MXPA97007600A - Bottle cover that gives evidence forzadu - Google Patents

Abstract

A bottle cap that provides evidence of forcings, resistant to compression failure, includes a skirt (14) with a lower edge and a band that provides evidence of forcings (24) formed integrally with the skirt and that has a structure for coupling under a retaining flange (30) on the bottle, to prevent subsequent removal of the band. Fragile bridges (26) connect the band to the lower edge of the skirt. to prevent destruction of the bridges when the cap is forced onto the bottle during installation, the skirt has one or more tabs (32) or the like, which extend down over a portion of the band, to prevent undue diametral expansion of the band that evidence of forcings is given as it passes over the retention tab

Description

BOTTLE COVER THAT GIVES EVIDENCE OF FQRZADÜ AS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to the technique of bottle closures, and more particularly to a bottle cap that provides evidence of forcings, resistant to compression failure. Currently, many bottle caps have a band that tears from the rest of the lid, staying with the neck of the bottle, when the lid is removed for the first time. One can detect visually or by touch when this lid has been removed and then reinstalled, due to the failure of the feature against forcing. These caps, once made of metal, are now usually molded from a plastic polymer. The band that gives evidence of forcing, usually is of a diameter smaller than a retaining flange on the finish of the bottle, and is pushed over the retaining flange in the factory when the cap is installed. The band is connected to the rest of the cap along a weakened peripheral line, for example, defined by a series of perforations that weaken the material and provide a place for failure when the cap is removed. A problem with some covers of this type, is that, during the installation, when the band is being forced onto the retention flange of the bottle, the strength of resistance not only puts great forces of axial compression on the weakened peripheral line; it also expands the band radially. The combination of these two factors gives rise to the possibility that the band tends to tear on (around) the lower part of the lid, prematurely failing the characteristic that gives evidence of forcings. European Patent Number EP-228,618 A2 discloses a closure indicating forcing, which comprises an element to prevent undue diametral expansion of the band which gives evidence of forcing. The band that gives evidence of forcings is provided with protuberances directed inwards and upwards on its upper edge. During the relative axial movement between the band that provides evidence of forcings and the skirt of the closure, these projections are coupled with the lower edge of the skirt of the closure. The protrusions comprise a sloping upper and outer surface. When this surface engages with the lower edge of the skirt, it prevents the band that gives evidence of forcings from being unduly expanded. However, this element needs a separate cutting operation for its manufacture, and works only if there is a relative axial movement between the band that gives evidence of forcings and the skirt of the closure. This axial movement can lead to premature failure of the bridges that connect the bridging band that shows evidence of forcing with the skirt. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the invention is to reinforce a bottle cap having a band that provides evidence of forcing, against the axial compression failure, as described above. This and other objects of the invention are achieved by the invention described below. In accordance with this invention, a bottle cap is formed that gives evidence of forcings, resistant to compression failure, which includes a skirt with a lower edge, and a band that provides evidence of forcing integrally formed with the skirt, and that it has a structure for coupling under a retention flange on the bottle, to prevent the subsequent removal of the band. Fragile bridges connect the band to the bottom edge of the skirt. To prevent destruction of the bridges when the cap is forced onto the bottle during installation, the skirt has one or more tabs or the like, which extend down over a portion of the band, to prevent undue diametral band expansion. which gives evidence of forcings as it passes over the retaining tab.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a top plan view of a bottle cap that provides evidence of forcings, resistant to compression failure, embodying the invention. Figure 2 is a side elevation thereof. Figure 3 is a detail of a portion of Figure 2. Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on the plane 4-4 of Figure 1, with a portion of the finish of the bottle added. Figure 5 is a detail of a portion of Figure 4. Figure 6 is a similar detail, apart from the finish of the bottle. Figure 7 shows the lid of the bottle that is being installed on a bottle. Figure 8 is a view like Figure 2, of a second embodiment of the invention. Figure 9 is a view like Figure 2, of a third embodiment of the invention. Figure 10 is a view like Figure 4, of a fourth embodiment of the invention.

Figure 11 is a view like Figure 10, showing the lid partially removed from the bottle.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In Figures 1 to 7 there is shown a bottle cap that provides evidence of forcings resistant to compression failure, which incorporates the invention. The lid has a number of conventional features, including a flat circular base 12 surrounded by a circular skirt 14 having a helical internal thread 16 for engaging a complementary thread 16 (see Figure 7) on a bottle neck 18. The rib circular 20 on the bottom of the base, provides a seal inside the mouth of the bottle 22 when the lid is in place. Figures 4 and 5 show the band that provides evidence of forcing 24, which is connected to the lower part of the skirt by a series of brittle bridges 26 designed to fail when the bottle cap is removed. However, jumpers should not fail when the cap is installed on the bottle at the factory, or they will give a false indication of forcing. In Figure 5, the cap that is being installed on a bottle can be seen, the inner circumferential truncoconical sleeve 28 being pushed outward as its free edge passes over the outer flange 30 of the neck of the bottle. The lower part of the flange has an inclined pressure angle, greater than the rest angle for the two materials in combination, in such a way that the belt remains captured when the cover is removed, by means of a retention force greater than that necessary for break the bridges. In Figure 5 it can be seen that the band that gives evidence of forcings, expands diametrically during the installation, in such a way that the bridges reach an oblique orientation. At the same time, the band experiences an axial resistance to be forced onto the flange of the bottle. These two factors combine to encourage a continuous bending of the bridges, which in extreme cases, can result in the band tending to tear up on (outside) the skirt, breaking the bridges. Now, according to this invention, the amount of bending of the bridge during installation is limited to providing, on the lower edge of the skirt, a structure that limits the outward expansion of the band, and puts the skirt to rest directly on the band, in such a way that the bridges do not tighten in an undue way. This protective structure can take a number of forms. The first currently most preferred, is that shown in the first seven figures. In this embodiment, the skirt has a series of tabs 32 that extend downward, radially containing the uppermost portion of the band. The windows 34 between the tabs are centered on the bridges, allowing to see the bridges, and also facilitating the fabrication. The function of the tabs in Figures 5 and 7 can be clearly seen, where they are preventing undue outward movement of the band during installation. At all other times, the tabs are out of contact with the band, the only connection being that of the bridges. Figure 8 shows a modified form of the invention, which is the same in all aspects as previously described, with the exception that there are no windows; the tabs are replaced by a continuous circular flange 36 which performs the same function as the tabs, perhaps with some added force, but with the drawback that the bridges are hidden from view. In the embodiment of Figure 9, the tabs have been replaced by narrower and more numerous ears 38, which again prevent the band from expanding too much during installation. In Figures 10 and 11, the limiting expansion structure 40, as in Figure 8, is continuous, but is axially abbreviated, such that the bridges can still be seen. The inner lip 42 illustrated provides a sealing function not important for the present invention. In each embodiment of the invention, the limited expansion structure in the lower part of the skirt of the cover prevents the band from traversing upwards on the cover during installation, and in this way, maintains the integrity of the bridges. It can be noted that the bridges can be replaced by functional equivalents. For example, a circumferentially continuous thin connector strip, or a marked line, could connect the band to the skirt. The bridges could be narrow, circumferentially, as shown in Figure 3, or they could be substantially wide. Conceivably, they could be defined between a series of perforations in the cap material. Experts in this field can think of other variations. Since the invention is subject to modifications and variations, it is intended that the foregoing description and the accompanying drawings be construed as illustrative only of the invention defined by the following claims.

Claims (3)

NOVELTY OF THE INVENTION Having described the above invention, it is considered as a novelty, and therefore, the content of the following is claimed as property: CLAIMS

1. In a bottle cap that gives evidence of forcings, resistant to compression failure, to be installed on a bottle having a retaining flange, (130), this cap comprising: a skirt (14) with a lower edge, a band which gives evidence of forcing (24) integrally formed with the skirt, and having a structure (28) for coupling under the retaining flange, to prevent subsequent removal of the band, And fragile elements (26) to connect the band to the lower edge of the skirt, where the lid has elements (32, 36, 38, 40) to prevent undue diametral expansion of the band that provides evidence of forcing (24), when the lid is being installed on the bottle, characterized in that the elements that prevent the expansion (32, 36, 38, 40) extend towards down from the bottom edge of the skirt, and they join with the external surface of the band that gives evidence of forcing, to provide a restriction coupling of the band that gives evidence of forcings, to protect the structural integrity of the fragile elements.

2. The invention according to claim 1, characterized in that the fragile elements are a series of bridges molded at circumferential intervals between the skirt and the band.

3. The invention according to claim 2, characterized in that the elements that prevent the expansion, are a series of tabs that extend down from the lower edge of the skirt, with windows between the tabs that are centered on the bridges, in such a way that the bridges are visible between the tabs.