IE57022B1

IE57022B1 - A container having a neck and composed of plastics material which is topped by a smooth inviolability cover and provided with a cap and a process for opening it

Info

Publication number: IE57022B1
Application number: IE3111/85A
Authority: IE
Original assignee: Cebal
Priority date: 1984-12-11
Filing date: 1985-12-10
Publication date: 1992-03-11
Also published as: GR852971B; FR2574372B1; DK570685D0; ES296298Y; EP0192011A1; DE3562211D1; ES296298U; EP0192011B1; FR2574372A1; DK162930C; DK162930B; ATE33607T1; DK570685A; IE853111L

Abstract

1. A container (1) with a neck (5) composed of plastics material and provided with a cap (12) composed of plastics material, the neck (5) being topped by an inviolability cover (9) and the cap (12) comprising a key (14 + 16) with internal raised areas, said key (14 + 16) fitting said cover (9) when the cap (12) covers the neck (5), and rotation of said cap (12) allowing rupture of the cover (9), characterised by all the following four means : a) the inviolability cover (9) comprises a smooth lateral surface (11) ; b) the plastics material of the cap key (14 + 16) is harder than the plastics material of the cover (9) ; c) the internal raised areas of the cap key (14 + 16) terminate with tapered edges (16) having, in a section perpendicular to the common axis (L) of the cover (9) and of the cap key (14 + 16) an end angle of between 7 and 20 C ; d) at least over a certain height, the successive circles perpendicular to the common axis (L) and passing through the ends (17) of said tapered edges (16) have diameters (DIAM d ) which are from 0.4 to 0.9 mm smaller than the corresponding diameters (DIAM D ) of the lateral surface (11) of the cover (9) when said cover (9) is fitted by said cap key (14 + 16).

Description

The invention relates to the field of containers having necks and caps for them which are provided with an inviolable closure component.

Known prior art Patent application EP-A-0 119 145 belonging to the applicants describes a container having a neck, composed of plastics material, the neck being topped by an inviolability cover of which the base can be torn and of which the top comprising raised areas fits in a key having internal raised areas in the cap, the cooperation of this key with said raised areas in the top of the cover allowing this cover to be ruptured by rotation of the cap. Fitting can be effected by force, the cover thus being trapped by the key of the cap after rupture thereof. Centering of the cap and therefore of the key when the cap is driven on the neck is simplified by the presence in the cap of a crown which fits the neck with a slight clearance. This centering crown can be the crown of the actual cap key when the cover is of approximately the same diameter as the neck orifice or it can be a different crown if the cover is of , a smaller diameter because it is connected to the edges of I - ·> 1 the neck orifice by an obliquely injected flared skirt, Among the various arrangements described by the foregoing document, it will be observed that the base of the broken cover can comprise means for the impermeable closure of the neck orifice and that the cap and the neck can comprise complementary screwing means which cooperate to allow the container to be stoppered again after rupture of the cover.

Statement of the problem The solution described by the document EP-A-0 119 145 and the various embodiments thereof solves the problems of ease of opening containers having necks topped by an inviolability cover and the possible subsequent re-stoppering thereof, but has the following constraints: the lateral surface of the cover should have raised areas fitting in the raised areas of the key of the cap. - the numbers of raised areas on the cover and on the key of the cap should be sufficient and the profiles thereof should be designed to avoid significant indexing problems during fitting of the cover by the key of the cap which should take place when the cap is placed on the neck.

Both these features are accompanied by complications with respect to the manufacturing tools, and the raised areas on the lateral surface of the cover can have other disadvantages with respect to handling and/or appearance, for example.

The applicants have sought a different solution enabling the above-mentioned complications and disadvantages to be avoided.

Statement of the invention As known, the container according to the invention is a container composed of plastics material and provided with a cap which is also composed of plastics material, the neck being topped by a Sealing cover which can be torn at its base, and the cap comprising a key having internal raised areas. This key fits the cover when the cap is placed on the neck, and rotation of the cap therefore permits rupture of the cover. in a novel manner, the sealing cover has a smooth lateral surface (means a)) and, surprisingly, the cover is ruptured by rotating the cap which is driven on the neck by means of the following three additional means: b) the plastics material of the cap key is harder than the plastics material of the cover. c) the internal raised areas of the cap key end with tapering edges. d) over at least a certain height, the successive circles which are perpendicular to the common axis of the container and the cap and pass through the ends of the tapered edges of the raised areas of the cap key have diameters which are smaller than the corresponding diameters of the lateral surface of the cover when the key of the cap fits the cover.

I Fitting therefore occurs withgripping of the cover by the raised areas having tapered edges of the cap key, and it is observed that these tapered edges score the cover made of less hard plastics material. After rupture of the cover, the cover is trapped by the cap key. The problem of indexing in order to allow fitting disappears completely when using covers of circular cross-sections. Manufacture is simplified when using covers having smooth lateral surfaces.

The invention can be applied to all types of cover in which all the tapered edges of the internal raised areas of the cap key have a form which allows substantial grippinnwhen the cover is fitted by this key. To allow isotropic fitting, the cover preferably has a lateral surface of revolution about its axis of symmetry which is usually that of the neck which it is covering. The cover, for example has a truncated cone-shaped or parabolic surface. Generally speaking, and in the following Examples, the cover has a circular cylindrical lateral surface.

The cap usually consists of a single piece and the neck and cover are integral with the shoulder by which the moulded top is connected to the skirt of the tube. The pairs of material which can be used for the cover on the one hand, that is usually also for the neck or the top of the tube, and for the key of the cap on theother hand, that is usually for the entire cap, are as follows: A) cover (top): reticular or linear PF BD (low density polyethylene' key of the cap (cap): one of the following plastics materials : - PE HD (high density polyethylene) - PP (polypropylene) f - theiw setting resins (such as urea formaldehyde, melamine formaldehyde) - polycarbonates sub-group (X) styrenes PS (polystyrenes) ABS (acrylo butadiene styrene) < SAN (styrene acrylonitrile) MBS (methacrylate butadiene styrene) - acetal resins < - polyesters B) cover: PE HD (as a radical or linear) key of the cap: PP or one of the materials from sub-group (X) C) cover PP; key of the cap: one of the materials form sub-group (X) When the cover is fitted by the key of the cap by placing the cap on the neck and by pressing slightly to drive it in, the '^ripping' achieved is preferably between 0.4 and 0.9 mm in diameter and more preferably between 0.5 and 0.7mm in diameter, at least over a certain height, typically over at least 2 mm. With a cover having a smooth lateral surface of revolution (i about its axis of symmetry, the successive circles perpendicular to the common axis of the cover and the key of the cap and passing through the ends of the tapered edges of the raised areas inside the key of the cap have, for this purpose, diameters which are from 0.4 to 0.9 mm, preferably from 0.5 to 0.7 mm smaller than the corresponding diameters of the lateral surface of the cover.

Moreover, the tapered edges of the raised areas of the cap key can cutj under the above-mentioned fitting conditions with gripping^the lateral surface of the cover composed of less hard plastics material. Their cutting power assists the ease of fitting as well as the quality of the score or notch obtained and this in turn affects the effectiveness with which the cover is entrained by rotation 15 of the cap. When a cover having raised areas is entrained by a key having raised areas which fit the raised areas of the cover, the surfaces of the raised areas effecting the rotational entrainment are generally limited to narrow zones where there is contact. In contrast, when the cover according to the invention is entrained, the small portions of tapered edges inserted in the plastics material of the cover effect, with all their surfaces, the rotation of the cover by rotation of the cap. This particular effectiveness of the scoring or notching with partial elastic deformation of the plastics material of the cover, the scoring being produced from the top to the bottom of the cover when the cap and therefore its key are driven in, as well as the rigidity of the insertion of the tapered edges linked to the peripheral qrippinn of the neck by the key. explain the surprising ease with which the cover is rotated by rotating the cap with the device and by the process according to the invention.

To achieve penetration of the neck, by scoring or notching with the tapered . edges of the raised areas of the cap key, which is simple and of the best quality for rotating the cover, the angle at the end of these tapered edges in a section perpendicular to the axis of symmetry of the key as well as of the cover in the position in which the container is fitted by the cap is comprised preferably between 7 and 20° and more preferably between 10 and 16°. These conditions can be linked to one or other of the preferred fitting conditions with gripping but it is advisable to have a minimum 'gripping' of from 0.4 to 0.9 mm in diameter and angles at the ends of the tapered edges of between 7 and 20°.

Finally, in a particular design, the internal raised areas of the cap key are borne by a crown of which the end easily fits, on the cover, and these internal raised areas widen progressively from their lower end so that when the cap is initially driven in, it allows good centering of the key on the cover and the commencement of scoring of the lateral surface of this cover by the tapered edges of the internal raised edges of the key involves progressive notching of the upper portion of this lateral surface. The progressive widening of the internal raised areas of the cap key is preferably effected over a height of at least twice the maximum width of said raised areas. Moreover, for good rigidity of the internal raised areas having tapered edges, it is generally preferable to keep their width in the radial direction fairly small and typically between 0.3 and 1 mm.

The invention also relates to a process for opening a container with a neck topped with an inviolability cover having a smooth lateral surface in which: A) a cap composed of plastics material and comprising a key having internal raised areas is provided and the cap can cover the neck and its key thus fits said cover, the key of the cap having the following characteristics: this key at least is composed of a plastics material which is harder than the plastics material of the neck and of the cover (as condition (b) relating to the device); - its internal raised areas terminate with tapered edges of which the ends are located, at least over a certain height, on successive circles perpendicular to the axis of the cap having diameters smaller than the corresponding diameters of the cover (as conditions (c) and (d) relating to the device).

B) The cover is gripped and its lateral surface is scored by driving the cap on the neck and therefore its key on said cover, C) The cap is rotated relative to the tube in one direction of rotation or the other until the cover ruptures and the cap is removed. - μ The ends of the lapered edges of the internal raised areas of the cap key are preferably located, at least over a certain height, in practice at least over 1.5 to 2 ram, on successive circles perpendicular to the axis of the cap having diameters which are 0.4 to 0.9 mm smaller than the corresponding diameters of the cover, and said tapered edges have an end angle of between 7 and 20° in a section perpendicular to the same axis.

Particularly good results are achieved with the various preferred conditions already indicated for the device and concern, in particular, the differences between the internal diameters at the ends of the internal tapered edges of the cap key and the corresponding diameters of the cover, the end angle of these tapered edges, the choice of respective plastics materials for the key of the cap, that is generally for the single-part cap, and for the cover, that is typically for the moulded top of the tube.

Examples The Examples and the drawings illustrating them relate to the current case in which, in the fitting position, the neck and its sealing cover on the one hand and the cap and its key on the other hand have a common longitudinal axis. The neck and the cover as well as the cap have a symmetry of revolution about the preceding axis.

Figure 1 shows an embodiment of container and of cap according to the invention in a longitudinal axial section.

Figure 2 shows the key of the cap of this first Example in a quarter section through a plane perpendicular to the horizontal azis, the plane labelled 1 in Figure 1.

Figure 3 shows the cover of the container and the key of the cap of the first Example at the moment of engagement of this key, in a local longitudinal axial section passing through the ends of two tapered edges.

Figure 4 shows the container and the cap from the first Example, with the cap driven in, in a longitudinal axial section.

Figure 5 shows the same container and cap after rupture of the cover in a longitudinal axial section.

Figure 6 shows a second Example of container and cap according to the invention with the cap driven in,in a longitudinal axial section.

The container (1) shown in Figure 1 comprises a polyethylene skirt (2) having an external diameter of 33 mm with a top (3) moulded on it having a thickness of from 0.8 to 1.2 mm and composed of low density polyethylene, the top (3) itself comprising, above its shoulder (4), a neck (5) having an external diameter of 17 mm and a height of 12 mm and bearing a fancy orifice (6) having 6 recesses (7) separated by 6 apexes (8), this orifice (fi) having a diameter on recesses of 14 mm. The neck (5) and the orifice (6) are topped by an inviolability cover (9) which comprises at its base a flared skirt (10) then, above, a circular cylindrical lateral .surface (11) of diameter () equal t.u 7.5 mm and of height 6 mm, then finally an end forming a cover (ill) having a height of 2 mm.

The cap (12) of the container being driven in is made of polypropylene and has a external diameter of 32 mm and a height of 26 mm. It bears in its interior an intermediate crown (13) having an internal diameter of 17.5 mm and a height of 20 mm which is intended to fit the neck (5) and a circular central crown having a height of 9 mm (14) bearing on its internal cylindrical surface (15) of diameter 8.0 mm 12 raised ribs (16) in the form of tapered f ins.

These tapered fins (16) which are shown in the section perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (L) in Figure 2 have an end angle (a ) of 15° according to this section. Their width in the radial direction, which is constant for all fins, is 0.55 mm. The diameter (0^) of the circle perpendicular to the axis (L) passing through the ends (17) of the tapered fins (16) of the key (14+16) of the cap (12) is 6.9 mm in the region of this section and this diameter remains constant over 6 to 7 mm in height. $hen the cover (9) is fitted by the key of the cap (14+16), the circles of diameter (0^) of this key are therefore 7.5 to 6.9 = 0.6 mm less than the diameter (0D) of the lateral cylindrical surface of the cover (9).

Figure 3 shows more clearly the beginning of engagement of the key of the cap (14+16) on the cover (9). The end portion (18) of the crown (14) of the cap key is free of raised areas in the form of tapered fins (16) over approximately 1 mm. The raised areas of the fins (16) then begin by widening progressively from 0 to O.55*wm over 1.5 mm.

Owing to the end portion (18) of the crown (14) which is free from raised areas and owing to the gradual widening (19) of the raised areas of the fins (16), the engagement of the key of the cap (14+16) is easy and progressive in all cases and will ensure good centering for the beginning of scoring of the cover (9) for the fins (16). The broken lines in Figure 3 show the extensions (20) of the ends (17) of the fins (16) which cut the cover symmetrically to the axis (L) owing to these centering means. It is not necessary for this centering effect for the interior of the cap key (14+16) to begin with a surface portion (18) which is free from raised areas but this free portion (18) ensures that the progressive widening (19) of the fins (16) is removed from the extreme edge of the crown (14) and thus gives this widening (19) and the fins (16) protection against handling impacts.

If the cap (12) and therefore its key (14+16) are driven in further, the notching or scoring of the cover (9) begins in the region of the upper end (21) of its cylindrical lateral surface (11). Figure 4 shows the cap (12) in the position in which it is driven on the neck (5) and the cover (9).

From this driven in position, it is merely necessary to rotate the cap (12) while holding the tubular container (1) with the other hand in one direction or other as shown diagrammaticaliy by the double arrow (22) in Figure 4, Rupture of the cover (9) is easily achieved with a relative angle of rotation of 30 to 40° and the broken cover (9) remains trapped by the key (14+16) of the cap (12) when the cap is raised (Figure 5), thus freeing the orifice (6) of the tube (1).

With other similar samples, it has been found that the cap (12) could be pushed on the cover (9) and then be removed and this manoeuvre could be started again more than about 10 times without difficulty, and the cover (9) was then easily ruptured by rotating the cap ¢12) in the manner described above. After removing the caps (12), it was observed by the naked eye that the lateral surfaces (11) of the covers (9) contained fine, fairly obvious scores beginning at the upper end (21) of these lateral surfaces (11) and descending over 2 to 4 mm, the spacing of these scores or scratches corresponding to the spacing of the fins (16).

It can thus be seen that the opening process according to the invention is effective despite the obvious differences in length between the fine scores caused by the various tapered fins. It can also be seen that these scores appear to be finer than the portions of fins which notched the lateral wall of the covers which undoubtedly means that there has been insertion of these portions of fins with elastic gripping on the part of the plastics material of the cover walls scored in this way.

The second Example of container (100) and of cap (120) -11according to the invention (Figure 6) has the following features: the neck (50) and the intermediate crown (130) of the cap (120) comprise respective screw threads (51) and (131) intended for re-stoppering the container (100) after rupture of the cover (90) by screwing the cap on the neck. the cover (90) connected to the edge of the circular orifice (60) of the neck (50) by an attenuated zone (91) comprises, in succession, a lower skirt (9) topped by a bell cap (93) and a top (94) comprising a cylindrical lateral surface (95). - the cap (120) comprises in its centre a key constituted by a crown (140) bearing raised areas in the form of tapered fins (160) according to the invention with progressive entry. The internal diameter on fins (©d) of the key (140+160) is from 0.4 to 0.9 mm smaller than the external diameter (0jrj) the lateral surface (95) of the cover (90). The cap (120) and its key (140+160) are formed in one piece and from a plastics material which is harder than that of the top of the tube (100). By rotating the cap (120) which is driven in by rotation in one direction or the other according to the arrow (220), the cover (90) is ruptured by means of the process and the scoring key device according to the present invention. Next , the broken skirt (92) having a slightly conical external periphery as well as the bell cap (93) of the cover (90), this cover now being trapped by the cap (120), allow the orifice (60) of the neck (50) to be re-stoppered in an impermeable manner, as known from our patent application EP-A 0 119 145 and repeated in claims and 13 of that document. Generally speaking, all the arrangements corresponding to the characteristic parts of claims 3 to 11 and 13 to 14 of that patent application can be used with the cover and the scoring key of the present invention.

Applications The opening device and process of the invention is usually applied to tubular containers having a circular orifice with a diameter of between 5 and 15 mm or again a fancy orifice having an injection circle with a diameter of between 5 and 15 mm. The thicknesses of the welded weak zones are generally between 0.1 and 0.4 mm.

These tubular containers are typically provided with a cap having a diameter of between 25 and 40 mm and, as described in EP-A- 0 119 145, the couple for openinn by rupture of the inviolability cover is typically between 10 and 90 N.m, and between 10 and 30 N.m in the case of the fancy orifices topped with discontinuously welded covers.

The device and the process according to the invention are used essentially in the field of food products for liquids, syrups, creams, products in a pasty state or in the state of gum, and for products in a divided form; in the field of pharmaceutical, hygiene or cosmetic products; in all the above-mentioned presentations or consistencies and in the field of chemicals or maintenance.

Claims

1. A container (1) with a neck (5) composed of plastics material and provided with a cap (12) composed of 5 plastics material, the neck (5) being topped by an inviolability cover (9) and the cap (12) comprising a key (14+16) with internal raised areas, said key (14+16) fitting said cover (9) when the cap (12) covers the neck (5), and rotation of said cap (12) 10 allowing rupture of the cover (9), characterised by all the following four means: a) the inviolability cover (9) comprises a smooth lateral surface (11); z b) the plastics material of the cap key (14+16) is 15 harder than the plastics material of the cover (9); c) the internal raised areas of the cap key (14+16) terminate with tapered edges (16) having, in a section perpendicular to the common axis (L) of 20 the cover (9) and of the cap key (14+16) an end angle of between 7 and 20°C; d) at least over a certain height, the successive circles perpendicular to the common axis (L) and passing through the ends (17) of said tapered edges 25 (16) have diameters (® d ) which are from 0.4 to 0.9 mm smaller than the corresponding diameters (0^) of the lateral surface (11) of the cover (9) when said cover (9) is fitted by said cap key (14+16).

2. A container according to claim 1, characterised in that the tapered edges (16) of the internal raised areas of the cap key (14+16) have, in a section perpendicular to the common axis (L) of the cover (9) and the cap key (14 + 16) an end angle (oi) of between 10 and 16°.

3. A container according to either of claims 1 or 2, characterised in that, at least over a certain height, the successive perpendicular circles having a common axis (L) of the cover (9) and of the cap key (14+16) and passing through the ones (17) of the tapered edges (16) of the internal raised areas of the cap key (14+16) have diameters (0^) which are from 0.5 to 0.7 mm smaller than the corresponding diameters (0^) of the lateral surface (11) of the cover (9) when said cover (9) is fitted by said cap key (14+16).

4. A container (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the internal raised areas (16) of the cap key are borneby a crown (14) of which the lower end (18) easily fits on the cover (9) and in that said internal raised areas (16) comprise a gradual widening (19) over a height which is at least twice their maximum width.

5. A container (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the cover (9) is composed of low density polyethylene and in that the cap key (14+16) 1 is composed of a plastics material from the group comprising high density polyethylene, polypropylene, thermosetting resins, polycarbonates, styrene materials, acetal resins, polyesters.

6. A container (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the cover (9) is composed of high density polyethylene and in that the key of the cap (14+16) is composed of a plastics material from 10 the group comprising: polypropylene, thermosetting resins, polycarbonates, styrene materials, acetal resins, polyesters.

7. A container (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, 15 characterised in that the cover (9) is composed of polypropylene and in that the cap key (14+16) is composed of a plastics material from the group comprising thermosetting resins, polycarbonates, styrene materials, acetal resins, polyesters.

8. A process for opening a container (1) having a neck (5) and composed of plastics material, which is topped by an inviolability cover (9) comprising a smooth lateral surface (11) characterised in that it comprises the 25 following stages: A) a cap (12) composed of plastics material and comprising a key with internal raised areas (14+16) is provided, the cap (12) being able to cover the neck (5) and its key (14+16) thus fitting on said cover (9), said cap key (14+16) having the following characteristics: this key (14+16) at least is composed of a plastics material which is harder than the plastics material of the neck (5) and of the cover (9); its internal raised areas terminate with tapered edges (16) having an end angle of between 7 and 20°, the ends (17) of which are located, at least over 1.5 mm, on successive circles perpendicular to the axis of the cap having diameters (¢^) which are from 0.4 to 0.9 mm smaller than the corresponding diameters (0 D ) of the cover (9) ; B) the cover (9) is gripped and its lateral surface (11) is scored by driving the cap on the neck (5) and therefore its key (14+16) on said cover (9). C) the cap (12) is rotated relative to the tube (1) in one or other direction of rotation (22) until the cover (9) is ruptured and the cap (12) is removed,

9. A container substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 5 of the accompanying drawings.

10. A container substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 6 of the accompanying drawings.