ES2248637T3 - EXIT CLOSURE FOR CONTAINERS CONTAINING A FLUID MATERIAL. - Google Patents

Abstract

Exit closure (10) of plastic for containers containing a fluid material, especially for beverage containers, the exit closure comprising: - a closure body (100) with a cover (120), the outer edge of which a shirt protrudes (110) which can be fixed to the container above a hole thereof, - a substantially horizontal annular shoulder (122) of the cover (120), from whose radially located area inside the longitudinal central axis extends outwardly a elevation (124) in the form of a dome and having at its outer end an outlet opening (126) communicated with the opening of the container, - a wrapping element (150) that covers at least partially an outer area of the elevation (124 ) in the form of a dome and whose material is softer than the material of the dome-shaped elevation, and - a closing element (200) for the exit orifice.

Description

Exit closure for containers containing a fluid material

The invention relates to an exit closure for containers containing a fluid material, especially for beverage containers

This type of exit closures are included in the state of the art in multiple variants and are used to beverage containers composed of different materials, especially glass and plastic. An exit closure that presents all features according to the preamble of claim 1 is known by the document US-A-5743443.

Especially in recent years they have been demanded higher requirements regarding this type of beverage packaging and the corresponding exit closures, intended for different uses and jobs, in which, on the one hand, the reliable sealing of the exit closure also on request high, such as those produced for example when carrying the container of drink during sports activities, and on the other hand, it is desirable that for the user of the containers, when extracting the material, especially when drinking, during which usually the mouth of the user comes into direct contact with the exit closure, whatever as pleasant as possible.

Therefore, the invention aims at provide an improved exit closure for a container that It contains a fluid material, especially for packaging drink mentioned above, which on the one hand guarantees a greater tightness of the exit closure and, on the other hand, allow a pleasant feeling during direct contact with the closure of exit.

This objective is achieved by closing output according to claim 1.

Through this exit closure of the invention, very positively influences the user's sense of contact which, for example when drinking, comes into contact essentially or exclusively with the wrapping element composed of the softer material. In addition, the seal of the exit closure increases by the softer material of the wrapping element. So then the closing element that closes the exit hole preferably seal the outlet opening by a contact Direct with the wrap element. In addition, due to the greater softer material compression, the dimensions of the components can be chosen in such a way that with a sealing reliable not to demand too high requirements as far as to the accuracy of manufacturing tolerances. In case of need, additionally a guarantee of originality in the form of a closure of the exit hole of the body of closing. In this way, in the sense of a conservation of quality of the contents of the bag, any possibility is ruled out of an air or oxygen inlet inside the vessel, until the container is opened for the first time. This guarantee of originality can be composed of the same material as the element of wrap and / or closure body material. In addition to a high quality assurance of the contents of the package, in this way it is possible to simplify and significantly reduce manufacturing in mass of the exit closure. Therefore, the invention is based on the surprising knowledge that by forecasting the element Wrapper composed of a softer material can be solved both objectives or problems mentioned above.

Another advantage of the exit closure with the element of wrapping composed of a soft material is the insulation acoustic, because an annoying noise development is avoided when opening and close a lid, especially a flip top. This results especially advantageous, for example, if in an atmosphere silent, as in a library or during a speech, you want open a corresponding container, if possible unnoticed

As a material for the wrapping element Thermoplastic polyester (TPE) is appropriate. This material can be adjusted to the desired softness of the wrapping element, but it is tough enough to guarantee a long life useful of the wrapping element and, therefore, of the closure of exit.

Preferably, the closure element is conformed in a single piece with the dome-shaped elevation, protruding the dome-shaped elevation of the upper side or of the edge of the closure element, being able to serve the user of drinking nozzle In addition, preferably, the elevation in form of dome has a stepped diameter along its height, presenting towards its outer zone, preferably, a minor diameter and presenting at its outer end the hole.

According to a preferable embodiment, the wrapping element is configured such that the elevation shaped dome be covered in its outer area substantially completely, that is, eventually, also the hole and / or its originality closure of the closure body material, by the wrap element. In this way, it is guaranteed that the entire area that comes into contact with the mouth of a person who drinks covered by the wrapping element while keeping the nice contact feeling. In addition, in this way, the element closing can be configured more variable, because a counter element of the closure element, intended for sealing, can attack at different points of the element of wrap ensuring tightness. For example, if the item Originality guarantee is set as a tab starter that seals the hole, the user, for example a cyclist, you can tear off the tear-off tongue with your teeth at drive without needing your hand to open the container.

However, the wrapping element may extend only along certain partial areas of the dome-shaped elevation, particularly along an area upper dome-shaped elevation. This configuration, especially the size of the dome-shaped elevation can be adapted at the discretion of an expert to the desired use.

On the contrary, the wrapping element not only it can extend through the dome-shaped elevation and, if you want, through its hole, but can also cover other partial areas of the closing body.

According to a preferable embodiment, the closure element is a folding lid that is articulated in a single piece to the closing element by means of a hinge. Thus, the closing element and the closing body form a unit that is performed in one piece by plastic injection and in which the closing element is not lost after it is mounted on the container.

Obviously, instead of a closing element close to the folding lid can be provided closing elements separated. Furthermore, without abandoning the object of the invention, it is possible any possibility of closing, for example, an element of closure that is fixed to the closure body by a mechanism of ratchet or by means of a thread.

Next, the invention is described. in detail with the help of a schematic drawing of examples of realization of an exit closure. They show:

Figure 1 an exit closure open in a central longitudinal section;

Figure 2 a second embodiment of an exit closure in a central longitudinal cut as in the Figure 1;

Figure 3 a third embodiment of an exit closure in the same representation as shown by the Figures 1 and 2;

Figure 4 a fourth embodiment of a exit closure in the representation as in figures 1 to 3; Y

Figure 5 a three-dimensional representation of the exit closure in figure 4.

Figure 1 shows an exit closure 10 for a container containing a fluid material, with a closing body 100 and with a closure element 200 made as a cover. The body closure 100 and closure element 200 are linked together unilaterally by means of a hinge 290 made as a hinge sheet, so that the closure element 200 can be made rotate 180º, from a position that opens the closing body, represented in figure 1, around an axis formed by the hinge blade 290, to the position that closes the body of closing.

The closure body 100 has on its side upper a cover 120, from whose radial outer edge is laterally extends a shirt 110. Shirt 110 is configured substantially cylindrical in shape and has an internal thread 112 with which it can be screwed and fixed on a container (no represented) with a corresponding counter nut.

Instead of the threaded joint they can be other types of fastening of the closing body to a container, for example, elastic lace connections. That's it it is possible that the output closure is configured directly in a single piece with a corresponding container.

In the upper area of the body shirt 110 of closure 100, near the outer edge of the cover 120 of the closure body 100, in the embodiment represented in the Figure 1 is provided a sealing skirt 114 configured in the form of a ring slightly tilted down with respect horizontally, such that said sealing skirt, when screw the closure element 100 onto the container, press on an upper side of the container hole sealing it.

In the embodiment shown here, the sealing skirt 114 is configured in one piece with the closure body, but is composed of a soft material, in this case silicone, unlike the hard plastic of which both the body is made closure 100 as the closure element 200 of the outlet closure 10. It should be mentioned that according to another embodiment, the sealing skirt 114 may be made of the same material as the closure body 100, which simplifies the process of
manufacturing.

The cover of the closure body 100 has a annular shoulder 122 substantially horizontal, from which it extends in a dome and in a staggered way an area located radially inside with respect to the central longitudinal axis, protruding from the annular shoulder outward, the step being diameter of the dome-shaped elevation 124 along its height presenting at its outer end an exit hole 126.

The dome-shaped elevation substantially comprises a first step 128 (upper) which, with respect to the cover 120, is located above a second step 134 (lower). Each of the steps 128, 134 is substantially cylindrically shaped, both steps 128, 134 having comparable heights, while the first step 128 has a smaller diameter. The outer transitions between the first step 128 and the second step 134 and between the second step 134 and the annular shoulder 122 are rounded, so that no sharp edges occur. Above the first step 128, an end edge 136 of the outlet opening 126 is provided, which is bent radially inwardly and which extends practically in its upper area.
horizontal.

Also the interior area of elevation 124 in dome shape of cover 120 is staggered: Below the smaller inner diameter of the outlet hole 126 within the dome-shaped elevation, the inside diameter of the elevation in Dome shape increases in the downward or inward direction. After the first widening of the inner diameter, directly below the closing edge 136, the area extends interior, substantially cylindrical, along the entire axial extension (in the direction of height) of the first staggering and widens more approximately at the height of the transition zone between the first step 128 and the second staggering 134.

The lower end of the first step 128 of the flexible tube holder 180 forms in the inner zone a annular stop surface 130 which at the same time limits a groove annul 132 in the upper zone within the second step 134. The inner zone of the second step 134 below the annular groove 132 extends in the form of a truncated cone and is widens in the downward direction, becoming its end lower on the lower side of the annular shoulder 122 located horizontally of cover 120.

The closing element 200 is configured substantially in the form of a cover and comprises a head plate 210 and a lateral zone 220 extending from it, being configured the side zone 220 substantially such that in a closing position of the closing element 200 is aligned substantially with the jacket 110 of the closure body 100.

In addition, the closure element 200 has on its side opposite the hinge 290 a slot 260 for receiving a security guarantee element 160, the slot 260 being displaced backwards, inward (in the position of the closure element 200, shown in Figure 1, in the lower zone, that is, in the closed position, in the upper zone), so that, in order to remove the seal, the quality assurance element 160 can be pressed towards said area displaced backwards. The slot 260 for the quality assurance element 160 is limited by a heel 262 and a projection 264 in its upper areas and
lower.

The embodiment represented in the figure 1 has a wrapping element 150 composed of polyester thermoplastic (TPE) that extends substantially throughout the area exterior of deck 124 dome-shaped elevation 120 following the contour of the dome-shaped elevation 124.

The dimensions of the wrapping element 150 of thermoplastic and elevation 124 dome-shaped polyester as well as of a crushing body 280 which is provided on the side inside of the head plate 210 of the closure element 200 and that It is substantially circularly shaped, adapted each other in such a way that during closing virtually free of noise of the closure element 200, the crushing member 280 flap with the first step 128 of the elevation 124 in shape of dome with the wrapping element 150 applied on it, closing in this way the outlet opening 126 tightly towards outside.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the outer diameter of the wrapping element 150, at the height of the first step 128, in its uncompressed state, is somewhat larger than the inner diameter of the circular crushing member 280 of the sealing element. closure 200, so that when closing the closure element 200 configured as a folding lid, while slightly compressing the wrapping element 150, a pressure adjustment occurs between the crushing member 280 and the wrapping element 150, which leads to a secure sealing at this point, even if there are slight manufacturing tolerances in the geometry or dimensions of the different elements, which cannot be avoided at least to a small extent especially in the case of mass manufacturing, or In order to meet higher tolerances more manufacturing procedures are required
expensive.

Only for greater integrity, it is noted that the embodiment of the exit closure, shown in the figure 1, is configured in such a way that in the inner area of the body of closure 200 a tube can also be used additionally flexible output immobilized safely in the interior area of the dome-shaped elevation 124 and whose outer end protrudes from outlet hole 126 to eventually allow a even easier extraction of fluid material.

Figure 2 shows another embodiment of an exit closure that is substantially identical to the shape of embodiment depicted in figure 1.

Contrary to the embodiment shown in figure 1, however, the wrapping element 150 is made in such a way that it covers only an upper area of the dome-shaped elevation 124, namely the first stepping 128 and the transition between the first step 128 and the second stepping 134 of the dome-shaped elevation 124.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 3, an outlet closure is substantially configured in accordance with the embodiment in Figure 1. However, the outlet opening 126 on the upper side of the closure body 100 is provided with a originality guarantee closure 300. Said originality guarantee closure 300 is an integral part of the outlet closure 10 and, for this purpose, is made of the relatively soft material of the wrapping element 150. A weakening line 302 that follows the edge of the outlet opening 126 in the dome-shaped elevation 124, joins the originality guarantee closure 300 that seals the outlet hole 126, with the wrapping element 150. Advantageously, a tear-off tab 304 joins the closure of guarantee of originality 300 and, preferably, it is manufactured in a single piece with the same. The tear-off tab 304 allows easy opening of the container by tearing off the tear-off tab 304, even if this cannot be done by hand, such as during cycling races or
Similar.

Therefore, the guarantee element of Safety 300 ensures that air or oxygen cannot cause a decrease in the quality of the contents of the package until the first opening of the container or bottle. Also here, the element of wrap 150 can be composed, along with the guarantee closure of 300 originality, thermoplastic polyester (TPE).

The embodiment of an exit closure 10 in figure 4 it is distinguished from that of figure 3 only because an originality guarantee closure 400 is made of material of the closure body 100, being manufactured together with it as a unit piece according to the injection molding procedure of plastic. Said originality guarantee closure 400 is at discovered up or out while being joined or fabricated forming a unit with the closure body 100 by a line of weakening 402 that follows the annular edge of the orifice of output 126. A starter tongue 404 which, as in Figure 3, protrudes obliquely upward from the upper side of the originality guarantee closure 400, is composed of it material that the closure body 100 and should facilitate opening of the container provided with exit closure 10, but until now the opening must guarantee the quality of the contents of the container by airtight sealing of outlet opening 126 of the container. The closure body 100 is manufactured forming a unit with the pull-out tongue 404, preferably polypropylene (PP) or polyethylene (PE) according to the molding process injection.

Naturally, if necessary, also the 400 guarantee of originality composed of the body material of closure 100 and its pull-out tongue 404 may be coated in addition to the soft material of the wrapping element 150, particularly, if a container provided with it should be used during which the container cannot be opened by hand or just hardly, as is the case in certain sports such as cycling races, etc.

Figure 5 gives an overview of the closure output described in figures 4 and 5, the closures being output in figures 1 and 2 also comparable with the representation of the exit closure in figure 5, imagining that Missing 400 originality guarantee closure and tongue starter 404, the outlet opening 126 of the body being open of closure 100.

Reference List

10

Exit closure

100

Closing body

110

Shirt

112

Thread

114

Sealing skirt

120

Cover

122

Ring shoulder

124

Dome-shaped lift

126

Exit hole

128

First stepping

130

Ring surface

132

Annular groove

134

Second staggering

136

Final edge

150

Wrapping element

160

Guarantee element of originality

200

Closing element

210

Head plate

220

Zone side

260

Groove

262

Heel

264

Outgoing

280

Crushing organ

290

Hinge

300

Warranty closure of originality

302

Weakening line

304

Tear-off tongue

400

Warranty closure of originality

402

Weakening line

404

Tear-off tongue

Claims (17)

1. Plastic outlet closure (10) for containers containing a fluid material, especially for packaging of drinks, including the departure closure:

-

a closing body (100) with a cover (120), whose edge exterior protrudes a shirt (110) that can be attached to the container over a hole in it,

-

a annular shoulder (122) substantially horizontal of the cover (120), from whose radially located area inside the shaft longitudinal center extends outward an elevation (124) in dome shape and which has a hole in its outer end outlet (126) communicated with the hole in the container,

-

a wrapping element (150) covering at least partially an area exterior of the elevation (124) in the form of a dome and whose material is softer than the dome-shaped lifting material, Y

-

a closing element (200) for the outlet opening (126),

characterized because

-

the dome-shaped elevation (124) forms a drinking nozzle, whose exit hole (126) has a folded end edge (136) radially inward, which in its upper area extends practically horizontally, the dimensions of the wrap element (150) of thermoplastic polyester and the mouthpiece (124) for drinking, as well as those of an organ of cylindrical crush (280) provided on the inner side of a head plate (210) of the closure element (200), adapted between yes in such a way that in the closing position of the closing element (200), the crushing organ (280) overlaps with the nozzle (124) to drink with the wrapping element (150) applied on it, such that the outlet opening (126) is closed so sealed out, closing the closing element (200) practically without making any noise.

2. Exit closure according to claim 1, characterized in that the drinking nozzle (124) has a stepped diameter along its height. 3. Exit closure according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a first upper step (128) of the drinking nozzle (124) is arranged above a second lower step (134), with respect to the cover (120). 4. Exit closure according to claim 3, characterized in that each of the steps (128, 134) of the drinking nozzle (124) is substantially cylindrically shaped. 5. Exit closure according to one of claims 3 or 4, characterized in that the two steps (128, 134) of the drinking nozzle (124) have comparable heights, while the first step (128) has a smaller diameter. 6. Exit closure according to one of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that the external transitions between the first step (128) and the second step (134) of the nozzle (124) for drinking, as well as between the second step (134) ) thereof and the annular shoulder (122) are rounded. 7. Exit closure according to one of claims 3 to 6, characterized in that the wrapping element (150) covers only the first step (128) and the transition between the first step (128) and the second step (134) of the mouthpiece (124) for drinking. 8. Exit closure according to claim 1, characterized in that the wrapping element (150) extends substantially throughout the outside area of the nozzle (124) for drinking, following the contour thereof. 9. Exit closure according to one of claims 2 to 7, characterized in that the inner area of the nozzle (124) for drinking is also staggered, the inside diameter of the nozzle (124) for drinking in the inward direction being increased below of the smallest inner diameter of the outlet opening (126). 10. Exit closure according to claim 9, characterized in that the inner area of the drinking nozzle (124) extends substantially cylindrically after the first widening of its inner diameter below the end edge (136) of the outlet orifice (136). 126) throughout the axial extension of the first step (128), widening approximately to the height of the transition zone between the first step (128) and the second step (134). 11. Exit closure according to one of claims 3 to 7, 9, 10, characterized in that the lower end of the first step (128) of a flexible tube holder (180) in the inner area of the drinking nozzle (124) it forms an annular stop surface (130) that at the same time delimits an annular groove (132) in the upper area of the second step (134). 12. Exit closure according to claim 11, characterized in that the inner zone of the second step (134) below the annular groove (132) extends in the form of a truncated cone widening in the downward direction and becoming its lower end in the annular shoulder (122) horizontal of the cover (120). 13. Exit closure according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in the inner zone of the closure body (100) a flexible immobilized outlet tube can be inserted securely in the inner area of the nozzle (124) for drinking and whose outer end protrudes from the outlet orifice (126) for easier extraction of the fluid material. 14. Exit closure according to claim 1, characterized in that the closure element (200) is substantially formed in the form of a cover comprising a head plate (210), as well as a side area (220) that starts from it and which in the closed position of the closure element (200) it is substantially aligned with the jacket (110) of the closure body (100). 15. Exit closure according to claim 14, characterized in that a folding lid as a closing element (200) for opening and closing the outlet opening (126) of the closing body (100) is articulated in one piece and rotatably to the closing body (100) by means of a sheet hinge (290). 16. Exit closure according to claim 15, characterized in that the closure element (200) has on its side opposite the hinge (290) a slot (260) for receiving a quality assurance element (160), the slot being (260), in the closed position of the closure element (200), displaced inwardly in the upper zone, such that the quality assurance element (160) can be pressed to said area displaced backwards to remove the seal. 17. Exit closure according to claim 16, characterized in that the groove (260) for the quality assurance element (160) is limited by a heel (262) and a projection (264) in its upper and lower areas.