ES2361992B1 - Opening cap of a container and corresponding container. - Google Patents

Abstract

Opening cap of a container (7) comprising: a base (1) with a lower surface (3) and a hole (5), and a lid (9), attached to the base (1) through an axis (11) parallel to the bottom surface (3) of the base (1). The cover comprises a first part (13) that crosses the hole and is below the lower surface of the base when the cover is tilted, a second part (17) opposite the first part, and a lower surface (10). The cap comprises a folded tube (19), formed by a first section (21), a second section (23) and a folding area (25) in which it is folded 180 °. The first section is fixed to the bottom surface (10) of the lid. The fold zone is in the first part and the free ends of both sections are oriented towards the second part.

Description

It has a flat mouth on top. The cover of

Opening cap of a container and corresponding container. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to an opening cap of a package comprising a base with a lower surface and a hole, where the cap is suitable for being fixed to a container through the bottom surface of the base. The cap also comprises a cover, attached to the base through a tilting axis parallel to the bottom surface of the base so that the lid can swing with respect to the base along the axis, between a closed position, in which the The lid is substantially parallel to the lower surface of the base, and an open position in which the lid forms an angle greater than 60 ° to the lower surface of the base, and preferably forms an angle close to 90 ° with the lower surface from the base. The cover, in turn, comprises a first part with a first end edge that crosses the hole and is below the lower surface of the base when the cover is tilted along the axis, a second part opposite the first part with respect to the axis , and a lower surface.

The invention also refers to a container comprising a liquid and a cap according to the invention. State of the art

Containers that include liquids usually present a problem at the time of pouring the liquid. The liquid, instead of leaving forming a uniform and continuous jet, usually comes out in an irregular way, gushing out. This is particularly pronounced in the case of parallelepipedic containers, such as those commonly known as tetrabrik®.

In document ES P201031551 a closure system of a container is described, which has [a] a main body with an exit orifice, where the exit orifice defines an axis perpendicular to the exit orifice,

[b] a closure element capable of closing the outlet opening in an airtight manner, and [c] a conduit attached to the main body and having a first end close to the opening, such that the closure element is suitable for also close the first end, and a second end furthest from the hole than the first end, in a direction perpendicular to the axis. This allows the entry of air into the container in a way that does not hinder the liquid that is leaving. This makes it possible to reduce and even avoid the irregular fl ow of the liquid when leaving the container. Thanks to the presence of the duct, the air can enter through the duct and the duct takes it inside the container in an area where it no longer causes an irregular flow at the exit of the container.

However, the fact that the conduit is in contact with the contents of the package, in particular in the case of food products, is an inconvenience that makes it difficult to implement this type of system.

On the other hand, container closures are known as those described in US 6,554,181. These closures include a pouring element that can be closed again, with a base member and a closing lid, which at the same time serves as the opening means. A flange surrounds the opening surface of the pouring element and is connected to the closure having lateral support pins that are supported in corresponding recesses in the base member. The support pins can rotate around recesses so that they define a tilting axis of the lid relative to the base member. Additionally, a positive blocking connection is provided between the base member and the closing cover which is destroyed after the first action of the closing cover.

However, this type of packaging closure has the same problems indicated above.

In general, these systems or closure caps are, at the same time, systems or opening caps. Indeed, in the same way that they are used to close the container once it has been filled in the factory, they are also used to open the container by the user (as well as for new closure if the content is not consumed in its entirety). Therefore, they can be called interchangeably in both ways. Summary of the invention

The object of the invention is to overcome these drawbacks. This purpose is achieved by means of an opening plug of a container of the type indicated at the beginning characterized in that it comprises a folded tube, formed by a first section, a second section and a fold zone in which the second section folds 180 ° with respect to the first section forming a fold zone, where the first section is fixed to the bottom surface of the lid, and where the tube has the fold zone arranged in the first part and the free ends of the first section and the second section are oriented towards the second part.

Indeed, the opening cap according to the invention thus includes a tube that will allow the entry of air into the container in a way that does not hinder the liquid that is leaving, which will reduce or even completely eliminate the irregular fl ow of the liquid. when leaving the container and the subsequent bubbling. Additionally, the tube is completely out of the container until it is opened. This prevents the tube from being in contact with the contents of the container during periods of time between filling the container and opening it by the user. As mentioned earlier, this is particularly interesting in the case of food products, in which the hygiene and aseptic conditions are very strict.

Advantageously, the cap includes guiding means capable of guiding the free end of the second section so as to force the free end of the second section to separate from the bottom surface of the base. In a preferred solution, the guiding means include a region of the lower surface of the base, arranged in the path traveled by the free end of the second section, where the region forms an acute angle with the path so that it forces the free end from the second section to be separated from the bottom surface of the base. In another preferred solution, the guiding means include a partition, arranged on the bottom surface of the base, and arranged on the path traveled by the free end of the second section, where the partition forms an acute angle with the path so that it forces the free end of the second section to be separated from the bottom surface of the base. Indeed, since the fold zone is arranged in the first part, that is, at a non-zero distance from the tilt axis, by tilting the cover around the tilt axis the free end of the second section can be displaced horizontally (in general , in a direction parallel to the lower surface of the base) in a direction that goes from the first part to the second part. However, it is important to force the free end of the second section to be inserted inside the container. One way of achieving this is by including guide means that force the free end of the second section to separate from the bottom surface of the base in the "down" direction, that is, towards the inside of the container.

Preferably, the second section has tearing means in its lower part. Indeed, the entire opening plug assembly is usually located on an upper hole, present in the package and which is usually closed by a sheet (usually a metal sheet) that acts as a seal and airtight seal. By rotating the lid around the tilting axis, the first end edge of the first part of the lid pierces this sheet thus allowing the contents of the container to flow out. In the cap according to the invention, the free end of the second section must also pierce this sheet and, in this sense, it is advantageous to have these tearing means in its lower part. These tearing means can be, for example, a more or less vivid edge that functions as a knife or, for example, an edge with saw teeth or the like. Alternatively or additionally, the sheet has a weakening zone that coincides with the second section of the tube, thus facilitating the second section of the tube to pierce the sheet and enter the interior of the container.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the folding of the tube is achieved by folding the fold zone. In this case, for example, the tube may be of a sufficiently flexible material, or it may have a sufficiently flexible section or it may have a section with a geometry that facilitates its bending, such as a bellows.

In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the tube is split into said first section and said second section, which are joined together by a hinge. The hinge can be an independent element, but preferably the hinge is achieved from the tube itself, leaving a joint area between both sections that is thin and small enough to be flexible and to be able to perform the hinge function. In general, the tube can be of any geometry suitable for the function to be exercised, but preferably it is a prismatic tube and most preferably it has a square or rectangular cross-section. In the latter case, the hinge would be obtained in a simple way by causing the two sections of the tube to be joined together by one of the lateral faces thereof.

Advantageously, the cover has retaining means of the second section suitable for retaining the second section when it forms a right angle with the first section. In this way, opening the lid ensures that the second section is retained in a position that is optimal for the function to be fulfilled (allow air to enter in an area away from the outlet of the contents of the container). In this way, if the container is opened a second time the second section is already positioned properly and pointing in the direction that corresponds to it.

Preferably the first section and / or the second section have coupling means, capable of fluidly coupling both sections when they form a right angle to each other. Indeed, the function of the set is to allow air to enter the container. This does not require that the coupling between both sections, when they form a right angle to each other, be perfectly tight, but could also work even if there were some air leaks through the fold zone. However, it is better that the folding area be as tight as possible, for which it is convenient that there are coupling means that improve this sealing. These coupling means can be very diverse, for example, a tongue and groove type socket can be provided between both sections, some of the sections can have some type of lip or joint, etc.

A subject of the invention is also a package comprising a liquid characterized in that it comprises a cap according to the invention. Preferably the package comprises a liquid that is a food product. Brief description of the drawings

Other advantages and features of the invention can be seen from the following description, in which, without any limitation, preferred embodiments of the invention are mentioned, mentioning the accompanying drawings. The figures show:

Figs. 1 to 3, show one of the container closures described in US 6,554,181.

Fig. 4, a schematic side elevation view of a cap according to the invention, mounted on a tetrabrik® type container.

Fig. 5, a schematic view of a longitudinal section of the plug of Figure 4.

Fig. 6, a schematic view of a longitudinal section of the plug of Figure 4 in a position corresponding to an intermediate point between the closed position and the open position.

Fig. 7 a schematic view of a longitudinal section of the plug of Figure 4 in the open position.

Fig. 8, a schematic view of a longitudinal section of the cap of Figure 4 in the closed position after being first opened. Detailed description of embodiments of the invention

In Figs. 1 to 3, closure caps (or opening caps) of packages are shown as are known in the prior art. These caps comprise a base 1 with a lower surface 3 and a hole 5. The plug is fixed to a container 7, preferably to a tetrabrik® type container. The container 7 has an upper hole and the cap is positioned on the container 7 so that the hole 5 coincides with the upper hole of the container 7. The cap also includes a lid 9 attached to the base 1 through a shaft 11 of tilt parallel to the lower surface 3 of the base 1. The cover 9 has a lower surface

10. When opening the lid 9, the lid 9 is tilted with respect to the base 1 along the axis 11. The lid 9 has a first part 13 with a first end edge 15, so that when the lid 9 is tilted the first end edge 15 crosses hole 5, so that it is below the bottom surface 3 of the base

1. Therefore, the first end edge 15, in fact, also crosses the upper hole of the container 7 and, consequently, perforates the seal sheet 33 which is usually included in this type of containers and closes the upper hole of the container 7. The cover 9 also has a second part 17 that is opposite the first part 13 with respect to the tilting axis 11. In general, these plugs, as well as any other that includes these characteristic elements, are suitable for incorporating the present invention.

In Figs. 4-8, a plug according to the invention is shown. The plug comprises a folded tube 19, formed by a first section 21, a second section 23 and a folding zone 25. The two sections 21 and 23 are folded over each other so that the folding zone 25 is arranged in the first part 13 of the cover 9, and the free ends 27 and 29 of both sections 21 and 23 are oriented towards the second part 17. The first section 21 is fixed to the lower surface 10 of the cover 9 so that the tube 19 is integral to the cover 9. This is the geometry presented by the cap before it has been used, and it is the one shown specifically in Figure 5.

When opening the cover 9 (see Fig. 6) the first end edge 15 moves down due to the tilting movement of the cover 9. This causes the fold zone 25 to move to the left (according to the figure ). The free end 29 of the second section 23 is guided by a guide means 31 so that it is separated from the lower surface 3 of the base 1. Additionally, these guide means 31 force the free end 29 of the second section 23 to pierce a seal sheet 33 and to be introduced inside the container 7 through the upper hole. In the example shown in the figures, the guiding means 31 are formed by a region of the lower surface itself 3 of the base 1 which is arranged in the path traveled by the free end 29 of the second section 23 and which forms an acute angle with This path, for example, has a suitable concave shape, so that it forces the free end 29 of the second section 23 to separate from the lower surface 3 of the base 1.

Figure 7 shows the cover 9 in the fully open position. The free end 29 of the second section 23 is inserted inside the container 7. In the embodiment shown in the figures, the tube 19 is of square cross-section and is partially sectioned forming the two sections 21 and 23. Both sections 21 and 23 are linked together through one of their faces, which is the one that forms the hinge that allows the folding of both sections 21 and 23 on themselves. The cap also includes retaining means 37. These retaining means 37, schematically drawn in Figures 5 and 6 serve to retain the second section 23 in the position shown in Figure 7. In this way, by closing the lid again 9, the relative position between both sections 21 and 23 is maintained as shown in the figure

8. Thus, when the container 7 is opened again, the relative position between both sections 21 and 23 is already adequate to perform its function.

As can be seen more clearly in Figures 2 and 3, this type of stopper usually has a hole 5 that is not only located under the first part 13 of the cover 9 (when the cover 9 is in the closed position) but also the hole 5 has an extension 39 arranged under the second part 17 of the lid 9. Thus, when the lid 9 is open, the extension 39 allows fluid communication between the inside of the container 7 and the outside to be established. In a preferred solution of the cap according to the invention this extension 39 either does not exist or is closed by the first section 21 of the tube 19 so that when the lid 9 is open the only possible fluid communication between the inside of the container 7 and the outside, on the right side of the cover 9 (according to Figure 3, in fact the left side with the figures 5 to 8) is through the tube 19.

In the example shown in Figures 5 to 8, the second section 23 includes a tooth 41 in its lower part, which forms tear means suitable for tearing the seal sheet 33 that closes the upper hole of the container 7.

Claims (14)

1. Opening cap of a container (7) comprising: [a] a base (1) with a lower surface

(3)

and a hole (5), said cap being able to be fixed to a container (7) through said lower surface (3) of said base (1), and [b] a lid (9), attached to said base (1) through a tilting axis (11) parallel to said lower surface (3) of said base (1), so that said cover (9) can swing with respect to said base (1) along said axis (11 ), said cover (9) comprising: [b1] a first part

(13)

with a first end edge (15), said first end edge (15) passing through said hole (5) and being below said lower surface (3) of said base (1) when said cover (9) tilts along said axis ( 11), [b2] a second part (17) opposite said first part (13) with respect to said axis (11), and [b3] a lower surface (10),

characterized in that it comprises a folded tube (19), formed by a first section (21), a second section (23) and a folding zone (25) in which said second section (23) folds 180Q with respect to said first section (21) forming said fold zone (25), where said first section (21) is fixed to said lower surface (10) of said lid (9), and where said tube (19) has said fold zone

(25)

provided in the first part (13) and the free ends (27, 29) of said first section (21) and said second section (23) are oriented towards said second part (17).

2. Cap according to claim 1, characterized in that it includes guiding means (31) capable of guiding said free end (29) of said second section (23) so as to force said free end (29) of said second section (23) to be separated from said lower surface (3) of said base (1). 3. Cap according to claim 2, characterized in that said guiding means (31) include a region of said lower surface (3) of said base (1), arranged in the path traveled by said free end (29) of said second section (23), wherein said region forms an acute angle with said path so that it forces said free end (29) of said second section (23) to be separated from said lower surface (3) of said base (1). 4. Cap according to claim 2, characterized in that said guiding means (31) include a partition, arranged on said lower surface (3) of said base (1), and arranged on the path traveled by said free end (29) of said second section (23), wherein said partition forms an acute angle with said path such that it forces said free end (29) of said second section (23) to separate from said lower surface (3) of said base (1) . 5. Cap according to any of claims 1-4, characterized in that said second section (23) has a tearing means (41) in its lower part.

6.

Cap according to any of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that said tube (19) is folded by said fold zone (25).

7.

Cap according to any of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that said tube (19) is split into said first section (21) and second section (23), which are joined together by a hinge.

8.

Cap according to claim 7, characterized in that said cap (9) has retention means

(37) of said second section (23) suitable for retaining said second section (23) when it forms a right angle with said first section (21).

9.

Cap according to one of claims 7 or 8, characterized in that said first section (21) and / or second section (23) have coupling means, capable of fluidly coupling both sections when they form a right angle to each other.

10.

Cap according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that said base (1) has an extension (39) of said hole (5) arranged under said second part (17) of said cover (9), wherein said extension (39) it is closed by said first section (21) when said cover (9) is swung around said axis (11) until it reaches its open position.

eleven.

Container (7) comprising a liquid, characterized in that it comprises a cap according to any one of claims 1 to 10.

12.

Container (7) according to claim 11, characterized in that said liquid is a food product.

13.

Container (7) according to one of claims 11 or 12, characterized in that it comprises a top hole, coinciding with said hole (5), and a seal sheet (33) that closes said top hole and is apt to be torn by said cover (9) when said cover (9) is swung around said axis (11), where said sheet (33) has a weakening zone that coincides with said second section

(23) of said tube (19). SPANISH OFFICE OF THE PATENTS AND BRAND Application no .: 201130745 SPAIN Date of submission of the application: 10.05.2011 Priority Date: REPORT ON THE STATE OF THE TECHNIQUE 51 Int. Cl.: See Additional Sheet RELEVANT DOCUMENTS

Category

Documents cited Claims Affected

TO

WO 2007003625 A2 (SIG TECHNOLOGY AG) 11.01.2007, figures & EPODOC database summary; retrieved from the WPI database; AN -2007092640. 1-13

TO

WO 2005066030 A1 (SIG TECHNOLOGY AG) 21.07.2005, figures & EPODOC database summary; retrieved from the WPI database; AN-2005506838. 1-13

TO

US 2002170930 A1 (ELDER) 21.11.2002, the whole document. 1-13

TO

EP 658480 A1 (TETRA LAVAL) 21.06.1995, the whole document. 1-13

Category of the documents cited X: of particular relevance Y: of particular relevance combined with other / s of the same category A: reflects the state of the art O: refers to unwritten disclosure P: published between the priority date and the date of priority submission of the application E: previous document, but published after the date of submission of the application

This report has been prepared • for all claims • for claims no:

Date of realization of the report 10.06.2011

Examiner V. Anguiano Mañero Page 1/4

REPORT OF THE STATE OF THE TECHNIQUE Application number: 201130745 CLASSIFICATION OBJECT OF THE APPLICATION B65D5 / 74 (2006.01) B65D47 / 06 (2006.01) B65D25 / 42 (2006.01) Minimum documentation sought (classification system followed by classification symbols) B65D Electronic databases consulted during the search (name of the database and, if possible, terms of search used) INVENTIONS, EPODOC, WPI State of the Art Report Page 2/4  WRITTEN OPINION Application number: 201130745 Date of Completion of Written Opinion: 06.10.2011 Statement

Novelty (Art. 6.1 LP 11/1986)

Claims Claims 1-13 IF NOT

Inventive activity (Art. 8.1 LP11 / 1986)

Claims Claims 1-13 IF NOT

The application is considered to comply with the industrial application requirement. This requirement was evaluated during the formal and technical examination phase of the application (Article 31.2 Law 11/1986).  Opinion Base.- This opinion has been made on the basis of the patent application as published. State of the Art Report Page 3/4  WRITTEN OPINION Application number: 201130745 1. Documents considered.- The documents belonging to the state of the art taken into consideration for the realization of this opinion are listed below.

Document

Publication or Identification Number publication date

D01

WO 2007003625 A2 (SIG TECHNOLOGY AG) 11.01.2007

D02

WO 2005066030 A1 (SIG TECHNOLOGY AG) 07/21/2005

D03

US 2002170930 A1 (ELDER) 21.11.2002

D04

EP 658480 A1 (WASH TETRA) 21.06.1995

2. Statement motivated according to articles 29.6 and 29.7 of the Regulations for the execution of Law 11/1986, of March 20, on Patents on novelty and inventive activity; quotes and explanations in support of this statement The problem posed by the applicant is how to avoid spilling liquid at the time of pouring the liquid into the opening cap of a container. The proposed solution consists in achieving a uniform and continuous liquid output. For this, the first claim describes an opening cap of a package comprising a base and a lid attached to the previous base, the assembly being characterized in that it comprises a folded tube with its corresponding sections and folds. The object claimed in the first claim complies with the requirements of novelty and inventive activity established in articles 6,8 and 9 of patent law 11/1986 since the documents cited in the state of the art report differ from the Patent application in: a) Folding tube: two sections and fold zone. b) Free end guiding means. c) Partition in guiding means. d) Tearing means at the bottom of the folding tube. e) Retention means in the second section of the folding tube. Thus, patent document WO 2007003625 A2 describes a corresponding container and container opening stopper comprising a base with pivoting element mounted on the lower base of the opening so that it opens at the time of opening of the package, thus providing an outlet. uniform. Patent document WO 2005066030 A1 describes an opening cap for a container with a base whose parts swing over the lid to be below the cap. It consists of a folded part (19) that is actuated by opening the lid (12) located in the opening cap of the container. Patent document US 2002170930 A1 describes an opening cap for a package comprising a base, cover and consists of a tube or sheet (28) located in the lower part of the opening formed by a section and attached to the container by hinge. Patent document EP 658480 B1 describes an opening device for Tetrabrick type package in which a folding device (5) formed by a tilting section and connected by a flange to the opening thereof is incorporated. State of the Art Report Page 4/4