Receptacle cover assembly

Abstract

Receptacle Cap Assembly The invention relates to the technical field of closures having receptacle discharge devices, focusing on hinged closures. It consists of a cap assembly intended to be attached to the shoulder of a liquid container. This assembly consists of a tubular neck (1) and a hinged cylindrical cap (2), the cap comprises a ring (3) connected to the neck, a hinged lid (4) for opening and closing the pouring hole, a hinge (5) for hingedly mounting the cap and frangible bridges (16) between the ring and the cap. Additional elements in the tubular cap, such as a lower ring and an upper washer contribute to the efficiency and functionality of the assembly. Figure for abstract: Fig. 3

Description

Title of the invention: Receptacle capping assembly

[0001] Purpose of the invention

[0002] The present invention is in the technical field of closures having a release device, more particularly those having hinged closures, and relates, in particular, to a capping assembly for receptacles.

[0003] This capping assembly comprises a neck, attachable to a discharge orifice of the receptacle and a cap attached to the neck and of the hinged type, comprising a ring connected to the neck and a hinged cap for opening and closing the discharge orifice. The neck is configured so as to allow detection of a first opening of the cap, in a much simpler and more obvious manner than in the present state of the art.

[0004] Background of the invention

[0005] In the technical field of receptacle closures, those formed by the articulation of two parts are known, a lower part provided with suitable means for its connection to a neck of the bottle and being complemented by an upper part, cap or lid, which occupies an open or closed position, allowing a user to drink the liquid contained in the receptacle without needing to remove the cap.

[0006] European patent EP3305680, owned by the applicant, describes a closure of this type. It comprises a cylindrical body formed by the articulated union of two overlapping parts, a lower part provided with gripping means for its retention in the shoulder of the container and an upper part provided with an upper base joined to a perimeter wall, said perimeter wall comprising a visor to allow the opening of the cap, said visor comprising a flange arranged transversely to said visor and in correspondence with a complementary recess provided on the upper edge of the lower part, said flange comprising, on an inner surface, a bead arranged transversely to the axial axis of the cap to effect the gripping of the upper part on the shoulder of the container.

[0007] These closures are usually equipped with first opening indicating elements, configured to allow the user to appreciate that the closure has been opened previously. These elements may consist of a tab, which must be torn to allow the closure to be folded away from the ring for the first time, thus indicating that the closure has been opened previously. However, this is an element which can affect the structural strength of the cap.

[0008] Another opening indicator that is sometimes used for "sport" type flap closures consists of a flange that seals the pouring hole and is configured to be removed completely by pulling, which is why it has a ring or area from which the user can grasp and pull the opening indicator. Sometimes, due to minor manufacturing defects, removal is made difficult, because the breakage area of the flange is not well defined, thus preventing access to the liquid in the receptacle.

[0009] Other types of opening indicator elements used are known as frangible bridges. These are small links made of the same plastic material as the rest of the closure and which include an upper end attached to the closure and a lower end attached to the ring. When the cap is first opened, the bridges are pulled and broken, which shows that the cap has been opened for the first time.

[0010] Frangible bridges are the most commonly used first opening indicator elements due to their advantages. These advantages include the fact that they are simple elements, which do not adversely interfere with the structural strength or the usability of the cap. But, sometimes, they are not easily visible and therefore cannot be a very clear indication that the closure has been opened, as illustrated in [Fig.l], which represents the current state of the art.

[0011] It is therefore desirable, in the state of the art, to improve this type of cap, in order to provide receptacle cap assemblies capable of ensuring correct, reliable and durable closure, while making it possible to show very clearly the proof that a first opening has taken place.

[0012] Description of the invention

[0013] The subject of the invention consists of a cap assembly intended to be fixed to the shoulder of a receptacle containing liquid designed, in particular for beverage containers, so as to allow their direct consumption from the receptacle. The shoulder ends, as usual, with a pouring hole, which allows the liquid to escape.

[0014] The invention therefore relates to a receptacle capping assembly, capable of being fixed to the shoulder of a receptacle containing liquid, in which the shoulder has a pouring orifice for a liquid outlet, in which the assembly comprises: a neck consisting of a tubular body capable of being fixed axially to the shoulder of the receptacle; and a substantially cylindrical hinged cap fixed to the neck, comprising: a ring fixed to the neck; a hinged cover for opening and closing the pouring hole; a hinge for mounting the hinged cover on the ring; and frangible bridges between the ring and the cover; the assembly being characterized in that the tubular body of the neck comprises: a lower ring projecting radially outwardly, for the lower stop of the ring; an upper locking washer projecting radially outwardly, for the upper stop of the ring; and an intermediate cylindrical portion between the lower ring and the upper washer, intended to face an inner side of the cap ring, of a height delimited between the lower ring and the upper washer, having a value in the range of 3.3 mm and 4 mm, including the extreme values of this range.

[0015] Preferably: - the cover comprises a disc-shaped upper flat base attached to a curved perimeter wall extending downwardly from said upper base, - the perimeter wall includes a transverse visor, - the visor includes a transverse wing, corresponding to an additional recess provided in the upper edge of the ring, - the flange includes on the edge of its inner surface a bead transverse to the axial axis of the cap to take the cover at the neck, - the upper base includes a cylindrical skirt emerging from its inner face.

[0016] The assembly basically comprises a neck which can be fixed to the shoulder and a cap fixed to the neck. The cap, in turn, comprises a ring fixed to the neck, a lid which can be folded away from the ring and a hinge which allows the lid to be folded away from the ring, to temporarily close the pouring opening of the receptacle.

[0017] The cap also includes frangible bridges between the cap and the ring, which hold them together before the first opening. They are broken by traction, when the first separation of the cap from the ring takes place and are thus used as indicators of a first opening.

[0018] The neck consists of a tubular body, which is axially connected to the shoulder, the tubular body forming the cap comprises a support ring, which projects radially outwards and a locking washer, which also projects radially outwards and which is arranged axially between the support ring and the dispensing orifice. A cylindrical part is arranged axially between the support ring and the locking washer.

[0019] The cylindrical portion has a greater height than usual for this type of necks, which are known, generically, as 21 / 26 necks. In a preferred embodiment, the height of the cylindrical portion is in the range of 3.3 mm and 4 mm.

[0020] It has been experimentally determined that with heights below 3.3 mm, the frangible bridges are hardly visible, so that the first opening is not obvious. Similarly, heights greater than 4 mm negatively interfere with the hinge of the cap and prevent a correct connection of the cap with the top of the neck.

[0021] When the cylindrical part of the neck has a height in the above-mentioned range, after the first opening, a separation window is created at the front between the ring and the lid, which exposes a part of the neck visually showing that a first opening has taken place. The frangible bridges hold the ring and the lid together horizontally before the first opening; after the first opening, the ring separates at least at the front the part furthest from the hinge, which joins them.

[0022] By simply varying the dimensions of the cylindrical part of the neck, a receptacle cap assembly is obtained which overcomes the drawbacks of the current state of the art, without negatively altering its functionality. Description of the drawings

[0023] In order to complete the description and to facilitate a better understanding of the characteristics of the invention, in accordance with a preferred example of its practical embodiment, a set of drawings forming an integral part of said description is attached, in which the following is represented for the purposes of illustration and in a non-limiting manner.

[0024] [Fig. 1] is a right-hand side view of a cap assembly according to the present state of the art, when a first opening has already taken place;

[0025] [Fig.2] represents a view of the right side of the covering assembly according to the invention, before a first opening;

[0026] [Fig.3] is a perspective view of the capping assembly attached to the shoulder of a receptacle and after the first opening;

[0027] [Fig.4] is a perspective view from the front of the assembly after the first opening;

[0028] [Fig.5] is a perspective view from the rear of the assembly after the first opening;

[0029] [Fig.6] is an exploded view of the assembly in front perspective;

[0030] [Fig.7] is an exploded view of the left side of the assembly;

[0031] [Fig.8] is a side view of part of the assembly after the first opening.

[0032] Preferred embodiment of the invention

[0033] A detailed explanation of an example of a preferred embodiment of the subject of the present invention is given below, with the aid of the above-mentioned figures.

[0034] The receptacle capping assembly described is intended to be attached to the shoulder of a receptacle containing liquids, in which the shoulder has a pouring orifice for the outlet of the liquid. This capping assembly consists of a neck (1) axially attachable to the shoulder of the receptacle and a substantially cylindrical hinged cap (2) attached to the neck (1) and comprising a ring (3) connected to the neck (1), a hinged lid (4) for opening and closing the pouring orifice and a hinge (5) for hingedly connecting the lid (4) to the ring (3).

[0035] The neck (1), shown in detail in [Fig.7], is made of a tubular body comprising a lower support ring (6), which projects radially outwards, and an upper locking washer (7), which also projects radially outwards and which is arranged axially between the lower ring (6) and the pouring orifice. The lower ring (6) delimits a support and a lower stop for the ring (3) of the cap (2) and the upper washer (7) forms an upper stop for the ring (3), so that it is retained in the neck (1) between the lower ring (6) and the upper washer (7).

[0036] A cylindrical intermediate part (8) is arranged axially between the lower ring (6) and the upper washer (7). This cylindrical part (8) is intended to face an inner face of the ring (3) of the cap. The inner diameter of the neck (1) is in its smallest part at the height of its cylindrical part (8).

[0037] The cylindrical part (8) has a height (h), delimited between the lower ring (6) and the upper washer (7). The height (h) has a value in the range of 3.3 mm and 4 mm, including the extreme upper and lower values of this range.

[0038] The ring (3) of the cap (2) comprises gripping means for its retention on the neck (1). The cover (4) comprises an upper base (9), flat and disc-shaped, joined to a curved perimeter wall (10), which extends from the lower part of the upper base (9). From an upper part of said perimeter wall (10) extends a transverse visor (11), intended to allow easy manual opening of the cap (2), as shown in Figures 2 and 3.

[0039] According to the present invention, the visor (11) comprises a flap which is transverse and in correspondence with a complementary recess provided in the upper edge of the ring (3). In addition, the flap comprises, on the edge of its inner surface, a cord arranged transversely to the axial axis of the cap (2) to be able to grip the cover (4) on the neck (1).

[0040] In this preferred embodiment, the upper base (9) comprises a cylindrical skirt (12) emerging from its inner face and dimensioned so as to be able to be inserted inside the neck (1), as shown in [Fig.7].

[0041] [Fig. 3] shows the rear of the cover (2) where the hinge (5) is located, which articulates the cover (4) with the ring (3). As can be seen, on the wall (10) of perimeter, there are two pairs of vertical slots (13), arranged parallel to the axial axis of the cap (2), defining the formation of two flexible bands (14) connecting the two parts (3, 4). The ring (3) may comprise a projection (15) arranged between the bands (14).

[0042] The ring (3) is, before the first opening of the cap (2), connected to the cover (4) by frangible bridges (16) intended to break by traction at this first opening, as shown in [Fig.2]. These frangible bridges (16) thus constitute joints highlighting manipulation and connect the upper edge of the ring (3) and a lower edge of the perimeter wall (10).

[0043] When the frangible bridges (16) break, the ring (3) is slightly separated from the cover (4), to which it is held only by the hinge (5), as shown in Figures 4 and 5.

[0044] Due to the height of the cylindrical part (8) of the neck (1), which is larger than usual in this type of capping assembly, the gap between the ring (3) and the cap (2), once the frangible bridges (16) have been broken is also larger than usual, which creates a stripped part, which leaves the surface of the cylindrical part (8) of the neck (1) partially exposed, as shown in figure (3). This creates a proof, which makes it easy and quick to see that a first opening of the cap (2) has taken place without any doubt.

Claims

Claims

1. A receptacle capping assembly, attachable to the shoulder of a liquid-containing receptacle, wherein the shoulder has a pouring orifice for a liquid outlet, wherein the assembly comprises: - a neck (1) consisting of a tubular body axially attachable to the shoulder of the receptacle; and - a substantially cylindrical hinged cap (2) attached to the neck (1), comprising: - a ring (3) attached to the neck (1); - a hinged lid (4) for opening and closing the pouring hole; - a hinge (5) for mounting the hinged lid (4) on the ring (3); and - frangible bridges (16) between the ring (3) and the lid (4); the assembly being characterized in that the tubular body of the neck (1) comprises: - a lower ring (6) projecting radially outwards, for the lower stop of the ring (3);- an upper locking washer (7) projecting radially outwards, for the upper stop of the ring (3); and - an intermediate cylindrical portion (8) between the lower ring (6) and the upper washer (7), intended to face an inner side of the ring (3) of the cap, with a height (h) delimited between the lower ring (6) and the upper washer (7), having a value in the range of 3.3 mm and 4 mm, including the extreme values of this range; and wherein, after a first opening of the cap (2), a separation window is created at the front between the ring (3) and the cover (4), which exposes a part of the neck (1).;

2. A cap assembly according to claim 1, wherein the cover (4) comprises a flat upper disc-shaped base (9) secured to a curved perimeter wall (10) extending downwardly from said upper base (9).

3. A hat assembly according to claim 2, wherein the perimeter wall (10) comprises a transverse visor (11).

4. A hat assembly according to claim 3, wherein the visor (11) comprises a flap which is transverse and in correspondence with a complementary recess provided in the upper edge of the ring (3).

5. A cap assembly according to claim 4, in which the flap comprises, on the edge of its inner surface, a cord arranged transversely to the axial axis of the cap (2) to be able to grip the lid (4) on the neck (1).

6. A cap assembly according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the upper base (9) comprises a cylindrical skirt (12) emerging from its inner face.

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