Metallic cap closure having water repelling properties and method of fabricating the same

Abstract

A metallic closure having water repelling properties, and methods of manufacturing the same, includes a metallic closure shell, as for example, the type used for crown caps or roll-on caps, and a non-wetting material layer deposited on at least a portion of an inside surface of the closure such that, when the closure is disposed over the rim and opening of a container, the opening is hermetically sealed and moisture is repelled from confined regions between an inside surface of the shell and an outside surface of the container.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] (1) Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to closures or caps used in containers designed to store and transport liquids in general and, more specifically, to a non-wetting metallic cap having water repelling characteristics. Hereinafter, the terms “closure,”“cap,”“crown cap,”“top,” or “crown top,” are used interchangeably as synonymous terms. [0003] (2) Background of the Art [0004] Bottles of many different shapes, sizes, and materials have been widely used for containing and transporting different types of liquids, including those for human consumption, such as, beer, soft drinks, water, juices, coolers, and milk, as well as liquids used for other purposes such as cleaners, raw materials used in different industrial processes, and the like. In many of these applications, a metallic cap, or top, is provided for adequately sealing the contents of the bottle in order to prevent leakage to the outside as well as contamination by...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0011] The present invention relates to a water repelling, or non-wetting, metallic closure for liquid containers and methods of fabricating the same, such metallic closures being capable of, among other advantages, eliminating the current corrosion problem in confined areas between the cap and the container.

Problems solved by technology

Because of the metallic nature of these caps and the extensive exposure to water and moisture during the manufacturing process as well as the transport and storage of these containers, there continues to exist a cap oxidation problem caused by the corrosive environment created by the water or moisture transported by capillary effects and / or trapped in confined areas between the cap and the container, such as, for example, locations between the cap skirt and the bottle rim or neck.

Unfortunately, the rust that eventually appears on the edge of the crowns once they are crimped on the bottles moves upwardly to the interior zone between the surface of the crown skirt and the exterior surface of the bottle finish.

This is so because of pin holes or scratches generated during the bottling operation or the different handling processes before the bottling operation.

The problem of rusting metallic caps is undesirable for at least cosmetic reasons.

Cosmetically, customers will certainly question the quality of the product when opening a bottle that contains rings of rust around its neck.

Therefore, even thought bottling companies have implemented procedures attempting to prevent corrosion in the edges of the crowns once they are applied to the bottles with product, the presence of rust is unavoidable, thus affecting the shelf life of the product and potentially causing a customer to become dissatisfied with the product.

However, because this layer of tin or chromium applied after the metal has been rolled is only superficial, it is not part of the base alloy and thus unable to provide the desired rust protection to the edges of the cap created by cutting the original steel sheets.

The fabrication of plastic caps usually involves expensive and complicated injection molding machinery.

In addition, because of the injection molding fabrication process, plastic caps are much more difficult to imprint with the brand or producer logos, promotional messages, and the like, besides the fact that the imprint finish achieved with metallic surfaces is much more attractive.

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