Screw closure for a beverage container

Abstract

A screw cap (20) for closing a container (10) for receiving a filling product, preferably a beverage, wherein the screw cap (20) is designed to be screwed onto a container opening (12) of the container (10) and comprises: a closure body (21), which preferably has a cylindrical shape closed at one end; and a closure inlay (22) which is inserted into the closure body (21), wherein the closure inlay (22) has a closure thread (23) for screwing the screw cap (20) onto the container opening (12) of the container (10); wherein the closure body (21) is made of a compostable and / or biodegradable material, preferably pulp material, and the closure inlay (22) including the closure thread (23) is made of a different material than the closure body (21).

Description

Technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to a screw cap for a container for filling with a filling product, preferably a beverage, and to a container with a screw cap. State of the art

[0002] Containers in the beverage industry are increasingly being manufactured using recyclable, compostable, or biodegradable materials, such as wood and / or cellulose fibers. For example, DE 600 33 358 T2 describes a process for manufacturing containers, particularly bottles, formed from fibrous material.

[0003] However, in most cases, not the entire container, including the closure, is made from an environmentally friendly fiber material. For example, in the case of resealable containers with screw caps, the thread of the container is not made from wood and / or cellulose fibers like the container body, but is usually made from a food-safe plastic, in particular a polymer, which is bonded to the container body.

[0004] It is challenging to produce a thread from fiber pulp that possesses the necessary strength and tightness for repeated screwing and unscrewing. For this reason, threads and fasteners made of plastic are currently commonly used, but these are neither compostable nor biodegradable. Furthermore, the combination of wood / cellulose fibers and plastic makes recycling more difficult. Description of the invention

[0005] One object of the invention is to provide an improved screw cap for a container for filling with a product, preferably a beverage, as well as an improved container with a screw cap.

[0006] The problem is solved by a screw cap with the features of claim 1 and a container with the features of claim 10. Advantageous embodiments follow from the dependent claims, the following description of the invention, and the description of preferred embodiments.

[0007] The screw cap according to the invention is designed for closing a container that serves to hold a (liquid) product. The screw cap is designed to be screwed onto the opening of the container.

[0008] The container is specifically intended as a beverage container for filling with a beverage, for example, water (still or carbonated), soft drinks, smoothies, juices, beer, wine, dairy products, mixed drinks and the like.

[0009] The screw cap comprises a closure body, which preferably has a cylindrical shape closed at one end, and a closure inlay which is inserted into the closure body and preferably also has a cylindrical shape closed at one end, wherein the closure inlay has a closure thread for screwing the screw cap onto the container opening of the container, whereby the screw cap can be screwed onto the container opening in a resealable manner and unscrewed to open the container.

[0010] The closure body is made of a compostable and / or biodegradable material, preferably pulp material, and the closure inlay, including the closure thread, is made of a different material than the closure body. "Pulp material" here refers to a material made from wood and / or paper and / or cellulose fibers.

[0011] By using a sealing inlay, a satisfactory seal between the container opening and the screw cap can be ensured even if the other materials used are compostable and / or biodegradable, particularly pulp material. This makes it possible to provide a sustainable and at least biodegradable, or even compostable, alternative to a plastic cap. Furthermore, the sealing inlay provides structural stabilization, allowing the screw cap itself to be made of a less durable, environmentally friendly material.

[0012] Preferably, the closure insert is made of glass or, in particular, a ferromagnetic metal or a compostable and / or biodegradable plastic, thereby providing the thread with a strength suitable for the screw cap. Glass has the advantage of being largely inert in a recycling process. Metal, especially ferromagnetic metal, can be easily separated in a recycling process.

[0013] Preferably, the screw cap has a sealing seal which is inserted into the closure inlay and, when the screw cap is screwed on, is in sealing contact with the container opening.

[0014] The sealing seal ensures a tight seal between the container opening and the closure insert through one or more sealing points. Furthermore, the load or force of the screw cap on the container thread is distributed over a larger area, thus protecting the thread. In this way, the container and screw cap can withstand the closing forces even in cases of material-related, structurally lower strength, and even with repeated opening and closing. Additionally, any unevenness or irregularities on the sealing surfaces of the container opening can be compensated for.

[0015] The material of the closure seal preferably differs from the material of the closure inlay in order to optimize the above effects.

[0016] Preferably, the sealing seal comprises a sealing disc and one or more sealing lips that project from the sealing disc and are designed to make sealing contact laterally with the container opening when the screw cap is tightened. This further improves the sealing and load distribution on the container opening and its threads.

[0017] The sealing disc and the one or more sealing lips are preferably formed in one piece, which allows for high precision of the sealing elements or sections relative to each other.

[0018] Preferably, the sealing seal has two sealing lips, in particular designed as concentric rings, which, when the screw cap is tightened, make sealing contact with the container opening on both the outside and inside of the opening. In this case, a combined seal is thus achieved on the outer surface of the container opening, i.e., towards the threaded end, on the horizontal surface of the opening, and inside the container opening. However, a combination of only two of the three sealing points mentioned is also possible, provided that these already provide a sufficient seal.

[0019] Preferably, the sealing lips are essentially perpendicular to the sealing disc, whereby an annular container opening can be positively enclosed by the (concentric) sealing lips.

[0020] Preferably, one or more sealing lips are inclined relative to the sealing disc to improve the seal and its reliability with regard to repeated opening and reclosing. For this purpose, the inner sealing lip can in particular be inclined towards the container opening.

[0021] Preferably, the sealing seal is made of a softer material than the sealing inlay, such as a natural material, particularly preferably cork, or a biodegradable and / or compostable plastic. This ensures a reliable and long-lasting seal.

[0022] Alternatively, the sealing seal can also be made of a harder material, such as a natural material or another suitable material, in particular a biodegradable and / or compostable material. In this case, at least one material in contact with the sealing seal, i.e., the container opening and / or the sealing inlay, is made of a correspondingly softer material, in particular a softer natural material or another suitable material, such as a biodegradable and / or compostable plastic. The flexibility and / or elasticity advantageous for sealing is thus provided by an element with which the sealing seal is in contact or comes into contact.

[0023] The aforementioned task is further solved by a container with a screw cap according to one of the embodiments described above. The container has a container body and a container opening with a container thread that interacts with the closure thread in such a way that the screw cap can be screwed onto the container opening to close the container and unscrewed to open the container.

[0024] The features, technical effects, advantages, and embodiments described for the screw cap apply analogously to the container with a screw cap. Preferably, the container, including the opening and threads, is made entirely of a compostable and / or biodegradable material, preferably pulp. The screw cap, equipped with the closure inlay and any sealing gasket, is suitable for use in such an environmentally friendly container. The container and screw cap are able to withstand the closing forces, even with material-related, structurally lower strength, and even with repeated opening and closing.

[0025] Further advantages and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments. The features described therein can be implemented alone or in combination with one or more of the features presented above, provided the features do not contradict each other. The following description of preferred embodiments is provided with reference to the accompanying drawings. Brief description of the characters

[0026] Preferred further embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail in the following description of the figures. In the figures: Figure 1 schematically shows a container with a screw cap according to one embodiment; Figure 2 schematically shows a container with a screw cap according to another embodiment; Figure 3 schematically shows a container with a screw cap according to another embodiment. Detailed description of preferred embodiments

[0027] Preferred embodiments are described below with reference to the figures. Identical, similar, or equivalent elements in the figures are designated with identical reference numerals, and repeated descriptions of these elements are sometimes omitted to avoid redundancy.

[0028] In the Figure 1 A container 10 with a screw cap 20 is shown schematically according to an exemplary embodiment.

[0029] The container 10 is specifically designed as a beverage container for filling with a beverage, for example, water (still or sparkling), soft drinks, smoothies, juices, beer, wine, dairy products, mixed drinks, and the like. The container 10 is preferably bottle-shaped.

[0030] The container 10 comprises a container body 11 and a container opening 12 with a container thread 13. The container thread 13 interacts with a corresponding closure thread 23, enabling the screw cap 20 to be screwed onto the container opening 12 in a resealable manner and unscrewed to open the container 10.

[0031] The container 10 is preferably made entirely, i.e., including the container opening 12 and the container thread 13, from a compostable and / or biodegradable material, in particular pulp material. "Pulp material" here refers to a material made from wood and / or paper and / or cellulose fibers.

[0032] The screw cap 20 comprises a closure body 21, which preferably has a cylindrical shape closed at one end. A closure insert 22 is inserted into the closure body 21; this insert preferably also has a cylindrical shape closed at one end and a shape corresponding to the interior of the closure body. The closure insert 22 has the closure thread 23 for screwing the screw cap 20 onto the container opening 12.

[0033] The closure body 21 is made of a compostable and / or biodegradable material, in particular pulp material. The closure inlay 22, including the closure thread 23, is made of a different material than the closure body 21. Preferably, the closure inlay 22 is made of glass or, in particular, a ferromagnetic metal or a compostable and / or biodegradable plastic.

[0034] Preferably, all listed materials are sustainable and compostable or at least biodegradable. The use of the sealing inlay 22 ensures a satisfactory seal between the container opening 12 and the screw cap 20 even when the materials used are compostable and / or biodegradable, particularly pulp material. Furthermore, the sealing inlay 22 provides structural stabilization, allowing the screw cap 20 to be made of a less strong, environmentally friendly material.

[0035] In the Figure 2 A container 10 with a screw cap 20 is shown schematically according to a further embodiment. Starting from the embodiment of the Figure 1 According to the present embodiment, the screw cap 20 additionally comprises a sealing seal 24.

[0036] The sealing seal 24 is inserted into the sealing inlay 22 such that, when the screw cap 20 is screwed on, the sealing seal 24 is in sealing contact with the container opening 12. The sealing seal 24 preferably comprises at least one sealing disc 24a.

[0037] Preferably the sealing seal 24 has, as shown in the Figure 2 The figure shows one or more sealing lips 24b projecting from the sealing disc 24a towards the container 10 and forming a sealing contact laterally with the container opening 12. The sealing disc 24a and the sealing lip(s) 24b are preferably formed in one piece.

[0038] Preferably, two sealing lips 24b are provided as concentric rings, which are in sealing contact with the container opening 12 on the outside and inside of the container opening 12, viewed in the axial direction. In this case, a combined seal is thus achieved on the outer surface of the container opening 12, i.e., towards the container thread 13, on the horizontal surface of the opening, and inside the container opening 12. However, a combination of only two of the three sealing points mentioned is also possible, provided that these already provide a sufficient seal.

[0039] The sealing lips 24b can be positioned as in the embodiment shown in the Figure 2 They extend essentially axially with respect to the cylindrical screw closure 20, i.e. they are essentially perpendicular to the sealing disc 24a.

[0040] Alternatively, one or more sealing lips 24b can be inclined relative to the sealing disc 24a and the container opening 12, as in the embodiment shown in the Figure 3 shown to improve the sealing and its reliability. In particular, the inner sealing lip 24b, in the case of the aforementioned concentric sealing lips 24b, can be inclined towards the container opening 12.

[0041] The sealing seal 24 is preferably made of a softer material than the sealing inlay 22, for example of a natural material such as cork or of another biodegradable and / or compostable material, such as appropriate plastic.

[0042] The sealing seal 24 can also be made of a harder material, such as a natural material or another suitable material, in particular a biodegradable and / or compostable material. In this case, at least one material in contact with the sealing seal 24, i.e., the container opening 12 and / or the sealing inlay 22, is made of a softer material, in particular a softer natural material or another suitable material, such as a biodegradable and / or compostable plastic.

[0043] The examples of implementation of Figures 2 and 3The figures show a combined seal in which the demanding seal between the container opening 12 and the closure inlay is ensured by one or more sealing points, realized by means of the closure seal 24. This ensures that the load or force of the screw cap 20 is distributed over a larger area on the container thread 13, thus protecting the rather fragile container thread 13, for example, made of a pulp material. In this way, the container 10 and the screw cap 20 can withstand the closure forces even in the case of material-related, structurally rather low strength, even with repeated opening and closing. Furthermore, possible unevenness or irregularities, especially on the upper sealing surface of the container opening 12, can be compensated for.

[0044] Where applicable, all individual features shown in the exemplary embodiments can be combined and / or exchanged without leaving the scope of the invention. List of reference symbols

[0045] 10 Container 11 Container body 12 Container opening 13 Container thread 20 Screw cap 21 Closure body 22 Closure inlay 23 Closure thread 24 Closure seal 24a Sealing washer 24b Sealing lip

Claims

1. A screw closure (20) for closing a container (10) that serves to hold a filling product, preferably a beverage, wherein the screw closure (20) is designed to be screwed onto a container mouth (12) of the container (10) and comprises: a closure body (21) that preferably has a cylindrical shape that is closed on one side; and a closure inlay (22) that is inserted into the closure body (21), wherein the closure inlay (22) has a closure thread (23) for screwing the screw closure (20) onto the container mouth (12) of the container (10); wherein the closure body (21) is made of a compostable and / or biodegradable material, preferably pulp material, and the closure inlay (22) including the closure thread (23) is made of a different material than the closure body (21).

2. Screw cap (20) according to claim 1, characterized in thatthe closure inlay (22) is made of glass or a particularly ferromagnetic metal or a compostable and / or biodegradable plastic.

3. Screw cap (20) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the screw cap (20) has a closure seal (24) which is inserted into the closure inlay (22) and, when the screw cap (20) is screwed on, is in sealing contact with the container mouth (12), wherein the material of the closure seal (24) preferably differs from the material of the closure inlay (22).

4. Screw cap (20) according to claim 3, characterized in thatthe closure seal (24) has a sealing disc (24a) and one or more sealing lips (24b) which protrude from the sealing disc (24a) and are designed to be in sealing contact laterally with the container mouth (12) when the screw cap (20) is screwed on, wherein the sealing disc (24a) and the one or more sealing lips (24b) are preferably formed in one piece.

5. Screw cap (20) according to claim 4, characterized in that the closure seal (24) has two sealing lips (24b), preferably designed as concentric rings, which, when the screw cap (20) is screwed on, are in sealing contact with the container mouth (12) on the outside and the inside of the container mouth (12).

6. Screw cap (20) according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the sealing lips (24b) are substantially perpendicular to the sealing disc (24a).

7. Screw cap (20) according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that one or more sealing lips (24b) are inclined relative to the sealing disc (24a), wherein preferably the inner sealing lip (24b) is inclined in the direction of the container mouth (12).

8. Screw cap (20) according to one of claims 3 to 7, characterized in that the closure seal (24) is made of a softer material than the closure inlay (22), preferably of a natural material, particularly preferably cork, or of a biodegradable and / or compostable plastic.

9. Screw cap (20) according to one of claims 3 to 7, characterized in that the closure seal (24) is made of a harder material than the closure inlay (22).

10. Container (10) with a screw closure (20) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the container (10) has a container body (11) and a container mouth (12) with a container thread (13) which cooperates with the closure thread (23) such that the screw closure (20) can be screwed onto the container mouth (12) to close the container (10) and can be unscrewed to open the container (10).

11. Container (10) according to claim 10, characterized in that the container (10) is completely made, thus including the container mouth (12) and container thread (13), from a compostable and / or biodegradable material, preferably pulp material.

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