EP4188823A1

EP4188823A1 - Container closure having a hinge and a grip projection

Info

Publication number: EP4188823A1
Application number: EP21746754.7A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Günter Krautkrämer
Original assignee: Bericap Holding GmbH
Current assignee: Bericap Holding GmbH
Priority date: 2020-07-25
Filing date: 2021-07-23
Publication date: 2023-06-07
Also published as: CN116056983A; US20230264865A1; DE102020119665A1; BR112023001192A2; WO2022023219A1; CA3185790A1

Abstract

A container closure (10) comprises a retaining ring (14) which extends around a reference axis (200) of the container closure (10), a cap part (16) and a hinge (18) which connects the retaining ring (14) to the cap part (16). The cap part (16) has a head plate (24), an enclosing circumferential wall (26) and a grip projection (30) which extends radially outwards from the circumferential wall (26), axially with a distance to the head plate (24). A deformable region (40) of the circumferential wall extends diametrically opposite to the hinge (18), between the head plate (24) and the grip projection (30), and has a latching projection (42) directed radially inwards, a lower wall section (44) which lies between the latching projection (42) and the grip projection (30) and an upper wall section (46) which lies between the latching projection (42) and the head plate (24). A wall thickness of the upper wall section (46) and a wall thickness of the lower wall section (44) are defined such that by means of an elastic deformation of the deformable region (40), a radially outwardly directed movement of the latching projection (42) by more than one third of a radial extent (600) of the latching projection (42) is made possible.

Description

CONTAINER CAP WITH A HINGE AND A

GRIP PROFILE

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a container closure with a retaining ring, which runs around a reference axis of the container closure, a cap part and a hinge that connects the retaining ring to the cap part, the cap part having a top plate, a peripheral wall enclosing the top plate and one of the peripheral wall radially outward, axially at a distance from the top plate extending gripping projection. It also relates to a container closed by such a closure.

PREVIOUS STATE OF THE TECHNOLOGY

is known from WO 2007/080000 A1 a container closure of the type mentioned, wherein the snap hinge is integrated in the peripheral wall and wherein the retaining ring and the cap part next to the snap hinge along a second peripheral portion are connected to each other via a tear-off strip. In order to create such a closure, which is better and, above all, easier to close tightly again during use even after opening for the first time, the peripheral wall has an inwardly projecting retaining bead, which is larger on average in a sector diametrically opposite the center of the snap hinge radial thickness than within the sectors offset about 90° from the center of the snap hinge. When it engages, the retaining bead generates a haptic signal that informs the user that the closed position has been reached.

The gripping projection is in the same sector. In order to provide enough space for the tear-off band, the retaining bead, and the gripping projection, the closure has a minimum height that does not allow the top plate to be attached directly to the upper edge of the container finish. Precautions must therefore be taken to ensure that the container closures are not destroyed when containers are stacked one on top of the other. Further the distance between the gripping projection and the top plate in the axial direction must be kept smaller than the axial distance between the pivot axis of the snap hinge and the top plate. In order to reduce the height of the container closure, it would make sense to replace the tear-off strip with a simple dividing line. But then there is no space to provide the retaining bead between the retaining ring and the gripping projection.

From document EP3305680 a container closure of the type mentioned is known, wherein the cap part has a tab transversely to the gripping projection, which has a radially inwardly directed projection through a cutout at the top edge of the retaining ring, directly on the neck of the container liable. As a result, the container closure is held securely in the closed position. When closing the breech there is an audible "click" which informs the user that the closed position has been reached. When opening, the user pushes the gripping protrusion upwards, and the adhesion force between the inner protrusion and the neck is reduced by a leverage effect, so that the force required for opening is limited. This compact design makes it possible to attach the lower surface of the head plate directly to the upper edge of the container neck. However, the section at the top of the retaining ring proves to be

Weak point that can make it difficult to mount the closure on the neck of the container. It is therefore proposed to compensate for this weak point by means of an additional reinforcement in the form of an inner peripheral bead at the lower edge of the retaining ring. The lower edge of the retaining ring then does not have a rotationally symmetrical shape, which leads to other difficulties when fitting the closure to the neck of the container.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention is based on the object of equipping a container closure of the type mentioned with means that have a haptic or audible Provide a signal when closing, but without negatively affecting the assembly on the container and without negatively affecting the height of the closure.

In a container closure having a retaining ring, which runs around a reference axis of the container closure, a cap part and a hinge which connects the retaining ring to the cap part, the cap part having a top plate, a peripheral wall enclosing an inner surface of the top plate and one of the peripheral wall has a gripping projection extending radially outwards, axially at a distance from the top plate, the object is achieved in that the peripheral wall has a radially inward-pointing latching projection in a deformable region diametrically opposite the hinge and extending between the top plate and the gripping projection, a between the latching projection and the gripping projection lying lower wall section and lying between the latching projection and the top plate upper wall section, wherein a wall thickness of the upper wall section and a wall thickness of the lower wall section are determined such that by an e elastic deformation of the deformable area allows a radially outward movement of the latching projection by more than fifty percent, preferably more than ninety percent, preferably at least one hundred percent of a radial extension of the latching projection.

Because the inner locking projection is located axially between the gripping projection and the top plate, the top plate can be set up very close to the locking projection, and therefore also very close to the container neck, without the height of the retaining ring having to be reduced in this area. By deliberately thinning the peripheral wall in the area of the latching projection, a sufficient spring effect is achieved which allows the latching projection to be disengaged or engaged on an upper bead-shaped edge of the container neck. However, if the locking projection were to be attached to the peripheral wall with a normal wall thickness, it would be almost impossible to open the container closure because the pressure of the thumb during opening would increase the adhesive forces between the locking projection and the container neck. According to a preferred embodiment, the deformable area is surrounded in the circumferential direction by two stiffening areas of the peripheral wall, which connect the gripping projection to an outer edge of the top plate. The pressure forces of the thumb on the gripping projection when opening are transmitted to the top plate through the stiffening areas, and this without any inhibiting effect between the latching projection and the container neck. In order to achieve this stiffening, each of the stiffening areas of the peripheral wall may have a wall thickness which is greater than the wall thickness of the upper wall section and than the wall thickness of the lower wall section. According to a preferred embodiment, each of the stiffening areas of the peripheral wall has at least one reinforcing rib which runs parallel to the reference axis and extends outwardly from the peripheral wall and which connects the gripping projection to an outer edge of the top plate. The deformable area preferably has lateral wall sections on both sides of the locking projection in the circumferential direction, which connect the locking projection to the stiffening areas. The wall thickness of the lower wall section, the wall thickness of the upper wall section and optionally a wall thickness of the lateral wall sections are preferably less than 20% of a wall thickness of the stiffening areas of the peripheral wall.

Preferably, the locking projection is curved to facilitate engagement and disengagement upon contact with the neck edge of the container.

The invention also relates to a closed container with a neck which has a peripheral flanged edge, a neck edge and a retaining bead, the neck being closed by the container closure described above, the retaining ring sitting between the retaining bead and the flanged edge, the locking projection behind grips the neck edge and the inner surface of the headstock sits against the neck edge. The wall thickness of the lower wall section, the wall thickness of the upper wall section and, if applicable, the wall thickness of the lateral wall sections are determined in such a way that the force for the radial elastic movement of the locking projection can be determined independently of the other design of the closure, in particular of the thickness of the top plate and the thickness of the peripheral wall, so that these elements of the container closure can provide the container closure with a strength that can withstand the stress of the logistic process. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Show it:

1: a perspective view of an embodiment of the container closure in a closed position;

FIG. 2: a front view of the container closure of FIG. 1 in the closed position;

FIG. 3: a side view of the container closure of FIG. 1 in the closed position;

FIG. 4 is a sectional side view of the container closure of FIG. 1 in the closed position on the neck of a container;

FIG. 5: a detailed view of an encircled area of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6: a further perspective view of the container closure of FIG. 1 in the closed position from below;

7 shows a sectional view of the container closure through a cross-sectional plane VII-VII running transversely to a reference axis of the container closure;

Fig. 8: a detailed view of an encircled area of figure 7.

[0013] Throughout the drawings, individual reference numbers designate the same or similar elements. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT Referring to the figures, a preferred embodiment of a container closure of the present invention is indicated by the reference numeral 10. The closure 10 is intended to be mounted on the neck 12 of a container, as shown in FIG. The neck 12 usually has a rotationally symmetrical configuration. The closure 10 can be made of a plastic or other material compatible with the contents of the container. A polymer is preferred here, in particular a thermoplastic such as polyethylene or polypropylene.

The container closure 10 includes a retaining ring 14, a cap portion 16, and a hinge 18 connecting the retaining ring 14 to the cap portion 16. As shown in FIG. The hinge 18 is shown here as a snap hinge and enables a pivoting movement of the cap part 16 about a pivot axis which runs perpendicularly to the sectional plane of FIG. The retaining ring 14, cap portion 16 and hinge 18 are cast together in one piece in the closed position and the cap portion 16 is connected to the retaining ring 14 by breakable bridges 20.

The retaining ring 14 encloses a reference axis 200 of the container closure 10 and has means intended for attachment to the container neck 12, in this embodiment a series of elastic snap-in hooks 22 distributed on the periphery of the retaining ring and when mounted on the Grab the container neck behind a circumferential retaining bead 121 of the container neck and sit between this retaining bead 121 and a flanged edge 122 of the container neck, also known as a “support ring” in technical jargon (see Figure 4). However, other means are conceivable, e.g. a circumferential fixing bead or a thread.

The cap portion 16 includes a top plate 24, a peripheral wall 26 surrounding an inner wall surface 28 of the top plate 24, and a gripping projection 30 which is at an axial distance from the top plate 24 of the Peripheral wall 26 extends radially outward. In this exemplary embodiment, the gripping projection 30 extends radially outwards from the lower edge of the peripheral wall 26 opposite the top plate 24, and this at an angle 300 (see Figure 1) of more than 60°, preferably more than 90°, around the reference axis 200. The gripping projection 30 has a smooth, preferably flat, lower surface 32 that provides a comfortable pressure surface for the user's thumb when opened. This lower surface 32 is on an opposite side of the top plate 24 of a transverse plane 400 (see FIG. 2) which is transverse to the reference axis 200 and contains the pivot axis 100. FIG. This ensures that when the closure 10 is opened, the initial movement of the gripping projection 30 takes place more or less perpendicularly to the transverse plane 400 and parallel to the reference axis 200 .

The top plate 24 can be flat or curved. Extending from the inner side 32 of the head plate 24 is an annular sealing skirt 34 (see Figure 4) which is surrounded by the peripheral wall 26 at a radial distance. This sealing skirt 34 is intended to engage inside the container neck 12 when the container closure 10 is fitted onto the container neck 12 and the cap portion 16 is in the closed position. The sealing apron 34 can have a circumferential bead 36 .

According to the invention, the peripheral wall 26 has a deformable portion 40 which is diametrically opposite the hinge 18 and extends between the top plate 24 and the gripping projection 30. The deformable area 40 consists in particular of a radially inwardly curved latching projection 42, a lower wall section 44 between the latching projection 42 and the gripping projection 30 and an upper wall section 46 between the latching projection 42 and the top plate 24. The latching projection 42 is intended for this under the upper edge 123 of the container neck to find a detent position. As can be seen in Figures 4 and 5, the top edge 123 of the container neck 12 may abut the bottom surface 28 of the top plate 24 directly. The deformable area 40 extends circumferentially at an angle 500 of less than 60°, preferably less than 45° (see FIG. 1), so that the gripping projection 30 extends on both sides of the deformable area 40 in the circumferential direction. The deformable area 40 is surrounded in the circumferential direction by two stiffening areas 47 of the circumferential wall 26 which connect the gripping projection 30 to an outer edge 48 of the top plate 24 . Each stiffening area 47 has a reinforcing rib 50 extending outwardly from the peripheral wall 26 and parallel to the reference axis 200 to connect the gripping projection 30 to the outer edge 48 of the top plate 24, and a reinforced wall section 52, the wall thickness of which is increased as the wall thickness of the upper wall section 46 and as the wall thickness of the lower wall section 44.

The locking projection 42 of the deformable portion 40 is circumferentially removed from the stiffening portions 46 and connected to the stiffening portions 47 by thin lateral wall portions 54 which is flush with an inner surface 55 of the reinforced wall portion 52 or protrudes slightly inward.

The wall thickness of the upper wall section 46, the lower wall section 44 and the side wall sections 54 of the deformable area 40 are determined in such a way that elastic deformation of the deformable area 40 allows the latching projection to move radially outwards in such a way that the latching projection 42 can slide past the upper edge 123 when opening and closing again. In practice, the top edge 123 extends radially almost to the top wall portion 46, and the radial extent 600 of the locking projection 44 (see Figure 5) is a measure of the desired radial movement of the locking projection. Depending on the shape of the upper edge 123, the latching projection 44 should be able to move by more than 50%, preferably more than 90%, of the radial extension 600 of the latching projection 44. Thus, when the cap part 24 is opened and closed again, the curved locking projection 42 can be easily engaged and disengaged by contact with the neck edge 12 of the container. In particular, there is a desired haptic and possibly audible signal when the locking projection 42 passes the dead center and the deformable area at

reaching the closed position suddenly expands. During opening, the forces exerted by the thumb on the lower side 32 of the gripping projection 30 are transmitted through the lateral stiffening areas 47 to the top plate 24, while the deformable area 40 deforms outwardly and yields without significantly affecting the opening movement, although the

Latching projection 42 is moved counter to the direction of finger pressure.

Of course, the wall thicknesses of the wall sections 44, 46, 54 of the deformable region 40 and the radial extension 600 of the inner locking projection 44 are matched to the geometrical conditions of the container neck in order to generate the desired signal.

The locking projection 42 also contributes to maintaining the closed position, although the resistance to opening is mainly produced by the elastic deformation of the sealing skirt 34 in the neck 12.

Claims

PATENT CLAIMS

1. Container closure (10) with a retaining ring (14) which runs around a reference axis (200) of the container closure (10), a cap part (16) and a hinge (18) connecting the retaining ring (14) to the cap part (16 ), the cap part (16) connecting a top plate (24), a peripheral wall (26) enclosing an inner surface (28) of the top plate (24) and a peripheral wall (26) radially outwards, axially at a distance from the top plate (24) extending gripping projection (30), characterized in that the peripheral wall (26) in a deformable region (40) diametrically opposite the hinge (18) and extending between the head plate (24) and the gripping projection (30) has a radially inwardly directed latching projection (42), a lower wall section (44) lying between the latching projection (42) and the gripping projection (30) and an upper wall section (46) lying between the latching projection (42) and the top plate (24), wherein one Wall thickness of the upper wall section (46) and a wall thickness of the lower wall section (44) are determined in such a way that elastic deformation of the deformable area (40) causes a radially outward movement of the locking projection (42) by more than fifty percent, preferably more than ninety percent, preferably at least one hundred percent, of a radial extension (600) of the locking projection (42) is made possible.

2. Container closure (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the deformable area (40) is surrounded in the circumferential direction by two stiffening areas (47) of the circumferential wall (26) which connect the gripping projection (30) to the head plate (24).

3. Container closure (10) according to claim 2, characterized in that each of the stiffening areas (47) of the peripheral wall (26) has a wall thickness which is greater than the wall thickness of the upper wall section (46) and than the wall thickness of the lower wall section (44 ).

4. Container closure (10) according to one of Claims 2 to 3, characterized in that each of the stiffening areas (47) of the peripheral wall (26) has at least one reinforcing rib ( 50) which connects the gripping projection (30) to the head plate (24).

5. Container closure (10) according to one of Claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the deformable region (40) has lateral wall sections (54) on both sides of the latching projection (42) in the circumferential direction, which connect the latching projection (42) with the stiffening regions (47 ) connect the peripheral wall (26).

6. Container closure (10) according to one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that the wall thickness of the lower wall section (40), the wall thickness of the upper wall section (42) and optionally a wall thickness of the side wall sections (54) are less than 20% a wall thickness of the stiffening areas (47) of the peripheral wall (26).

7. Container closure (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lower wall section (40), the upper wall section (42) and optionally the lateral wall sections (54) are flush with an inner surface of the peripheral wall (26) or protrude radially inwards.

8. Container closure (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the locking projection (42) is curved.

9. Container closure (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the upper wall section (44) has a wall thickness which is smaller than the wall thickness of the lower wall section (46).

10. Container closure (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the deformable region (40) runs at an angle (500) of less than 60°, preferably less than 45°, around the reference axis (200).

11. Container closure (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the gripping projection (30) at an angle (300) of more than 60°, preferably more than 90°, around the reference axis (200).

12. Container closure (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cap part (16), the hinge (18) and the retaining ring (14) are integrally connected to each other.

13. Container closure (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the hinge (18) is a snap hinge.

14. A container closure (10) according to any one of the preceding claims characterized in that the gripping projection (30) extends outwardly from a lower edge of the peripheral wall (26).

15. Container closure (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that an inner sealing skirt (34) extending from the inner surface (28) of the head plate (24) extends radially inside the peripheral wall (26).

16. Container closure (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cap part (16) is directly connected to the retaining ring (14) by tear-off bridges (20) or a tear-off continuous weakening line.

17. Container closure (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is made in one piece from a plastic.

18. Closed container with a neck (12) which has a peripheral flanged edge (122), a neck edge (123) and a retaining bead (121), characterized in that the neck (12) is covered by a container closure (10) according to one of preceding claims, wherein the retaining ring (14) sits between the retaining bead (121) and the flange edge (122), the latching projection (42) engages behind the neck edge (123) and the inner surface (28) of the top plate (24). the neck edge (123) is seated.