Screw top closure for a container and container comprising such a screw top closure

Abstract

The invention relates to a screw cap for a container, comprising a top cap element having an outer thread on an outer circumference, which can form a form fit with an inner thread provided on an inner circumference of the container, a bottom cap element, a resilient sealing element for sealing the screw cap relative to the container, and a slot and a corner element. The screw cap makes it possible to open the container, in particular a container under negative pressure, such as an insulating container, with very little force expenditure. The invention also relates to a container comprising such a screw cap.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a screw-on cap for a container, comprising a top cap element, a bottom cap element, a resilient sealing element for sealing the screw-on cap relative to the container, and slotted and angled elements. The top cap element has external threads on its outer circumference, which are form-fitted with internal threads provided on the inner circumference of the container. This screw-on cap allows the container to be opened with minimal force, particularly containers under negative pressure, such as insulated containers. The invention also relates to a container including such a screw-on cap. Background Technology

[0002] Storage containers known in the prior art, particularly those for food storage, have lids that are sealed to the container by a resilient sealing element. Typically, the lid, along with the seal, is placed on the container to be closed, thereby creating a certain overpressure within the container, which is released by the release of the seal. The container is usually sealed shut when the lid is fully placed on top. During further storage, negative pressure may arise, for example, due to cooling of the contents or when the lid is lifted from the container. This negative pressure must first be overcome when the lid is removed, requiring increased force. Typically, due to the negative pressure within the container, it is impossible to remove the lid with one hand. Such containers including the relevant lid are known from DE 10 2012 215 432 B4, where the lid is sealed to the container by a resilient sealing element. The sealing element includes a plug and a pull tab guided to the outside so that the plug is removed from the sealed position when the pull tab is twisted, thereby enabling pressure equalization. Because the element providing pressure balance is part of the elastic sealing element, and because of its one-piece design and the fact that it is made of elastic material, the lifespan of the pull tab is limited. Summary of the Invention

[0003] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a screw-on cap for a container under negative pressure that is easy to manufacture, has sufficient mechanical stability, and allows the container to be opened with as little force as possible.

[0004] This objective is achieved by a screw-top cap having the features of the present invention, and a container including a screw-top cap having the features of the present invention. Further dependent embodiments show advantageous improvements.

[0005] According to the present invention, a screw-on cap for a container is provided, comprising the following elements:

[0006] • A top cover element having an external thread on its outer circumference that can form a form fit with an internal thread on the inner circumference of the container;

[0007] • Bottom cover components;

[0008] • Resilient sealing element, used to seal screw-on caps relative to containers;

[0009] • Slots; and

[0010] • Angular elements.

[0011] According to the invention, the bottom cover element is rotatably mounted in the top cover element, wherein the bottom cover element is surrounded on its outer circumference by an elastic sealing element.

[0012] According to the present invention, the angular element connected to the resilient sealing element includes a first leg and a second leg, wherein the angular element is rotatably mounted on the bottom cover element.

[0013] According to the invention, the angular element connected to the resilient sealing element by a first leg can engage with a second leg disposed in a slot on the top cover element during the rotational movement of the top cover element, so that the movement of the angular element can move the resilient sealing element out of its sealing position.

[0014] The lower mechanism of the screw-on cap is designed so that no additional steps are required to open it. This mechanism is actuated by the rotating motion of the cap as it is screwed on.

[0015] According to the invention, after the force application ends, for example after the cover has been unscrewed, the mechanism returns to the initial position due to the elasticity of the seal, i.e., a small restorative movement occurs between the top cover element and the bottom cover element.

[0016] According to the present invention, preferably, the slot is designed such that the rotational movement of the top cover element relative to the bottom cover element can trigger the rotation of the angular element.

[0017] In another preferred embodiment, the sealing element has an annulus, during which the second leg of the angular element engages in the annulus and triggers a radial force acting on the sealing element, which removes the sealing element from its sealing position.

[0018] Furthermore, preferably, the top cover element, bottom cover element, and corner element are designed to limit the rotation angle that can be disposed between the bottom cover element and the top cover element.

[0019] In another preferred embodiment, the top cover element, the bottom cover element, and the corner element are designed such that when the rotation direction between the top cover element and the bottom cover element corresponds to the rotation direction required to open the container, the corner element triggers a radially inward force.

[0020] Preferably, the resilient sealing element is composed of or substantially comprises an elastomer, and in particular, the elastomer is selected from thermoplastic elastomers (TPE), silicone resins, natural rubber, nitrile rubber (NBR), and mixtures thereof.

[0021] According to the present invention, a container comprising a screw-top lid as described above is also provided.

[0022] Preferably, the container has a reduced pressure compared to atmospheric pressure, and pressure equalization is made possible by rotating the screw-on cap out of its sealed position.

[0023] The container is preferably an insulated container, especially for food. Attached Figure Description

[0024] The subject matter according to the invention will be described in more detail with reference to the following figures, without limiting the subject matter to the specific embodiments shown herein:

[0025] Figure 1 An exploded view of a screw-top lid according to the invention, including a container, is shown;

[0026] Figure 2 A top view of a screw-top lid with a container is shown;

[0027] Figure 3 A cross-sectional view of a screw-on cap with a container is shown;

[0028] Figure 4 Another cross-sectional view of a screw-on cap with a container according to the invention is shown;

[0029] Figure 5 Views of the angular element from different angles are shown;

[0030] Figure 6 Views of the sealing element from different angles are shown;

[0031] Figure 7 A top view of the screw-on cap according to the present invention is shown;

[0032] Figure 8 A cross-sectional view of the screw-type cap according to the present invention is shown;

[0033] Figure 9 A top view of the screw-on cap according to the present invention is shown;

[0034] Figure 10 A cross-sectional view of a screw-type cap according to the present invention is shown; and

[0035] Figure 11 A cross-sectional view of a screw-type cap according to the present invention is shown. Detailed Implementation

[0036] Figure 1 A screw-on cap 1, including a container 2, is shown. The screw-on cap consists of a top cap element 3 with a threaded structure 8 on its outer circumference and a bottom cap element 4. A sealing element 5 in the form of a sealing ring is arranged between the two cap elements. An angled element 6 is integrated into the bottom cap element 4 and engages with the sealing element.

[0037] Figure 2 A top view of a screw-top cap according to the invention, including a top cover element 3, is shown. A slot 6 is integrated into the top cover element 3, in which an angled element 7 engages. The angled element 7 contacts the sealing element 5 of the cap. This screw-top cap is disposed on a container 2.

[0038] Figure 3 Shown in sectional view Figure 2 The screw-on cap has a slot 6 integrated within it. An angled element 7 is installed in the slot 6 and contacts the sealing element 5.

[0039] Figure 4 The cross-sectional view shows the container shell 2, into which a threaded top cover element 3 is screwed. A bottom cover element 4 is rotatably mounted in the top cover element 3. A sealing element 5 is arranged between the top cover element 3 and the bottom cover element 4. On the right side, the sealing element 5 is shown in a position where it is removed from its sealing position. On the left side, the sealing element 5 is shown in a position where it is in the sealing position.

[0040] Figure 5 Various views of the angular element 7 are shown. For example, Figure 5 a) shows a bird's-eye view of the angular element. Figure 5 (b) shows a side view of the corner piece 7, and Figure 5 c) shows its top view.

[0041] Figure 6 Different angle views of sealing element 5 are shown. Figure 6 A) shows a bird's-eye view of the sealing element 5. Figure 6 Figure b) shows a side view of the sealing element, and Figure 6 c) shows its top view.

[0042] Figure 7The diagram illustrates how the slot 6 interacts with the angled element 7 and the sealing element 5. As is evident in detail 10, the rocker arm is rotatably mounted in the bottom cover element 4. Detail 12 shows that the angled element 7 is forcibly actuated via the slot 6 in the top cover element 3 during rotation for opening and rotation for closing. Detail 11 shows that the sealing element 5 engages at one end of the angled element 7, thus securing the sealing element 5 to the angled element 7.

[0043] Figure 8 Shown in sectional view Figure 7 The screw-on cap.

[0044] Figure 9 The effect of the rotational motion on the positions of the slot 6 and the angular element 7 is schematically shown. Detail 13 shows the top cover element 3 rotating to the left by a manually performed rotational motion. Detail 14 shows that this automatically conveys the slot 6, which is fixedly integrated into the top cover element 3, thereby conveying the angular element 7. After the top cover element 3 has rotated approximately 10° to 15°, the angular element 7 has reached its maximum deflection, and the bottom cover element 4 is also conveyed during the rotational motion. Then, detail 15 schematically shows the rotational motion of the angular element 7 and the conveyed sealing element 5.

[0045] Figure 10 The screw-on cap 1 according to the invention is shown in a state where no force is applied to the top cap element 3. The sealing element 5 is in a relaxed initial state. In this position, the sealing element 5 provides a circumferential seal between the screw-on cap 1 and the container 2.

[0046] Figure 11 The diagram shows a screw-on cap 1 according to the invention, including a container 2, in a state where a force is applied to the top cap element 3. Here, the angled element 7 is locked in the sealing element 5 and removed from its initial position so that a cavity 16 exists between the sealing element 5 and the container 2, through which air can enter to compensate for negative pressure.

Claims

1. A screw-on cap (1) for a container (2), comprising: • Top cover element (3) includes an external thread (8) on its outer circumference, which is capable of forming a form fit with an internal thread (9) provided on the inner circumference of the container (2); • Bottom cover component (4); • A resilient sealing element (5) for sealing the screw cap (1) relative to the container (2); • Slot (6); and • Angular elements (7); The bottom cover element (4) is rotatably mounted in the top cover element (3) and is surrounded on its outer circumference by the elastic sealing element (5). The angular element (7) connected to the resilient sealing element (5) includes a first leg and a second leg, and the angular element (7) is rotatably mounted on the bottom cover element (4). During the rotational movement of the top cover element (3), the angular element (7) connected to the resilient sealing element (5) via the first leg is able to engage with the second leg in the slot (6) provided on the top cover element (3), and the resilient sealing element (5) is moved out of the sealing position of the resilient sealing element (5) by the movement of the angular element (7).

2. The screw-on cap according to claim 1, Its features are, The slot (6) is designed such that the rotational movement of the top cover element (3) relative to the bottom cover element (4) can trigger the rotation of the angular element (7).

3. The screw-on cap according to any one of claims 1 or 2, Its features are, The resilient sealing element (5) includes an annulus, during which the second leg of the angular element (7) engages in the annulus and triggers a radial force acting on the resilient sealing element (5) during the rotational movement of the top cover element (3) relative to the bottom cover element (4), the force removing the resilient sealing element (5) from its sealing position.

4. The screw-on cap according to any one of claims 1 or 2, Its features are, The top cover element (3), the bottom cover element (4) and the angular element (7) are designed to limit the rotation angle that can be set between the bottom cover element (4) and the top cover element (3).

5. The screw-on cap according to any one of claims 1 or 2, Its features are, The top cover element (3), the bottom cover element (4) and the corner element (7) are designed such that when the rotation direction between the top cover element (3) and the bottom cover element (4) corresponds to the rotation direction required to open the container, the corner element (7) triggers a radially inward force.

6. The screw-on cap according to any one of claims 1 or 2, Its features are, The elastic sealing element (5) is composed of or includes an elastomer selected from thermoplastic elastomers (TPE), silicone resins, natural rubber, nitrile rubber (NBR), and mixtures thereof.

7. A container (2) comprising a screw-on cap (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

8. The container according to claim 7, Its features are, The container (2) has a reduced pressure compared to atmospheric pressure, and pressure balance is made possible by rotating the screw cap (1) out of its sealed position.

9. The container according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that, The container (2) is an insulated container.

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