Cap

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a cap (1) comprising a base body (2, 2 ') having a thread (3) on one of its inner sides, a seat (4) in which a seal (5) is received at least partially, and a bushing (6) fitted to the base body (2) and torsionally fastened to the base body (2), the bushing (6) completely hiding the base body (2) in a lateral view and at least one plan view.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to caps.

[0002] In particular, the present invention relates to a three-piece single-material cap. Background Art

[0003] Caps that typically fit onto bottles or jars for cosmetic or medical use, such as those containing creams, makeup products, etc., have the well-known function of hermetically sealing the container to which they are attached and can be used to reseal the container multiple times.

[0004] In the context of sales and use of these containers, the quality of their finish is of utmost importance and it is unacceptable for the container to have visible defects which would detract from its aesthetics.

[0005] However, the demand for quality and aesthetic perfection must be combined with matters such as production costs and, especially recently, environmental concerns (particularly with regard to recyclability).

[0006] The caps with the highest aesthetic quality currently available on the market are those made from very high-quality (and therefore expensive) materials that are either not fully recyclable or difficult to recycle, such as ABS, PET, PETG, SAN and PS. Summary of the invention

[0007] The object of the present invention is to provide a cap which is improved with respect to the prior art.

[0008] Another object of the present invention is to provide a cap which, despite being made of an environmentally friendly material, is aesthetically unblemished.

[0009] Another but not final object of the invention is to provide a cap that is cheaper than those currently on the market but has comparable characteristics.

[0010] This and other objects are achieved by a cap produced according to the technical teaching of the appended claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the description of a preferred but non-exclusive embodiment of the cap illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0012] Figure 1 is a diametrical cross-sectional view of a cap according to the present invention;

[0013] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 An exploded perspective view of the cap in FIG.

[0014] Figure 3 yes Figure 1 A perspective view of a portion of a cap in FIG.

[0015] Figure 4 From another perspective Figure 3 The part shown in ;

[0016] Figure 5 yes Figure 1 Diameter cross-sections of different embodiments of the cap in;

[0017] Figure 6 and Figure 7 yes Figure 5 Exploded perspective views of the hat from different angles;

[0018] Figure 8 yes Figure 5 The diameter of the portion of the cap in cross section;

[0019] Fig. 9 yes Figure 1 A diameter cross section of yet another embodiment of the cap in;

[0020] Fig.10 It is along Fig. 9 A cross-sectional view taken along line XX in FIG.

[0021] Fig.11 yes Fig. 9 A magnified view of the circled part;

[0022] Fig.12 yes Fig. 9 An exploded perspective view of the cap in FIG.

[0023] Fig.13 yes Fig.10 A magnified view of the portion shown in the middle circle;

[0024] Fig.14 yes Figure 1 A diametric cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the cap in;

[0025] Fig.15 yes Fig.14 An exploded perspective view of the cap in FIG.

[0026] Fig.16 yes Figure 1 A diametric cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the cap in;

[0027] Fig.17 yes Fig.16 a side view of a portion of the cap in; and

[0028] Fig.18 yes Fig.16 Exploded perspective view of the cap in FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0029] With reference to the described drawings, reference numeral 1 is generally used to indicate a cap.

[0030] As in Figure 2 As can be clearly seen in the figure, the cap 1 according to the invention comprises a base 2 having a thread 3 on one of its inner sides, a seat 4 (made in practice in the base 2) and a bushing 6, the base 2 having a thread 3 on one of its inner sides, the seal 5 being housed or positioned in the seat 4, the bushing 6 being fitted onto the base 2 and being torsionally fixed thereto.

[0031] The bushing 6 completely conceals the base body 2 in a side view and at least in a (top) plan view.

[0032] According to one aspect of the invention, the cap 1 is made in three mutually assembled parts, the three parts being made of a plastic material, the plastic material of all three parts being the same.

[0033] Therefore, this cap can be defined as "single material".

[0034] Preferably, the plastic material is a polypropylene based material, and preferably is actually polypropylene.

[0035] Alternatively, the plastic material may be a polyethylene based material, or preferably is actually polyethylene.

[0036] The technique used to manufacture each of the three parts is preferably injection moulding.

[0037] One aspect of the present invention is the concept of creating a threaded base 2 (whose shape is quite complex in terms of the molding process because it characteristically has significant thickness differences) and covering the base 2 with a bushing 6 (made of the same material) that has a more linear shape (thus characteristically has minimal or no thickness differences and is therefore easier to mold to achieve a better finish).

[0038] In practice, the bushing 6 can be made with a substantially uniform profile and thickness, which ensures (the part visible during use) a substantially perfect external finish, ie without indentations or other imperfections related to the molding technique.

[0039] Preferably, bushing 6 features sidewalls 6B and top 6A of substantially equal thickness.

[0040] Advantageously, this substantially uniform thickness may be between 0.5 mm and 2 mm.

[0041] Furthermore, the side wall 6B may have a substantially uniform thickness. The maximum thickness and the minimum thickness of the side wall 6B may vary in a ratio of up to 2, but preferably not more than 1.5.

[0042] The top portion 6A may also characteristically have a substantially uniform thickness. The maximum thickness and the minimum thickness of the top portion 6A may vary in a ratio of up to 2, but preferably not more than 1.5.

[0043] Furthermore, the top 6A and the side walls 6B may characteristically have areas of different thicknesses, as long as the ratio between the maximum thickness and the minimum thickness is between 1 and 2, preferably between 1 and 1.5.

[0044] The only (possible) place where there may be a variation in the thickness of the liner is at the connection area 40 between the top and its side walls.

[0045] However, the finish of this area can also be controlled by maintaining substantially the same or similar thickness of the sidewalls 6B and top 6A there as in the vicinity of said area, by making appropriate connections.

[0046] Region 40 is the region where the connection between walls 6A and 6B is uniform.

[0047] Preferably, the base 2, the bushing 6 (and the seal 5) are made of the same material.

[0048] However, the base 2, the bushing (and optionally the seal 5) can be made of different materials. In this case, all these materials can belong to the same recycling code, for example code 2 or code 5 according to standard ASTM D7611.

[0049] Indeed, as is known, injection moulding of PP or PE (or PP or PE based materials) is particularly difficult precisely because of the considerable shrinkage which occurs during the cooling phase before demoulding, which can generate sink marks, especially in areas of different material thicknesses.

[0050] Providing a sleeve 6 fitted to the base 2 (the part with the largest thickness difference and the "functional" part of the cap) eliminates or minimizes any aesthetic imperfections in the cap 1, so that the cap 1 can also be sold in high-end contexts where attention to detail is fanatical.

[0051] Advantageously, the base body 2 is cup-shaped, as in Figure 4 The base body 2 characteristically has a top 2C from which a skirt 11 extends, defining a lateral surface 2A of the base body 2 .

[0052] The thread 3 is made on the skirt 11 so that there are ridges protruding towards the concave portion of the base 2 .

[0053] For example, the base body 2 , the bushing 6 and the seal are fastened to each other by an adhesive.

[0054] The adhesive may be a hot melt adhesive, a vinyl adhesive, a cyanoacrylate adhesive, or an epoxy adhesive.

[0055] For this purpose, small cavities C1 , C2 , C3 can be created between the bushing 6 and the base body 2 , which cavities can accommodate the adhesive or facilitate its spreading.

[0056] More specifically, the first cavity C1 may be defined by a recessed area R1 envisaged externally on the top 2C of the base, delimited by an edge or annular support 20 (which may be, for example, annular) with which the bushing 6 is in direct contact when it is assembled with the base 2. The support 20 also acts as a stroke limiter for assembly.

[0057] Given the described construction, the annular support 20 protrudes from the base body 2. As can be seen in the figure, the annular support 20 may have a flat surface on its top end in the area of ​​contact with the bushing 6.

[0058] The second cavity C2 may be defined by a recessed portion R2 conceived at the outer edge of the base body 2 (eg around the periphery) and by the inner edge of the bushing 6 .

[0059] The third cavity C3, i.e. the cavity containing the adhesive present between the bushing 6 and the base 2, can be formed by a recessed section R3 ( Figure 4 Advantageously, the recessed section C3 may be shaped like a petal (a sector of a circle).

[0060] The base body 2 may also characteristically have, on at least part of said lateral surface 2A, a toothed crown 10 facilitating the torsional coupling with the bushing 6 , coupling with the smooth surface of the bushing 6 .

[0061] The space defined between the groove of the toothed crown and the bushing may also constitute an outlet or seat for the adhesive in question, in order to increase the mutual bonding surface or the like.

[0062] The height of the toothed crown 10 may extend to approximately one quarter of the height of the skirt 11 , but obviously, as in other embodiments described below, the height may be greater; the height of the toothed crown 10 may also reach 9 / 10 of the height of the skirt or even the entire height of the skirt 11 .

[0063] The lateral surface 2C of the basic body 2 not reached by the crown can form a very efficient surface for centering the basic body 2 and the bushing 6. This is because said surface is substantially smooth.

[0064] According to one aspect of the invention, the base body 2 may characteristically have at least one groove 7 on one of its outer lateral surfaces 2A, which serves as an outlet for air trapped between the base body 2 and the bushing 6 during the mutual coupling of the base body 2 and the bushing 6. In this way, the pumping effect occurring during the coupling of the base body 2 to the bushing can be effectively prevented.

[0065] The groove 7 (preferably there are three grooves, more preferably there are four) can characteristically have a first end and a second end 7B, wherein the first end is open at the free edge 2B of the substrate 2, and the second end 7B is open at the interconnecting edge between the lateral surface 2A of the substrate 2 and the top 2C of the substrate 2.

[0066] For example, if envisaged, the second end of the groove could be open at said toothed portion 10 of the basic body 2 .

[0067] Advantageously, therefore, the groove 7 extends along the entire height of the skirt 11 .

[0068] Reference Figures 5 to 8 The construction shown in .

[0069] In these figures, as in the other figures to be described in detail, the same reference numerals used previously are used to denote components that are functionally similar to components already illustrated. Therefore, they will not be described again.

[0070] It can be seen that in this configuration, the base 2 and the bushing 6 can be coupled to each other by welding (eg, ultrasound or laser).

[0071] For example, on the outer surface of the top 2C of the base 2 facing the bushing 6, there may be a plurality of ridges 21 protruding from the base 2, preferably arranged in a ring ( Figure 6 ).

[0072] When the ridges or tips are at least partially melted, this facilitates the welding operation, which may be, for example, ultrasonic welding.

[0073] The seal 5 may be snap-fitted to the base 2 , and the seal 5 may be shaped as a flat ring.

[0074] To this end, the base body may characteristically have a flexible sector 31 which may be provided with an undercut or tooth 31A which snap-fits the seal 6 , cooperating with the seat 4 .

[0075] Figures 9 to 12 Another variation of the invention is shown.

[0076] In this variant, the coupling between the base body 2 and the bushing 6 is achieved mechanically.

[0077] Advantageously, the bushing 6 may be provided at the free end of its side wall (see Fig.11 ) characteristically has at least one first protruding tooth 35 (continuous or discontinuous), which creates an undercut or snap fit between the bushing 6 and the base 2.

[0078] In order to torsionally couple the base body 2 and the bushing 6 , at least one of these parts can feature a ribbed edge 10A, 10B.

[0079] The two parts may also each characteristically have thin ribbed edges 10A, 10B that engage one another.

[0080] The ribbed edge 10A of the base is characteristically on the outer surface of the skirt 11 , while the ribbed edge 10B of the bushing is characteristically on the portion of the side wall 6B facing the base 2 .

[0081] The ribbed edge 10B of the bushing and the teeth 35 (also of the bushing) are made with a minimum thickness difference (as described above) in order to minimize or eliminate shrinkage occurring during the molding stage; this is to prevent the external aesthetics of the bushing from being spoiled, which, as already mentioned, is essential.

[0082] At the same time, the seal 5 can also be fastened to the base body 2 by snap-fitting.

[0083] Advantageously, therefore, on the base body 2 there is a second toothing 36 (continuous or discontinuous) which, together with the seat 4 , locks the seal 5 in its final position.

[0084] In this case, the seal 5 may be a disk.

[0085] It goes without saying that, in this configuration as well, the seal 5 can be locked using a system similar to that already described in the previous embodiment (sector 31 with flat annular seal).

[0086] Now refer to Fig.14 and Fig.15 .

[0087] In this configuration, the base body 2 ′ may have a ring configuration, and the seal 5 is sandwiched between the base body 2 ′ and the bushing 6 .

[0088] The seat 4 for accommodating the seal 5 may be made at the second free end 2D of the lateral surface 2A and may include an annular step 4A ( Fig.14 ), the seal 5 rests on the annular step 4A.

[0089] Preferably, the base body 2 features said ridges or spikes 21 which are used to join two components by ultrasonic welding.

[0090] Obviously, instead of welding, the base body 2 and the bushing 6 can also be fastened using an adhesive, such as in Figure 1 In this case, the substrate will present a slightly different configuration (e.g. without the prongs 21) as can be easily inferred from this description, with the adhesive being arranged only in contact with the substrate. Figure 1 The cavity represented as C2 corresponds to the cavity.

[0091] exist Figures 16 to 18 In the configuration of , the seat 4 of the base body 2 is configured as a recess and provides an inlet 9 for the seal 5 , which opens at the lateral surface 2A of the base body 2 .

[0092] Thus, during assembly, the seal 5 is first inserted into the inlet 9 (arrow F, from the base body side), and then the bushing 6 is fitted onto the base body 2 .

[0093] The sealing member 5 is preferably disc-shaped.

[0094] The base body 2 and the bushing 6 can be fastened by ultrasonic welding (and thus a prong 21 can be envisaged, which facilitates the handling) or with an adhesive.

[0095] It should be emphasized that in this configuration, as in the other configurations described, ultrasonic or laser welding can be performed (as an alternative to adhesive), even in the absence of prongs 21 , by using, for example, annular support 20 .

[0096] Various embodiments of the innovation have been disclosed herein, but further embodiments may also be envisioned using the same innovative concepts.

Claims

1. A cap (1) comprising a base (2, 2') provided with a thread (3) on one of its inner sides, a seat (4) in which a seal (5) is at least partially accommodated, and a sleeve (6) wrapped around the base (2) and twistedly attached to the base (2), the sleeve (6) completely concealing the base (2) when viewed from the side and at least when viewed from above, characterized in that The contact surface between the top (2C) of the base (2) and the bushing (6) is defined by an annular support (20) protruding from the base (2) or by a plurality of ridges (21) protruding from the base (2) and arranged in an annular pattern.

2. The cap according to claim 1, wherein The base body (2), the seal (5) and the bushing (6) are made of a single plastic material, preferably a polypropylene based material, preferably polypropylene.

3. The cap according to claim 1, wherein The base (2) is cup-shaped.

4. The cap (1) according to claim 1, wherein: The substrate (2) has at least one groove (7) on its outer side surface (2A), and the at least one groove (7) serves as an exhaust port for air trapped between the substrate (2) and the bushing (6) during the mutual connection of the substrate (2) and the bushing (6), and the groove (7) has a first end open at the free edge (2B) of the substrate (2) and a second end (7B) open at the interconnecting edge between the lateral surface (2A) of the substrate (2) and the top (2C) of the substrate (2).

5. The cap according to claim 1, wherein The sealing member (5) is in the shape of a disc or a flat ring and is snap-fitted with the base body (2).

6. The cap according to claim 1, wherein: The base (2') has a ring configuration, and the seal (5) is tightly sandwiched between the base (2') and the bushing.

7. A cap according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the seat (4) accommodating the seal (5) is formed at the second free end (2D) of the side surface (2A) and comprises an annular step (4A) on which the seal (5) rests.

8. Cap according to claim 1, wherein the seat (4) is configured as a recess and comprises an access (9) for the seal (5) opening on the lateral surface (2A) of the base body (2).

9. The cap according to claim 1, wherein: The base body (2) is welded to the bushing (6) at the annular support (20) or at the plurality of ridges (21).

10. Cap according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein: The base body (2) has a toothed crown (10) on at least a portion of the lateral surface (2A), which facilitates torsional coupling with the bushing (6) by matching with a smooth surface of the bushing (6) or with a corresponding toothed portion (10A) of the bushing.

11. Cap according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein: An adhesive is present between the base body (2) and the bushing (6), and / or an adhesive is present between the base body and the washer (5), and / or the base body (2) and the bushing (6) are welded to each other.

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