EP3724095A1

EP3724095A1 - Closure

Info

Publication number: EP3724095A1
Application number: EP18815642.6A
Authority: EP
Inventors: David Bevan; James Dimond
Original assignee: Creanova Universal Closures Ltd
Current assignee: Creanova Universal Closures Ltd
Priority date: 2017-12-15
Filing date: 2018-12-06
Publication date: 2020-10-21
Also published as: AU2018382373A1; AR113938A1; WO2019115326A1; US20210070509A1

Abstract

The invention is directed to a closure (1) for a liquid container comprising a base portion (2). The base portion (2) comprises a top deck (3) with a spout (4) ex- tending in an upper direction (z) away from the top deck (3) and an outer skirt (5) extending from an outer end (6) of the top deck (3) in a lower direction away from the top deck (3). A circumferential recess (8) is running around the spout (4) com- prising a radially outer first side surface (9) and a radially inner second side surface (10) and first locking means (11). A top portion (12) comprises an annular base (13) and a cover (14) with an outer wall (23) interconnected to the annular base (13) by a hinge (15). The annular base (13) comprises a radially outer first side surface (16) and radially inner second side surface (17) and second locking means (18). In an assembled position the annular base (13) of the top portion (12) is arranged in the circumferential recess (8) of the base portion (2) and the first and the second locking means (11, 18) interact with each other locking the cover (14) with respect to the base portion (2).

Description

CLOSURE

RED OFTHE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a closure, namely for containers. In particular the invention relates to a closure for containers for carbonated liquids such as soft drinks, but is well adapted to seal other containers such as glass or PET containers with contents at above or below atmospheric pressure or having gaseous compo nents or requiring a hermetic seal.

BACKGROUND OFTHE INVENTION

Packages for liquids, such as beverages, are often closed by screw caps which can be removed before usage and allow the package to be sealed again after usage, such as pouring the liquid out of the liquid container. The crew cap seals the con tainer if attached and further prevents a contamination of the liquid. The outlet is usually circular with respective larger diameter and permits a high flow rate. The outlet is primarily designed in order to pour the liquid and not to drink directly from the beverages. In certain application, such as beverages for sport drinks, however, the drinking directly from the beverage respective the liquid container is desired. Therefore, other geometries of closures are preferred. Such closures may include a part which the user can place directly inside the month and therefore needs to meet high standards with respect to cleanliness. Furthermore, a valve may ensure a lower flow rate for comfortable drinking. Often, the valve may further seal the liquid con tainer. In the following examples are given for such closure designs.

WO17025692 was first published in February 201 7 in the name of Bericap. It is directed to an articulated closure device for a container. The closure device com- prises at least one lower hinge support, a cover and a hinge connecting the lower hinge support to the cover. The hinge comprises a middle element connected to the lower hinge support by a middle portion of the lower film of material and connected to the cover by a middle portion of the upper film of material. At a distance from the middle portion of the lower film of material, two triangular lower lateral ele- ments are situated on either side of the reference plane and point towards the ref erence plane.

W011154324 was first published in December 201 1 in the name of the same applicant. It describes a closure comprising a ring shaped base laterally surrounding a cap which is functionally interconnected to the ring shaped base via a hinge ar- rangement. The ring shaped base is having an in general horizontal section on which a first end of the hinge arrangement is fixed protruding vertically above the horizontal section of the ring shaped base. A second end of the hinge arrangement is laterally fixed to an outer sidewall of the cap.

WO10112801 was first published in October 201 0 in the name of Obrist Closures Switzerland. It describes a closure which comprises a base and a lid. The base com- prises a spout portion. The lid comprises a cover portion and a ring portion secura- ble around the spout portion. The cover portion of the lid is hingedly connected to the ring portion and is moveable between a closed position and an open position. The ring portion and the spout portion comprise locking means, operable to pre- vent separation of the ring portion from the spout portion.

EP1582475 was first published in July 2007 in the name of Sylvia Ferrari. It de scribes a plug which comprises a re-closable protective cap having a smaller diam eter with respect to a base collar. The protective cap and the base collar are con nected through a hinge element and a series of breakable elements. The plug com- prises inside it a pouring element. The protective cap and the base collar are molded, in closed position, in a single piece that is separated by the pouring element.

US2015375908 was first published in August 201 4 in the name of Obrist Closures Switzerland. It is directed to a closure comprising a base and a lid being joined by a hinge arrangement so that the lid is movable between a closed position and an open position. The hinge arrangement comprising a main hinge and a separate auxiliary hinge, wherein the lateral extent of the main hinge is greater than the lat eral extent of the auxiliary hinge.

Difficulties of the existing two-piece closures, comprising a base and top, often oc cur during assembly of the top and the base. Either the top and the base do not fit well together and can therefore easily defeated or the top and the base are very difficult to assemble which again results in an increased chance that the closure is damaged during application.

It is an object of the present invention to improve the above mentioned disad vantages of the prior art closures and provide on one hand a closure that can be easily and reliably produced by injection molding and assembled with a base body, but on the other hand is still highly secure and cannot be defeated under normal conditions.

SUMMARY OFTHE INVENTION

A closure according to the invention comprises a base portion with a top deck with a spout, which extends in the center of the top deck in an upper direction (first direction) away from the top deck. An outer skirt extends in a lower direction (sec ond direction), opposite to the upper direction, away from the top deck. The outer skirt comprises a fastening means, e.g. a thread to interconnect the closure to a neck of the container or other suitable means. Depending on the field of application other means can be foreseen to interconnect the closure to a neck of a container, e.g. in the form of means to snap on the closure.

The base portion comprises a circumferential recess which is in or on the top deck running around the base of the spout or adjacent to it, comprising a radially outer first side surface and a radially inner second side surface and first locking means. Good results can be achieved by locking means in the form of a bead, which pro trudes radially outwards above the inner second side surface into the cross-section of the recess. The bead can be arranged in the region of a first shoulder of the base portion and forms an undercut in axial direction (direction of assembly of the base portion and the top portion). Good results can be achieved when the first shoulder is arranged at or near the toe of the spout.

The closure further comprises a top portion comprising an annular base and a cover. The cover comprises an outer wall and is interconnected to the annular base by a hinge, preferably a snap hinge. Good results can be achieved by a hinge which comprises two hinge plates each interconnected to the annular base and the cover by a film hinge. Normally such a hinge comprises four film hinges. Two film hinges of each hinge plate are preferably arranged in a V-shape with respect to each other. As the film hinges normally consist of a thinner section of material compared to the surrounding outer wall, they are preferably embossed from the outside into the contour of the outer wall, respectively the annular base.

The annular base of the top portion normally comprises a radially outer first side surface and radially inner second side surface. The annular base comprises second locking means. Good results can be achieved when the second locking means are incorporated as a bead, which protrudes radially inwards above the inner second side surface of the annular base. The bead forms an undercut in the axial direction and is foreseen to latch in the assembled position behind the bead of the base por tion. The annular base of the top portion is in the assembled position arranged in the circumferential recess of the base portion. The locking means interact with each other locking the top portion with respect to the base portion preventing unwanted movement of the top portion with respect to the base portion. If appropriate the locking means can be arranged in an inverse manner with respect to the radial po- sition. Depending on the field of application other means for locking the top portion with respect to the base portion can be foreseen alternatively or in addition to the locking means as described. E.g. it is possible to fix the top portion with respect to the bottom portion by welding.

The top portion preferably comprises at least one tamper evidence means e.g. in the form of one or several frangible bridges which, before initial opening, intercon nect the annular base and the cover. The tamper evidence means are torn apart during initial opening indicating initial opening of the cover. If appropriate the tam per evidence means can be incorporated as tear off band which is interconnected to the top portion and the bottom portion and is removed before initial opening. The annular base may comprise at least one castellation, e.g. in the form of a local protrusion, protruding radially outwards above the first side surface of the annular base. When viewing from atop in the axial direction, the castellation or part thereof in a ground view locally protrudes above the outer wall of the cover. This offers the advantage, that during assembly the castellation can be used to apply a force to push the annular base of the top portion into the corresponding recess of the base portion. Due to an offset arrangement of the castellation with respect to the locking means in radial direction, during assembly a certain torque can be generated sup porting inter-latching of the first and the second locking means. Depending on the field of application, the castellation can have different purposes. Besides supporting the latching of the top portion with respect to the base portion during assembly, a further purpose of the castellation is to protect the tamper evidence means ar ranged between the annular base and the cover during handling of the top portion. A still further purpose can be seen in preventing defeat of the closure. The castella tion can act as a measurement to prevent that the top portion can be separated from the base portion. The castellation can e.g. antagonize inserting an object be- tween the circumferential recess and the annular base at least in critical zones.

The spout arranged at the base portion comprises a pouring opening which is used to pour out liquid. Good results can be achieved when the injection point, through which the material enters to form the closure during injection molding, is arranged in the center of the pouring opening. The cover comprises first sealing means, which interact in a closed position of the cover with the pouring opening, to seal said pouring opening. The first sealing means is preferably a bore seal, which in a closed position of the cover reaches to a certain extend into the pouring opening. Furthermore, the cover may comprises a second sealing means, which in the closed position of the cover interacts with the spout and surrounds the pouring opening from the outside. While the bore seal acts as a primary seal to prevent escape of liquid through the pouring opening, the second sealing means can e.g. be designed as a circumferential bead arranged on the inside of the cover. The second sealing means interacts in the closed position of the cover with the spout in the area of an outer edge face, preferably arranged at the upper end of the spout. The circumfer ential bead again can have different purposes. Beside a function as a seal, the cir cumferential bead can alternatively or in addition act as a support between the cover and the spout in the case of a side load. Thereby the risk of leakage of the bore seal can be reduced significantly. If appropriate, the circumferential bead can be segmented when not acting as a primary seal but more as a support.

For increased cleanliness, the cover may comprise an inner skirt arranged inside the cover. The inner skirt is preferably arranged spaced apart from the outer wall. In a preferred variation the inner skirt is arranged concentric to the first and if present the second seal. The inner skirt may comprise a third sealing means. The third seal ing means can interact in the closed position of the cover with a second shoulder which arranged between the first shoulder and the outer edge face at the top of the spout. Good results can be achieved when the second shoulder is arranged closer to the first shoulder than to the outer edge face. In a preferred variation the second shoulder is in the vertical direction arranged on the height of the film hinges or between them in the area of the hinge plate.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description present embodiments, and are intended to provide an over view or framework for understanding the nature and character of the disclosure. The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding, and are incorporated into and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illus trate various embodiments, and together with the description serve to explain the principles and operation of the concepts disclosed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OFTHE DRAWINGS

5 The herein described invention will be more fully understood from the detailed de scription given herein below and the accompanying drawings which should not be considered limiting to the invention described in the appended claims. The draw ings are showing:

Fig. 1 a closure in a perspective view from above and behind; 0 Fig. 2 the closure according to Figure 1 in a perspective view from above and front;

Fig. 3 the closure according to Figure 1 in a side view;

Fig. 4 the closure according to Figure 1 in a rear view;

Fig. 5 the closure according to Figure 1 in a front view; 5 Fig. 6 a section view of the closure along section line DD of Figure 5; Fig. 7 the closure according to Figure 1 in a section view and in a disassembled manner;

Fig. 8 the closure according to Figure 1 in a section view;

Fig. 9 the closure according to Figure 1 in a perspective view in an opened po- sition from the front;

Fig. 1 0 the closure according to Figure 9 in a rear view.

DESCRIPTION OFTHE EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made in detail to certain embodiments, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which some, but not all features are shown. Indeed, embodiments disclosed herein may be embodied in many dif ferent forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will satisfy applicable legal reguirements. Whenever possible, like reference numbers will be used to refer to like components or parts. Figure 1 shows a closure 1 according to the invention in a perspective view from above and behind. Figure 2 shows the closure 1 in a perspective view from above and the front. Figure 3 shows the closure 1 in a side view. Figure 4 in a rear view. and Figure 5 in a front view. Figure 6 shows the closure 1 in a section view sec tioned along section line DD of Figure 5. Figure 7 shows the closure 1 in a per spective view from above in a disassembled manner as will be explained in more detail hereinafter. Figure 8 is showing the closure according to Figure 7 in an as- sembled manner. Figure 9 and Figure 10 are showing the closure 1 in an opened position.

In the shown variation, the closure 1 comprises a base portion 2 with a top deck 3 with a spout 4 which extends in the center of the top deck 3 in an upper direction z away from the top deck 3. An outer skirt 5 extends from an outer end 6 of the top deck 3 in an opposite lower direction away from the top deck 3. The outer skirt 5 comprises a fastening means 7. In the shown variation in the form of a thread 7 to interconnect the closure 1 to a neck of the container (not shown in detail). De pending on the field of application other means can be foreseen to interconnect the closure 1 to a neck of a container, e.g. in the form of means to snap on the closure. As e.g. visible in Figure 6, a circumferential recess 8 is running around the spout 4 comprising a radially outer first side surface 9 and a radially inner second side sur face 1 0 and first locking means 1 1 , here in the form of a bead 1 1 which protrudes radially outwardly above the inner second side surface 1 0 into the cross-section of the recess. The bead 1 1 is arranged in the region of a first shoulder 28 of the base portion 2 and forms an undercut in axial direction (here z-direction, direction of assembly of the closure as shown in Figure 7). In the shown variation the first shoulder 28 is arranged at the toe of the spout 4. The closure 1 further comprises a top portion 1 2 comprising an annular base 1 3 and a cover 1 4. The cover 1 4 comprises an outer wall 23 and is interconnected to the annular base 1 3 by a hinge 1 5. Good results can be achieved by the hinge 1 5 which comprises two hinge plates 30 each interconnected to the annular base 1 3 and the cover 1 4 by a film hinge 31 . The two film hinges 31 of each hinge plate 30 are arranged in a V-shape and preferably embossed from the outside into the con tour of the outer wall 23, respectively the annular base 1 3. The annular base 1 3 comprises a radially outer first side surface 1 6 and radially inner second side surface 1 7. The annular base 1 3 comprises second locking means 1 8, here in the form of a bead 1 8, which protrudes radially inwards above the inner second side surface 1 7 of the annular base 1 3. The bead 1 8 forms an undercut in axial direction (z- direction) and is foreseen to latch in the mounted position (as shown) behind the bead 1 1 of the base portion 2. As can be seen among others in Figure 6, the an nular base 1 3 of the top portion 1 2 is in the assembled position arranged in the circumferential recess 8 of the base portion 2 and the first and the second locking means 1 1 , 1 8 interact with each other locking the cover 1 4 with respect to the base portion 2. The top portion comprises a tamper evidence means in the form of sev eral frangible bridges 27 which before initial opening interconnect the annular base 1 3 and the cover 1 4. The frangible bridges 27 are torn apart during initial opening indicating initial opening of the cover 1 4.

In the shown variation, the annular base 1 3 comprises at least one castellation 1 9 protruding radially outwards above the first side surface 1 6 of the annular base 1 3. The castellation 1 9 can have different purposes. One purpose is to ease the appli cation of the cover 1 4 to the base portion 2, i.e. to insert the annular base 1 3 into the circumferential recess 8 and to engage the first with the second locking means 1 1 , 1 8 such that the top portion 1 2 is securely fastened with respect to the base portion 2. A further purpose of the castellation 1 9 is to protect the bridges 27 ar ranged between the annular base 1 3 and the cover 1 4 during handling of the top portion 1 4. A further purpose can be seen in preventing defeat of the closure 1 , i.e. as a measurement that the top portion 1 2 can be separated from the base portion 2 in an undue manner. The castellation 1 9 can e.g. antagonized inserting an object between the circumferential recess 8 and the annular base 1 3. In the shown varia tion at least one castellation 1 9 is protruding radially outwards above the outer wall 23 of the cover 1 4. In a front area of the closure 1 , opposite to the hinge 1 5, be tween two segments of the castellation 1 9, a bridge 27 is arranged interconnecting the annular base 1 3 and the cover 1 4. As visible in Figure 6 the spout 4 comprises a pouring opening 20 and the cover 1 4 comprises a first sealing means 21 which interacts in a closed position of the cover 1 4 with the pouring opening 20 to seal the pouring opening 20. In the shown variation the first sealing means 21 is a bore seal 21 which in the closed position of the cover 1 4 extends into the pouring opening 20. Furthermore the cover 1 4 com- prises a second sealing means 22 which in the closed position of the cover 1 4 in teracts with the spout 4 and surrounds the pouring opening 20 from the outside. The bore seal 21 acts as the primary seal to prevent escape of liguid through the pouring opening 20. The second sealing means 22 is designed as a circumferential bead 22 arranged on the inside of the cover 1 4 which in the closed position of the cover 1 4 interacts with the spout 4 in the area of an outer edge face 32 arranged at the upper end of the spout 4. The circumferential bead 22 can have different purposes. Beside a sealing function the circumferential bead 22 can act alterna- tively or in addition as a support between the cover 1 4 and the spout 4 in the case of a side load. Thereby the risk of leakage of the bore seal 21 (primary seal) can be reduced. If appropriate the circumferential bead 22 can be segmented.

To obtain very good results with respect to cleanliness, the cover 1 4 comprises an inner skirt 24 arranged inside the cover 1 4. The inner skirt 24 is arranged spaced apart from the outer wall 23. In the shown variation the inner skirt 24 is arranged concentric to the first and the second seal 21 , 22 and is shaped cylindrical. The inner skirt 24 comprises along a free end 25 a third sealing means 26. The third sealing means 26 interacts in the closed position of the cover 1 4 with a second shoulder 29 of the base portion 2. The second shoulder 29 is arranged between the first shoulder 28 and the outer edge face 32. Good results can be achieved when the second shoulder 29 is arranged closer to the first shoulder 28 than to the outer edge face 32. In a preferred variation the second shoulder 29 is arranged in the vertical direction (z-direction) on the height of the film hinges 31 or between them in the area of the hinge plate 30. Rather, the words used in the specification are words of description rather than limitation, and it is understood that various changes may be made without depart ing from the spirit and scope of the invention. LIST OF DEIGIMATIOIMS

1 Closure 1 9 Castellation

2 Base portion 20 Pouring opening

3 Top deck 25 21 First sealing means (cover) 4 Spout 22 Second sealing means

5 Outer skirt (cover)

6 Outer end 23 Outer wall (cover)

7 Fastening means 24 Inner skirt (cover)

8 Recess 30 25 Lower free end (inner skirt) 9 First side surface (recess) 26 Third sealing means

1 0 Second side surface (re 27 Bridge (tamper evidence cess) means)

1 1 First locking means (recess) 28 First shoulder (base por

1 2 Top portion 35 tion)

1 3 Annular base 29 Second shoulder (base

1 4 Cover portion)

1 5 Hinge 30 Hinge plate

1 6 First side surface (annular 31 Film hinge

base), radially outside 40 32 Outer edge face 1 7 Second side surface (an 33 Drainage hole

nular base), radially inside 34 Bottom surface (recess) 1 8 Second locking means 35 End surface (annular base)

Claims

PATENT CLAIMS

What is claimed is:

1. A closure ( 1 ) for a liquid container comprising a. a base portion ( 2) comprising i. a top deck (3) with a spout (4) extending in an upper direc tion (z) away from the top deck (3) and ii. an outer skirt (5) extending from an outer end (6) of the top deck (3) in a lower direction away from the top deck (3), said outer skirt (5) comprising a fastening means (7) to intercon- nect the closure ( 1 ) to a neck of the container; iii. a circumferential recess (8) running around the spout (4) comprising a radially outer first side surface (9) and a radially inner second side surface ( 1 0) and first locking means ( 1 1 ) ; b. a top portion ( 1 2) comprising an annular base ( 1 3) and a cover ( 1 4) with an outer wall (23) interconnected to the annular base ( 1 3) by a hinge ( 1 5), wherein c. the annular base (13) comprises a radially outer first side surface (16) and radially inner second side surface (17) and second locking means ( 18), wherein d. in an assembled position the annular base (13) of the top portion (12) is arranged in the circumferential recess (8) of the base portion

(2) and the first and the second locking means (11, 18) interact with each other locking the cover (14) with respect to the base portion (2).

2. The closure ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the annular base (13) com- prises at least one castellation (19) protruding radially outwards above the first side surface (16) of the annular base (13).

3. The closure (1 ) according to claim 2, wherein the at least one castellation (19) is protruding radially outwards above the outer wall (23) of the cover (14). 4. The closure ( 1 ) according to claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the at least one cas tellation (19) is segmented in circumferential direction of the annular base

(13), wherein between at least two segments of the castellation (19) a bridge (27) is arranged interconnecting the annular base ( 19) and the cover

(14).

5. The closure ( 1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the spout (4) comprises a pouring opening (20) and the cover ( 1 4) comprises a first sealing means (21 ) which interacts in a closed position of the cover ( 1 4) with the pouring opening (20) to seal the pouring opening (20). 6. The closure ( 1 ) according to claim 5, wherein the first sealing means (21 ) is a bore seal extending in the closed position of the cover ( 1 4) into the pouring opening (20) and wherein the cover ( 1 4) comprises a second sealing means (22) which in the closed position of the cover ( 1 4) interacts with the spout (4) and surrounds the pouring opening (20) from the outside. 7. The closure ( 1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the base portion (2) comprises a first shoulder ( 28) and the first locking means ( 1 1 ) is arranged adjacent to the first shoulder (28).

8. The closure ( 1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the cover ( 1 4) comprises an inner skirt (24) arranged inside of and spaced apart from the outer wall (23).

9. The closure ( 1 ) according to claim 8, wherein the inner skirt (24) comprises along a lower free end (25) a third sealing means (26) which in the closed position of the cover ( 1 4) interacts with the spout (4) in the area near the top deck (3) .

10. The closure ( 1 ) according to claim 9, wherein the base portion ( 2) comprises a second shoulder (29) which in the closed position interacts with the third sealing means (26) of the inner skirt (24).

11. The closure ( 1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the sec- ond side surface ( 1 0) of the circumferential recess (8) comprises at least one drainage hole (33).