EP4132861B1

EP4132861B1 - Closure member and container comprising the closure member

Info

Publication number: EP4132861B1
Application number: EP21718813.5A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Manuel Büsser
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Buesser Manuel
Priority date: 2020-04-07
Filing date: 2021-04-07
Publication date: 2024-03-13
Anticipated expiration: 2041-04-07
Also published as: WO2021204863A1; EP3892566A1; EP4132861A1; EP4132861B8; EP4132861C0

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a closure member and to a container as set forth in the claims.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

Fluid containers, for instance such used for beverages, are frequently provided with screwable closure caps screwed onto the neck of the container body. In particular in beverage industry closure members are used which comprise a tamper ring to which the closure cap is connected when the container is shipped from the production site. The tamper ring is, in essence, a retainer ring engaging in a positive form lock relationship underneath a corresponding feature on the container neck so that the tamper ring cannot be removed from the container neck without destroying the tamper ring. The closure cap is attached to the tamper ring through a predetermined rupture line having reduced mechanical strength. For instance, it is known that the closure cap is attached to the tamper ring only through a number of relatively weak circumferentially distributed bridges. In other embodiments the predetermined rupture line may be provided as a circumferential line having reduced material thickness when compared to the cap and the tamper ring. The predetermined rupture line is intended to act as an intentional breaking line when a tensile force and/or torsional moment is applied between the tamper ring and the closure cap. Hence, when an originally closed container is opened the first time, for instance by unscrewing the closure cap, the closure member breaks in the predetermined rupture line between the tamper ring and the closure cap, as the tamper ring is impeded from axial displacement towards the pouring hole of the container, while the cap is axially displaced on the threat. An unbroken connection between the tamper ring and the closure cap warrants an untouched, originally filled container as shipped by the manufacturer, whereas a broken connection, that is a tamper ring which is loosely held on the container, indicates that the container has been opened. It is crucial, however, that the axially acting force required for detaching the cap from the tamper ring is sufficiently small so that the tamper ring remains secured to the container neck. On the other hand, the predetermined rupture line must be sufficiently solid to remain intact when forcing the tamper ring over the counterpart locking feature on the container neck.
When the cap completely detaches from the tamper ring and consequently has no connection with the container any more, there is a risk of the cap getting lost. This, on the one hand, means that an only partially emptied container cannot be properly closed anymore. The cap could fall to the ground and become polluted. Further, the cap can get into the environment as plastic litter. It will hence be appreciated that it is found desirable to retain the closure cap attached to the container. From the art it is known, for instance, to provide lugs connecting the tamper ring and the closure cap, wherein these lugs are intended to secure the cap to the container when the container is opened. Such solutions are for instance disclosed in US 2009/0236304 , US 4,394,918 or US 2018/0370701 . Other solutions are for instance described in JP 2017-119538 . These, in brief, comprise a tether firmly attached in two end regions to the tamper ring and the cap, respectively. These are provided at closure members having a cap portion comprising a skirt, a tamper ring and a tether portion axially interposed between the cap portion and the tamper ring. In an originally shipped state, the tether extends circumferentially and is attached to the tamper ring and the cap portion by structurally weakened predetermined rupture lines which are intended to detach upon the first unscrewing of the cap portion, while the tether is firmly connected to the skirt of the cap portion and the tamper ring, or, more generically spoken, retainer portion at the ends of the tether. CN 201209040Y teaches that the portion of the predetermined rupture line located between the tether and the tamper ring, along its entire circumferential extent, comprises 50% more connection ribs than the portion of the predetermined rupture line located between the tether and the cap. JP 2005-41566 teaches a closure member in which a portion of the predetermined rupture line is provided between the tether and the skirt, a second portion of the predetermined rupture line is provided between the tether and the retainer portion, or tamper ring, respectively, and further an intermediate portion of the predetermined rupture line is arranged to provide a connection between said two portions which are located at different axial locations of the closure member. JP 2005-41566 further teaches that the predetermined rupture line, upon opening the closure member, first detaches between the tether and the skirt and only subsequently detaches between the tether and the retainer portion. The intermediate portion, which is located between the ends of the tether, is open so that no connection exists between the ends of the tether. However, the tether is firmly connected to the cap as well as to the retainer portion of the closure member at circumferentially nearby positions, yielding the risk of displacing the retainer portion beyond the counterpart retainer feature of the container neck. EP 1 967 669 discloses a closure member with a cap and a tether connecting the cap with a tamper ring. The tether extends circumferentially about two complete turns, or 720 degrees, around the bottleneck, and accordingly the predetermined rupture line extends about three turns, or 1080 degrees, around the bottleneck. WO 2020/089148 , which was published after the priority date, describes a closure member with a tether securing a cap member to a tamper ring wherein a predetermined rupture line has an upper and a lower section each extending over less than 360 degrees. The predetermined rupture line is bridged by bridges connecting the adjacent members to each other. The document further teaches that the bridges in each of the upper and lower sections of the predetermined rupture line have the same strength and the same distance from each other. It will be appreciated that, on the one hand to keep the closure member securely attached to the container and on the other hand to fulfill the warranty function, it is desirable to provide the closure member so as to minimize the risk of displacing the retainer portion beyond the counterpart feature on the container neck and to safely retain the retainer portion of the closure member on the container neck.

OUTLINE OF THE SUBJECT MATTER OF THE PRESENT DISCLOSURE

It is an object of the present disclosure to propose a closure member and a container containing the closure member of the kind initially mentioned. In one aspect, it is an object of the present disclosure to propose a closure member and a container containing the closure member improving the art. In a more specific aspect improvements form certain drawbacks of the art noted above shall be achieved. In other aspects, the closure member shall be provided such that the cap remains securely attached to a tamper ring or other tamper indicating appliance, or to the container body, respectively, at least withstanding a minimum threshold detachment force. In still a further aspect, the closure member shall be provided such as to avoid displacement of the tamper indicating device beyond a counterpart device on the container body, thus avoiding disengaging the tamper ring from the container neck. In other aspects, it shall be avoided that predetermined rupture line is damaged due to the deformation when a terminal ring portion is folded over to form the tamper ring upon displacing it over the retainer feature on the container neck and positively locking it with the container neck when the closure member is initially screwed onto the container neck. In still a further aspect, attention shall be paid to a fast, reliable and cheap manufacturability of the closure member.
This is achieved by the subject matter described in the independent claims.
Further effects and advantages of the disclosed subject matter, whether explicitly mentioned or not, will become apparent in view of the disclosure provided below.
Accordingly, disclosed is a closure member comprising a skirt extending in a circumferential and an axial direction. A predetermined rupture line extends on the skirt from a first endpoint to a second endpoint, wherein the first and second endpoints are axially offset from each other and the predetermined rupture line extends more than 360° circumferentially, so that portions of the predetermined rupture line overlap in the circumferential direction. It is furthermore provided that the predetermined rupture line also comprises a non-overlapping portion. This implicitly means that the predetermined rupture line extends over less than 720 degrees circumferentially, for instance at most 710 degrees of at most 700 degrees. The predetermined rupture line, in its overlapping portions, subdivides the closure member into a cap portion, a terminal ring portion and a tether portion defined between the circumferentially overlapping portions of the predetermined rupture line and interposed between the cap portion and the terminal ring portion. The terminal ring portion is intended to form or serve as a retainer portion or tamper ring of the closure member and to positively lock with a counterpart retainer feature on the neck of a container. The predetermined rupture line has a mechanical strength per unit length which is lower than the mechanical strength per unit length in any other region of the skirt, so that, when a tensile force is applied between the cap portion and the terminal ring portion, the closure member ruptures at the predetermined rupture line. The predetermined rupture line has a first circumferential portion extending from the first endpoint of the predetermined rupture line adjacent the cap portion and extends circumferentially over 360 degrees, and a second circumferential portion which extends from the first circumferential portion to the second endpoint of the predetermined rupture line adjacent the terminal ring portion. It is hence understood that the second circumferential portion of the predetermined rupture line circumferentially overlaps a part of the first circumferential portion of the predetermined rupture line and is axially offset from said part of the first circumferential portion of the predetermined rupture line. Moreover, by virtue of the first circumferential portion of the predetermined rupture line extending over 360 degrees circumferentially, it becomes clear and is implicit that the non-overlapping portion of the predetermined rupture line is comprised in the first circumferential portion of the predetermined rupture line. The mechanical strength per unit length in the first circumferential portion of the predetermined rupture line is smaller than the mechanical strength per unit length in the second circumferential portion of the predetermined rupture line. In certain embodiments, the mechanical strength per unit length in the non-overlapping portion of the predetermined rupture line is smaller than or at most equal to the mechanical strength per unit length in the first circumferential portion of the predetermined rupture line.
It goes without saying that the second portion of the predetermined rupture line overlaps a portion of the first portion, which is hereinafter referred to as "the overlapping portion of the first portion". More specifically, in preferred embodiments the mechanical strength per unit length in the overlapping portion of the first portion is smaller than the mechanical strength per unit length in the second portion of the predetermined rupture line.
The mechanical strength per unit length may in particular be defined as an average mechanical strength, i.e. the integral mechanical strength in a portion of the predetermined rupture line divided by the length of said portion. The length may be measured as a linear dimension of the respective portion measured along the circumference, but may likewise be expressed in terms of an angular extent of a portion.
It is understood that the tether portion comprises a tether which, while the predetermined rupture line is non-ruptured, is attached to and secured between the cap portion and the terminal ring portion by the non-ruptured predetermined rupture line, and which is intended to secure the cap portion to the terminal ring portion, and thereby to a container, when the predetermined rupture line is ruptured. The tether is joined with the cap portion and the terminal ring portion, respectively, at firm junctions located at the circumferential ends of the tether and circumferentially located in the same circumferential region as the non-overlapping portion of the predetermined rupture line.
The mechanical strength per unit length may in particular be an ultimate tensile strength per unit length.
In embodiments, the mechanical strength per unit length in the second portion of the predetermined rupture line increases from the first portion of the predetermined rupture line to the second endpoint. In other embodiments, the mechanical strength pr unit length in the second portion of the predetermined rupture line may "oscillate", meaning having single particularly strong locations. Those would provide tactile feedback to a user detaching the tether from the terminal ring portion along the second portion of the predetermined rupture line.
It is appreciated that when a container is closed with a closure member of the above-described type, the terminal ring portion locks with a counterpart retainer feature on the neck of the container and is in particular in a positive form lock relationship with the counterpart retainer feature. The terminal ring portion is thus secured against being displaced beyond the counterpart retainer feature towards the opening, or the pouring hole, of the container body. The cap portion is screwedly received on the neck of the container body. When the container is initially opened, the cap portion is axially displaced along the threads of the container neck, thus inducing a tensile force between the cap portion and the terminal ring portion and stretching the material of the predetermined rupture line. The second circumferential portion of the predetermined rupture line is, with respect to the tensile force, arranged in series with a part of the first circumferential portion of the predetermined rupture line. The tensile strength per unit length is smaller in the first circumferential portion of the predetermined rupture line, and hence the closure member breaks in the first portion of the predetermined rupture line while the second portion of the predetermined rupture line remains intact. In other words, the predetermined rupture line ruptures on a full 360° circumference between the cap portion and the tether, and in the non-overlapping portion of the predetermined rupture line between the terminal ring portion and the tether. However, the second portion of the predetermined rupture line, which is the portion of the predetermined rupture line between the tether and the terminal ring portion and overlapped be the first portion of the predetermined rupture line, remains intact. The force required to rupture the predetermined rupture line in the first portion thereof preferably is sufficiently small so as to avoid disengaging the terminal ring portion form the counterpart feature on the container neck. The first portion of the predetermined rupture line extends over at least 360 degrees, and thus the cap portion, after rupturing the first portion of the predetermined rupture line, is essentially free to displace axially with respect to the terminal ring portion and is now only joined to the terminal ring portion by the relatively flexible tether portion. Thus, the cap portion can be screwed off the container neck and the container neck be completely opened while the cap portion remains secured to the container via the tether portion and the terminal ring portion. The closure member may subsequently be broken in the second portion of the predetermined rupture line so as to enlarge the free length of the tether and hence the range of motion for the cap portion. The second portion of the predetermined rupture line, located between the tether and the terminal ring portion, is circumferentially overlapped by the first portion and thus cannot exert more force on the terminal ring portion, when unscrewing the cap portion, than the force at which the first portion of the predetermined rupture line breaks. Thus, the second portion of the predetermined rupture line can be provided comparatively rigid, which yields certain advantages, for instance when assembling the closure member with a container whereby the terminal ring portion is displaced over a positive lock feature of the container.
Accordingly, disclosed is also a container comprising a container body and a closure member of any herein disclosed type, wherein the container body comprises a neck with a container opening, or pouring hole. The closure member is threadedly received on the neck of the container body. In particular, the thread of the closure member may be restricted to the cap portion, while not thread, or at least no thread suited for engaging with a thread on a container neck, is provided in the tether portion and the terminal ring portion. In another aspect, only the cap portion of the closure member is threadedly engaged with the neck of the container, while the tether portion and the terminal ring portion are not threadedly engaged. At least one retainer feature is provided on the neck of the container body, wherein at least a part of the terminal ring portion of the closure member engages the retainer feature provided on the neck distant from the container opening so as to lock the terminal ring portion against detaching from the neck of the container body. The terminal ring portion of the closure member and the retainer feature provided on the neck jointly provide a resisting force against the terminal ring portion of the closure member being disengaged from the retainer feature on the neck of the container body, and an integral ultimate tensile strength of the closure member in the first portion of the predetermined rupture line over 360 degrees circumference is smaller than the resisting force against the terminal ring portion of the closure member being disengaged from the retainer feature on the neck of the container body.
The predetermined rupture line may comprise or be formed as a line of reduced material thickness when compared to neighboring sections of the closure member.
In other aspects, the predetermined rupture line may comprise bridges, wherein the bridges extend across the predetermined rupture line and join the tether portion to adjacent rims of the cap portion and the terminal ring portion, respectively, and are intended to break when the predetermined rupture line is broken. There may be voids and/or material sections with reduced material strength circumferentially between the bridges.
In order to achieve the different mechanical strengths along the predetermined rupture line, the cumulated cross section of the bridges per unit length of the predetermined rupture line in the second circumferential portion of the predetermined rupture line is, in non-limiting embodiments, larger than the cumulated cross section of the bridges per unit length of the predetermined rupture line in the first circumferential portion of the predetermined rupture line. To this extent, the cross section of an individual bridge in the second circumferential portion of the predetermined rupture line may be larger than the cross section of a bridge in the first circumferential section of the predetermined rupture line. Alternatively, or in addition, the number of bridges per unit length in the second portion of the predetermined rupture line may be larger than the number of bridges per unit length in the first portion of the predetermined rupture line. The distance between two neighboring bridges in the second portion of the predetermined rupture line may in embodiments be smaller than or equal to 6.8 mm. Said distance may be larger than or equal to 1.8 mm, and more specifically larger than or equal to 3 mm and smaller than or equal to 6.8 mm. In other aspects the distance between two neighboring bridges in the second portion of the predetermined rupture line may be at most 80 %, in more particular embodiments at most 75%, at most 60% or at most 50% of the distance between two neighboring bridges in the first portion of the predetermined rupture line, or of the smallest distance between two neighboring bridges in the first portion of the predetermined rupture line.
The circumferential extent of the predetermined rupture line may in embodiments account to at least 450 degrees. The circumferential extent of the predetermined rupture line may in embodiments account to at most 690 degrees. The longer the circumferential extent of the predetermined rupture line is, the longer may the free length of the tether be provided.
The predetermined rupture line may be spirally arranged, i.e. extent as a spiral around the skirt of the closure member.
In other embodiments the predetermined rupture line may be "staged", that is, one part extending less than 360 degrees circumferentially, and the second part extending less than 360 degrees circumferentially and axially offset to the other part, wherein the two parts are connected by an intermediate part of the predetermined rupture line. That is, the predetermined rupture line may be formed as a first part extending circumferentially, and in particular merely circumferentially, from the first endpoint to a first cornerpoint, a second part extending circumferentially, and in particular merely circumferentially, from a second cornerpoint to the second endpoint, and an intermediate part connecting the first and second cornerpoints. The first and second cornerpoints, and in particular the first and second parts of the predetermined rupture line, are, in this non-limiting embodiment, axially offset from each other along an axis of the closure member. The first portion of the predetermined rupture line extends from the first endpoint along the first part, the intermediate part, and partially in the second part of the predetermined rupture line. The non-overlapping portion of the predetermined rupture line extends partly in the first part of the predetermined rupture line and adjacent the first cornerpoint, and partly in the second part of the predetermined rupture line and adjacent the second cornerpoint. The mechanical strength per unit length of the predetermined rupture line in the part of the non-overlapping portion extending in the second part of the predetermined rupture line, and between the terminal ring portion and the tether portion, is smaller than or at most equal to the mechanical strength per unit length in the first circumferential portion of the predetermined rupture line. More in particular, it may be provided that the mechanical strength per unit length of the predetermined rupture line in the part of the non-overlapping portion extending in the second part of the predetermined rupture line, between the terminal ring portion and the tether portion, is smaller than or at most equal to the mechanical strength per unit length in the part of the non-overlapping portion of the predetermined rupture line extending in the first part of the predetermined rupture line, between the cap portion and the tether portion. Still more in particular, the part of the non-overlapping portion of the predetermined rupture line extending in the second part of the predetermined rupture line, between the terminal ring portion and the tether portion, may be completely open, such that the mechanical strength in said part of the predetermined rupture line is zero. Also, the intermediate part of the predetermined rupture line which extends between the first and second cornerpoints may be open such that the mechanical strength in said intermediate part may be zero.
As implicitly described by the predetermined rupture line having first and second endpoints, the tether section is connected to the cap portion and the terminal ring portion by firm junctions. Those may be provided so as to have an ultimate tensile strength of at least 6 N and more in particular at least 12 N.
It is understood that the features and embodiments disclosed above may be combined with each other. It will further be appreciated that further embodiments are conceivable within the scope of the present disclosure and the claimed subject matter which are obvious and apparent to the skilled person.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The subject matter of the present disclosure is now to be explained in more detail by means of selected exemplary embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings. The figures show

Fig. 1: an embodiment of a closure member of the type herein described;
Fig. 2: a sectional view of the closure member received on a neck of a container body and used to seal a container;
Fig. 3: a flat projection of a skirt of a closure member of the herein disclosed type outlining an example of a predetermined rupture line;
Fig. 4: a closure member of the herein disclosed type with a portion of the predetermined rupture line ruptured;
Fig. 5: a closure member of the herein disclosed type upon removing the cap portion from the neck of a container body;
Fig. 6: a sectional view of a ramped terminal portion of a predetermined rupture line;
Fig. 7: a sectional view of a different embodiment of a ramped terminal portion of a predetermined rupture line;
Fig. 8: a further exemplary embodiment of a closure member as herein described; and
Fig. 9: still a further embodiments of a closure member as herein described.

It is understood that the drawings are highly schematic, and details not required for instruction purposes may have been omitted for the ease of understanding and depiction. It is further understood that the drawings show only selected, illustrative embodiments, and embodiments not shown may still be well within the scope of the herein disclosed and/or claimed subject matter.

EXEMPLARY MODES OF CARRYING OUT THE TEACHING OF THE PRESENT DISCLOSURE

Figure 1 shows an embodiment of a closure member 1. In the shown exemplary embodiment, closure member 1 comprises a top cover 10 and a skirt 11 extending in an axial direction from top cover 10, and further extending circumferentially around top cover 10. A predetermined rupture line 111 is formed on skirt 11. The predetermined rupture line extends circumferentially more than 360 degrees from a first endpoint 112 to a second endpoint 113, wherein the first and second endpoints 112, 113 are axially offset from each other. Thus, portions 121 and 125 (cf. Fig. 3) of the predetermined rupture line overlap in the circumferential direction. The predetermined rupture line 111 thus subdivides the closure member into a cap portion 101, a terminal ring portion 102, and a tether portion 103 between circumferentially overlapping sections of the predetermined rupture line 111. It is understood that the closure member is hollow, and a thread or thread segments may be arranged on an inner wall of the cap portion so that the closure member may be threadedly received, or screwed, onto a neck of a container. The tether portion is axially interposed between cap portion 101 and terminal ring portion 102. The predetermined rupture line 111 is configured to have a lower mechanical strength than any other part of the skirt so that when an axially acting tensile force is applied between the terminal ring portion 102 and the cap portion 101 the closure member breaks in the predetermined rupture line. The predetermined rupture line, in the shown embodiment, comprises a first part 116 extending from the first endpoint 112 to a first cornerpoint 114, a second part 117 extending from a second cornerpoint 115 to the second endpoint 113, wherein the first and second cornerpoints are axially offset from each other, and an intermediate part 118 connecting the first and second cornerpoints. The predetermined rupture line may thus be said to form a stepped rupture line. While the intermediate portion 118 of the predetermined rupture line is shown to extend merely axially, in other embodiments not shown the intermediate portion 118 may extend obliquely to the axial direction of the closure member. Moreover, while a bridge is shown to be present in intermediate part 118, it may be provided that intermediate part 118 of the predetermined rupture line is completely open. In further embodiments not shown, but easily derivable by the skilled person, the predetermined rupture line extends spirally and essentially continuous between the first and second endpoint. Still further embodiments, like a spiraling predetermined rupture line which is interrupted by a step formed by an intermediate part of the predetermined rupture line, are conceivable. Important, however, is that the predetermined rupture line does never meet itself after a 360 degrees circumferential extend. That way, the tether portion 103 is firmly connected to the cap portion 101 and the terminal ring portion 102 by firm junctions 119 and 120. The firm junctions have a circumferential extent sufficient to guarantee a minimum ultimate tensile strength. Said minimum tensile strength may for instance be 6 N such as to allow to securely suspend a filled half liter bottle from the cap portion of a closure member when the predetermined rupture line is broken, or 12 N such as to allow to securely suspend a filled 1 liter bottle from the cap portion of a closure member when the predetermined rupture line is broken. To this extent, the wall of the skirt may be thickened at and axially adjacent the firm junctions.
Critical to the herein claimed subject matter is that the predetermined rupture line is subdivided into at least two circumferential portions having different mechanical strength per unit length of the predetermined rupture line. The term mechanical strength may in this respect be understood as an ultimate tensile strength against a tensile force applied in an axial direction of the closure member between the terminal ring portion and the cap portion. A first portion I of the predetermined rupture line, starting at the first endpoint 112 extends along the predetermined rupture line 360 degrees of the circumference of the closure member, has a mechanical strength per unit lengths. Said mechanical strength per unit lengths may be the ultimate tensile strength. The mechanical strength per unit length may be defined as the integral mechanical strength of the first portion of the predetermined rupture line divided by the length of the predetermined rupture line as measured in a circumferential direction, i.e., for instance at a 360 degrees extent and a constant diameter of the skirt this corresponds to the circumference of the skirt. A second portion II of the predetermined rupture line extends from the first circumferential portion to the second endpoint. The second portion of the predetermined rupture line has a mechanical strength per unit length which is larger than the mechanical strength per unit length of the first portion of the predetermined rupture line. It goes without saying that the second portion of the predetermined rupture line overlaps a portion 121 of the first portion which is hereinafter referred to as "the overlapping portion of the first portion". More specifically, in preferred embodiments the mechanical strength per unit length in the overlapping portion of the first portion is smaller than the mechanical strength per unit length in the second portion II of the predetermined rupture line. Moreover, the first section of the predetermined rupture line comprises a non-overlapping portion 126. Non-overlapping portion 126 is part of first portion I of predetermined rupture line 111. Non-overlapping portion 126 may be subdivided into a part 1261 adjacent cap portion 101 and a second part 1262 adjacent terminal ring portion 102. Generally, the mechanical strength per unit length in non-overlapping portion 126 is smaller than or at most equal to the mechanical strength per unit length in the first portion I of predetermined rupture line 111, or, in aspects, in the overlapping portion of the first portion. It will be appreciated by a person having ordinary skill in the art that, as the mechanical strength per unit length in the first portion is an average value averaged over the first portion, the mechanical strength per unit length in a subdivision of said first portion, such as non-overlapping portion 126, may be different from said averaged mechanical strength per unit length in the first portion. More specifically, it may be provided that the mechanical strength per unit length in each of parts 1261 and 1262 is smaller than or at most equal to the mechanical strength per unit length in the first portion I of predetermined rupture line 111, or, in aspects, in the overlapping portion of the first portion. It may moreover be the case that the mechanical strength per unit length in part 1262 of non-overlapping portion 126 is smaller than or at most equal to the mechanical strength in part 1261 of non-overlapping portion 126.
Upon opening a container which is closed by the herein disclosed closure member the following occurs: Upon unscrewing the closure member, the cap member is displaced in an axial direction away from the terminal ring portion, while the terminal ring portion is locked with a retainer member of the container neck. Thus, the material connecting the tether portion of the closure member to the cap portion and the terminal ring portion, respectively, is strained in the axial direction of the closure member. The strain induces a stress in said material according to the stress-strain diagram of the material used. In the circumferential region where the first and second portions of the predetermined rupture line overlap circumferentially, the material of the second portion of the predetermined rupture line and of the overlapping portion of the first portion of the predetermined rupture line are in a serial arrangement with respect to acting forces, and hence experience the same tensile force. However, as it is provided that the mechanical strength per unit length in the first portion of the predetermined rupture line is lower than in the second portion of the predetermined rupture line, the material in the overlapping portion of the first portion of the predetermined rupture line reaches the ultimate strain prior to that of the second portion of the predetermined rupture line and hence breaks while the second portion of the predetermined rupture line stays intact. Thus, the closure member breaks in the first portion of the predetermined rupture line, which extends over a full circumference, i.e. 360 degrees, and thus enables the cap portion of the closure member to freely displace axially and be removed from the neck of the container. In order to guarantee that the predetermined rupture line breaks first in the first section of the predetermined rupture line the integral mechanical strength - i.e., for instance, ultimate tensile strength, in the second section of the predetermined rupture line is larger than the integral mechanical strength in the overlapping portion of the first portion of the predetermined rupture line.
As mentioned above, the terminal ring portion of the closure member is intended to engage a retainer feature provided on the neck portion of a container body. The skilled person will appreciate that the resisting force of said engagement against the terminal ring portion of the closure member being disengaged from the retainer feature on the neck of the container body is limited. The skilled person will thus appreciate that the integral ultimate tensile strength of the closure member at the first portion of the predetermined rupture line over 360 degrees circumference must be smaller than the resisting force against the terminal ring portion of the closure member being disengaged from the retainer feature on the neck of the container body so as to avoid the terminal ring portion of the closure member being disengaged from the container body. It will also be appreciated that the material of the first portion of the predetermined rupture line should not be overly unevenly distributed around the circumference so as to avoid segmental detachment of the terminal ring portion from the retainer feature which would have the detrimental effect of fostering complete detachment.
Fig. 2 shows a closure member 1 used to seal a container. The closure member is threadedly received on the neck 2 of the container by mutually engaging thread or thread means 21 provided on the outside of the neck of the container and 105 inside the cap portion 101 of the closure member. While the closure member is screwed onto the neck 2 of the container, the free rim of terminal ring portion 102 (cf. Fig 1) abuts the top of retainer feature 22 provided on the outside of neck 2 and, upon further displacement of closure member 1 towards the container, is folded over inside the closure member and interlocks with retainer feature 22, and hence is form locked against displacement towards the opening of the container. The opening of the container is sealed by suitable sealing features (without reference number) protruding from top cover 10 and into the interior of closure member 1.
Fig. 3 shows a flat projection of the skirt of an exemplary embodiment of a closure member of the herein described kind. The predetermined rupture line 111 is provided with bridges 131, 132, 133 and 134 extending across predetermined rupture line 111 connecting the rims of the tether portion 103 and of the cap portion 101 and the terminal ring portion 102, respectively, with voids being provided circumferentially between the bridges. The bridges 134 in the second portion II of the predetermine rupture line have larger cross sections and/or are provided with a smaller distance between each other than the bridges 131, 132 and 133 in the first portion I of the predetermined rupture line. It may in embodiments be provided that the bridges 134 in the second portion II of the predetermine rupture line have varying cross sections, such that some of bridges 134 are mechanically weaker and/or stronger than other bridges 134. However, the cumulated cross section of all bridges 134 preferably is larger than the cumulated cross section of all bridges 131 in the first part 116 of the predetermined rupture line. As outlined above, the first portion of the predetermined rupture line and the second portion of the predetermined rupture line circumferentially overlap in circumferential region 125. When opening a container initially, cap member 101 is displaced axially while terminal ring portion 102 is retained by a retainer feature provided on the neck portion of the retained body. Consequently, strain between the terminal ring portion and the cap portion is induced. In circumferential section 125, bridges 131 of the overlapping portion 121 of the first portion of the predetermined rupture line and bridges 134 in the second portion of the predetermined rupture line are arranged in series with respect to the acting force, and, thus, the entirety of all bridges 134 in the second portion of the predetermined rupture line and the entirety of all bridges 131 in the overlapping portion 121 of the first portion of the predetermined rupture line are loaded by essentially the same tensile force. However, as the number of bridges and the cross section of each bridge in the second portion of the predetermined rupture line is larger than in the overlapping portion of the first portion of the predetermined rupture line, stress and strain are larger in the bridges of the overlapping portion of the first portion of the predetermined rupture line, and accordingly the bridges of the overlapping portion of the first portion of the predetermined rupture line fail first, relieving the bridges of the second portion of the predetermined rupture line. Also, all other bridges of the first portion of the predetermined rupture line will break as soon as the displacement of the cap portion of the closure member relative to the terminal ring portion reaches the ultimate strain of the material. It is understood that this displacement is only dependent on the material and the initial, neutral length of the bridges. It is understood that this displacement is not dependent upon the cross section of the bridges. However, the maximum force transmitted by a bridge prior to failing depends also on the breaking stress of the material and the cross section of a bridge. The dimension of the bridges, or, more generally speaking, the mechanical strength of the material bridging at least the first portion of the predetermined rupture line, thus must be chosen such that the maximum transmitted force does not exceed a value at which the terminal ring portion of the closure member is pulled over the retainer feature of the container body. The same applies, mutatis mutandis, to embodiments in which the predetermined rupture line is, for instance, provided as a line of reduced thickness or in which regions of reduced thickness are provided between the bridges rather than voids. In that the first portion of the predetermined rupture line extends circumferentially over 360 degrees, the cap portion of the closure member is essentially free to axially displace away from the terminal ring portion, but remains attached to the terminal ring portion, and thus to the container, through tether portion 103.
Fig 4 depicts the situation of a closure member 1 provided on the neck of a container body 2 instantly after rupturing the first portion of the predetermined rupture line. As outlined in connection with figure 2 above, terminal ring portion 102 is folded over inside the closure member and is hardly visible in this state. The tether portion 103 is still connected to the terminal ring portion in the second portion of determined rupture line and at firm junction 120. It is noted that the closure member, including terminal ring portion 102, is free to rotate about an axis of the neck of container body 2. Hence, cap portion 101 of closure member 1 may be further unscrewed from the neck of the container body until the cap portion is detached from the thread members 21 on the neck of the container body, as shown in figure 5. In the situation shown in figure 5 the second part of the predetermined rupture line is also ruptured. This may occur during opening if the container, but may also be effected by the consumer after having removed the cap portion 101 from the container neck to increase the free length of tether portion 103. Terminal ring portion 102 is locked underneath retainer feature 22 of the container body 2. Cap portion 101 remains secured to terminal ring portion 102 through tether portion 103 and firm junctions 119 and 120. Firm junctions 119 and 120 may be configured and dimensioned such as to withstand the force which is caused by the filled container being suspended from cap portion 101. For instance, for a 1 liter PET bottle they may be configured and dimensioned to withstand a force of at least 12 N. It is understood that the locking relationship of terminal ring portion 102 with retainer feature 22 must be adapted and configured to withstand at least the same force pulling the terminal ring portion towards the pouring hole of the neck of container body 2.
It might be the case that the mechanical strength in the second portion IIof predetermined rupture line 111 may be constant or may in other embodiments gradually increase with increasing distance from the first part Iof predetermined rupture line 111.
Referring again to figure 3, the bridges of said embodiment may for example be provided as follows: bridges 131 may have the same or different cross sectional area. Preferably, the width, in circumferential direction, of an individual bridge should not be smaller that 0.2 mm. It may be provided that the bridges in the overlapping portion 121 of the first portion of the predetermined rupture line are configured and dimensioned so as to break essentially at the same axial displacement as other bridges 131. It will be appreciated that, in the circumferential sector 125 of the closure member where the first and second portion of the predetermined rupture line overlap, the axial displacement of the cap portion relative to the terminal ring portion is shared between bridges 131 and 134, and hence, at a certain axial displacement of cap portion 101 relative to terminal ring portion 102, the strain of bridges 131 in overlapping portion 121 is smaller than that of other bridges 131. It may thus be provided that bridges 131 in the overlapping portion have a smaller cross-sectional area and/or have a larger distance from each other than other bridges 131. The cross-sectional area of bridges 133 may in embodiments not exceed the cross-sectional area of the strongest bridge 131. The one or more bridges 132 which are optionally provided in the intermediate part of the first section of rupture line 111 inherit the particularity that they are subject to shear stress. The cross-sectional area of bridges 133 may in embodiments not exceed the cross-sectional area of the strongest bridge 131. The aggregate cross-sectional area of all bridges 134 in the second portion II of predetermined rupture line 111 may in embodiments exceed the aggregate cross-sectional area of all bridges 131, 132 and 133 in the first portion I of predetermined rupture line 111. As mentioned, it may be provided that the cross sectional area of bridges 134 in the second section of the predetermined rupture line may increase and/or the distance between the bridges 134 may decrease with increasing distance from the first part of the predetermined rupture line. The different cross-sectional areas and hence mechanical strengths of the individual bridges are selected such that and serve to avoid detachment of the terminal ring portion 102 of the closure member from the retainer feature of the container body. It may in embodiments be provided that the bridges 134 have different strengths. For an instance, it may be provided that a bridge 134 having a relatively high mechanical strength, e.g. cross section, hereinafter referred to as a "relatively strong bridge", is interposed between bridges 134 having a relatively low mechanical strength, e.g. cross section, hereinafter referred to as a "relatively weak bridge". It may moreover and more in particular be provided that the bridge 134 closest to the first circumferential portion I of the predetermined rupture line is a bridge having a relatively large mechanical strength. The result, in use, is as follows: If a consumer initially opens the closure member, first bridges 131, 132 and 133 are broken. However, once the predetermined rupture line is torn open from the first endpoint 112 to said first of the bridges 134, said first, relatively strong one of the bridges 134 exerts an enhanced resistance against further tearing of the predetermined rupture line, resulting in a tactile signal to the consumer. The consumer can then decide upon releasing an extended part of the tether section in exerting a force sufficient to break said first relatively strong one of the bridges 134, and further breaking one or more subsequent relatively weak bridges. However, if the process of tearing open the predetermined rupture line reaches a subsequent relatively strong bridge, the consumer once again receives a tactile signal and may decide whether to release even more of the tether portion in breaking the relatively strong bridge and subsequent relatively weak bridges. This may be repeated until the entire predetermined rupture line is torn open up to second endpoint 113 and the tearing-up process is stopped by firm junction 120.
The skilled person will note that the endpoints 112, 113 of the predetermined rupture line as well as the cornerpoints 114, 115 might be prone to crack formation either during use or during manufacturing, when a cutting tool is inserted to form the predetermined rupture line. This might be mitigated in providing relief notches, a more gradual transition into the predetermined rupture line, or a combination thereof. Figure 6 illustrates as a non-limiting example of a gradual transition from junction 119 into predetermined rupture line 111. Predetermined rupture line 111 gradually tapers out towards endpoint 112 along a ramped terminal section 1121. Terminal section 1121 may be shaped straight as outlined in figure 6, but may also be curved or cornered as set forth in figure 7. Providing terminal sections as outlined in figures 6 and 7 at endpoints or cornerpoints of the predetermined rupture line yields advantages in terms of manufacturing the predetermined rupture line by a cutting tool, as, when cutting the predetermined rupture line, the cutting tool may gradually "dive" into the material of a blank, but also in terms of reducing notch effects.
In the embodiment shown in figure 8, cornerpoints 114 and 115 may be formed by crossing portions of predetermined rupture line 111, wherein each of the portions terminates in a ramped terminal section 1141, 1151. The predetermined rupture line 111, at its ends, is also provided with ramped terminal sections 1121 and 1131. In an embodiment shown in figure 9, angled indentations 1122 and 1132 extend from endpoints 112 and 113. Indentations 1122 and 1132 may extend entirely through the skirt 11 of the closure member, but may in other embodiments only partly extend through the material of the skirt, may have a ramped, variable depth, analogous to ramped terminal portion 1121 of figures 6 and 7, or have other geometries. Angled indentations 1122 and 1132 decrease notch effects at the transition from the tether to the junctions at which the tether is connected to cap portion 101 and terminal ring portion 102, respectively, and thus increases the strength of the connection between the cap portion and the terminal ring portion when the predetermined rupture line is broken.
As noted, the predetermined rupture line may be formed as a line of reduced material thickness, i.e. as an indentation formed on the outer side and/or inner side of skirt 11, but not extending entirely through the material of the skirt. The predetermined rupture line may comprise bridges connecting the tether portion 103, or the tether, respectively, with cap portion 101 and terminal ring portion 102. The bridges may have the same radial thickness as the skirt in the regions adjacent the predetermined rupture line, but may likewise be radially thinner or thicker than the skirt in the regions adjacent the predetermined rupture line. In the circumferential extent between the bridges, the predetermined rupture line may be provided as an indentation extending either entirely through the skirt, such that there is a void between two neighboring bridges, or only partly extending into the skirt such that a wall of reduced material thickness, when compared to the regions adjacent the predetermined rupture line, remains between the bridges. Both may be combined in one closure member at different locations of the predetermined rupture line.
While the subject matter of the disclosure has been explained by means of exemplary embodiments, it is understood that these are in no way intended to limit the scope of the claimed invention. It will be appreciated that the claims cover embodiments not explicitly shown or disclosed herein, and embodiments deviating from those disclosed in the exemplary modes of carrying out the teaching of the present disclosure will still be covered by the claims.

Claims

A closure member (1) comprising a skirt (11), the skirt extending in a circumferential and an axial direction,
a predetermined rupture line (111) extending on the skirt from a first endpoint (112) to a second endpoint (113), wherein the first and second endpoints are axially offset from each other and the predetermined rupture line extending more than 360° circumferentially so that portions (121, 125) of the predetermined rupture line overlap in the circumferential direction, while the predetermined rupture line comprises a non-overlapping portion (126), whereby the predetermined rupture line subdivides the closure member into a cap portion (101), a terminal ring portion (102) and a tether portion (103) defined between the circumferentially overlapping portions of the predetermined rupture line and interposed between the cap portion and the terminal ring portion,

wherein the predetermined rupture line has a mechanical strength per unit length which is lower than the mechanical strength per unit length in any other region of the skirt, so that, when a tensile force is applied between the cap portion and the terminal ring portion, the closure member ruptures at the predetermined rupture line,

wherein the predetermined rupture line has a first circumferential portion (I) extending from the first endpoint (112) of the predetermined rupture line adjacent the cap portion (101),

and a second circumferential portion (II) extending from the first circumferential portion (I) to the second endpoint (113) of the predetermined rupture line adjacent the terminal ring portion (102),

wherein the mechanical strength per unit length in the first circumferential portion (I) of the predetermined rupture line (111) is smaller than the mechanical strength per unit length in the second circumferential portion (II) of the predetermined rupture line;

characterized in that the first circumferential portion (I) extends 360 degrees circumferentially, and in that the non-overlapping portion (126) of the predetermined rupture line is comprised in the first circumferential portion (I) of the predetermined rupture line.
The closure member according to the preceding claim wherein the mechanical strength per unit length in the non-overlapping portion (126) of the predetermined rupture line is smaller than or at most equal to the mechanical strength per unit length in the first circumferential portion (I) of the predetermined rupture line.
The closure member according to any preceding claim, wherein the mechanical strength per unit length is an ultimate tensile strength per unit length.
The closure member according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the mechanical strength per unit length in the second portion (II) of the predetermined rupture line increases from the first portion (I) of the predetermined rupture line to the second endpoint (113).
The closure member according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the predetermined rupture line (111) comprises a line of reduced material thickness when compared to neighboring sections of the closure member.
The closure member according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the predetermined rupture line comprises bridges (131, 132, 133, 134), wherein the bridges join the tether portion (103) to adjacent rims of the cap portion (101) and the terminal ring portion (102).
The closure member according to the preceding claim, wherein the cumulated cross section of the bridges (134) per unit length of the predetermined rupture line in the second circumferential portion (II) of the predetermined rupture line is larger than the cumulated cross section of the bridges (131, 132, 133) per unit length of the predetermined rupture line in the first circumferential portion (I) of the predetermined rupture line.
The closure member according to the preceding claim, wherein the cross section of an individual bridge (134) in the second circumferential portion (II) of the predetermined rupture line is larger than the cross section of a bridge (131. 132. 133) in the first circumferential portion (I) of the predetermined rupture line.
The closure member according to any of the two preceding claims, wherein the number of bridges (134) per unit length in the second portion (II) of the predetermined rupture line is larger than the number of bridges (131, 132, 133) per unit length in the first portion (I) of the predetermined rupture line.
The closure member according to any preceding claim, wherein the circumferential extent of the predetermined rupture line (111) accounts to at least 450 degrees and/or the predetermined rupture line (111) accounts to at most 690 degrees.
The closure member according to any preceding claim, wherein the predetermined rupture line (111) is formed as a first part (116) extending circumferentially from the first endpoint (112) to a first cornerpoint (114) and between the cap portion (101) and the tether portion (103), a second part (117) extending circumferentially from a second cornerpoint (115) to the second endpoint (113) and between the terminal ring portion (102) and the tether portion (103), and an intermediate part (118) connecting the first and second cornerpoints (114, 115) , wherein the first and second cornerpoints of the predetermined rupture line are axially offset from each other along an axis of the closure member and the first portion (I) of the predetermined rupture line (111) extends from the first endpoint (112) along the first part (116), the intermediate part (118), and partially in the second part (117) of the predetermined rupture line, wherein the non-overlapping portion (126) of the predetermined rupture line extends partly in the first part (116) of the predetermined rupture line and partly in the second part (117) of the predetermined rupture line.
The closure member according to the preceding claim, wherein the mechanical strength per unit length of the predetermined rupture line in the part (1262) of the non-overlapping portion (126) extending in the second part (117) of the predetermined rupture line and between the terminal ring portion (102) and the tether portion (103) is smaller than or at most equal to the mechanical strength per unit length in the first circumferential portion (I) of the predetermined rupture line.
The closure member according to any of the two preceding claims, wherein the mechanical strength per unit length of the predetermined rupture line in the part (1262) of the non-overlapping portion (126) extending in the second part (117) of the predetermined rupture line and between the terminal ring portion (102) and the tether portion (103) is smaller than or at most equal to the mechanical strength per unit length in the part (1261) of the non-overlapping portion (126) of the predetermined rupture line extending in the first part (116) of the predetermined rupture line and between the cap portion (101) and the tether portion (103).
The closure member according to any of the three preceding claims, wherein the first part (116) of the predetermined rupture line and the second part (117) of the predetermined rupture line extend merely circumferentially and axially offset from each other.
A container comprising a container body and a closure member according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the container body comprises a neck with a container opening,
wherein the closure member is threadedly received on the neck of the container body,

at least one retainer feature being provided on the neck of the container body, wherein the at least a part of the terminal ring portion of the closure member engages the retainer feature provided on the neck distant from the container opening so as to lock the terminal ring portion against detaching from the neck of the container body,

wherein the terminal ring portion of the closure member and the retainer feature provided on the neck jointly provide a resisting force against the terminal ring portion of the closure member being disengaged from the retainer feature on the neck of the container body,

wherein an integral ultimate tensile strength of the closure member in the first portion of the predetermined rupture line over 360 degrees circumference is smaller than the resisting force against the terminal ring portion of the closure member being disengaged from the retainer feature on the neck of the container body.