GB1601766A

GB1601766A - Flanged cap

Info

Publication number: GB1601766A
Application number: GB2278378A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: POHL METALL KUNSTSTOFF
Current assignee: POHL METALL KUNSTSTOFF
Priority date: 1977-06-21
Filing date: 1978-05-25
Publication date: 1981-11-04
Also published as: FR2395199B1; JPS5410085A; FR2395199A1; CA1133838A

Description

(54) FLANGED CAP (71) We, FRANK POHL, METALL- UND KuNsTsToFFWARENFABRIK GMBH & CO KG, a German company of Hertzstrasse 12, 7500 Karlsruhe, Bundesrepublik Deutschland, 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: - The invention relates to a flanged cap for sealing a necked container. The cap is particularly suitable for sealing bottles containing pharmaceutical substances.

In use such a flanged cap includes a resilient sealing element sealing off the neck of the bottle. It is connected to the neck of the bottle in an annular zone disposed below the end of the neck of the bottle, and is provided with a tear-out portion, which can be pulled out from the top of the cap and which has an integral rivet for retaining a pull-off tab. This tab lies parallel to the top in readiness for use and is lifted for removal of the tear-out portion.

Flanged cap sealing means for bottles containing liquid or pulverulent pharmaceutical substances and particularly for infusion and transfusion bottles, are known in a number of forms. German Patent Specification AS 2 040 937 discloses an aluminium flanged cap which has, in a central recess, a plastics insert, which is sealed off over two faces and can be removed with the aid of an annular pulloff tab. In this way the surface of a sealing element which closes off the neck of the bottle in a resilient manner is uncovered, and this sealing element may have a cannule passed through it so that the contents of the bottle become accessible.

The prior art also includes a sealing means for a container as disclosed in US Patent Specification 3 905 503, which comprises a one-piece imperforate metal flanged cap. Formed from the material of the tearout portion is a rivet, and a wedge-shaped pull-off tab, having an annular opening providing a grip, is provided on this rivet in such a way that the line of symmetry of the pull-off tab, disposed on the upper surface of the tear-out portion, extends glong a diameter of the tear-out portion which takes the form of a circular disc.

After the pull-off tab has been lifted, a marginal portion first penetrates at the tear line that is provided, and the tear-out portion can then be pulled out along the tear line by means of a tensile force applied substantially in the diametral direction, and the tear-out portion can be removed up to a point on the edge of the flange. The flanged cap can thus be completely removed. The tear-out portion remains attached to the flange by means of a special form of those portions of the tear line contained in the flange.

Because of the relatively large amount of space required for accommodating the pull-off tab, such a flanged cap appears to be disadvantageous for the sealing of bottles having a relatively small neck diameter, for example infusion and transfusion bottles; also there must be a sufficiently large opening in the pull-off tab to enable it to be gripped. Reduction in the size of the known forms of cap leads to inconveniently narrow pull-off tabs which render it difficult to open the flanged cap.

Apart from a sufficiently large opening in the pull-off tab for enabling it to be gripped and depending upon the material of the sealing disc, a further requirement is that the tear-out portion should not penetrate the surface of the sealing disc when the pull-off flange is lifted, since the tear-out portion may cause damage and could thus create areas promoting the settling of pathogenic germs. Therefore, as soon as the pull-off tab is lifted, the tear-out portion should be pulled out upwards along the tear line. For this purpose support for the pull-off tab is required on the remaining faces of the top.

The invention seeks to provide an improved flanged cap.

A flanged cap according to the invention comprises a top of the cap; an annular flange depending from the top and con nectable to the neck of the container in an annular zone disposed below the end of the neck; a tear-out portion of the top, defined within a tear line in the top, the tear line having a continuous contour within the top of the cap; a pull-off tab wherewith the tear-out portion can be pulled out from the top; a rivet integral with the tear-out portion and connecting thereto the pull-off tab close to the tear line; a connecting web, connecting the pull-off tab to the tear-out portion, the Sveb extending towards the interior of the tear-out portion; and a fulcrum surface for the pull-off tab on the top across the tear line from the connecting web.

In a preferred arrangement, the pull-off tab is of annular form, and the outside diameter of the pull-off tab is of greater extent than the tear-out portion. The required one-sided support for the pull-off tab during lifting is thus achieved. In this arrangement the pull-off tab and the tear-out portion are advantageously of annular form and in the shape of a round disc respectively, the pull-off tab being disposed eccentrically of the tear-out portion.

For special purposes, elliptical or other non-circular shapes of pull-off tab and/or tear-out portion may be advantageous.

In a preferred embodiment, the pull-off tab is a flanged ring having an integral connecting web.

As a result of the tear line being continuous within the top of the cap, a discshaped tear-out portion results, and the sealing element is held by the flange of the flanged disc.

In an arrangement that is particularly favourable in the manufacture and preparation of the flanged cap, the latter may have a raised rim at the upper end of the flange, the pull-off tab and the rivet, made of the same material-preferably aluminium-as the tear-out portion and used for securing the tab, lying in a protected position within the dished recess thus formed in the top surface. The depth of the dished recess is thus at least equal to the height of the inserted part that projects to the greatest extent, i.e. of the pull-off tab or of the rivet serving to secure it.

For the purpose of facilitating the tearoff operation, an outwardly extending score line of rounded triangular shape for example may be advantageously provided in the tear line in the zone of the connecting web.

For various applications it appears advantageous to fit a resilient sealing ring orsasplurality of sealing elements on the inner face of the flanged cup.

In ordeFthat the invention may be more readily ubdetood a specific embodiment thereof, and a modification will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a vertical section along the diameter of a flanged cap in accordance with the invention, Figure 2 is a plan view of the flanged cap of Figure 1, and Figure 3 shows a vertical section similar to Figure 1 during opening of the cap.

Figures 1 and 2 illustrate a flanged cap 1 which is made of 0.3 mm thick pure aluminium sheet and which has a raised rim 2 at the upper end of its flange 8.

A top 3 in which s provided a tear-out portion 4 in the form of a circular disc, forms in combination with rim 2 a dished recess in which lies in a protected position, an annular pull-off tab, in the form of a flanged ring 5. A hollow rivet formed integrally from the material of the tear-out portion 4 connects the pull-off tab 5 and the pull-out portion 4 via a connecting web 7 of the pull-off tab 5. The flange 8 serves to secure the flanged cap on the neck of a bottle and for retaining in a fixed position a disc-, plug-or ring-shaped resilient sealing element, not shown in the drawing, at the top of the botlte. A tear line 9 corresponds to the edge contour of the tear-out portion 4.

Also, Figure 2 shows, in the zone of the connecting web 7, an outwardly extending score line 12 forming part of the tear line 9.

Figure 3 illustrates a stage in the operation of opening the cap, wherein the pulloff tab 5 has been lifted by movement in the direction indicated by the arrow while supported on a fulcrum surface formed by part of the remaining top across the tear line from the original position of the connecting web 7 and rivet 6. As this takes place, the connecting web 7 pulls the tearout portion 4 out of the area defined by the tear line 9, by means of the hollow rivet 6. Continuance of the pull-off movement enables the tear-out portion to be finally completely removed, the tear line being completely circular.

The above described flanged cap is especially suitable for sealing bottles containing pharmaceutical substances, and has the advantage that whilst each cap occupies little space, the diameter of the pull-off tab corresponds approximately to the size of the tear-out portion, and yet permits opening to be carried out without penetration, by the tear-out portion, of a resilient sealing element for sealing the neck of the bottle.

Further the flanged caps can be produced fully automatically in a few operations and at little cost.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: -

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

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. nectable to the neck of the container in an annular zone disposed below the end of the neck; a tear-out portion of the top, defined within a tear line in the top, the tear line having a continuous contour within the top of the cap; a pull-off tab wherewith the tear-out portion can be pulled out from the top; a rivet integral with the tear-out portion and connecting thereto the pull-off tab close to the tear line; a connecting web, connecting the pull-off tab to the tear-out portion, the Sveb extending towards the interior of the tear-out portion; and a fulcrum surface for the pull-off tab on the top across the tear line from the connecting web. In a preferred arrangement, the pull-off tab is of annular form, and the outside diameter of the pull-off tab is of greater extent than the tear-out portion. The required one-sided support for the pull-off tab during lifting is thus achieved. In this arrangement the pull-off tab and the tear-out portion are advantageously of annular form and in the shape of a round disc respectively, the pull-off tab being disposed eccentrically of the tear-out portion. For special purposes, elliptical or other non-circular shapes of pull-off tab and/or tear-out portion may be advantageous. In a preferred embodiment, the pull-off tab is a flanged ring having an integral connecting web. As a result of the tear line being continuous within the top of the cap, a discshaped tear-out portion results, and the sealing element is held by the flange of the flanged disc. In an arrangement that is particularly favourable in the manufacture and preparation of the flanged cap, the latter may have a raised rim at the upper end of the flange, the pull-off tab and the rivet, made of the same material-preferably aluminium-as the tear-out portion and used for securing the tab, lying in a protected position within the dished recess thus formed in the top surface. The depth of the dished recess is thus at least equal to the height of the inserted part that projects to the greatest extent, i.e. of the pull-off tab or of the rivet serving to secure it. For the purpose of facilitating the tearoff operation, an outwardly extending score line of rounded triangular shape for example may be advantageously provided in the tear line in the zone of the connecting web. For various applications it appears advantageous to fit a resilient sealing ring orsasplurality of sealing elements on the inner face of the flanged cup. In ordeFthat the invention may be more readily ubdetood a specific embodiment thereof, and a modification will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a vertical section along the diameter of a flanged cap in accordance with the invention, Figure 2 is a plan view of the flanged cap of Figure 1, and Figure 3 shows a vertical section similar to Figure 1 during opening of the cap. Figures 1 and 2 illustrate a flanged cap 1 which is made of 0.3 mm thick pure aluminium sheet and which has a raised rim 2 at the upper end of its flange 8. A top 3 in which s provided a tear-out portion 4 in the form of a circular disc, forms in combination with rim 2 a dished recess in which lies in a protected position, an annular pull-off tab, in the form of a flanged ring 5. A hollow rivet formed integrally from the material of the tear-out portion 4 connects the pull-off tab 5 and the pull-out portion 4 via a connecting web 7 of the pull-off tab 5. The flange 8 serves to secure the flanged cap on the neck of a bottle and for retaining in a fixed position a disc-, plug-or ring-shaped resilient sealing element, not shown in the drawing, at the top of the botlte. A tear line 9 corresponds to the edge contour of the tear-out portion 4. Also, Figure 2 shows, in the zone of the connecting web 7, an outwardly extending score line 12 forming part of the tear line 9. Figure 3 illustrates a stage in the operation of opening the cap, wherein the pulloff tab 5 has been lifted by movement in the direction indicated by the arrow while supported on a fulcrum surface formed by part of the remaining top across the tear line from the original position of the connecting web 7 and rivet 6. As this takes place, the connecting web 7 pulls the tearout portion 4 out of the area defined by the tear line 9, by means of the hollow rivet 6. Continuance of the pull-off movement enables the tear-out portion to be finally completely removed, the tear line being completely circular. The above described flanged cap is especially suitable for sealing bottles containing pharmaceutical substances, and has the advantage that whilst each cap occupies little space, the diameter of the pull-off tab corresponds approximately to the size of the tear-out portion, and yet permits opening to be carried out without penetration, by the tear-out portion, of a resilient sealing element for sealing the neck of the bottle. Further the flanged caps can be produced fully automatically in a few operations and at little cost. WHAT WE CLAIM IS: -

1. A flanged cap for sealing a necked container comprising a top of the cap; an annular flange depending from the top and connectable to the neck of the container in an annular zone disposed below the end of the neck; a tear-out portion of the top, defined within a tear line in the top, the tear line having a continuous contour within the top of the cap; a pulloff tab wherewith the tear-out portion can be pulled out from the top; a rivet integral with the tear-out portion and connecting thereto the pull-off tab close to the tear line; a connecting web, connecting the pull-off tab to the tear-out portion, the web extending towards the interior of the tear-out portion; and a fulcrum surface for the pull-off tab on the top across the tear line from the connecting web.

2. A flanged cap as claimed in claim 1.

wherein the pull-off tab is of annular shape and of greater exent than the tearout portion.

3. A flanged cap as claimed in claim 2, wherein the tear-out portion is formed was a substantially circular disc, and the pulloff tab is arranged eccentrically of the tear-out portion.

4. A flanged cap as claimed in claim 1, claim 2 or claim 3 wherein the pull-off tab is a flanged ring with the connecting web formed integrally therewith.

5. A flanged cap as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein a raised rim is provided on the flange which in combination with the top forms a dished recess containing the pull-off tab and the rivet.

6. A flanged cap as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein an outwardly extending score line, forming part of the tear line, is provided in the region of the connecting web.

7. A flanged cap as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the top including the integral flange and the rivet and the pull-off tab are made of aluminium.

8. A flanged cap as claimed in any preceding claim, including at least one resilient sealing element at the inner face of the cap.

9. A flanged cap as claimed in claim 8 wherein the sealing element is plug-, discor ring-shaped.

10. A flanged cap substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1, 2 & 3 of the accompanying drawings.