are in locking engagement, i.e. normally in abutment.
  • the locking projections on the neck and the cap skirt are circumferentially positioned such that they are in abutment when the cap is at the said sealing position on the container neck. That is to say, the projection on the cap has ridden over one side of, and is resting in abutment with the opposite side of, the corresponding projection on the container neck at said fully closed and sealing position. This ensures that there is no play in the cap at said closed and sealing position that could allow leakage from the seal.
  • the cap skirt and/or the projections are still slightly distorted such that a resilient force is exerted between the projections in abutment.
  • This resilient force is leveraged by the abutment into a closing torque between the cap and the neck that urges the cap into the fully closed and sealing position. This can ensure that the respective sealing surfaces of the container neck and the cap are automatically seated against each other, even though the cap may not be screwed down especially tightly.
  • the locking projections allow for considerably lower manufacturing tolerances in the moulding of the assembly, since effective sealing is achieved over a broader range of rotational sealing positions due to the interaction between the locking projections and the radial deformation of the cap skirt.
  • the complementary locking elements according to the present invention provide a number of other important advantages, besides urging the cap into the fully secured and sealing position as described above. Firstly, they prevent accidental backing off of the cap from the fully engaged and sealing position on the container neck due to pressure from inside the container. These elements enable more steeply pitched threads and free running (parallel) threads to be used without risk of the cap unscrewing spontaneously. The use of more steeply pitched threads in turn makes it easier to remove and resecure the cap.
  • the locking elements according to the present invention may also provide a positive "click" when the fully engaged and sealing position of the cap on the container neck is reached, thereby giving the user a positive indication that the cap is in the closed (sealed) position. This system also ensures that exactly the right degree of compression is applied between the container and cap to achieve an effective airtight seal.
  • the container closure assembly further comprises a projecting stop surface on one of the container neck and the cap skirt for abutment against a second stop or a thread on the other of the container neck or the cap to block over-tightening of the cap beyond a predetermined angular sealing position of the cap on the container neck.
  • the stop elements act in conjunction with the locking arrangement to ensure that exactly the right degree of screwing of the cap is achieved in order to provide a pressure-tight seal with the sealing arrangement of the present invention.
  • the stop surfaces may be in abutment at said sealing position of the cap on the neck, or they may be very close to abutment, for example within less than about 2mm, suitably less than about 1 mm of abutment at said sealing position, to allow for manufacturing tolerances.
  • Suitable locking and stop arrangements are described in detail in WO 91/18799 , WO 95/05322 and WO2005/058720 .
  • the container closure assembly also suitably comprises a tamper-evident safety feature.
  • the safety feature preferably includes a tamper-evident ring that is initially formed integrally with the skirt of the container closure and joined to the lower edge thereof by one or more frangible bridges.
  • the tamper-evident ring is retained on the container neck when the cap is removed from the neck for the first time, suitably by abutment with the underside of a circumferential retaining lip provided on the container neck below the threads.
  • the tamper-evident ring comprises a plurality of integrally formed, flexible, radially inwardly pointing retaining tabs to retain the ring under the retaining lip.
  • ratchet projections may also be provided on the container neck below the circumferential retaining lip and radially spaced around the container neck to block rotation of the tamper-evident ring on the container neck in an unscrewing direction and thereby assist separation of the tamper-evident ring from the neck.
  • the structure and operation of the tamper-evident ring feature according to these embodiments may be as described and claimed in our International Patent Publication WO94/11267 .
  • this embodiment is a container closure assembly especially adapted for a carbonated beverage container.
  • Many features of this assembly resemble those of the assembly described and claimed in our International Patent Applications WO95/05322 and WO97/21602 and WO99/19228 .
  • the threads on the closure and the neck are reversed in the present invention relative to the closure assemblies described in those applications. That is to say, the earlier patent specifications describe in detail assemblies having short thread segments in the closure skirt and longer thread segments on the neck, whereas the present invention provides only short thread segments on the neck and longer thread segments on the closure skirt.
  • the assembly according to this embodiment includes a container neck 10 of a container for carbonated beverages, and a closure 12. Both the container neck and the closure are formed from plastics material, but the container neck could also be made from glass.
  • the container is preferably formed by injection moulding and blow moulding of polyethylene terephthalate in the manner conventionally known for carbonated beverage containers.
  • the closure is preferably formed by injection moulding or compression moulding of polyethylene.
  • the container neck has a cylindrical inner surface 13 terminating in rounded lip 14.
  • the neck has an intemal surface 80, an outside surface 82, and a radiused lip 84.
  • a region 86 of the internal surface adjacent to the radiused lip 84 is tapered at an angle ⁇ of approximately 16 degrees.
  • a region 88 of the outside surface adjacent to the radiused lip 84 is tapered at an angle ⁇ of approximately 9 degrees.
  • first screw thread made up of four first thread segments 16, as shown in Figure 2 .
  • the first thread segments 16 are short thread segments extending about 33° around the neck and having a lower surface 18 with relatively low pitch of about 6° and an upper surface 20 with intermediate pitch of about 13.5°.
  • the first thread segments present a substantially trapezoidal cross-section along the axis of the neck.
  • the closure 12 comprises a base portion 22 and a skirt portion 24.
  • the closure skirt 24 is provided with a second screw thread formed from four elongate second thread segments 26, each having a lower thread surface 30 and an upper thread surface 32.
  • the term "upper” in this context means closer to the base of the closure, i.e. further from the open end of the closure).
  • the upper and lower second thread surfaces 30, 32 give the thread segments substantially trapezoidal side edges that are complementary to the shape of the first thread segments.
  • a substantially continuous, approximately helical thread path for the first thread segments is defined between adjacent second thread segments 26.
  • a feature of this assembly is the profiling of the upper surfaces 32 of the second thread segments 26, which is described in more detail in our International patent application WO97/21602 .
  • the upper thread surfaces 32 in a first, upper region have a substantially constant pitch of only about 6°.
  • the upper region adjoins an intermediate region having a substantially constant, much higher pitch of about 25°.
  • the average pitch of the helical thread path defined by the second thread segments 26 is 13.5°.
  • the second thread segments 26 also include a pressure safety feature similar to that described and claimed in our International Patent Application W095/05322 .
  • the lowermost portion of the second thread segment 26 defines a step 38 to abut against a first end 40 of the first thread segments 16 and block unscrewing of the closure 12 from the neck 10 when the said first thread segments 16 are in abutment with the upper surface 32, i.e. when there is a net force on the closure in an axial direction out of the container neck.
  • a third region of the upper surfaces 32 of the second thread segments situated adjacent to the step 38 also has a low pitch of about 6°.
  • the container and closure assembly is also provided with complementary locking elements on the container neck and the closure to block unscrewing of the closure from the fully engaged position on the container neck unless a minimum unscrewing torque is applied.
  • These locking elements comprise four equally radially spaced first locking projections 44 on the container neck, and four equally radially spaced second locking projections 46 on the inside of the closure skirt 24.
  • the projections on the container neck are located at the bottom of the thread, where they are least noticeable to a person drinking directly from the container neck.
  • the locking projections 46 on the closure skirt are located level with, and radially spaced by about 2mm from, the bottom of the threads 26 on the skirt.
  • the locking projections on the closure skirt 24 are formed as a continuation of the closure thread segments 26, whereby the thread segments 16 on the neck 10 can pass smoothly past the locking projections on the neck as the cap is secured on the neck.
  • Each of the locking projections 44,46 is substantially in the form of a triangular prism having its long axis aligned with the axis of the closure assembly.
  • the height of each locking projection is about 1.5mm, and the base width is about 1.5mm. This ensures that the projections have sufficient strength to snap over each other without permanent deformation.
  • Each of the second thread segments 26 includes a longitudinally upwardly projecting portion 48 that defines a longitudinal stop surface against which a second end 50 of one of the first thread segments 16 may abut when the closure is fully secured on the neck to block overtightening of the closure on the neck.
  • the cap comprises a cylindrical sealing plug 52.
  • the cap further comprises a cylindrical sealing skirt 54 that is substantially concentric with the sealing plug.
  • the sealing plug 52 and the sealing skirt 54 are concentric with the threaded skirt 24 and located inside the threaded skirt 24 for sealing abutment against opposite sides of the container neck proximate to the container lip 14.
  • the sealing plug 52 is an olive sealing plug having a bulbous projection 56 on the radially outer surface thereof that forms a seal against the inside surface of the container neck in use.
  • the sealing skirt 54 has a concave region 58 on its radially inner surface.
  • Two small circumferential sealing ribs 60 of substantially triangular cross-section project inwardly from the concave region.
  • the circumferential sealing ribs on the sealing skirt have a substantially equilateral triangular cross-section, and are approximately 150 micrometers high, in the unstressed state. However, they deform when pressed against the harder material (glass or PET) of the container neck to form the pressure-tight seal.
  • the small dimensions of the sealing ribs 60 enable a pressure tight seal to be achieved without substantial force having to be applied to the sealing skirt to form the seal.
  • the container closure assembly also comprises a tamper-evident safety feature.
  • a tamper-evident ring 66 that is initially formed integrally with the skirt 24 of the container closure 12 and joined thereto by frangible bridges 64.
  • the tamper-evident ring 66 comprises a plurality of integrally formed, flexible, radially inwardly pointing retaining tabs 70.
  • a circumferential retaining bead 72 is provided on the container neck 10.
  • Ratchet projections may also be provided on the container neck below the circumferential retaining bead 72 and radially spaced around the container neck to block rotation of the tamper-evident ring 66 on the container neck 10 in an unscrewing direction.
  • the closure 12 is secured onto the container neck 10 by screwing down in conventional fashion. There are four thread starts, and the closure 12 can be moved from a fully disengaged position to a fully engaged position on the container neck 10 by rotation through about 90°. It can be seen that the thread segments 16 on the neck initially ride past the upper end of the locking projections 46 on the closure skirt, and are thereby guided into a helical thread path. In other words, the locking projections 46 on the skirt 24 define an initial extension of the helical thread path followed by the thread segments 16 on the neck. In this way, the locking projections on the skirt do not interfere or block the free running of the threads.
  • first thread segments 16 on the neck abut against and ride along the lower surfaces 30 of the second thread segments 26 on the closure. It can thus be seen that the first thread segments 16 follow a substantially continuous path along a variable pitch helix.
  • the first and second threads are free-running, which is to say that there is substantially no frictional torque between the thread segments until the fully engaged position is neared.
  • the tamper-evident ring 66 starts to ride over the retaining bead 72 on the container neck.
  • the retaining tabs 70 on the tamper-evident ring 66 flex radially outwardly to enable the tamper-evident ring to pass over the retaining bead 72 without excessive radial stress on the frangible bridges 64.
  • the initial abutment between the sealing plug 52 and sealing skirt 54 in the container closure base and the sealing lip 14 on the container neck results in a net axial force on the closure in a direction out of the container neck.
  • Continued rotation of the closure in a screwing-down direction causes the first thread segments 16 to travel along the upper regions until the final, fully engaged position shown in Figs. 1 and 4 is reached.
  • the low pitch of the upper surfaces means that this further rotation applies powerful leverage (camming) to compress the sealing plug 52 and sealing skirt 54 against the container lip 14 in order to achieve an effective gas-tight seal.
  • the concave inner surface 58 of the sealing skirt 54 conforms to the curved container lip 14 to form an effective seal without substantial deformation of the sealing skirt 54.
  • the locking projections 46 on the closure skirt flex and ride over the complementary locking projections 44 on the container neck.
  • the complementary locking projections remain in abutment, such that the closure skirt is still slightly deformed.
  • the resilient restoring force exerted by the closure skirt is leveraged by the projections 44,46 into a closing torque on the assembly, which helps to ensure that sufficiently strong sealing force is applied to the various sealing surfaces of the assembly. It will be appreciated that this effect, coupled with the relatively large size of the projections 44,46, enables effective sealing to be achieved even if the locking projections 44,46 are not moulded to a very high tolerance.
  • the second ends of the first thread segments 16 may come into abutment with the stop shoulders 50 projecting from the second thread segments 26, thereby blocking further tightening of the closure that could damage the threads and/or distort the sealing fins and ribs on the closure.
  • the lower surfaces 18 of the first thread segments 16 abut against the upper regions of the upper thread surfaces 32 of the projecting portions of the second thread segments 26, as shown in Fig. 2 .
  • the lower surface 18 of the first thread segments 16 has a low pitch to match that of the upper regions, so as to maximise the contact area between the projecting portions in the regions, and thereby distribute the axial force exerted by the closure as evenly as possible around the container neck. Because of the low pitch in the regions, relatively little of the axial force emerging from the container neck due to pressure inside the container is converted into unscrewing rotational force by the abutment between the thread surfaces in this position. This greatly reduces the tendency of the closure to unscrew spontaneously under pressure.
  • the cap In the fully engaged and sealing position, the cap is secured on the container neck as shown in Figure 2 .
  • Both the sealing skirt 54 and the sealing plug 52 are radially slightly flexible to engage the sealing lip.
  • the bulbous projection on the sealing plug and the circumferential sealing ribs on the sealing skirt engage opposite sides of the sealing lip 5, and pinch the lip between them to form a highly effective seal.
  • the overall effect is to provide a sealing jaw for gripping the top of the container neck.
  • the closure In use, the closure is removed from the container neck by simple unscrewing. An initial, minimum unscrewing torque is required to overcome the resistance of the locking projections 44, 46. Once this resistance has been overcome, essentially no torque needs to be applied by the user to unscrew the closure.
  • the internal pressure inside the container exerts an axial force on the closure in a direction emerging from the mouth of the container, as a result of which the first thread segments 16 ride along the upper surfaces 32 of the second thread segments 26 as the closure is unscrewed.
  • the first thread segments 16 initially ride along the upper regions, and then along the steeply pitched intermediate regions of the upper surface of the second thread segments 20.
  • the first thread segments 16 then come into abutment with lower projecting portion 38 of the second thread segments 26.
  • the closure can drop down so as to bring the thread segments 16 into abutment with the lower surfaces 30 of the second thread segments 26. In this position, unscrewing can be continued to disengage the closure completely from the container neck.
  • the sealing arrangement in the assemblies according to the present invention enables the cap to be secured and resecured on the container neck without the need for high torque or low pitched threads to force a seal.
  • the assembly according to the invention provides at least two circumferential seals having a high sealing pressure over the whole range of temperature and pressure normally encountered in carbonated beverage containers.
  • the cap is suitable for application to container necks having rounded top lips, such as glass container necks and plastic container necks having a rounded lip to assist drinking directly from the neck.
  • the drawbacks associated with the use of soft sealing liners in the cap are eliminated, in particular the caps according to the present invention can be resecured on the container neck repeatedly, without damage or loss of effectiveness.
  • the performance of the container closure assembly according to this embodiment applied to a PET carbonated beverage container was studied under extended storage at 38°C (high temperature/pressure test).
  • the assembly met the most rigorous industry standard, set by the current Bericap closure according to WO98/35881 , but with lower and more controllable opening and closing torque than the Bericap closure.
  • the assembly according to the present invention significantly outperformed the closure of W02007/057706 in this test.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Ceramic Engineering (AREA)
  • Closures For Containers (AREA)

Claims (18)

  1. Ensemble de fermeture de contenant comprenant :
    un goulot de contenant (10) ayant des parois latérales définissant une ouverture à une extrémité de celui-ci et une lèvre (14, 84) s'étendant autour de l'ouverture ;
    un capuchon (12) pour ledit goulot (10), le capuchon (12) ayant une portion de base (22) et une portion de jupe filetée (24) ;
    un premier filet de vis (16) sur le goulot (10) ;
    un second filet de vis (26) sur une surface interne de la jupe filetée du capuchon (12) ;
    lesdits premier (16) et second (26) filets de vis étant configurés pour permettre à un utilisateur d'appliquer, enlever et réappliquer le capuchon (12) dans une position d'étanchéité sur le goulot (10) en faisant tourner le capuchon (12) sur le goulot (10), aucune partie du capuchon (12) ne venant en contact avec la surface supérieure de la lèvre du contenant (14, 84) dans la position d'étanchéité ;
    un bouchon d'étanchéité (52) s'étendant depuis ladite portion de base (22) du capuchon (12) à l'intérieur de ladite portion de jupe filetée (24) du capuchon (12) et concentriquement à celle-ci, et
    une jupe d'étanchéité (54) s'étendant depuis ladite portion de base du capuchon entre ledit bouchon d'étanchéité (52) et ladite portion de jupe filetée (24) du capuchon (12) et substantiellement concentriquement audit bouchon d'étanchéité (52) et à ladite portion de jupe filetée (24) du capuchon (12), une région (58) de la surface radialement interne de la jupe d'étanchéité (54) étant concave en vue de l'engagement avec une surface externe du goulot de contenant (10) à proximité de ladite lèvre (14, 84) lorsque le capuchon (12) est fixé sur le goulot de contenant (10) et au moins une nervure d'étanchéité d'étanchéité circonférentielle (60) étant prévue dans ladite région concave (58) de ladite jupe d'étanchéité (54), et ledit capuchon (12) pouvant être déplacé vers ledit goulot (10) depuis ladite position d'étanchéité en appliquant une force axiale sans rotation du capuchon (12) sur le goulot (10) et sans déformation plastique du capuchon (12),
    caractérisé en ce que le bouchon d'étanchéité (52) est un bouchon d'étanchéité en forme d'olive pour former un joint d'étanchéité contre une surface intérieure (13) du goulot de contenant (10) lorsque le capuchon (12) est fixé sur le goulot de contenant (10).
  2. Ensemble de fermeture de contenant selon la revendication 1, dans lequel le déplacement depuis ladite position d'étanchéité est un déplacement élastique.
  3. Ensemble de fermeture de contenant selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel la lèvre de contenant (14, 84) est substantiellement complètement arrondie en section transversale longitudinale.
  4. Ensemble de fermeture de contenant selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel les surfaces interne (80) et/ou externe (82) du goulot de contenant adjacentes à la lèvre (84) sont légèrement effilées (86, 88).
  5. Ensemble de fermeture de contenant selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel le diamètre intérieur de la jupe d'étanchéité (54) à mi-hauteur est inférieur de 0,05 mm à 0,5 mm au diamètre extérieur du goulot de contenant (10).
  6. Ensemble de fermeture de contenant selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel une surface externe de la jupe d'étanchéité (54) ne bute pas contre une surface interne de la jupe filetée (24) ou de la base (22) du capuchon lorsque le capuchon (12) est dans la position d'étanchéité fixée sur le goulot (10).
  7. Ensemble de fermeture de contenant selon la revendication 1, dans lequel au moins une dite nervure d'étanchéité circonférentielle (60) présente une section transversale substantiellement triangulaire.
  8. Ensemble de fermeture de contenant selon la revendication 7, dans lequel au moins l'une des nervures d'étanchéité (60) présente une hauteur de l'ordre de 10 à 250 microns.
  9. Ensemble de fermeture de contenant selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel le capuchon (12) est un capuchon bas profil, ayant une hauteur axiale depuis le haut de la base (22) jusqu'au bord de la jupe filetée (24), mais excluant toute bague témoin d'intégrité (66) attachée au capuchon (12), de 10 mm à 15 mm.
  10. Ensemble de fermeture de contenant selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel le capuchon (12) peut être appliqué et réappliqué sur le goulot de contenant (10) par une simple rotation uniforme de 180° ou moins.
  11. Ensemble de fermeture de contenant selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel les premier (16) et deuxième (26) filets sont des filets à plusieurs départs.
  12. Ensemble de fermeture de contenant selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel les premier (16) et deuxième (26) filets sont des filets hélicoïdaux substantiellement continus.
  13. Ensemble de fermeture de contenant selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel le contenant et le capuchon (12) comprennent en outre des éléments de verrouillage complémentaires (44, 46) sur le goulot de contenant (10) et le capuchon (12), qui bloquent ou verrouillent le dévissage du capuchon (12) de la position entièrement fixée sur le goulot de contenant (10) tant qu'un couple d'ouverture prédéterminé minimal n'est pas appliqué.
  14. Ensemble de fermeture de contenant selon la revendication 13, dans lequel lesdits éléments de verrouillage complémentaires comprennent des première (44) et seconde (46) saillies de verrouillage sur le goulot de contenant (10) et la jupe de capuchon filetée (24), et soit ladite première saillie de verrouillage (44) est située longitudinalement de manière à chevaucher une extrémité supérieure d'un premier segment fileté (16) et à être espacée circonférentiellement de celle-ci, soit ladite seconde saillie de verrouillage est située longitudinalement de manière à chevaucher une extrémité inférieure d'un deuxième segment fileté (26) et être espacée circonférentiellement de celle-ci, ladite première ou seconde saillie de verrouillage (44, 46) définissant un prolongement du chemin fileté défini par les segments filetés (16, 26) sur le goulot (10) ou sur le capuchon (12).
  15. Ensemble de fermeture de contenant selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, comprenant en outre une surface de butée saillante (50) sur le goulot de contenant (10) ou la jupe de capuchon (24) de manière à buter contre une seconde butée ou un filet sur l'autre du goulot de contenant (10) ou du capuchon (12), de manière à bloquer un serrage excessif du capuchon (12) au-delà d'une position d'étanchéité angulaire prédéterminée du capuchon (12) sur le goulot de contenant (10).
  16. Ensemble de fermeture de contenant selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel le couple requis pour fixer le capuchon (12) dans une position d'étanchéité sur le goulot de contenant (10) est compris entre 0,7 Nm et 0,9 Nm.
  17. Ensemble de fermeture de contenant selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel le contenant est un contenant de boissons.
  18. Contenant de boissons selon la revendication 17, qui contient une boisson pétillante.
EP10703089.2A 2009-01-30 2010-01-28 Ensemble de fermeture de contenant avec joint d'etancheite par pression Revoked EP2391555B1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CY20131100970T CY1114828T1 (el) 2009-01-30 2013-11-01 Συστημα κλεισιματος δοχειων με στεγανοποιηση πιεσεως

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0901572A GB2467355A (en) 2009-01-30 2009-01-30 Container closure with pressure seal
PCT/GB2010/000140 WO2010086609A1 (fr) 2009-01-30 2010-01-28 Ensemble de fermeture de contenant avec joint d'étanchéité par pression

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP2391555A1 EP2391555A1 (fr) 2011-12-07
EP2391555B1 true EP2391555B1 (fr) 2013-09-25

Family

ID=40469361

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP10703089.2A Revoked EP2391555B1 (fr) 2009-01-30 2010-01-28 Ensemble de fermeture de contenant avec joint d'etancheite par pression

Country Status (16)

Country Link
US (2) US20120037589A1 (fr)
EP (1) EP2391555B1 (fr)
JP (1) JP5683492B2 (fr)
CN (1) CN102333705A (fr)
AU (1) AU2010209515B2 (fr)
BR (1) BRPI1007158A2 (fr)
CA (1) CA2750878A1 (fr)
CY (1) CY1114828T1 (fr)
DK (1) DK2391555T3 (fr)
ES (1) ES2438500T3 (fr)
GB (1) GB2467355A (fr)
HK (1) HK1163635A1 (fr)
MX (1) MX2011007935A (fr)
PT (1) PT2391555E (fr)
RU (1) RU2513775C2 (fr)
WO (1) WO2010086609A1 (fr)

Families Citing this family (23)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US8998012B2 (en) * 2009-01-29 2015-04-07 Integrity Products, Inc. Container cap locking mechanism
NL2008558C2 (en) 2012-03-29 2013-10-01 Ipn Ip Bv Container closure assemblies.
JP6198392B2 (ja) * 2012-12-27 2017-09-20 花王株式会社 キャップのシール構造
US9428292B2 (en) 2013-03-13 2016-08-30 Silgan White Cap LLC Fluid injection system and method for supporting container walls
HUP1300310A2 (hu) * 2013-05-14 2014-11-28 Laszlo Schlotthauer Egyutas eldobható szódáspalack
CN203780992U (zh) * 2013-10-28 2014-08-20 赫斯基注射器成型系统有限公司 容器的瓶盖
ES2753376T3 (es) 2013-11-04 2020-04-08 Aptargroup Inc Elemento de cierre inviolable y estructura receptora
AT16942U3 (de) * 2015-01-23 2021-10-15 Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance Schraubverschluss und Verpackungsbehälter für Lebensmittel
JP6456216B2 (ja) * 2015-02-27 2019-01-23 株式会社吉野工業所 ねじ式キャップ容器
CN107207134B (zh) 2015-03-05 2020-08-04 万通集团公司 配件及用于其的顶盖
AT517990A1 (de) * 2015-11-24 2017-06-15 Rundpack Ag Behälter mit einer Sicherheitsverschlussanordnung
BE1023806B1 (fr) * 2016-06-28 2017-07-27 R&O Lab Sprl Récipient de mélange adaptable à tout récipient récepteur
GB201613126D0 (en) * 2016-07-29 2016-09-14 Obrist Closures Switzerland A closure
JP2018144239A (ja) * 2017-03-01 2018-09-20 セイコーエプソン株式会社 プリンター、インクボトル
CN207595608U (zh) * 2017-06-22 2018-07-10 柏美远东有限公司 螺纹接合机构及容器
US10258710B1 (en) 2017-09-22 2019-04-16 S. C. Johnson & Son, Inc. Container for holding volatile materials
WO2019199297A1 (fr) * 2018-04-11 2019-10-17 Shin Jai Appareil de distribution dosée de matières particulaires ayant une structure modulaire
JP7347938B2 (ja) * 2019-02-27 2023-09-20 日本クロージャー株式会社 樹脂製容器口部とプラスチックキャップとの組み合わせ
US20210061523A1 (en) * 2019-08-27 2021-03-04 Runway Blue, Llc Anti-Cross-Threading Thread Configuration
IT201900003674U1 (it) * 2019-10-16 2020-01-16 Sacmi Capsula per la chiusura di contenitori
FR3113896B1 (fr) * 2020-09-04 2022-08-19 Verallia Packaging Contenant en verre creux à profil de buvant spécifique
WO2022184222A1 (fr) * 2021-03-02 2022-09-09 Aptar Freyung Gmbh Ensemble distributeur par le bas
FR3137372A1 (fr) 2022-06-29 2024-01-05 L'oreal Dispositif de conditionnement à récipient à col fileté et organe de fermeture à visser

Family Cites Families (23)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0076778A1 (fr) * 1981-10-05 1983-04-13 Crown Obrist AG Bouchon de fermeture en matière plastique
GB2131774B (en) * 1982-12-14 1986-01-15 Metal Closures Group Plc Improvements relating to closures for bottles and other containers
JPS60120936U (ja) * 1984-01-25 1985-08-15 三笠産業株式会社 容器の開閉装置
GB9012041D0 (en) 1990-05-30 1990-07-18 Beeson & Sons Ltd Improvements in or relating to containers
GB2275048B (en) 1991-07-10 1995-12-13 Beeson & Sons Ltd Sealing arrangement for a container
EP0667827B1 (fr) 1992-11-13 1997-04-16 Beeson And Sons Limited Fermeture de recipient avec bague indicatrice d'effraction
GB9316834D0 (en) 1993-08-13 1993-09-29 Beeson & Sons Ltd Container closure assembly
IL112387A (en) 1994-02-01 1997-07-13 Crown Cork Ag Screwable closure cap with security against over- tightening
AU718782B2 (en) 1995-12-08 2000-04-20 Beeson And Sons Limited Container closure assembly with profiled screw threads
DE19705717A1 (de) 1997-02-14 1998-08-20 Bericap Gmbh & Co Kg Kunststoffschraubverschluß
US20020074306A1 (en) * 1997-02-14 2002-06-20 Gunter Krautkramer Plastic screw closure
GB2330133B (en) 1997-10-10 2001-11-07 Beeson & Sons Ltd Closure assembly for pressurized containers
CA2286584C (fr) 1998-03-03 2006-08-01 Frank Schellenbach Capuchon en plastique avec bande de garantie separable et joint interieur
JP2002173157A (ja) * 2000-03-13 2002-06-18 Japan Crown Cork Co Ltd 合成樹脂製容器蓋
KR20010096600A (ko) * 2000-03-13 2001-11-07 도케 케이시 합성수지제 용기뚜껑
GB2369114B (en) * 2000-11-21 2004-05-05 Beeson & Sons Ltd Plug seals for user-friendly cap assemblies
US6695161B2 (en) * 2001-02-08 2004-02-24 Japan Crown Cork Co., Ltd. Plastic container closure
GB2409200B (en) 2003-12-19 2007-01-17 Beeson & Sons Ltd Bottle and closure assembly with improved locking elements
DE602004006255T2 (de) * 2004-08-17 2008-01-03 Packsys Global (Switzerland) Ltd. Schraubverschluss für Behälter
JP2009516623A (ja) * 2005-11-21 2009-04-23 ビーソン アンド サンズ リミテッド 容器密閉アセンブリのための顎部密封
GB2432360A (en) * 2005-11-25 2007-05-23 Beeson & Sons Ltd Jaw seals for container closure assemblies
GB0609802D0 (en) * 2006-05-17 2006-06-28 Constar Int Inc Closure
WO2008012426A2 (fr) 2006-07-24 2008-01-31 Bericap Bouchon filete a etancheite renforcee et recipient pourvu d'un tel bouchon

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
ES2438500T3 (es) 2014-01-17
GB2467355A (en) 2010-08-04
CY1114828T1 (el) 2016-12-14
US20170036824A1 (en) 2017-02-09
JP2012516272A (ja) 2012-07-19
EP2391555A1 (fr) 2011-12-07
BRPI1007158A2 (pt) 2016-02-23
US20120037589A1 (en) 2012-02-16
WO2010086609A1 (fr) 2010-08-05
CA2750878A1 (fr) 2010-08-05
RU2011135981A (ru) 2013-03-10
AU2010209515A1 (en) 2011-08-11
JP5683492B2 (ja) 2015-03-11
AU2010209515B2 (en) 2016-05-05
MX2011007935A (es) 2011-09-06
PT2391555E (pt) 2013-12-09
RU2513775C2 (ru) 2014-04-20
HK1163635A1 (en) 2012-09-14
DK2391555T3 (da) 2013-10-21
GB0901572D0 (en) 2009-03-11
CN102333705A (zh) 2012-01-25

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
EP2391555B1 (fr) Ensemble de fermeture de contenant avec joint d'etancheite par pression
US7942287B2 (en) Bottle and closure assembly with improved locking elements
AU2002339179B2 (en) Closure assembly for a wide mouth vessel
EP1796979B1 (fr) Ensemble de fermeture pour recipient comprenant un filetage interieur au niveau du goulot
US20090223922A1 (en) Jaw seals for container closure assemblies
WO2011070326A1 (fr) Ensemble de fermeture de contenant avec bague d'inviolabilité
GB2432360A (en) Jaw seals for container closure assemblies

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 20110811

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO SE SI SK SM TR

DAX Request for extension of the european patent (deleted)
17Q First examination report despatched

Effective date: 20120518

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: HK

Ref legal event code: DE

Ref document number: 1163635

Country of ref document: HK

GRAP Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patent

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR1

GRAS Grant fee paid

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR3

GRAA (expected) grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009210

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: B1

Designated state(s): AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO SE SI SK SM TR

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: GB

Ref legal event code: FG4D

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: CH

Ref legal event code: EP

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: CH

Ref legal event code: NV

Representative=s name: E. BLUM AND CO. AG PATENT- UND MARKENANWAELTE , CH

Ref country code: AT

Ref legal event code: REF

Ref document number: 633611

Country of ref document: AT

Kind code of ref document: T

Effective date: 20131015

REG Reference to a national code

Effective date: 20131015

Ref country code: DK

Ref legal event code: T3

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: IE

Ref legal event code: FG4D

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: R096

Ref document number: 602010010524

Country of ref document: DE

Effective date: 20131121

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: SE

Ref legal event code: TRGR

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: PT

Ref legal event code: SC4A

Free format text: AVAILABILITY OF NATIONAL TRANSLATION

Effective date: 20131125

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: NL

Ref legal event code: T3

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: ES

Ref legal event code: FG2A

Ref document number: 2438500

Country of ref document: ES

Kind code of ref document: T3

Effective date: 20140117

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: NO

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20131225

Ref country code: LT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20130925

Ref country code: HR

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20130925

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: LT

Ref legal event code: MG4D

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: GR

Ref legal event code: EP

Ref document number: 20130402289

Country of ref document: GR

Effective date: 20140102

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: LV

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20130925

Ref country code: SI

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20130925

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: IS

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20140125

Ref country code: SK

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20130925

Ref country code: EE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20130925

Ref country code: CZ

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20130925

Ref country code: RO

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20130925

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: HK

Ref legal event code: GR

Ref document number: 1163635

Country of ref document: HK

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: PL

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20130925

PLBI Opposition filed

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009260

26 Opposition filed

Opponent name: BERICAP

Effective date: 20140624

PLAX Notice of opposition and request to file observation + time limit sent

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNOBS2

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: R026

Ref document number: 602010010524

Country of ref document: DE

Effective date: 20140624

PLAF Information modified related to communication of a notice of opposition and request to file observations + time limit

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSCOBS2

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: GR

Payment date: 20141211

Year of fee payment: 6

PLBB Reply of patent proprietor to notice(s) of opposition received

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNOBS3

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: LU

Payment date: 20150115

Year of fee payment: 6

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: NL

Payment date: 20150110

Year of fee payment: 6

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: MC

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20130925

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: FI

Payment date: 20150112

Year of fee payment: 6

Ref country code: CH

Payment date: 20150114

Year of fee payment: 6

Ref country code: DK

Payment date: 20150112

Year of fee payment: 6

Ref country code: IE

Payment date: 20150112

Year of fee payment: 6

Ref country code: PT

Payment date: 20150121

Year of fee payment: 6

Ref country code: IT

Payment date: 20150119

Year of fee payment: 6

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: CY

Payment date: 20141210

Year of fee payment: 6

Ref country code: SE

Payment date: 20150113

Year of fee payment: 6

Ref country code: AT

Payment date: 20141222

Year of fee payment: 6

Ref country code: TR

Payment date: 20150121

Year of fee payment: 6

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: BE

Payment date: 20150112

Year of fee payment: 6

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: FR

Ref legal event code: PLFP

Year of fee payment: 7

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: MT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20130925

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: ES

Payment date: 20151214

Year of fee payment: 7

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: SM

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20130925

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: DE

Payment date: 20160119

Year of fee payment: 7

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: BE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20160131

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: GB

Payment date: 20160127

Year of fee payment: 7

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: BG

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20130925

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: HU

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT; INVALID AB INITIO

Effective date: 20100128

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: DK

Ref legal event code: EBP

Effective date: 20160131

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: LU

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20160128

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: CH

Ref legal event code: PL

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: AT

Ref legal event code: MM01

Ref document number: 633611

Country of ref document: AT

Kind code of ref document: T

Effective date: 20160128

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: GR

Ref legal event code: ML

Ref document number: 20130402289

Country of ref document: GR

Effective date: 20160803

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: R064

Ref document number: 602010010524

Country of ref document: DE

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: R103

Ref document number: 602010010524

Country of ref document: DE

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: NL

Ref legal event code: MM

Effective date: 20160201

PLAB Opposition data, opponent's data or that of the opponent's representative modified

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009299OPPO

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: FI

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20160128

Ref country code: CH

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20160131

Ref country code: LI

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20160131

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: IE

Ref legal event code: MM4A

RDAF Communication despatched that patent is revoked

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNREV1

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: THE PATENT HAS BEEN GRANTED

R26 Opposition filed (corrected)

Opponent name: BERICAP

Effective date: 20140624

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: GR

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20160803

Ref country code: PT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20160728

Ref country code: AT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20160128

Ref country code: NL

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20160201

Ref country code: SE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20160129

Ref country code: CY

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20160128

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: FR

Ref legal event code: PLFP

Year of fee payment: 8

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: IT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20160128

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: DK

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20160131

Ref country code: IE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20160128

RDAG Patent revoked

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009271

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: PATENT REVOKED

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: FR

Payment date: 20161215

Year of fee payment: 8

27W Patent revoked

Effective date: 20161004

GBPR Gb: patent revoked under art. 102 of the ep convention designating the uk as contracting state

Effective date: 20161004

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: AT

Ref legal event code: MA03

Ref document number: 633611

Country of ref document: AT

Kind code of ref document: T

Effective date: 20161004

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: SE

Ref legal event code: ECNC

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: PATENT REVOKED

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: TR

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20160128