GB1578489A

GB1578489A - Bottle closure

Info

Publication number: GB1578489A
Application number: GB164378A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Japan Crown Cork Co Ltd
Current assignee: Nippon Closures Co Ltd
Priority date: 1978-01-16
Filing date: 1978-01-16
Publication date: 1980-11-05

Description

(54) BOTTLE CLOSURE (71) We, JAPAN CROWN CORK CO., LTD., a Japanese Body Corporate, of Shinko Bldg., 31-5, 4-chome, Shinbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention relates to a new bottle closure adapted to be used for sales promotion, and more specifically, to a re-sealable bottle closure for sales promotion.

Crown caps have heretofore been widely used as bottle closures for sales promotion.

These crown caps permit a removal of the entire gasket, but this mechanism, cannot be applied to closures which require re-sealing, such as screw closures. With the development of various re-sealable bottle closures in recent years, there has been an increasing tendency toward selling beverages in largecapacity containers. The manufacturers and distributors of such bottled beverages have shown a stronger desire for incorporating the indication of prize offer into the closures of such large-capacity containers with a view to promoting sales.

It is an object of this invention to provide a re-sealable bottle closure for sales promotion.

Another object of this invention is to provide a re-sealable bottle closure for sales promotion in which the center panel part alone can be very easily peeled off while leaving the sealing portion of the gasket.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description.

According to this invention, there is provided a bottle closure for sales promotion comprising a closure shell having the indication of a prize offer on its inner bottom surface and a gasket bonded to its inner bottom surface, the gasket having a center panel portion as hereinafter defined removably adhered to the inner bottom surface of the closure shell or non-adhered thereto and a peripheral sealing portion as hereinafter defined firmly adhered to the inner bottom surface of the closure shell, the center panel portion being completely defined from the peripheral sealing portion by a line of weakness so that the center panel portion can be stripped off from the inner bottom surface of the closure shell while leaving the peripheral sealing portion.

The closure of the present invention is described hereinbelow with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a partly cut-away side elevation of the closure of this invention; Figure 2 is a top plan of the closure of the invention; Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line I-I of Figure 2; Figure 4 is an enlarged view, partly in section, of a modification of the closure shown in Figure 2, in which the indication of a prize offer is transferable; Figure 5 is a top plan of another embodiment of the closure of the invention; Figure 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line II-II of Figure 5; and Figure 7 is a top plan showing various shapes, (A), (B), (C), of the tear strip portion of the closure of this invention.

In Figure 1 which shows the entire arrangement of the bottle closure provided by the present invention, closure 1 consists basically of a shell 2 having the indication 4 of a prize offer on its inner bottom surface 3, and a gasket 5 bonded to the inner bottom surface 3. As a typical example, Figure 1 shows a "roll-on" pilfer proof cap shell 2 having a circular panela and in a skirt portion extending downwardly from its peripheral edge, a thread-forming portion b, a slit portion c and a pilfer proof band d. The present invention, however, is also applicable to other types of bottle closures such as a roll-on cap shell, a pre-screw cap shell or a lug cap shell.

The material of the gasket applied to such a closure shell is not critical, and various synthetic resins ordinarily used in the art are also feasible in this invention. Typical examples are polyolefins such as polyethylene or polypropylene, rubbers such as a styrenebutadiene rubber, and polyvinyl chloride.

Polyethylene is an especially suitable material for the gasket for use in the present invention.

The indication of a prize offer on the inner bottom surface 3 of the closure shell can be provided by printing as in the case of conventional crown caps for sales promotion. It is adapted to be transferred to the gasket to be peeled off, as required. Such a transferable indication of a prize offer is known, and disclosed, for example, in U. S. Patents 3257021, 3361281, 3581690, and 3633781.

The first characteristic feature of the closure of this invention is that the center panel portion 6 of the gasket 5 is selectively held removably adhered to the inner bottom surface 3 of the closure shell 2 or is nonadhereing thereto, and thc pcripheral sealing portion 7 of the gasket 5 is firmly bonded to the inner bottom surface 3 of the closure shell.

Throughout the present specification and the appended claims, the term "center panel portion" of the gasket denotes the thin central portion of the gasket which does not make contact with the sealing end (the portion indicated by the letter "S" in Figure 1) of a container to be closed. The term "peripheral sealing portion" of the gasket, denotes the thick peripheral edge portion of the gasket which comes into close engagement with the sealing end of a container to be closed to form a gas- and liquid-tight seal.

Any known method can be used to hold the center panel portion of the gasket removably adhered to the inner bottom surface of the closure shell or non-adhered thereto, and to cause the peripheral sealing portion of the gasket to adhere firmly to the inner bottom surface of the closure shell. For example, this can be accomplished by coating or printing a lacquer or ink, which adheres firmly to a gasket material on that zone of the inner bottom surface of the closure shell with which the peripheral sealing portion of the gasket makes contact, and a lacquer or ink, which adheres weakly, or does not substantially adhere, to the gasket material applied, on that zone which makes contact with the center panel portion of the gasket. An alternative method comprises coating the entire inner bottom surface of the closure shell with a lacquer or ink which adheres firmly to the gasket material applied, and performing entire surface or halftone dot printing on that zone of the inner bottom surface of the closure shell which makes contact with the center panel portion of the gasket using a lacquer or ink which does not substantially adhere to the gasket material, whereby the adhering condition of the center panel portion of the gasket to the halftone dot printed portion of the inner bottom surface of the closure shell can be adjusted between a half-adhering state and a substantially non-adhering state.

Furthermore, by utilizing the method disclosed in German Offenlegungsschrift 2711727, only the center panel portion of the gasket may be maintained removably adhered to the inner bottom surface of the closure shell. The methods disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publications Nos. 126484/1974 and 150188/1977 can also be utilized.

When polyethylene is used as a gasket material, a lacquer or ink for firm bonding may be the one composed mainly of oxidized polyethylene as disclosed in British Patent Specification No. 1,484,209. Lacquers or inks for half-bonding or non-bonding include a blend of a small proportion of oxidized polyethylene with another compatible resin, or those containing an epoxy-phenol resin, an epoxy-urea resin, or an alkyd resin. When polyvinyl chloride is used as a material for the gasket, the lacquer or ink for firm bonding may be the one which consist mainly of a vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer or an acrylic resin. Lacquers or inks for nonbonding are preferably those which contain an epoxy-phenol resin, an epoxy-urea resin, or an alkyd resin as a main component.

Another characteristic feature of the closure of this invention is that the center panel portion 4 of the gasket 5 is completely separated from the peripheral sealing portion 7 of the gasket 5 by a line of weakness 8. As is clear from Figure 2, the line of weakness 8 can be formed as a complete annular shape in proximity to the peripheral sealing portion 7 of the gasket 5. The line of weakness 8 may be a score incised on the center panel portion 6 of the gasket 5, as shown in Figure 1 or 3.

Or it may be a slit-like line which extends to the inner bottom surface 3 of the closure shell, or a perforation line. In short, any line is feasible which can permit the separation of the center panel portion 6 from the peripheral sealing portion 7 along the line of weakness 8 without any great force.

Since the center panel portion 6 is held removably adhered to the inner bottom surface 3 of the closure shell 2 or non-adhered thereto by a removably adhering or nonadhered thereto lacquer layer L1 as shown in Figure 3, it can be readily raised by hooking the tip of a finger nail or a pointed tool T in the line of weakness 8 and pulling it upwardly. The force to raise the center panel 6 results in the breaking of the line of weakness 8, and the center panel 6 can be sepa rated from the inner bottom surface 3 of the closure shell and finally can be taken out of the closure shell leaving the peripheral sealing portion 7.

Since the indication of a prize offer 4 is provided on the inner bottom surface 3 of the closure shell which is beneath the center panel 6, it becomes visible as a result of the removal of the center panel.

In an alternative embodiment shown in Figure 4, the indication 4 of a prize offer is printed on a lacquer layer L2 to which the gasket adheres firmly, and a lacquer layer L3 which is substantially non-adhering to the lacquer layer L2 is provided in an area between the lacquer layer L2 and the inner bottom surface of the closure shell which corresponds to the center panel portion 6. According to this embodiment, the lacquer layer L2 breaks at the part shown by dotted line in the drawing by the operation of separating the center panel portion 6, and is thus lifted together with the center panel portion 6.

Consequently, the indication 4 of a prize offer is transferred to the back surface of the center panel 6, and removed from the closure shell. The center panel portion 6 having the indication 4 of prize offer so transferred can be directly used for the purpose of assigning the prize.

In order to obviate the use of a tool for separating the center panel portion 6 or to render the separation easier, a knob 9 may be provided at a part of the periphery of the center panel as shown by a dotted line in Figures 2 and 3. The shape and size of the knob 9 are not critical, and it may be of such a size and shape which permit holding by fingers. Advantageously, it has a height of about 2 to 5 mm, and a maximum diameter of about 2 to 5 mm, although the dimensions may vary according to the size of the closure shell. The shape of the knob 9 may, for example, be dome-like, spherical, cylindrical, or rectangular pillar-shaped.

According to a preferred embodiment to be described hereinbelow with reference to Figures 5 and 6, a tear strip portion which can be cut and lifted by being partially defined by a line of weakness may be provided in the center panel in order to facilitate the separation of the center panel.

Referring to Figures 5 and 6, a tear strip portion 11 capable of being cut and lifted by a line of weakness 10 is formed in the center panel portion 6 of gasket 5. The tear strip portion 11 is only partly surrounded by the line of weakness 10, and is integrated with the remainder of the center panel portion 6 of the gasket at a non-continuous portion 12 of the line of weakness 10. The line of weakness 10 may be any of a score, slit or perforation line as described hereinabove with regard to the line of weakness 8.

In operation, the tear strip portion 11 of the closure shown in Figures 5 and 6 is cut and lifted by a finger nail or a tool, and is further lifted by holding it with fingers. Since the tear strip portion 11 is integrated with the center panel portion 6 at the non-continuous portion 12, the entire center panel portion 6 can be separated from the closure by this operation.

Desirably, a knob 13 is provided at the tip portion of the tear strip portion 11 as shown by a dotted line in Figures 5 and 6 in order to facilitate the operation of cutting and lifting the tear strip portion 11. The size and shape of the knob 13 may be the same as those described hereinabove with regard to knob 8 shown in Figures 2 and 3.

In the embodiment shown in Figures 5 and 6, a reinforcing rib 15 may be provided in order to prevent the breakage of a weak bridging portion 14 near the non-continuous portion 12 of the tear strip portion 11 during the lifting of the tear strip portion 11 and the center panel portion 6.

The tear strip portion 11 is wedge-shaped in Figure 5, but this shape is not limitative.

For example, various shapes shown in (A), (B) and (C) in Figure 7 may be employed.

For example, as shown in (A) of Figure 7, one end of V-shaped line of weakness 10 is connected to the line of weakness 8, and the other end terminates halfways in the center panel portion 6 leaving some bridging portion 14. Alternatively, as shown in Figure 7, (B) and (C), one end of a convoluted or S-shaped line of weakness 10 is connected to the line of weakness 8, and the other end terminates at the central part of the center panel portion 6 of the gasket.

Of course, a knob 13 may be provided at the tip portion of the tear strip portion surrounded by the line of weakness 10, as shown by a dotted line in each of (A), (B) and(C) of Figure 7.

The gasket of the various shapes described hereinabove is applied to the inner bottom surface of a closure shell by the ordinary molding method. Molding can be performed easily by using a molding punch which has a projection or a depression for forming a line of weakness and as required, a knob or rib on its surface.

According to the closure of this invention, only the center panel portion of the gasket is separated and removed, and the peripheral sealing portion remains firmly adhered to the inner bottom surface of the closure shell.

Thus, even after the center panel portion has been separated for determining the indication of a prize offer, the closure can be used for re-sealing. The closure of this invention can therefore be used widely for largecapacity containers with the indication of a prize offer for sales promotion.

When the closure of the invention is used for returnable bottles, it has the advantage of protecting the sealing end of the used bottles at the time of recovery.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A closure for sales promotion comprising a closure shell having the indication of a prize offer on its inner bottom surface and a gasket bonded to its inner bottom surface, the gasket having a center panel portion as hereinbefore defined removably adhered to the inner bottom surface of the closure shell or non-adhered thereto and a peripheral sealing portion as hereinbefore defined firmly adhered to the inner bottom surface of the closure shell, the center panel portion being completely defined from the peripheral sealing portion by a line of weakness so that the center panel portion can be stripped off from the inner bottom surface of the closure shell while leaving the peripheral sealing portion.

2. The closure of claim 1 wherein the center panel portion has a knob at its peripheral edge.

3. The closure of claim 1 wherein the center panel portion further has a tear strip portion which is formed by defining it partly by a line of weakness and can be cut and lifted.

4. The closure of claim 3 wherein the tear strip has a knob to facilitate cutting and lifting of the tear strip portion.

5. The closure of claim 1 substantially as hereinbefore described and shown in any of the drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. protecting the sealing end of the used bottles at the time of recovery. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A closure for sales promotion comprising a closure shell having the indication of a prize offer on its inner bottom surface and a gasket bonded to its inner bottom surface, the gasket having a center panel portion as hereinbefore defined removably adhered to the inner bottom surface of the closure shell or non-adhered thereto and a peripheral sealing portion as hereinbefore defined firmly adhered to the inner bottom surface of the closure shell, the center panel portion being completely defined from the peripheral sealing portion by a line of weakness so that the center panel portion can be stripped off from the inner bottom surface of the closure shell while leaving the peripheral sealing portion.