ES2907136T3 - toy cap - Google Patents

Abstract

Toy lid (1) for a container, for example, for containing drinks for children, such as fruit juices and purees, yogurts, non-alcoholic drinks, comprising: - a closing body (4) comprising a wall tubular closing wall (2) and a base (10), in which said closing wall (2) extends along a main axis (X) between a lower end, where there is a mouth opening (8) for its incorporation with a container straw, and an upper end closed by said base (10); - a rotation structure (50) projecting axially with respect to the base (10), which ends with a support (56) to support the lid (1) and impart to it, manually, a rotation around the main axis (X). in which, once the position of the center of gravity (G) of the cover (1) is defined and the rotation structure (50) is placed on a ground plane (T), such that the main axis (X ) is orthogonal to the ground plane (T), a vertical distance (A) is defined between the center of gravity (G) and the ground plane (T); characterized in that, once an imaginary plane (I) passing through the centroid (G) and orthogonal to the central axis (X) is defined, a radial distance (B) is defined in the imaginary plane (I) between the centroid (G) and a peripheral portion of the cap end (1); and wherein the radial distance (B) is equal to or greater than the vertical distance (A).

Description

DESCRIPTION

toy cap

The object of the present invention is a lid, for example made of plastic, for a small bottle or a container, in particular for containing drinks intended for children, such as fruit juices and purees, yoghurts, non-alcoholic drinks, etc. In particular, the object of the present invention is a lid for a flexible container, usually called a "bag", equipped with a spout.

The present invention is particularly suitable for containers for beverages intended for children, since it is provided with a guarantee seal that ensures the integrity of the container and, at the same time, promotes the acquisition of a container, such as the lid, once separated from the bottle or container, can be used as a toy (and for this reason is called a "toy lid").

The present invention falls within the field of toy lids, that is, lids that, once unscrewed from the bag, can be used for playing; further examples of toy caps, which can be used differently from that according to the present invention, are illustrated in WO-A1-2014/083478 and EP-A1-2489605 in the name of the Applicant. Additional examples of such caps can be found in WO 2015/065481 A1 and US 4583651 A.

The object of the present invention is achieved by a cap made according to claim 1. The dependent claims define further advantageous variant embodiments.

The characteristics and advantages of the lid according to the present invention will be evident from the description provided below, provided by way of non-limiting example according to the accompanying figures, in which:

Figure 1a shows a lid according to an embodiment of the present invention, according to an observation point from above;

figure 1 b represents the lid of figure 1 a, according to an observation point from below;

Figures 2a and 2b show the cover of the preceding figures, respectively, in a plan view from above and in a plan view from below;

- Figures 3a and 3b show the lid of the preceding figures, according to two side views; Y

- figure 4 illustrates the lid of the previous figures in an inverted configuration suitable for the toy.

Figure 5 represents a lid according to a further embodiment of the present invention; Y

Figure 6 shows a functional diagram of a lid according to an embodiment of the present invention.

With reference to the accompanying figures, a lid, preferably in one piece and made of plastic, for containers for children's drinks, for example, fruit juices and purees, yoghurts, non-alcoholic drinks and the like, is collectively indicated at 1. In In particular, the lid 1 is intended to close flexible packages (bags), for example, of the type illustrated in document EP-A1-1538105 in the name of the Applicant, provided with a spout.

Preferably, the flexible package comprises a container comprising two front walls, made of a sheet of flexible material, and possibly sides, for example made as a bellows, and a spout assembly comprising a spout, welded tightly between the walls. container fronts.

The lid 1 comprises a closing body 4, comprising a tubular closing wall 2 that extends along a main axis X; the closing wall 2 is internally provided with a thread 6, to be screwed to the container and, in particular, to be screwed to the spout of the same.

The closing wall 2 extends between a lower end, where there is a mouth opening 8, which allows the insertion of the spout, and an upper end, where there is a base 10, which closes the closing wall 2.

Preferably, the base 10 internally comprises a seal assembly suitable for forming the seal between said base and the spout.

At the lower end, at the mouth opening 8, the lid 1 comprises a guarantee seal 14 suitable for being torn in at least one portion when the lid 1 is unscrewed from the container.

For example, guarantee seal 14 comprises an annular band 16, connected to closing wall 2 and disposed radially outwardly therefrom; said band 16 is connected to the closure wall 2 at a plurality of connection points comprising weakened portions suitable to break when unscrewing the lid 1 from the container.

In particular, the guarantee seal 14 is suitable for being incorporated with resistant elements of the container, for example, protruding ridges of the spout assembly, and said weakened portions are suitable for being broken by the relevant rotation between the lid and said resistant elements.

An embodiment of the guarantee seal is described in International Application WO-A1-2008/050361, in the name of the Applicant.

Still further, according to one embodiment (figures 1a to 4), the lid 1 comprises an annular outer wall 20, which extends around the main axis X and is continuous or made up of separate sections; the external wall 20 therefore surrounds the closing wall 2.

Preferably, the outer wall 20 is spaced radially from the closing wall 2, which forms a compartment 22 within the lid. Band 16 of guarantee seal 14 is disposed radially within outer wall 20.

The outer wall 20 is connected to the closing wall 2, for example, by means of at least one rod 23, preferably three or four evenly spaced angularly spaced rods, arranged in the internal compartment 22.

According to a preferred embodiment, the outer wall 20 extends axially from a lower edge 24, for example, at the height of the lower end of the closing wall 2, to an upper edge 26, near the height of the closing portion. base 10, which defines a top opening 26', which is, for example, circular.

In particular, preferably, the outer wall 20 extends axially above the base 10 of the closing wall 2. In other words, the upper edge 26 is disposed axially above the base 10 of the closing wall 2.

On the other hand, towards the bottom, the outer wall 20 preferably extends axially up to the height of the lower end of the closing wall 2, whereby the warranty seal 14 protrudes axially below.

Further preferably, the upper edge 26 is surrounded, for example at the same height, by an outer edge 26'' with a polygonal shape, preferably with rounded corners.

In other words, said outer edge 26'' comprises a plurality of rectilinear sections 28 in annular succession, which form a polygonal conformation, for example hexagonal. Said rectilinear sections 28 are preferably connected by the arcuate sections 30, in such a way that the polygonal shape does not have sharp corners.

Preferably, lower edge 24 resembles the shape of outer edge 26'', with corresponding lower sections 28', which are preferably rectilinear, and arcuate sections 30'.

The external wall 20 therefore has an external face 32 comprising the surface portions 34, 36 and, in particular, the central portions 34, which join the rectilinear sections 28 of the external edge 26'' with the lower sections 28 ' of the lower edge 24, and the adaptation portions 36, which join the arcuate sections 30 of the outer edge 26'' with the arcuate sections 30' of the lower edge 24.

Preferably, the cover 1 comprises the secondary graphic symbols 38, arranged on the external face 32 of the external wall, for example, one for each central portion 34.

For example, such secondary graphic symbols 38 represent stylized playing cards, the faces of a die, or fancy symbols.

Preferably, even more, the cover 1 comprises at least one projection 40 projecting radially outwards from the closing body 4, in particular from the external wall 20 and, in particular, from the external face 32 thereof.

Preferably, the cover 1 provides a projection 40 for each central portion 34 of the external face 32, preferably arranged near the bottom edge 24.

For example, said projections 40 have a planar conformation, substantially contained in an imaginary plane orthogonal to the main axis X.

For example, said projections 40 are delimited by an arched perimeter edge 42 which is, for example, semicircular.

Each projection 40 has an upper face 44, facing the upper edge 26 of the outer wall 20, and an opposite lower face 46, facing the lower edge 24 of the outer wall 20.

Preferably, the lid 1 comprises the primary graphic symbols 48 arranged on each projection 40, for example on the underside 46 thereof.

For example, such primary graphic symbols 48 represent numbers, stylized cards, dice faces, or fancy symbols.

According to a further embodiment (figure 5), the lid 1 has no external wall and makes possible a plurality of lugs 40' protruding from the external surface of the closing wall 2.

Preferably, each lug 40' is contained substantially in an imaginary plane that contains the main axis X and has a planar conformation that preferably extends axially from the top to the bottom end of the closing wall 2.

Preferably, three ears 40', equally spaced angularly, are provided.

According to the invention, the lid 1 further comprises a rotation structure 50 suitable for providing a support for manually imparting to the lid a rotation around the main axis X, as is usually the case for a whirligig.

Preferably, said rotation structure 50 is shaped symmetrically about the main axis X.

Preferably, the rotation structure 50 protrudes axially above the upper edge 26, that is, externally to the upper opening 26', of the external wall 20 or above the ears 40'.

Preferably, said rotating structure 50 is supported by and protrudes from base 10.

The rotation structure 50 has a tapered, for example pointed, conformation which is suitable for providing an unstable support whereby, at the end of the rotation, the lid rests on one side in the ground plane T.

For example, said rotation structure 50 comprises a plurality of segments 52 having a conformation converging towards the main axis X, for example, with an arched or rectilinear lateral edge 54. Said segments converge towards a support 56, for example, a base. flat, as in the accompanying figures, or hollowed out, or a circular edge.

Preferably, said segments 52 are at least three, arranged in imaginary planes containing the main axis X.

Preferably, in the embodiment with the external wall 20, said imaginary planes also contain the median planes of said rods 23.

In normal use, after unscrewing the cap from the spout, the cap can be used as a whirligig, for example, turned over, i.e. so that the rotating structure 50 rests on a ground plane T.

For example, a user, often a child, can grasp the flip cover 1 between the projections 40 or the lugs 40', support the rotation structure 50 on the ground plane T and impart the desired rotation.

Once the rotation is complete, the flipped lid 1 rests on its side (FIG. 4), since the rotation structure 50 provides an unstable support, ie it does not keep the lid in balance.

In the embodiments that make it possible, according to the rectilinear section 28, which remains resting on the ground plane T, a central portion 34 of the external face 32 or a projection 40 and, therefore, a particular graphic symbol, is selected from the secondary graphic symbols 38 or from the primary graphic symbols 48.

Favorably, the primary graphic symbols 48 are disposed on the underside of the projections 40, in order to be visible when the flipped lid is used as a whirligig.

According to a further use, the cap 1 is rotated by the user by resting the guarantee seal 14 on the ground plane, by holding the projections 40 or the lugs 40', or the rotation structure 50, between the fingers and deliver the rotation.

In particular (figure 6), once the center of gravity G of the cover 1 is defined and the rotation structure 50 is placed in a ground plane T, such that the main axis X is orthogonal to the ground plane T, a vertical distance A is defined between the center of gravity G and the ground plane T.

Furthermore, once an imaginary plane I is defined that passes through the barycenter G and orthogonal to the central axis X, a radial distance B is defined in the imaginary plane I between the barycenter G and the radial end of the cover 1, for example, it is defined by the periphery of the outer wall 20 or by the end of one of said ears 40'.

Preferably, the radial distance B is greater than the vertical distance A.

The Applicant has recognized how this relationship between the vertical distance A and the radial distance R makes it possible to obtain a lid that is particularly suitable for acting as a whirligig, in that it is possible to impart a suitable torque for the rotation of the lid, and the same lid remains in rotation for an acceptable amount of time before losing balance and rolling onto its side.

In an innovative way, the lid described above satisfies the needs of the sector, since it can be used by children as a toy, and in particular as a whirligig.

It is clear that a person skilled in the art, in order to satisfy contingent needs, can make changes to the above-described cover, all within the scope of protection defined by the following claims.

Claims (11)

i. Toy lid (1) for a container, for example, for containing children's drinks, such as fruit juices and purees, yogurts, non-alcoholic drinks, comprising: - a closing body (4) comprising a tubular closing wall (2) and a base (10), in which said closing wall (2) extends along a main axis (X) between one end lower, where there is a mouth opening (8) for its incorporation with a straw of the container, and an upper end closed by said base (10); - a rotation structure (50) projecting axially with respect to the base (10), which ends with a support (56) to support the lid (1) and impart to it, manually, a rotation around the main axis (X). in which, once the position of the center of gravity (G) of the cover (1) is defined and the rotation structure (50) is placed on a ground plane (T), such that the main axis (X ) is orthogonal to the ground plane (T), a vertical distance (A) is defined between the center of gravity (G) and the ground plane (T); characterized in that, once an imaginary plane (I) passing through the barycenter (G) and orthogonal to the central axis (X) is defined, a radial distance (B) is defined in the imaginary plane (I) between the barycenter (G) and a peripheral portion of the cap end (1); Y in which the radial distance (B) is equal to or greater than the vertical distance (A). 2. Lid according to claim 1, wherein the rotation structure is tapered and suitable for holding the lid (1) in an unstable manner. Lid according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said rotating structure (50) is symmetrically formed around the main axis (X). 4. Cap according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein said rotation structure (50) is pointed. Lid according to any of the preceding claims, in which said rotating structure (50) comprises a plurality of circumferentially arranged segments (52) having a conformation that converges towards the main axis (X). 6. Lid according to any of the preceding claims, comprising an annular external wall (20) around the main axis (X), continuous or composed of separate sections, spaced radially externally from the closing wall (2) in order to form a compartment (22) inside the lid, open at the top and bottom, integrated with said closing wall. Cover according to claim 6, comprising secondary graphic symbols (38) arranged on an external face (32) of the external wall (20) spaced circumferentially to determine the points of a game. 8. Lid according to claim 6 or 7, comprising - at least one projection (40) projecting radially externally from the external wall (20), contained substantially in an imaginary plane orthogonal to the central axis (X) - primary graphic symbols (48) to identify the points of a game, and a primary graphic symbol (48) that is arranged on the lower face (46) of each projection (40). 9. Lid according to any of claims 1 to 5, comprising a plurality of lugs (40'), where each lug (40') protrudes radially from the wall closure (2) and is contained substantially in an imaginary plane containing the central axis (X). 10. Lid according to any of the preceding claims, comprising a guarantee seal (14) suitable for being detached at least in part when the lid is unscrewed from the container. 11. An assembly comprising: - a flexible bag with a spout; - a cover (1) according to any of the preceding claims, applied to said spout.