RU2513775C2 - Unit of closure of container with air-tight seal - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: packaging industry.

SUBSTANCE: present invention provides a container closure unit, comprising a neck (10) of the container, having side walls forming an opening at its one end and an edge (4) extending around the opening, a lid (12) for the said neck, at that the lid comprises a base (22) and a threaded skirt (24), a first screw thread (16) on the neck, a second screw thread (26) on the inner surface of the threaded skirt of the lid, at that the said first and second screw threads are made with the ability to provide fastening, removing and re-fastening by the user of the lid in the sealing position on the neck by rotation of the lid relative to the neck, the sealing plug (52) extending from the said base of the inner part of the lid and substantially concentric with the said threaded skirt of the lid, at that the sealing plug is olive-like sealing plug to form the sealing with the inner surface of the container neck when fixing the lid on the container neck, and a sealing skirt (54) extending from the said base of the lid between the said sealing plug and the said threaded skirt of the lid and substantially concentric with the said sealing plug and the said threaded skirt of the lid, at that the said lid can be displaced towards the said neck from the said sealing position by application of axial force without rotating the lid on the neck and substantially without plastic deformation of the lid.

EFFECT: improved design.

18 cl, 3 dwg

Description

The present invention relates to improved seals for container closure assemblies. The present invention is particularly applicable for sealing containers with substantially gas and liquid tightness, such as sealing containers for carbonated or non-carbonated drinks.

It is well known to manufacture beverage containers made of glass, paper, cardboard, metal or plastic, having a screw cap that can be re-fixed on the neck of a bottle. It is desirable to make such containers with a screw cap assembly that provides an airtight or liquid tight seal to maintain the quality of the beverage both during initial transportation and storage, and after partial consumption of the contents, when the lid was re-secured to the neck of the container.

Some existing container and lid assemblies use elastomeric gaskets at the base of the lid. This gasket is pressed against the edge of the neck of the bottle while tightly screwing the cap on the neck of the bottle, and the compression between the soft, deformable gasket and the edge of the container provides a tight seal. Unfortunately, the manufacture and insertion of the gasket into the lid are relatively expensive additional process steps. In addition, care must be taken not to over-tighten such caps on the neck of the container, as the gasket may become brittle or damage if excessive pressure is applied to it.

It is also known how to make a sealing cylindrical stopper protruding downward from the base of the cap, so that the stopper forms an interference fit with the inner surface of the neck of the bottle near the edge of the bottle. For effective sealing due to such sealing plugs, it is necessary that the cap is screwed very tightly on the neck of the container in order to deform the base of the cap and, thus, press the plug radially outward into impermeable sealing engagement with the neck of the container. It often happens that such covers are too loose, especially for children or older users. In addition, a sufficient sealing force can be achieved by using small threads on the lid and neck, so that the torque applied to the lid is converted to a very large downward sealing force between the edge of the container and the base of the lid.

WO 02/42171 describes a container closure assembly comprising a sealing plug extending from the base of the inner portion of the lid and substantially concentric with the cover skirt, in which the sealing plug comprises a plurality of peripheral sealing ribs on the outer surface of the sealing plug for engagement with the inner surface of the neck of the container when securing the lid on the neck of the container; at least one flexible sealing lip between the sealing plug and the cover skirt for engagement with the edge of the container when securing the cover to the neck of the container; and at least one peripheral sealing rib on the inner surface of the cap skirt for engagement with the outer surface of the container neck near the edge when securing the cap on the container neck. In use, the edge of the container neck is clamped between the ribs on the outer surface of the sealing plug and the sealing rib on the inner surface of the cap skirt to form a tight seal.

WO 2007/057706 describes a container closure assembly comprising a sealing plug extending from the base of the inside of the lid and substantially concentric with a threaded cover skirt, in which the sealing plug comprises two or more peripheral sealing ribs spaced apart longitudinally from each other on the outer surface of the sealing plug for engagement with the inner surface of the neck of the container near the edge when securing the lid on the neck of the container. The cover further comprises a sealing skirt extending from the base of the cover between the sealing plug and the threaded cover skirt and substantially concentric with the sealing plug and the threaded cover skirt, in which the sealing skirt comprises two or more peripheral sealing ribs spaced apart in the longitudinal direction from each other the inner surface of the sealing skirt for engagement with the outer surface of the neck of the container near the edge when securing the cap on the neck of the container. In use, two of the sealing ribs on the sealing plug are located at substantially equal longitudinal distances from the base of the cap, as are two of the peripheral sealing ribs on the sealing skirt, whereby the edge of the neck of the container is clamped between the sealing ribs on the cap of the cap and the sealing skirt in two or more longitudinally spaced locations when the lid is in a fixed position on the neck of the container.

Also known are sealing devices for lids of plastic containers that use an olive-shaped sealing element extending from the base of the lid, which forms an interference fit inside the container neck for sealing with the inner surface of the container neck near the edge of the container neck. A sealing olive-shaped element is a sealing plug, which is characterized by the presence of a smooth convex circumferential protrusion (when viewed in longitudinal section) on its radial outer surface. The olive sealing element is reliable, easy to shape, and can maintain an appropriate seal even when the base of the lid is deformed (convex) due to pressure inside the container. However, the sealing olive-like element alone is not sufficient to provide an appropriate tight seal in carbonated beverage containers.

US-A-5871111 and WO-A-9944896, US-A-20040060893, US-A-20020158037, GB-A-2131774, EP-A-0076778, WO-A-2007132254, US-A-20010027957 and WO 2008012426 describe devices in which an olive-shaped sealing element or sealing plug is used together with one or more peripheral sealing ribs at the base of the cap, which are aligned with the upper part of the neck of the container in a sealed position.

In another embodiment of this type of lid, WO 98/35881 describes a lid of a container in which an olive-shaped sealing element is used together with a very flexible sealing skirt that deforms to close the edge of the neck of the container when securing the cover to the neck of the container. The contact area between the sealing skirt and the neck is quite large in the sealed position, which eliminates the problems caused by defects or contamination at the edge. Bericap GmbH caps of this type are probably the most efficient sealing caps on the market. However, the large contact area between the sealing skirt and the neck of the container in a sealed position results in an undesirably strong seal and opening torque. In addition, over-tightening the cover may damage the sealing skirt. WO 2008/012426 describes a similar cover with a sealing olive-shaped element and a relatively short sealing skirt. However, it turns out that this cover additionally requires an elastomeric gasket at the base of the cover and an additional sealing rib near the bottom of the cover to ensure satisfactory sealing.

The inventors have found that the aforementioned sealing devices, in which the portion of the lid is directly aligned with the upper part of the edge of the container, have the disadvantage that the application of axial force to the lid to move it further to the neck from a fully closed and sealed position leads to permanent deformation and damage to the cover and impairs subsequent sealing. This additional axial displacement of the lid to the neck can occur not only as a result of over-tightening the lid on the neck (which can usually be prevented by suitable threaded stops), but also as a result of the weight of containers placed on top of each other when the containers are stacked on top of each other, which is common during storage and transportation of, for example, beverage containers.

There remains a need for a device with a screw cap and a lid, which can provide effective sealing without the need for laying and, in addition, without the need for a large axial sealing force between the neck of the vessel and the lid, and which, in addition, can withstand large axial forces applied to the lid when it is in the closed and sealing position on the neck, for example, the weight of the containers placed on top of each other when the containers are mounted on top of each other.

The present invention describes a container closure assembly comprising a container neck having side walls forming an opening at one end thereof and an edge extending around the opening and a cover for said neck, the cover comprising a base and a threaded skirt, a first fastening thread on the neck, the second mounting thread on the inner surface of the threaded skirt, and the aforementioned first and second threads are made with the possibility of securing the user, removing and re-securing the cover in the sealing position on the neck by rotating the cap on the neck, a sealing plug extending from said base of the inner part of the cover and substantially concentric with said threaded skirt, in which the sealing plug is an olive-shaped sealing plug to form a seal with the inner surface of the neck of the container when securing the cap on the neck containers, and a sealing skirt extending from said cover base between said sealing plug and said threaded skirt shki and substantially concentric with said sealing plug and the threaded skirt of said cover, wherein said cover can be moved to said mouth portion of said sealing position by application of axial force without rotating the closure on the neck and substantially without plastic deformation of the cover.

Typically, the seal between the cap and the neck is maintained during said displacement. The ability to displace the lid under the action of axial force provides increased efficiency of the closure assembly when the containers equipped with the assembly are mounted on top of one another, so that the assemblies in the lower part of the stack are subjected to axial force due to superimposed containers. Accordingly, the displacement is an elastic displacement, as a result of which the cap tends to bounce back to its substantially original sealing position when the axial force is relieved even in the absence of any restoring force, such as the pressure inside the container. This elasticity can be mainly due to the elastic bending of the sealing skirt. Of course, the knots of the closure of the prior art, currently used, as described above, do not have this property, since they all require a direct contact between the upper part of the container edge and the lid in a sealed position, which prevents additional axial movement of the lid to the neck under the action of axial force and / or leads to permanent inelastic deformation of the cover under the action of axial force, which weakens the sealing properties of the assembly, both during and after application I'm axial effort. Accordingly, the axial displacement of the cover in the nodes of the present invention occurs mainly or completely without plastic (residual) deformation of the cover. Accordingly, the elastic axial deformation may be at least 0.1 mm, more preferably about 0.2-2 mm, typically about 0.5-1 mm. Accordingly, the axial force may be about 1-1000 N, for example, about 10-100 N.

To ensure the aforementioned axial displacement, the assemblies in accordance with the present invention have a gap between the upper part of the container edge and in the axial direction a neighboring point on the lid in the sealing position. Accordingly, the gap between the highest point of the edge and in the axial direction of the neighboring point on the base of the cover in a sealed position (in the absence of external applied axial force) should be at least about 0.1 mm, preferably about 0.2-2 mm, for example , about 0.5-1 mm. The term "upper surface" in this context refers to any part of the edge that is inclined (in longitudinal section) at an angle of more than about 45 degrees to the main axis of the node, preferably about 30 degrees to the main axis of the node.

The region of the radial inner surface of the sealing skirt is concave for engagement with the outer surface of the neck of the container near said edge when securing the lid on the neck of the container. Such a concave sealing skirt is also slidable around the edge side to maintain effective sealing during axial displacement.

The combination of an olive-shaped sealing plug and a concave sealing skirt is new and provides improved sealing with low sealing forces in addition to increased efficiency when subjected to axial forces in a sealed position.

Accordingly, the neck is molded into a single thermoplastic element, such as polyethylene terephthalate. The neck may form part of a beverage container, such as a molded plastic or glass bottle for a carbonated beverage.

Accordingly, the edge of the container is substantially completely radially rounded in longitudinal section. That is, the longitudinal section of the edge surface is a substantially continuous curve extending from the inner surface of the neck to the outer surface of the neck, so that the upper part of the edge is rounded, not even. More preferably, the edge surface is made essentially in the form of a circular segment in cross section, for example, it can be essentially semicircular. The rounded edge provides an easy and convenient drink directly from the neck of the container. Another advantage of the present invention is that the sealing device is effective for providing a tight seal on the rounded edge of the container by engaging the concave inner surface of the sealing skirt with the rounded edge surface.

Accordingly, the inner and / or outer surfaces of the neck of the container, aligned with the edge, are slightly narrowed. That is, the inner diameter of the neck near the bottom of the edge can be slightly narrowed, forming a substantially conical surface, the inner diameter slightly decreasing with increasing distance from the connection with the (radius-rounded part) edge. Accordingly, this narrowing section extends to an axial distance of about 1-10 mm, for example, about 2-5 mm, so that the olive-shaped seal is aligned with the inner conical surface when approaching the sealed position when screwing the cap on the neck. Similarly, the outer diameter of the neck near the bottom of the edge can be slightly narrowed outward, so that the outer diameter increases slightly with increasing distance from the connection with the (radius-rounded part) edge. Accordingly, this narrowing area extends to an axial distance of about 1-10 mm, for example, about 2-5 mm, so that the sealing skirt is aligned with the inner conical surface when approaching the sealed position of the cap on the neck. The angle of each narrowing, measured in a longitudinal section, is preferably about 1-30 degrees, more preferably, about 5-20 degrees from the longitudinal axis of the assembly. A slight narrowing of the neck under the edge leads to a more constant torque required to secure the cap on the neck next to the sealed position. In other words, a less dramatic increase in torque occurs during initial engagement of the sealing plug and sealing skirt with the neck.

The assembly in accordance with the present invention further comprises a cover having a base and a threaded skirt. The cap, respectively, is molded in the form of a single element of thermoplastic plastic, for example, by injection molding or by compression molding. The cap includes a sealing plug and a sealing skirt extending from the base of the cap as defined above.

The sealing plug is suitably in the form of a tube, usually protruding perpendicularly downward from the base of the cap and, preferably substantially concentric with the threaded skirt and coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the cap. The height of the sealing plug (measured from the inner surface of the base of the cover) is, respectively, about 1-5 mm, for example, about 1.5-2.5 mm. The sealing plug is usually molded integrally with the base of the cap. The average thickness of the tubular wall of the sealing plug is, respectively, about 0.5-2 mm, for example, about 0.7-1.2 mm. This provides the sealing plug with an appropriate degree of resilience and strength to fulfill the desired sealing function.

The sealing plug is made in the form of an olive-shaped seal. That is, the plug contains a peripheral protruding radially outer surface having a convex shape (when viewed in longitudinal section). The convex protrusion has a substantially smooth continuous surface and a height, respectively, of about 10-50% of the radial thickness of the cork. The minimum radius of curvature of the convex protrusion is, respectively, not less than approximately the average radial thickness of the tube. Accordingly, the minimum radius of curvature of the convex protrusion is about 0.5-1 mm. Such olive-shaped sealing plugs can withstand small axial displacements of the plug, for example, caused by bloating of the base of the lid under pressure from the inside of the container without loss of sealing efficiency.

The container lid in the assembly of the present invention further comprises a peripheral sealing skirt. The sealing skirt is separate and is located at a distance in the radial direction from the threaded skirt of the cap, which engages with the thread on the outside of the neck of the container. Accordingly, the sealing skirt is substantially tubular and protrudes downward from the base of the cap between the cap skirt and the sealing plug. The sealing skirt is preferably substantially concentric with the threaded skirt and sealing plug and aligned with the longitudinal axis of the cap. The height of the sealing skirt is, respectively, about 1-5 mm, for example, about 1.5-2.5 mm. The height of the sealing skirt in certain embodiments (measured from the inner surface of the cap base adjacent to the inner surface of the sealing skirt) is at least about 50%, for example at least about 75% of the height of the sealing plug. The sealing skirt is usually molded integrally with the base of the cap. The average thickness of the tubular wall of the sealing skirt is, respectively, about 0.5-2 mm, for example, about 0.7-1.2 mm. This provides the sealing skirt with an appropriate degree of resilience and strength to fulfill the desired sealing function.

The sealing skirt in the device of the present invention is accordingly relatively thick compared to its height and undergoes relatively small deformation during compaction compared to the sealing skirt of, for example, WO 98/35881. Accordingly, the sealing force exerted by the skirt is ensured by the elasticity of the skirt itself, and not by combining the outer side of the sealing skirt with the inner side of the threaded skirt of the base of the cap, as described in WO 98/35881. A relatively thick and resilient sealing skirt is unlikely to be damaged by repeated use, in particular as a result of over-tightening. Accordingly, the sealing skirt has a radial thickness at half height (the said height of the sealing skirt being measured from the base of the radial inner surface of the sealing skirt), equal to about 40-80% of the radial thickness of the sealing plug, measured at the same height. Accordingly, the sealing skirt has a radial thickness at half the height (wherein said height of the sealing skirt is measured from the base of the radial inner surface of the sealing skirt) equal to about 20-50% of the height of the sealing skirt, for example, about 25-40% of said height.

Accordingly, the inner diameter of the sealing skirt at half height is less than about 0.05-0.5 mm of the outer diameter of the neck of the container. For example, it may be less than about 0.1-0.25 mm in the outer diameter of the neck of the container. In other words, the inner diameter of the sealing skirt is only slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the container neck near the rounded edge, as a result of which the skirt is only slightly deformed in the sealed position. However, the elasticity of the sealing skirt is sufficient for slight deformation to apply a large sealing force to the edge. In addition, the elasticity of the sealing skirt allows the skirt to fold outward without plastic deformation and without loss of sealing efficiency when the cover is axially pushed downward for a normal tight position under the action of an external force, for example, the weight of another container mounted on the upper side of the assembly. The same elasticity of the sealing skirt returns to the original sealed position of the cover when removing the external axial force.

The sealing efficiency of the sealing skirt is further enhanced by the formation of at least one peripheral sealing rib in said concave region of said sealing skirt. Accordingly, two of the sealing ribs are located on the sealing skirt, but in some embodiments, there may be 3-10 ribs and, for example, 4-6 ribs.

Accordingly, at least one of the sealing ribs has a substantially triangular cross section when viewed from a lid in longitudinal section, for example, a substantially equilateral triangular section. Accordingly, the contact angle between the sides of the sealing ribs and the radial inner surface of the sealing skirt is about 30-75 degrees, for example, about 45-60 degrees. This provides a concentration of sealing force at the upper end of the sealing rib to maximize sealing efficiency. Accordingly, at least one of the sealing ribs has a height in the range of 10-250 micrometers, more preferably 20-150 micrometers, for example 50-150 micrometers. The height is defined as the maximum distance that the sealing rib protrudes above the adjacent surface of the sealing skirt when viewed from a longitudinal section of the cover. Such sealing microfins are particularly effective for concentrating the sealing force and achieving effective sealing with a substantially smooth sealing surface on the neck of the container. In addition, such micro-ribs are particularly easy to mold on high-speed equipment for molding the cover and remove the mandrel of the mold after molding.

An advantage of using a plurality of sealing ribs on the sealing skirt is that the plurality of sealing ribs may have more than one size to optimize sealing. For example, the size of the sealing rib closest to the base of the cap may be larger than the size of the sealing rib remote from the base of the cap. This provides greater deformation of the sealing rib closest to the base of the lid (i.e., closest to the edge of the container) than the sealing rib farthest from the base of the lid.

The use of a plurality of peripheral sealing ribs on the sealing skirt, which has a certain degree of radial elasticity, provides a tight seal between the container neck and the lid without applying excessive force to the lid and without the need for a sealing gasket at the base of the lid. Therefore, the caps in the assemblies in accordance with the present invention, respectively, do not include a gasket, i.e. they are covers without gasket. In addition, the lid assemblies do not require and, preferably, do not include, any sealing elements on the lid, in contrast to the oval sealing plug and sealing skirt. In particular, as previously explained, and unlike almost all knots of the prior art closures for carbonated drinks, the knots in accordance with the present invention do not require and usually do not include any sealing elements aligned with the upper part of the edge.

Accordingly, the lid is a low-profile lid having an axial height from the upper part of the base to the lower part of the threaded skirt (i.e. excluding any first opening ring secured to the lower part of the threaded skirt) of 10-15 mm, for example, 12-14 mm. The sealing device of the present invention is particularly suitable for use with low-profile caps, since minimizing the skirt of the sealing skirt during sealing makes it possible to arrange the sealing skirt and plug so that they axially overlap the upper portion of the threads on the cover skirt without interfering with the passage of these threads.

It has been found that the assemblies of the present invention provide excellent sealing of carbonated beverage containers even under high pressure / high temperature conditions, such as storage at 38 ° C. The reason is that the curvature of the base of the lid effectively uses the increased sealing force exerted on the sealing skirt, while the olive-shaped seal in the inside of the neck of the container is more able to withstand deformation of the base of the lid compared to the sealing plugs described in WO 02/42171 and WO 2007/057706. However, the devices of the present invention provide the advantages of reliability, resistance to over-tightening, ease of molding, and low torque to provide sealing / opening of these prior art assemblies.

The container closure assembly in accordance with the present invention is particularly suitable for use in conjunction with threaded devices that are fast and easy to fasten and reattach, in which the cap can be fastened and reattached to the neck of the container due to one smooth rotation of 360 ° or less, more preferably 180 ° or less, and most preferably about 90 °.

Accordingly, the first and second threads may be multi-start threads, such as double-start threads or three-start threads, and, more preferably, they can be four-start threads. This further contributes to securing the cap on the neck, since the user needs to turn the cap less to find the thread. Accordingly, the threads are substantially free or parallel threads. That is, the threads on the cap and the neck slide freely one after another without forming an interference fit between the segments of the threads on the cap and neck. However, the present invention is also applicable to embodiments in which the first and second threads can be more conventional, single-thread, fine-paced continuous threads.

Accordingly, the first and second threads are continuous screw threads. That is, they are not bayonet-type threads that require discrete movement of the cap to secure the cap to the neck, but rather they form a substantially continuous helical thread path having a slope (pitch) of less than 90 degrees substantially throughout. Accordingly, the threads have an average thread pitch of 5-25 °, more preferably 10-20 °. Typically, the minimum vertical displacement of the lid between the fully secured position on the neck of the container and the fully disengaged position of the lid on the neck is about 2-10 mm, for example, about 4-8 mm.

Inclined threads provide advantages in terms of ease of use and more reliable separation of the first opening rings from the cover skirt. However, it should be understood that such oblique threads lead to a relatively small conversion of the rotational force applied to the cap into a downward force exerted on the cap, and this is a sign of a sealing device in accordance with the present invention that it is possible to provide a reliable tight seal without a large downward force exerted on the cover, as in previous sealing devices.

Accordingly, the torque required to secure the cap in a sealed position on the neck of the container is less than 1.2 Nm, more preferably less than 1 Nm, and most preferably 0.7-0.9 Nm. This is the torque required to engage the additional locking device (where available) in a sealed position and / or otherwise the force necessary to substantially eliminate gas leakage at normal pressure drops of carbonated drinks.

An advantage of the assemblies in accordance with the present invention is that they can provide a tight seal without the need for additional peripheral flexible sealing lips between the sealing plug and the sealing skirt of the type described in WO 02/42171.

In some embodiments of a container closure assembly in accordance with the present embodiment, the container further comprises mutually engaged elements on the neck and cover for blocking or restricting rotation of the cover in the unscrewing direction to an intermediate position when the cover is subjected to axial pressure in the direction from the neck of the container. This is the so-called pressure protection element, which is designed to prevent uncontrolled unscrewing or removal when it is removed from the neck of the container under the influence of pressure. Preferably, the pressure protection element is the element described in WO 95/05322, WO 97/21602 and WO 99/19228.

In these embodiments, the first and second fixing threads are made and arranged to provide axial displacement of the cap relative to the neck, at least when the cap is in said intermediate position, and preferably, the engaging elements are adapted to mesh with each other when the cap is axially displaced in direction from the neck, for example, due to axial pressure inside the pressure vessel. More preferably, the mutually engaged elements are made and arranged to not be mutually engaged with each other when the lid is axially displaced inwardly towards the neck in an intermediate position, for example, when the lid is screwed onto the neck of the container.

Preferably, the mutually engaged elements comprise a step or recess formed on the lower surface of one of the segments of the second fastening thread to form a first supporting surface with which the second supporting surface is aligned with one of the segments of the first fastening thread to block or limit rotation of the cover in the unscrewing direction intermediate position, when the lid is under axial pressure in the direction extending from the neck of the container, but which provides easy removal of the lids and when the container is not under excessive pressure.

More preferably, the second thread segment comprises a first thread section having a first longitudinal section and a second thread section having a second longitudinal section narrower than the first section, whereby the first thread segment aligns with the second thread section. The relatively wide first cross section is preferably located adjacent to the overlapping region around the circumference of the second thread segments, resulting in a relatively narrow gap between the threads in this region.

Preferably, the first and second threads on the neck of the container and the lid are threads with a variable pitch, preferably as described in WO 97/21602. Preferably, the pitch of the unscrewing thread path formed by the segments of the first and second threads is relatively small in the first region and relatively large in the second region offset from the first region in the unscrewing direction. The pitch of the thread path in the first region is preferably substantially constant. The first region typically includes a position in which the lid is sealed on the neck of the container. Preferably, the first region extends 20-40 ° around the circumference of the neck of the container or skirt of the lid. Preferably, the pitch of the lower surface of the thread in the first region is in the range of 1-12 °, more preferably 2-8 °.

Preferably, the second region is located adjacent to the first region of the thread path. Preferably, the pitch of the screw path of the thread in the second region is substantially constant, and the second region preferably extends 15-35 ° around the circumference of the neck of the container or skirt of the cap. Preferably, the pitch of the thread path in the second region is between 15-35 °.

The use of variable pitch threads makes it easy to combine quick-turn threads with a steep average slope, which are convenient for the elderly and children with pressure protection. A problem that can occur with quick-turn threads is that they are oblique, which leads to a tendency to unscrew from a fully fixed position on the neck of the container when the container is under pressure. This problem can be eliminated by using bayonet-type threads, but using bayonet-type threads leads to a number of other problems, as described above. In contrast, variable-pitch threads eliminate the problem of unscrewing the cap under pressure, while preserving all the benefits of continuous threads with quick rotation.

Preferably, the screw path of the unscrew thread further comprises a third region adjacent to the second region in which the third region has a relatively shallow pitch. Preferably, the third region has a relatively constant pitch, preferably in the range of 1-12 °, more preferably 2-8 °. The third region preferably includes a lid position on the neck of the container when the lid is locked in an intermediate gas discharge position. The relatively small pitch of the third region reduces the tendency of the lid to block the locking means at high gas outlet pressures.

Accordingly, the container and lid assemblies in accordance with the present invention comprise additional locking elements on the container neck and lid that block or prevent unscrewing of the lid from the sealed position on the container neck until a minimum opening torque is applied. For example, the locking elements may comprise a longitudinal locking rib on one of the container neck or cover skirt and an additional locking inclined plane on the other from the container neck or cover skirt, the locking rib adjacent to the holding edge of the locking inclined plane when the cover is fully fixed to the container neck.

In some embodiments, the first and second locking protrusions (side stops) overlap in the longitudinal direction with segments of the first and / or second threads when the lid is in said fully engaged position on the neck of the container. In other words, the first and second locking protrusions are not located completely above or below the threads (the terms above and below refer to relative positions along the longitudinal axis of the assembly), but are located at least partially around the circumference between the threads. Side stops are preferably located near the end of the threads. This makes it possible to make the entire thread assembly more compact in the longitudinal (vertical) direction, thereby reducing the total amount of molding material needed to make the assembly and the space occupied by the assembly. In some embodiments, this also makes it possible to make the thread on the neck more suitable for consumption directly from the neck.

Typically, the first and second locking elements are located near the lower end of the threads with the cap fully secured to the container. Preferably, the first and / or second locking protrusions do not extend beneath the lower edge of the first or second thread segments when the cap is in the aforementioned fully engaged position on the neck of the container. The term “lower” refers to the portion of the neck thread that is farthest from the opening of the neck of the container. In such assemblies, the locking protrusions are preferably arranged substantially completely circumferentially between the threads, and not above or below the threads. Preferably, the locking protrusions on the neck are not connected at the lower edge to the peripheral flange or protrusion (for example, the protrusion used to hold the tape to protect against unauthorized opening), thereby increasing the flexibility of the locking protrusions and increasing the noise of the “click when closing”.

In addition to the foregoing, at least one and, preferably, both of the additional locking protrusions on the neck and / or cover are substantially separate from the thread segments and can be bent substantially independently of the thread segments to provide a snap-fit installation with a clearly audible click when reaching the fully fixed position of the lid on the neck. Basically, the radial innermost upper part of the second locking element on the cap skirt passes through the radial outermost upper part of the first locking element on the neck of the container when approaching a fully fixed position. In this case, the second blocking element passes again through the outermost upper part of the first blocking element when the cover is removed from the fixed position, for example, when the assembly is opened.

At least one and, preferably, both of the additional locking protrusions on the neck and / or lid have a length in the longitudinal direction (i.e., along the axis of rotation of the lid assembly) of about 1-6 mm, for example, about 2-4 mm. At least one and preferably both of the additional locking protrusions on the neck and / or lid have a height of about 0.25-2 mm, for example, about 0.5-1.5 mm. In any case, the height of the locking protrusions is usually less than the average height of the respective thread segments. At least one and, preferably, both of the additional locking protrusions on the neck and / or cover have a maximum width (i.e., along the circumference of the neck or skirt of the cover) of about 0.5-3 mm, for example, about 1-2 mm . At least one and, preferably, both of the additional locking protrusions on the neck and / or lid have a ratio of maximum height to maximum width of at least about 0.5, more preferably at least 1, for example, about 1-5.

In suitable embodiments, the first locking protrusion is lapped in the longitudinal direction with the upper end of the first thread segment and at a circumferential distance from it. In other embodiments, the second locking protrusion is lapped in the longitudinal direction with the lower end of the second thread segment and at a circumferential distance from it. These latter embodiments are preferred since the first locking protrusions are then located further from the opening of the neck of the container. The circumferential distance between the protrusions and corresponding thread segments in these embodiments is typically about 1-10 mm, for example, about 1-4 mm. In these embodiments, the blocking protrusions spaced apart in a circumferential direction can be aligned with the thread segments of another member of the assembly when the assembly is screwed together. That is, protrusions located at a distance in the circumferential direction may form part of the thread path on the cap or neck. For example, in the case where the relatively long segments of the threads on the cap skirt form a path for the relatively short segments of the threads on the neck of the container, the locking protrusions on the cap skirt can be spaced apart in a circumferential direction from the lower end of the relatively long segments of the threads on the cap skirt and can, thus, to form an elongation at the approach of the thread path, followed by segments of threads on the neck when using the cap on the neck. This method of using the locking protrusions to form an elongation of the thread path on one of the neck or cover eliminates the problem of forming large locking protrusions that overlap with the threads but do not interfere with the passage of threads. The locking protrusions are usually arranged in a line, and, so to speak, are extensions of the thread path on one of the neck or cover. Accordingly, the locking protrusions are the protrusions described in WO-A-2005058720.

The nodes in accordance with the present invention may contain more than one pair of complementary locking protrusions on the neck of the container and the lid. Preferably, at least two such complementary pairs are radially spaced about each other around the neck and lid skirts. Typically, at least one pair will be located for each thread entry, for example, four pairs may be radially spaced apart from each other around the neck and cap skirt.

Said sealing position of the lid on the neck is thus usually the first angular position in the screwing direction, in which the locking protrusions are in the locking engagement, i.e. usually in combination.

Accordingly, the locking protrusions on the neck and the skirt of the lid are arranged in a circle so that they are aligned when the lid is in the aforementioned tight position on the neck of the container. That is, the protrusion on the lid passes through one side of the corresponding protrusion on the neck of the container and is in alignment with the opposite side of the corresponding protrusion on the neck of the container in the aforementioned fully closed and sealing position. This ensures that no gap is formed in the lid in said completely closed and sealing position. This ensures that there is no gap in the cap in the aforementioned closed and sealing position, which may allow leakage through the seal. Preferably, when the protrusions are in alignment in the closed and sealing position, the cover skirt and / or protrusions are still slightly bent, so that an elastic force is applied between the protrusions in alignment. This elastic force is converted by the combination of torque to close between the cover and the neck, which pushes the roof into a fully closed and sealing position. This can ensure that the corresponding sealing surfaces of the neck of the container and the lid are automatically arranged on top of each other, even if the lid cannot be screwed on particularly tightly. In addition, the locking protrusions provide low manufacturing tolerances when forming the assembly, since effective sealing is achieved in a wider range of angular tight positions due to the interaction between the locking protrusions and the radial deformation of the cover skirt.

The advantages of the locking protrusions that push the cover into the sealing position are described in detail in WO 93/01098.

The complementary locking elements in accordance with the present invention provide a number of other important advantages, in addition to pushing the cover into a fully fixed and sealed position, as described above. First of all, they prevent accidental unscrewing of the lid from a fully engaged and sealed position on the neck of the container due to the pressure of the inside of the container. These elements make it possible to use more inclined threads and freely passing (parallel) threads without the risk of spontaneous unscrewing of the cap. The use of more inclined threads, in turn, facilitate the removal and re-securing of the cover.

In some embodiments, the locking elements in accordance with the present invention can also provide a well-defined “click” upon reaching the fully engaged and sealing position of the lid on the neck of the container, thereby indicating to the user that the lid is in the closed (sealing) position. This system also ensures that it is the appropriate compression ratio that is applied between the container and the lid to achieve an effective airtight seal.

Accordingly, the closure assembly in accordance with the present invention further comprises a protruding abutment surface on one of the neck of the container and the skirt of the cap for alignment with a second stopper or thread on the other of the neck of the container and the skirt of the cap to prevent over tightening at a predetermined angular tight position of the cap on neck of the container. The stop elements act in conjunction with a locking device to ensure that a suitable degree of screwing of the cap is achieved to ensure a tight seal by the sealing device of the present invention. The abutment surfaces may be in alignment in said sealed position of the lid on the neck, or they may be very close to alignment, for example, within less than about 2 mm, respectively, less than about 1 mm from alignment in said sealed position to ensure manufacturing tolerances .

Suitable locking and locking devices are described in detail in WO 2005/058720.

The closure assembly also accordingly contains an anti-tamper protection element. The security element preferably includes a first opening ring, which is initially made integrally with the skirt of the container lid and connected to its lower edge by one or more fragile partitions. The ring of the first opening is held on the neck of the container when removing the cap from the neck for the first time, respectively, due to the alignment with the lower side of the peripheral retaining edge formed on the neck of the container under the threads.

In some embodiments, the first tamper ring comprises a plurality of flexible, radially extending inwardly integrally retaining rings to hold the ring under the retaining edge. In these embodiments, ratchet protrusions can also be formed on the neck of the container under the peripheral retaining edge and radially spaced apart from each other around the neck to block the rotation of the first opening ring on the neck of the container in the unscrewing direction and thus help to separate the first opening ring from the neck. The design and operation of the first opening ring in accordance with these embodiments may be as described and claimed in our international patent publication WO 94/11267.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described further by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which

figure 1 is a partial longitudinal sectional view of the closure assembly of a container in accordance with the present invention with a cap shown immediately before installation on the neck;

figure 2 is a view partially in longitudinal section and partially in height of the node closure of the container according to figure 1 with a lid in a fully fixed and sealed position on the neck of the container; and

figure 3 is a view in partial longitudinal section of the upper region of the neck of the node closure of the container in accordance with the present invention.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, this embodiment is a container closure assembly especially adapted for a carbonated beverage container. Many features of this assembly are similar to those of the assembly described and claimed in our international patent applications WO 95/05322 and WO 97/21602, as well as WO 99/19228. However, it is important to note that the threads on the cap and neck are modified in the present invention with respect to the closure assemblies described in those applications. That is, earlier patent applications describe in detail assemblies containing short thread segments on the cap skirt and longer neck thread segments, while the present invention describes only short thread neck segments and longer thread segments on the cap skirt.

The assembly in accordance with this embodiment includes a neck 10 of a container for carbonated drinks, and a cover 12. Both the neck of the container and the cover are made of plastic material, but the neck of the container can also be made of glass. The container is preferably made by injection molding and blow molding of polyethylene terephthalate in a manner commonly known for carbonated beverage containers. The cover is preferably made by injection molding or compression molding of polyethylene. The neck of the container has a cylindrical inner surface 13 ending in a rounded edge 14.

With reference to FIG. 3, an embodiment of an edge region of a container neck is shown in more detail. The neck has an inner surface 80, an outer surface 82, and a radially rounded edge 84. An inner surface region 86 adjacent to the radially rounded edge 84 is narrowed at an angle α of about 16 degrees. The outer surface region 88 adjacent to the radially rounded edge 84 is narrowed at an angle β of about 9 degrees. These narrowing areas ensure that a less dramatic increase in the torque for screwing occurs when the sealing plug and the sealing skirt of the cover engage with the neck when approaching the sealed position of the cover on the neck.

On the neck of the vessel 10 is a four-way first fastening thread made up of four segments 16 of the first thread, as shown in FIG. The first thread segments 16 are short thread segments of about 33 ° around the neck and having a lower surface 20 with a relatively fine pitch of about 6 ° and an upper surface 18 with an intermediate pitch of about 13.5 °. The first thread segments have a substantially trapezoidal cross section along the axis of the neck.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the cap 12 comprises a base 22 and a skirt 24. The cap skirt 24 comprises a second fastening thread formed of four elongated second thread segments 26, each having a lower thread surface 30 and an upper thread surface 32. (The term “upper” in this context means closer to the base of the lid, i.e. farther from the open end of the lid). The upper and lower threads 32, 30 of the thread segments of the thread form essentially trapezoidal side edges that are complementary to the shape of the segments of the first thread. A substantially continuous approximately helical thread path for the first thread segments is formed between adjacent second thread segments 26.

A feature of this assembly is the profiling of the upper surfaces of 32 second thread segments 26, which is described in more detail in our international patent application WO 97/21602. The upper thread surfaces 32 in the first upper region have a substantially constant pitch of only about 6 °. The upper region is aligned with an intermediate region having a substantially constant, much larger pitch of about 25 °. The average pitch of the helical path of the thread formed by segments 26 of the second thread is 13.5 °.

Second thread segments 26 also include a pressure protection element similar to the feature described and claimed in our international patent application WO 95/05322. Briefly, the lowest portion of the second thread segment 26 forms a step 38 for aligning with the first end 40 of the first thread segments 16 and blocking the unscrewing of the cap 12 from the neck 10 when said first thread segments 16 are in alignment with the upper surface 32, i.e. when the resulting force acts axially on the lid from the neck of the container. The third region of the upper surfaces 32 of the segments of the second thread, located next to the ledge 38, also has a shallow pitch of about 6 °.

The closure assembly also contains complementary locking elements on the neck of the container and the lid to block the unscrewing of the lid from the fully engaged position on the neck of the container until a minimum torsional moment for unscrewing is applied. These locking elements comprise four first locking protrusions 44 radially spaced apart from each other on the neck of the container and four second locking protrusions 46 radially spaced apart from each other on the inside of the lid skirt 24. The protrusions on the neck of the container are located at the bottom of the thread, where they are least visible to a person drinking directly from the neck of the container. The locking protrusions 46 on the skirt of the cap are placed at a level with the bottom of the threads 26 on the skirt and are radially spaced about 2 mm from the bottom of the threads 26 on the skirt. The locking protrusions on the cap skirt 24 are formed as a continuation of the cap thread segments 26, whereby the thread segments 16 on the neck 10 can extend smoothly behind the locking protrusions on the neck when securing the cap on the neck.

Each of the locking protrusions 44, 46 is made essentially in the form of a triangular prism having its long axis coinciding with the axis of the closure assembly. The height of each locking protrusion is about 1.5 mm, and the width of the base is about 1.5 mm. This ensures that the protrusions have sufficient strength to snap into each other without permanent deformation.

Each of the second thread segments 26 includes a longitudinally extending upward portion 48, which forms a longitudinal abutment surface with which the second end 50 of one of the first thread segments 16 can be aligned when the cap is fully secured to the neck to block unscrewing of the cap on the neck.

The cover comprises a cylindrical sealing plug 52. The cover further comprises a cylindrical sealing skirt 54, which is substantially concentric with the sealing plug. The sealing plug 52 and the sealing skirt 54 are concentric with the threaded skirt 24 and are located inside the threaded skirt 24 for sealing alignment with opposite sides of the neck of the container, located in close proximity to the edge 14.

The sealing plug 52 is an olive-shaped sealing plug containing a convex protrusion 56 on its radial outer surface, which forms a seal on the inner surface of the neck of the container when used.

The sealing skirt 54 has a concave region 58 on its radial inner surface. Two small peripheral sealing ribs 60 of essentially triangular section protrude inward from the concave region. The peripheral sealing ribs on the sealing skirt have a substantially isosceles triangular cross section and a height of approximately 159 micrometers in an unstressed state. However, they are deformed when pressed against a harder material (glass or polyethylene terephthalate) the neck of the container to form a tight seal. The small dimensions of the sealing ribs 60 make it possible to achieve a tight seal without the significant effort required to be applied to the sealing skirt 54 to form a seal.

The container closure assembly according to this embodiment also comprises an anti-tamper element. It includes a ring 66 of the first opening, which was originally made integrally with the skirt 24 of the lid 12 of the container and connected to it using brittle partitions 64. Ring 66 of the first opening contains many made in one piece, flexible, radially oriented inwardly holding tabs 70 A peripheral retaining flange 72 is formed on the neck of the container 10. Ratchet protrusions (not shown in this embodiment) can also be formed on the neck of the container under the peripheral retaining collar 72 and radially spaced apart from each other around the neck of the container to block the rotation of the first opening ring 66 on the neck of the container in the unscrewing direction. However, grinding or eliminating ratchet protrusions may be preferred to enhance the usability of the neck. The design and operation of the first opening ring are described and claimed in our international patent application WO 94/11267.

In use, the cap 12 is secured to the neck of the container 10 by screwing in the usual manner. There are four thread starts, and cover 12 can be moved from a fully disengaged position to a fully engaged position on the neck of the container by turning approximately 90 °. It can be seen that the thread segments 16 on the neck first extend beyond the upper end of the locking protrusions 46 on the cover skirt and are thus guided into the helical thread path. In other words, the locking protrusions 46 on the skirt 24 form an initial extension of the helical path of the thread, followed by segments 16 of the thread on the neck. Thus, the locking protrusions on the skirt do not impede or block the free passage of threads.

When the cap is screwed, usually the resulting axial force exerted by the user on the cap acts on the neck of the container, and therefore, the segments 16 of the first thread on the neck align with the lower surfaces 30 of the segments 26 of the second thread on the cap and move along them. Thus, it can be seen that the first thread segments 16 follow a substantially continuous path along a helical line with a variable pitch. The first and second threads are freely passing, which means that there is essentially no frictional torque between the segments of the threads until a fully engaged position is reached. These elements, from a plurality of thread strokes, turning the cap 90 ° to a substantially continuous path of the thread and freely passing threads, provide very easy fastening of the cap on the neck of the container, especially for elderly or arthritic people or children.

As the lid approaches a fully engaged position on the neck of the container 10, several things happen. Firstly, the ring 66 of the first opening begins to move through the retaining flange 72 on the neck of the container. The retaining tabs 70 on the first opening ring 66 are bent radially outward to allow the first opening ring 66 to pass through the retaining collar 72 without excessive radial impact on the brittle partitions 64.

Secondly, the initial alignment between the sealing plug 52 and the sealing skirt 54 at the base of the container lid results in a resulting axial force acting on the lid in the direction from the container neck. It pushes the thread segments 16 out of alignment with the lower surfaces 30 of the protruding sections of the second thread segments 26 in alignment with the upper surfaces 32 of the protruding sections of the second thread segments 26. More specifically, this brings the first thread segments 16 in alignment with the upper thread surfaces 32. Continuous rotation of the cap in the direction of screwing causes the first thread segments 16 to move along the upper regions until the fully engaged position shown in FIG. 2 is reached. The fine pitch of the upper surfaces means that this extra rotation applies a large amount of torque (acting like a cam) to press the sealing plug 52 and sealing skirt 54 against the edge of the container 14 to achieve an effective gas-tight seal. The concave inner surface 58 of the sealing skirt 54 corresponds to a curved container other than 14 to form an effective seal without significant deformation of the sealing skirt 54.

Thirdly, upon reaching the fully closed position, the locking protrusions 46 on the skirt of the lid are bent and moved through the complementary locking protrusions 44 on the neck of the container. In the fully closed position, the complementary locking tabs remain in alignment so that the skirt of the cover is still slightly deformed. The elastic restoring force exerted by the cover skirt is converted by the protrusions 44, 46 to the closing torque acting on the assembly, which helps to ensure that a sufficiently large sealing force is applied to the different sealing surfaces of the assembly. It should be understood that this effect, together with the relatively large size of the protrusions 44, 46, ensures effective sealing even if the locking protrusions 44, 46 are not molded with a very tight tolerance.

As a result, when reaching or assuming a fully engaged position of the cap 12 on the neck of the container 10, the second ends 50 of the first thread segments 16 can be aligned with the stops 48 protruding from the second thread segments 26, thereby preventing further tightening of the cap, which could damage the threads and / or deform sealing tabs and ribs on the cover.

When the lid 12 is in a fully engaged position on the neck of the container 10, the lower surfaces 20 of the first thread segments 16 are aligned with the upper regions of the upper thread surfaces 32 of the protruding portions of the second thread segments 26, as shown in FIG. The lower surface 20 of the segments 16 of the first thread has a small step to match the pitch of the indicated upper regions in order to maximize the contact area between the protruding sections in these regions and, thus, distribute the axial force exerted by the lid as uniformly as possible around the neck of the container. Due to the fine pitch in the upper regions, the relatively small axial force arising from the neck of the container due to the pressure inside the container is converted into rotational force for unscrewing due to the alignment between the surfaces of the thread in this position. This significantly reduces the tendency of the cap to unscrew spontaneously under pressure. Spontaneous unscrewing is also prevented by aligning between the first and second locking protrusions 44, 46. The advantage of the assembly is that the reduced tendency to spontaneous unscrewing due to the fine thread pitch in the lower regions means that the minimum torque for opening the locking protrusions 44, 46 can be reduced without the risk of spontaneous blowing air through the cover. This makes it easier for elderly or arthritic people or children to remove the cap without reducing the protection against pressure from the cap.

In a fully engaged and sealed position, the lid is mounted on the neck of the container, as shown in FIG. Both the sealing skirt 54 and the sealing plug 52 are radially slightly flexible for engagement with the sealing lip. The convex protrusion on the sealing plug and the peripheral sealing ribs on the sealing skirt engage with opposite sides of the sealing lip 14, and clamp the lip between them to form a very effective seal. The overall effect is to provide a sealing clip to grip the top of the container neck.

In use, the lid is removed from the neck of the container by simply unscrewing. An initial minimum torque for unscrewing is necessary to overcome the resistance of the locking protrusions 44, 46. When overcoming this resistance, torque is not essentially required for the user to unscrew the cap. The internal pressure in the container exerts axial force on the cap away from the neck of the container, as a result of which the first thread segments 16 move along the upper surfaces 32 of the second thread segments 26 when the cap is unscrewed. The first thread segments 16 first move along the upper regions and then along the inclined intermediate regions of the upper surface of the second thread segments 20. The first thread segments 16 are then aligned with the shoulder (lower protruding portion) of the 38 second thread segments 26. In this position, further unscrewing of the cap is blocked while gas is released along the paths of the threads. It should also be noted that in this intermediate gas discharge position, the first thread segments 16 are aligned mainly with the region of the upper surface of the second thread segments 26. A small step of this area leads to a relatively small axial force acting on the caps, which is converted to a torque for unscrewing, thereby reducing the tendency of the cap to block the pressure protection element and release air.

Upon completion of the gas discharge from the neck of the container, so that the axial upward force no longer acts on the cap, the cap may lower to bring the thread segments 16 in alignment with the lower surfaces 30 of the second thread segments 26. In this position, unscrewing can continue to completely disengage the cap from the neck of the container.

The sealing device in the assemblies in accordance with the present invention provides for fastening and re-securing the lid on the neck of the container without the need for large torque or fine-pitch threads for forcing. It can be seen that the assembly of the present invention provides at least peripheral seals having high seal pressure over the entire range of temperatures and pressures commonly found in carbonated beverage containers. In addition, it can be seen that the lid is suitable for use on the neck of containers having rounded top edges, such as the neck of glass containers and the neck of plastic containers having a rounded edge to facilitate drinking from the neck. The disadvantages associated with the use of soft gaskets in the lid are eliminated, in particular, the lids in accordance with the present invention can be repeatedly fixed to the neck of the container without damage or loss of efficiency.

The characteristics of the container closure assembly in accordance with this embodiment used for a polyethylene terephthalate container for a carbonated beverage were investigated during long-term storage at 38 ° C. (high temperature / pressure test). The assembly complied with the most stringent industry standard established for this Bericap closure in accordance with WO 98/35881, but with less and more controlled torque for opening and closing compared to Bericap closure. In addition, the assembly of the present invention was significantly superior in performance to the closure WO 98/35881 in this test.

The above embodiments have been described by way of example only. Many other embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

Claims (18)

1. The node closure capacity, containing:
a container neck (10) having side walls forming a hole at one end thereof and an edge (14, 84) extending around the hole;
a cover (12) for said neck (10), the cover (12) comprising a base (22) and a threaded skirt (24);
first mounting thread (16) on the neck (10);
a second mounting thread (26) on the inner surface of the threaded skirt of the cover (12);
wherein said first (16) and second (26) fastening threads are configured to secure, remove and reattach the cap (12) by the user in the sealing position on the neck (10) by rotating the cap (12) on the neck (10), wherein no part of the lid (12) is in contact with the upper surface of the edge (14, 84) of the container in the sealing position;
a sealing plug (52) extending from said base (22) of the inside of the cover (12) and concentric with said threaded skirt (24) of the cover (12); and
a sealing skirt (52) extending from said cap base (22) between said sealing plug (52) and said threaded skirt (24) of cover (12) and substantially concentric with said sealing plug (52) and said threaded skirt (24) the cover (12), while the region (58) of the radial inner surface of the sealing skirt (54) is concave for engagement with the outer surface of the neck (10) of the container closest to the mentioned edge (14, 84) when fixing the cover (12) on the neck ( 10) capacities, and at least one peripheral sealing its rib (60) is formed in said concave region (58) of said sealing skirt (54),
characterized in that the sealing plug (52) is an olive-shaped sealing plug for forming a seal with the inner surface (13) of the neck of the container (10) when securing the cover (12) on the neck of the container (10), said cap (12) being biased towards said neck (10) from said sealing position by applying axial force without rotation of the cover (12) on the neck (10) and essentially without plastic deformation of the cover (12). 2. The container closure assembly of claim 1, wherein the displacement from said sealing position is an elastic displacement. 3. The container closure assembly according to claim 1, wherein the container edge (14, 84) is substantially completely rounded in longitudinal section. 4. The container closure assembly according to claim 1, wherein the inner (80) and / or outer (82) surfaces of the neck of the container mating with the edge (84) are slightly narrowed (86, 88). 5. The container closure assembly according to claim 1, wherein the inner diameter of the sealing skirt (54) at half height is about 0.05 mm to about 0.5 mm smaller than the outer diameter of the container neck (10). 6. The container closure assembly according to claim 1, wherein the outer surface of the sealing skirt (54) does not abut against the inner surface of the threaded skirt (24) or the base (22) of the cover when the cover (12) is in a fixed and sealing position on the neck (10). 7. A container closure assembly according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said peripheral sealing ribs (60) has a substantially triangular section. 8. The container closure assembly according to claim 7, wherein at least one of the sealing ribs (60) has a height ranging from about 10 to about 250 micrometers. 9. The container closure assembly according to claim 1, wherein the lid (12) is a low-profile lid having an axial height from the upper part of the base (22) to the lower part of the threaded skirt (24), but with the exception of the first opening ring (66), mounted on the lid (12), comprising from about 10 mm to about 15 mm. 10. The container closure assembly according to claim 1, wherein the lid (12) can be fixed and re-secured to the neck (10) of the container due to one smooth rotation of 180 ° or less. 11. The container closure assembly according to claim 1, wherein the first (16) and second (26) threads are multi-thread. 12. The container closure assembly of claim 1 or 11, wherein the first (16) and second (26) threads are substantially continuous screw threads. 13. The container closure assembly according to claim 1, wherein the container and lid (12) further comprise complementary locking elements (44, 46) on the neck (10) of the container and lid (12) that block or prevent unscrewing of the lid (12) from a fully fixed position on the neck of the tank (10) until the specified minimum torque for opening is applied. 14. The container closure assembly of claim 13, wherein said complementary locking elements comprise first (44) and second (46) locking protrusions on the container neck (10) and the threaded cover skirt, and each said first locking protrusion (44) is located in the longitudinal direction of the lap with the upper end of the first thread segment (16) and located circumferentially at a distance from it, or the said second locking protrusion (46) is located in the longitudinal direction of the lap with the lower end of the second thread segment (26) and is located along circumference at a distance from it, as a result of which the first or second locking protrusion (44, 46) forms an extension of the trajectory of the thread formed by the segments (16, 26) of thread on the neck (10) or cover (12). 15. The container closure assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a protruding abutment surface (50) on one of the container neck (10) and the cover skirt (24) for abutting to the second stopper or thread on the other of the container neck or neck (10) (12) to prevent excessive tightening of the lid (12) behind the predetermined angular sealing position of the lid (12) on the neck (10) of the container. 16. The container closure assembly according to claim 1, wherein the torque required to secure the cover (12) in a sealed position on the neck (10) of the container is from about 0.7 to about 0.9 Nm. 17. The container closure assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the container is a beverage container. 18. The container closure assembly of claim 17, wherein the container holds a carbonated beverage.

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