EP4532357A1

EP4532357A1 - Closing cap for a container

Info

Publication number: EP4532357A1
Application number: EP23730588.3A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Alessandro Falzoni; Paolo VITALI
Original assignee: Sacmi Imola SC
Current assignee: Sacmi Imola SC
Priority date: 2022-05-24
Filing date: 2023-05-22
Publication date: 2025-04-09
Also published as: WO2023228038A1; IT202200010751A1; US20260116635A1

Abstract

What is proposed is a closing cap (1) for a container (2), comprising a lateral wall (3) extending around an axis (Z) and a transversal wall (4) positioned at one end of the lateral wall (3), a separating line (5) being provided on the lateral wall (3) to define a retaining ring (301) and a closing element (302) removably engageable with the neck (201). The separating line (5) extends around the axis (Z) and is interrupted to define in the lateral wall (3) a joining zone (305) which extends circumferentially for an angle (α), in which the retaining ring (301) and the closing element (302) are joined; wherein the retaining ring (301) comprises a connecting portion (308) which extends continuously for said angle from the joining zone as far as the free edge (303) and an engaging element which projects inwards and is configured to engage with a locking ring (202) of the neck; and wherein the engaging element is in a bent configuration when the cap is in the closed condition and comprises a deformable region (309) which extends at least in said angle (α), which is configured to deform and to be positioned in a stretched out configuration during a final step of opening of the cap when the engaging element makes contact with the locking ring (202), wherein the engaging element comprises a retaining part (313), configured to make contact with the locking ring (202) during said final step of opening, which has a contact surface (313a) configured to make contact with a lower wall (202b) of the locking ring; and wherein at the deformable region (309) that contact between the contact surface (313a) and the lower wall (202b) allows the deformation of the deformable region into the stretched out configuration.

Description

DESCRIPTION

CLOSING CAP FOR A CONTAINER

The invention relates to a closing cap for a container.

In particular, the invention relates to a cap provided with a retaining ring, joinable to a neck of a container, the cap also being provided with a closing element which, after opening, remains connected to the retaining ring. The cap according to the invention is particularly, but not exclusively, suitable for being applied on containers such as bottles intended to contain liquid substances.

There are prior art caps for containers, made starting from a shell obtainable by moulding, of the compression or injection type, comprising a cup-shaped body provided with a transversal wall and with a lateral wall extending around an axis.

Those caps are typically made of a plastic material and are provided with a separating line made in the lateral wall to define a retaining ring and a closing element, removably engageable with the neck, so as to open or close the container. The retaining ring is configured to remain anchored to a neck of the container. The closing element is provided with an inner thread structure, suitable for engaging with an outer thread structure of the neck, to allow the cap to be unscrewed from and screwed back onto the neck.

Along the separating line there are breakable bridges present, which are intended to be broken the first time the cap is opened. In fact, when the cap is opened for the first time and is unscrewed from the neck of the container, the closing element separates from the retaining ring along the separating line following breaking of the breakable bridges and in this way the retaining ring can remain joined to the neck of the bottle, whilst the closing element can be separated from the container and, subsequently, be screwed back onto the neck. The shape of the separating line determines the way in which the closing element and the retaining ring separate from each other following the first opening of the cap.

In caps in which the separating line is configured to extend circumferentially for the entire lateral wall, the closing element completely detaches from the retaining ring, at the time of first opening of the cap. With these caps the user can throw the closing element on the ground, intentionally or accidentally, whilst the container, together with the retaining ring joined to it, is correctly thrown in a waste bin. Obviously, this is unwanted behaviour.

To overcome this problem caps have been proposed in which the separating line is circumferentially interrupted to leave the closing element and the retaining ring joined, in the open condition of the cap, in a joining zone.

In addition to the joining zone special devices have been proposed to ensure that the closing element, in the open condition, remains locked in the same position when a user tilts the bottle to pour out its contents, so as to prevent it from being able to rotate and fall due to gravity, interfering with the supplying by the user.

However, these prior art caps are particularly complex and expensive to make.

Document WO 2021/053488, by the same Applicant, shows a closing cap for a container, wherein a separating line is interrupted to define in the lateral wall a joining zone, in which a retaining ring and a closing element are joined, and wherein the retaining ring comprises a first incision line and a second incision line, which are positioned at the sides of a connecting portion, which is positioned in the joining zone; the first incision line and the second incision line allow a deformability of the connecting portion and of a region of an engaging element, which extends in the connecting portion, in such a way that during a final step of a first opening of the cap the region of the engaging element goes beyond the locking ring and deforms, so that it is positioned resting on the locking ring.

Therefore, to make that cap it is necessary to obtain by moulding, of the compression or injection type, the cup-shaped body, comprising the transversal wall and the lateral wall of the cap, and then to perform on it a further processing step, after the step of making the cup-shaped body to make the first incision line and the second incision line.

One aim of the invention is to improve the prior art caps, in particular the caps comprising a retaining ring intended to remain joined to a neck of the container and a closing element which can removably engage with the neck to allow a user to open, or alternatively close, the container.

Another aim is to provide a cap for a container, provided with a closing element which remains connected to the retaining ring, which additionally can be made in a simple and inexpensive way.

A further aim is to provide a cap for a container, provided with a closing element which remains connected to the retaining ring, which additionally can remain stably locked in position after opening.

Another further aim is to provide a cap for a container, provided with a closing element which remains connected to the retaining ring, which additionally is easy to screw back onto the neck when passing from the open condition to the closed condition.

Accordingly, the invention provides a cap for a container according to claim 1 and the claims dependent on it.

In detail, according to the invention, a closing cap for a container is proposed, comprising a lateral wall extending around an axis and a transversal wall positioned at one end of the lateral wall, a separating line being provided on the lateral wall to define: a retaining ring, which is configured to remain anchored to a neck of the container and extends as far as a free edge; a closing element removably engageable with the neck, so as to open or close the container; wherein the separating line extends around the axis and is circumferentially interrupted to define in the lateral wall a joining zone which extends circumferentially for an angle, in which the retaining ring and the closing element are joined; wherein the retaining ring comprises a connecting portion which extends continuously for said angle from the joining zone as far as the free edge and an engaging element which projects inwards and is configured to engage with a locking ring of the neck during a passage from a closed condition to an open condition of the cap; and wherein the engaging element is in a bent configuration when the cap is in the closed condition and comprises a deformable region, which extends at least in said angle, which is configured to deform and to be positioned in a stretched out configuration during a final step of opening of the cap when the engaging element makes contact with the locking ring; the engaging element comprising a retaining part, configured to make contact with the locking ring during said final step of opening, which has a contact surface configured to make contact with a lower wall of the locking ring; and wherein at the deformable region the contact between the contact surface and the lower wall allows the deformation of the deformable region into the stretched out configuration.

Thanks to the connecting portion, which extends continuously from the joining zone as far as the free edge, the closing element is stably joined to the retaining ring and therefore to the neck of the container when the cap is in the open condition and can be disposed of together with the container but, at the same time, there are no further cuts, or incisions, in the retaining ring and therefore the cap is inexpensive and simple to make.

Thanks to the deformable region of the engaging element, which is configured to be able to be positioned in the bent configuration when the cap is in the closed condition, and in the stretched out configuration when the cap is in the open condition, the closing element can be stably locked on the neck of the container. In fact, the deformable region stretches out, at least during the final step of a first opening of the cap when the engaging element makes contact with the locking ring of the neck and this prevents the closing element from performing any rotating movement, either towards a supply opening of the neck or around the neck of the container.

In fact, in the open condition, the closing element is locked in terms of the movement towards the supply opening, since the deformable region of the engaging element, which is stretched out, interferes with the locking ring of the neck and therefore cannot rotate, or slide laterally on the locking ring, due to the friction between the deformable region and the locking ring. Therefore, the closing element cannot fall due to gravity.

The deformable region can emit a sound and/or touch indication at least as the cap is opened at least for the first time, when it is in contact with the locking ring and stretches out. Therefore, the user can perceive when the cap has been completely opened and the closing element is stable in the open condition.

In addition, thanks to the fact that the connecting portion is facing the deformable region and the connecting portion itself is deformable, the retaining ring can even deform axially, so that said deformable region is placed in contact with the locking ring and locally deforms during an initial step of the first opening, simultaneously allowing breaking of breakable bridges present along the separating line in such a way that the closing element can uncouple from a thread of the neck, then at least partly returns below the locking ring itself, when the closing element has completely uncoupled.

When the user wants to close the container, the region of the engaging element which was stretched out can bend.

Advantageously, to further increase the deformability of the connecting portion and of the deformable region facing it, a height and/or a thickness of the retaining ring is appropriately selected which allows the deformable region to stretch out.

Thanks to the fact that the engaging element comprises a retaining part configured to make contact with the locking ring during said final step of opening, and the retaining part has a contact surface configured to make contact with a lower wall of the locking ring during the final step of opening of the cap, the deformation of the deformable region into the stretched out configuration is guaranteed.

In fact, the contact surface being positioned below the lower wall of the locking ring, the contact surface continues to make contact with said lower wall whilst the closing element is stressed away from the neck, thereby promoting the stretching out of the engaging element and preventing that engaging element from sliding above the locking ring without stretching out.

Moreover, thanks to the fact that the engaging element also comprises an anti-rotation part which extends from the contact surface and is facing and in contact with an outer edge of the locking ring when the engaging element is in the bent configuration, the stability of said contact between the engaging element and the locking ring is further strengthened since that anti-rotation part makes contact with and rests on an upper wall of the locking ring when the deformable region is in the stretched out configuration and the cap is in the open condition.

Thanks to the fact that, when the deformable region is in the stretched out configuration, the contact surface is configured to make contact with the lower wall of the locking ring, whilst the anti-rotation part is configured to make contact with the upper wall of the locking ring, the engaging element is therefore configured to enclose the locking ring around its outer edge and that guarantees a stability of the open condition of the cap.

Consequently, the cap according to the invention can be made in a relatively simple way, without necessitating the use of special moulds. In fact, the cap according to the invention can be made in a conventional mould without further subsequent processing operations.

Moreover, the connecting portion is sturdy enough for it to be difficult to accidentally separate the retaining ring from the closing element. The invention can be better understood and implemented with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate several example, non-limiting embodiments of it, in which:

Figure 1 is a side view of a closing cap in accordance with the invention, joined to a neck of a container, which comprises a closing element and a retaining ring connected to each other by a joining zone, in a closed condition;

Figure 2 is a side view of the cap of Figure 1 , during an initial step of a first opening of the closing element, in which the closing element starts to be separated from the retaining ring and a deformable region of an engaging element of the retaining ring, positioned at a connecting portion, temporarily goes beyond a locking ring of the neck to allow the closing element to uncouple from a coupling structure of the neck;

Figure 3 is a side view of the cap of Figure 1 , in which the closing element has completely uncoupled from the neck and the deformable region is again positioned at least partly below the locking ring;

Figure 4 is a side view of the cap of Figure 1 in an open condition, in which the closing element is at a distance from the neck of the container and the deformable region of the engaging element has stretched out and made contact with the locking ring, deforming.

Figure 5 shows the cap of Figure 4 in the open condition, with parts cut away for clarity, to show a cross-section of the cap at the deformable region and the connecting portion;

Figure 6 is a side view of the cap of Figure 1 , during a closing step after the first opening, in which the deformable region is bent but is still in contact with the locking ring of the neck.

Figure 7 is a perspective view of the neck of the container of Figures 1 to 6.

Figure 8 is an enlarged cross-section, with parts cut away for clarity, of the deformable region and the connecting portion of the cap of Figure 1 in the closed condition, when the cap has not yet been opened; Figure 9 is the enlarged cross-section, with parts cut away for clarity, of the deformable region and the connecting portion of the cap of Figure 5.

With reference to Figures 1 to 9, the numeral 1 denotes a closing cap for a container 2, of which container only a neck 201 is shown, the container being in particular a bottle intended to contain a liquid substance such as a drink.

It should be noticed that elements common to the various embodiments will be labelled with the same reference numbers.

The cap 1 is made of a polymeric material. Any polymeric material suitable for moulding can be used to obtain the cap 1 .

The cap 1 is shown in Figure 1 in a closed condition in which the cap 1 is found when it leaves a cap production line and is applied on the container 2. In this condition, the cap 1 comprises a lateral wall 3 which extends around an axis Z, and a transversal wall 4 positioned at one end of the lateral wall 3, so as to close that end. The transversal wall 4 extends transversally, in particular perpendicularly, to the axis Z. The transversal wall 4 can be flat, even though other shapes are theoretically possible. In the example shown, the transversal wall 4 has a substantially circular shape in plan view.

The lateral wall 3 and the transversal wall 4 define a cup-shaped body suitable for receiving an end portion of the neck 201 of the container 2, so that the cap 1 can close the self-same container 2.

In particular, the lateral wall 3 is connected to the transversal wall 4 by means of a connecting zone 401 , which may be shaped, in cross-section, like a bevelled edge or a circular connector.

The cap 1 comprises a separating line 5, shown in Figure 1 , which is provided on the lateral wall 3 to define a retaining ring 301 , which is configured to remain anchored to the neck 201 of the container 2, and a closing element 302 removably engageable with the neck 201 , so as to open or close the container 2, that is to say, to open or close a supply opening 203 of the neck 201 . The retaining ring 301 extends as far as a free edge 303 of the lateral wall 3.

It should be noticed that the lateral wall 3 may be provided, on an outer surface thereof, with a plurality of knurling lines 312, extending parallel to the axis Z and suitable for facilitating gripping of the cap 1 by the user or by the capping machine which applies the cap 1 on the container 2 to be closed.

The knurling lines 312 may be positioned in the closing element 302, as shown in the accompanying Figures, but may also optionally continue, according to a variant not illustrated, in the retaining ring 301 .

The retaining ring 301 comprises an engaging element, only partly illustrated as indicated below, which projects inwards and is configured to engage with a locking ring 202 of the neck 201 of the container 2, during a passage from a closed condition to an open condition of the cap 1 .

It should be noticed that the engaging element can project from the free edge 303, or from an edge zone of the retaining ring 301 placed near the free edge 303, as shown in the accompanying Figures.

When the cap 1 is in the closed condition, the engaging element is positioned in a bent configuration between the retaining ring 301 and the neck 201 of the container 2.

The engaging element can be made, in the known way, as a single continuous tab, or as a plurality of projecting tabs. In other words, the engaging element can be continuous, as shown in the accompanying Figures, or interrupted (not illustrated).

The single continuous tab, or the plurality of projecting tabs, have at most a length, measured as the distance from the free edge 303, which is suitably selected in such a way that they can engage with the locking ring 202 during the first passage from the closed condition to the open condition of the cap 1 . For example, the engaging element can comprise a number of projecting tabs greater than or equal to 4 and less than or equal to 24; preferably greater than or equal to 6 and less than or equal to 16.

Therefore, the engaging element is positioned in a lower portion of the retaining ring 301 , and therefore of the cap 1 , when the cap 1 is joined to the container 2 and the container 2 is positioned vertically. The engaging element extends circumferentially for the entire locking ring 202.

The locking ring 202 is shown in Figures 2 to 6 and in Figure 7 and projects from an outer surface of the neck 201 .

The locking ring 202 is an annular protuberance, which extends in a plane placed transversally to the axis Z and has, considering a plane passing through the axis Z, a substantially triangular cross-section. An upper wall 202a of the locking ring 202, directed towards the supply opening 203, is inclined relative to a lower wall 202b, which is directed towards a bottom (not illustrated) of the container 2 and is substantially planar. In other words, the locking ring 202 has a frustoconical shape and the upper wall 202a and the lower wall 202b are connected to each other by an outer edge 202c.

When the cap 1 is in the closed condition and has never yet been opened, the engaging element is placed at least partly below the locking ring 202 to engage with the lower wall 202b of the locking ring 202, as described in more detail below.

The free edge 303 delimits the retaining ring 301 on the opposite side to the transversal wall 4. Therefore, the retaining ring 301 extends between the separating line 5 and the free edge 303 and may be delimited by a cylindrical or frustoconical outer surface. Preferably, the separating line 5 is parallel to the free edge 303.

The separating line 5 extends around the axis Z and is circumferentially interrupted to define in the lateral wall 3 a joining zone 305 which extends circumferentially for an angle a, in which the retaining ring 301 and the closing element 302 are joined. A connecting portion 308 extends from the joining zone 305 as far as the free edge 303 angularly “continuously” for the angle a.

It should be noticed that the angle a, shown in Figure 2, extends around the axis Z and has been shown as if the view of the cap 1 were from above, that is to say, from the transversal wall 4 side.

The separating line 5 extends between a first end 501 and a second end 502.

Between the first end 501 and the second end 502, the joining zone 305 acts as a hinge in the sense that the closing element 302 can rotate around it relative to the retaining ring 301 .

Therefore, the joining zone 305 identifies a part of the lateral wall 3 which is circumferentially interposed between the first end 501 and the second end 502 of the separating line 5, whilst the connecting portion 308 identifies a part of the retaining ring 301 which is placed angularly at the joining zone 305 and extends as far as the free edge 303.

The term “extends continuously” is used to mean that the connecting portion 308 is without cuts, incisions, or weakened zones.

In other words, the connecting portion 308 is part of the retaining ring 301 which, along its entire extent from the joining zone 305 as far as the free edge 303, is without cuts, incisions, or weakened zones.

Advantageously, after it has been made, the cup-shaped body only needs to undergo one further processing operation necessary for making the separating line 5, and this allows processing efficiency and a low final cost of the cap 1 itself.

The separating line 5 may be shaped like a through-incision which passes through the entire thickness of the lateral wall 3. Alternatively, the separating line 5 may be shaped like a weakening line at which the thickness of the lateral wall 3 is greatly reduced compared with the surrounding zones in order to facilitate breaking of that separating line 5.

The engaging element comprises a deformable region 309, which extends at least in the angle a, which is configured to deform and to be positioned in a stretched out configuration at least during a final step of a first opening of the cap 1 when the engaging element makes contact with the locking ring 202.

The deformable region 309 is facing and angularly corresponds to the connecting portion 308, but it should be noticed that it does not differ from the remaining parts of the engaging element. Therefore, if the engaging element is made as a continuous tab or as a plurality of tabs, the deformable region 309 is also respectively made as a continuous tab, or as a plurality of tabs provided that at least one tab of the plurality of tabs is present in the deformable region 309.

The deformable region 309 has its own end margin 309a.

It should be noticed that the connecting portion 308 is also configured to deform, in such a way as to allow the deformable region 309 to be positioned in said stretched out configuration during the final step of opening of the cap 1 .

This means that the retaining ring 301 can deform at the connecting portion 308 and the deformable region 309, which extend at least in said angle a, when the cap 1 is opened and passes from the closed condition to the open condition.

Thanks to the joining zone 305, the closing element 302 is stably joined to the retaining ring 301 and therefore to the neck 201 of the container 2, when the cap 1 is in the open condition. That prevents the possibility of the closing element 302 being thrown on the ground separately from the container 2. This increases the probability that the closing element 302, together with the container 2, is correctly disposed of together with waste of the same type as it, in particular with waste made of plastic material.

Thanks to the fact that the deformable region 309 is configured to deform, it can pass from the bent configuration to the stretched out configuration, so that the connecting portion 308 can be pulled until it turns over, following the deformable region 309, when the deformable region 309 makes contact with the locking ring 202. As can be seen in Figures 4, 5 and 9, when the deformable region 309 of the engaging element is in the stretched out configuration, that is to say, the cap 1 is in the open configuration, the connecting portion 308 is turned over, that is to say, is deformed, rotating and turning over, although remaining aligned with the closing element 302. The free edge 303 of the connecting portion 308 is directed towards the supply opening 203 of the container 2 and no longer towards a bottom of the container 2, as in the remaining part of the retaining ring 301 .

The deformable region 309 can stretch out whilst the connecting portion

308 can turn over.

It should be noticed that the engaging element comprises a retaining part 313 configured to make contact with the locking ring 202 during the final step of opening of the cap 1. In detail, the retaining part has a contact surface 313a configured to make contact with the lower wall 202b of the locking ring 202.

At the deformable region 309 of the engaging element, that contact between the contact surface 313a and the lower wall 202b allows the deformation of the deformable region 309 into the stretched out configuration.

In fact, the contact surface 313a is positioned below the lower wall 202b of the locking ring 202 and in that way can continue to make contact with that lower wall 202b whilst the closing element 302 is stressed away from the neck 201 , thereby promoting the stretching out of the deformable region

309 since it prevents the engaging element from being able to slide above the locking ring 202 without stretching out.

The cap 1 also comprises breakable elements (not illustrated) positioned along the separating line 5, which are intended to break upon cap 1 first opening, that is to say, the first time the retaining part 313 makes contact with the lower wall 202b of the locking ring 202.

Therefore, cap 1 “first opening” is the first time that the cap 1 is opened and the closing element 302 is separated from the retaining element 301 . Therefore, thanks to the contact between the contact surface 313a and the lower wall 202b, during the final step of cap 1 first opening deformation of the deformable region 309, and consequently also deformation of the connecting portion 308 at least at the angle a, and breaking of the breakable elements in the remaining circumferential region of the retaining ring 301 is allowed.

The engaging element also comprises an anti-rotation part 314 configured to be facing and in contact with the outer edge 202c of the locking ring 202, when the engaging element is in the bent configuration, as shown in Figure 8. In fact, when the engaging element is in the bent configuration, the anti-rotation part 314 is parallel to lateral wall 3 of the cap 1 , in contact with the outer edge 202c, whilst the contact surface 313a of the retaining part 313 (and therefore the entire retaining part 313) is placed at a distance from the lower wall 202b and below it.

The retaining part 313 of the engaging element extends from the retaining ring 201 and has a thickness increasing until it defines the contact surface 313a, that is to say, in other words, considering a cross-section of the retaining part with a plane parallel to the axis Z, it is triangular.

In detail, the retaining part 313 extends from the free edge 303, or from the edge zone positioned near the free edge 303, since it is an initial end of the engaging element, that is to say, the one nearest to the free edge 303.

The anti-rotation part 314 extends from the contact surface 313a and is shaped like a projection which projects from the contact surface 313a and forms a final end of the engaging element.

It should be noticed that the anti-rotation part 314 has a thickness, measured in a radial direction relative to the axis Z, which is less than the radial thickness of the retaining part 313. The anti-rotation part 314 has a rounded final edge which, at the deformable region 309, corresponds to the end margin 309a. The anti-rotation part 314 is suitable for obstructing the rotation of the engaging element inwards, as explained in more detail below.

Along an axis parallel to the axis Z, when the cap 1 is joined to the container 2, the anti-rotation part 314 extends beyond the outer edge 202c of the locking ring 202.

In other words, the engaging element is at least partly bent below the locking ring 202 when the cap is in the closed condition since the retaining part 313 is entirely below it whilst the anti-rotation part extends beyond the outer edge 202c.

The retaining part 313 also comprises a lateral surface, which extends from the initial end of the engaging element to the contact surface 313a and is directed, when the engaging element is in the bent configuration towards the neck 201 of the container 2.

When the deformable region 309 is in the stretched out configuration and the cap 1 is in the open condition, as shown in Figures 4, 5 and 9, the antirotation part 314 is configured to be in contact with the upper wall 202a of the locking ring 202.

In fact, the contact surface 313a of the retaining part 313 can make contact with the lower wall 202b and the anti-rotation part 314 can make contact with the upper wall 202a of the locking ring 202. Therefore, in other words, the deformable region 309 is configured to enclose the locking ring 202 around the outer edge 202c in the stretched out configuration and that guarantees a stability of the open condition of the cap 1 .

In fact, the closing element 302 is prevented from performing any rotating movement, either towards the supply opening 203 or around the neck 201 of the container 2. In fact, even if a user, inadvertently, knocks the closing element 302 stressing it towards the container 2, the closing element 302 cannot move towards the neck 201 because the deformable region 309 interferes with the locking ring 202. Since the anti-rotation part 314 is resting on the upper wall 202a of the locking ring 202, any rotation of the deformable region 309, and therefore of the closing element 302 towards a bottom of the container 2 is prevented.

According to a different embodiment, not shown in the accompanying figures, after the contact surface 313a of the retaining part 313 makes contact with the lower wall 202b of the locking ring 202, the deformable region 309 goes beyond the locking ring 202 and deforms, so that it is positioned resting on the locking ring 202 in a stretched out configuration.

In this embodiment, the lateral surface of the retaining part is placed resting on the upper wall 202a of the locking ring 202.

In this case too, the closing element 302 is locked in terms of rotation around the neck 201 , since the deformable region 309 is entirely resting on the locking ring 202.

The angle a which identifies the connecting portion 308 and the deformable region 309 may advantageously be between 20° and 90°, preferably between 40° and 60°.

With such angular amplitudes, the connecting portion 308 is small enough so that it can be deformed but, at the same time, is sturdy extending continuously as far as the free edge 303.

A radial thickness of the retaining ring 301 , and therefore of the connecting portion 308, may advantageously be greater than or equal to 0.4 mm and less than or equal to 1 .1 mm.

This radial thickness of the retaining ring 301 contributes to the deformability of the connecting portion 308, in the passage from the closed condition to the open condition of the cap 1 , in such a way that the connecting portion 308 itself can turn over, when the deformable region 309 makes contact with the locking ring 202 and the connecting portion 308 is positioned in the stretched out configuration.

A height H of the retaining ring 301 , measured parallel to the axis Z, may be greater than or equal to 1.4 mm and less than or equal to 5.2 mm. Preferably, that height may be greater than or equal to 1 .8 mm and less than or equal to 3.5 mm. If the height of the retaining ring 301 is greater than or equal to 1.4 mm, when the cap 1 is applied to the neck of the container 2 during a production step of cap 1 application to the neck 201 , the engaging element is positioned bent correctly at least partly below the locking ring 202 and at the same time an excessive deformability of the retaining ring 301 which could pull the entire retaining ring 301 towards the neck 201 , bending it excessively, is prevented.

The height H of the retaining ring less than or equal to 5.2 mm, preferably less than or equal to 3.5 mm, in contrast, contributes to the deformability of the connecting portion 308, in such a way that the connecting portion 308 itself can turn over, when the deformable region 309 makes contact with the locking ring 202 and the connecting portion 308 is positioned in the stretched out configuration

Thanks to appropriate selection of the thickness and/or of the height H of the retaining ring 301 , the deformable region 309 can turn over and stretch out in the passage from the closed condition to the open condition of the cap 1 and similarly, the connecting portion 308 can also deform.

According to one embodiment, the retaining ring 301 may comprise two zones of weakness, not shown, which are positioned on both sides of the connecting portion 308, for example shaped like bands parallel to the axis Z, which have a radial thickness less than that of the remaining zones of the retaining ring 301 positioned adjacent to them.

In this way, when in the open condition the connecting portion 308 is turned over, twisting of the retaining ring 301 at the two sides of the connecting portion 308 is promoted and this twisting contributes to keeping the closing element 302 in the open condition and the deformable region 309 in the stretched out configuration.

The presence of the two zones of weakness may be present alternatively, or in addition, to appropriate selection of the thickness and/or of the height of the retaining ring 301 , to further promote the stretching out of the deformable region 309 and also turning over of the connecting portion 308.

The deformable region 309 is configured to emit, advantageously, a sound and/or touch indication, at least during the final step of the first opening, when the deformable region 309 makes contact with the locking ring 202 and is positioned in the stretched out configuration.

The deformable region 309 may emit a “click” and vibrate as a sound and/or touch indication of its passage from the bent configuration to the stretched out configuration.

Thanks to the sound and touch indication, the user is able to perceive when the closing element 302 is stable in the open condition.

It should be noticed that, during an initial step of the first opening, the deformable region 309 is still in the bent configuration, and can temporarily go beyond the locking ring 202 moving towards an end edge 201a of the neck, to allow the closing element 302 to completely disengage from the neck 201 and can subsequently again go beyond the locking ring 202, moving in the opposite direction, when the closing element 302 has completely disengaged.

The deformable region 309 is also configured to bend when the closing element is again positioned to close the neck 201 of the container 2 in the closed condition.

However, the closing element 302 can only close the container 2 again if stressed in a specific direction.

The lateral wall 3 of the cap 1 is internally provided with a coupling structure 310, configured to removably couple the closing element 302 to the neck 201 of the container 2, in such a way that the cap 1 is movable from the closed condition, in which the cap 1 closes the supply opening 203 of the container 2, to the open condition.

The coupling structure 310 of the cap 1 is positioned inside the closing element 302 and is shaped to engage with a corresponding coupling structure 204 present on the outside of the neck 201 of the container 2. The coupling structure 310 of the closing element 302 and the coupling structure 204 of the neck 201 are, as illustrated in the accompanying figures, made in the form of a thread. In this case, the passage from the closed condition to the open condition is performed by means of a rotation of the closing element 302 relative to the neck 201 of the container 2.

The closing element 302 completely disengages from the neck 201 when the coupling structure 310 of the cap 1 , that is to say, the thread 310 of the cap 1 , is unscrewed from the coupling structure 204 of the neck 201 , that is to say, from the thread 204 of neck 201 .

The deformable region 309, after having temporarily gone beyond the locking ring 202 to allow the connecting portion 308 to deform along the axis parallel to the axis Z, is configured to bend and return at least partly below the locking ring 202, adopting the same position as when it was in the closed condition.

In this way the deformable region 309 can again emit the sound and/or touch indication during the final step of a subsequent opening, when the deformable region 309 makes contact with the locking ring 202 and then stretches out, as previously described.

As shown in Figure 6, when the closing element 302 is again positioned to close the neck 201 of the container 2, the engaging element can again be positioned in the bent configuration although remaining in contact with the locking ring 202. After the first opening, the engaging element may not have the same bent configuration that it had before the first opening, having been subjected to a deformation, but it is in any case bent.

When the closing element 302 is in the open condition, between the closing element 302, positioned at a distance from the neck 201 , and an axis parallel to the axis Z and at a tangent to the lateral surface of the neck 201 , an angle of opening equal to at least 30° is defined, not illustrated, which guarantees that the closing element 302 does not interfere with supplying of the contents of the bottle when the bottle is tilted.

The cap 1 described here may be, for example, applied to containers 2 having a neck 201 , shown in Figure 7, which extends for a height X along the axis Z which is greater than or equal to 9 mm and is less than or equal to 27 mm, that is to say, 9 mm < X < 27 mm.

Considering the standards of CETIE, the international organisation which publishes reference technical documentation and standards relating to the bottling sector, the cap 1 according to this invention may advantageously, but not exclusively, be applied to necks 201 included in the list supplied below: gme 30.39; gme 30.28; gme 30.37; gme 30.38; gme 30.32; gme 30.23; gme 30.24; PCO1881 ; PCO1873; PCO1810; gme 30.26; gme 30.33; gme 30.21 ; gme 30.22; gme 30.36; gme 30.31 ; gme 30.30; gme 30.25; gme 30.29.

The “gme” coding refers to the CETIE coding standard for specifications for necks (Finishes data-sheets).

The “PCO” coding refers to the English acronym for Plastic Closure Only and that term, followed by a four digit number such as 1881 , is often used by the ISBT (International Society of Beverage Technologists) association. The coding supplied above identifies all size features of the necks 201 .

In use, at the end of a moulding procedure, a cup-shaped object is obtained, not illustrated, which has the lateral wall 3 which extends from the transversal wall 4 as far as a free edge 303, beyond which a panel intended to make the engaging element extends. When the cup-shaped object receives an end portion of the neck 201 of the container 2, the panel is bent to form the engaging element and a cap 1 provided with a cup-shaped body which can close the container 2 is obtained.

In the cap 1 , there is appropriate selection of a radial thickness of the retaining ring 301 and/or a height H of the retaining ring 301 and/or the circumferential size of the angle a, or the presence of zones of weakness positioned on both sides of the connecting portion 308, to allow the deformability of the deformable region 309.

In the closed condition shown in Figure 1 , the engaging element provided inside the retaining ring 301 is at least partly below the locking ring 202 present on the neck 201 , in the sense that the contact surface 313a of the retaining part 313 is at a distance from the lower wall 202b of the locking ring 202 and is below it, as shown in Figure 8, whilst the anti-rotation part 114 is positioned facing and in contact with the outer edge 202c of the locking ring 202.

When the user wishes to open the container for the first time, the user grips the closing element 302 and rotates the closing element 302 around the axis Z, in order to unscrew the closing element 302 from the neck 201 . During the passage from the closed condition to the open condition, initially, the closing element 302 and the retaining ring 301 are rotated together around the axis Z, and they simultaneously move together in a direction parallel to the axis Z, away from the neck 201 .

That happens until the engaging element of the retaining ring 301 abuts against the locking ring 202, and at this point the locking ring 202 prevents the retaining ring 301 from rising further along the axis Z, acting as a stop for the movement of the retaining ring 301 , away from the neck 201 .

In detail, the contact surface 313a of the retaining part 313 makes contact with the lower wall 202b of the locking ring 202.

The closing element 302, which is unscrewed by the user, continues to be stressed along the axis Z away from the neck 201 and also pulls with it the joining zone 305 and the connecting portion 308 connected to it.

The anti-rotation part 314 obstructs the rotation of the engaging element inwards, since, being in contact with the locking ring 202, it prevents the engaging element from stretching out and rotating inwards completely disengaging from the locking ring 202. In this way, the retaining ring 301 is prevented from slipping off the locking ring 202.

The deformable region 309 is also stressed away from the neck 201 and may temporarily go beyond the locking ring 202, allowing the joining zone 305 and the connecting portion 308 which extends for the angle a to have a facilitated movement along an axis parallel to the axis Z to continue to follow the joining zone 305 and the closing element 302 away from the neck of the container 2.

The breakable elements present along the separating line 5 are tensioned until causing them to break. The closing element 302 separates from the retaining ring 301 along the separating line 5, but remains joined to the retaining ring 301 at the joining zone 305, as shown in Figure 2.

Now considering two lateral stretches of the retaining ring 301 which are positioned at the sides of the connecting portion 308, each lateral stretch is inclined following the closing element 302 and connects the closing element 302 to the part of the retaining ring 301 still locked by the locking ring 202.

In fact, at least outside the connecting portion 308 and those lateral stretches at the sides of it, the engaging element is still partly below the locking ring 202, that is to say, the retaining part 313 is below it.

The deformable region 309 is still in the bent configuration and the contact surface 313a of the deformable region 309 remains positioned axially beyond the locking ring 202, towards the supply opening 203, until the user, continuing to unscrew the closing element 302, completely disengages the closing element 302 from the thread 204 made on the neck 201 and the container 2 is opened.

When the user further rotates the closing element 302 to free the supply opening 203, the closing element 302, which is hinged to the retaining ring 301 by means of the joining zone 305, stresses the connecting portion 308 towards the locking ring 202 and consequently also stresses the deformable region 309 towards the bottom of the container 2.

That again brings the retaining part 313 of the deformable region 309 of the engaging element below the locking ring 202, as shown in Figure 3.

To completely free the supply opening 203 and to position the closing element 302 in the open condition, the user continues to further rotate the closing element 302 away from the neck 201 . During this final step of the cap 1 first opening, at the deformable region 309, the contact surface 313a of the retaining part 313 makes contact with the lower wall 202b of the locking ring 202.

Thanks to the fact that the contact surface 313a continues to make contact with the lower wall 202b whilst the closing element 302 is stressed away from the neck 201 , the stretching out of the engaging element is promoted at least in the deformable region 309 which extends at least in the connecting portion 308, and sliding of the engaging element above the locking ring 202 without stretching out is prevented. The anti-rotation part 314 makes contact with the upper wall 202a of the locking ring 202, enclosing the locking ring 202 itself. In this way, the deformable region 309 deforms in contact with the locking ring 202 and is positioned in the stretched out configuration, as shown in Figures 4 and 5.

The deformable region 309 emits a “click” and vibrates as a sound and/or touch indication.

The free edge 303 of the retaining ring 301 is pulled by the stretching out of the deformable region 309 and also rotates, deforming and rising towards the supply opening 203 substantially aligned with the deformable region 309. The connecting portion 308 is also pulled so that it rotates and is positioned substantially aligned with the deformable region 309, turning over.

However, it should be noticed that the deformable region 309 and the connecting portion 308 could be positioned out of alignment, instead between them forming an exterior angle greater than 180°, even if the connecting portion 308 is turned over.

At the sides of the connecting portion 308, which is turned over and inclined, the lateral stretches are deformed and are subjected to twisting to connect the connecting portion 308 to the remaining part of the retaining ring 301 , which is positioned vertically and still below the locking ring 202. Therefore, when the cap is in the open condition, the closing element 302 is at a distance from the neck 201 and is stably locked relative to the neck 201 and that prevents the closing element 302 from performing any unintentional rotating movement, either towards the supply opening 203 or around the neck 201 of the container 2, due to an unintentional knock by the user.

After use, the user can return the cap 1 from the open condition of Figures 4 and 5 to the closed condition shown in Figure 1 by means of a sequence of operations in reverse compared with what was previously described.

To disengage the deformable region 309 from the locking ring 202, the user must first move the closing element 302 away from the neck 201 .

To do this, the user must deform the connecting portion 308 in the same direction as the deformable region 309 placed against the locking ring 202, that is to say, in a direction parallel to the upper wall 202a of the locking ring 202, in such a way that the contact surface 313a of the retaining part 313 can move away from the outer edge 202c and the anti-rotation part can slide on the upper wall 202a when the closing element 302 is pulled away from the container 2.

Then, the user can reapply the closing element 302 on the neck 201 , by rotating the closing element 302 around the joining zone 305 and moving the closing element 302 axially away from the neck 201 , before screwing the closing element 302 onto the thread 204 of the neck 201 again.

When the closing element 302 moves towards the supply opening 203, the deformable region 309 initially remains stretched out against the locking ring 202 but then bends and in this way the connecting portion 308 returns to the initial configuration, in which it is parallel to the axis Z.

When the closing element 302 is again positioned in the closed condition, to close the supply opening 203, the deformable region 309, although being bent, may still remain positioned against the locking ring 202 since the contact surface 313a of the retaining part 313 may remain in contact with the lower wall 202b of the locking ring and the anti-rotation part 314 may remain resting on the upper wall 202a of the locking ring itself.

Continuing to close the container 2, that is to say, completely engaging the thread 204 of the neck 201 again, the contact surface 313a of the deformable region 309 can again be positioned at a distance from and below the lower wall 202b.

In this case, with each subsequent opening of the cap 1 , at least for the first openings, the sound and/or touch indication may again be emitted during the final step of each opening, as already illustrated.

However, the user can leave the deformable region 309 in contact with the locking ring 202, that is to say, the contact surface 313a and the antirotation part can remain positioned enclosing the locking ring 202. In this case, with each subsequent opening after the first opening, the deformable region 309 will again be positioned in the stretched out configuration and the connecting portion 308 will be positioned turned over substantially aligned with the deformable region 309 but the deformable region 309 will not emit the sound and/or touch indication, always maintaining the contact with the locking ring 202.

The cap 1 of this invention is therefore simple to make and inexpensive, although being simple for a user to use.

Claims

1. A closing cap (1 ) for a container (2), comprising a lateral wall (3) extending around an axis (Z) and a transversal wall (4) positioned at one end of the lateral wall (3), a separating line (5) being provided on the lateral wall (3) to define: a retaining ring (301 ), which is configured to remain anchored to a neck (201 ) of the container (2) and extends as far as a free edge (303); a closing element (302) removably engageable with the neck (201 ), so as to open or close the container (2); wherein the separating line (5) extends around the axis (Z) and is circumferentially interrupted to define in the lateral wall (3) a joining zone (305) which extends circumferentially for an angle (a), in which the retaining ring (301 ) and the closing element (302) are joined; wherein the retaining ring (301 ) comprises a connecting portion (308) which extends continuously for said angle (a) from the joining zone (305) as far as the free edge (303) and an engaging element which projects inwards and is configured to engage with a locking ring (202) of the neck (201 ) during a passage from a closed condition to an open condition of the cap (1 ); and wherein the engaging element is in a bent configuration when the cap (1 ) is in the closed condition and comprises a deformable region (309), which extends at least in said angle (a), which is configured to deform and to be positioned in a stretched out configuration during a final step of opening of the cap when the engaging element makes contact with the locking ring (202); wherein the engaging element comprises a retaining part (313), configured to make contact with the locking ring (202) during said final step of opening, which has a contact surface (313a) configured to make contact with a lower wall (202b) of the locking ring (202); and wherein at the deformable region (309) that contact between the contact surface (313a) and the lower wall (202b) allows the deformation of the deformable region (309) into the stretched out configuration.

2. The cap (1 ) according to claim 1 , and comprising breakable elements positioned along the separating line, which are intended to break upon cap (1 ) first opening when the contact surface (313a) makes contact with the lower wall (202b) of the locking ring (202).

3. The cap (1 ) according to claim 1 , or 2, wherein the engaging element comprises an anti-rotation part (314) configured to be facing and in contact with an outer edge (202c) of the locking ring (202), when the engaging element is in the bent configuration.

4. The cap (1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the engaging element comprises an anti-rotation part (314) configured to be in contact with an upper wall (202a) of the locking ring (202), when the deformable region (309) is in the stretched out configuration.

5. The cap (1 ) according to claim 4, wherein the deformable region (309) of the engaging element is configured to enclose the locking ring (202) around an outer edge (202c), when the deformable region (309) is in the stretched out configuration, the contact surface (313a) being in contact with the lower wall (202b) of the locking ring (202), the anti-rotation part (314) being in contact with the upper wall (202a) of the locking ring (202).

6. The cap (1 ) according to one of claims 3 to 5, wherein the retaining part (313) of the engaging element extends starting from the retaining ring (301 ) and has a thickness increasing until it defines the contact surface (313a), and wherein the anti-rotation part (314) extends from the contact surface (313a).

7. The cap (1 ) according to claim 6, wherein the anti-rotation part (314) is shaped like a projection which projects from the contact surface (313a) and which forms a final end of the engaging element.

8. The cap (1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the connecting portion (308) is facing the deformable region (309) and is also configured to deform so as to allow the deformable region (309) to be positioned in said stretched out configuration during said final step of opening of the cap (1 ).

9. The cap (1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the retaining ring (301 ) comprises two zones of weakness, which are positioned on both sides of the connecting portion (308), for example parallel to the axis (Z), and having a radial thickness which is less than that of the remaining zones of the retaining ring (301 ) positioned adjacent to them, the zones of weakness being configured to be able to be subjected to twisting when the deformable region (309) is in the stretched out configuration.

10. The cap (1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the angle (a) is between 20° and 90°, preferably between 40° and 60°.

11 . The cap (1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a radial thickness of the retaining ring (301 ) is greater than or equal to 0.4 mm and is less than or equal to 1 .1 mm.

12. The cap (1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a height (H) of the retaining ring (301 ), measured parallel to the axis (Z) is greater than or equal to 1 .4 mm and less than or equal to 5.2 mm; preferably it is greater than or equal to a 1 .8 mm and less than or equal to 3.5 mm.

13. The cap (1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the deformable region (309) is configured to emit a sound and/or touch indication when the deformable region (309) makes contact with the locking ring (202) and is positioned in the stretched out configuration at least during a final step of a first opening of the cap (1 ).

14. The cap (1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the deformable region (309) is configured to be positioned in the bent configuration when the closing element (302) is again positioned to close the neck (201 ) of the container (2) in the closed condition.

15. The cap (1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the connecting portion (308) extends continuously from the joining zone (305) as far as the free edge (303) since it is without cuts, incisions, or weakened zones.