Closure for container

Abstract

Described is a closure for a container (100) having a neck (101), comprising: a base portion (2) designed to cover an opening (102) of the neck (101) of the container (100); a lateral wall (3) adjacent the base portion (2) configured to circumferentially wrap around an end portion (103) of the neck (101) adjacent the opening (102), the lateral wall (3) and / or the base portion (2) having a thickness (S) and having at least one pair of notches (4); a seal (5) applied within the base portion (2) and designed for coupling with the opening (102) for determining a seal between the closure and the container (100); the closure is characterized in that it comprises an opening attachment (6) comprising: a first portion (7) extending from the lateral wall (3) away from the base portion (2) close to said recess (4), and a second portion (8) connected to said first portion (7); the second portion (8) extends along an extension of the first portion (7) and has an end (9) positioned within a space (10) defined by the base portion (2) and the lateral wall (3).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a closure for a container having a neck.

[0002] More specifically, the present invention relates to closures for containers consisting of bottles, which are generally made of glass and have an outwardly projecting annular collar at the end portion of the necks of these bottles. Background Art

[0003] The most common solutions for these closures include the so-called crown caps, that is, closures having a circular portion from which a series of teeth extend, which are designed to close under the above-mentioned projecting collar during capping.

[0004] There are also other prior art solutions for these closures, which constitute variant embodiments of the crown cap and / or, in any case, have a circular portion that is designed to close under the collar during capping.

[0005] The most common version of these solutions is that, during opening, a tool is required to apply a force on the circular portion away from the neck of the container, which deforms the closure such that the closure can be disengaged from the neck and thus from the container.

[0006] In addition to the need to use a tool, the user almost always needs to use both hands or a support surface to perform the opening operation, so that the container can be locked while disengaging the closure from the neck.

[0007] Some solutions do not require the use of an object outside the container closure system.

[0008] For example, prior art solutions include the presence of a series of threads on the neck of the container such that the closure acts like unscrewing the closure during opening.

[0009] However, this solution requires modifying the neck of the container, i.e., adding threads, with respect to most necks of prior art containers.

[0010] Another example of a prior art solution is a pull-down closure.

[0011] The closure includes an upper shell from which a collar extends, which flips and closes under the annular collar of the bottle neck during capping. The collar is connected to a tab or a clamping ring that extends substantially perpendicular to the upper surface.

[0012] There are weak lines on both the collar and the upper surface of the pull-down closure. When the user clamps the ring and moves it upward, the collar can be initially broken along the above-mentioned weak lines, and then the upper surface portion can be broken. Thus, this partial opening allows the entire closure to be released from the neck of the bottle.

[0013] This type of cap includes the use of aluminum, at least in terms of the upper surface and the collar.

[0014] The preference for the tear line and its geometry are also designed to prevent the splitting of the cap, and even in the configuration after being pulled down, the cap remains configured in the form of a single body.

[0015] The seal is positioned at the inner surface of the upper surface, which inner surface of the upper surface contacts the free edge of the bottle neck. The seal is made by means of a properly shaped punch acting on a small amount of plastic material reaching the deformation temperature through a molding operation.

[0016] However, these solutions generally also require the use of both hands, and / or, due to the pull-down mechanism, the overall size of the cap is much larger than that of the crown cap. In addition, these solutions generally require complex and delicate production procedures.

[0017] Furthermore, the solutions of the prior art, especially pull-down caps, it is difficult to find a balance between the opening force and the sealing force of the cap on the container. In fact, it is required that the user can easily open the container by applying a not particularly large force, but it is equally necessary that the cap does not open due to any high pressure of the content of the container. Summary of the Invention

[0018] The object of the present invention is to provide a cap that overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages of the prior art.

[0019] The object of the present invention is to provide a cap for a container, which has the advantage of being easier to open compared to the prior art.

[0020] In particular, another object of the present invention is to provide a cap for a container, which cap has a neck that can be opened by a user with one hand, especially just by using the thumb, more easily than the prior art. Brief Description of the Drawings

[0021] The technical features of the present invention are clearly described in the claims below with reference to the accompanying drawings, and its advantages are obvious from the following detailed description. The accompanying drawings only provide preferred embodiments of the present invention by way of example, without limiting the scope of the inventive concept. In the drawings:

[0022] - Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a cap for a container according to the present invention applied to the neck of the container;

[0023] - Figure 2A and Figure 2B are two different schematic views of a cap for a container according to the present invention applied to the neck of the container;

[0024] - Figure 2C is Figure 2A and Figure 2B a cross-sectional view of a closure for a container according to the present invention as shown;

[0025] - Figure 3A is a schematic view of a closure for a container according to the present invention;

[0026] - Figure 3B and Figure 3C is Figure 3A a cross-sectional view of a closure for a container according to the present invention as shown;

[0027] - Figure 4A and Figure 4B are respectively a top view and a bottom view of a closure for a container according to the present invention;

[0028] - Figure 5A and Figure 5B are schematic perspective views of an exploded view of a closure for a container and a container according to the present invention according to two different embodiments. Detailed Description

[0029] Referring to the drawings, reference numeral 1 denotes a closure for a container 100 (hereinafter also simply referred to as closure 1), in particular for a container 100 having a neck 101.

[0030] Preferably, the container 100 is a conventional bottle.

[0031] The neck 101 of the container 100 has an end portion 103.

[0032] Preferably, the end portion 103 forms an outwardly projecting annular collar 104.

[0033] Preferably, the closure 1 for the container 100 is applied to the end portion 103 of the neck 101 of the container 100.

[0034] The closure 1 includes a base portion 2 configured to cover the opening 102 of the neck 101 of the container 100.

[0035] The base portion 2 has a shape corresponding to the shape of the opening 102.

[0036] Preferably, the shape of the base portion 2 is circular.

[0037] The closure 1 includes a side wall 3 adjacent to the base portion 2, the side wall 3 being configured to circumferentially wrap around the end portion 103 of the neck 101 adjacent to the opening 102.

[0038] In other words, during capping, the lateral wall 3 can be flipped and closed over the end portion 103 of the neck 101 and in particular under the annular collar 104. Thus, the closure 1 is firmly anchored to the neck 101 of the container 100.

[0039] As in the prior art, during capping, the lower part 14 of the lateral wall 3 undergoes a bending movement towards the inside in order to stably engage the closure 1 with the neck 101 of the container 100 and in particular with the annular collar 104.

[0040] In fact, the closure 1 is made of a flat sheet, preferably made of metal, even more preferably made of aluminium, which flat sheet is deformed until a flat cylindrical body (also called a shell) open at the bottom and closed at the top by the base portion 2 is formed.

[0041] The thickness S of the flat sheet is between 0.10 mm and 0.30 mm, preferably between 0.14 mm and 0.25 mm, more preferably between 0.20 mm and 0.22 mm, still more preferably equal to 0.21 mm.

[0042] In other words, the thickness S of at least the base portion 2 and the lateral wall 3 is between 0.10 mm and 0.30 mm, preferably between 0.14 mm and 0.25 mm, more preferably between 0.20 mm and 0.22 mm, still more preferably equal to 0.21 mm.

[0043] According to one aspect of the invention, the base portion 2 and the lateral wall 3 define an annular edge 15 at their junction.

[0044] The annular edge 15 coincides with the outer periphery of the base portion 2 having a diameter D.

[0045] According to the invention, the closure 1 comprises a seal 5 applied inside the base portion 2.

[0046] The seal 5 is configured to engage with the opening 102 for establishing a seal between the closure 1 and the container 100, in particular a seal between the closure 1 and the neck 101 at the opening 102.

[0047] According to the invention, the lateral wall 3 and / or the base portion 2 have at least one pair of notches 4.

[0048] The notches 4 correspond to weakened lines formed on the lateral wall 3 and / or the base portion 2.

[0049] Preferably, the notches 4 are made by stamping the material of the closure 1 in such a way that the thickness S is reduced by a value which does not affect the mechanical seal of the closure 1 after the capping operation.

[0050] Meanwhile, during opening, the notch 4 facilitates detachment of the cap 1 from the container 100, as described in more detail below.

[0051] Preferably, the depth of the notch 4, i.e., the reduction in thickness S at the notch 4, is between 0.01 mm and 0.18 mm, more preferably between 0.03 mm and 0.16 mm.

[0052] According to one aspect of the invention, the depth of the notch 4 is between 5% and 80% of the thickness S, more preferably between 10% and 70% of the thickness S.

[0053] According to a preferred embodiment, the depth of the notch 4 does not exceed two-thirds of the thickness S.

[0054] It should be noted that the notch 4 is made on the lateral wall 3 and / or the base portion 2 as an internal cut, rather than an external cut, i.e., on the side of the cap 1 that will face the neck 101 of the container 100 in final use.

[0055] Preferably, the extension of the notch 4 terminates before the outer edge of the lateral wall 3, as shown in the drawings.

[0056] Advantageously, this prevents accidental opening of the cap 1 due to the pressure inside the container 100 exerted by the cap 1.

[0057] According to an embodiment, the notch 4 extends on the lateral wall 3 outside the annular edge 15, preferably along an arc outside the annular edge 15.

[0058] According to the invention, the cap 1 includes an opening attachment 6.

[0059] For example, the attachment 6 is a tab extending from the lateral wall 3 away from the base portion 2.

[0060] According to one aspect of the invention, the notch 4 includes at least one portion 4A close to the opening attachment 6 and a portion 4B far from the opening attachment 6, the portion 4A having a first depth and the portion 4B having a second depth.

[0061] Preferably, the first depth is less than the second depth.

[0062] More specifically, the notch 4 has at least a first reduction in thickness S in the portion 4A close to the attachment 6 and at least a second reduction in thickness S in the portion 4B far from the attachment 6, and preferably, the first reduction in thickness S is less than the second reduction in thickness S.

[0063] In short, according to a preferred embodiment, the cap 1 has a notch 4 in the portion 4A close to the attachment 6, and the depth of the notch 4 is less than the depth of the notch 4 in the portion 4B far from the attachment 6.

[0064] According to the invention, the opening attachment 6 comprises a first part 7 which extends laterally away from the base part 2 from near the notch 4 along the lateral wall 3.

[0065] The attachment 6 comprises a second part 8 connected to the first part 7.

[0066] The second part 8 extends along an extension of the first part 7.

[0067] More specifically, both the first and second parts (7, 8) of the attachment 6 extend away from the base part 2.

[0068] The second part 8 has an end 9 positioned within a space 10 defined by the base part 2 and the lateral wall 3.

[0069] In other words, the extension of the second part 8 means that the end 9 is positioned within a flat cylindrical body or shell which is open downward and closed at the top by the base part 2.

[0070] According to one aspect of the invention, the end 9 of the second part 8 is configured to be positioned between the lateral wall 3 and the neck 101 of the container 100.

[0071] Preferably, the second part 8 is positioned in such a way that a contact surface 11 is defined between the end 9 of the second part 8 and the neck 101 of the container 100.

[0072] Basically, during capping, the end 9 of the second part 8 is enclosed between the lateral wall 3 of the closure 1 and the neck 101 of the container 100.

[0073] When the container is closed, i.e., when the closure 1 is firmly anchored to the container 100, the end 9 of the second part 8 and at least a portion of the second part 8 rest against the neck 101 of the container 100.

[0074] Basically, during capping, a portion of the second part 8 is clamped against the lateral part 3 and enclosed on the neck 101 of the container 100.

[0075] According to one aspect of the invention, the end 9 of the second part 8 is configured to apply a force on the neck 101 of the container 100 after pulling the opening attachment 6.

[0076] It should be noted that the term "pulling" refers to the lifting force of the attachment 6 in the direction of VM, i.e., in the direction (towards the outside and upward) allowing the material of the closure 1 to disengage at the notch 4.

[0077] More specifically, in the case of applying a force to the opening attachment 6 away from the neck 101, the end 9 of the second part 8 is configured to apply a force on the neck 101.

[0078] According to one aspect of the invention, the second part 8 is configured to form a second type of lever after applying an external driving force FM on the attachment.

[0079] As is well known, the second type of lever is a simple machine that can be schematically represented as a rigid rod having a fulcrum located at one end of the rod, a driving force applied at the other end of the rod, and a resistance force applied between the fulcrum and the driving force.

[0080] The contact surface 11 between the end 9 of the second part 8 and the neck 101 of the container 100 defines the fulcrum 12 of the second type of lever.

[0081] The lateral wall 3 defines the resistance force FR on the open attachment 6 in the second type of lever.

[0082] It should be noted that the force applied to the open attachment 6 away from the neck 101 defines the driving force FM on the second type of lever.

[0083] More specifically, particularly with reference to Figure 2C , during opening, the user applies a driving force FM on the open attachment 6 in a first direction VM away from the container 100; the attachment 6 operates as a second type of lever, where the fulcrum 12 is located in the contact surface 11, opposite to the resistance force FR applied by the lateral wall 3 towards the container 100 in a second direction VR.

[0084] It should be noted that Figure 2C The schematic diagram is shown, and thus it is a view of a non - restrictive example.

[0085] The lever made by means of the attachment 6 makes it easier to overcome the resistance force FR of the lateral wall 3 towards the container 100.

[0086] Overcoming the resistance force FR allows the cap 1 to be disengaged from the neck 101.

[0087] It should be noted that applying the driving force FM to the attachment 6 causes the lateral wall 3 to break at the notch 4. More specifically, with the aid of the lever, the driving force FM can overcome the resistance of the lateral wall 3 and lift the flap of the cap 1, that is, the part where the lateral wall 3 breaks at the notch 4.

[0088] Advantageously, the break of the lateral wall 3 at the notch 4 extending near the first part 7 further helps to overcome the resistance force FR, thus opening the container 100.

[0089] Advantageously, the notch 4 facilitates the detachment of the seal 5 from the end portion 103 of the neck 101 during opening, thereby reducing the applied force.

[0090] It should be noted that during opening, the seal 5 is only attached to the non - broken part of the cap 1.

[0091] The cap 1 includes a portion 4C that extends between the end of the proximal portion 4A of the notch 4 and the first portion 7 of the attachment 6.

[0092] In other words, the proximal portion 4A of each notch 4 terminates at a distance from the portion 7 of the attachment 6 corresponding to the portion 4C.

[0093] Advantageously, the presence of the portion 4C prevents, for example, the accidental opening of the cap 1 due to the pressure inside the container 100 exerted by the cap 1.

[0094] It should be noted that the distance between the end of the proximal portion 4A of the notch 4 and the first portion 7 of the attachment 6 is on the order of one - tenth of a millimeter.

[0095] Advantageously, the dimension of the distance between the end of the proximal portion 4A of the notch 4 and the first portion 7 of the attachment 6 does not increase the resistance FR in a significant way. Thus, more specifically, the portion 4C does not significantly resist the driving force FM during opening, but breaks as a continuation of the notch 4.

[0096] It should be noted that using a lever made of the attachment 6 is physically advantageous, and thus, relative to the force required to open the cap of a container with a neck according to the prior art, applying a driving force FM with a relatively low modulus is sufficient.

[0097] Thus, advantageously, the present invention allows the cap 1 to be detached from the container 100 with one hand.

[0098] In particular, the present invention allows the cap 1 to be detached from the container 100 by using only the thumb. In fact, the cap 1 described in the present invention allows a user who clamps the neck 101 of the container 100 to apply a force with the thumb away from the neck 101 to the attachment 6, which is sufficient to open the container 100.

[0099] According to a preferred embodiment, the base portion 2, the lateral wall 3, the first portion 7, and the second portion 8 are made of the same material, preferably metal, and even more preferably made of aluminum.

[0100] According to an alternative embodiment, the opening attachment 6 is made of plastic material, while the base portion 2 and the lateral wall 3 are made of metal.

[0101] According to another alternative embodiment, one of the first portion 7 and the second portion 8 is made of plastic material, while the other between the second portion 8 and the first portion 7 is made of metal.

[0102] According to the first embodiment, the first portion 7 and the second portion 8 are separate elements that are rigidly connected to each other.

[0103] The connection between the first and second parts (7, 8) of the opening attachment 6 is achieved, for example, by a sealing or connecting device. The connecting device can be an elastic element, such as a spring, or a rigid element, such as a metal wire.

[0104] According to the second embodiment, the first part 7 and the second part 8 form a single bending element 13.

[0105] In other words, the attachment 6 extends away from the base part 2 from the side wall 3, the attachment 6 bends itself and extends along the previous extension until the end 9 located within the space 10 defined by the base part 2 and the side wall 3, thereby determining the first part 7 and the second part 8 in this way.

[0106] According to one aspect, in this embodiment, the base part 2, the side wall 3, the first part 7 and the second part 8 are made by means of a single molding.

[0107] In short, the cap 1 is made in a single-piece manner by molding.

[0108] Advantageously, the molding in a single part facilitates the production of the cap 1.

[0109] Advantageously, the single molding method eliminates the connections between the various elements of the cap 1, thereby eliminating any defects caused by these connections.

[0110] Advantageously, due to the features described in the present invention, the cap 1 does not require a dedicated capping head and can be applied to systems of the prior art.

Claims

1. A cap for a container (100) having a neck (101), the cap comprising: - a base portion (2) designed to cover an opening (102) of the neck (101) of the container (100), the neck (101) including an end portion (103), - a side wall (3) adjacent to the base portion (2), the side wall (3) configured to circumferentially wrap around the end portion (103) of the neck (101) adjacent to the opening (102), the side wall (3) and / or the base portion (2) having a thickness (S) and having at least a pair of notches (4), a seal (5) applied within the base portion (2) and designed to engage with the opening (102) to establish a seal between the cap and the container (100), wherein the cap is characterized in that the cap includes an opening attachment (6), the opening attachment (6) comprising: - a first portion (7) extending away from the base portion (2) from the side wall (3) near the notch (4); - and a second portion (8) connected to the first portion (7); the second portion (8) extends along the extension of the first portion (7) and has an end (9) positioned within a space (10) defined by the base portion (2) and the side wall (3).

2. The cap according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the end (9) of the second portion (8) is configured to be positioned between the side wall (3) of the container (100) and the neck (101).

3. The cap according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the end (9) of the second portion (8) is configured to apply a force on the neck (101) of the container (100) after pulling the opening attachment (6).

4. The cap according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the second portion (8) is configured to form a second type of lever after an external driving force (FM) is applied to the attachment, and wherein: - a contact surface (11) between the end (9) of the second portion (8) and the neck (101) of the container (100) determines a fulcrum (12) of the lever; - the side wall (3) determines a resistance (FR) on the attachment (6).

5. The cap according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the base portion (2), the side wall (3), the first portion (7) and the second portion (8) are made of the same material, preferably made of metal.

6. The cap according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the thickness (S) of at least the base portion (2) and the side wall (3) is between 0.14 mm and 0.25 mm, preferably equal to 0.21 mm.

7. The cap according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The depth of the notch (4) is between 0.01 mm and 0.18 mm, more preferably between 0.03 mm and 0.16 mm.

8. The cap according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the notch (4) comprises at least one part (4A) having a first depth near the opening attachment (6) and a part (4B) having a second depth remote from the opening attachment (6), the first depth being less than the second depth.

9. The cap according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first part (7) and the second part (8) are separate elements rigidly connected to each other.

10. The cap according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the first part (7) and the second part (8) form a single curved element (13).

11. The cap according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the base part (2), the side wall (3), the first part (7) and the second part (8) are made by a single molding.

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