closure

Abstract

A tamper-evident closure (110, 210, 30) for a container neck having a retaining bead, the closure comprising: a screw cap (102, 302) comprising a top plate and a side wall depending from the periphery thereof; and a retaining ring (103, 303) arranged below the side wall; and a plurality of webs connecting the retaining ring to the side wall, at least one of the webs (104, 304) being breakable and only one of the webs (101, 301) being non-breakable, so as to form a strong, non-breakable connecting member between the ring and the side wall, wherein the non-breakable connecting link is adapted so that: when the cap is unscrewed and lifted, the ring is locally pulled up and the presence of the non-breakable connecting member (101, 301) causes part of the ring (103, 303) to be pulled up and over the retaining bead in use, and when the screw cap is removed from the neck, it can be turned over, characterized in that the ring (103, 303) and the non-breakable connecting member (101, 301) are adapted such that turning the cap (102, 302) causes local areas (120, 125) of the ring on both sides of the non-breakable connecting member (101, 301) to be twisted.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates generally to a tethered closure cap and more particularly, but not exclusively, to a tamper-evident closure.

[0002] A retaining ring is located at the bottom edge of the cap wall of closure caps of this type, which engages under a bead on a container mouth when the closure cap is in position. When opening the container, the upper cap section can be removed from the container mouth to allow pouring, while the lower retaining ring remains firmly attached to the container mouth.

[0003] A known closure of this type is shown in KR100880006. Document CN1631740 shows another closure of this type and discloses a closure according to the preamble of the appended claim 1.

[0004] One aspect of the present disclosure provides a tamper-evident closure for a container neck having a retaining bead, the closure comprising: a screw cap including a top plate and a sidewall depending from the periphery thereof; and a retaining ring disposed below the sidewall;and a plurality of webs connecting the retaining ring to the side wall, at least one of the webs being frangible and only one of the webs being non-fracturable, so as to form a strong, non-fracturable connecting link between the ring and the side wall, the non-fracturable connecting link being adapted such that: when the cap is unscrewed and lifted up, the ring is locally pulled up and the presence of the non-fracturable connecting link causes, in use, a part of the ring to be pulled up and over the retaining bead, and when the screw cap is detached from the neck, it can be inverted, characterized in that: the ring and the non-fracturable connecting link are adapted such that inverting the cap causes local areas of the ring to be twisted on both sides;

[0005] The non-breakable web may be longer in the circumferential direction than the breakable web(s).

[0006] The width of the non-fracturable land may range from 2 mm to 10 mm, e.g., 6-7 mm. Some aspects and embodiments relate to and / or are combined with a short neck finish. For the purposes of this specification, a "short" neck finish may be defined as anything with a ratio of 0.35 or less, when calculated as the finish height (measured between the bottom of a transfer bead and the top of the finish referred to the "D" dimension according to beverage industry nomenclature on technical drawings of bottle necks) divided by the diameter of the thread crest referred to the "T" dimension according to beverage industry nomenclature on technical drawings of bottle necks.

[0007] The closure only includes a non-breakable bar.

[0008] In some embodiments, the web is formed by slitting. Alternatively or additionally, a web may be formed by molding.

[0009] In some embodiments, the closure is configured to have a stable docking position with respect to a container.

[0010] The non-crushable ridge causes local axial lifting of the ring when the cap is removed from a container neck during use. This involves mechanically pushing the band over a bottle bead or the like. There may be no relative movement between the cap and the ring in the area of the non-crushable ridge.

[0011] The cap can be pivoted relative to the ring by deforming the ring.

[0012] The ring can be plastically and / or elastically deformable.

[0013] The cap may be pivotable relative to the ring to provide a stable open position.

[0014] The ring may have a tongue which is rotated when the ring is twisted and which can engage with a container neck to hold the closure in a stable open position.

[0015] A closure as described herein is also provided in combination with a container. The container may have a short-neck design.

[0016] Various aspects and embodiments of the invention may be used separately or together.

[0017] Further particular and preferred aspects of the present invention are set out in the accompanying independent and dependent claims.

[0018] The present invention will now be described in more detail by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0019] Example embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to practice and implement the systems and processes described herein. It is important to understand that embodiments may be provided in many alternative forms and should not be construed as limited to the examples provided herein.

[0020] Accordingly, while embodiments are susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof are shown in the drawings and are described in detail below by way of example. Limitation to the particular forms disclosed is not intended. Instead, it is intended to embrace all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the appended claims. Elements of the exemplary embodiments will be designated by the same reference numerals throughout the drawings and the detailed description, respectively.

[0021] Unless otherwise defined, all terms used herein (including technical and scientific terms) should be interpreted as customary in the art. It is further understood that terms in common usage should also be interpreted as customary in the relevant art, and not in an idealized or overly formal sense, unless expressly defined herein.

[0022] In the following description, all directional terms such as upper, lower, radial and axial are used in conjunction with the drawings and should not be construed as limiting the invention.

[0023] Fig. Figure 1 shows a tamper-evident closure 10, which is not part of the invention but is shown for illustrative purposes. The closure 10 comprises a tray 2 and a tamper-evident band 3. The tray 2 has a circular top plate 8 and a side wall 9 depending from the periphery of the plate.

[0024] The band 3 is connected to the free end of the side wall 9 by a plurality of breakable webs 4 and, in this embodiment, by a single thicker non-breakable web 1.

[0025] The thick web 1 is designed to keep the closure shell 2 connected to the tamper-evident band 3, thereby allowing the closure to remain attached to the container during normal use after opening and reclosing.

[0026] The plurality of breakable webs 4 are broken, thereby providing evidence that the closure has been opened.

[0027] The thick lip design is applicable to many different types of closures and products, for example in the beverage industry, such as flip-top sports caps and flat-top caps.

[0028] In the embodiment shown here, the number of thick webs is one. In further embodiments, which are also not part of the invention, two or more adjacent thick webs may be used.

[0029] The width 5 of the thick web in this embodiment is at least 1.5 mm.

[0030] The thickness 6 of the web in this embodiment is at least 0.5 mm.

[0031] The closure 10 is in Fig. 2 shown in the closed unopened position. In Fig. 3, the closure 10 is shown in an open position, showing that the thicker bar acts as a hinge. In Fig. 4, the closure 10 is shown attached to a screw-threaded container neck 15. It can be seen that the band 3 remains on the neck while the cap shell 2 is unscrewed and then pivoted.

[0032] Fig. Figure 5 shows a closure 110 constructed in accordance with the present invention.

[0033] The closure 110 includes a shell 102 connected to a band 103 first by a plurality of frangible webs 104 and then by a single thick web 101. The shell 102 includes a plurality of axial ribs 106.

[0034] As in Fig. As can be seen in Figure 6, the presence of the strong, unbreakable ridge 101 causes, when the cap shell 102 is unscrewed from the container neck 115, a portion of the band 103 to be pulled up and over the neck retention bead 117. Once the screw cap 102 is released from the screw-threaded neck 115, the cap can be inverted, as shown in Fig. 7 to 9. Upon inverting the cap, the web 101 causes the local regions 120, 125 of the band 103 on either side of the non-breakable web 101 to twist as the shell is pivoted away. Thus, the web itself is not a hinge, but effectively creates a pivot / hinge zone by forcing local twisting of the band.

[0035] In Fig. 10A to 10D, a closure 210 formed according to another embodiment is shown and provides a similar effect to the closure 110. The closure 210 shown in Fig. 10A to 10D are placed between parentheses in both the figures and the text and thus indicate features that are different from the features indicated by the Fig. 1 to 4, whereby these reference symbols are not placed between parentheses.

[0036] During opening, the strong “thick bar” (1) pulls the tamper-evident band ring (2) partially over the neck end bead (3).

[0037] Once the closure shell (4) is released from the neck end thread (5), the consumer can fold the closure back into the open position (6).

[0038] When the consumer pivots the closure (4) into the open position (6), a force is transmitted to the tamper-evident band ring (2) by appropriately defining the width and thickness of the thick web (1), resulting in a twisting movement and thus a local deformation (7) on the tamper-evident band ring. This allows for a stable docking position (8) on the neck seal bead (3).

[0039] The pivoting of the closure is based on the deformation of the tamper-evident band. This arrangement also ensures a stable open position through plastic deformation.

[0040] Fig. 11 shows a closure 310 formed according to another embodiment.

[0041] The closure 310 includes an upper shell 302 and a tamper-evident band 303. The shell and band are connected by a plurality of frangible webs 304. A non-frustrable web 301 is provided in one region and connects the shell and band. In this region, the band includes a descending tongue 335.

[0042] When the cap is unscrewed in use, the cap is lifted, and the web 301 locally pulls the band upward (as described above). When the cap is then inverted, the band is locally twisted (as described above); and the tongue 335 rotates and seats against the container neck to provide a stable open position.

[0043] Fig. Figure 12 shows a closure 410 which is not part of the invention but is shown for illustrative purposes.

[0044] The closure 410 comprises an upper shell 402 and a tamper-evident band 403. The shell and band are connected by a plurality of frangible webs 404. A pair of adjacent non-frangible webs 401a, 401b are provided in one region and connect the shell and band. An opening 430 is provided in the band between the webs 401a, 401b (it does not extend all the way to the bottom of the band), and a tongue 435 extends from the free end of the shell wall 409 into the opening. A plurality of projections 440 are formed on the inside of the band for engagement under a container neck retention bead.

[0045] When the cap is unscrewed in use, the cap is lifted, and the webs 401a, 401b locally pull the band upward (as described above). When the cap is then inverted, the band is locally twisted (as described above); and the tongue 435 is reversed and can engage the container neck to provide a stable open position. This could be considered a "double-foot" version with a tongue.

[0046] Fig. 13 to 15 show a closure 510 which is not part of the invention but is shown for illustrative purposes.

[0047] The goal of the closure 510 is to keep the cap tethered to the bottle after opening. The tamper-evident band that remains on the neck of the bottle is created by cutting (slitting) plastic intermittently, leaving some frangible elements (webs) between the band and the cap. During the band cutting process, instead of merely creating frangible elements (webs), wider areas are left to create one or more connecting links that can serve as a hinge area when opening the cap, as in Fig. 15 is shown.

[0048] Although exemplary embodiments of the invention have been disclosed in detail herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the precise embodiments shown and that various changes and modifications may be made therein by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents. QUOTES CONTAINED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents submitted by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the convenience of the reader. This list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] KR 100880006

[0003] CN 1631740

[0003]

Claims

[1] A tamper-evident closure (110, 210, 30) for a container neck having a retaining bead, the closure comprising: a screw cap (102, 302) comprising a top plate and a side wall depending from the periphery thereof; and a retaining ring (103, 303) arranged below the side wall; and a plurality of webs connecting the retaining ring to the side wall, at least one of the webs (104, 304) being breakable and only one of the webs (101, 301) being non-breakable, so as to form a strong, non-breakable connecting member between the ring and the side wall, wherein the non-breakable connecting link is adapted so that: when the cap is unscrewed and lifted, the ring is locally pulled up and the presence of the non-breakable connecting member (101, 301) causes part of the ring (103, 303) to be pulled up and over the retaining bead in use, and when the screw cap is removed from the neck, it can be turned over, characterized by , that the ring (103, 303) and the non-breakable connecting member (101, 301) are adapted such that turning the cap (102, 302) causes local areas (120, 125) of the ring on both sides of the non-breakable connecting member (101, 301) to be twisted. [2] A closure according to claim 1, wherein the non-breakable web (101, 301) is longer in the circumferential direction than the breakable web(s) (104, 304). [3] A closure according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the closure has a stable open position. [4] Closure according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the closure has a stable docking position. [5] A closure according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the side wall is provided with a plurality of ribs (106). [6] Closure according to one of the preceding claims, in which the ring (103, 303) is plastically and / or elastically deformable. [7] A closure according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the ring (103, 303) is plastically deformed to provide a stable open position. [8] Closure (310) according to one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the ring (303) has a tongue (335) which is rotated upon rotation of the ring and can engage with a container neck to hold the closure in a stable open position. [9] Closure according to one of the preceding claims, in which there is no relative axial movement between the cap (102, 302) and the ring (103, 303) in the region of the non-breakable web (101, 301). [10] Closure according to one of the preceding claims in combination with a container. [11] A combination according to claim 10, wherein the container has a short neck design.

Images