Tethered plastic cap

Abstract

The current invention relates to a cap for use as a tethered cap. Said cap comprises a tamper band, comprising two flexible members forming a first weakness line. Furthermore, the cap comprises a closure shell separably connected to the tamper band through a second weakness line parallel to the first weakness line. On this closure shell is a tongue extending downwards towards the tamper band, the tongue comprising a tooth extending radially from the periphery of the shell. The two flexible members, each connected to the closure shell at a junction point on one side and the tamper band on another side, and junction points allow the closure shell to hinge with respect to the tamper band. In the hinged position, the tooth engages with the tamper band, and the length of the first weakness line is minimally 30%, preferably minimally 37.5 %, of the outer circumference of the cap. In a second aspect, the invention relates to a container comprising a mouth that configures the tethered cap.

Description

[0001] TETHERED PLASTIC CAP

[0002] FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The present invention relates to a device to close liquid containers. Said device is a tethered cap or cap that is placed on the container and is configured to remain tethered to the container when the cap is in an open position.

[0004] BACKGROUND

[0005] Plastic waste is a significant environmental concern, permeating landfills, oceans, and ecosystems worldwide. This pervasive pollution harms wildlife, disrupts food chains, and contributes to the broader issue of climate change due to the carbon footprint of plastic production and degradation. Among the various forms of plastic waste, plastic caps on bottles play a unique and concerning role. These caps, often overlooked in recycling processes, are lightweight and small, making them prone to being littered and transported by wind and water. Once in the environment, they pose a threat to marine life, which can mistake them for food, leading to ingestion and, often, fatal blockages or toxicity. Addressing the impact of plastic waste necessitates targeted strategies to manage and recycle plastic caps effectively, reducing their presence in natural habitats and mitigating their detrimental effects.

[0006] Since the implementation of Directive (EU) 2019 / 904, the European Parliament is intent to reduce such plastic waste. This directive dictates that plastic caps and lids for liquid containers cannot be configured on said containers in a way that they can be loosened. In other words, the caps or lids need to be tethered to the containers. While this is a step forward towards a greener Europe, this unfortunately decreases the usability of plastic caps, as they are often not user-friendly or robust enough to withstand repeated use. Many tethered caps get in the way while drinking or pouring and often they are difficult to close again without breaking.

[0007] EP3966126 describes a tethered cap and spout comprising a tongue and flexible arms that enable the cap to hinge relative to the spout. In this solution, the tongue engages with the screw thread of the spout and not with a part of the cap itself. This causes that the cap lock mechanism only works on certain types of containers.

[0008] EP3853142 describes a tethered cap comprising a tongue and a tongue receiving slot for blocking the cap in an open position. This solution however has minimal engagement between the cap and it's blocking mechanism, making it less firm. Furthermore, the hinges are not flexible, making opening and closing of the cap difficult.

[0009] There remains a need in the art to provide a tethered cap that can remain at a certain angle once the container is opened and which can be used independently from the type of container used. The current invention offers a solution to this problem.

[0010] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0011] The present invention and embodiments thereof serve to provide a solution to one or more of above-mentioned disadvantages. To this end, the present invention relates to a tethered plastic cap according to claim 1. The cap is configured in such a way that when it is in an open position, the cap is held firmly in place and will aid a more convenient pouring of the liquid. Furthermore, said cap can be configured on any kind of container, as opposed to most other devices. This means that the present invention can be universally used for any container mouth. Preferred embodiments of the device are shown in any of the claims 2 to 12. In another aspect, the invention also relates to a container according to claims 13 to 16.

[0012] DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

[0013] The following description of the figures of specific embodiments of the invention is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the present teachings, their application or uses. Throughout the drawings, corresponding reference numerals indicate like or corresponding parts and features.

[0014] Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of the front view of a first embodiment of the present invention.

[0015] Figure 2 shows a detail of a schematic representation of the front view of a first embodiment of the present invention.

[0016] Figure 3 shows a schematic representation of a cross section of a first embodiment of the present invention.

[0017] Figure 4 shows a schematic representation of the front view of a first embodiment of the present invention. Figure 5 shows a schematic representation of a cap tethered to a container.

[0018] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0019] The present invention concerns a cap, designed to seal containers, such as drinking cartons or plastic bottles. The cap is tethered to the container, ensuring that the cap will not loosen when it is in an open position.

[0020] Unless otherwise defined, all terms used in disclosing the invention, including technical and scientific terms, have the meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. By means of further guidance, term definitions are included to better appreciate the teaching of the present invention.

[0021] As used herein, the following terms have the following meanings:

[0022] "A", "an", and "the" as used herein refers to both singular and plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. By way of example, "a compartment" refers to one or more than one compartment.

[0023] "About" as used herein referring to a measurable value such as a parameter, an amount, a temporal duration, and the like, is meant to encompass variations of + / -20% or less, preferably + / -10% or less, more preferably + / -5% or less, even more preferably + / -1% or less, and still more preferably + / -0.1% or less of and from the specified value, in so far such variations are appropriate to perform in the disclosed invention. However, it is to be understood that the value to which the modifier "about" refers is itself also specifically disclosed.

[0024] "Comprise", "comprising", and "comprises" and "comprised of" as used herein are synonymous with "include", "including", "includes" or "contain", "containing", "contains" and are inclusive or open-ended terms that specifies the presence of what follows e.g. component and do not exclude or preclude the presence of additional, non-recited components, features, element, members, steps, known in the art or disclosed therein.

[0025] Furthermore, the terms first, second, third and the like in the description and in the claims, are used for distinguishing between similar elements and not necessarily for describing a sequential or chronological order, unless specified. It is to be understood that the terms so used are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances and that the embodiments of the invention described herein are capable of operation in other sequences than described or illustrated herein.

[0026] The recitation of numerical ranges by endpoints includes all numbers and fractions subsumed within that range, as well as the recited endpoints.

[0027] The expression "% by weight", "weight percent", "%wt" or "wt%", here and throughout the description unless otherwise defined, refers to the relative weight of the respective component based on the overall weight of the formulation.

[0028] Whereas the terms "one or more" or "at least one", such as one or more or at least one member(s) of a group of members, is clear per se, by means of further exemplification, the term encompasses inter alia a reference to any one of said members, or to any two or more of said members, such as, e.g., any >3, >4, >5, >6 or >7 etc. of said members, and up to all said members.

[0029] Unless otherwise defined, all terms used in disclosing the invention, including technical and scientific terms, have the meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. By means of further guidance, definitions for the terms used in the description are included to better appreciate the teaching of the present invention. The terms or definitions used herein are provided solely to aid in the understanding of the invention.

[0030] Reference throughout this specification to "one embodiment" or "an embodiment" means that a particular feature, structure or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases "in one embodiment" or "in an embodiment" in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment, but may. Furthermore, the particular features, structures or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner, as would be apparent to a person skilled in the art from this disclosure, in one or more embodiments. Furthermore, while some embodiments described herein include some but not other features included in other embodiments, combinations of features of different embodiments are meant to be within the scope of the invention, and form different embodiments, as would be understood by those in the art. For example, in the following claims, any of the claimed embodiments can be used in any combination. In a first aspect, the invention relates to a plastic cap for use as a tethered cap, comprising a tamper band, comprising two flexible members forming a first weakness line, and a closure shell. Said closure shell is separably connected to the tamper band through a second weakness line, parallel to the first weakness line. The closure shell comprises a tongue extending downwards towards the tamper band, said tongue comprises a tooth extending radially from the periphery of the shell. The two flexible members are each connected to the closure shell at a junction point on one side and the tamper band on another side. Said flexible members and junctions points allow the closure shell to hinge with respect to the tamper band and in the hinged position, the tooth engages with the tamper band. Furthermore, the length of the first weakness line is minimally 30, preferably minimally 37.5 % of the outer circumference of the cap.

[0031] In an embodiment, the tamper band comprises a plurality of bridges, comprising a plurality of bottom bridges that form the first weakness line and a plurality of top bridges that form the second weakness line. The bridges connect a bottom edge of the closure shell to a top edge of the tamper band. The plurality of bridges are configured to be stretched and broken when opening the cap for the first time. With "opening the cap", the movement is meant where the closure shell is moved from a first orientation to a second orientation. Via this way, the tamper band serves as the initial indication of whether the bottle has been previously opened, ensuring the integrity and safety of the contents of the bottle.

[0032] In an embodiment, the tamper band is the part of the cap that is connected to the top part of a container. This connection can be achieved via a threaded connection, a crimping connection, a snap-on or press-fit connection, a bayonet mount, a friction fit or a lug closure. In an embodiment, the cap is crimped onto the bottle, preferably by addition of a crimping band to the underside of the tamper band.

[0033] In an embodiment, the closure shell is connected to the tamper band with two junction points at the end of two flexible members. These flexible members divide two weakness lines into a first and second weakness line and are connected to a different area of the closure shell. They are configured to rise and provide distance between a mouth of a container and the closure shell when the cap is opened. Furthermore, the junction points make it possible in an embodiment for the closure shell to hinge relative to tamper band. The flexible members make it possible to provide a distance between the opening of the liquid container and the closure shell. This construction has the advantage that the closure shell is not in the way when using the container. In an embodiment, the flexible members have a length between 5 and 50 mm, more preferably between 10 and 30 mm, more preferably between 15 and 25 mm. In a further embodiment, the flexible members can be either symmetrical or not.

[0034] In a further embodiment, the flexible members can have different shapes, like a circumferential arc, a serpentine type configuration, L-shaped or wave-shaped. In a preferred embodiment, the flexible members are L-shaped. The flexible members and the junction point form an angle in the first weakness line. This angle is between 90° and 180°, preferably between 100° and 150°, preferably around 120°. The flexible members and the junction point form an angle in the second weakness line. This angle is between 90° and 180°, preferably between 90° and 120°, preferably around 100°.

[0035] In an embodiment, the cap comprises a tongue. Siad tongue can have a length, said length is defined as the longest dimension of the tongue. In an embodiment, said length is between 5% and 50% of the cap's outer diameter, more preferably between 10% and 40% and more preferably between 20% and 40%. The tongue can comprise various shapes, e.g. square, circular or rectangular. In a preferred embodiment, the tongue is rectangular.

[0036] In an embodiment, the tongue comprises a tooth. Said tooth can extend radially from the periphery of the cap. In an embodiment, the tooth has a length, said length is defined as the longest dimension of the tooth, that is between 30% and 100% of the length of the tongue, preferably between 50% and 100%, more preferably between 70% and 100%. In an embodiment, the tooth can comprise various shapes, e.g. square, circular, rectangular. In an embodiment, the tooth is positioned on the right, middle or left of an edge of the tongue. The tooth can be positioned on any edge of the tongue. In a preferred embodiment, the tooth is positioned in the middle of the tongue on the edge opposite of the closure shell.

[0037] In an embodiment, the tongue and tamper band engage with each other when the cap is changed to an open confirmation. The tooth clicks behind the tamper band and rests behind the tamper band. By including both an upper side to the tongue receiving slot and a narrowing structure on the bottom side, the closure shell is firmly and tightly held into place, ensuring the open conformation of the cap regardless of the manipulations performed with the container. By reducing the size of the narrowing structure, less plastic is necessary for the production of the cap, which is both an economical as ecological advantage.

[0038] In an embodiment, when in an open position, the cap comprises one or multiple predetermined positions. In an embodiment, the cap and the mouth of the container form an angle between 90° and 180°, preferably between 90° and 145°.

[0039] In an embodiment, the closure shell comprises one or multiple grooves, more specifically vertical grooves. These grooves can be placed on the outside of the shell, on a regular or irregular distance from each other. The purpose of these grooves is to provide grip enhancement for both the user and by machines during the production process. The grooves can be evenly distributed over the outside of the cap or they can be irregularly distributed.

[0040] In an embodiment, the cap comprises a screw thread on the inside. This screw thread is configured to engage with a screw thread on the mouth of a container. Said screw thread allows a firm closed position of the cap, in order to avoid spillage of the liquid inside the container.

[0041] Often, containers comprise a closing seal under a cap, for increasing the lifespan of the product inside, especially concerning food products. In such cases, a cap with a cutting mechanism can be used to cut said seal when opening the container for the first time. In an embodiment of the present invention, the cap comprises said cutter. In a further embodiment, the cap itself comprises a closing seal that is connected to the container prior to its first use. When opening said cap, the seal rips off the container mouth.

[0042] In an embodiment, the cap comprises one or multiple tongues on the upper side of the closure shell. These tongues can have any shape known in the art and are directed radially outwards of the periphery of the shell. The length, defined as the longest side of the tongue, of these tongues can be between 50% and 150% of the diameter of the closure shell. These tongues are an ergonomic aid for opening the bottle. In an embodiment with only one such tongue, this tongue is placed on the opposite of the blocking mechanism. In an embodiment with multiple tongues, these can be placed equidistant from each other or placed at random distances on the closure shell. In an embodiment with multiple such tongues, these can vary in shape and size or be similar or even equal to each other. In an embodiment, the cap is produced in one piece. The cap can be produced via any suitable means in the art such as injection molding, blow molding, compression molding, thermoforming, rotational molding, extrusion molding, injection stretch blow molding, 3D printing, insert molding or any technique known in the art. In another embodiment, the closure shell and tamper band are produced separately by any of the abovementioned methods and connected after production.

[0043] In an embodiment, the cap is made from any of the following materials, polyethylene (PE), High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE), Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE), Polypropylene (PP), Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET), Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC), Polystyrene (PS). In an embodiment, all parts of the cap are constructed of the same material. In a second embodiment, different parts are constructed of different materials, for example the closure shell can be HDPE and the tamper band PET.

[0044] In an embodiment, the cap can have a diameter of at least 2 cm, preferably between 2 cm and 6 cm, more preferably between 2.5 cm and 5 cm.

[0045] In a second aspect, the invention relates to a liquid container comprising a mouth that configures the tethered plastic cap as described above. In an embodiment, said container comprises a structure for attaching the cap to the mouth of the container. This attachment structure is preferably for crimping the cap to the container. In a further embodiment, the mouth of said container comprises a screw thread for engagement with the cap. Said container can be a bottle, such as a squeeze bottle or sports bottle, or a drinking carton.

[0046] The invention is further described by the following non-limiting examples which further illustrate the invention, and are not intended to, nor should they be interpreted to, limit the scope of the invention.

[0047] The invention is further described by the following non-limiting examples which further illustrate the invention, and are not intended to, nor should they be interpreted to, limit the scope of the invention.

[0048] EXAMPLES AND / OR DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

[0049] With as a goal illustrating better the properties of the invention the following presents, as an example and limiting in no way other potential applications, a description of a number of preferred applications of the method for examining the state of the grout used in a mechanical connection based on the invention, wherein:

[0050] Figure 1 shows the front view of an embodiment of the present invention; a plastic cap (1) comprising a closure shell (2) and a tamper band (3) with a diameter of 38 mm, wherein the closure shell (2) contains grooves (12) for a better grip. The tamper band (3) and closure shell (2) are connected to each other via a top and bottom weakness line (8, 9) and two junction points (7) at the end of a flexible member (6). The weakness lines comprise a plurality of bridges (10, 11), configured to be stretched and broken when the closure shell (2) is moved from a first orientation prior to opening to a second orientation after opening.

[0051] The closure shell (2) comprises a tongue (4), which extends downwards towards the tamper band (3). Said tongue (4) comprises a tooth (5) at an end. This tooth (5) is configured to engage with the tamper band (3) when the cap (1) is in an open position. Said tongue (4) has a length of 11 mm, which constitutes to 28% of the diameter of the cap (1). The tooth (5) has a length of 11 mm, which constitutes to 100% of the tongue's length. In this embodiment, the angle a, formed by the flexible member (6) and the junction point (7) is 120°. The angle 3, formed by the flexible member (6) and the junction point (7) is 105°. These angles, combined with the length of the first weakness line (x), which is 45% of the circumference of the cap (1), ensure that the cap (1) has enough freedom to move from an open to a closed position, without engaging with the neck of the container.

[0052] Figure 2 shows a detail of the tongue (4) and tooth (5).

[0053] Figure 3 shows a cross section of the same embodiment of the present invention. Herein, the screw thread (13) of the closure shell (2) is visible. The screw thread (13) ensures a tight connection to a container, when the cap (1) is in a closed position.

[0054] Figure 4 shows the front view of an embodiment of the present invention; a plastic cap (1) comprising a closure shell (2) and a tamper band (3) with a diameter of 38 mm, wherein the closure shell (2) contains grooves (12) for a better grip. The tamper band (3) and closure shell (2) are connected to each other via a top and bottom weakness line (8, 9) and two junction points (7) at the end of a flexible member (6). The weakness lines comprise a plurality of bridges (10, 11), configured to be stretched and broken when the closure shell (2) is moved from a first orientation prior to opening to a second orientation after opening.

[0055] The closure shell (2) comprises a tongue (4), which extends downwards towards the tamper band (3). Said tongue (4) comprises a tooth (5) at an end. This tooth (5) is configured to engage with the tamper band (3) when the cap (1) is in an open position. Said tongue (4) has a length of 11 mm, which constitutes to 28% of the diameter of the cap (1). The tooth (5) has a length of 8 mm, which constitutes to 72% of the tongue's length. The length of the first weakness line is 60% of the circumference of the cap (1), ensuring that the cap (1) has enough freedom to move from an open to a closed position, without engaging with the neck of the container.

[0056] Figure 5 shows an embodiment where the cap (1) is mounted onto a container (14), in this case a drinking carton. The cap is in an open position.

[0057] Parts of the figures:

[0058] 1. Cap

[0059] 2. Closure shell

[0060] 3. Tamper band

[0061] 4. Tongue on closure shell

[0062] 5. Tooth on tongue

[0063] 6. Flexible member

[0064] 7. Junction point

[0065] 8. First weakness line

[0066] 9. Second weakness line

[0067] 10. Bottom bridge

[0068] 11. Top bridge

[0069] 12. Groove

[0070] 13. Screw thread

[0071] 14. Container

[0072] a. Angle formed by flexible member and junction point in first weakness line p. Angle formed by flexible member and junction point in second weakness line

[0073] The present invention is in no way limited to the embodiments described in the examples and / or shown in the figures. On the contrary, methods according to the present invention may be realized in many different ways without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A cap for use as a tethered cap, comprising:• a tamper band, comprising two flexible members forming a first weakness line;• a closure shell separably connected to the tamper band through a second weakness line parallel to the first weakness line, the closure shell comprising a tongue extending downwards towards the tamper band, the tongue comprising a tooth extending radially from the periphery of the shell;• wherein the two flexible members, each connected to the closure shell at a junction point on one side and the tamper band on another side, and wherein said flexible members and junction points allowing the closure shell to hinge with respect to the tamper band, and wherein in the hinged position, the tooth engages with the tamper band, and wherein the length of the first weakness line is minimally 30%, preferably minimally 37.5 %, of the outer circumference of the cap.

2. The cap according to claim 1, wherein said cap comprises a plurality of bridges, comprising a plurality of bottom bridges that form the first weakness line and a plurality of top bridges that form the second weakness line, that connect a bottom edge of the closure shell to a top edge of the tamper band.

3. The cap according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the flexible member and the junction point form an angle a in the first weakness line, which is between 90° and 180°, preferably between 100° and 150°, preferably around 120°.

4. The cap according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the flexible member and the junction point form an angle [3 in the second weakness line, which is between 90° and 180°, preferably between 90° and 120°, preferably around 100°.

5. The cap according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the tongue of the closure shell has a length that is between 5% and 50% of the outer diameter of the cap, preferably between 10% and 40%, more preferably between 20% and 40%.

6. The cap according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the tooth has a length that is between 30% and 100% of the length of the tongue, preferably between 50% and 100%, more preferably between 70% and 100%.

7. The cap according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the tooth is positioned in the middle of the tongue on the edge opposite of the closure shell.

8. The cap according to any of the previous claims, wherein the each of the flexible members are connected to a different area of the closure shell, are configured to rise and provide distance between a mouth of a container and the closure shell when the cap is opened.

9. The cap according to any of the previous claims, wherein the plurality of bridges is configured to be stretched and broken when the closure shell is moved from a first orientation prior to opening to a second orientation after opening.

10. The cap according to any of the previous claims, wherein the outside of the closure shell comprises vertical grooves for grip enhancement.

11. The cap according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the cap is a plastic cap.

12. The cap according to any of the previous claims, wherein the cap comprises a screw thread for engagement with the mouth of a container.

13. A container comprising a mouth that configures the tethered cap according to any of the previous claims 1 to 12.

14. The container according to claim 13, wherein said container is a bottle, squeeze bottle, sports bottle or a drinking carton.

15. The container according to any of the previous claims 13-14, wherein said container comprises a structure for crimping the cap.

16. The container according to any of the previous claims 13-15, wherein said container comprises a mouth with screw thread for engagement with the cap.

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