MXPA99004724A - Closure cap for closure of a container mouth - Google Patents

Abstract

The TE-band (3) of a closure cap for closure of a container is provided with retaining elements (5) which protrude radially inwards and upwards to the base of the closure cap from the inner surface of the TE-band (3). Each retaining element (5) comprises a retaining surface (6) terminating in a retaining edge (7). The retaining edges engage beneath an engagement surface (10) on the mouth of a container when the closure cap is in position on said container. The retaining edges (7) are formed as a concave segment and all retaining edges (7) together define substantially a circle. The circle is coaxial with the engagement surface of a container mouth and has a diameter which is smaller than the outer diameter of the engagement surface of the container mouth.

Description

LOCK COVER FOR THE CLOSURE OF THE MOUTH OF A RECIPIENT BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to a lock lid with a tamper evident tape (TE tape). With these lock caps, the condition of the ribbon TE allows the recognition of a previous opening of the container. With the lock lid in its position in the mouth of the container, the tape TE is coupled below a retaining surface in the mouth of the container so that when the container is opened for the first time, the TE tape is broken at least partially. Frequently, TE tapes are used in particular, with threaded locks, in particular with screw caps for closing beverage containers. However, other types of lock caps, such as spring locks, may be provided with the TE tapes. As a standard for the lock of disposable containers, lock caps are used with a circumferential, annular TE tape that remains on the neck of the container when the container is first opened. Reciprocally, preferably, the TE tape for the lock of recyclable containers, is connected to the wall of the P1202 / 99MX covers in such a way that when opening the container, it will only break partially and therefore remain connected to the lid wall. Frequently, in this embodiment a shorter TE tape is used which extends only over a portion of the circumference of the lid wall. Some embodiments of this kind of tape TE have a handle that is manually formed before the opening. The breakable connection between the TE tape and the lid wall can be designed in many different ways which are amply documented in the relevant literature. With the lock caps which are manufactured in a single piece of plastic, the tape TE is frequently connected, particularly by means of breakable connecting bridge pieces with the lower edge of the lid wall. On the internal surface of the tape TE, retaining elements are arranged which, with the lock cap in position in the container, are coupled below a coupling surface in the mouth of the container. To this point, often, retaining elements that are rigidly connected to the TE tape are used. When the lock cover is adjusted, the coupling elements are pressed radially outwardly when pushed onto the molding in the mouth of the container. Since the coupling elements are P1202 / 99MX rigidly connected with the tape TE, this will lead to a deformation of the tape TE and thus to a force on the breakable connection between the tape TE and the wall of the lid. In the case of threaded locks, the force will be further increased by the torsional forces imparted between the cover wall and the anti-breach ring, the anti-breach ring is subject to the breaking action by coupling mechanisms that contact the molding of the mouth of the container. In EP-A2 117 104, the use of radially inwardly projecting fins on the inside of the TE belt as a coupling means has already been suggested, the fins pointing up towards the base of the lid when the cover The lock is in position over the mouth of the container and fits under the molding in the mouth of the container. These fins are connected to the tape TE only at one end and its free end is capable of being mounted by pins in the radial direction relative to the tape TE. These fins can, therefore, be mounted with pivots outwardly in the radial direction when they slide on the molding of the mouth of the container in the initial adjustment of the lock cap. In this way, the resultant force acting on the breakable connection between the TE tape and the P1202 / 99MX wall of the lid will be reduced considerably. A problem with the fins of the state of the art may be their inadequate resistance to pressure in the longitudinal direction of the fins. Inadequate firmness can cause the fins to fit over the retng molding of the contr. This force occurs when opening the lock lid or with any attempt to pull the tape agt violations on the molding without breaking it. The fins of the state of the art can be bent in the longitudinal direction, in this case leading to a reduced blocking effect imparted by the fins. In extreme cases, this can lead to the fins leaving their position of insurance against the molding of the mouth of the container to assume a position pointing downward, away from the base of the lid. US 5,282,540 discloses a lock with a tamper tape consisting of a single retention element with a wavy shape. Due to these undulations, the retaining element only partially engages below the retaining molding in the container. WO 96/24532 describes a tape against violation with a retaining element that is formed as a series of fins consisting of a bent portion. The fins are formed as two surfaces that intersect with each other at an angle.

P1202 / 99MX The fins together form a polygonal retaining surface for coupling with a tape showing evidence of violation underneath the molding in a container. Therefore, one purpose of the invention is to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art and further improve the strength of the opening forces of the retaining elements of the state of the art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The TE tape of a lock lid for closing the mouth of a container is arranged at the lower end of the wall of the lock lid. A plurality of retaining elements, each with a retaining surface, are arranged on the inner surface of the tape TE to project radially inwardly and upward towards the base of the lid. Each retaining surface terminates at a retaining edge in order to engage below a practically circular engaging surface in the mouth of the container when the lock cap is in position over the mouth of the container. The resistance to the force applied to the retaining elements and the contact between the retaining elements and the coupling surface are improved with each retaining edge formed as a concave segment and with the retaining edges of all P1202 / 99MX the retaining elements that essentially define a circle coaxial with the circular mating surface of the container mouth. The diameter of the circle defined by all the retaining edges in the closed position of the cap is smaller than the outer diameter of the circular coupling surface. By means of the concave segment the surface of, contact between the retaining elements of the strip against violations of tape TE and _ the circular surface of coupling increases. By the curve of the retaining elements, its resistance will be improved and the bending of the retaining elements that arise with the longitudinal load will be reduced. As the surface of the curved retaining edge substantially follows the surface of the coupling surface, the contact line is increased and the pressure per unit area at the retaining edge is decreased. Preferably, the retaining elements are designed as fins that connect to the lower part of the violation indicating tape. The retaining elements can be arranged in different ways along the TE tape. In particular, the distance between the adjacently arranged retention elements can be selected in different ways. In a preferred embodiment, the retaining elements are arranged P1202 / 99MX forcedly adjacent along the TE tape. The side edges of the adjacently arranged retaining elements are connected together by a flexible bridge piece of material in the shape of a link. In this way, a longitudinal strip consisting of a plurality of retaining elements will emerge. In this way, the retaining elements will keep each other in position so that they are no longer pivoted so easily. This is advantageous if the lock cover is molded in a shape in which the retaining elements point downwards, away from the base of the cover. This position of the retaining elements with the mold of the lock lid is preferred, since the lid can be removed more easily from the mold after molding. However, the retaining elements must subsequently pivot from their position pointing downwards inwards. Preferably, this continues in a separate work step before fixing the lock lid. The retaining elements have, however, the basic tendency to return to their original mold position. One possibility to avoid this is to connect the retaining elements arranged adjacently together as described above. The retention elements will then be maintained, with each other, in their internal position, directed towards the base of P1202 / 99MX the lid. Preferably, the retaining elements consist of two lateral edges, each fin is connected to the adjacent retaining element by means of a hinge or a flexible structure which improves the stability of the retaining element. The stability of the retaining elements can also be improved if their central portion is thicker than the lateral area. The structures or joints connecting the retention elements adjacent to each other may consist of a nominal rupture line. If you attempt to bend back the retaining elements to violate their violation indicating function, the nominal break lines will be broken. Nominal rupture lines break signs that the violation has occurred. With the lock cap in position in the mouth of the container, the concave segment of each retaining edge will contact the coupling surface of the container over substantially its entire length. If the individual retaining elements, arranged at a distance from one another, are used, they can be fixed in another way in their position directed towards the base of the lid, for example, by a brief application of heat after the elements P1202 / 99 Retention X have been mounted by pivots in this position. Another possible alternative is to pivot the retaining elements inwards by means of the mouth of the container in direct adjustment with the lock lid in the mouth of the container. Preferably, a circumferential ring against violations is used as a TE tape, wherein the retaining elements are arranged to be evenly distributed around the circumference. To improve the flexibility of each individual retaining element, the retaining elements are attached to the bottom of the strip against violations with a flexible joint. Preferably, the flexible joint is fixed to the inner surface of the tape against violations. The strength of the flexible joint can be controlled more easily with this design.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The examples and embodiments of the invention are described in more detail in the following, illustrated by the drawings, namely: Figure 1 is a cross section of a lock lid according to the invention; Figure 2 is a cross-section of the TE tape of the lock lid shown in the Figure P1202 / 99MX 1; Figure 3 is an enlarged view of three retaining elements of the previous one; Figure 4 is a TE tape of the lock lid shown in Figure 1, seen from the bottom; Figure 5 is a lock cap in position in the mouth of a container; Figure 5a is a retaining element of a lock cap in position in the mouth of a container.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The lock lid shown in Figure 1 has a lid base 1, a lid splice wall 2 and a breakable TE 3 tape arranged at the bottom edge of the lid wall. The ribbon TE 3 is integrally connected to the wall 2 of the lid by breakable bridges 4. The tape TE 3 shown in Figure 1 forms a circumferential ring against violations. From the inner surface of the ring 3 against violations, a plurality of retaining elements 5 extend radially inwardly.

The retaining elements 5 are arranged to be adjacently constrained and are connected together by flexible links 17 within a circumferential inner fin strip. For some P1202 / 99 X applications, the TE tape can be used without hinges 17 so that the retaining elements arranged adjacently are independent of each other. The retaining elements 5 are only connected at one end to the ring 3 against violations by a flexible joint 19 (Figure 2). This articulation 19 allows the free end of the retaining elements 5 to be mounted by pivots in the radial direction, in such a way that especially, with the initial application of the lock lid, it can be deflected radially outwards when the free end slides on the container termination. Preferably, the joint 19 is arranged at the lower edge of the inner surface of the ring against violations. However, it can also be understood that the anti-violation ring extends down below the connection point of the link 19. Figure 2 shows a cross section of the tape 3 TE towards its lower part, in which a retaining element 5 is connected by a flexible joint 19. The retaining element 5 comprises a retaining surface 6 directed radially inwardly and upward towards the base of the lid. The retaining surface terminates at a retaining edge 7 for engagement with a P1202 / 99MX vessel coupling surface. The cross section is made in the central portion of one of the retaining elements 5. Figure 3 shows an amplified view of three retaining elements seen from above. Each retaining element 5 is connected to the adjacent element by a flexible joint 17. Each retaining element 5 comprises a retaining surface 6 directed radially inwardly and upward towards the base of the lid. The retaining surface 6 ends in a retaining edge 7 which is formed as a concave segment. Figure 4 shows the TE 3 tape seen from below. The retaining elements 5 are arranged in a regular manner on the inner surface of the tape TE 3. Each retaining element is connected to the adjacent retaining elements by means of a flexible joint 17. The retaining edge 7 of each retaining element 5 is formed as a concave segment. All the retaining elements together essentially form a circle that is coaxial with the circular coupling surface of the container (see Figure 5). The diameter of the circle formed by the retaining edge 7 is smaller than the outer diameter of the circular coupling surface. When applying the lock cover for the first time in the mouth of the container, first the area P1202 / 99MX of the lateral edge of the retaining elements will make contact in the molding of the mouth of the container. If the rope movement continues, the individual retaining elements 5 will be mounted by pivots on their articulation 19 radially outwards. The circle formed by the retaining edges 7 will have a diameter equal to the external diameter of the molding of the container mouth or will be in contact with the coupling surface 10 of a container. Figure 5a shows a retaining element 5 of a lock lid according to Figure 5, placed on the neck of a container. The neck of the container comprises a coupling surface 10 provided on its external surface. The retaining surface 6 of the retaining element 5 engages with the coupling surface 10 of the neck of the container. In particular, the silhouette of the retaining edges 7 corresponds to the silhouette of the coupling surface. In view of the fact that the invention is subject to modifications and variations, the foregoing description and the accompanying drawings should not be considered as limiting the invention, which is defined by the following claims and the different combinations thereof: P1202 / 99MX

Claims (6)

NOVELTY OF THE INVENTION Having described the present invention, it is considered as a novelty and, therefore, the content of the following CLAIMS is claimed as property: 1. Lock lid to close the mouth of a container, the lock lid consists of of a lid base, a lid splice wall and a tamper evidence tape that are arranged on the bottom edge of the lid wall, and a plurality of retention elements, each consisting of a retention surface , are arranged on the inner surface of the TE tape to project radially inwardly and upward towards the base of the lid, each retaining surface terminating at a retaining edge in order to be coupled below an almost circular coupling surface in the mouth of the container when the lock lid is in position in the mouth of the container, characterized in that each retaining edge is formed as a concave segment and t All the retaining edges essentially define a circle which is coaxial with the circular coupling surface and which has a smaller diameter than the outer diameter of the circular mating surface of the mouth of the container.
1. P1202 / 99MX
2. 2. The lock lid according to claim 1, characterized in that the retaining elements are formed as fins. The lock lid according to claim 2, characterized in that each flap comprises two side edges, whereby each flap is connected to the adjacent flaps at their side edges by a flexible hinge. The lock lid according to claim 2, characterized in that the centers of the fins are thicker than the areas of the lateral edges of the fins. The lock cover according to claim 1, characterized in that each retaining element is attached to the lower part of the tape TE with a flexible joint projecting from the inner surface of the tape TE. The lock cover according to claim 3, characterized in that the connection joint consists of a nominal break line. P1202 / 99MX