Container for a liquid

Abstract

Container (1) for a liquid, comprising a bottle (2) equipped with a neck (3), an inner element (4), and a cap (5), the inner element (4) being snap-fitted, irremovably, to the neck (3) of the bottle (2) and the said inner element (4) determining a passage (8) for dispensing the liquid and a tubular perimetral wall (10) which is equipped with a first tooth (11) and a thread (9) for fastening the cap (5), the thread (9) being positioned between the first tooth (11) and a free end of the tubular perimetral wall (10), the cap (5) comprising a seal (5B) and a closure (5A) made as a single piece, the closure (5A) being permanently tethered to the seal (5B) by a hinge (12A, 12B), there being breakable bridges (13) between the seal (5B) and the closure (5A) designed to break upon first opening of the cap (5), the seal (5B) being permanently engaged, rotatably and in an undercut manner, with the said first tooth (11) of the inner element (4) by at least one second tooth (21), the closure (5A) featuring a counterthread (14) which cooperates with the said thread (9) by screwing.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates to a container for a liquid.

[0002] In particular, it refers to a container for an edible liquid, such as vinegar or oil, etc., and to an element for closing a bottle.STATE OF THE ART

[0003] There are various commonly known closures for containers for edible liquids, in particular oil or vinegar and various others.

[0004] These containers feature a bottle, usually made of plastic or glass, and a cap formed of two pieces. The cap comprises an internal part which is permanently coupled to the neck of the bottle and a removable threaded closure screwed into the internal part of the cap.

[0005] To guarantee consumers integrity of the product, the internal part is equipped with a plastic tab, made of the same material as the internal part, which is pulled off before use, after unscrewing the closure.

[0006] The tab must be thrown away and the container can be closed by screwing the closure on.

[0007] EP2947025-A1 describes a cap having an inner element that can cooperate with two different types of closures.

[0008] The first closure (fig. 1, 3, 4 and 5) is a flip top closure, that can only snap on the inner element.

[0009] The second closure (fig. 6 and 7) is a conventional cap that has a thread that engages with a counter-thread of the inner element.

[0010] The producer can choose to equip the same inner element with the closure of fig. 3 or with the closure of fig 6, alternatively, depending on the final use.SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0011] The object of the present invention is to provide a container which is an improvement on the prior art.

[0012] A further object of the invention is to provide a container which is more environmentally compatible than those according to the prior art.

[0013] A still further object of the present invention is to provide a container that is more convenient to use than those according to prior art.

[0014] This and other objects are achieved by means of a container produced according to the technical teachings of the claims appended hereto.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0015] Further features and advantages of the innovation will become clearer in the description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment of the container and the closure thereof, illustrated - by way of a non-limiting example - in the drawings annexed hereto, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a part of the container according to the present invention, prior to a first opening; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the part in Figure 1, in the open position; Figure 3 is a side view of the part in Figure 1; Figure 4 is a sectional view taken along the line IV-IV in Figure 3 with also a part of a bottle present; Figure 5 is a side view of a closure of the container according to the present invention; Figure 6 is a sectional view taken along the line VI-VI in Figure 5; Figure 7 is an axial sectional view of an inner element of the container according to the present invention; Figure 8 is an enlargement of the part shown in the rectangle in Figure 4; and Figure 9 is a top-down plan view of the inner element in Figure 7. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0016] With reference to the figures stated, reference number 1 (Fig.4) is used to denote, as a whole, a container (equipped with a closure element).

[0017] The container 1 is preferably used for edible liquids such as, for example, oil or vinegar.

[0018] The container 1 comprises a bottle 2 equipped with a neck 3, an inner element 4, and a cap 5.

[0019] The inner element 4 and the cap form the closure element for the bottle 2, which is also the subject of the present invention.

[0020] The bottle 2 is preferably made of blow-moulded PET from an injection-moulded preform.

[0021] Advantageously, the preforms (and therefore the neck of the container) are standard.

[0022] Of course, the bottle 2 can also be made of glass.

[0023] The neck 3 of the bottle 2 determines an opening to which the inner element is coupled.

[0024] The inner element 4 is snap-fitted to neck 3 by pressing the said element onto the neck 3 during an assembly phase.

[0025] The snap-fit coupling is essentially immovable, in the sense that the inner element 4 cannot be separated from bottle 2 during normal use of the container.

[0026] To detach the inner element 4 from the bottle 2, the former must be broken.

[0027] As can be seen in Figure 4, the neck 3 may feature a first flange 15 (preferably continuous) and the inner element 4 features at least one second tooth 16 (which may be continuous but is preferably discontinuous) that extends from a skirt 4A (of the inner element) and couples in an undercut manner (essentially by snap-fit) with the said flange 15.

[0028] Advantageously, the first flange 15 may be configured to cooperate, also by interference fit, with the said skirt 4A to create a torsional coupling between the neck 3 and the inner element 4.

[0029] Therefore, between the bottle 2 and the inner element 4 there may be a torsional-coupling.

[0030] In this way, the inner element 4 cannot be rotated by hand by a user or during normal use of the container.

[0031] The inner element 4 may also have a first tubular sealing lip 7, configured to couple in a sealed manner to an inner surface 3A of the said neck 3.

[0032] The friction that is generated with the coupling between the sealing lip 7 and the inner surface 3A of the neck also contributes to forming a solid torsional coupling between the inner element 4 and the neck 3.

[0033] Indeed, as visible in Figure 4, the neck 3 of the bottle 2 fits into an (annular) cavity 30 determined between the skirt 4A and the tubular sealing lip 7.

[0034] The inner element 4 is, in fact, the element through which the dispensing of the liquid contained in the bottle 2 occurs.

[0035] For this purpose, the inner element 4 defines a dispensing passage 8.

[0036] The passage 8 can be defined or surrounded by an anti-bubbling (and anti-tampering) tubular projection 20, optionally equipped with a divergent end portion 8A.

[0037] Inside the tubular projection 20, for example at the base thereof opposite the free end, there may be an anti-refill element 6 envisaged.

[0038] The anti-refill element may comprise a diametrical rib 6A, at the centre of which an enlarged plate 6B, for example with a circular shape, may be determined.

[0039] An anti-refill element configured in this way also regulates the flow of the liquid being dispensed when the bottle is tilted or turned upside down for dispensing.

[0040] The inner element 4 (or intermediate element) has a perimetral tubular wall 10.

[0041] This tubular wall 10 can extend (towards the top of Figure 4) from an essentially flat surface 4P (sectional view) of the intermediate element 4. Both the skirt 4A and the lip 7 can also extend from this flat surface 4P, on the side opposite that of the tubular wall 10.

[0042] Meanwhile, the tubular projection 20 described above can extend from the same side as the tubular wall 10, but higher up than a more internal diameter.

[0043] The tubular wall 10 is equipped with a first tooth 11 and a thread 9 for fastening the cap 5.

[0044] Advantageously, the tooth 11 is continuous, similar to a flange.

[0045] The thread 9 is positioned between the first tooth 11 and a free end of the perimeter tubular wall 10.

[0046] The cap 5 comprises a seal 5B and a closure 5A, made as a single piece.

[0047] The closure 5A is permanently tethered to the seal 5B by a hinge 12A, 12B, even when open.

[0048] In this text, the term 'permanently tethered' means that the end user, during normal use, is unable to separate the closure 5A from the seal 5B (and consequently from the intermediate element 4, as will be seen later).

[0049] Obviously, however, since the hinge is thin and given the component material (plastic, preferably PE) thereof, if a user pulls the closure forcefully (for example, applying a force greater than 2.5N), the hinge may break and allow separation of the closure 5A.

[0050] Advantageously, the hinge comprises a reduced section portion 12A (Fig. 6) interposed between a first and a second flexible slat 12B spaced (Fig. 5) apart from the said reduced section portion 12A.

[0051] The first and second flexible slats 12B can have a trapezoidal configuration, with curved inclined sides (see Figure 5).

[0052] Between the seal 5B and the closure 5A there are breakable bridges 13 which break upon first opening of the cap 5.

[0053] During normal use, the seal 5B is permanently engaged, rotatably and in an undercut manner, with the said first tooth 11 of the inner element 4 by at least a second tooth 21.

[0054] Therefore, the seal 5B may be rotably coupled to the inner element 4.

[0055] Finally, the closure 5A features a counter-thread 14 which cooperates with the said thread 9 for screwing the closure 5A onto the inner element 4.

[0056] Advantageously, both the thread 9 and the counter-thread 14 are configured to cooperate both by screwing and by pressure (therefore essentially by snap-fitting).

[0057] This is preferably made possible both by the natural deformability of the plastic material of which the closure is made and by the configuration of the said closure.

[0058] Furthermore, this possibility is greatly facilitated by the fact that the thread 9 and counter-thread 14 feature five or more threads, preferably six threads.

[0059] This allows the closure 5A and the intermediate element to be firmly coupled by pressure (therefore by snap-fitting).

[0060] In this case, the considerable number of threads creates a simple and safe engagement whatever the angular position of the closure 5A when pressed.

[0061] Obviously, it is also possible to close the closure 5A even by a very slight rotation of the closure with respect to the intermediate element 4 (or to the bottle), due to the large number of threads on the closure and the intermediate element.

[0062] Moreover, the closing of the closure 5A may be performed at first by snapping it onto the inner element, and, subsequently (to effectively check the perfect seal of the closure 5A) by slightly rotating it.

[0063] Furthermore, envisaging a threading with 5 or more threads facilitates the coupling of the closure, whatever its angular position.

[0064] It must be stressed that this is very important given the limited rotational mobility of the closure 5A (upon handling by a user) due precisely to the presence of the seal 5B and the hinge that prevents the total removal of the closure 5A from the intermediate element.

[0065] To complete the description, it must be highlighted that the closure 5A can feature a second tubular lip 25, which engages in a sealed manner with the said tubular projection 20 when the closure 5A is closed.

[0066] Finally, on the external surface thereof, the closure can feature grip ribbing 40.

[0067] As already mentioned, the entire container can be made of plastic.

[0068] Specifically, the inner element 4 can be made as a single piece by injection-moulding and, advantageously, of the same material as the cap 5. Therefore, the closure element (formed from the inner element and the cap) is mono-material, advantageously PE.

[0069] It has been seen how the invention described makes a container available which is safe as equipped with an anti-tampering system that shows that a first opening has occurred.

[0070] Furthermore, the container cannot be refilled (or rather it can only be refilled with great difficulty) once the liquid contained therewithin has been used up.

[0071] Last but not least, the container described is environmentally friendly as it does not include plastic parts that must be thrown away or removed in order to use the said container.

[0072] Furthermore, the configuration described makes it possible to make the cap using very little material (therefore the cap is lighter than commonly known ones), while also providing financial savings (both in terms of the raw material needed for the production thereof and the lightness during transport) compared to commonly known caps.

[0073] Various embodiments of the innovation have been disclosed herein, but further embodiments may also be conceived using the same innovative concept.

Claims

1. Container (1) of a liquid, comprising a bottle (2) provided with a neck (3), an inner element (4) and a cap (5), the inner element (4) being snap-attached, irremovably, to the neck (3) of the bottle (2), the inner element (4) defining a dispensing passage (8) of the liquid and a perimetral tubular wall (10) equipped, for the attachment of the cap (5), with a first tooth (11) and a thread (9), the thread (9) being positioned between the first tooth (11) and a free end of the perimetral tubular wall (10), the cap (5) comprising, made in one piece, a seal (5B) and a closure (5A), the closure (5A) being permanently constrained to the seal (5B) by a hinge (12A, 12B), between the seal (5B) and the closure (5A) breakable jumpers (13) being provided, the jumpers (13) being breakable at a first opening of the cap (5), the seal (5B) being permanently engaged with said first tooth (11) of the inner element (4), rotationally and in undercut manner, through at least a second tooth (21), the closure (5A) providing a counter-thread (14) cooperating with said thread (9) by screwing.

2. Container according to claim 1, wherein said thread (9) and said counter-thread (14) are configured both to cooperate by screwing and also to couple by pressure.

3. Container according to the preceding claim, wherein said thread (9) and said counter-thread (14) are five-principles or more, preferably six-principles.

4. Container (1) according to claim 1, wherein the neck (3) has a first flange (15) and the inner element (4) has at least a second tooth (16) extending from a skirt (4A) and coupling in undercut manner with said flange (15).

5. Container according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the first flange (15) is configured to cooperate with interference with said skirt (4A) to achieve a torsional coupling between neck (3) and inner element (4).

6. Container according to claim 1, wherein the inner element (4) has a first tubular sealing lip (7) configured to mate sealedly with an inner surface (3A) of said neck (3).

7. Container according to claim 1, wherein said passage (8) is defined by an anti-bubbling tubular protrusion (20) optionally provided with a divergent end portion (8A).

8. Container according to the preceding claim, wherein, internally to the tubular overhang, an anti-refill element (6) is provided.

9. Container according to claim 7, wherein the closure (5A) has a second tubular lip (25), which engages sealedly, when the closure is closed, in said tubular overhang (20).

10. Container according to claim 1, wherein said hinging includes a reduced section portion (12A) interposed between a first and second flexible slats (12B) spaced from said reduced section portion (12A).

11. A closure element (4,5) of a bottle 2, comprising an inner element (4) and a cap (5), the inner element (4) comprising fastening means (16) configured to snap it, irremovably, to the neck (3) of a bottle (2), the inner element (4) defining a passage (8) for dispensing the liquid and a perimetral tubular wall (10) equipped, for the attachment of the cap (5), with a first tooth (11) and a thread (9), the thread (9) being positioned between the first tooth (11) and a free end of the perimetral tubular wall (10), the cap (5) comprising, made in one piece, a seal (5B) and a closure (5A), the closure (5A) being permanently constrained to the seal (5B) by a hinge (12A, 12B), between the seal (5B) and the closure (5A) being provided breakable jumpers (13), breakable at a first opening of the cap (5), the seal (5B) being permanently engaged with said first tooth (11) of the inner element (4), rotatably and in undercut manner, through at least a second tooth (21), the closure (5A) providing a counter-thread (14) cooperating with said thread (9) by screwing.

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