Crown clasp and crown clasp cover

Description

1 / 11 “CROWN CLOSURE ENCLOSURE AND CROWN CLOSURE” Background of the Invention

[001] The invention relates to a crown closure enclosure, in particular for making, generally with the addition of a washer, a hermetic crown closure usable for sealing the mouth of a container such as, for example, a bottle, containing pressurized liquids, such as, for example, carbonated beverages.

[002] Specifically, but not exclusively, the invention relates to a crown closure housing molded from a sheet metal and provided with a corrugated side wall, in which the closure is applied to an upper mouth of a container by a closing device that crushes the corrugated side wall in a radial direction towards the neck of the container, to make a recessed coupling that prevents the crown closure from detaching from the neck.

[003] Patent publications US 2018 / 0370692 A1, US 2010 / 0326949 A1, US 2005 / 0199576 A1, US 2005 / 0029218 A1, US 2001 / 0035390 A1, US 6,164,472, US 5,458,253 and US 3,229,842 show some examples of crown closures usable for sealing the upper mouth of a container.

[004] Patent publication WO 2009 / 100440 A2 shows a crown clasp housing according to the preamble of the first claim.

[005] Several aspects of prior art crown lock housings are susceptible to improvement. Firstly, it is desirable to manufacture a housing which, although molded from a relatively thin sheet metal, is still capable of withstanding relatively high pressures within the container. Furthermore, it would be desirable to provide a housing with highly flexible characteristics to facilitate closing operations and, Petition 870250089883, dated 02 / 10 / 2025, page 29 / 48 2 / 11 at the same time, resistance, to keep the container hermetically sealed. It would also be necessary to reduce the amount of material with which the crown cap is manufactured without compromising its characteristics, in particular ensuring the hermetic seal of the closure, the ease of closing the crown cap and the precision of the dimensional regularity of the corrugations. Brief Description of the Invention

[006] One objective of the invention is to make an enclosure that is capable of overcoming one or more of the aforementioned limitations and disadvantages of the prior art.

[007] One objective of the invention is to provide a crown clasp housing that is an alternative to those of the prior art.

[008] One advantage is providing a housing that allows the construction of a crown lock that is provided with an effective hermetic seal, along with a closure that is facilitated by the relatively high flexibility of the housing side wall, also with a relatively low side wall height.

[009] One advantage is to propose a crown casing that is moldable with great precision of the dimensional regularity of the corrugations.

[0010] One advantage is obtaining an enclosure by extracting it from a relatively thin sheet of metal.

[0011] One advantage is to make a crown closure housing suitable for closing a container with pressurized gas and that is able to withstand a relatively high pressure inside the container.

[0012] One advantage is the availability of a relatively flexible crown to facilitate closing operations.

[0013] One advantage is providing a relatively strong casing to keep the container hermetically sealed.

[0014] In one embodiment, an enclosure for closing Petition 870250089883, dated 02 / 10 / 2025, page 30 / 48 3 / 11 crown comprises a corrugated side wall with a number N of corrugations defined by alternating protrusions with recesses in a circumferential direction, wherein the number N of corrugations is odd and less than 19, wherein each recess ends at a lower endpoint (on an edge of an inner side of the casing) and the lower endpoints define a reference plane (in particular, a support plane of the casing), wherein each protrusion ends at a peripheral endpoint (on an edge of an outer side of the casing) and at each protrusion an intermediate point is defined at an axial distance from the respective peripheral endpoint, wherein the axial distance is equal to 1 millimeter and is measured in a direction orthogonal to the reference plane, wherein a segment defined by the peripheral endpoint and the intermediate point forms, with a plane parallel to said reference plane, an acute angle greater than 45°.

[0015] It has been found that the aforementioned configuration of the crown casing protrusions, in particular the aforementioned inclination between two points on the crest of a protrusion, improves the performance of the closure obtained from the casing, in particular facilitating closing operations and ensuring the hermetic sealing of the closure.

[0016] It was also found that a relatively low number N of corrugations (odd and less than 19, for example, 15 or 17), in combination with the aforementioned conformation of the crown casing protrusions, with the same thickness as the sheet metal (as well as the same hardness of the sheet metal), allows for a reduction in material consumption, while obtaining a casing with adequate height and diameter, it being known that the height and diameter of the casing are functional parameters for achieving the desired performance of the closing cap. In particular, the use of a number of corrugations (or teeth) equal to 17 or, even better, 15, allows for saving a certain amount of material, so that it was possible to reduce the diameter of Petition 870250089883, dated 02 / 10 / 2025, p. 31 / 48 4 / 11 shear, because the material saved exceeds the requirements.

[0017] One advantage of the enclosure in question is the possibility of obtaining corrugations of significant quality (especially with great dimensional regularity) by molding a particularly thin and hardened metal sheet. Brief Description of the Drawings

[0018] The invention can be better understood and implemented with reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate one embodiment thereof by way of non-limiting example, in which: Figure 1 is a top view of one embodiment of a crown clasp housing made in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 shows the cut made according to the vertical cutting plane II of Figure 1 in a recess of the enclosure; Figure 3 shows the cut made according to vertical cutting plane III of Figure 1 on a protrusion of the enclosure; Figure 4 shows an enlarged detail of Figure 2. Detailed Description of the Invention

[0019] With reference to the Figures mentioned above, in Figure 1, a crown casing of general form is indicated which is suitable for the manufacture of a crown closure for the closure of a container. The crown closure obtained from the casing (1) is intended, in use, to be applied to the upper mouth of a container by means of a closing device which compresses a corrugated side wall of the casing in a radial direction to the neck of the container, to form a recessed coupling which prevents the crown closure from detaching from the neck.

[0020] The crown casing (1) may, in particular, consist of a metal sheet with a thickness of less than 0.17 millimeters. The thickness of the metal sheet may, in particular, be less than 0.16 millimeters. A Petition 870250089883, dated 02 / 10 / 2025, page 32 / 48 5 / 11 The thickness of the metal sheet may, in particular, be less than 0.15 millimeters. The thickness of the metal sheet may, in particular, be equal to 0.15 ± 0.1 millimeters or equal to 0.14 ± 0.1 millimeters.

[0021] The crown shell (1) comprises an outer surface and an inner surface, wherein “outer” and “inner” refer to the inner cavity defined by a concave shape of the shell, such that the inner surface corresponds to the side of the shell facing into the cavity (inner side) and the outer surface corresponds to the opposite side (outer side).

[0022] The crown casing (1) comprises a closing upper wall (2) configured to close an upper mouth of a container neck (not shown).

[0023] The crown casing (1) comprises a corrugated side wall (3) configured to be folded and engaged with an annular cutout disposed in the neck of the container.

[0024] The upper closing wall (2) may, in particular, be convex upwards, where “upwards” refers to a position in which the corrugated side wall (3) is placed below the upper closing wall (2) (for example, when the casing (1) is in a horizontal resting plane supported on the corrugated side wall (3)).

[0025] The upper closing wall (2) may comprise, in particular, an upper point. The X-axis of the enclosure may, in particular, pass through said upper point. The X-axis of the enclosure may, in particular, be orthogonal to the upper point.

[0026] The crown casing (1) comprises an annular connecting wall (4) that connects the corrugated side wall (3) to the top closing wall (2).

[0027] The corrugated side wall (3) comprises a number N of Petition 870250089883, dated 02 / 10 / 2025, pp. 33 / 48 6 / 11 corrugations defined by a succession of N protrusions (5) and N recesses (6) alternating with each other and distributed in a circumferential direction around an envelope axis X. The number N of corrugations may be, in particular, irregular and less than 19 or less than 17. The number N of corrugations may be, in particular (as in this specific embodiment), equal to 15.

[0028] Each recess (6) comprises a bottom, considering a section taken in the deepest zone of the recess (for example, section II of Figures 2 and 4), which is arranged on an inner surface (or inner side) of the casing (1) and extends along a continuous line (Q) (see Figure 4).

[0029] The continuous line (Q) can, in particular, be arranged in a plane (a meridian plane) that passes through the X-axis of the envelope and is orthogonal to the reference plane (E).

[0030] The bottom of each recess (6) ends below at a lower extreme point (C), that is, at the lowest point of the bottom, which is also the lowest point of the recess (6).

[0031] The lower extreme points (C) of the various recesses (6) (or of at least three of the N recesses (6)) define a lower extreme reference plane (E). This reference plane (E) can correspond, in practice, to a horizontal rest plane in which the enclosure (1) can rest with the side wall 3.

[0032] The lower extreme points (C), which define the reference plane (E), can, in particular, be arranged circumferentially around the X-axis of the envelope.

[0033] Each protrusion (5) comprises a crest, considering a section taken in the highest zone of the protrusion (5) (for example, section III of Figure 3), which is arranged on an external surface (or outer side) of the casing (1) and extends along a continuous line (Z). Petition 870250089883, dated 02 / 10 / 2025, pp. 34 / 48 7 / 11

[0034] The continuous line (Z) can, in particular, be arranged in a plane (a meridian plane) that passes through the X-axis of the envelope and is orthogonal to the reference plane (E).

[0035] Each ridge ends below and peripherally at an extreme peripheral point (A), that is, at the point located outside the protrusion (5).

[0036] On each crest, it is possible to define an intermediate point (B) located at a given axial distance (H) from the respective peripheral extreme point (A) of the crest of the prominence (5).

[0037] The axial distance (H) is measured in a direction orthogonal to the reference plane (E) (which may be a direction substantially parallel to the X-axis of the enclosure, i.e., the X-axis of the enclosure may be substantially orthogonal to the reference plane (E)).

[0038] By joining the extreme peripheral point (A) to the intermediate point (B), a segment (AB) is obtained. This segment (AB) is inclined by an acute angle (Δ) with respect to the reference plane (E), or with respect to the plane (G) parallel to the reference plane (E) (the plane (G), in particular, passing through point (B)).

[0039] The aforementioned axial distance (H) is equal to 1 millimeter.

[0040] The acute angle (Δ) mentioned above is greater than 45°. It has been experimentally verified that an acute angle (Δ) greater than 45° allows for improved crown closure performance obtained from the housing (1), particularly with regard to simultaneously achieving high closure flexibility and closure strength. High performance can be achieved even with an angle (Δ) greater than 46.5° or with an angle (Δ) greater than 48°. The angle (Δ) can, in particular, be between 45° and 55°. In the specific example, the angle (Δ) is approximately equal to 50° for all N protrusions (5) of the housing (1).

[0041] It is observed that the segment (AB) and the angle (Δ) were Petition 870250089883, dated 02 / 10 / 2025, pages 35 / 48 8 / 11 shown in Figure 4, even though the plane in Figure 4 (i.e., the plane of section II at the greatest depth of a recess (6)) does not correspond to the plane of segment (AB) (i.e., the plane of section III at the greatest height of an adjacent projection (5)). However, the indication used is considered convenient and clear for the reader.

[0042] The lower end reference plane (E) (or rest plane) may, in particular, be disposed at a distance (K) from the peripheral end point (A) located at the crest end of at least one prominence (5). The distance (K) may, in particular, be less than 1.0 mm millimeters, or less than 0.9 millimeters.

[0043] The peripheral endpoints (A) of the crests of the protrusions (5) can, in particular, be arranged in the same plane (V) parallel to the reference plane (E) and arranged at a distance (K) from the reference plane (E).

[0044] Consider a plane (W) that is orthogonal to segment (AB) and passes through point (B), or a plane (W) orthogonal to segment (AB) and passes through a point on the continuous line (Z) located at a distance from point (B) less than 0.1 millimeter or less than 0.2 millimeter. In practice, plane (W) can be defined as a plane orthogonal to segment (AB) and that passes around point (B).

[0045] Consider a point (D) of intersection between the plane (W) and the continuous line (Q), that is, the continuous line located at the bottom of a recess (6). The point (D) will then be located on the inner surface (or inner side) of the enclosure (1) and on the meridian section in the deepest zone of the recess (6).

[0046] The segment (CD) defined by the points (C and D), as defined above, will have a given inclination, that is, forming a given acute angle with the reference plane (E). This acute angle between the segment (CD) and the reference plane (E) is. Petition 870250089883, dated 02 / 10 / 2025, pp. 36 / 48 9 / 11

[0047] Consider a straight line (J) that is coplanar to the continuous line (Q) (i.e., situated in the plane of section II, i.e., in the plane of Figure 4) and tangent to the continuous line (Q) at point (D).

[0048] An angle (Θ) is considered between the straight line (J) and the reference plane of the lower end (E).

[0049] The crown shell (1) may, in particular, be conformed so that the angle (Θ) is equal to the angle (Δ), or so that the angle (Θ) is substantially or nearly equal to the angle (Δ), for example, the angle (Θ) may be enclosed in an interval Δ ± 1°, or in an interval Δ ± 3°, or in an interval Δ ± 5°.

[0050] Substantially, the straight line (J) is orthogonal to plane (W) or nearly orthogonal to plane (W).

[0051] It was also found that this recess configuration (6) contributes to improving the performance of the casing, since it facilitates the deformability of the casing during the closing stage and obtains a crown closure with effective hermetic sealing of the container also in the long term.

[0052] For at least one protrusion (5), or for more than one protrusion (5), or for each of the N protrusions (5), the peripheral extreme point (A) may, in particular, be located at a radial distance (R) from the X-axis of the housing. The value of the radial distance (R) may, in particular, be such that the corresponding value of the diameter D = 2R is included in a range D = 32.10 ± 0.2 millimeters.

[0053] The radial distance (R) may, in particular, be such that the corresponding diameter value D = 2R is included in the interval mentioned above for each of the N protrusions. In particular, the radial distance (R) mentioned above and the corresponding diameter value D = 2R may be equal for all N protrusions. Petition 870250089883, dated 02 / 10 / 2025, pp. 37 / 48 10 / 11

[0054] In particular, it is possible to define a diameter (D) equal to a minimum circumscribed diameter between the so-called crown tips, that is, the various peripheral extreme points (A) of the protrusions (5), where the minimum circumscribed diameter (D) is contained in the aforementioned interval D = 32.0 ± 0.2 millimeters.

[0055] The upper closing wall (2) may comprise, in particular, a central portion concentric to the X-axis of the enclosure and with a diameter of 23 millimeters.

[0056] An intersection line (Y) is considered between an external surface (or outer side) of the aforementioned central portion with a diameter of 23 millimeters and a meridian section plane passing through the X-axis of the envelope. The intersection line (Y) may comprise, in particular, an upward convex portion (e.g., with an elliptical shape) with a radius of curvature included in a range of 150 ± 0.1 millimeters.

[0057] A re-entrance intersection line (F) is considered between an external surface (or external side) of the enclosure (1) and a meridian section plane passing through the X-axis of the enclosure at a re-entrance (6) (for example, the section II plane corresponding to the plate plane of Figure 2 or Figure 4). The re-entrance intersection line (F) may comprise, in particular, an outwardly convex portion situated on the annular connecting wall (4) and an outwardly concave portion situated on the corrugated side wall (3) (see Figures 2 and 4).

[0058] Consider a projection intersection line (in this embodiment, a line that includes the continuous line (Z)) between an outer surface of the shell (1) and a meridian section plane that passes through the X-axis of the shell at a projection (5) (for example, the plane of section III).

[0059] The intersection line of the protrusion (which includes the solid line) Petition 870250089883, dated 02 / 10 / 2025, pp. 38 / 48 11 / 11 (Z)) may comprise, in particular, a straight or outwardly convex portion situated on the corrugated side wall (3) and an outwardly concave portion disposed above said straight or outwardly convex portion (see Figure 3). Said outwardly concave portion may, in particular, have a radius of curvature (P) less than 1.0 mm, or be between 0.5 and 1.0 millimeter.

[0060] The aforementioned outward concave portion may be disposed, in particular, in a transition zone between the annular connecting wall (4) and the corrugated side wall (3).

[0061] The continuous line (Z), along which the crest of each prominence (5) extends, may comprise, in particular, at least one straight portion coinciding with the segment (AB).

[0062] The crown casing (1) is used, as mentioned, to make a crown closure which may comprise, in addition to the crown (1), also a washer (not shown) applied to the inner surface of the crown. At least part of the washer may be applied to the inner surface of a peripheral portion of the upper closure wall (2). Petition 870250089883, dated 02 / 10 / 2025, pp. 39 / 48

Claims

1 / 4 Claims 1. CROWN CLOSURE ENCLOSURE (1), characterized in that said enclosure comprises: - an upper closing wall (2) configured to close an upper mouth of a container neck; - a corrugated side wall (3) configured to be folded and to engage with an annular cutout disposed in the container neck; - an annular connecting wall (4) connecting said corrugated side wall (3) to said upper closing wall (2); the corrugated side wall (3) comprising a number N of corrugations defined by a succession of N alternating protrusions (5) and N recesses (6) arranged in a circumferential direction, each of the N recesses (6) comprising a bottom that is disposed on an inner surface of said enclosure (1), the bottom of each recess (6) terminating below at a lower extreme point (C),the aforementioned lower extreme points (C) defining a reference plane of the lower end, each of the N protrusions (5) comprising an inclined crest that is disposed on an external surface of said casing (1), each crest terminating below in a peripheral extreme point (A), an intermediate point (B) being defined on each crest located at an axial distance (H) from the respective peripheral extreme point (A), said axial distance (H) being measured in a direction orthogonal to said reference plane (E), said peripheral extreme point (A) and said intermediate point (B) defining a segment (AB) that forms an acute angle (Δ) with a plane (G) parallel to said reference plane (E), said axial distance (H) being equal to 1 millimeter, said angle (Δ) being greater than 45°; said casing having as a characteristic said number N of corrugations being odd and less than 19.

2. ENCLOSURE, according to claim 1, Petition 870250089883, dated 02 / 10 / 2025, p. 40 / 48 2 / 4 characterized by the said number N of corrugations being odd and less than 17, in particular equal to 15.

3. ENCLOSURE, according to any one of claims 1 to 2, characterized by consisting of a sheet with a thickness of less than 0.17 millimeters, or less than 0.16 millimeters, or less than 0.15 millimeters, in particular equal to 0.15 millimeters or 0.14 millimeters.

4. ENCLOSURE, according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by the angle (Δ) being greater than 46.5° or greater than 48°.

5. ENCLOSURE, according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said reference plane of the lower end (E) is disposed at a distance (K) from the peripheral extreme point (A) of at least one protrusion (5), said distance (K) being less than 1.0 millimeter, or less than 0.9 millimeter.

6. ENCLOSURE, according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that said peripheral endpoints (A) of the crests of said N protrusions (5) are arranged in the same plane (V) parallel to said reference plane (E).

7. ENCLOSURE, according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that said lower endpoints (C) defining said reference plane (E) are arranged circumferentially around an X-axis of the enclosure.

8. ENCLOSURE, according to claim 7, characterized in that, for each recess (6), said bottom extends along a continuous line (Q) and in that, for each protrusion (5), said crest extends along a continuous line (Z), said continuous line (Q) being arranged in a plane passing through the X axis of the enclosure and orthogonal to said reference plane (E), said continuous line (Z) being arranged in a Petition 870250089883, dated 02 / 10 / 2025, p. 41 / 48 3 / 4 plane passing through the X axis of the enclosure and orthogonal to said reference plane (E).

9. ENCLOSURE, according to claim 8, characterized by, considering a plane (W) orthogonal to said segment (AB) and passing through point (B) or passing through a point of said continuous line (Z) located at a distance from point (B) less than 0.1 millimeter, considering a point (D) of intersection between said plane (W) and said continuous line (Q), considering a straight line (J) coplanar to said continuous line (Q) and tangent to said continuous line (Q) at said point (D), and considering an angle (Θ) between said straight line (J) and said lower reference plane (E), it is obtained that said angle (Θ) is equal to said angle (Δ), or said angle (Θ) is contained in an interval Δ ± 1°, or said angle (Θ) is contained in an interval Δ ± 3°, or said angle (Θ) is contained in an interval Δ ± 5th.

10. ENCLOSURE, according to any one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that said upper closing wall (2) is convex upwards, where “upwards” refers to a position in which said corrugated side wall (3) is below said upper closing wall (2), and comprises an upper point, said X-axis of the enclosure passing through said upper point and being orthogonal to said upper closing wall (2) at said upper point.

11. ENCLOSURE, according to any one of claims 7 to 10, characterized in that a minimum diameter (D) circumscribed between said peripheral extreme points (A) of the projections (5) is comprised within a range D = 32.10 ± 0.2 millimeters.

12. ENCLOSURE, according to any one of claims 7 to 11, characterized by said upper closing wall (2) comprising a central portion that is concentric to said X axis of Petition 870250089883, dated 02 / 10 / 2025, p. 42 / 48 4 / 4 enclosure and having a diameter of 23 millimeters, and wherein, considering an intersection line (Y) between an outer surface of said central portion and a meridian section plane passing through said X axis of the enclosure, said intersection line (Y) comprises an upward convex portion with a radius of curvature included in a range of 150 ± 0.1 millimeters.

13. ENCLOSURE, according to any one of claims 7 to 12, characterized in that, considering a recess intersection line (F) between an outer surface of the enclosure (1) and a meridian section plane passing through said X-axis of the enclosure at a recess (6), the recess intersection line (F) comprises an outer convex portion in said annular connecting wall (4) and an outward concave portion in said corrugated side wall (3), and in that, considering a projection intersection line between an outer surface of the enclosure (1) and a meridian section plane passing through said X-axis of the enclosure at a projection (5), said projection intersection line comprises a straight or outward convex portion in said corrugated side wall (3) and an outward concave portion disposed above said straight or outward convex portion. outside, the aforementioned outward concave portion having a radius of curvature (P) less than 1,0 mm millimeters, or between 0.5 and 1.0 millimeters; said concave portion being disposed, in particular, in a transition zone between said annular connecting wall (4) and said corrugated side wall (3).

14. ENCLOSURE, according to any one of claims 1 to 13, characterized by said solid line (Z) along which said crest extends comprising at least one straight portion coinciding with segment (AB).

15. CROWN CLASP, characterized by comprising a casing, as defined in any one of claims 1 to 14. Petition 870250089883, dated 02 / 10 / 2025, pp. 43 / 48

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