WO2015121217A1

WO2015121217A1 - Closure cap that can be used as a building block

Info

Publication number: WO2015121217A1
Application number: PCT/EP2015/052693
Authority: WO
Inventors: Daniel IJVER
Original assignee: Bericap Gmbh & Co. Kg
Priority date: 2014-02-17
Filing date: 2015-02-10
Publication date: 2015-08-20
Also published as: WO2015121217A9; EP3107830A1; DE102014101984A1; RU2016135527A

Abstract

The present invention relates to a closure cap for liquid containers, consisting of a cap skirt (2) running around a closure axis and of a top plate (1) which closes one end side of the cap skirt (2), while the opposite end side of the cap skirt (2) has a cap opening for receiving a container mouth, wherein the closure cap has engagement elements on the circumferential rim of its top plate (1) and on the circumferential rim of the cap opening, which engagement elements ensure an axial holding-together of two such closure caps by axially plugging the opening rim of one of the closure caps onto the rim of the top plate of the other closure cap. In order to provide a closure cap having the aforementioned features, which allows easy axial plugging-together of at least two such closure caps and also easy and safe detachment, and which nevertheless at the same time offers a sufficiently secure holding-together of the plugged-together closure caps, by which even a relatively large number of axially plugged-together closure caps hold together reliably, wherein the closure can be relatively easily produced by injection moulding and removed from the mould, it is proposed according to the invention that in each case at least one circumferential protrusion or a plurality of radial protrusions (5, 6) distributed around the circumference are provided both on the rim (4) of the top plate and on the opening rim (3), which protrusions define axial undercuts (12), wherein the at least one protrusion or the plurality of protrusions (5, 6) on at least one of the parts (rim of the top plate and/or opening rim) is or are provided on a web (7) which extends at least partially axially and in the circumferential direction and which is bendable in the radial direction.

Description

Can be used as a component cap

The present invention relates to a closure cap for liquid containers, which can also be used as a building block and which consists of a cap sleeve surrounding a closure axis and a top plate which closes one end side of the cap shell, while the opposite end side of the cap shell has a cap opening for receiving a container mouth having.

A corresponding closure cap is known, for example, from WO 201 1/063428. Numerous sealing caps for liquid containers are known in the prior art, wherein for the present invention neither the exact contents of the containers nor details of the closure cap are important, which concern their usual functional capacity and adaptation to special container shapes or requirements for tightness and manipulation safety. By "liquid container" is thus any container for a pourable substance, which could also be a powder or granules to understand, and also the cap can take many different forms, but according to the invention basically has a circumferential cap coat, which often the shape a cylinder jacket, but not necessarily cylindrical, with a top plate closing one end face of the circumferential cap skirt while the opposite end side of the cap skirt is open and thus having a cap opening into which a container neck with a container mouth can be inserted to allow the cap The closure cap seals the container mouth or container opening tightly by engagement with the container neck or the container mouth. Such closure caps are often essentially cylindrical screw caps, but can also be caps with snap edge and caps with non-cyl Indian cross sections, for example, with a more or less elliptical cross section or the like act.

Known from WO 201 1/063428 A1 cap has at its outer periphery as well as at its upper and lower axial end cooperating engagement elements, which allow two identical caps both along its axis and laterally via the engagement of corresponding fasteners on Cap jacket to communicate with each other. The corresponding caps are then connected to each other both radially and in the axial direction. Such caps may be of particular interest to children or consumers having children, especially for products often to be purchased in liquid containers, such as drinks sold in corresponding bottles which can be closed with such a closure cap.

By repeatedly purchasing such products, which are in containers of such types, the buyer can, over time, collect a relatively large number of closures, which can then be used as a building block for playing and crafting. In principle, both WO 201 1/063428 and JP 2004-149216 A referred to in the search report follow this approach.

In the practical implementation of this principle of using a container closure as a building block, which can be connected to similar other building blocks in at least one direction, however, considerable difficulties arise. The buyer only has an incentive to buy products that are bottled in sealed containers if he does not have to pay a high surcharge for a special container closure. Therefore, in order to be successful in the market, the cost of making such closures must be marginally higher than the cost of manufacturing conventional closures, so that the product in question does not have to be sold more expensively than competing products. The consumer should rather at least approximately equal price solely due to the additional benefit given by the shutter to access that product whose container has a usable as a block closure that allows the most interesting and varied games or crafts.

The focus of the problem is the cost-effective production of appropriate closures in the injection molding production, specifically in the demolding of the closures in an injection molding machine. By demolding, the skilled person understands the removal or ejection of the finished closure from an injection mold in which the closure is previously made by injecting liquid plastic into a cavity corresponding to an exact three-dimensional imprint of the closure.

In injection molding machines, the corresponding shapes are a significant cost factor. The molds are relatively complex machine elements that move within very short times, ie concrete must be opened and closed in order to form each cavity in the closed state, in which the plastic is injected, and then to be reopened, so that Closure in the open state can be ejected from the mold. Such injection molds usually have a plurality of cavities, for example between 24 and 144 cavities, each cavity having the tool elements for forming a cavity for a single closure, but these cavities are combined on a single tool, so that for the production corresponding injection-molded closures in parallel, for example, close and open 96 cavities or individual molds for closures. The cycle times for the entire process: "Close" - "Injection" - "Open" - "Eject" are within seconds. The exact movements of the individual tool elements for opening and closing the molds ultimately depend on the specific shape of the closures to be produced.

Complex shapes and part movements not only make the mold very expensive but also reduce the reliability of the injection mold in operation. Therefore, of course one tries to keep the complexity of the molds or the injection mold as small as possible. This also means to keep the number of moving parts and the possible directions of movement of the individual parts in a cavity as low as possible.

In the case of closures of the type mentioned at the outset with a circumferential cap casing which often but not necessarily has the basic shape of a cylinder jacket, one side of which is closed by a so-called top plate, while the opposite end is open to receive a container neck, it is of course possible to open and closing movement of the injection molds parallel to the axis of such closure. It is understood that such a closure axis is also present or can be determined if the cap jacket is not cylindrical, but is elliptical in plan view, for example, or also assumes a rounded rectangular shape or other shape, wherein, for example, the centroid, the top plate closing such a shell defines the passage point of an axis extending perpendicularly to the top plate, which may be a "closure axis" in the sense of the present invention.

In the case of a cap with a more or less cylindrical or slightly conical or crowned cap coat with a circular Ouerschnitt the closure axis is of course the cylinder axis or cone axis extending through the centers of corresponding circular cross sections.

For the attachment of caps of the above type different means are provided, with screw closures are very often used in the case of mass products. Basically, however, the present invention is not limited to screw caps, but could also be applied to snaps that a Snap edge, which can engage behind the corresponding projection on a container neck when it is placed or pressed onto such a container neck.

Both closures with snap edge and screw closures effectively form axial undercuts, that is to say in an axial plan view of the open end of the closure cap, a snap edge or corresponding threads project radially inwards, so that, viewed in the axial direction, behind these radial projections Free spaces arise, which are referred to here as axial undercuts. In the case of the thread, the axial undercuts of course serve to receive corresponding threads or thread ridges of a container neck and thereby secure the cap in the closed state on the container neck, wherein a snap edge acts in a similar manner, for example, engages behind a circumferential bead on the container neck so that the bead is received in the axial undercut formed behind the snap edge.

It is understood that such undercuts during demolding, that is, the axial apart of corresponding molds and thereby exposing and expelling the molded closure, a problem, since the closure material at the time of demolding is still relatively soft, so the radial projections (the axial undercuts could easily be damaged or simply removed and leveled or "ironed flat", if the material can not escape elastically to the opposite side.In one-sided (concrete on the inside) existing axial undercuts, such as an internal thread is a Such problem can be controlled by appropriately controlled movement sequences when opening the mold, namely, by first pulling the cap casing from the outside (where no axial undercuts are provided) comprising parts of the mold axially withdrawn and removed from the closure ground and only then the mold core, which defines the inner contour of the cap including, for example, a corresponding internal thread, stripped, d. h is pulled axially out of the finished closure.

The still-warm closure material (generally polyolefin) is sufficiently soft and elastic and yields when the thread defining die elements slide axially over the threads formed in the closure, with the cap skirt expanding slightly radially and then contracting elastically again. It is crucially important that the outer moldings are already removed, so that the cap casing can move radially outwardly during removal of the core and thus preserve the inner undercuts. However, this requires, as already mentioned, that initially the tool parts of the injection mold, which define the outside of the closure, are withdrawn or removed and only then the extraction of the mandrel, which defines the interior of the cap, takes place.

Since in closures with internal axial undercuts the outer moldings must be removed first, corresponding axial undercuts on the outside of container closures are avoided as a rule. Indeed, as long as the mandrel is inside the closure, no closure parts can deflect radially inward, and one would have the same problem as described above for demoulding the mandrel when the outer moldings have not yet been removed. As long as the inner mold core is not retracted yet, the outer mold elements would smooth out and remove all outer axial undercuts during axial removal. Although there is in principle the possibility to produce with the help of radially movable mold jaws additional outer undercuts, but this makes the mold much more complicated, less reliable and each cavity more space consuming, which would extend the cycle times. The closures would then no longer be economical to produce. On the other hand, axial undercuts on the outside of the closure would be useful elements for the use of the closure as a building block.

One disadvantage of the closures known from WO 201 1/063428 A1 is, inter alia, that for the axial connection an interference fit between a plurality of teeth located on the inside of the opening edge, with a corresponding plurality of stepped recesses on the outer edge the top plate are provided. As an alternative, a kind of bayonet coupling is proposed.

Both proposals are injection molding technology not or only with considerable effort to implement and therefore not feasible in practice competitive. The dimensional tolerances of injection-molded screw caps are typically about 0.1 to 0.2 mm, based on the diameter of diametrically opposed closure elements. A safe and at the same time not too difficult engagement in the form of an interference fit between projecting teeth and rectangular recesses, as described in the above-mentioned document, can not be achieved in this way. Due to the dimensional tolerances there is either the risk that the mated parts very easily separate from each other or have such a tight interference fit that mating is not possible or only badly possible and certainly not of children who are the main target for Such toys are to be mastered. A bayonet coupling, however, again represents an axial undercut on the outside, their production is not trivial and generally requires radially movable mold jaws. The variety of small teeth and recesses provided in accordance with the above prior art also makes the production of corresponding molds expensive and also at the expense of functional reliability

Compared to this prior art, the present invention seeks to provide a closure cap with the features mentioned, which allows a simple axial mating of at least two such caps and also the release in a simpler and safer way, while still sufficient provides firm cohesion of the plugged caps, through which holds a larger number of axially mated caps together securely, the closure is injection molding technology in a relatively simple manner and demoldable.

This object is achieved in that both at the edge of the top plate and at the opening edge at least one circumferential or more circumferentially distributed radial projections are provided which define axial undercuts, wherein the at least one or more projections on at least one of the parts ( Edge of the top plate or opening edge) is provided on a at least partially axially and circumferentially extending web or are, which is bendable in the radial direction.

The formation of the projection or the projections on a web or in the form of a web or web portion which extends in the circumferential direction and at least partially axially, means that in addition to defined by the projection or web anyway axial undercut even when viewed in the radial Direction from the outside a (radial) undercut exists. The undercuts form, each seen from the side facing away from the undercut (axially or radially), respectively free spaces behind the web, into which the web is movable at a corresponding load.

This concrete form of projections on an at least partially axially extending web along at least a portion of the opening edge or the edge of the top plate thus allows already during the demolding of the outer mold parts sufficient radial mobility of the web with the (or the) formed thereon radial undercut (s), so that the web is pressed during axial removal of an outer molding by the undercut defining mold section upwards and inwards, and then as- which can snap back elastically, so that the axial undercut on the outside is maintained.

The shape is therefore no more complex than for a closure without external axial Hinterschnei- fertilize and can be opened as usual in the axial direction without damaging the intended undercuts or even eliminate. Correspondingly produced closures then have the advantage that they can latch together during axial mating and hold together sufficiently firmly to be used as building blocks of larger units can.

To clarify the terms used in the present description, it is to be understood that the term "edge of the top plate" does not mean an exact peripheral line or edge terminating the top plate radially outwardly, but essentially the transition region between the top plate and the cap shell or its cap The transition region may also consist of a bevelled connection between the top plate and the cap shell, since the corresponding projections and undercuts have complementary projections and undercuts at the opening edge of the cap skirt must cooperate, the dimensions or the diameter of the edge of the top plate or the one or more provided there webs with the dimensions or the diameter of the opening edge or the projection provided thereon or the Vorsprün and undercuts roughly match. Similarly, the opening edge is not exactly the axially outermost edge of the cap skirt opposite the top plate, but also includes the adjacent region, particularly a portion of the inner wall of the cap skirt near the axially outermost edge of the cap skirt. For clarification, it should be noted that a guarantee ring or the like, which usually connects to the lower free edge of the cap and indicates the integrity of the unopened closure, completely or partially ruptures from the cap skirt upon opening a container closed with the closure, and substantially must be removed before two caps plugged together axially, d. H. can be connected via the engagement of the projections and undercuts on the opening edge and on the top plate

In this case, a corresponding injection molding tool does not have to be significantly more complicated than a tool on which the shaping elements for the radial projections and undercuts are not provided.

For example, it is expedient if the web is provided at the circumferential edge of the top plate, because this requires only minor modifications to a corresponding injection mold. For example, the web is formed by the radially outer portions of the top plate at the transition to the cap skirt by immediately before this outer edge a parallel to the outermost edge notch in the top of the top plate is provided which the radially outside of the notch remaining outer portion of the top plate an at least partially axially extending ridge, which is radially bendable within limits. Such a notch is preferably V-shaped with an opening angle of 30 ° -150 °, preferably 60 ° - 120 °. But only the angular inclination of the wall of the notch on the side of the radially easy to bend web is crucial, since only this must be radially movable and that by a measure, which is substantially the radial depth of an axial undercut on the web or the projection at the edge of the top plate corresponds. This dimension is generally less than 1 mm and typically between 0, 1 and 0.5 mm. Relative to the closure axis, therefore, the wall of the notch bordering the web on its (radial) inner side should have an inclination between 30 ° and 60 ° outwards.

At the same time radially outside this web or on the outside thereof also a circumferential or at least in the region of the web extending radial groove may be provided, which makes the remaining portion of the web to a radial projection, so that the axially underlying radial recess an axial undercut forms, that is seen from the top of the top plate, behind the bridge provided on the web or formed by the web radial projection springs back.

The web thus has expediently on its radially outer side an axial undercut. According to one embodiment, the web is approximately trapezoidal in cross-section, wherein the baseline of the trapezoid to the closure axis inwardly and the height of the trapezoid perpendicular to the baseline to the closure axis is inclined outwardly. In this case, the inclination of a surface inwards is defined such that a line running on the surface and in a plane containing the closure axis intersects the closure axis above the top plate, while a corresponding line on an outwardly inclined surface intersects the closure axis below the top plate, d. H. on the side of the cap opening cuts.

Depending on the intended inclination of the cross-sectionally trapezoidal web, it may be expedient if the outer side of the trapezoid is grooved to form an undercut, that is not straight in section, but is concavely curved.

However, the exact cross-sectional shape of the bridge is not so important and the bridge can assume very different cross-sectional shapes. It is essential that the web or the projection formed thereon in the radial direction is sufficiently movable to an axial On the other hand, it is also sufficiently stable and resistant to ensure the secure locking with a suitable opening edge of a further closure cap. The head plate or the head plate edge expediently has no further axial undercuts except for the undercut formed on the outside of the web.

The opening edge, that is, an axial end portion of the inside of the cap skirt has in one embodiment a radially inwardly projecting bead, which preferably has a rounded Wellenbergform in Ouerschnitt. Such a bead may either be provided completely circumferentially or it may also be interrupted several times, so that this inwardly projecting bead consists of a plurality of sections running along the circumference in the vicinity of the cap opening parallel to the edge of the opening. A corresponding radially inwardly projecting projection on the inside of the opening edge defines an inner diameter of the closure (given by twice the clear distance between the closure axis and the projection, which is at least 0.1 mm, preferably at least 0.2 mm and in particular between 0, 3 mm and 0.5 mm smaller than that defined by a corresponding, radially outwardly projecting bead or projection outer diameter of the projection on the web of the top plate.

The corresponding projection on the web of the top plate and / or the bead on the opening edge may each be formed completely circumferentially, but may be interrupted once or several times in one or both of these parts in the circumferential direction, so that form some web or Wulstabschnitte, which are arranged along the circumference at a distance from each other and are preferably evenly distributed along the circumference. The circumferentially measured length of an uninterrupted land or bead portion should be at least 1/10, preferably at least 1/5 or 1/3 of the inside clear diameter at the opening edge. According to the present invention, further engagement elements are provided for a radial connection with identical or identical closure caps. For this purpose, the cap casing has on its outer side axially extending ribs with lateral (partially extending in the circumferential direction) undercuts. The spacings between the ribs are chosen such that the spaces formed between the adjacent ribs, including the undercuts, have approximately the same cross section as the ribs, which means that the ribs can be inserted axially into the rib spaces, assuming that the rib gaps are open and accessible in the axial direction. In this case, the ribs should extend over at least 50%, preferably over at least 60% of the axial length of the closure cap or the closure cap jacket. Conveniently, such ribs terminate at a distance from the axial position of the top plate so as not to interfere with the axial mating of the shutters, such that the ribs extend over not more than 80 to 90% of the axial length of the closure

In one embodiment, the closure cap is a substantially cylindrical screw cap. Furthermore, in one embodiment of the invention at the opening edge in the axial direction preferably includes a designed as a flex band guarantee strip, which is connected via an easily breakable or easily zusammenreisbare connection with the opening edge.

Preferably, the opening edge and head plate edge are formed so that axially assembled closures are rotatable relative to each other about the closure axis. This is best achieved by the fact that either the web or the projections on the opening edge or on the lower inside of the cap skirt are formed without interruption circumferentially with the same Ouerschnitt. In principle, however, the circumferential web can be interrupted at the edge of the top plate, d. H. consist of several sections, each extending along a peripheral portion and preferably have a non-interrupted length (measured in the circumferential direction), which makes up at least% to 1/3 of the outer diameter of the (discontinuous) web and not less than 5 mm lies..

As far as the ribs and rib gaps for a radial connection of similar closures are concerned, these are expediently designed such that when the at least one of the ribs of a closure cap engages in a rib space of an adjacent closure cap, the two closure caps thus connected are axially displaceable relative to one another. For this purpose, the ribs and rib gaps have a substantially constant cross-section over their length.

This makes it possible, in particular, with sufficient axial length of the ribs and the rib gaps, to connect two axially superimposed and interconnected closures in addition on their outer side by the rib of an adjacent closure cap.

Further advantages, features and possible applications of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment and the associated figures. Show it: 1 a two axially superimposed and assembled closure caps, FIG. 1 b a guarantee ring, which is connected to the opening edge of the closure cap until the closure cap is released on a container neck,

FIG. 1 c shows detail X from FIG. 1 a,

FIG. 2 a shows a plan view of two radially assembled closure caps,

FIG. 2b shows detail Y from FIG. 2a,

3 shows three closure caps, which are connected partly axially and partly radially to one another, FIG. 4a shows a section through an injection mold in the closed state with an injected closure,

FIG. 4b shows the detail X from FIG. 4a,

FIG. 5a shows the injection molding tool according to FIG. 4a shortly after the beginning of a demoulding process, and FIG

FIG. 5b shows detail Y from FIG. 5a. In Figure 1 a can be seen two axially assembled caps, which hold together by a radially inwardly directed projection 5 at the opening edge 3 of the upper closure 10 engages behind a radially outward projection 6 on a web 7, which is approximately along the outer edge a top plate 1 runs. In FIG. 1 b, a so-called flex band, which is a guarantee band, and which is still connected to the opening edge 3 of the closure cap 10 prior to the first separation of a closure cap 10 via easily breakable bridges, can be seen.

As can be clearly seen both in FIG. 1 a and in FIG. 1 c, the outer edge 4 of the head plate 1 is chamfered at its transition to the axially extending cap casing 2 at an angle of approximately 45 ° to the closure axis, wherein this inclined surface extends in cross-section approximately trapezoidal web 7, whose height is inclined to the closure axis outwardly and forms on its outer side an undercut or groove 12, in which a bead 5, which on the inside of the lower opening edge of a closure 10 provided is, intervenes. At the same time, the bead 6, which is formed above the groove ^ on the outside of the trapezoidal web 7, engages behind the bead 5 in the axial undercut 13. Further details of the axial connection of two closure caps will be described in connection with FIGS. 4 and 5. Figures 2a and 2b show the concrete design of ribs and rib gaps on the outside of the cap skirt 2, which serve for a radial connection of adjacent caps. As can be seen in particular in FIG. 3, the closure caps 10 have on their outer side substantially axially extending ribs 8 and rib gaps 9. The respective dovetail-shaped cross section of the ribs and also the rib gaps 9 can best be seen in the enlarged detail Y according to FIG. 2b, which is also shown in FIG. 2a. It is understood that the baseline of the trapezoid defining the dovetail shape is at least 50% longer than the parallel top of this trapezoidal shape, while the height of the ribs and the depth of the rib gaps are about one-third to one-quarter the length of the baseline. In this way, deep undercuts are formed, which allow the firm and secure engagement of a single rib of a closure in a single rib space of an adjacent closure, without the adjacent ribs of the one closure interfere with those of the other closure in a disturbing manner. In conjunction with an axial length of the ribs 8, which makes up about two thirds of the axial length of the entire closure, this concrete embodiment results in relatively stable connections between radially assembled closure caps, so that correspondingly longer chains of radially adjoining closure caps remain stable together, whereby it is also possible to assemble two closure caps assembled in the manner of FIG. 2a at the same time as a third closure so that the centers of the closure caps lie on the vertices of an equilateral triangle and form a particularly stable composite.

Whether this is possible in each case depends on the specific number, the distribution of the ribs and rib gaps along the circumference. In the present case, in each case twenty ribs 8 are provided along the circumference, with accordingly also twenty rib gaps 9, the cross section of the rib gaps also corresponding to the cross section of the ribs. Flats of the ribs at their upper end effectively form chamfers which facilitate the mating of two caps. Towards the upper end, as can be seen in FIGS. 1 a and 3, the ribs 8 are bevelled radially inwards, which facilitates the insertion of ribs of an adjacent closure cap into the rib gaps.

Specifically, in one embodiment, the ribs may have a width of about 2 to 5 mm, a depth of 0.5 to 1 mm and a length of 8 to 12 mm for a closure of about 30 mm in diameter. The short side of the dovetail cross-section of the ribs is for example between 40 and 80% of the rib width. The spaces between the ribs are adapted to the profile of the ribs, ie they have substantially the same Dimensions. The aforementioned dimensions and dimensional ranges can be maintained at other closure sizes or adjusted in proportion to the diameter of the closure.

FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate the problems associated with undercuts on closures, in particular on the outside of closure caps, as well as their solution according to the present invention. Axial undercuts, after the guarantee band has been removed, are particularly expedient for the axial mating and connection of closure caps. In FIG. 4 a, as well as in FIG. 5 a, an injection molding tool with an injection-molded closure 10 can be seen. In the right-hand sub-image, namely in FIG. 4 b and in FIG. 5 b, the corner region between top plate 1 and cap shell 2 together with the outer form elements 101 is as well shown enlarged with the core elements 102, 103. The outer mold elements 101 and the inner mold core elements 102, 103 may in each case be designed in several parts.

As can be seen in particular with reference to Figures 4a and 5a, the closure or its parts in the mold is substantially rigid and immovable as long as the mold is closed. The mandrel can not be removed first, otherwise radial protrusions (ie, axial undercuts, such as defined by an internal thread 15) would be sheared off Even after removal of the exterior moldings, the mandrel can not be axially retracted directly as a whole namely, to remove the annular, bead-like thickened inner seal 14 undamaged, the mandrel 102, 103 is made in two parts and it must first be the shaped part 102 axially retracted (down) before the part 103 can also be withdrawn to release the closure.

First, however, the outer moldings 101 must be removed. FIG. 5 shows the mold already opened by a small gap 17. In connection with this opening movement of the molded part 101, a corresponding gap is also released on the radially inner side of the web 7, so that the web can pivot radially inwards, while the bead 1 12 of the molded part 101, which forms the groove 12, the overlying projection 6 on the web 7 can press radially inward and thus the projection 6 is maintained

In the enlarged view of Figures 4b and 5b can be seen very well the notch 1 1, which is formed in the vicinity of the outer edge of a top plate 1, which in turn the at least partially axially extending web 7 is generated on the outside of a groove 12th is provided. In this embodiment, the web 7 appears in cross-section as a projection on a beveled outer surface, which is the top of the top plate 1 and the Outside of the cap jacket 2 connects to each other and extending at an angle of approximately 45 ° to the closure axis inwardly and of which the web 7 is substantially perpendicular, ie, at 45 ° outwards. Thus, the web 7 also has an axial component, which allows it to be bent inwardly in the direction of the notch 11 and partially into it. In particular, the notch 1 1 delimiting wall of the web 7 is inclined at about 45 ° to the outside, which allows the demolding of the outer mold part 101, a deflection of the web 7 in the space thus formed

This is illustrated in Figure 5, which shows the beginning of a demolding operation in which the outer forming members 101 are pulled axially upwardly away from the closure relative to the closure 10 and mandrel tools 102. The axial undercut 12, which is produced by a corresponding projection on the forming tool 101, must thereby pass the radially outermost projecting portion or projection 6 of the web 7, which is relatively easy in the present case, because the web 7 to its foot point around and in the direction of the notch 1 1 or into this is easily bendable, as indicated in Figure 5b.

The web 7 is preferably formed as a completely circumferential ridge and can snap when mating with an overlying cap with one or more radial projections 5 at the lower edge of the opening cap, as shown in Figure 1 c.

The radial depth of the undercut 12 and the radial height of the projection 5 are typically in the order of 0.2 to 1 mm, preferably between 0.3 and 0.5 mm, which is usually sufficient to 30 in conventional closures mm outer diameter to ensure a good and secure locking between the axially juxtaposed caps.

For purposes of the original disclosure, it is to be understood that all such features as will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the present description, drawings and dependent claims, even though they have been specifically described only in connection with certain further features, both individually and can be combined in any combination with other features or feature groups disclosed herein, unless this has been expressly excluded or technical conditions make such combinations impossible or pointless. On the comprehensive, explicit representation of all conceivable combinations of features and the emphasis on the independence of the individual characteristics of each other is omitted here only for the sake of brevity and readability of the description.

Claims

P atent claims

1. Closure cap for liquid containers, consisting of a cap jacket (2) rotating around a closure axis and a head plate (1), which closes one end face of the cap jacket (2), while the opposite end face of the cap jacket (2) has a cap opening Receiving a container mouth, the closure cap having engagement elements on the circumferential edge of its head plate (1) and on the circumferential edge of the cap opening, which ensure axial cohesion of two such closure caps by axially placing the opening edge of one of the closure caps onto the edge of the head plate of the other closure cap, characterized in that at least 1 circumferential or several radial projections (5, 6) distributed over the circumference are provided both on the edge (4) of the head plate and on the opening edge (3), which define axial undercuts (12), whereby the at least one or more projections (5, 6) is or are provided on at least one of the parts (edge of the head plate or opening edge) on a web (7) which extends at least partially axially and along the circumferential direction and which extends in the radial direction Direction is bendable.

2. Closure cap according to claim 1, characterized in that the web is provided on the edge of the head plate and forms an axial undercut on its radially outer side

3. Closure cap according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the web (7) on the circumferential edge of the head plate (1) is formed by an at least partially provided on the top of the head plate near the circumferential edge parallel to the web (7). preferably circumferential notch (1 1).

4. Closure cap according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the notch (1 1) towards the side of the web (7) through a closure axis (20) between 20 ° and 70 °, preferably between 35 ° and 55 ° to the outside inclined wall is limited.

5. Closure cap according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the web is designed as a circumferential web or consists of web sections whose minimum length, measured in the circumferential direction, is at least 1/10, preferably at least 1/5 and in particular at least 1/3 of the inside diameter of the opening edge.

6. Closure cap according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cross-section of the web is approximately trapezoidal, with the base line of the trapezoid extending inwards relative to the closure axis and the height of the trapezoid perpendicular to the baseline extending outwardly relative to the closure axis.

7. Closure cap according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the radially outer side of the trapezoid is grooved to form an undercut.

8. Closure cap according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the opening edge (3) has a radially inwardly projecting bead (6) close to the free end of the cap opening, which has a rounded wave crest shape.

9. Closure cap according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the inner diameter defined by a radially inwardly projecting bead (5).

Web (7) or opening edge (3) is at least 0.1 mm, preferably at least 0.2 mm and in particular between 0.3 and 0.5 mm smaller than the outer diameter defined by the radially outwardly projecting bead (6). each other of the parts web (7) or opening edge.

10. Closure cap according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one of the beads or projections (5, 6) is interrupted in the circumferential direction.

1 1 Closure cap according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cap jacket (2) has axially extending ribs (8) with lateral undercuts on its outside.

12. Closure cap according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the ribs (8) are distributed at equal distances (9) over the circumference of the cap jacket (2).

13. Closure cap according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the distances (9) between the ribs (8) are selected such that the spaces (9) formed between adjacent ribs (8), including the undercuts, essentially have the same cross-section like the ribs (8).

14. Closure cap according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the rib spaces (9) are open in the axial direction and have a constant cross-section over their length

15. Closure cap according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the ribs (8) extend over at least 50%, preferably at least 60% of the axial length of the closure cap.

16. Closure cap according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the closure cap (10) ends in front of the axial position of the closure cap (10) defined by the head plate (1).

17. Closure cap according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the closure cap (10) is a preferably substantially cylindrical screw cap.

18. Closure cap according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that axially adjoining the opening edge, a guarantee band, preferably designed as a flexible band, is connected to the opening edge via an easily breakable or easily tearable connection, which is intended to be completely intact when a container connected to the closure cap is opened or at least partially tears away from the opening edge.

19. Closure cap according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the opening edge and head plate edge are designed such that axially assembled closure caps can be rotated relative to one another about the closure axis.

20. Closure cap according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that ribs (8) and rib spaces (9) are designed such that when at least one of the ribs (8) of a closure cap engages in a rib space (9) of an adjacent closure cap, the two The closure caps connected in this way can be moved axially relative to one another.