CONTAINER CLOSURE WITH ONE HINGE AND ONE GRIPPING PROJECTION

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The invention relates to a container closure comprising a retaining ring extending around a reference axis of the container closure, a cap portion, and a hinge connecting the retaining ring to the cap portion. The cap portion has a head plate, a peripheral wall surrounding the head plate, and a gripping projection extending radially outward from the peripheral wall and axially spaced from the head plate. It also relates to a container closed by such a closure. STATE OF THE ART

[0002] From the document WO 2007 / 080000 A1, a container closure of the type mentioned above is known, wherein the snap hinge is integrated into the peripheral wall and wherein the retaining ring and the cap part are connected to one another next to the snap hinge along a second peripheral section via a tear-off strip. In order to create such a closure that is better and, above all, easier to reseal tightly during use, even after initial opening, the peripheral wall has an inwardly projecting retaining bead which, on average, has a greater radial thickness in a sector diametrically opposite the center of the snap hinge than within the sectors offset by approximately 90° from the center of the snap hinge. When snapped into place, the retaining bead generates a haptic signal informing the user that the closed position has been reached.

[0003] The gripping projection is located in the same sector. To create sufficient space for the tear-off strip, the retaining bead, and the gripping projection, the closure has a minimum height that does not allow the head plate to be attached directly to the upper edge of the container neck. Precautions must therefore be taken to ensure that the container closures are not damaged when containers are stacked on top of each other. Furthermore, the axial distance between the gripping projection and the head plate must be kept smaller than the axial distance between the pivot axis of the snap hinge and the head plate. To reduce the height of the container closure, it would be sensible to replace the tear-off strip with a simple parting line. However, this would then lack the space to provide the retaining bead between the retaining ring and the gripping projection.

[0004] From document EP3305680, a container closure of the type mentioned above is known, wherein the cap portion has a tab transverse to the gripping projection, which has a radially inwardly directed projection that adheres directly to the neck of the container through a cutout at the upper edge of the retaining ring. This ensures that the container closure is securely held in the closed position. When closing the closure, an audible "click" is heard, informing the user that the closed position has been reached. When opening, the user pushes the gripping projection upward, and the adhesive force between the inner projection and the neck is reduced by a lever effect, so that the force required for opening remains within limits. This compact design makes it possible to attach the lower surface of the head plate directly to the upper edge of the container neck.

[0005] However, the cutout at the upper edge of the retaining ring proves to be a weak point, which can complicate the assembly of the closure to the container neck. It is therefore proposed to compensate for this weak point by additional reinforcement in the form of an inner circumferential bead at the lower edge of the retaining ring. The lower edge of the retaining ring then lacks a rotationally symmetrical shape, which leads to further difficulties when assembling the closure to the container neck.

[0006] From the utility model DE 200 03 011 U1, a protective cap made of plastic for containers for storing liquid goods, with a lid part and a tamper-evident ring connected to the lid part, is known. The lid part comprises a cylindrical shell and a head plate. On its underside, the lid part is permanently connected to the tamper-evident ring in some areas via a hinge band and in the remaining area via at least one connecting web designed as a predetermined breaking point. A retaining bead is formed on the inside of the essentially cylindrical shell of the lid part. After the container has been emptied, the lid part can be pressed onto the container neck via the hinge band and locked in this position by the retaining bead.

[0007] International patent application WO2021 / 174335 A1 is prior art under Art. 54(3) EPC and discloses a closure comprising a ring for attachment to a container neck and a lid pivotally connected to the ring via a pair of hinge elements. A hinge line in the side wall defines a deformable latch having an outer grip tab and an inner engagement tab between the grip tab and a top wall of the lid. The grip tab extends radially from a side wall of the lid, and the engagement tab engages a lip surrounding the opening of the container neck. The deformable latch is configured to deform along the hinge line when an opening force is applied to the grip tab, thereby releasing the engagement tab from the lip of the container neck. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] The invention is based on the object of equipping a container closure of the type mentioned at the outset with means that provide a haptic or audible signal when closing, but without negatively influencing the assembly on the container and without negatively influencing the height of the closure.

[0009] In a container closure with a retaining ring which extends around a reference axis of the container closure, a cap part and a hinge which connects the retaining ring to the cap part, wherein the cap part has a head plate, a peripheral wall enclosing an inner surface of the head plate and a gripping projection extending radially outwards from the peripheral wall, axially at a distance from the head plate, the object is achieved in that the peripheral wall has, in a deformable region diametrically opposite the hinge and extending between the head plate and the gripping projection, a radially inwardly directed locking projection, a lower wall section lying between the locking projection and the gripping projection and an upper wall section lying between the locking projection and the head plate, wherein a wall thickness of the upper wall section and a wall thickness of the lower wall section are determined such thatthat an elastic deformation of the deformable region enables a radially outward movement of the locking projection by more than fifty percent, preferably more than ninety percent, preferably at least one hundred percent of a radial extension of the locking projection, wherein the deformable region is enclosed in the circumferential direction by two stiffening regions of the circumferential wall which connect the gripping projection to an outer edge of the head plate.

[0010] Because the inner locking projection is located axially between the gripping projection and the head plate, the head plate can be positioned very close to the locking projection, and therefore also very close to the container neck, without having to reduce the height of the retaining ring in this area. By deliberately thinning the peripheral wall in the area of ​​the locking projection, a sufficient spring effect is achieved, which allows the locking projection to be engaged and disengaged from an upper, bead-shaped edge of the container neck. However, if the locking projection were attached to the peripheral wall with a normal wall thickness, opening the container closure would be almost impossible because the pressure of the thumb during opening would increase the adhesive forces between the locking projection and the container neck.

[0011] The pressure forces of the thumb on the gripping projection during opening are transmitted to the head plate through the stiffening regions, without any inhibiting effect between the locking projection and the container neck. To achieve this stiffening, each of the stiffening regions of the peripheral wall can have a wall thickness that is greater than the wall thickness of the upper wall section and the wall thickness of the lower wall section. According to a preferred embodiment, each of the stiffening regions of the peripheral wall has at least one reinforcing rib running parallel to the reference axis and extending outward from the peripheral wall, which rib connects the gripping projection to an outer edge of the head plate. The deformable region preferably has lateral wall sections on both sides of the locking projection in the circumferential direction, which connect the locking projection to the stiffening regions.Preferably, the wall thickness of the lower wall section, the wall thickness of the upper wall section and optionally a wall thickness of the lateral wall sections are less than 20% of a wall thickness of the stiffening regions of the peripheral wall.

[0012] Preferably, the locking projection is curved to facilitate engagement and disengagement upon contact with the neck edge of the container.

[0013] The invention also relates to a closed container with a neck having a circumferential flange, a neck edge, and a retaining bead, the neck being closed by the previously described container closure, the retaining ring being located between the retaining bead and the flange, the locking projection engaging behind the neck edge, and the inner surface of the head plate being located on the neck edge. The wall thickness of the lower wall section, the wall thickness of the upper wall section, and optionally the wall thickness of the lateral wall sections are determined such that the force for radial elastic movement of the locking projection can be determined independently of the other design of the closure, in particular the thickness of the head plate and the thickness of the peripheral wall, so that these elements of the container closure can impart to the container closure a strength that can withstand the stresses of the logistical process. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 : a perspective view of an embodiment of the container closure in a closed position; Fig. 2 : a front view of the container closure of the Figure 1 in the closed position; Fig. 3 : a side view of the container closure of the Figure 1 in the closed position; Fig. 4 : a side sectional view of the container closure of the Figure 1 in the closed position on the neck of a container; Fig. 5 : a detailed view of a circled area of ​​the Figure 3 ; Fig. 6 : another perspective view of the container closure of the Figure 1 in the closed position from below; Fig. 7 : a sectional view of the container closure through a cross-sectional plane VII-VII running transversely to a reference axis of the container closure; Fig. 8: a detailed view of a circled area of ​​the Figure 7 .

[0015] In all drawings, individual reference symbols designate identical or similar elements. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT

[0016] Referring to the figures, a preferred embodiment of a container closure of the present invention is indicated by the reference numeral 10 marked. The closure 10 is intended to be placed on the neck 12 of a container, as shown in the Figure 4 shown. The neck 12 usually has a rotationally symmetrical design. The closure 10 can be made of a plastic or other material compatible with the container contents. A polymer, especially a thermoplastic such as polyethylene or polypropylene, is preferred.

[0017] The container closure 10 includes a retaining ring14, a cap part 16 and a hinge 18, the retaining ring 14 with the cap part 16 connects. The hinge 18 is shown here as a snap hinge and allows a pivoting movement of the cap part 16 around a pivot axis perpendicular to the cutting plane of the Figure 4 The retaining ring 14, the cap part 16 and the hinge 18 are cast together in one piece in the closed position, and the cap part 16 is connected by removable bridges 20 with the retaining ring 14 tied together.

[0018] The retaining ring 14 encloses a reference axis 200 the container closure 10 and has means for attachment to the container neck 12 are intended, in this embodiment a series of elastic locking hooks 22,which are distributed around the circumference of the retaining ring and when mounted on the container neck behind a circumferential retaining bead 121 of the container neck and between this retaining bead 121 and a flange edge 122 of the container neck, also known as the "support ring" in technical terms (see Figure 4 ). However, other means are conceivable, e.g. a circumferential fixing bead or a thread.

[0019] The cap part 16 includes a head plate 24, a peripheral wall 26, which has an inner wall surface 28 the headstock 24 surrounds, as well as a gripping projection 30, which is located at an axial distance to the head plate 24 from the peripheral wall 26 extends radially outwards. In this embodiment, the gripping projection extends 30 from the headstock 24 opposite lower edge of the peripheral wall 26radially outwards, and this at an angle 300 (see Figure 1 ) of more than 60°, preferably more than 90° around the reference axis 200. The gripping projection 30 has a smooth, preferably flat lower surface 32 which forms a comfortable pressure surface for the user's thumb when opening. This lower surface 32 is located on one of the head plates 24 opposite side of a transverse plane 400 (see Figure 2 ), which is transverse to the reference axis 200 runs and the swivel axis 100 This ensures that when the closure is opened 10 the initial movement of the gripping projection 30 quasi perpendicular to the transverse plane 400 and parallel to the reference axis 200 takes place.

[0020] The headstock 24 can be flat or curved. From the inner side 32 the headstock 24an annular sealing apron extends 34 (see Figure 4 ), which is formed by the peripheral wall 26 with radial clearance. This sealing apron 34 is designed to fit inside the container neck 12 to intervene if the container closure 10 on the container neck 12 placed and the cap part 16 is in the closed position. The sealing apron 34 can be a circumferential bead 36 have.

[0021] According to the invention, the peripheral wall 26 a deformable area 40 which is diametrically opposite the hinge 18 and is located between the head plate 24 and the gripping projection 30 The deformable area 40 consists of a radially inwardly directed curved locking projection 42, a lower wall section 44 between the locking projection 42and the gripping projection 30 and an upper wall section 46 between the locking projection 42 and the headstock 24. The locking projection 42 is intended to be below the upper edge 123 of the container neck to find a locking position. As shown in the Figures 4 and 5 visible, the upper edge 123 the container neck 12 directly on the lower surface 28 the headstock 24 issue.

[0022] The deformable area 40 extends circumferentially by an angle 500 of less than 60°, preferably less than 45° (see Figure 1 ), so that the gripping projection 30 in the circumferential direction on both sides of the deformable area 40 The deformable area 40 is circumferentially surrounded by two stiffening areas 47 the peripheral wall 26enclosed, which the gripping projection 30 with an outer edge 48 the headstock 24 connect. Each stiffening area 47 has a reinforcing rib 50 which extends from the peripheral wall 26 extends outwards and is parallel to the reference axis 200 runs around the gripping projection 30 with the outer edge 48 the headstock 24 to connect, as well as a reinforced wall section 52, whose wall thickness is greater than the wall thickness of the upper wall section 46 and as the wall thickness of the lower wall section 44.

[0023] The locking projection 42 of the deformable area 40 is circumferentially separated from the stiffening areas 46 removed and with the stiffening areas 47 through thin lateral wall sections 54 which has an inner surface 55of the reinforced wall section 52 is flush or protrudes slightly inwards.

[0024] The wall thickness of the upper wall section 46, of the lower wall section 44 and the side wall sections 54 of the deformable area 40 are determined in such a way that an elastic deformation of the deformable area 40 the locking projection can move radially outwards in such a way that the locking projection 42 when opening and closing to the top edge 123 can slide past. In practice, the upper edge extends 123 in radial direction almost to the upper wall section 46, and the radial extension 600 of the locking projection 44 (see Figure 5 ) is a measure of the desired radial movement of the locking projection. Depending on the shape of the upper edge 123 the locking projection should 44by more than 50%, preferably more than 90%, of the radial extension 600 of the locking projection 44.

[0025] This allows the opening and closing of the cap part 24 easy locking and unlocking of the curved locking projection 42 through contact with the neck edge 12 of the container. In particular, a desired haptic and possibly audible signal is generated when the locking projection 42 passes the dead center and the deformable area suddenly expands upon reaching the closed position. When opening, the forces exerted by the thumb are transferred to the lower side 32 of the gripping projection 30 through the lateral stiffening areas 47 to the headstock 24 transferred, while the deformable area 40 deforms outwards and yields without significantly impairing the opening movement, although the locking projection 42is moved against the direction of finger pressure.

[0026] Of course, the wall thicknesses of the wall sections 44, 46, 54 of the deformable area 40 and the radial extension 600 of the inner locking projection 44 adapted to the geometric conditions of the container neck in order to generate the desired signal.

[0027] The locking projection 42 also contributes to maintaining the closed position, although the opening resistance is mainly due to the elastic deformation of the sealing apron 34 in the throat 12 is produced.

Claims

1. A container closure (10), comprising a retaining ring (14) that extends around a reference axis (200) of the container closure (10), a cap part (16) and a hinge (18) that connects the retaining ring (14) to the cap part (16), the cap part (16) comprising an end plate (24), a circumferential wall (26) that surrounds an inner surface (28) of the end plate (24) and a gripping projection (30) that extends radially outward from the circumferential wall (26) and extends axially at a spacing from the end plate (24), the circumferential wall (26) comprising; in a deformable region (40) that is diametrically opposite the hinge (18) and extends between the end plate (24) and the gripping projection (30), an engagement projection (42) that is directed radially inward, a lower wall portion (44) arranged between the engagement projection (42) and the gripping projection (30) and an upper wall portion (46) that is arranged between the engagement projection (42) and the end plate (24), a wall thickness of the upper wall portion (46) and a wall thickness of the lower wall portion (44) being determined such that an elastic deformation of the deformable region (40) allows for a radially outward movement of the engagement projection (42) by more than fifty percent, preferably more than ninety percent, preferably at least one hundred percent of a radial extension (600) of the engagement projection (42), characterized in that the deformable region (40) is surrounded in the circumferential direction by two reinforcing regions (47) of the circumferential wall (26) that connect the gripping projection (30) to the end plate (24).

2. Container closure (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that each of the reinforcing regions (47) of the circumferential wall (26) has a wall thickness that is greater than the wall thickness of the upper wall portion (46) and than the wall thickness of the lower wall portion (44).

3. Container closure (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 2, characterized in that each of the reinforcing regions (47) of the circumferential wall (26) comprises at least one reinforcement rib (50), which runs in parallel with the reference axis (200), extends outward from the circumferential wall (26) and connects the gripping projection (30) to the end plate (24).

4. Container closure (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the deformable region (40) comprises lateral wall portions (54) on either side of the engagement projection (42) in the circumferential direction, which connect the engagement projection (42) to the reinforcing regions (47) of the circumferential wall (26).

5. Container closure (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the wall thickness of the lower wall portion (40), the wall thickness of the upper wall portion (42) and optionally a wall thickness of the lateral wall portions (54) are less than 20 % of a wall thickness of the reinforcing regions (47) of the circumferential wall (26).

6. Container closure (10) according to claim 5 in conjunction with claim 4, characterized in that a wall thickness of the lateral wall portions (54) is less than 20% of the wall thickness of the reinforcing regions (47) of the circumferential wall (26).

7. Container closure (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lower wall portion (40), the upper wall portion (42) and optionally the lateral wall portions (54) rest flush against an inner surface of the circumferential wall (26) or protrude radially inward.

8. Container closure (10) according to claim 7 in conjunction with claim 4 or 6, characterized in that the lateral wall portions (54) lie flush against an inner surface of the circumferential wall (26) or protrude radially inward.

9. Container closure (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the engagement projection (42) is curved.

10. Container closure (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the upper wall portion (44) has a wall thickness that is less than the wall thickness of the lower wall portion (46).

11. Container closure (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that - the deformable region (40) extends around the reference axis (200) at an angle (500) of less than 60°, preferably less than 45°; and / or - the gripping projection (30) extends around the reference axis (200) at an angle (300) of more than 60°, preferably more than 90°; and / or - the gripping projection (30) extends outward from a lower edge of the circumferential wall (26).

12. Container closure (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cap part (16), the hinge (18) and the retaining ring (14) are integrally connected to one another and / or in that the container closure (10) is made in one piece from a plastics material.

13. Container closure (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the hinge (18) is a snap hinge.

14. Container closure (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that - an inner sealing skirt (34), which proceeds from the inner surface (28) of the end plate (24), extends radially inside the circumferential wall (26); and / or - the cap part (16) is directly connected to the retaining ring (14) by means of breakable bridges (20) or a breakable continuous line of weakness.

15. Closed container comprising a neck (12), which comprises a circumferential flanged rim (122), a neck edge (123) and a retaining bulge (121), characterized in that the neck (12) is closed by a container closure (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, the retaining ring (14) sitting between the retaining bulge (121) and the flanged rim (122), the engagement projection (42) engaging behind the neck edge (123) and the inner surface (28) of the end plate (24) sitting on the neck edge (123).