ES2421212A1 - Caps consisting of a plastic material - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a plastic cap comprising a fixing projection on the inner face of the side wall thereof, for interfering with a collar of the neck of the bottle, said fixing projection having a surface for interfering with the collar, an interference face that forms an angle larger than the right angle in relation to the side wall of the cap, characterised in that it also comprises, at the end of the side wall of the cap, an inwardly foldable flexible strip that has an inner supporting face corresponding to said interference surface, and an outer interference face forming a right angle or a smaller angle in relation to said wall when said interference surface and said inner supporting face come into contact, the strip comprising a skirt on the free end thereof.

Description

Plastic caps.

The present invention refers to a bottle cap made of plastic material, of the type that is anchored to the neck of the bottle by means of curling or clipping, also known by the English term "snap-on".

This type of cap has a fixing projection on its inner face that interferes with a wall located on the neck of the bottle. Said projection and said wall make an interference that makes it impossible to remove the plug, which has been introduced under pressure. When trying to be removed by a movement in the direction of the axis of symmetry of the stopper (or axis of revolution of the bottle), wall and fixing projection interfere with its movement, preventing the removal of the stopper.

Ideally, both the projection and the wall have a surface of interference with each other (ie, contact) perpendicular to said axis. However, this cannot be obtained in the caps obtained by molding, since in order to enable their demolding, the fixing projection and the inner side wall of the plug must form an angle greater than 90 °. The value at which this angle exceeds 90º is called the demoulding angle.

As a consequence of the above, it is possible to force the removal of the cap by combining the extraction movement with an eccentric force that a lever performs. Said lever force is easier to perform successfully as the height of the plug increases. This effect is undesirable, because it would allow the closed bottles to be opened without breaking the cap seal, which can lead, for example, to food fraud.

Also known are screw fasteners that have a seal that is broken at the time of the first unscrewing of the plug, the seal being trapped by a wall of the neck of the neck

bottle. Usually, the seal is fixed by a flexible band (also called "flexband")

located at the end of the cap that is likely to bend inwards and that interferes with the outlet of the neck. The band can be continuous, constituting a ring, or intermittent, constituting as a plurality of pieces of band in circumferential arrangement. This type of plug is susceptible to being violated in two ways, either by achieving a horizontal displacement (that is in the direction of the plane perpendicular to the axis of the plug) or by getting the flexible band to slide between the inner face of the wall of the plug and the wall of the neck until it comes out enough that it does not perform its function (similar to the mechanism of extraction of a sock)

It is an objective of the present invention to disclose a plug with a snap-on fastener system that does not present the problems of violability of the known plugs.

In particular, the present invention consists of a plug of plastic material, of the type comprising a projection for fixing by enclosure on the inner face of its side wall, said fixing projection having an interference surface with the wall forming said surface at an angle greater than the right angle with respect to the side wall of the plug. The plug further comprises, at the end of the side wall of the plug, a flexible band that can be folded inwardly, said band having an inner support face corresponding to said interference surface, and an outer interference face that forms an equal angle

or less than 90o with respect to said wall when said interference surface and said inner support face come into contact, the band at its free end presenting a termination skirt that is arranged parallel to said wall when said interference surface and said inner support face come into contact.

This provision allows the solution of all the problems mentioned. Namely:

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 When the band is bent, the outer interference face replaces the interference face of the projection, but presenting a right or acute angle with respect to the side wall of the plug (or, in other words, with respect to the axis of symmetry of the plug) This eliminates the possibility of plug violation taking advantage of the demoulding angle, which makes it necessary for the interference face of the projection to be greater than the right angle.

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 The combination of the interference produced between the interference face of the projection and the inner contact face of the band (according to an oblique angle with respect to the axis of the stopper), as well as the interaction of said skirt with the wall of the stopper and the wall of the bottle, prevent the violation of the cap by means of the usual mechanisms in the flexible band systems. To do this, preferably, the wall of the bottle neck (preferably the same wall that makes the interference) presses the skirt against the inner side wall of the cap. To this end, preferably the skirt of the band will have a geometry such that it comes into contact with the inner wall of the cap when said interference surface and said inner support face in turn come into contact.

This innovative system can be used in all types of plugs, even in plugs with tear pre-cut seal integrated into its side wall. However, it has greater advantages in enclosure caps, which lack a pre-cut tear seal integrated into its side wall.

In a preferred embodiment, the projection has a second face at an angle of less than 180 ° with the interference surface, and the band has a second inner contact face that corresponds and comes into contact with the second face of the projection when the band is bent towards the inside of the cap.

One possible way to ensure that the band is flexible is by weakening the thickness in the area where the band is connected to the cap.

For better understanding, there are attached, by way of explanatory but not limiting example, drawings of an example of embodiment of a plug of plastic material, object of the present invention.

Figure 1 shows an elevation view of an example of a plug according to the present invention.

Figure 2 shows a top plan view of the cap of Figure 1.

Figure 3 shows a cross section of the cap of Figure 1.

Figure 4 shows an enlarged detail of the section of Figure 3.

Figure 5 schematically shows an elevation view of the example of the cap of Figure 1 shown, placed in a bottle, with the flexible band folded into the cap.

Figure 6 shows a cross section of Figure 5.

Figure 7 corresponds to an enlarged detail of the section of Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a section similar to that of Figure 7, in which for clarity, the neck of the bottle has been removed, representing the band in a folded position.

Figure 9 is another cross-section according to a plane perpendicular to the sectional plane of the section shown in Figure 6.

An example of a plug according to the present invention is shown in the figures. In particular, Figure 1 shows a plug consisting of a plug-spout of the type that is usually used for vegetable oil containers. The cap -1- has an upper cover -2- and a lower part -3- intended to be attached to the bottle neck -100- (see figure 5). The lower part -3- is anchored by means of a clipping, enclosure or snap-on system, being placed under pressure on the neck -100- of a bottle. Once the plug is placed, the interference caused by a clipping system, or snap-on, prevents the entire plug from being removed.

In figure 3 it can be seen that the lower part -3- has a liquid outlet duct formed by the wall

33. The duct is sealed by a tear -36- membrane made according to known techniques. The tear seal may be similar to that shown in Spanish Patent Documents ES10002900U or ES2162585.

For its part, as seen in Figure 3, the upper part -2- has a cylindrical fin -23- to seal the duct formed by the wall -33- when the plug is in a closed position, thus preserving the plug tightness.

The anchoring system of the cap -1- to the bottle -100- is located in its lower part -3-. The first element of the system consists of a projection -31- located in the inner side wall of the plug -32-. As shown in Figure 4, the projection -31- has a first interference face -311-, which forms an obtuse angle with the inner side wall -32- and a second face -312- which forms an acute angle with the interference face -311-.

The inner bottom edge of the side wall of the bottom piece -3- has a continuation in the form of a flexible band -4-. The term "flexible band" indicates in the sector that the band can bend towards the inside of the cap, without being an additional indication of other characteristics or areas of the band, which could be, for example, of a rigid nature. Said flexible band -4- or "flexband" has a geometry corresponding to the geometry conjugated with that of the projection -31- and of the inner face -32- of the side wall of the plug. In particular, in the example shown, the flexible band -4- has an inner support face -411- that comes into contact with the interference face -311- of the projection -31- when the flexible band bends towards the inside of the plug, and a second inner face -412- conjugated with the shape of the second face -312- of the projection -31-. Also the flexible band 4 of the example ends in a skirt -42-, which when the flexible band is bent towards the inside of the plug, and the interference face -311- of the projection -31- and the first inner contact face -411 - of the flexible band -4- come into contact, the skirt -42- is parallel to the inner face -32- of the side wall of the plug.

As shown in Figure 7, on its outer face, the band 4 defines an outer interference face -43-. This face approximately coincides with the area of the corresponding band the inner contact face -411- and its function is to create an interference surface with a wall -101- of the bottle neck -100-. The use of a flexible band -4- that can be folded allows, in a bent position, the interference surface -43- to be perpendicular to the axis of revolution of the plug or, which is the same, to the inner wall -32- of the plug, that makes the interference with the interference surface -103- of the aforementioned interference wall -101- totally perpendicular to an axial extraction movement. It would even be possible that the outer interference face -43- of the band -4- formed with the wall -32- an angle lower than the right angle, when the interference face -311- of the projection -31- and the inner contact face -411- of the band.

Also, and as can be seen in the example, the present invention allows said interference wall -101- located in the neck of the bottle -100- to come into contact with the skirt -42- and imprison it against the inner wall -32- of the cap. To favor this effect, it is possible to lower the wall -32- in the reception area of the skirt -42-.

As can be seen in Figure 4, the band -4- joins the lower part -3- of the plug -1- through a narrowing -41- of the wall, which allows the flexibility of the band and a certain resistance and rigidity in the rest of the zones of the band -4-.

As shown in Figure 6, in the example shown, the cap rests on a larger wall -102- of the bottle -100-. This wall -102- also collaborates, additionally, in preventing the violation of the cap by accessing the area between the bottle and the cap.

During the manufacturing process of the cap, for example, by injection, as by any other technique such as compression, it is possible to proceed to the demoulding without problems, since the standard demolding angles can be respected. Once the cap has been demoulded, the flexible band -4- can be folded inwards, leaving the cap ready for fixing to a bottle -100- by means of encytting.

There are numerous possible variants to the example shown. The type of cap, especially its upper part, can be, for example, of any known type. It is also possible, in particular, to omit the second inner contact face of the band, whereby the narrowing of the band connection to the plug can be minimized or completely eliminated, among other examples.

While the invention has been described with respect to examples of preferred embodiments, these should not be construed as limiting the invention, which will be defined by the broader interpretation of the following claims.

Claims (6)

one.

Plastic material stopper, of the type comprising a projection for fixing by encliqueting on the inner face of its side wall, said fixing projection presenting an interference surface that forms an angle greater than 90 ° with respect to the side wall of the stopper, characterized because it also comprises a flexible band located at the end of the side wall of the plug that can be folded inwards, said band having an inner support face conjugated with said interference surface and an outer interference face that forms an angle equal to or less than 90o with respect to said wall when said interference surface and said inner support face come into contact, the band at its free end presenting a termination skirt parallel to said wall when said interference surface and said inner support face come into contact.

2.

 Cap according to claim 2, characterized in that the skirt of the band comes into contact with the inner wall of the cap when said interference surface and said inner support face come into contact.

3.

 Cap according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the fixing projection of the inner face of its side wall has a second face that forms an angle with the interference surface, and the band has a second inner contact face, conjugated with the second face of the projection, with which it comes into contact when the band is folded into the plug.

Four.

 Cap according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the band has a weakening of its thickness in the area of connection with the cap to allow it to be folded into the cap.

5.

 Cap, according to any of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that it lacks a pre-cut pre-cut seal integrated in its side wall.

SPANISH OFFICE OF THE PATENTS AND BRAND Application no .: 201330241 SPAIN Date of submission of the application: 02.21.2013 Priority Date: REPORT ON THE STATE OF THE TECHNIQUE 51 Int. Cl.: See Additional Sheet RELEVANT DOCUMENTS

Category

56 Documents cited Claims Affected

TO

US 2011036839 A1 (GARDNER) 02.17.2011, paragraph [0075]; Figures 1C-1G, 2F. 1-5

TO

US 6382444 B1 (NYMAN) 07.05.2002, column 4, line 43 - column 7, line 43; Figures 7-11. 1-5

TO

EN 280195 U (PLASTIVIT) 16.12.1984, page 5; figures. 1-5

TO

WO 2009002291 A1 (ZABELLO) 31.12.2008, summary; figures. 1-5

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 09.08.2013

Examiner F. Monge Zamorano Page 1/4

REPORT OF THE STATE OF THE TECHNIQUE Application number: 201330241 CLASSIFICATION OBJECT OF THE APPLICATION B65D41 / 00 (2006.01) B65D47 / 14 (2006.01) B65D41 / 16 (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 State of the Art Report Page 2/4  WRITTEN OPINION Application number: 201330241 Date of Written Opinion: 09.08.2013 Statement

Novelty (Art. 6.1 LP 11/1986)

Claims Claims 1-5 IF NOT

Inventive activity (Art. 8.1 LP11 / 1986)

Claims Claims 1-5 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: 201330241  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

US 2011036839 A1 (GARDNER) 02.17.2011

D02

US 6382444 B1 (NYMAN) 05.07.2002

D03

ES 280195 U (PLASTIVIT) 16.12.1984

D04

WO 2009002291 A1 (ZABELLO) 12.31.2008

 2. Statement motivated according to articles 29.6 and 29.7 of the Regulation of execution of Law 11/1986, of March 20, on Patents on novelty and inventive activity; quotes and explanations in support of this statement The object of the request is a plastic bottle cap with a skirt at its lower end that bends inwards when the cap is placed in the bottle and, once folded, trips over a wall of the neck of said bottle and thus prevents its subsequent removal. The request contains five claims, of which the first is independent and the other four depend directly on it. The first claim characterizes the invention because:    a) The cap has a flexible band at the end of its side wall    b) The inner side of the band is conjugated with the interference surface with the neck of the bottle    c) The outer face of the band forms an angle equal to or less than 90º with the wall of the bottle    d) The band has at its free end a skirt parallel to the wall of the bottle when the inner face and the  interference surface come into contact. Having made the relevant search, no disclosures have been found in the state of the art that anticipate the characterization of the invention made in the independent claim. The documents cited are for illustrative purposes. D1 (Gardner), D2 (Nyman), D3 (Plastivit) and D4 (Zabello) disclose different embodiments of caps-caps with anchoring elements to the neck. It is, however, flexible crowns, continuous or in the form of vertical bands, and not of skirts arranged to bend inwards at the time of placement in the bottle. The second to fifth claims characterize the invention specifying technical details such as the weakening of the thickness in the area between the plug and the skirt to facilitate its inward bending. To the extent that no disclosures related to the first claim have been found, they cannot be found for these other claims either. In the cited example, the weakening of the material is known in relation to the tearing elements, among others. Since no disclosures of caps with folding elements were found, the weakening as a way of facilitating folding has not been documented. Thus, taking into account the foregoing considerations and in the opinion of the examiner, the attributes of novelty, within the meaning of article 6 of the current Patent Law 11/1986, and of inventive activity, within the meaning of article 8 of the aforementioned Law, to the first to fifth claims of the application State of the Art Report Page 4/4