Polyester resin closures for containers and methods of manufacturing polyester resin closures

Abstract

Thermoformed polyester resin closures for closing containers, the polyester resins including polyethylene terephthalate ("PET"), polyethylene furandicarboxylate ("PEF"), or a copolymer including PET and PEF, are provided herein. Methods of making the thermoformed closures are further provided. Methods of sterilizing the thermoformed closures are further provided.

Description

Atorney Docket No. 227254-748601 / PCTPOLYESTER RESIN CLOSURES FOR CONTAINERS AND METHODS OF MANUFACTURING POLYESTER RESIN CLOSURESCROSS REFERENCE

[0001] This application claims priority to US Provisional Application No. 63 / 718,242 filed November 8, 2024, with the entire disclosure of each incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.FIELD

[0002] Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relates to plastic bottles and preforms.More specifically, embodiments of the disclosure relate to thermoformed polyester resin closures.BACKGROUND

[0003] Pharmaceutical, beverage, and many other containers are conventionally prepared from polyethylene terephthalate (“PET”), while closures of the containers are conventionally prepared from high-density polyethylene (“HDPE”) or polypropylene (“PP”) through injection molding. Injection molding of the closures may limit the thinness of the parts of the closures due to flow rate restrictions and ability to eject the closures from the mold. Additionally, the incompatibility of HDPE and PP with the PET recycle stream requires that the closures be sorted away from the associated containers by post-consumer recycling processing facilities. The incompatibility causes unwanted loss and contamination of the PET recycle stream and is exacerbated by the use of automated sensors that detect caps that are reapplied or otherwise attached to valuable PET bottles, sending the bottle off to a mixed plastic or olefin recycling stream. Therefore, there is a need in the art for closures formed from materials that are more readily recyclable.SUMMARY

[0004] In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a polyester resin closure that mounts onto a finish of a container; the polyester resin closure including: (a) a plug seal configured to seal against an inner surface of the finish; (b) an annular wall configured to seat against a top surface of a rim of the finish; (c) an outer cylindrical wall extending downward from the annular wall, wherein the outer cylindrical wall includes internal threads configured to engage with the finish; and (d) a plurality of folding tabs arranged on an end position of the outer cylindrical wall, the plurality of folding tabs including one or more adjacent folding tabs being separate from one another and individually movable relative to the outer cylindrical wall.Atorney Docket No. 227254-748601 / PCT

[0005] In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a polyester resin closure, wherein each of the plurality of folding tabs comprises a trap flap, a portion of the trap flap extending sufficiently to rest between a tamper evidence feature and the outer cylindrical wall.

[0006] In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a polyester resin closure, wherein a material of the polyester resin closure includes polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene furandicarboxylate, or a copolymer of polyethylene terephthalate and polyethylene furandi carb oxy 1 ate .

[0007] In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a polyester resin closure, further including a plurality of external knurls distributed around a circumference of the outer cylindrical wall.

[0008] In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a polyester resin closure, further including a plurality of internal knurls distributed around a circumference of the outer cylindrical wall.

[0009] In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a polyester resin closure, wherein adjacent folding tabs are spaced apart from one another.

[0010] In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a polyester resin closure, wherein the folding tabs each have a base, with which they sit on the outer cylindrical wall, and have an outer side opposite the base.

[0011] In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a polyester resin closure, wherein in an initial position, the folding tabs point outwards away from the outer cylindrical wall and a diameter of a circle with a second circular line formed by the outer side of the folding tabs is greater than a diameter of a circle with a first circular line formed by a diameter of the base.

[0012] In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a polyester resin closure, wherein the folding tabs in the end position on the outer cylindrical wall point inwards towards the outer cylindrical wall and the diameter of the circle with the second circular line formed by the outer side of the folding tabs is smaller than the diameter of the circle with the first circular line formed by the diameter of the base.

[0013] In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a polyester resin closure, wherein a width of a respective folding tab at its outer side is smaller than a width at its base.Atorney Docket No. 227254-748601 / PCT

[0014] In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a polyester resin closure, wherein the folding tabs have such a shape that, when folding from an initial position, in which the folding tabs point outwards away from the outer cylindrical wall, into an end position, in which they point inwards at an opening on the outer cylindrical wall, there is no contact and / or no overlapping of adjacent folding tabs.

[0015] In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a polyester resin closure, wherein the folding tabs have an initial position, in which they point outwards away from the outer cylindrical wall, and an end position in which they lie in the opening and point inwards.

[0016] In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a polyester resin closure, wherein a free space between adjacent folding tabs is trapezoidal or triangular or rectangular in shape.

[0017] In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a polyester resin closure, further including an end face at the end position, wherein the end face includes an inner edge line and an outer edge line, and in that the folding tabs cover and touch the inner edge line.

[0018] In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a polyester resin closure, wherein the folding tabs are separated from one another by punching.

[0019] In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a polyester resin closure, wherein the folding tabs at a base, when positioned within the opening of the outer cylindrical wall, do not project into an outer space surrounding the outer cylindrical wall, or project at most 0.5 mm into the outer space.

[0020] In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a polyester resin closure, wherein the folding tabs have a recess on a folding line and / or pivot axis and / or tilting axis, which recess forms a depression starting from an underside of the respective folding tab, wherein in an end position of the respective folding tab the underside faces the outer cylindrical wall.

[0021] In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a polyester resin closure, wherein the recess is channel -shaped and extends between a first transverse side and an opposite second transverse side of the respective folding tab and is adapted to the end position.

[0022] In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a polyester resin closure, wherein the folding tabs are arranged and designed in such a way that they maintain their reached position during a movement towards the outer cylindrical wall.Atorney Docket No. 227254-748601 / PCT

[0023] In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a polyester resin closure, further including a thread, wherein the thread is arranged on the outer cylindrical wall, the thread is positioned between the annular wall and the end position, or the thread is an internal or external thread.

[0024] In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a polyester resin closure, wherein the folding tabs form a tamper-evident device for the polyester resin closure.

[0025] In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a polyester resin closure, wherein the outer cylindrical wall has a first part and a second part, the folding tabs being arranged on the first part and the annular wall being arranged on the second part, wherein the first part and the second part are connected to one another, and wherein the outer cylindrical wall is designed such that when force is exerted on the second part relative to the first part and a force threshold is exceeded, the second part moves relative to the first part and in particular detaches from the first part.

[0026] In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a polyester resin closure, wherein a thread is arranged on the second part, a transition from the first part to the second part is provided with at least one predetermined breaking point, and the first part and the second part are connected to one another via at least one securing element, wherein in particular the at least one securing element is seated in one piece on the first part.

[0027] In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a polyester resin closure, wherein at least one securing element is arranged on the outer cylindrical wall, the at least one securing element being connected to the outer cylindrical wall in such a way that at least one securing element is connected to the outer cylindrical wall in one piece.

[0028] In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a polyester resin closure, wherein one or more folding tabs of the plurality of folding tabs include a cutting depth such that movement of the one or more folding tabs influences a position of one or more neighboring tab when folded.

[0029] In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a polyester resin closure, wherein the internal threads are configured for a snap-on engagement with the finish.

[0030] In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a polyester resin closure, wherein the outer cylindrical wall includes an outer skirt having a clearance with a corresponding outer surface of the rim to enable the polyester resin closure to deform in a region of the plug seal.Atorney Docket No. 227254-748601 / PCT

[0031] In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a polyester resin closure, wherein the plug seal includes a chamfer for guiding the plug seal past a lip of the inner surface of the finish when the polyester resin closure is capped onto the container.

[0032] In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a polyester resin closure, wherein the plug seal includes an inner cylindrical wall that extends downwardly from the annular wall.

[0033] In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a polyester resin closure, wherein the inner cylindrical wall includes a radial surface that is dimensioned for an interference fit with a corresponding inwardly facing surface of the rim of finish for sealing.

[0034] In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a polyester resin closure, wherein the interference fit is configured to seal the polyester resin closure to the finish.

[0035] In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a polyester resin closure, wherein an amount of interference in the interference fit is from 0.02 mm to 0.2 mm.

[0036] In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a polyester resin closure, wherein an amount of interference in the interference fit is about 0.05 mm.

[0037] In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a polyester resin closure, wherein a lower wall extends across a bottom of the inner cylindrical wall.

[0038] In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a polyester resin closure, wherein the lower wall is configured to change shape in response to pressurized contents within an interior of the container.

[0039] In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a polyester resin closure, wherein the lower wall has a concave upward shape that becomes a convex upward shape when pressure is applied by pressurized contents within the interior of the container.

[0040] In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a polyester resin closure, wherein the plug seal is configured to establish a sealing interface with the finish.

[0041] In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a polyester resin closure, wherein a width of the sealing interface is configured to bridge defects present in the finish.Atorney Docket No. 227254-748601 / PCT

[0042] In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a polyester resin closure, wherein the lower wall is configured to increase pressure on a sealing interface between the plug seal and the finish.

[0043] In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a polyester resin closure, wherein the outer cylindrical wall includes a folded band.

[0044] In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a polyester resin closure, wherein the outer cylindrical wall includes a plurality of spaced-apart bridges that connect the folded band to the outer cylindrical wall of the polyester resin closure.

[0045] In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a polyester resin closure, wherein the plurality of spaced-apart bridges is configured to break when the polyester resin closure is unthreaded from the finish.

[0046] In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a polyester resin closure, wherein the folded band is configured to be retained in position by a ledge when the polyester resin closure is unthreaded from the finish.

[0047] These and other features of the concepts provided herein may be better understood with reference to the drawings, description, and appended claims.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0048] The drawings refer to embodiments of the present disclosure in which:

[0049] FIG. 1 illustrates a side view with a partial diametrical cross-section of an example of a closure mounted to an example of a finish of a container;

[0050] FIG. 2 illustrates a diametrical cross-sectional view of another example of a closure including an external seal for scaling to another example of a finish of a container;

[0051] FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a closure;

[0052] FIG. 4A illustrates a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a closure that is formed but not fully processed about a finish of a container;

[0053] FIG. 4B illustrates a perspective view of the example of a closure of FIG. 4A that has been fully processed about a finish of a container;Atorney Docket No. 227254-748601 / PCT

[0054] FIG. 5 illustrates a diametrical cross-sectional view of an exemplary embodiment of a closure including a plurality of internal knurls about a circumference of an inner surface of a tamper evidence feature;

[0055] FIG. 6 illustrates a partial diametrical cross-sectional view of the example of a closure of FIG. 5 processed on an exemplary embodiment of a finish of a container;

[0056] FIG. 7 illustrates a side view of an exemplary embodiment of a closure including a plurality of threads;

[0057] FIG. 8A illustrates a side view of an exemplary embodiment of a closure including one thread and a plurality of knurls distributed circumferentially;

[0058] FIG. 8B illustrates a side view of an exemplary embodiment of a closure including three separate threads and a plurality of knurls distributed circumferentially;

[0059] FIG. 9 illustrates a side view of an exemplary embodiment of a closure including a plurality of threads;

[0060] FIG. 10A illustrates a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a closure including two separate thermoformed layers that are subsequently combined;

[0061] FIG. 10B illustrates a perspective diametrical cross-sectional view of the example of the closure illustrated in FIG. 10 A;

[0062] FIG. 10C illustrates a diametrical cross-sectional view of the example of the closure of FIGS. lOA and 10B;

[0063] FIG. 11 A illustrates a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a closure and an example of a seal;

[0064] FIG. 1 IB illustrates a perspective view of a closure-seal combination of the example of the closure and the example of the seal illustrated in FIG. 11 A;

[0065] FIG. 11C illustrates a perspective view of an example of a closure-seal combination on an exemplary embodiment of a finish;

[0066] FIG. 12 illustrates a perspective diametrical cross-sectional view of an exemplary embodiment of a closure on an exemplary embodiment of a finish, a circumference of a top wall of the closure that is ultrasonically or thermally bonded to a top surface of the finish;Atorney Docket No. 227254-748601 / PCT

[0067] FIG. 13 illustrates a perspective of an exemplary embodiment of a closure including a branding feature on a top wall;

[0068] FIGS. 14A-14B illustrate a perspective view and a partial perspective view, respectively, of an exemplary embodiment of a preliminary product for a closure element, the closure element produced from the preliminary product being a closure cap for a bottle;

[0069] FIG. 15 illustrates a schematic sectional view of the preliminary product shown in FIG. 14, with folding flaps shown in a pre-product state and the folding flaps in a final position shown in broken lines;

[0070] FIGS. 16A-16F illustrate various views of an exemplary embodiment of a preliminary product and a closure element produced from the preliminary product, the closure element being a closure cap for a bottle. 16A-16E illustrate a perspective view, a side view, a dimensioned top view, a bottom view, and a dimensioned cross-sectioned side view, respectively, of an exemplary embodiment of a preliminary product for a closure element. FIG. 16F illustrates a dimensioned partial side view of the closure element.

[0071] FIG. 17 illustrates a schematic representation of Detail A, shown in FIG. 15, in an exemplary embodiment of a preliminary product;

[0072] FIG. 18 illustrates a top view of an exemplary embodiment of a locking element with a securing element, with folding tabs in the pre-product state shown in broken lines;

[0073] FIG. 19 illustrates a schematic top view of exemplary embodiment of a closure element that includes a securing element;

[0074] FIG. 20 illustrates schematic steps in the manufacture of a pre-product by way of thermoforming;

[0075] FIG. 21 illustrates a schematic top view of a grid after a thermoforming process and removal from a tool before carrying out a cutting or punching process;

[0076] FIG. 22 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a two-part closure element that is attached to a container and in which a second part of the closure element is detached from a first part of the closure element.

[0077] FIG. 23 A illustrates a partial cross-sectional view of an upper portion of an example of an injection-molded closure;Atorney Docket No. 227254-748601 / PCT

[0078] FIG. 23B illustrates a partial cross-sectional view of the example of the closure illustrated in FIG. 23 A mounted to an exemplary embodiment of a finish;

[0079] FIG. 24 illustrates a plot of average thread depth and pressure retention of twenty-five sample closures;

[0080] FIG. 25 illustrates a plot of the ability of twenty-five sample closures to retain pressure when applied to a finish of a container;

[0081] FIG. 26 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a rotary thermoforming machine, in accordance with the present disclosure;

[0082] FIG. 27 illustrates a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a mold for preliminary product for an alternative closure element, the alternative closure element produced from the preliminary product being a closure cap for a bottle;

[0083] FIGS. 28A-28B illustrate perspective views of an exemplary embodiment of an alternative closure element having a trapped flap and a corresponding trim contour, respectively, the alternative closure element produced from the preliminary product being a closure cap for a bottle. FIG. 28C illustrates a corresponding trim contour for producing the alternative closure element. FIGS. 28D-28F illustrate a side view of the preliminary product, and cross-sectional views of knurls along Section C-C (FIG. 28E) and Section D-D (FIG. 28F), respectively. FIGS. 28G-28H illustrate photographs of a perspective view and a top view, respectively, of a preliminary product for producing the alternative closure element;

[0084] FIGS. 29A-29B illustrate perspective views of an exemplary embodiment of an alternative closure element having a trapped flap and a corresponding trim contour, respectively, the alternative closure element produced from the preliminary product being a closure cap for a bottle. FIG. 29C illustrates a corresponding trim contour for producing the alternative closure element. FIGS. 29D-29F illustrate a side view of a preliminary product, and cross-sectional views of knurls along Section C-C (FIG. 29E) and Section D-D (FIG. 29F), respectively;

[0085] FIGS. 30A-30D illustrate closures having trapped flaps with a locking mechanism having a 3D feature in a tamper evidence area of the closure. FIG. 30A illustrates folding of tabs from a preliminary product to an alternative closure element. FIG. 30B illustrates a partial perspective view of an alternative closure element. FIG. 30C illustrates how raised tabs, upon folding, are stuck under a tamper evidence bead diameter. FIGS. 30D-30E illustrate photographs of closures having trapped flaps.Atorney Docket No. 227254-748601 / PCT

[0086] FIG. 31 illustrates a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a closure prior to being trimmed, wherein the trimming results in closures having trapped flaps with a locking mechanism.

[0087] FIGS. 32A-D illustrate top views (FIGS. 32A, 32C) and top view photographs (FIGS. 32B, 32D) of exemplary embodiments of closures once the closures have been subjected to a 3D trim, i.e., trimming the tamper evidence area along the crimped 3D features. FIGS. 32A-B illustrate versions of closures when the 3D trim is applied along an “H” contour (i.e., a right-handed direction), while FIGS. 32C-D illustrate versions of closures when the 3D trim is applied along an “I” contour (i.e., a left-handed direction).

[0088] FIGS. 33A-C illustrate exemplary embodiments of closures once the closures have been subjected to a 2D trim. FIGS. 33A-B illustrate perspective views of 2D-trimmed closures with different crimped 3D features and having a single hinge (FIG. 33A) or a double hinge (FIG. 33B). FIG. 33C illustrates a top view of the 2D-trimmed closure in FIG. 33B.

[0089] FIGS. 34A-B illustrate a side view photograph and a perspective view photograph, respectively, of a closure having been subjected to a 2D trim, as well as having a domed top wall and a double hinge.

[0090] While the present disclosure is subject to various modifications and alternative forms, embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will herein be described in detail. The present disclosure should be understood to not be limited to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0091] The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the present disclosure, application, or uses. It should be understood that throughout the drawings, corresponding reference numerals indicate like or corresponding parts and features.

[0092] The present disclosure provides a thermoformed polyester resin closure. The closure includes an annular wall that scales against a top surface of a rim of a finish of the container. The closure further includes an outer cylindrical wall that extends downwardly from the annular wall, the outer cylindrical wall including an outer skirt configured to be spaced outwardly from an outer surface of the rim of the finish to provide a clearance between the closure and the outer surface of the finish. The closure further includes an inner cylindrical wall that extends downwardly from theAtorney Docket No. 227254-748601 / PCT annular wall, the inner cylindrical wall configured such that an outwardly facing surface of the inner cylindrical wall has an interference fit with an inwardly facing surface of the finish of the container for scaling against the inwardly lacing surface of the finish. The closure further includes a lower wall that extends across a bottom of the inner cylindrical wall.

[0093] In some embodiments, the present disclosure provides a thermoformed resin closure for closing a container including a polyester. The closure includes a top wall that scales against a top surface of a rim of a finish of the container. The closure further includes a cylindrical wall extending downwardly from the top wall and configured such that an inwardly facing surface of the cylindrical wall has an interference fit with an outwardly facing surface of the rim for scaling against the outwardly facing surface of the rim.

[0094] In some embodiments, the present disclosure provides an injection molded polyester resin closure for closing a container including a polyester, wherein the polyester resin includes polyethylene furandi carb oxy late (“PEF”).

[0095] In some embodiments, the present disclosure provides a thermoformed polyester resin closure for closing a container including a polyester. The closure includes an outer layer and an inner layer. The outer layer includes an outer layer annular wall. The outer layer further includes an outer layer outer cylindrical wall that extends downwardly from the outer layer annular wall. The outer layer further includes an outer layer inner depression wall that extends downwardly from the outer layer annual wall. The outer layer further includes an outer layer lower wall that extends across a bottom of the outer layer inner depression wall, the outer layer lower wall including a first shaped downward depression. The inner layer includes an inner layer annular wall. The inner layer includes an inner layer outer cylindrical wall that extends downwardly from the inner layer annular wall. The inner layer includes an inner layer inner depression wall that extends downwardly from the inner layer annular wall, the inner layer depression wall configured such that an outwardly facing surface of the inner layer inner depression wail has an interference fit with an outwardly facing surface of the finish for scaling against the outwardly facing surface of the finish. The inner layer includes an inner layer lower wall that extends across a bottom of the inner layer inner depression wall, the inner layer lower wall including a second shaped downward depression that receives the first shaped downward depression. A lower surface of the first shaped downward depression is configured to confront and lock against an upper surface of the second shaped downward depression.Atorney Docket No. 227254-748601 / PCT

[0096] Moreover, the present disclosure relates to a closure element (closure) for a container or a precursor for such a closure element, comprising a closure body which is made of thermoplastic material and is formed by thermoforming, with a lid wall and a side wall, wherein the side wall has an end face facing away from the lid wall, and wherein the side wall surrounds an opening of the closure body at the end face.

[0097] The present disclosure also relates to a method for producing a closure element for a container or a preliminary product for a closure element for a container, in which a starting material is provided in sheet form or film form from thermoplastic material and a closure body is produced by thermoforming the starting material, which closure body has a lid wall and a side wall, the side wall surrounding an opening. An example of such a closure element is a cap for a bottle (for holding liquids) as a container.

[0098] WO 2023 / 205730 Al, incorporated herein in its entirety, discloses poly-ester resin closure elements for containers produced by thermoforming. The present disclosure is based on the task of developing a closure element of which may be produced with advantageous properties in a simple manner by thermoforming. This task is solved in accordance with the present disclosure in the case of the closure element mentioned at the beginning in that a plurality of folding tabs are arranged on the side wall in the region of the end face, adjacent folding tabs being separate from one another, and in that the folding tabs may be folded individually.

[0099] By thermoforming from a thermoplastic material, closure elements may be produced which have a relatively low wall thickness. This means that the amount of material used may be kept low and the mass of a of such a closure element may be kept relatively low. This also makes it possible to produce closure elements from PET for PET bottles, for example. This makes it easy to recycle the entire system of closure element and bottle.

[0100] In some embodiments, the folding tabs (“flaps”) arranged on the side wall allow at least preliminary elements for such folding tabs to be produced integrally during thermoforming. The folding flaps may be used in particular to realize a tamper-evident device that is suitable for ensuring tamper-proof opening of the closure element on the container. The fact that neighboring folding tabs are separated from each other means that a preliminary element for such a folding tab may be used in a thermoforming process, integrally with the production process. In particular, folding tabs may be produced starting from a contact area (clamping edge) of a workpiece during thermoforming. Due to the individual mobility of the folding tabs in relation to the side wall, theAtorney Docket No. 227254-748601 / PCT closure element may then be easily produced from a pre-product, in which the folding tabs are positioned in an interior space of the closure body and may be folded into the side wall.

[0101] Due to the separation of adjacent folding tabs and their individual mobility in relation to the side wall, adjacent folding tabs are not coupled to each other in terms of mobility and these may be easily moved from an initial position outside through the opening into the interior of the closure body to a position outside the side wall. If folding tabs are arranged in the interior of the body, the diameter of the opening is reduced. As a result, a closure element that is correspondingly aligned with the closed opening may be used.

[0102] The container may be fixed in place in the form of a press fit and / or by positive locking, particularly via undercuts. Increased force is then used at least for the initial opening and a tamperproof device is realized as a result. In particular, a separating plane between adjacent folding tabs extends to the side wall. This allows the folding tabs to be moved independently of each other (without coupling with each other) relative to the side wall and, in particular, to be brought into their end position. This makes it possible, for example, to prevent material overlap or the like. Starting from a starting position, the end position of the folding flaps may be easily achieved by machine, for example using punches as the corresponding tools. For the same reason, in some embodiments, neighboring folding tabs are spaced apart from each other and are not connected to each other. As a result, there is no direct mechanical coupling between adjacent folding tabs and, as a result, the closure element may be realized in a simple manner starting from an initial position of the folding tabs (corresponding to a preliminary product for a closure element) with simple manufacturability, with the folding tabs are in the end position. In some embodiments, the folding tabs each have a base, with which they sit on the outside of the side wall, and a base opposite the base, with which they sit on the side wall.

[0103] In some embodiments, the corresponding shape is achieved by cutting or punching a workpiece from a thermoforming process. For the same reason, it is favorable if the folding flaps have a first transverse side, which lies between the outer side and the base, and a second transverse side, which lies between the outer side and the base, the first transverse side and the second transverse side being spaced apart from one another. This results in a simple shape such as Trapezoidal or triangular shape for a folding flap.

[0104] In some embodiments, one or more folding tabs of the plurality of folding tabs are cut in a way such that movement of the one or more folding tabs influences a position of one or more neighboring tab when folded. In particular, such cuts may vary based on a cutting depth, whereAtorney Docket No. 227254-748601 / PCT the folding tabs can be cut toward a side wall via punching, e.g., from a punching mechanism. Thus, based on the cutting, folding of one or more folding tab may start to influence a fold in the neighboring tab. In this way, some of the folding tabs may be cut so as to allow for dependency or influence from other tabs.

[0105] In some embodiments, at least one of the following is provided: the first transverse side and the second transverse side run up to an outside of the side wall; or the first transverse side of a first folding flap is adjacent to a transverse side of a second folding flap adjacent to the first folding flap, where the first transverse side of the first folding flap and the second transverse side of the second folding flap are adjacent to each other and are separated from the second folding flap by a free space.

[0106] The corresponding folding flaps may therefore be produced easily and also easily moved from the starting position to the end position. By providing a free space, adjacent folding tabs may be lugs are not directly mechanically coupled to each other. In a constructively favorable embodiment, the bases of the folding tabs lie on a circular line. The corresponding closure body then has in particular (at least in relation to the envelope ends) a cylindrical shape or Cone shape or cone section shape.

[0107] In some embodiments, the bases of the folding tabs lie on a common plane. This results in a simple design and easy to manufacture. In some embodiments, the outer sides of the folding tabs lie on a second circular line. This allows for simple manufacturability with a simple design. In particular, in an initial position, the folding tabs point away from the side wall away from the closure body to the outside and a diameter of a circle with the second circle line is larger than a diameter of the circle with the first circle line. This corresponds to the preliminary product for a closure element. The initial position may be determined integrally from a contact area (clamping area or sealing area) during thermoforming.

[0108] In some embodiments, the folding tabs in an end position on the side wall point inwards in relation to the closure body and a diameter of a circle with the second circle line is smaller than a diameter of a circle with the first circle line. This may allow for implementing a tamper-evident device for a closure element on a container via the folding tabs in the end position. In particular, it is intended that the width of one folding flap on each of its outer side is smaller than a width at its base. This may allow for reaching the end position from the starting position. This may be achieved in such a way that adjacent folding tabs do not touch or overlap, thus preventingAtorney Docket No. 227254-748601 / PCT mechanical coupling. This in turn allows for reaching the end position from the starting position. Punches, for example, may then be provided as corresponding tools.

[0109] For the same reason, in some embodiments, if the sum of the widths of the outer sides of the folding flaps on the second circular line is at most as great as a length of the first circular line and, in particular, is smaller than a length of the first circular line. As a result, the movement of the folding tabs prevent contact or overlapping from the starting position to the end position. In some embodiments, the folding flaps are shaped in such a way that when folding and / or pivoting and / or tilting from one starting position, in which the folding flaps point outwards away from the closure body, into an end position, in which they point inwards at the opening on the closure body (and in particular are positioned in the interior of the closure body), there is no contact and / or no overlapping of adjacent folding flaps. As a result, the adjacent folding flaps are protected during movement. The adjacent folding flaps are mechanically decoupled from the initial position to the end position. The transfer from the initial position to the end position may be achieved by folding, pivoting or tilting. This mobility is achieved by the plastic deformability of the pre-product material.

[0110] In particular, the folding tabs have an initial position in which they point outwards away from the side wall, and have an end position in which they lie in the opening and point inwards, in particular with at least one of the following: in the end position, the folding tabs are oriented parallel to the side wall or at an acute angle of no more than 20° to the side wall; in the starting position, the folding tabs are transverse and in particular oriented perpendicular to a height axis of the closure body; in the initial position, the folding tabs are positioned outside an interior space of the closure body and in the end position they are positioned in the interior space of the closure body; in the initial position, the folding tabs are oriented transversely and, in particular, perpendicular to the side wall; or an angle between the starting position and the end position is in the range between 340°-a and 380°-a, where a is an angle between the side wall and the folding tabs is in the starting position.[OHl] In some embodiments, orienting the folding tabs parallel to the side wall in the end position, or at a small acute angle at most, allows for a tamper-evident device. Due to the orientation of the folding tabs transverse to a height axis of the closure body, the folding tabs may be produced from a contact area or clamping edge during a thermoforming process. In the starting position of the pre-product, the folding tabs are positioned outside the interior of the closure body and in the closure element they are positioned in the interior of the closure body. This allows for producing the pre-product and the closure element may be easily produced from the pre-product.Atorney Docket No. 227254-748601 / PCTIn some embodiments, a tamper-evident device for the closure element is again provided in a structurally simple manner and in a simple manner in terms of production technology. The movement from the starting position to the end position is a kind of swivel movement, whereby the corresponding swivel angle corresponds at least approximately to the supplementary angle to 360°. If, for example, in the initial position the folding tabs are perpendicular to the side wall, the corresponding swivel angle is approximately 270°. In some embodiments, there is a free space between adjacent folding flaps trapezoidal-shaped or triangular or rectangular. The corresponding shape of the folding tabs may be produced, for example by punching. By shaping the folding tabs accordingly, they may be mechanically decoupled from each other and also kept decoupled when a movement is made from the starting position to the end position.

[0112] In particular, the end face has an inner edge line and an outer edge line, and a folding tab, which is positioned in the opening, covers and in particular touches the inner edge line. On the one hand, this allows for producing the folding tabs integrally during the thermoforming process. Secondly, this allows for an end position of the folding tabs on the closure element.

[0113] In some embodiments, at least one of the following is provided: the folding tabs sit in one piece on the edge of the side wall; or the folding tabs may be folded and / or pivoted and / or tilted from a position outside the opening into the opening. This allows the folding flaps to be produced in a simple manner and a tamper-evident device may be realized in a simple manner. In some embodiments, a folding line and / or a swivel axis and / or a tilt axis of a movement of the respective folding tab in the closure body is located on the side wall and in particular in the area of the end face. The mobility of a folding tab in relation to the side wall is realized primarily by plastic deformation. In this sense, there is no discrete swivel axis or the like. The movement may be assigned a virtual axis, which may be regarded as a folding line or swivel axis or tilting axis. The terms “folding line”, “swivel axis” and “tilting axis” are to be understood in this sense. The fact that the corresponding line or axis is located on the end wall and in particular in the area of the end face, the closure element with inward-facing folding flaps may be easily produced from a pre-product with outward-facing folding flaps. In some embodiments, the end face has an inner edge line and an outer edge line, and that the folding lines and / or swivel axes and / or tilting axes are located on the outer edge line. This makes it easy to produce a folding flap by means of a contact area or clamping edge during thermoforming.

[0114] In some embodiments, the folding lines and / or swivel axes and / or tilting axes of the folding tabs lie in a common plane. This may allow for a simple process for producing the folded flaps from a contact area or clamping edge during thermoforming. In some embodiments, theAtorney Docket No. 227254-748601 / PCT folding lines and / or swivel axes and / or tilting axes lie on a first circular line, which in particular surrounds the opening. This may allow for the pre-folded part to be easy to manufacture and also makes it easy to manufacture the closure element from the primary product. In some embodiments, the folding lines and / or swivel axes and / or tilting axes are transverse and, in particular, perpendicular to a height axis, of the closure body. This may allow for producing the folding tabs due to the corresponding mobility.

[0115] In some embodiments linear stamping processes may be used to position the folding tabs from outside an interior space of the closure body into the closure body. In some embodiments, the folding tabs are arranged on a ring which is connected to the side wall and which is created from a contact area or part of the contact area of a sheet or film on a mold during thermoforming. This allows for producing predecessors for the folding tabs on a ring. The folding flaps may then be produced in their final shape by cutting or punching, for example.

[0116] In some embodiments, folding lines and / or swivel axes and / or tilting axes are provided for the folding flaps to be movable in relation to the side wall. This means that a transition area between a contact area (clamping edge) may be used directly to form (virtual) fold lines or pivot axes or tilting axes during thermoforming. In particular, spaced folding tabs are separated from each other by cutting and, for example, punching. The folding tabs themselves are then cut out, so to speak, from a clamping edge that is present during the thermoforming process. Material may be removed, for example by punching, in order to create the final shape of the folding tabs.

[0117] In some embodiments, folding tabs of a base, when positioned inside the opening of the closure body, do not protrude into an outer space surrounding the side wall or, at most, protrude 0.5 mm into the outer space. This allows the folding tabs to be advantageously integrated into the closure element as a tamper-evident device.

[0118] In some embodiments, folding tabs have a recess on a folding line and / or pivot axis and / or tilt axis, which forms a recess starting from an underside of the respective folding tab, whereby in an end position of the respective folding tab, the underside of the side facing the outer wall. Such an outer wall allows the folding tabs to be positioned “snugly” on the closure element within an interior space of the closure body. A type of immersion space may be provided for the side wall on the corresponding folding flap. In particular, it is then intended that the recess is annular and extends between a first transverse side and an opposite second transverse side of the respective folding flap and is adapted to the end face. For example, the recess is curved with radii,Atorney Docket No. 227254-748601 / PCT which correspond to the radii of the side wall. This makes it possible to achieve a correspondingly close-fitting positioning of the folding tabs.

[0119] In some embodiments, at least one of the following is provided: the folding flaps have a wall thickness between an underside and an upper side which differs by at most 50% and in particular by at most 25% from a wall thickness of the side wall, and in particular the wall thickness of the side wall corresponds to the wall thickness of a respective folding flap; the wall thickness of the folding flaps is a maximum of 2 mm; the folding tabs are evenly spaced around the opening; or the folding flaps have the same size and shape.

[0120] In some embodiments, the uniform spacing around the opening and the same size and shape allows for producing the folding flaps. The pre-product may be made by thermoforming, and the closure element made from the pre-product by demolding. If the folding tabs have essentially the same wall thickness as other wall elements of the closure body, they may be produced by thermoforming.

[0121] In some embodiments, the folding tabs are arranged and designed in such a way that they retain their achieved position when moving towards the side wall. The positioning of the folding tabs may then be achieved by plastic deformation on the thermoplastic material of the closure body. The closure element may then be produced from the pre-product. The mobility may be realized in a simple way. The closure body with the folding tabs may be integrally produced by thermoforming. In some embodiments a thread is arranged on the closure body, in particular with at least one of the following: the thread is located on the side wall; the thread is positioned between the cover wall and the end face; or the thread is an internal or external thread. This allows the closure body to be screwed onto a container. The container may be easily opened and closed again.

[0122] In some embodiments, the folding tabs form a tamper-evident device for the closure element. In the closure element, the folding tabs may be arranged in an interior of the closure body. This results in a narrowing of the cross-section. In this way, a type of press fit and / or form fit of the corresponding container element may be achieved.

[0123] In some embodiments, the closure body has a first part and a second part, wherein the folding tabs are arranged on the first part and the lid wall is attached to the second part, and wherein the closure body is designed such that when a force is exerted on the second part relative to the first part and when a force threshold is exceeded, the second part moves towards the first part and in particular detaches from the first part. This allows for a tamper-evident seal with the aid of the folding tabs, and to recognize whether a corresponding container has already been opened. TheAtorney Docket No. 227254-748601 / PCT container may be opened in a reclosable manner by moving the second part relative to the first part and, in particular, by releasing it.

[0124] In some embodiments, at least one of the following is provided: a thread is arranged on the second part; a transition from the first part to the second part is provided with at least one predetermined breaking point; or at least one securing element, which is connected to the second part, sits integrally on the first part. In some embodiments, the second part may then be removed from the container after releasing the anti-tampering device (by moving the second part towards the first part). Opening may be carried out in the same way as unscrewing. In this way, reclosability may be achieved. By providing at least one predetermined breaking point, for example in in the form of at least one perforation, the second part may be released relative to the first part once a force threshold has been exceeded. Such perforations may be produced, for example, on the preliminary product (after the thermoforming process has been completed).

[0125] When manufacturing the closure body, a securing element may be produced in one piece, in particular from a clamping edge during thermoforming. This may be connected to the first part. The second part, which may in principle be removed from the first part, may be secured against loss in relation to the first part and therefore also in relation to the fastener via the securing element as a holder on which the first part (with the folding tabs as a manipulation safety device) is located. The task mentioned at the beginning is further solved in accordance with the present disclosure in that at least one securing element is arranged on the side wall, wherein the at least one securing element is integrally connected to the side wall. The at least one securing element serves as an anti-loss device for the locking element in relation to the container. The locking element is secured via the at least one securing element is connected to the container, even if the closure element no longer closes the container, or it connects parts of the closure element to one another, in particular a first part of the closure element being held on the container by the securing element and a second part of the closure element being removable from the container and is securely connected to the first part via the locking element.

[0126] In some embodiments, at least one securing element is integrally connected to the side wall. The at least one securing element may be easily produced integrally with the closure body during thermoforming. In particular, the at least one securing element may be connected to the side wall in the area of the end face. This makes it easy to manufacture the at least one securing element integrally with the connector body. In some embodiments, the at least one securing element protrudes outwards from the side wall in a basic position. The basic position is in particular the position of the at least one securing element towards the side wall. The thermoforming processAtorney Docket No. 227254-748601 / PCT and, if necessary, a cutting or punching process in which the shape of the securing element is cut or punched out of the clamping edge makes it easy to manufacture the closure body with integrated at least one securing element.

[0127] In some embodiments, the at least one securing element is produced from a contact area of a sheet or film on a mold during thermoforming. This allows for the at least one securing element to be integrally connected to the closure body (including folding tabs), without subsequent connection or similar with a closure body. This further allows for material-saving use. The recyclability of a corresponding closure element with an integrated at least one securing element is also high.

[0128] In some embodiments, the at least one securing element is provided to one or more of the following: a base to which the at least one securing element is connected to the side wall; a fixing area for fixing to the container; or, if necessary, a web area between the base and the fixation area. The at least one securing element may be integrally connected to the side wall via the base. The at least one securing element may also be fixed to the container via the fixing area. The web area may be used to adjust the distance between the base and the fixing area, in case of use for a desired application. The fixing area may allow for fixing the at least one securing element and thus the closure element to the container or to fix parts of the container to the container. This fixation may be achieved in different ways, for example by welding or adhesion. The design of the fixing area of the at least one securing element depends on the application. For example, if an adhesive connection is provided it makes sense if the fixing area provides a continuous surface. For other applications, the fixing area may have a recess with an opening to the outside and a horseshoe shape, for example.

[0129] In some embodiments, the fixing area of the at least one securing element is a loop or comprises a loop and is, in particular, an annularly connected loop or comprises such a loop. For example, a neck of a container may be dipped through an opening of the loop, or a form-fit connection with the container may be made via the loop. Such a securing element may be easily integrated during the manufacture of the closure. The corresponding shape may be easily obtained by cutting or punching from a clamping edge. In some embodiments, the at least one securing element is produced by stamping. This results in simple production from a clamping edge during thermoforming.

[0130] In some embodiments, the at least one securing element is movable relative to the side wall, with at least one of the following: the at least one securing element is foldable and / orAtorney Docket No. 227254-748601 / PCT pivotable and / or tiltably connected to the side wall; or the at least one securing element exhibits mobility due to its inherent elasticity. This may allow for creating a securing element with which the closure element may be held securely to a container.

[0131] In some embodiments, at least one of the following is provided: a base of the at least one securing element, with which the at least one securing element is connected to the side wall, lies between folding tabs; the at least one securing element has the same wall thickness as the folding tabs; a folding line and / or swivel axis and / or tilting axis of the at least one securing element for a movability of the at least one securing element of a securing element to the side wall lies in the same plane as folding lines and / or pivot axes and / or tilting axes of folding flaps; or folding tabs and the at least one securing element are produced from the same contact area on a mold during thermoforming.

[0132] In some embodiments, the at least one securing element may be integrated with the production of folding tabs. The at least one securing element and the folding tabs may be produced from a clamping edge during thermoforming. Their final shape may be created by punching or cutting the clamping edge. The transition from the closure body to the clamping edge makes it easy to achieve a folding line or pivot axis or tilting axis for movement of the at least one securing element in relation to the side wall.

[0133] In some embodiments, the thermoplastic material of the closure body comprises PET. PET is a common material for containers and in particular for bottles. In the case of a closure element made of PET (optionally with at least one securing element), a standardized material may be used for the system of bottle and closure element. This allows for high recyclability and, in particular, no plastic separation required during recycling. Furthermore, the closure element may be produced with relatively little material input, low mass and low wall thicknesses.

[0134] In some embodiments, the thermoplastic material comprises a polystyrene, a polyolefin, a polycarbonate, a polyester or a thermoplastic elastomer (such as TPE, TPE-O, TPE- S, TPE-U). In some embodiments, the closure element is used as a cap and in particular a screwable closure cap for a container and in particular a bottle is designed as a container. The corresponding closure element may be effectively produced in large quantities by thermoforming. In some embodiments, the closure element according to the present disclosure is used for a container which is made of the same thermoplastic material as the closure body, such as, for example, PET. This may allow for in high recyclability.ovnc Docket No. 227254-748601 / PCT

[0135] According to the present disclosure, a method of the type mentioned at the beginning is provided in which at least one of the following is produced from a clamping edge for the thermoforming process: at least one safety element; or folding tabs, which are separate from each other and may be moved independently of each other in relation to the side wall.

[0136] The present disclosure further provides a method for a closure element according to the present disclosure or preliminary product according to the present disclosure. In some embodiments, for a closure element to be produced, a clamping edge, which may be present during thermoforming, may be used to produce at least one securing element and / or folding tabs. In particular, the folding tabs and / or the at least one securing element may be produced by punching on the clamping edge. This production by punching allows for shaping of the folding tabs and / or the at least one securing element. In some embodiments, folding tabs are moved from an initial position (in the pre-product), in which they are outside the closure body, by folding and / or pivoting and / or tilting through the opening into a may be moved inside the closure body. In some embodiments, the folding tabs then form the tamper-evident device for the closure element when it closes the container.

[0137] In some embodiments, the present disclosure provides closures formed from a polymer that may be recycled in the same recycling stream as the containers closed by the closures. Examples of suitable polymers from which the closures described herein may be formed may include polyester resins, including bio-modified polyesters, such as co-polymers of PET and polyethylene furandicarboxylate (“PEF,” also referred to as “polyethylene 2.5- furandi carb oxy late,” polyethylene 2.5 -furanoate,” or “polyethylene furanoate”), which may include from 0 to 100 mole percent of each of PET and PET (for example, 100 mole percent or less of PET, with the remainder, if any. being PEF), and co-polymers modified by isophthalic acid (“IP A”) or other additives or co monomers. In some embodiments, closures may be made of a polyester resin that includes PEF of up to 90 mole percent (0.90 mole fraction) of the polyester resin. In some embodiments, the PEF may be derived from a reaction of furandi carb oxy late (“FDCA”) with ethylene glycol polyethylene glycol (“PEG”) and / or diethylene glycol (“DEG”). In some embodiments, closures may be made from a polyester resin having a total comonomer content of the reaction product of FDCA with ethylene glycol, PEG, and / or DEG of up to 50 mole percent (0.5 mole fraction)of the polyester resin. The polyester resin may be prepared by a process including melt blending PEE with PET, or by a process that includes reacting ethylene glycol with FDCA. In some embodiments, closures may be made by injection molding or compression molding a polyester resin including a total comonomer content of the reaction product of FDCA with ethylene glycol, PEG, and / or DEG of up to 90 mole percent (0.90 mole fraction) of the 1Atorney Docket No. 227254-748601 / PCT polyester resin), or up to 50 mole percent (0.50 mole fraction) of the polyester resin, or from 5 to 25 mole percent (from 0.05 to 0.25 mole fraction) of the polyester resin, or from 12 to 15 mole percent (0.12 to 0.15 mole fraction) of the polyester resin. In some embodiments, closures may be made by thermoforming a polyester resin having a total comonomer content of the reaction product of FDCA with ethylene glycol, PEG. and / or DEG of up to 50 mole percent (0.50 mole percent) of the polyester resin, or from 0.5 to 20 mole percent (from 0.05 to 0.20 mole fraction) of the polyester resin, or from 1 to 8 mole percent (from 0.01 to 0.08 mole fraction) of the polyester resin. In some embodiments, a container may be made of a polyester or polyester resin described herein. A closure comprising a polyester or polyester resin described herein may be shrunk to a finish or thermally or ultrasonically bonded to a finish of a container comprising a polyester or polyester resin described herein. Alternatively, a closure may be heat shrunk to a finish.

[0138] In some embodiments, a closure may include a plurality of layers of polyester resins. In some embodiments, an inner layer of a plurality of layers may be more compliant than an outer layer of the plurality of layers to more readily deform to the finish, and provide a better seal. Additionally, or alternatively, an outer layer may provide more aesthetic appeal than an inner layer, which may be more functional than an outer layer. Examples of techniques for preparing a closure including a plurality of layers of polyester resins may include thermoforming, compression molding, and injection molding.

[0139] As described herein, examples of closures made from polyester resin, such as PET and / or PEF, may have a number of advantages over closures made from conventional materials, such as HDPE and / or PP. For example, the polyester resin closures described herein may help to avoid contaminating a recycle stream and may be made from a high fraction of recycled polyester resin, such as recycled PET (“rPET”). The rPET supply may be cleaner and more readily accessible than HDPE supplies. In some embodiments, the polyester resins may be supplemented with biobased PET (“bio-PET”) or virgin-PET.

[0140] In some embodiments, the polyester resin closures may increase the oxygen and carbon dioxide barrier compared to HDPE and PP, thereby increasing the resulting shelf-life of beverages due to the improvement barrier. In some embodiments, an oxygen barrier of closures including PET may be at least 10 times greater than an oxygen barrier of closures made from HDPE. In some embodiments, the oxygen barrier of closures may even further increase if the closures also include FDCA. In some embodiments, the polyester resin closures may not float (e.g., may have a reduction in buoyancy), and may reduce the tendency of closures to contaminate the environment.Atorney Docket No. 227254-748601 / PCT

[0141] In some embodiments, the polyester resin closures may provide for lighter container finishes, which may reduce the cost of materials and the amount of material wasted. Further, because the coefficient of thermal expansion of a polyester resin closure described may closely match the coefficient of thermal expansion of a PET finish of a container, the ability to successfully seal a lighter finish may improve. In some embodiments, during a deformation caused by an external force, such as during storage or transportation, a closure and a finish may deform similarly due to the material of the closure and the finish being similar, resulting in a scaling between the closure and finish remaining intact.

[0142] In some embodiments, because the polyester resin closures are made from a material similar to, or the same as, the container, such as, for example, PET, the closures may be thermally or ultrasonically welded to the finish of the container. In some examples, a polyester resin closure described herein may be welded to a PET finish at one or more locations. In some embodiments, a closure may be welded to a top rim of a finish to provide an additional seal between the closure and the finish. In some embodiments, one or more spot welds may be included so as to provide evidence of lack of tampering. The ability to weld a closure to a PET container may also offer a unique way to meet the tethering requirements of the European Union and considered for the United States. In some embodiments, a polyester resin closure described herein may include a tamper-evident (“TE”) band, a spiral tether, or another feature such as a hinge that is spot welded at one or more terminal points to the container, providing a tether with controlled strength.

[0143] In some embodiments, the closures described herein may require from 10 N to 20 N of force for removal.

[0144] In some embodiments, polyester resin closures described herein may be made via a thermoforming process. Thermoformed closures may be designed to balance wall thickness and tuning for an interference fit with container finishes within the elastic limit of PET or any of the other polymers described herein, such as by, for example, including a plug seal or an external seal. Because of the relatively higher stiffness of polyester resins, such as PET, compared to HDPE and PP (for example, on the order of two times higher), the seal designs for conventional HDPE and PP closures may be ineffective for thermoformed polyester resin disclosures described herein, because the seal designs for conventional HDPE and PP closures rely upon a relatively high level of elastic deformation that is generally not achievable with thermoformed polyester resin closures described herein. Accordingly, In some embodiments, the seal configurations of thermoformed polyester resin closures may be tailored to provide sufficient scaling with less material strain.Atorney Docket No. 227254-748601 / PCT

[0145] In some embodiments, the thermoforming is done using a thermoforming machine, which shapes the material into the desired size and shape. A thermoforming machine may include a mold, which may be a male mold or a female mold. The male mold may matches a shape of a desired interference with the finish while accounting for shrinkage. The features of the closure that may provide the interference and clearance with the finish may be in contact with the mold.

[0146] In some embodiments, a mold in a thermoforming machine comprises a female mold. Such a female mold would comprise inverting the mold such that the thermoforming material would be inserted into the female mold to impart features from the female mold, rather than the thermoforming material being placed onto the mold to impart features from the mold. In some embodiments, a mold comprises a female mold, which is then penetrated with a male mold to compress a formation of features, e.g., threads, into place. Subsequently, the female portion of the mold may be unscrewed from the male mold. In some embodiments, the closure is trimmed from the multilayer structure as a final part or an intermediate part with features on the periphery designed for forming tamper evidence. In some embodiments, a closure of the present disclosure is cooled within a thermoforming machine.

[0147] In some embodiments, a thermoforming machine comprises a rotary thermoforming machine. Rotary thermoforming machines may serve as an alternative to thermoforming closures in a previously formed sheet that is subsequently heated, such that parts may be formed from a thermoplastic material out of the molten state, As a result, parts may be extruded like a sheet that is quenched onto a chilled mold. Rather than forming only a sheet, the chilled mold, typically in the form of a roller or wheel, may also include any number of intricate parts (e.g., threads) for forming closures as segments on the roller. This works particularly well for positive molded parts, also known generally as male mold components. Similar to forming on a flat mold, individual closures with threads may be rotationally removed from a sheet after it is cooled. Such removal may be driven by rotation of a cam or gear within a roller. This method may allow for high fidelity formation of the part and any engravings on the part. In some embodiments, the thermoforming machine comprises multiple rotary thermoforming machines in series

[0148] In some embodiments, a diameter of a roller or wheel may is matched to an extrusion rate and the part thickness. For example, as a thickness of an extruded sheet decreases (e.g., from 1 mm to 0.5 mm), the parts may need to be removed by rotating off at a faster rate to accommodate the larger material. In some embodiments, the removal may be timed with a cooling rate of the thermoplastic material and a rotational step of the parts. In some embodiments, the formation of knurls on the formed parts may be performed with another roller mated and timed to coin knurlsAtorney Docket No. 227254-748601 / PCT on outer portions of the parts. If not trimmed in place, trimming of the parts from the sheet may be performed in a second station. In some embodiments, design of the mold, roller, and part may allow room for cooling the roller, which, for example, may be performed using chilled water. With advances in additive manufacturing of steels or other alloys, some mold components may be generated by additive manufacturing to get around standard machining limitations that otherwise may cause excessive skeleton scrap.

[0149] In some embodiments, a rotary thermoforming machine comprises a hinged wheel or roller 2601 for receiving an extrusion die or sheet, a screen changer / vacuum pump, and a press. In some embodiments, the rotary thermoforming machine comprises a rotary mold system. In some embodiments, the rotary thermoforming machine rotates at a desired speed, such as, for example, a speed less than 1 RPM, or a speed ranging between about 1 and about 5 RPM, between about 5 and about 10 RPM, between about 10 and about 20 RPM, between about 20 and about 30 RPM, between about 30 and about 40 RPM, between about 40 and about 50 RPM, between about 50 and about 60 RPM, between about 60 and about 70 RPM, between about 70 and about 80 RPM, or greater than 80 RPM.

[0150] In some embodiments, closures described herein may be made by vacuum forming. In some embodiments, closures described herein may be made via pressure-assisted vacuum forming at pressures up to 4 bar, preferably up to 24 bar, and more preferably up to 40 bar. In some embodiments, a thermoformed polyester resin closure with a plug seal may include a relatively wide scaling surface that may be designed to bridge defects (for example, scratches) that may be present in the finish of a container. By contrast, plug seals of conventional HDPE and PP closures take advantage of the relative softness of the HDPE and PP material and are designed with relatively high levels of elastic deformation that result in relatively smaller areas of scaling contact with the finish. In some embodiments, a polyester resin closure described herein, such as a thermoformed polyester resin disclosure, may include a scaling surface of a plug seal with a width of 0.7 millimeters that may be configured for a finish with an inner diameter of 26 millimeters, and a width of 1.5 millimeters that may be configured for a finish with an inner diameter of 48 millimeters.

[0151] In some embodiments, a plug seal of a closure described herein may be configured for providing an interference fit with a finish, such that a scaling surface of the closure may provide sufficient pressure against a mating surface of the finish and provide sufficient scaling, including for containing pressurized contents, such as carbonated liquids. An amount of interference may refer to a difference between a radius of a scaling surface of a closure and a corresponding scalingAttorney Docket No. 227254-748601 / PCT surface of a finish. The amount of interference may vary depending on a diameter of a finish and a wall thickness of a closure. In some embodiments, an amount of interference may range from 0.02 millimeters to 0.2 millimeters for material thicknesses in a range of from 0.2 millimeters to 0.5 millimeters. In some embodiments, an amount of interference for a closure thermoformed from a sheet of PET having a thickness of 0.5 millimeters may be 0.05 millimeters. An amount of interference may be adjusted, for example by changing a behavior of the polyester resin such as by including FDCA and / or DEG, such that a softer polymer may result in a larger interference fit and / or a larger thickness. The values for interference disclosed herein are nominal interference values provided as examples, and variations from the disclosed values may occur due to manufacturing variability.

[0152] In some embodiments, a polyester resin closure described herein may be thermoformed from a sheet of polyester resin described herein having a thickness of from 0.20 millimeters to2.00 millimeters. In some embodiments, a sheet of polyester resin may have a thickness of from0.20 millimeters to 1.95 millimeters, or to 1.90 millimeters, or to 1.85 millimeters, or to 1.80 millimeters, or to 1.75 millimeters, or to 1.70 millimeters, or to 1.65 millimeters, or to 1.60 millimeters, or to 1.55 millimeters, or to 1.50 millimeters, or to 1.45 millimeters, or to 1.40 millimeters, or to 1.35 millimeters, or to 1.30 millimeters, or to 1.25 millimeters, or to 1.20 millimeters, or to 1.15 millimeters, or to 1.10 millimeters, or to 1.05 millimeters, or to 1.00 millimeters, or to 0.95 millimeters, or to 0.90 millimeters, or to 0.85 millimeters, or to 0.80 millimeters, or to 0.75 millimeters, or to 0.70 millimeters, or to 0.65 millimeters, or to 0.60 millimeters, or to 0.55 millimeters, or to 0.50 millimeters, or to 0.45 millimeters, or to 0.40 millimeters, or to 0.35 millimeters, or to 0.30 millimeters, or 0.25 millimeters; or from 0.25 millimeters, or from 0.30 millimeters, or from 0.35 millimeters, or from 0.40 millimeters, or from 0.45 millimeters, or from 0.50 millimeters, or from 0.55 millimeters, or from 0.60 millimeters, or from 0.65 millimeters, or from 0.70 millimeters, or from 0.75 millimeters, or from 0.80 millimeters, or from 0.85 millimeters, or from 0.90 millimeters, or from 0.95 millimeters, or from 1.00 millimeters, or from 1.05 millimeters, or from 1.10 millimeters, or from 1.15 millimeters, or from 1.20 millimeters, or from 1.25 millimeters, or from 1.30 millimeters, or from 1.35 millimeters, or from 1.40 millimeters, or from 1.45 millimeters, or from 1.50 millimeters, or from 1.55 millimeters, or from 1.60 millimeters, or from 1.65 millimeters, or from 1.70 millimeters, or from 1.75 millimeters, or from 1.80 millimeters, or from 1.85 millimeters, or from 1.90 millimeters, or from 1.95 millimeters to 2.00 millimeters; or any range that may be formed from any two of the foregoing numbers, including any subranges therebetween. Preferably, a sheet of polyester resin may have a thickness of from 0.50 millimeters to 0.90 millimeters, including anyAtorney Docket No. 227254-748601 / PCT of 0.50 millimeters. 0.55 millimeters, 0.60 millimeters, 0.65 millimeters. 0.70 millimeters, 0.75 millimeters, 080 millimeters, 0.85 millimeters, or 0.90 millimeters, including any ranges or subranges therebetween. In some embodiments, a desirable or preferable thickness of a sheet of a polyester resin described herein used to prepare a polyester resin closure described herein may be a determinable function of a diameter of a polyester resin closure.

[0153] In some embodiments, so as to allow a plug seal of a closure described herein to deform when engaging a finish, a thermoformed polyester resin closure may be configured with sufficient radial clearance between an outer surface of the finish and an outer wall of the closure, which encloses the outer surface of the finish. Without a radial clearance, a plug seal of a closure may not be able to fully insert within a finish, or stress on a closure may be high enough to cause failure.

[0154] In some embodiments, a thermoformed polyester resin closure described herein may be configured with an external seal that seals with an outer surface of a mouth of a finish. The external seal may be achieved with an interference fit with the finish. An amount of interference may depend on the application. Examples of interferences and wall thicknesses disclosed above for the plug seal may be used for the external seal. In some embodiments, a scaling of the external seal may be enhanced by taking advantage of an ability of a polyester resin to heat shrink by heat shrinking a closure after capping.

[0155] To achieve a suitable interference of a seal, such as a plug seal and / or an external seal, with the finish, and In some embodiments, a suitable clearance between an outer wall of a closure and a finish, the dimensions of the interference and the clearance may be well controlled during manufacture by thermoforming a closure using a male mold that matches a shape of a desired interference with the finish while accounting for shrinkage. The features of the closure that may provide the interference and clearance with the finish may be in contact with the mold.

[0156] Because thermoformed polyester resins are relatively stiff, a scaling surface of a polyester resin closure may have a relatively low surface roughness. In some embodiments, a low surface roughness may be achieved by polishing regions of a thermoforming mold that form the scaling surfaces. In some embodiments, portions of a thermoforming mold that do not form the scaling surfaces of the closure are not polished, or are not polished to the same degree as portions that do form the scaling surface so as to avoid a closure sticking to the mold and being difficult to release. Examples of a roughness of scaling surface(s) of a closure may include about 0.2 microns (an Ra value of 0.2 or an N4 finish).Atorney Docket No. 227254-748601 / PCT

[0157] In some embodiments, a seal, a thread-engagement, and / or a TE band of a polyester resin disclosure described herein may be configured to provide an opening torque in a range of from 0.45 N-m to 1.24 N m, and preferably 1.02 N-m. In some embodiments, a closure may be configured to provide a pressure retention of less than or equal to 2 bar, and preferably less than or equal to 10 bar.

[0158] In some embodiments, a polyester resin used in thermoformed closures described herein may include some amount of FDCA and / or DEG, which may provide numerous advantages. For example, FDCA and DEG may interfere with crystal formation, so resulting material may have a longer processing window in which to form features on the closure. Additionally, including FDCA and / or DEG may make material of a closure sufficiently different from material of a finish such that the closure does not fuse to the container during storage. Additionally, including FDCA and / or DEG may lower a modulus of material of a closure, which may allow for higher material strains, and higher material strains may be useful for increasing a seal between a closure and a finish.

[0159] In some embodiments, a closure may be made by injection molding or compression molding a polymer resin. In some embodiments, the polyester resin may include some amount of FDCA and / or DEG. The FDCA and / or DEG content may sufficiently reduce the modulus of the material such that a closure may easily eject from various cavities of a mold. For example, a modulus of the amorphous phase of the material may be in the range of 1 to 3 GPa. An increased FDCA content may increase the processing window such that ejection of a closure is easier, because the polyester resin may remain soft for a longer period of time. The amount of FDCA and / or DEG in a polyester resin that is submitted to injection molding or compression molding may be relatively higher than an amount of FDCA and / or DEG in a thermoformed closure because of a need for greater compliance in injection molding or compression molding. In some embodiments, an ability of a material to flow during injection molding or compression molding may be increased by limiting an intrinsic viscosity of the material. Examples of methods of limiting an intrinsic viscosity of the material may include limiting the duration of solid-state polymerization of the polyester resin after synthesizing the polyester resin. In some embodiments, an intrinsic viscosity may be in a range of from 0.4 dL / g to 0.7 dL / g. A higher intrinsic viscosity may lead to more toughness in the final closure. In some embodiments, an intrinsic viscosity in the range of Irom 0.8 dL / g to 1.2 dL / g may be beneficial for toughness. A bimodal resin may provide benefits from both of a low viscosity polyester and a high viscosity polyester to impart both beneficial flow and toughness characteristics. Similar to thermoformed closures, by including FDCA and / or DEG in a polyester resin closure described herein, the closure material may be made sufficientlyAtorney Docket No. 227254-748601 / PCT different from a finish material such that the closure may not fuse to the container during storage. Further, by including FDCA and / or DEG in a polyester resin closure described herein, the modulus of the closure material may be lowered, which may allow for higher material strains, and which may increase the seal between the closure and the finish. Further, by including FDCA and / or DEG in a polyester resin closure described herein, the co-monomers may also lower the melting point, allowing reduced energy for bonding or intentional scaling using heat as is used with inductive seals on metalized film.

[0160] In some embodiments, a movable core component may be used in injection molding or compression molding in order to reduce the need of warm threads so as to strip stiff PET, which is conventionally performed with injection molded HDPE. In some embodiments, an FDCA-. PEG-, and / or DEG-modified polyester resin may be used in combination with a movable core.

[0161] In some embodiments, closures may be colored using dye or dyeing processes that are compatible with recycling. For example, a dye used to color a closure may be compatible with recycling. In some embodiments, a dye or an ink may be removable via washing. In some embodiments, a nanocoating may be deposited on a surface of a closure.

[0162] Closures may be configured to fit custom or industry standard finishes. Examples of industry standard thread finishes may include 26 / 22, 29 / 25, 29 / 21, 28PCO1881, 30 / 25, 38 / 33, and 48 mm.Closures Made of Copolymers of PET and PEF (“PETF”)

[0163] In some embodiments, a closure may be made of a PET-based copolymer that may be particularly suited for injection molding and / or thermoforming. The PET-based copolymer incorporates a co-monomer to control crystallization and reduce melt processing temperatures. In some embodiments, the present disclosure provides a copolymer of PET and PET (also referred to as a FDCA-modified PET copolymer, or “PETF”). In some embodiments, the FDCA may be incorporated at a range of amounts such as to enhance the polymer reaction rates during both melt and solid state polymerization, and such as to allow polymer performance that may match traditional PET controlled by adding an amount of IPA. In some embodiments, FDCA may be substituted for or added to PET in addition to IPA so as to make PETF. In some embodiments, FDCA may be added in a low fraction, and the PETF copolymer product may be made following the same process as to make PET.Attorney Docket No. 227254-748601 / PCT

[0164] In some embodiments, the present disclosure provides a FDCA-modified PET copolymer that incorporates FDCA at an amount that may allow appropriate retardation of crystal formation in PET during closure forming. In some embodiments, the PETF may include less than 10 mole % FDCA, or less than 9 mole % FDCA, or less than 8 mole % FDCA, or less than 7 mole % FDCA, or less than 6 mole % FDCA, or less than 5 mole % FDCA, or less than 4 mole % FDCA, or less than 3 mole % FDCA, or less than 2 mole %, or less than 1 mole % FDCA, or an amount in a range formed from any two of the foregoing numbers, including all ranges and subranges therebetween. In some embodiments, the PETF may include as low as 0.5 mole % FDCA, and retard crystal formation sufficiently. In some embodiments, the PETF may include from 0.5 mole % to 5 mole % FDCA, of from 0.5 mole % to 4 mole % FDCA, or from 0.5 mole % to 3 mole % FDCA, or from 0.5 mole % to 2 mole % FDCA, or from 1 mole % to 5 mole % FDCA, or from 1 mole % to 4 mole % FDCA, or from 1 mole % to 3 mole % FDCA, or from 1 mole % to 2 mole % FDCA; or about 1.1 mole % FDCA. or about 1.2 mole % FDCA, or about 1.3 mole % FDCA, or about 1.4 mole % FDCA. or about 1.5 mol % FDCA, or about 1.7 mol % FDCA. or about 1.8 mol % FDCA, or about 1.9 mol % FDCA, or about 2 mol % FDCA, or an amount in a range formed from any two of the foregoing numbers, including all ranges and subranges therebetween.

[0165] In some embodiments, the copolymers provided herein may include repeating units (L), (M), and (N), or any salts thereof:

[0166] Repeating unit (L) may be a polyethylene furanoate (“PEF”) repeating unit based on furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA). In some embodiments, repeating unit (L) may be present in an amount of from 0.5 mol %, to 90.0 mol %, or to 85.0 mol %, or to 80.0 mol %, or to 75.0 mol %,Attorney Docket No. 227254-748601 / PCT or to 70.0 mol %, or to 65.0 mol %, or to 60.0 mol %, or to 55.0 mol %, or to 50.0 mol %, or to 45.0 mol %, or to 40.0 mol % or to 35.0 mol %, or to 30.0 mol %, or to 25.0 mol %, or to 20.0 mol %, or to 15.0 mol %, or to 10.0 mol %, or to 9.5 mol %, or to 9.0 mol %, or to 8.5 mol %, or to 8.0 mol %, or to 7.5 mol %, or to 7.0 mol %, or to 6.5 mol %, or to 6.0 mol % of the copolymer; or from 6.5 mol %, or from 7.0 mol %, or from 7.5 mol %, or from 8.0 mol %, or from 8.5 mol %, or from 9.0 mol %, or from 9.5 mol %, or from 10.0 mol %, or from 15.0 mol %, or from 20.0 mol %, or from 25.0 mol %, or from 30.0 mol %, or from 35.0 mol %, or from 40.0 mol %, or from 45.0 mol %, or from 50.0 mol %, or from 55.0 mol %, or from 60.0 mol %, or from 65.0 mol %, or from 70.0 mol %, or from 75.0 mol %, or from 80.0 mol %, or from 85.0 mol % to 90.0 mol % of the copolymer; or any range made from any two of the foregoing numbers, including any subranges therebetween. In some embodiments, repealing unit (L) may be present in an amount of from 0.5 mol % to 6.0 mol % of the copolymer, including all subranges therebetween. In some embodiments, repealing unit (L) may be present in an amount of up to 90.0 mol % of the copolymer. As the mole percent of FDCA is increased, the rate and degree of crystallization of PET may decrease.

[0167] Repealing unit (M) is may be based on terephthalic acid (“PTA” or “TP A”). In some embodiments, repeating unit (M) may be present in an amount of from 10.0 mol % to 99.5 mol %, or to 99.0 mol %, or to 98.5 mol %, or to 98.0 mol %, or to 91.5 mol %, or to 97.0 mol %, or to 96.5 mol %, or to 96.0 mol %, or to 95.5 mol %, or to 95.0 mol %, or to 94.5 mol %, or to 94.0 mol%, or to 93.5 mol %, or to 93.0 mol%, or to 92.5 mol %, or to 92.0 mol %, or to 91.5 mol %, or to 91.0 mol %, or to 90.5 mol %, or to 90.0 mol %, or to 85.0 mol %, or to 80.0 mol %, or to 75.0 mol %, or to 70.0 mol %, or to 65.0 mol %, or to 60.0 mol %, or to 55.0 mol %, or to 50.0 mol %, or to 45.0 mol %, or to 40.0 mol %, or to 35.0 mol %, or to 30.0 mol %, or to 25.0 mol %, or to 20.0 mol %, or to 15.0 mol %, or to 10.0 mol %; or from 10.0 mol %, or from 15.0 mol %, or from 20.0 mol %, or from 25.0 mol %, or from 30.0 mol %, or from 35.0 mol %, or from 40.0 mol %, or from 45.0 mol %, or from 50.0 mol %, or from 55.0 mol %, or from 60.0 mol %, or from 65.0 mol %, or from 70.0 mol %, or from 75.0 mol %, or from 80.0 mol %, or from 85.0 mol %, or from 90.0 mol %, or from 90.5 mol %, or from 91.0 mol %, or from 91.5 mol %, or from 92.0 mol %, or from 92.5 mol %, or from 93.0 mol %, or from 93.5 mol %, or from 94.0 mol %, or from 94.5 mol %, or from 95.0 mol %, or from 95.5 mol %, or from 96.0 mol %, or from 96.5 mol %, or from 97.0 mol %, or from 97.5 mol %, or from 98.0 mol %, or from 98.5 mol % to 90.0 mol %; or any range made from any two of the foregoing numbers, including any subranges therebetween. In some embodiments, repeating unit (M) may be present in an amount of from 94Atorney Docket No. 227254-748601 / PCT mol % to 99.5 mol %, including all subranges therebetween. In some embodiments, repeating unit (M) may be present in at least 10.0 mol % of the copolymer.

[0168] Repeating unit (N) is based on IP A, and may be optional. In some embodiments, repeating unit (N) may be present in an amount of from 0 mol % to 4 mol %, including all subranges therebetween.

[0169] In some embodiments, the FDCA-modified PET copolymers described herein may act as a polymerization / melt-processing aid and may lead to several processing advantages, including, for example: improving the melt-phase polymerization times and / or process temperatures; allowing lower melt-phase processing temperatures, which may reduce thermal degradation byproducts and may improve b* (yellow) color of the copolymer; as FDCA concentration increases, decreasing process temperatures and protecting the polymer from thermal degradation by-products that may be associated with FDCA polymers produced at typical, unmodified PET process temperatures; reducing the melt temperatures of the copolymer to allow lower processing temperatures in closure forming; reducing the melt temperatures without reducing the melt viscosity in closure forming; producing polymers with high intrinsic viscosity (“IV”) at polymerization times and temperatures associated with unmodified PET; and / or producing high IV polymers with high IV at solid-state polymerization times and temperatures associated with unmodified PET.

[0170] In some embodiments, crystal nucleation in PETF including FDCA in amounts of <2 mol % may be accelerated by nano-particles that have the ability to nucleate crystals in PET. In some embodiments, the rate nucleation of PETF including FDCA in amounts of >2 mol %, and even over 5 mol, may be increased by using crystallization additives such as graphene.

[0171] In some embodiments, a PEF component may have less entanglement density than PET.

[0172] In some embodiments, the PETF provided herein may have low PEF yellowing due to low FDCA fractions used.

[0173] In some embodiments, pellet blending for PETF concentration may be another route toPET with a low mole percent of FDCA.

[0174] In some embodiments, PETF for use in the polyester resin closures described herein may be made by esterification of ethylene glycol (“EG”) and PTA in the presence of FDCA and optionally IPA. In some embodiments. FDCA may be present in a range of from 0.05 mol % to 6Atorney Docket No. 227254-748601 / PCT mol %, or from 1.5 mol % to 2 mol %, including all ranges and subranges therebetween. In some embodiments of PETF, in which IPA is also incorporated, IPA may be present in a range of from 0.01 mol % to 2 mol %, including all subranges therebetween.PTA-Based Melt Polymer Process

[0175] In some embodiments, the initial reaction of the PTA-based polymer process may react PTA with EG under a pressure of 40-50 psig at 250-270°C. Water may be evolved and separated using a distillation column. The reaction may be carried out under pressure because of the low solubility of PTA in EG at the boiling point of EG of 197°C. After most of the theoretical amount of water has been collected, the pressure may be reduced to atmospheric as the remaining water is evolved. The resulting bi s(2-hydroxy ethyl) terephthalate (“BHET”) may be heated in the presence of a suitable catalyst (such as antimony triglycolate), and EG is extracted in a kind of ester- interchange as two molecules of BHET form a dimer. If the released EG is removed from the system by distillation, further reactions may be possible. In some embodiments, a dimer may react with another BHET molecule to form a trimer; two molecules of dimer may form a tetramer. By such stepwise growth process, a high-molecular-weight polymer may be produced.

[0176] In some embodiments, suitable catalysts used for PET polymerization may include Sb- and Ti-based catalysts. In some embodiments, phosphoric acid and phosphates may be added to perform one or more of several roles, including, for example, to serve as a catalyst or to minimize thermal oxidation. In some embodiments, impurities in PTA may be less than 1 ppm of one or more of Fe, Co, Mo, Ni, Ti, Cr, Ca, Al, MG, Na, and K. Impurities of greater quantity may be present in PTA, and the impurities may act as chain terminators or cause discoloration.

[0177] For melt-phase polymerization, high temperatures, such as from 265 to 300°C, may be required, and the pressure above the melt polymer must be reduced to approximately 1 torr so as to facilitate the high molecular weights required for polymer performance. In production plants, multi-stage steam or glycol ejectors may be used to achieve the low pressure of approximately I torr.PTA-Based Solid-State Polymerization (“SSP”)

[0178] Polyesters may be polymerized in the solid state as well as in the melt phase. In some embodiments, to achieve solid-state polymerization, the polymer chip produced in the melt polymer process may be heated to high temperatures, such as from 200 to 210°C, under vacuum or in a stream of inert gas, such as nitrogen. The SSP process may allow high molecular weightsAtorney Docket No. 227254-748601 / PCT to be achieved without the problems associated with processing hot, extremely viscous melts. Further, because the reaction temperature of the SSP process is lower than melt polymerization, thermal degradation of the polymer may be minimal.

[0179] During melt polymerization, degradation reactions may lead to the formation of acetaldehyde (“AA”) and carboxyl end groups. The SSP process acts as a “cleaning” process that may remove the melt phase degradation products and may reduce AA levels in polymer chips to 1 ppm or lower. Reduction of AA levels may be important for polymers used to make food-grade bottles destined to contain sodas and water, because even trace amounts of AA may produce off- flavors.

[0180] The main reaction in SSP is polyesterification, a result of the dehydration reaction between carboxyl and hydroxyl end groups on the polymer chains. The results of the polyesterification process gives SSP the ability to increase the viscosity and reduce the carboxyl end group (“CEG”) level in the polymer, both of which may be desirable properties in downstream applications. Furthermore, SSP also removes the cyclic oligomers formed in the melt phase polymers that may cause deposition problems in downstream polymer applications.

[0181] The rate of SSP may be governed by the diffusion of water and glycol out of the polymer chip and / or the rate of removal of AA. The reaction rate may be highly dependent upon a size of a polymer chip and there may be a molecular weight gradient from a surface to a center of a polymer chip.

[0182] In some embodiments, toners may be used to adjust a color of the resulting PETF.

[0183] In some embodiments, PETF for closures may be produced by melt mixing or blending pellets including FDCA in higher concentrations with PET that does not include FDCA. In some embodiments, 10 mol % PET including an FDCA content of 10% blended with 90 mol % PET without FDCA yields PET including 1% FDCA.Thermoformed PET Closure with Plug Seal

[0184] Referring to FIG. 1, a side view with partial diametrical cross section of an example of a thermoformed polyester resin closure 100 mounted to an example of a finish 200 of a container typically used for storing liquid contents, such as still or carbonated drinks, is illustrated. Closure 100 may be made of any of the polyester resins described herein. Closure 100 includes internal threads 102 formed into outer cylindrical wall 104 of closure 100 for engaging with external threads 206 of finish 200. The threads 206 may be continuous threads or may be interruptedAtorney Docket No. 227254-748601 / PCT threads. Other examples may be configured for snap-on engagement with finish 200. Outer cylindrical wall 104 extends downwardly from annular wall 112.

[0185] Closure 100 includes plug seal 108 for scaling against inner surface 204 of finish 200. Plug seal 108 includes cylindrical wall 110 that extends downwardly from annular wall 112 of closure 100. Annular wall 112 may be configured to scale against top surface 210 of rim 208 of finish 200. Outwardly facing radical surface 114 of inner cylindrical wall 110 of plug seal 108 may be dimensioned for an interference fit with the corresponding inwardly facing surface 204 of rim 208 of finish 200 for scaling. In some embodiments, an interference fit maybe 0.05 millimeters for a wall thickness of 0.5 millimeters. As closure 100 is threaded onto finish 200, plug seal 108 is forced into the mouth of finish 200 into a compressed state in which outwardly facing radial surface 114 of plug seal 108 pushes against inwardly facing surface 204 of finish 200, forming a seal, the mouth being the open volume between diametrically opposing inwardly facing surfaces 204 of rim 208 of finish 200. Inner cylindrical wall 110 extends downwardly from annular wall 112 to lower wall 120. The degree of interference fit and dimensions of plug seal 108 and finish 200 determine the scaling force and. thus, these parameters may be adjusted to adjust the degree of scaling force for a given application. The interference fit between plug seal 108 and finish 200 may serve as a sealing feature for sealing closure 100 to finish 200. Plug seal 108 may include chamfer 122 for guiding plug seal 108 past lip 212 of the mouth of finish 200 as closure 100 is capped onto the container.

[0186] Plug seal 108 may be configured to have a relatively wide scaling interface with finish 200, the scaling interface being the contact area between outwardly facing radial surface 114 and inwardly facing surface 204 of finish 200, the scaling interface being designed to bridge defects (for example, scratches) that may be present in finish 200. An example width for the contact area between outwardly facing radial surface 114 and inwardly facing surface of the finish for finish 200 with an inner diameter of 26 millimeters may be 0.7 millimeters, and for finish 200 with an inner diameter of 48 millimeters may be 1.5 millimeters.

[0187] To enable closure 100 to elastically deform in the region of plug seal 108, closure 100 may be designed lor a clearance between outer skirt 126 of outer cylindrical wall 104 of closure 100 and corresponding outer surface 214 of rim 208 of finish 200. The amount of clearance may be at least as much as the amount of interference of plug seal 108 with finish 200. For example, the amount of clearance may be 0.05 millimeters or more for an interference of 0.05 millimeters.Attorney Docket No. 227254-748601 / PCT

[0188] An interference fit 250 may be provided for threads 102 to ensure that closure 100 is tightly fitted to finish 200. An exemplary interference fit is 0.05 millimeters. Interference fit 324 of threads 102 may also serve as a sealing feature for sealing closure 100 to finish 200. The interference may increase with reduction of the modulus of the material of closure 100.

[0189] Closure 100 includes tamper evidence feature 116, which in FIG. 1 is illustrated in the form of folded band 106 that engages with a tamper evidence ledge 202 of finish 200. As closure 100 is threaded onto finish 200, folded band 106 rides over ledge 202, and once folded band 106 has cleared ledge 202, fits into place beneath ledge 202, as illustrated in FIG. 1. Tamper evidence feature 116 may include a plurality of spaced-apart bridges 128 that connect folded band 106 to main body 124 of closure 100. In the event that closure 100 is unthreaded from finish 200, folded band 106 will be retained in position by ledge 202. The upward force from unthreading of closure 100 will eventually cause sufficient stress on bridges 128 that they will break, providing evidence that closure 100 has been tampered with.

[0190] Optionally, one or more of bridges 128 may be dimensioned such that its or their breaking stress is greater than the breaking stress of remaining bridges 128 such that the one or more bridges 128 will remain intact to provide a tether to keep closure 100 attached to the bottle upon removal.

[0191] In some embodiments of closure 100, a pull tab may be included in place of folded band 106 as tamper evidence feature 116. The pull tab may be configured such that the pull tab must be at least partially removed in order to disengage closure 100 from finish 200.

[0192] Closure 100 may be thermoformed with a sheet of PET (or any of the materials described herein) with a thickness of 0.22 millimeters to 1.0 millimeters, preferably about 0.5 millimeters.

[0193] In some embodiments, the interface between annular wall 112 and top surface 210 of rim 208 of finish 200 may serve as a secondary seal. In some embodiments, the secondary seal may be formed and / or enhanced by welding the two surfaces together, such as ultrasonically or via direct application of heat.

[0194] In some embodiments, the portion of closure 100 with the greatest diameter is cylindrical in shape without any significant outwardly projecting interruptions in the general cylindrical shape. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 1, lower outer wall 120 of outer cylindrical wall 104 of main body 124, which is at the greatest diameter of closure 100, may be vertical, whichAtorney Docket No. 227254-748601 / PCT may enable the use of conventional capping equipment, which is typically designed to grip onto cylindrical shapes.

[0195] Lower wall 130 extends across a bottom of inner cylindrical wall 110. In some embodiments, lower wall 130 may have a concave upward shape as illustrated in the example in FIG. 1 that, when pressure is applied (upward against lower wall 130 from pressurized contents of the container that closure 100 closes, becoming convex downward. A change in shape may result in the pressure applied to lower wall 130 increasing the pressure on the scaling interface between plug seal 108 and finish 200. In some embodiments, lower wall 130 may include one or more ridges, such as cylindrical ridges, or other features to control a shape that lower wall 130 may form when under pressure.

[0196] Thermoformed polyester resin closures may be configured with an external seal instead of or in addition to a plug seal. External seals may be easier to thermoform than plug seals, and may provide sufficient scaling for at least some beverages. Optionally, a heat shrinking step may be used to solidify the external seal of the closure.

[0197] Referring to FIG. 2, a diametrical cross-sectional view of another example of a thermoformed resin closure 300 that includes external seal 380 for scaling to finish 350 of a container is illustrated. Closure 300 may be made of any of the polyester resins described herein. External seal 380 may be provided by an interference fit between an inner surface 302 of the top end of closure 300 and outer surface 354 of mouth 352 of finish 350. An exemplary interference fit may be 0.05 milliliters.

[0198] Similar to closure 100 illustrated in FIG. 1, closure 300 may be configured for threaded engagement with finish 350 or may be configured for a snap-on pressure fit engagement with finish 350. Closure 300 may also include a tamper evidence feature such as folded band 304 like folded band 106 in closure 100.

[0199] Referring to FIG. 3, a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a closure 400 is illustrated. Outer wall 402 of closure 400 includes a plurality of threaded portions 404 equally distributed around outer wall 402. In between each of the plurality of threaded portions is each of a plurality of knurled portions 406, the plurality of knurled portions 406 equally distributed around outer wall 402. The knurls (or “ridges”) of the plurality of knurled portions 406 may be axial, and extend at least part of the way between annular wall 408 and lower outer wall 410.Atorney Docket No. 227254-748601 / PCT

[0200] Referring to FIG. 4A, a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a closure 450, which is formed but not fully processed about a finish of a container, is illustrated. Lower wall 452 includes tamper evidence feature 456 and folded band 454 that has not been processed to fold behind tamper evidence feature 456 and under a ledge of a finish (not shown). FIG. 4B illustrates a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a closure 460 that has been fully processed with folded band 454 processed to fold behind tamper evidence feature 456 and under a ledge of a finish (not shown).

[0201] Referring to FIG. 5, a diametrical cross-sectional view of an exemplary embodiment of a closure 500 including a plurality of internal knurls 504 about the circumference of an inner surface of tamper evidence feature 502. Plurality of internal knurls 504 may be distributed evenly or unevenly about the circumference of the inner surface of tamper evidence feature 502. A plurality of internal knurls 504 may result in unconventional handling by contacting a surface of folded band 506 when closure 500 is processed on a finish of a container. Surface contact of plurality of internal knurls 504 may be in contrast to a conventional method of surface contact with knurls on an external surface of a closure, and, specifically, not a surface of a tamper evidence band. Both internal and external knurls are possible with closures described herein, but plurality of internal knurls 504 may be easier to form in thermoformed closures described herein.

[0202] Referring to FIG. 6, a partial diametrical cross-sectional view of the example of closure 500 illustrated in FIG. 5 processed on a finish 600 of a container is illustrated. As illustrated in FIG. 6, a surface of folded band 506 is in contact with plurality of internal knurls 504 of tamper evidence feature 502.

[0203] Referring to FIG. 7, a side view of an exemplary embodiment of a closure 700 is illustrated. Closure 700 includes a plurality of threads 702 evenly distributed about a side wall of closure 700, each distinct thread of the plurality of threads 702 including one of a corresponding plurality of thread starts 704.

[0204] Referring to FIG. 8A, a side view of an exemplary embodiment of a closure 800 is illustrated. Closure 800 includes one thread 802, with one thread start 804 at the beginning of thread 802. Tamper evidence feature 806 includes a plurality of knurls distributed circumferentially about closure 800. The plurality of knurls may be distributed evenly or unevenly circumferentially about closure 800. In some embodiments, a plurality of knurls (e.g., on an internal surface or external surface of the closure 800) is distributed about the circumference of the closure at any height along the closure. In some embodiments, a plurality of knurls isAtorney Docket No. 227254-748601 / PCT distributed along a lower outer wall, an upper outer wall, a middle outer wall, or a combination thereof of an outer cylindrical wall of a main body of a closure. FIG. 8B illustrates a side view of an exemplary embodiment of a closure 850. Closure 850 includes a plurality of threads 852, such as, for example, three threads distributed evenly about the side wall of closure 850. Each of the plurality of threads 852 includes one of a corresponding plurality of thread starts 854. In some embodiments, an example of closure 800 may be compatible with industry standard container finish PCO 1881. In some embodiments, an example of closure 850 may be compatible with industry standard container finish 26 / 22 mm. FIGS. 8A and 8B illustrate that closures 800, 850 may be prepared from polyester resins described herein for a variety of finish formats with a range of numbers of thread starts and in a range of sizes.

[0205] Referring to FIG. 9, a side view of an exemplary embodiment of closure 900 is illustrated. Closure 900 includes a plurality of threads 902, each of which includes one of a corresponding plurality of thread starts 904. In some embodiments, plurality of threads 902 may include three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven, twelve, or more distinct threads, corresponding, respectively, to a plurality of thread starts 904, which may include three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven, twelve, or more distinct thread starts in a number that equals the number of threads. Plurality of threads 902 may allow snap-on application of closure 900 to a finish of a container, and twist-off removal of closure 900 from the finish.

[0206] Referring to FIG. 10 A, a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a closure 1000 is illustrated. Closure 1000 includes two separate thermoformed layers that are subsequently combined: outer layer 1004, which includes a plurality of knurls 1002 evenly or unevenly distributed circumferentially about an outer surface of an outer layer outer cylindrical wall of outer layer 1004, and inner layer 1006, which includes thread 1008 on an inner surface of the inner layer outer cylindrical wall. Outer layer 1004 and inner layer 1006 may be joined together by a convenient mechanism, such as chemical, mechanical, or thermal bonding. As illustrated in FIG. 10 A, outer layer 1004 includes first shaped downward depression 1020 in an outer layer lower wall, and inner layer 1006 includes a second shaped downward depression 1018 in an inner layer lower wall, as the perspective diametrical cross-sectional view of FIG. 10B illustrates. As illustrated in the diametrical cross-sectional view in FIG. 10C, a lower surface 1014 of first shaped downward depression 1020 may confront and lock axially against an upper surface 1016 of second shaped downward depression 1018. Outer layer 1004 includes outer layer folded band 1010 disposed radially outward along a bottom circumference of the outer layer outer cylindrical wall which may confront and lock within a groove of inner layer folded band 1012. Outer layer 1004 and inner layer 1006 may lock rotationally and axially when combined, but may be thermoformedAtorney Docket No. 227254-748601 / PCT separately so that plurality of knurls 1002 and inner thread 1008 may both be defined by direct contact with a surface of a mold.

[0207] Referring to FIG. 11 A, a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a closure 1100 is illustrated. Closure 1100 may be used with a finish of a container including a wide mouth. Closure 1100 includes thread 1104 and top wall 1102. Closure 1100 may be configured to close over a seal 1110. Seal 1110 may be attached to top surface 1132 of a finish 1130 of a container about circumference 1112 of seal 1110. Seal 1110 may be a foil seal or a foam seal. Seal 1110 may be configured as a tamper evidence feature that indicates whether a container has been opened by breaking contact between circumference 1112 and top surface 1132. Seal 1110 may include a brand logo on a face of seal 1110 facing top wall 1102 of closure 1100. Closure 1100 may be transparent such that a brand logo on a face of seal 1110 is visible through closure 1100, providing lor marketing opportunities. FIG. 11B illustrates the closure-seal combination 1120 of closure 1100 with seal 1110 when seal 1110 is within closure 1100 and visible through top wall 1102. FIG. 11C illustrates a perspective view of closure-seal combination 1120 on finish 1130. Thread 1104 of closure contacts thread 1134 of finish 1130, such that closure 1100 covers seal 1110. Under closure 1100, circumference 1112 of seal 1110 is attached to top surface 1132.

[0208] Referring to FIG. 12, a perspective diametrical cross-sectional view of an exemplary embodiment of a closure 1200 on a finish 1250 of a container is illustrated. Finish 1250 may have a wide diameter, corresponding to a container with a wide mouth. Top wall 1202 of closure 1200 includes circumference 1204 that is ultrasonically or thermally bonded to top surface 1252 of finish 1250.

[0209] Referring to FIG. 13, a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a closure 1300 is illustrated. Closure 1300 includes branding feature 1302 in a top wall of closure 1300, which may be selectively colored. The geometry of closure 1300 may enhance the surface stiffness of closure 1300. As illustrated FIG. 13, the arms of the star branding feature 1302 may be formed as ribs or as stiffening elements to minimize deformation of closure 1300. A typical deformation may be doming or curvature caused by internal pressure from carbonation of a liquid within a container closed with closure 1300.Thermoformed PET Closure with Folding Tabs

[0210] One embodiment of a closure element according to the present disclosure is a closure cap for a bottle. FIGS. 14-16 show an embodiment example of a preliminary product 10 for suchAtorney Docket No. 227254-748601 / PCT a closure element. A closure element 12 (shown schematically in FIG. 14) may be produced from the preliminary product 10 by positioning folding tabs.

[0211] The preliminary product 10 (and thus also the closure element 12) comprises a closure body 14. The closure body 14 is in particular one-piece and is made of thermoplastic material and produced by thermoforming (hot forming). The thermoplastic material may comprise a polystyrene such as SAN or ABS, or a polyolefin such as PP or PE, or a polycarbonate or, in particular, a polyester such as PET, PBT or PEF. In principle, the closure body 14 may be made from a single thermoplastic material, or may be made from a plurality of thermoplastic materials. In one embodiment, the material of the closure body 14 comprises PET, and the container, which is to be closed with the corresponding closure element 12, is also made of PET.

[0212] The closure body 14 has a cover wall 16 and a side wall 18. The side wall 18 is integrally connected to the cover wall 16 and oriented transversely to the cover wall 16. The side wall 18 is circumferentially closed. The closure body 14 has an inner chamber 20 (see FIG. 15), which is bounded by the cover wall 16 and the side wall 18. The closure body 14 has an opening 22 in the interior 20. This opening 22 is opposite the cover wall 16, through which “access” to the interior 20 is possible.

[0213] The closure body 14 has a height axis 24. The side wall 18 extends along this height axis 24. The height axis 24 is transverse and in particular perpendicular to the cover wall 16. The opening 22 is also oriented transversely and in particular perpendicular to the height axis 24. In one embodiment example, the height axis 24 is an axis of symmetry for a rotational symmetry of the closure body 14, at least with respect to envelope ends of the closure body 14. In one embodiment example, a thread 26 is formed on the closure body 14. The thread 26 is not rotationally symmetrical to the height axis 24. Side wall 18 includes discrete folding tabs 28, so that there is no continuous rotational symmetry with respect to the folding tabs 28. In one embodiment of a closure element 12, which serves in particular as a closure cap for a bottle, the closure body is 14 is at least approximately cylindrical with the side wall 18, in particular with respect to the envelope ends, and the height axis 24 is a cylindrical axis.

[0214] The side wall 18 has an end face 30 with an end surface 32. The end face 30 is arranged facing away from the cover wall 16. The end face 32 is an annular surface. In particular, the end face 32 is flat, so that it is a flat annular surface. In one embodiment of a closure cap for a bottle, the end face 32 in particular is a circular ring. The side wall 18 has an inner edge line 34 on the end face 30 and an outer edge line 36 (see FIG. 15). In the case of a cylindrical closure body 14,Atorney Docket No. 227254-748601 / PCT the inner edge line 34 and the outer edge line 36 are each circular and lie concentrically to one another, with their center point in particular lying on the height axis 24. The opening 22 is directly bounded by the inner edge line 34.

[0215] In one embodiment example, a hub 38 is arranged on the cover wall 16 facing the interior 20. The hub 38 is surrounded by a ring-shaped recess 40. The recess 40 is radially outwardly (relative to the height axis 24) by a transition between the side wall 18 and the cover wall 16. The hub 38 serves in particular as a sealing element, which may be inserted into a container neck (in particular a bottle neck) of a container, whereby a container wall may in turn be inserted with a partial area into the recess 40.

[0216] In one embodiment, the thread 26 is formed on the side wall 18 facing the interior 20. The thread 26 is used for screwing on or unscrewing the closure element 12 on a corresponding mating thread of a container. The side wall 18 has an inner side 42, which faces the interior 20. The side wall 18 has an outer side 44 facing away from the inner side 42, which opens into an outer space. Correspondingly, the cover wall 16 has an inner side 46, which faces the interior 20, and an outer side 48 facing away from the interior 20.

[0217] The thread 26 is an internal thread. By manufacturing the closure body 14 using thermoforming, the variation in wall thickness on the closure body 14 is within a relatively narrow range. As a result, a structure that is formed on one side of the closure body 14 is generally also available as a negative, so to speak, on the other side. Thus, the thread 26 on the inner side 42 of the side wall 18 is associated with a mating region 50 on the outer side 44. The mating area 50 is to a certain extent an external thread, but without functional significance.

[0218] The hub 38 is an elevation on the inner side 46 of the cover wall 16. On the outer side 58, a counter area 52 is formed as a recess. Further, the end face 30 is located between the inner face 42 and the outer face 44 of the side wall 18. The inner edge line 34 is located on the inner face 42 and the outer face 44 is located on the outer face 42. Outer edge line 36 lies on the outer side 44.

[0219] In one embodiment example, a corrugation 54 is formed on the outer side 44 of the side wall 18 of the closure body 14. The corrugation 54 is located in particular in relation to the height axis 24 between the thread 26 and the end face 30. The corrugation 54 serves in particular to improve the grip of the closure element 12. With the corrugation 54 on the outer side 44, there is a corresponding counter area on the inner side 42.Atorney Docket No. 227254-748601 / PCT

[0220] Wall thicknesses of the material of the closure body 14 are in particular in the range of less than or equal to 2 mm and in particular less than or equal to 1 mm. The geometric shape and the functional elements of the closure element 12 are adapted to the application, i.e. to the container to be closed. Reference is made to WO 2023 / 205730 Al with regard to the geometric shape and the design of the side wall 18 and cover wall 16.

[0221] Folding tabs 56 (“flaps”) are arranged on the side wall 18. The folding tabs 56 form a tamper-evident device on the closure element 12; when a corresponding closure element 12 closes a container, increased effort and in particular increased force must be exerted at least when the container is first opened due to the presence of the folding tabs 56. This is explained in more detail below. The folding tabs 56 are integrally connected to the side wall 18. The folding tabs 56 are manufactured at least as “pre-fold tabs” integrally with the closure body 14. Examples of embodiments of manufacturing methods are explained in more detail below.

[0222] The folding tabs 56 are arranged on a ring 58, which sits on the side wall 18 and surrounds it. The ring 58 in turn surrounds the opening 22; the ring 58 with the folding tabs 56 is positioned in relation to the height axis 24. The folding tabs 56 are arranged and formed in such a way that they may be brought into the interior 20 through the opening 22 and positioned in the interior 20 of the closure element.

[0223] The closure body 14 comprises a plurality of folding tabs 56a, 56b, etc. In an embodiment example of a closure cap as a closure element 12, twelve folding tabs 56 are provided. The number of folding tabs depends on the application and in particular on the shape of the container that is to be closed by the closing element 12.

[0224] The folding tabs 56 are discrete elements on the side wall 18; adjacent folding tabs 56a, 56b are separate from one another and independent of one another. In particular, adjacent folding tabs 56a, 56b may be positioned independently of one another. This means that the positioning of a particular folding tab 56a does not have a significant influence on the positioning of the adjacent folding tab 56b.

[0225] As explained in more detail below, in some embodiments, in order to position all folding tabs 56 in the interior 20, a tool is used to act on all folding tabs 56 for synchronized positioning of these folding tabs 56. The individual mobility of folding tabs 56 does not mean that these are actually moved individually and individually for positioning, but that the mobility of adjacent folding tabs 56a, 56b is not coupled.Atorney Docket No. 227254-748601 / PCT

[0226] Adjacent folding flaps 56a, 56b are separate from each other. There is an (imaginary) separating plane 60 between adjacent folding tabs 56a, 56b. The separating plane 60 extends to the outer side 44 of the side wall 18. The separating plane 60 ensures the separation and independence of movement of adjacent folding tabs 56a, 56b is achieved. A folding tab 56 has a base 62. The respective folding tab 56 is integrally connected to the side wall 18 at or in the region of the end face 30 via the base 62.

[0227] Furthermore, each folding flap 56 has an outer side 64 opposite the base 62. The base 62 lies on a first circular line 66 in an embodiment example of a cylindrical closure element or also conical or frustoconical closure element. The respective outer sides 64 are parallel to the base 62 and lie on a second circular line 68. The second circular line 68 is concentric to the first circular line 66.

[0228] The preliminary product 10 differs from the closure element 12 in that the folding tabs 56 lie outside the interior 20. As shown in FIG. 14A, the folding tabs 56 are positioned in an initial position 70 relative to the side wall 18. In the starting position 70, the folding tabs 56 are each at an angle a to an axis of the side wall 18 (see FIG. 15). In the embodiment example of a cylindrical closure body 14, the axis of the side wall 18 is parallel to the height axis 24 and the angle a is at least approximately 90° (see FIG. 15). FIG. 14B illustrates a partial perspective view of the preliminary product 10.

[0229] The starting position 70 of the folding tabs 56 is a position of the folding tabs 56 in which they extend outward, transversely to the side wall 18. The initial position 70 of the folding tabs 56 is reached in the production process by thermoforming after completion of the thermoforming process and removal of the corresponding workpieces from a tool, without any movement taking place of the corresponding ring 58.

[0230] A free space 72 is located between adjacent folding tabs 56a, 56b, with the separating plane 60 again being positioned in the free space 72. A folding flap 56 has a first transverse side 74 and an opposite second transverse side 76. The first transverse side 74 and the second transverse side 76 lie between the base 62 and the outer side 64. The transverse sides 74, 76 of adjacent folding flaps 56a, 56b delimit the free space 72 between the adjacent folding flaps 56a, 56b. A folding tab 56 further comprises a bottom surface 78 and a top surface 80. A folding tab 56 has a wall thickness 82, which is a distance between the bottom surface 78 and the top surface 80 that at least approximately corresponds to a wall thickness of the side wall 18.Atorney Docket No. 227254-748601 / PCT

[0231] The folding tabs 56 extend radially away from the outer side 44 of the side wall 18 in relation to the height axis 24 in the starting position 70. The folding tabs 56 have a first width 84 at the base 62 and a second width 86 at the outer side 64; the first width 84 is the distance between the first transverse side 74 and the second transverse side 76 at the base 62. The second width 86 is the distance between the first transverse side 74 and the second transverse side 76 on the outer side 64. The second widths 86 lie on the second circle line 68 and the first widths 84 lie on the first circle line 66.

[0232] In one embodiment, the second width 86 of a respective folding flap 56 is smaller than the first width 84, such that non-radial alignment of the respective first transverse side 74 and the second transverse side 76 is achieved. In particular, in relation to a central axis between the first transverse side 74 and the second transverse side 76 of the respective folding flaps 56, these and the first transverse side 74 and the second transverse side 76 have the same length between the outer side 64 and the base 62 and their angular arrangement relative to the base 62 and the outer side 64 is equal in amount with opposite angular orientation.

[0233] In one embodiment example, the folding tabs 56 are trapezoidal in shape. Accordingly, the free space 72 between adjacent folding tabs 56a, 56b is trapezoidal in shape, with a shorter side of this free space 72 being on the first circle line 66 and the longer side being on the second circle line 68. It is also possible, for example, for the free space 72 to be triangular in shape or rectangular in shape.

[0234] In particular, it is intended that the folding tabs 56 are dimensioned in such a way that, starting from the initial position 70, they may be brought through the opening 22 into the interior 20 (“foldable”) without having to move to avoid adjacent folding flaps 56a, 56b touching or overlapping. Since this movement process results in a reduction in radius with respect to the outer side 64, it is particularly intended that the sum of the second widths 86 of all folding flaps 56 is smaller than the diameter of the first circular line 66.

[0235] When the folding tabs 56 are positioned within the interior 20 of the closure element 12, folding tabs 56 are in an end position 88. This end position 88 is indicated in FIG. 15 in broken lines. The outer sides 64 of the folding flaps 56 then lie on a second circular line 68', whereby the second circular line 68' corresponds to a circle with a smaller diameter than the circle for the first circular line 66. The dimensioning of the folding tabs 56 is such that in the end position 88 of the folding tabs 56 they do not touch each other.Atorney Docket No. 227254-748601 / PCT

[0236] The folding flaps 56 on the side wall 18 are foldable or pivotable or tiltable with respect to the side wall 18 about a folding axis or pivot axis or tilt axis 90. The folding or pivoting or tilting of the respective folding flap 56 with respect to the side wall 18 involves a plastic deformation, so that the corresponding axis 90 is not exactly in line with the side wall 18 in a mechanical sense but may rather be seen as a kind of virtual axis. The folding axis or pivot axis or tilting axis 90 of the folding tabs 56 is located at the end face 30. In particular, the corresponding axes 90 of all folding tabs 56 lie at least approximately in a common plane.

[0237] The folding flaps 56 may be moved from their initial position 70 (corresponding to the preliminary product 10) to their end position 88 (corresponding to the closure element 12). This results in a type of folding or pivoting or tilting about the axis 90 with plastic deformation. The closure body 14 with the folding tabs 56 is manufactured and designed in such a way that when the corresponding folding tabs 56 are moved from the starting position 70 to the end position 88, a position reached is maintained and, in particular, no “snapping back” occurs.

[0238] In the end position 88, the folding tabs 56 are swung through the opening 22 (see FIG. 15) and positioned in the interior 20. The respective underside 78 of the folding tabs 56 faces the inner side 42 of the side wall 18. Ideally, the folding tabs 56 are at least approximately aligned with their base 62, and their undersides 78 are oriented parallel to the inner side 42 of the side wall 18. An angle 92 for the angular movement from the starting position 70 to the end position 88 is in the range between 340°-a and 380°-a. In the embodiment example of a cylindrical closure body 14 with a = 90°, the angle 92 ranges between 250° and 290° and in particular at approx. 270°.

[0239] The folding tabs 56 in the interior 20 reduce the cross-section of the closure body 14 of the closure element 12. The closure element 12 must be pressed onto the container by applying a corresponding amount of force to achieve a secure closure. Increased force allows for opening the closure element 12 from the container, at least for the first time. This provides a tamper-evident device. Due to the folding tabs 56 in the end position 88, a type of press fit and / or positive fit (in addition to the threaded connection with the thread 26) is achieved on the container for the corresponding closure element 12, in order to realize the tamper-evident device.

[0240] In one embodiment (see FIG. 15), the folding tabs 28 are connected to the side wall 18 at the end face 30 in such a way that, during the transition from the starting position 70 to the end position 88, the folding tabs 28 may be folded over the surface 32 and thus also a folding over the inner edge line 34. In the area of a folding flap 28, a part of the folding flap 56 then covers the front surface 32 and thus the inner edge line 34. The folding axis or swivel axis or tilting axis 90Atorney Docket No. 227254-748601 / PCT is located in particular at least approximately at the end face 30 to make this possible. As mentioned above, the axes 90 are not well-defined axes in the mechanical sense, since the foldability or pivotability or tiltability also involves plastic deformation of the material.

[0241] FIGS. 16A-16E show an embodiment example of a preliminary product 10’ for a closure element 12’, the closure element 12’ produced from a preliminary product 10’ being a closure cap for a bottle, with FIG. 16F showing an embodiment of the closure element 12’ produced from the preliminary product 10’ by positioning folding tabs 56’, including adjacent folding tabs 56a’, 56b’. Specifically, FIGS. 16A-16E illustrate a perspective view, a side view, a dimensioned top view, a bottom view, and a dimensioned cross-sectioned side view, respectively, of an exemplary embodiment of a preliminary product 10’ for a closure element 12’. FIG. 16F illustrates a dimensioned partial side view of the closure element 12’.

[0242] As shown in FIGS. 16A-16E, the preliminary product 10’ and the closure element 12’ includes knurls at multiple heights along a side wall 18’ of the preliminary product 10’, including of the along a threading and a tamper evidence feature of the preliminary product 10’.

[0243] In some embodiments, a dimension OD1 (i.e., a punch contour diameter, see FIG. 16C), a dimension OD2 (i.e., an outer surface knurl diameter, see FIG. 16D), a dimension ID1 (i.e., inner surface plug seal diameter, see FIG. 16E-16F), a dimension ID2 (i.e., inner surface thread diameter, see FIG. 16F), a dimension ID3 (i.e., inner surface between a thread and knurls, see FIG. 16F), or a dimension ID4 (i.e., knurl diameter, see FIG. 16F) of the closure, during forming, each ranges from about 1 to about 5 mm, from about 5 to about 10 mm, from about 5 to about 15 mm, from about 5 to about 20 mm, from about 10 to about 20 mm, from about 15 to about 30 mm, from about 20 to about 35 mm, from about 20 to about 40 mm, from about 15 to about 40 mm, from about 30 to about 45 mm, from about 40 to about 50 mm, from about 35 to about 50 mm, from about 35 to about 55 mm, from about 40 to about 60 mm, or greater than 60 mm.

[0244] In some embodiments, a gauge of a sheet of starting material for forming the closures ranges from about 0.1 to 0.25 mm, from about 0.25 to about 0.5 mm, from about 0.25 to about 0.75 mm, from about 0.5 to about 1 mm, from about 0.75 to about 1 mm, from about 0.25 to about 1 mm, from about 0.5 to about 1.25 mm, from about 0.5 to about 1.5 mm, from about 0.75 to about 1.5 mm, from about 0.5 to about 2 mm, from about 1 to about 3 mm, or greater than 3 mm.

[0245] In some embodiments, a dimension CL-D1 (i.e., total diameter, see FIG. 16E), a dimension CL-H1 (i.e., total height, see FIG. 16E), a dimension CL-H2 (i.e., height above a tamper evidence feature, see FIG. 16F), a dimension A (i.e., upper cap outer diameter, see FIG. 16E), aAttorney Docket No. 227254-748601 / PCT dimension T (i.e., thread diameter, see FIG. 16E) of the closure, after being slit and folded, each ranges from about 1 to about 5 mm, from about 5 to about 10 mm, from about 5 to about 15 mm, from about 5 to about 20 mm, from about 10 to about 20 mm, from about 15 to about 30 mm, from about 20 to about 35 mm, from about 20 to about 40 mm, from about 15 to about 40 mm, from about 30 to about 45 mm, from about 40 to about 50 mm, from about 35 to about 50 mm, from about 35 to about 55 mm, from about 40 to about 60 mm, or greater than 60 mm.

[0246] In some embodiments, an amount of knurls ranges from about 1 to about 10 knurls, about 10 to about 20 knurls, about 20 to about 40 knurls, about 40 to about 60 knurls, about 60 to about 80 knurls, about 40 to 80 knurls, about 20 to 60 knurls, about 10 to 50 knurls, about 30 to 70 knurls, about 50 to 100 knurls, about 80 to about 100 knurls, or greater than 100 knurls.

[0247] In some embodiments, a weight of the resulting closure ranges from about 0.1 to about 0.5 g, about 0.5 to about 1 g, about 1 to about 1.5 g, about 1.5 to about 2 g, about 2 to about 2.5 g, about 2.5 to about 3 g, about 3 to about 4 g, about 4 to about 5 g, or greater than 5 g.

[0248] In some embodiments, an ovality of the resulting closure ranges from about 0.05 to about 0.1 %, about 0.1 to about 0.5 %, about 0.5 to about 1 %, about 1 to about 1.5 %, about 1.5 to about 2 %, about 2 to about 2.5 %, about 2.5 to about 3 %, about 3 to about 4 %, about 4 to about 5 %, about 5 to about 7.5 %, about 2 to about 7.5 %, about 7 to about 10 %, about 7.5 to about 12 %, about 10 to about 15 %, or greater than 15 %.

[0249] In some embodiments, an amount of torque required to apply the closure to a bottle ranges from about 1 to about 5 in-lb, from about 5 to about 10 in-lb, from about 5 to about 20 inlb, from about 5 to about 30 in-lb, from about 10 to about 20 in-lb, from about 10 to about 30 in- lb, from about 30 to about 40 in-lb, from about 40 to about 50 in-lb, from about 30 to about 50 in- lb, from about 40 to about 60 in-lb, or greater than 60 in-lb.

[0250] In some embodiments, an amount of torque required to remove the closure from a bottle ranges from about 1 to about 5 in-lb, from about 5 to about 10 in-lb, from about 5 to about 20 in- lb, from about 5 to about 30 in-lb, from about 10 to about 20 in-lb, from about 10 to about 30 in- lb, from about 30 to about 40 in-lb, from about 40 to about 50 in-lb, from about 30 to about 50 in- lb, from about 40 to about 60 in-lb, or greater than 60 in-lb.

[0251] In some embodiments, a closure is configured to retain carbonation sealed with a bottle such that carbonation loss is in an amount ranging from about 1 to about 5 %, from about 5 to about 10 %, from about 1 to about 9 %, from about 5 to about 15 %, from about 5 to about 20 %,Atorney Docket No. 227254-748601 / PCT from about 1 to about 20%, from about 1 to about 30 %, from about 5 to about 30 %, from about 10 to about 20 %, from about 10 to about 30 %, from about 30 to about 40 %, from about 40 to about 50 %, from about 30 to about 50 %, from about 40 to about 60 %, or greater than 60 %.

[0252] In some embodiments, a closing angle of a closure onto a bottle ranges from about 1 to about 10 degrees, from about 10 to about 50 degrees, from about 50 to about 100 degrees, from about 50 to about 150 degrees, from about 100 to about 150 degrees, from about 150 to about 200 degrees, from about 100 to about 200 degrees, from about 150 to about 250 degrees, from about 200 to about 250 degrees, from about 200 to about 300 degrees, from about 300 to about 400 degrees, from about 250 to about 400 degrees, from about 400 to about 500 degrees, from about 500 to about 600 degrees, from about 450 to about 600 degrees, from about 500 to about 650 degrees, from about 650 to about 700 degrees, from about 450 to about 700 degrees, or greater than 700 degrees.

[0253] In one embodiment example (see FIG. 17), a channel-shaped recess 94 is formed on the underside 78 of a respective folding flap 56. (A corresponding bulge 96 is formed on the upper side 80 as a counter region to the recess 94). The recess 94 extends between the respective first transverse side 74 and second transverse side 76 of the folding tab 56. The recess 94 is adapted to the end face 30 or end surface 32. When folding or pivoting or tilting the corresponding folding tab 56, the side wall 18 in the region of the end face 30 may dip into the recess 94 in order to achieve a correspondingly close positioning of the folding tab 56 in the end position 88. Close positioning is in particular an at least approximately parallel alignment of the folding tab 56 with its underside 78 to the inside 42 of the side wall 18 of the closure element 12.

[0254] In a further embodiment of a closure body 98, shown in FIG. 18, (at least) one securing element 101 is located on a corresponding closure body 98. The securing element 101 is integrally connected to the closure body 98 and serves to fix it to the container, so that an opened closure element 12 cannot be removed from the container and lost.

[0255] The securing element 101 is integrally connected to the closure body 98 via a base 103. In particular, the base 103 is positioned between folding tabs 105a, 105b (in relation to their initial position 70 as described above). In particular, the securing element 101 has the same wall thickness as the folding tabs 105a, 105b (and the other folding tabs) and is made from the same clamping edge, as explained in more detail below. In particular, in the starting position 70, the securing element 101 lies in the same plane as the folding tabs 56 or the bases 62 of the folding tabs 56.Atorney Docket No. 227254-748601 / PCT

[0256] The securing element 101 is correspondingly flat. In one embodiment, the securing element 101 comprises a fixing area 107, which is integrally connected to the base 103. The fixing area 107 is used for fixing to the container. In one embodiment example, the fixing area 107 comprises a loop 109, which is connected in a ring shape. The loop 109 has an opening 111. This opening 111 is adapted to the corresponding container and a corresponding part of the base 103. A container (such as a bottle neck) may be inserted through the opening 111. Via the base 103, the fixing area 107 and thus the securing element 101 as a whole is integrally connected to the side wall 18 in the area of the end face 30.

[0257] The securing element 101 is movable in relation to the side wall 18. In one embodiment example, the securing element 101 is foldable or pivotable or tiltable relative to the side wall 18 with respect to an axis 113. The technical design is as described above in connection with the axis 90. It is not a defined mechanical axis; the mobility about the axis 113, which may be regarded as a virtual axis, involves a plastic deformation of the material of the closure body 14 and the securing element 101 in the area of the axis 113 on the side wall 18. In addition, or alternatively, the securing element 101 may have its own movement due to elastic or plastic deformation, in particular in order to be able to connect the securing element 101 to the container and to place the closure element to the closure body 98 on the container.

[0258] In another embodiment example, shown in FIG. 19, a securing element 115 is provided, which comprises a base 117 and a fixing element 115 comprising an area or fixing region 118. A web region 121 in the form of a neck region is located between the base 117 and the fixing region 118. The web region 121 increases the distance between the base 117 and the fixing region 118 and thus increases the distance between the fixing region 118 and the corresponding closure body.

[0259] The design of the securing element 101 or 115 is adapted to the respective application, i.e. to the container with the associated locking element. The securing element 101 was described above with a loop 109 as a fixing area 107 and a corresponding opening 111. The fixing area 107 may also be designed, for example, in such a way that it is provided for an adhesive connection or form-fit connection etc. with the container. The securing element 101 or 115 is manufactured integrally during the manufacture of the closure body 98, as are the folding tabs 56.

[0260] The manufacture of the preliminary product 10 (the closure body 14 with the folded tabs 56 in the initial position 70 and, if necessary, with at least one securing element 101 or 115) is carried out as indicated in FIG. 20. In a thermoforming process, thermoplastic material is fed to a forming tool 123 as a starting material 125 (see FIG. 20) in sheet form, or film form. TheAtorney Docket No. 227254-748601 / PCT corresponding sheets or films may be single-layered or multilayered. In the case of multiple layers, the layers may be made of the same material, or different thermoplastic materials may be used depending on the intended application.

[0261] The forming tool 123 has a contact surface 127 for the starting material 125. This contact surface 127 lies in a feed plane of the starting material 125. The starting material 125 is then heated (the heating element 129 is symbolically indicated). The forming tool 123 may be used to apply air (indicated by arrow 131). Suction then takes place (indicated by the arrow 132). The starting material 125, which is flowable as a result of the heating, adheres to the mold. The starting material 125 has a contact area 134 on the contact surface 127 of the molding tool 123. A holddown device 136 may also be provided, which acts on the contact area 134 to hold it against the contact surface 127. The contact area 134 of the workpiece is a clamping edge 138 or sealing edge, at which the starting material 125 is clamped to the forming tool 123.

[0262] In addition to the forming tool 123, one or more further forming tools 140 may be provided during manufacture, which act on the starting material 125 in order to form corresponding structures such as, for example produce the thread 26. After the end of the shaping process, the air extraction (negative pressure application) at the shaping tool 123 is ended and air is supplied again (indicated by the arrow 142). This allows releasing a correspondingly shaped workpiece 144 from the forming tool 123. This workpiece 144 is provided with the clamping edge 138 or contact area 134. In the solution according to the present disclosure, the ring 58 with the folding tabs 56 and, if necessary, the securing element 101 is formed from this clamping edge 138.

[0263] FIG. 21 schematically indicates a “workpiece grid” 146. Typically, several workpieces 144 may be formed at the same time on one workpiece grid 146 if the workpiece grid 146 has corresponding areas. In FIG. 21, this is indicated by corresponding closure bodies 14. The area between adjacent workpieces 144 is the contact area 134 or the clamping edge 138. Cutting processes and, in particular, punching processes may then be used to form the workpieces by shaping the punching tool accordingly.

[0264] Punch out closure body 14 with folding tabs 56 in their initial position 70. In the same way, it is possible, for example, to punch out closure elements 98 with a securing element 101 and folding tabs 56. The result of such punching processes are then workpieces that correspond to the preliminary product 10. In one embodiment example, these preliminary products 10 are closure bodies 14 with folding tabs 56 or closure body 98 with folding tabs 56 and safety catch elementsAtorney Docket No. 227254-748601 / PCT101. At this stage, predetermined breaking points such as perforations (see below) may be made on the closure body 14 or 98 of the preliminary product 10.

[0265] The respective closing element 12 may then be produced from such preliminary products 10 by acting on the folding tabs 56. This is shown schematically in FIG. 15. One or more punches 148 (see FIG. 15) may be used to pivot the folding flaps 56 into their initial position 70 (with the angular position a to the side wall 18) in such a way that the corresponding angle is increased. The correspondingly positioned folding tabs 56 may then be pivoted or folded or tilted through the opening 22 into the interior 20 by a further punch 150 and may be folded or tilted into their end position 88.

[0266] According to the present disclosure, closure elements 12 are provided which are produced from thermoplastic material by thermoforming. With continuing reference to FIG. 21, the clamping edge 138 (contact area 134), which is used for the thermoforming process, is used to form folding tabs 56 and / or securing elements 101 to be produced. The folding tabs 56 are manufactured in such a way that they are separate from one another (adjacent folding tabs 56a, 56b are separate) and may be positioned independently of one another, i.e. decoupled from one another. This allows a targeted positioning for producing the closing element 12 in the end position 88 of the folding tabs 56 to be achieved. As a good approximation, the folding tabs 56 may be folded or pivoted or tilted about the respective axes or lines 90 without the need for a material change. Deformation of material between folding tabs 56 is unnecessary since such “connecting material” is not present due to the free spaces 72.

[0267] In accordance with the present disclosure, closure elements 12 are provided which may be produced by thermoforming with integrated functional elements (folding elements), tabs 56 and / or securing elements 101), which are integrally produced during the thermoforming process. A further embodiment example of a closure element, which is shown schematically in FIG. 22, comprises a first part 154 and a second part 156. The first part 154 and the second part 156 are initially (in the preliminary product and during the first fixing to a container) integrally connected to one another. The first part 154 and the second part 156 form a closure body 158. The end face 30 is located on the first part 154 and the folding tabs 56 are located on the first part 154. The thread 26 is located on the second part 156. (in the example shown as an internal thread). The cover wall 16 sits on top of the second part 156. At a transition between the first part 154 and the second part 156, when these are connected to each other, there are predetermined breaking points 160 (see FIG. 15), for example in the form of perforations.Atorney Docket No. 227254-748601 / PCT

[0268] FIG. 22 shows a container 162 with a receiving area 164 for the closure element 152. In one embodiment, the receiving area 164 is a bottle neck. First, the (still one-piece) closure element 152 is mounted on the receiving area 164. The first part 154 and the second part 156 are joined together in one piece (see FIG. 15). The folding tabs 56 are positioned between the side wall 18 and the container 162 and form a tamper-evident device.

[0269] If a force is exerted on the second part 156 relative to the first part 154, in particular by rotation (i.e. a torque is actually exerted), and a certain force threshold is exceeded (actually a torque threshold), then the second part 156 may move against the first part 154 and detach the predetermined breaking points 160 from the first part 154. The first part 154 with its original function as a tamper-evident device (by means of the folding tabs 56) remains on the container 162. The second part 156 may be unscrewed from the receiving area 164 and removed and the container may be opened.

[0270] In one embodiment example, a securing element 166 is provided. The securing element 166 sits integrally on the first part 154 and, as described above, is made from a clamping edge 138. The securing element 166 has a fixing area 168, via which it is connected to the second part 156, even if the second part 156 is separated from the first part 154 in the area of the predetermined breaking points 160. The fixing area 168 is designed, for example, in such a way that it is placed over the second part 156 on an outer side and is thereby secured against loss. In turn, the second part 156 is securely connected to the first part 154 by the securing element 166. Even if the second part 156 is detached from the first part 154, which remains on the container 162, and is released from the container 162, it is fixed relative to the container 162 via the securing element 166.

[0271] The present disclosure additionally provides methods of making closures described herein. In some embodiments, a method of making a closure described herein may include thermoforming a sheet of polyester resin into the closure. In some embodiments, the thermoforming may include applying the sheet of polyester resin to a male mold. In some embodiments, a method of making a closure described herein may include injection molding or compression molding a polyester resin into the closure.

[0272] The present disclosure additionally provides methods of sterilizing closures and containers described herein. In some embodiments, a method of sterilizing a closure and a container described herein may include exposing the closure to a source of electromagnetic radiation capable of inactivating pathogens. Exposure of the closure to the source ofAtorney Docket No. 227254-748601 / PCT electromagnetic radiation may be enhanced by the transparency of the closure. The closure may be exposed to the source of electromagnetic radiation before or after the closure is applied to the container. Electromagnetic radiation may be capable of inactivating pathogens. For example, electromagnetic radiation may be of a wavelength of from 200 to 300 nanometers. In some embodiments, the exposing may be for a duration from 1 minute, or from 2 minutes, or from 5 minutes, or from 10 minutes, or from 15 minutes, or from 20 minutes, or from 25 minutes to 30 minutes or more; or from 2 minutes to 5 minutes, or to 10 minutes, or to 15 minutes, or to 20 minutes, or to 25 minutes, or to 30 minutes or more; or any range made from any two of the foregoing numbers, including any subranges therebetween. In some embodiments, the source of electromagnetic radiation may be of a wavelength of 253 nanometers to 254 nanometers. In some embodiments, the source of electromagnetic radiation may be of a wavelength of from 255 nanometers to 280 nanometers. In some embodiments, the source of electromagnetic radiation may be of a wavelength of about 230 nanometers. In some embodiments, the source of electromagnetic radiation may be of a wavelength of less than 10'7meters. In some embodiments, the source of electromagnetic radiation may be of a wavelength of less than 10'11meters. In some embodiments, the source of electromagnetic radiation may be of a wavelength of up to 10'6m. The source of electromagnetic radiation may also be of a wavelength within a range formed by any two foregoing wavelengths, including any subranges therebetween. In some embodiments, the exposure may be to bursts of electromagnetic radiation of the same or varying wavelengths in a series. Examples of sources of electromagnetic radiation may include a low-pressure mercury lamp, ultraviolet lightemitting diodes, and a pulsed-xenon lamp. In some embodiments, the closure may include an antimicrobial coating on an outer surface or on an inner surface.

[0273] In some embodiments, the present disclosure provides a thermoformed polyester resin closure for closing a container, the closure including: an annular wall that scales up against a top surface of a rim of a finish of the container; an outer cylindrical wall that extends downwardly from the annular wall, the outer cylindrical wall including an outer skirt configured to be spaced outwardly from an outer surface of the rim of the finish to provide a clearance between the closure and the outer surface of the rim of the finish; an inner cylindrical wall that extends downwardly from the annular wall, the inner cylindrical wall configured such that an outwardly facing surface of the inner cylindrical wall has an interference fit with an inwardly facing surface of the finish of the container for scaling against the inwardly facing surface of the finish; and a lower wall that extends across a bottom of the inner cylindrical wall.

[0274] In some embodiments, the polyester resin may include polyethylene terephthalate (PET). In some embodiments, the polyester resin may include polyethylene furandi carb oxy lateAtorney Docket No. 227254-748601 / PCT(PEF). In some embodiments, the polyester resin may be a copolymer including PET and PEF. In some embodiments, the lower wall may include a ramped portion for centering the inner cylindrical wall during engagement of the closure with the finish. In some embodiments, the lower wall has a concave upward shape when in an unpressurized state and a concave downward shape when the closure closes a pressurized container, such that a pressure acts to increase a scaling force of the inner cylindrical wall against the finish. In some embodiments, the closure may be colored by a removable dye and / or an ink. In some embodiments, a nanocoating may be deposited on a surface of the closure. In some embodiments, the closure may include a tamper evidence band about a bottom circumferential surface of the outer cylindrical wall. In some embodiments, the tamper evidence band may include a plurality of knurls distributed about an outer surface or an inner surface of the tamper evidence band. In some embodiments, the tamper evidence band may be configured to form a tether for attaching the closure to the container when the closure is removed from the finish. In some embodiments, the outwardly facing surface of the inner cylindrical wall may be smooth. In some embodiments, the outwardly facing surface of the inner cylindrical wall may include a roughness of 0.2 microns. In some embodiments, the closure may further include a thread in the outer cylindrical wall for engaging a thread of the finish. In some embodiments, the closure may include a plurality of threads in the outer cylindrical wall, each of the plurality of threads beginning at a corresponding thread start. In some embodiments, the outer cylindrical wall may include a plurality of knurls or a plurality of knurled portions distributed about at least a portion of an outer surface or an inner surface of the outer cylindrical wall. In some embodiments, the closure may further include a seal attached to the rim of the finish to close the finish of the container, the seal in contact with the lower wall of the closure when the closure is applied to the finish of the container. In some embodiments, the container may include PET. In some embodiments, the container may include PEF. In some embodiments, the container may include a copolymer including PET and PEF.

[0275] In some embodiments, a method of sterilizing the closure may include: exposing the closure to a source of electromagnetic radiation capable of inactivating pathogens. In some embodiments, the method may further include applying the closure to the container before the exposing. In some embodiments, the method may further include applying the closure to the container after the exposing. In some embodiments, the source of electromagnetic radiation may be of a wavelength of from 200 to 300 nanometers. In some embodiments, the closure may include an antimicrobial coating on an outer surface and / or an inner surface.

[0276] In some embodiments, the present disclosure provides a thermoformed polyester resin closure for closing a container including a polyester, the closure including: a top wall that scalesAtorney Docket No. 227254-748601 / PCT against a top surface of a rim of a finish of the container: and a cylindrical wall extending downwardly from the top wall and configured such that an inwardly facing surface of the cylindrical wall has an interference fit with an outwardly facing surface of the rim for scaling against the outwardly facing surface of the rim.

[0277] In some embodiments, the polyester resin may include polyethylene terephthalate (PET). In some embodiments, the polyester resin may include polyethylene furandi carb oxy late (PEF). In some embodiments, the polyester resin may be a copolymer including PET and PEF. In some embodiments, the closure may be colored by a removable dye and / or an ink. In some embodiments, a nanocoating may be deposited on a surface of the closure. In some embodiments, the closure may include a tamper evidence band about a bottom circumferential surface of the cylindrical wall. In some embodiments, the tamper evidence band may include a plurality of knurls distributed about an outer surface or an inner surface of the tamper evidence band. In some embodiments, the tamper evidence band may be configured to form a tether for attaching the closure to the container when the closure is removed from the finish. In some embodiments, the closure may further include a thread in the cylindrical wall lor engaging a thread of the finish. In some embodiments, the closure may include a plurality of threads in the cylindrical wall, each of the plurality of threads beginning at a corresponding thread start. In some embodiments, the cylindrical wall may include a plurality of knurls or a plurality of knurled portions distributed about at least a portion of an outer surface of the cylindrical wall or the inwardly facing surface. In some embodiments, the closure may include a seal attached to the rim of the finish to close the finish of the container, the seal in contact with a lower surface of the top wall of the closure when the closure is applied to the finish of the container. In some embodiments, the container may include PET. In some embodiments, the container may include PEF. In some embodiments, the container may include a copolymer including PET and PEF. In some embodiments, the closure may be shrunk onto the finish. In some embodiments, the closure may be heat shrunk onto the finish. In some embodiments, the closure may be bonded to the finish by thermal bonding or ultrasonic bonding. In some embodiments, the closure may be bonded to the top surface of the rim of the finish. In some embodiments, a bonding of the closure to the finish may be configured to provide tamper evidence.

[0278] In an exemplary embodiment, the present disclosure provides an injection molded polyester resin closure for closing a container including a polyester, the polyester resin including polyethylene furandi carb oxy late (PEF). In some embodiments, the polyester resin may include up to 90 mole percent of PEF and the PEF may be derived from a reaction of furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA) with polyethylene glycol (PEG) and / or diethylene glycol (DEG).Atorney Docket No. 227254-748601 / PCT

[0279] In some embodiments, a method of making the closure may include injection molding or compression molding the polyester resin into the closure.

[0280] In an exemplary embodiment, the present disclosure provides a thermoformed polyester resin closure for closing a container including a polyester, the closure including: an outer layer including: an outer layer annular wall; an outer layer outer cylindrical wall that extends downwardly form the outer layer annular wall; an outer layer inner depression wall that extends downwardly from the outer layer annular wall; and an outer layer lower wall that extends across a bottom of the outer layer inner depression wall, the outer layer lower wall including a first shaped downward depression: and an inner layer including: an inner layer annular wall; an inner layer outer cylindrical wall that extends downwardly from the inner layer annular wall; an inner layer inner depression wall that extends downwardly from the inner layer annular wall, the inner layer inner depression wall configured such that an outwardly facing surface of the inner layer inner depression wall has an interference fit with an outwardly facing surface of the finish for scaling against the outwardly facing surface of the finish; and an inner layer lower wall that extends across a bottom of the inner layer inner depression wall, the inner layer lower wall including a second shaped downward depression that receives the first shaped downward depression; and wherein a lower surface of the first shaped downward depression is configured to confront and lock against an upper surface of the second shaped downward depression.

[0281] In some embodiments, the outer layer outer cylindrical wall may include an outer layer folded band disposed radially outward along a bottom circumference of the outer layer outer cylindrical wall. In some embodiments, the outer layer outer cylindrical wall may include plurality of knurls distributed circumferentially about an outer surface of the outer layer outer cylindrical wall. In some embodiments, an inner surface of the inner layer outer cylindrical wall may include a thread for engaging a thread of a finish of the container. In some embodiments, the inner layer outer cylindrical wall may include an inner layer folded band disposed radially outward along a bottom circumference of the inner layer outer cylindrical wall. In some embodiments, the outer layer folded band may be configured to Lightly fit within a groove between an outer surface of the inner layer outer cylindrical wall and the inner layer folded band. In some embodiments, the polyester resin may include polyethylene terephthalate (PET). In some embodiments, the polyester resin may include polyethylene furandicarboxylate (PEF). In some embodiments, the polyester resin may be a copolymer including PET and PEF. In some embodiments, the inner layer lower wall may include a ramped portion for centering the inner layer inner cylindrical wall during engagement of the closure with the finish. In some embodiments, the inner layer lower wall may have a concave upward shape when in an unpressurized state and a concave downwardAttorney Docket No. 227254-748601 / PCT shape when the closure closes a pressurized container, such that a pressure acts to increase a scaling force of the inner layer inner cylindrical wall against the Finish. In some embodiments, the outer layer and / or the inner layer may be colored by a removable dye and / or an ink. In some embodiments, a nanocoating may be deposited on a surface of the outer layer and / or the inner layer. In some embodiments, the closure may include a tamper evidence band about a bottom circumferential surface of the inner layer. In some embodiments, the inner surface of the inner layer outer cylindrical wall may include a plurality of threads, each of the plurality of threads beginning at a corresponding thread start. In some embodiments, the container may include PET. In some embodiments, the container may include PEF. In some embodiments, the container may be a copolymer including PET and PEF.

[0282] In some embodiments, a method of sterilizing the closure may include: exposing the closure to a source of electromagnetic radiation capable of inactivating pathogens. In some embodiments, the method may further include applying the closure to the container before the exposing. In some embodiments, the method may further include applying the closure to the container after the exposing. In some embodiments, wherein the source of electromagnetic radiation may be of a wavelength of from 200 to 300 nanometers. In some embodiments, wherein the closure may include an antimicrobial coating on an outer surface and / or an inner surface.

[0283] In some embodiments, a method of making the closure may include: thermoforming a sheet of polyester resin into the outer layer; separately thermoforming a second sheet of polyester resin into the inner layer; and combining the outer layer and the inner layer.

[0284] In some embodiments, the transforming may include applying the sheet of polyester resin to a male mold. In some embodiments, the separately transforming may include applying the second sheet of polyester resin to a second male mold.EXAMPLES

[0285] The present disclosure may be better understood in connection with the following Examples. In addition, the non-limiting examples are an illustration. The person skilled in the art will appreciate that it may be necessary to vary the procedures for any given example of the present disclosure, e.g., vary the order or steps and / or the chemical reagents used.EXAMPLE 1Thermoforming of PET ClosuresAtorney Docket No. 227254-748601 / PCT

[0286] Herein is described the development of a replacement of injection molded HDPE / PP- based PCO 1881 plastic bottle caps with a PET closure thermoformed from sheets of PET. Among the challenges during development were to develop a mold and a process to solve issues related to the plug seal. Tamper Evident (“TE”) feature.

[0287] The use of a benchtop style JT-018 Denial Thermoformer (“JT-018”) was explored. A primary objective was to create the geometry for and produce a prototype mold, for modeling PET closures. A goal was to create a thermoformed plug seal that met or exceeded industry standards for a closure, while also developing a TE band.

[0288] Use of the JT-018 allowed for the production of various iterations of a single closure that may be tested for functionality against industry standards for product seal, closure and opening torque, and tamper evident closures. Considerations in the production of the prototype also included mass production capabilities, and the closure process used by the bottling industries and equipment manufacturers.

[0289] Off-the-shelf equipment was modified to provide better process control. For example, controls were added to the heating element on the JT-018.

[0290] Specialized tools were developed for testing and process enhancement. For example, a pressure testing skid allowed for the pressure testing of finished molds. A cap punch allowed for the efficient cut of finished closures. A pressure bell allowed for increasing the external pressure on the thermoformer to gain higher detail.

[0291] A design for the mold for thermoforming the closure was developed in order to allow for demolding of dissimilar geometry without entrapment. A CAD program. Solid Works, was utilized to develop a mold that could be three-dimensionally printed and communicated to stakeholders. Three-dimensional printing of initial prototype molds allowed for the trial of several concepts, economically, with rapid turn-around of mold revisions. Rough surfaces that would translate to the finished thermoformed closure, and cause issues with seal integrity, were polished out using a multi-step polishing process starting at 800 Grit and ending at an 80,000 Grit jewelry polishing compound. The final thermoformed product was cut-out utilizing a cutting die and tested for performance against industry standards.

[0292] Engineering considerations included temperature control, an aluminum mold, an external pressure apparatus, and seal testing.Atorney Docket No. 227254-748601 / PCT

[0293] A. Temperature Control: PET is a crystalline plastic that has unique properties while being healed. PET enters its glass transition range, becoming malleable and clear, from 67-80°C (153-76°F). With time, PET crystallizes, becoming white in color and brittle, between 80-260°C (176-500°F). PET melts al 260°C (500°F). Thus, PET is versatile in usage but may have limitations. The molding machine has a maximum temperature of 457°C (855°F) and may heat the plastic loo fast. Therefore, a variable resistor was inserted onto the molding machine to manage the temperature control to have more accurate temperatures and to be able to control molding of the PET easier.

[0294] B. Aluminum Mold: High Thermal Conductivity, or quick heat transfer, causes heat from PET during molding to be whisked away very quickly for fast cooling of the PET closure and fast cooling of the mold.

[0295] C. External Pressure Apparatus: Vacuum within the machine was needed to draw hot plastic into the crevices of the mold. Maximum vacuum that may be achieved is 1 bar (14 psi). Due to working in the glass range of the PET, more pressure was used to form sharp angles found on the mold. An external pressure apparatus may allow for a range of external pressures, wherein diminishing returns in the formation of the plastic around the mold were encountered after reaching 4.1 bar (60 psi). With the addition of the 4.1 bar (60 psi) external pressure along with the 1 bar (14 psi) internally, the plastic may form easily around the mold. Higher external pressures may further improve the definition of part features.

[0296] D. Testing for a Seal: Testing for a leak in the seal requires a way to generate pressure within the caps. A pressure testing apparatus was created to create the pressure on the cap and, then using water, look for air bubbles leaking from the caps.

[0297] The testing performed on the closures included torque testing, weights and measures (for example, based on thread depth, and cap weight), and seal testing. Testing was performed to determine the crystallization point of the material. Excess heat create a rapid crystallization transition phase that was difficult to control. A resistive control to the JT-018 was added to control the heat for repeated trials.

[0298] Table 1 provides crystallization data (Cycle Time for Forming PET Plastic). The temperature of the heater was at the heater’s maximum temperature for all trials, which was approximately 468.3° C (875° F). The level from heater was mid-way between the mold and the heater.TABLE 1Attorney Docket No. 227254-748601 / PCT

[0299] Preliminary testing was performed on the finished mold, with marginal results. Limitations in the laboratory-scale vacuum-forming process failed to produce fully developed threads. As a result, torques in excess of 0.5 Nm were not achieved, and the cap failed to hold a measurable pressure. A device was added to induce exterior pressure and trials were repeated with improved control.

[0300] A device was constructed to allow for the application of external pressure during the forming process. Vacuum processing was limited to 1 atm (1.01 bar) of differential pressure under seal conditions. The modified system allowed for the application of up to an additional 10 bar of differential pressure to force greater forming detail. Trials showed 4 bar to be sufficient. Table 2 summarizes the testing data.Attorney Docket No. 227254-748601 / PCTTABLE 2Final Testing Torque and Seal Data (Heater at 288° C for 21 sec)

[0301] A correlation was observed between closing torque and seal pressures. As closing torque increases or decreases the ability to hold a seal has a proportional relationship.

[0302] Improvements to thread detail were realized in the seal when external pressure was applied during the thermoforming process. A correlation may be seen between increased seal pressure and produced thread torque.

[0303] Finished thermoformed caps were reviewed under a polarized film to reveal lines of stress and material deformation from the thermoforming process.Atorney Docket No. 227254-748601 / PCT

[0304] Other films were analyzed to validate the thermoforming process. These materials failed to develop a torque or ability to hold pressure, but the analysis showed nearly fully developed thread detail. Thus, modifications to increase pressure on thermoforming machine could lead to an increased performance with the thicker and stiffer PET material.EXAMPLE 2Injection Molded PET Closure

[0305] In some embodiments, closures may be injection-molded polyester resins, such as polyester resins having an FDCA and / or DEG content that sufficiently increases a compliance of the polyester resin material relative to PET to enable the material to be injection-molded. In some embodiments, a closure is of a standard injection-molded configuration (in other words, a closure has a similar shape to injection-molded HDPE and PP closures), such as illustrated in FIGS. 23A and 23B. FIG. 23 A illustrates a partial cross-sectional view of an upper portion of an injection- molded polyester resin closure 1400. FIG. 23B illustrates a partial cross-sectional view of closure 1400 mounted to finish 1402. Closure 1400 includes a conventional injection-molded plug seal 1404. The FDCA- and / or DEG-modified polyester resin may have sufficiently low modulus that plug seal 1404 may be able to achieve relatively high clastic deformation as is evident in comparing the deflection of plug seal 1404 in FIG. 23B relative to FIG. 23 A.

[0306] In some embodiments, an injection-molded closure is configured similarly to a standard injection-molded HDPE or PP closure but with lower wall thicknesses to reduce the relative stiffness of the closure. In addition to wall thickness, an interference fit may be reduced as discussed for the range used for thermoformed PET closures in order to accommodate the relatively higher stiffness of PET or co-monomer-modified polyester.EXAMPLE 3Copolymer for Closures Produced Via Synthesis of 2% FDCA in PET

[0307] In some embodiments, a copolymer suitable for closures was produced via polymerization of 2% FDCA in PET and SSP. The process of synthesizing the copolymer PET with 2% FDCA from PTA (or TP A) and EG was divided into two stages. The transesterification stage went on until the temperature of the top of the distillation was below 90°C, and the mixture was clear. Esterification was followed by polycondensation. During the course of synthesis, the reaction was monitored based on the amount of water produced and collected in a buffer tank. About 369 milliliters of water was recovered. The material was extracted from the reactor when the intrinsic viscosity reached approximately 0.55 dL / g based on torque calibration. The intrinsicAtorney Docket No. 227254-748601 / PCT viscosity may be increased using solid state polymerization, which further improves the performance of the prepared material for injection molding applications. Tables 3 and 4 below provide the reaction conditions in the esterification reactor and polycondensation reactor, respectively.TABLE 3EsterificationTABLE 4PolycondensationEXAMPLE 4Atorney Docket No. 227254-748601 / PCTImpact of FDCA Fraction on Crystallization

[0308] An impact of the amount of FDCA present in a copolymer on crystallization in a polyester resin copolymer suitable for closures was demonstrated. Specifically, as the FDCA fraction was increased, the rate and degree of crystallization in PET was observed to decrease.

[0309] Table 5 provides DSC results that demonstrate (1) an increase in Tg with FDCA fraction, (2) an increase in Tm. and (3) a reduction in % crystallinity.TABLE 5DSC Results

[0310] Varying the amount of FDCA also changed other physical and chemical properties of the resulting copolymer, including, for example, the modulus of elasticity, and gas diffusion (barrier) properties. Both % crystallinity of the copolymer and the mobility of the furan dicarboxylate component of the copolymer impact the modulus of elasticity and gas diffusion properties, such that the same % crystallinity in PET without FDCA had lower diffusion or mechanical properties than PET with FDCA.EXAMPLE 5Thread Depth and Pressure Retention

[0311] Thread depth is both a function of the design of a mold and the forming process. With a given mold, thread depth may be adjusted through process control, which leads to a change in performance of the closure. When the threads are fully formed, the interaction between the finish and the closure is maximized for a certain mold design, so that the torque to strip the closure by jumping the closure threads over the finish threads increases. The thread depth may also be aAtorney Docket No. 227254-748601 / PCT function of thickness and material stiffness, for example from increased crystallinity, so that multiple methods of increasing strip torque may be possible in one design. Once the fully formed thread performance is understood, it may be useful to perform a modification to the mold to deepen the possible thread formation limit. Another reason to adjust thread depth and contact surface may be to avoid increasing the application or removal torque beyond a limit that is comfortable for consumer use.

[0312] Using a standard laboratory-sized torque tester, a preform was placed in clamps and zeroed. Applying consistent torque in a clockwise manner, a closure was applied until snug, or until roughly 580 degrees. A positive value will be an Application Torque. Once a closure is applied, the closure was removed by applying force in a counterclockwise direction. A negative value will be a Removal Torque. Applying consistent torque in a clockwise manner, a closure was applied past snug or 580 degrees until failure. A positive value will be a Strip Torque. A closure will be deformed after a Strip Torque test. After several tests are performed a preform is exchanged with a new unused preform as a neck finish may be damaged after repeated tests, which may skew data. Torque may also be tested with a blown bottle filled with water.

[0313] A pressure retention test uses a standard battery bike / ball air pump to generate air pressure used to blow off a closure. The pump is connected to an additional pressure gauge to provide two readings on the pressure being applied. Pressurized air is routed into an 1881 neck. An 1881 closure was placed on a neck finish and secured with standard application procedures. The 1881 neck finish may be exchanged for other neck finishes and further 1881 necks. Air pressure rises until the 1881 closure reaches failure. Failure may be a slow leak with a steady decrease in air pressure inside a neck finish, or dramatic failure, which involves rapid loss of pressure.TABLE 6Attorney Docket No. 227254-748601 / PCT

[0314] FIG. 24 illustrates a plot of average thread depth and pressure retention of twenty-five sample closures, and the relationship between average thread depth and pressure retention of the closures. FIG. 25 illustrates a plot of the ability of twenty-five sample closures to retain pressureAtorney Docket No. 227254-748601 / PCT when applied to a finish of a container. The higher performing examples of the twenty-five sample closures may be illustrative of a minimum performance as the manufacturing process is optimized.EXAMPLE 6Exemplary Rotary Thermoforming Machine

[0315] Rotary thermoforming serves as an alternative form of thermoforming. Specifically, rather than thermoforming PET caps in a previously formed sheet that is subsequently heated, parts can be formed from a polymer out of the molten state which is extruded like a sheet that is quenched onto a chilled mold. Rather than forming only a sheet, the chilled mold, typically in the form of a roller, also contains the intricate parts such as the threads for forming the cap as segments on the roller. This allows for positive molded parts (i.e., male mold components). Similar to forming on a flat mold, the individual threaded parts are rotationally removed from the sheet after it is cooled. This can be cam or gear driven rotation within the roller. This method allows for high fidelity formation of the part and any engravings on the part.

[0316] FIG. 26 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a rotary thermoforming machine 2600. As illustrated in the FIG. 26, the rotary thermoforming machine 2600 comprises a hinged wheel or roller 2601 for receiving an extrusion die or sheet 2602, a screen changer / vacuum pump 2603, and a press 2604. The rotary thermoforming machine 2600 further comprises a rotary mold system, so as to be able to form multiple closures at a time.

[0317] A diameter of the roller 2601 is matched to an extrusion rate and the part thickness. For example, as the extruded sheet thickness 2602 decreases from 1 mm to 0.5 mm, the parts would need to rotate off faster to accommodate the larger material. This may also be timed with the cooling rate and the rotational step to remove the part. The formation of knurls on the formed part may be done with another roller mated and timed to coin knurls on the outer portions of the part (not shown). If not trimmed in place, trimming of the parts from the sheet can be done in a second station.

[0318] Mold, roller, and part design may allow room for cooling the roller, typically done using chilled water. With advances in additive manufacturing of steels or other alloys, some mold components can be generated by additive manufacturing to get around standard machining limitations that otherwise cause excessive skeleton scrap.EXAMPLE 7Thermoformed PET Closure with Trapped FlapsAttorney Docket No. 227254-748601 / PCT

[0319] Herein is described an exemplary embodiment of alternative closure elements. Specifically, FIG. 27 illustrates a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a mold 2700 used for forming a preliminary product, similar to preliminary product 10 in FIG. 14, for an alternative closure element having folding tabs comprising trapped flaps. As shown, mold 2700 includes a tamper evidence portion 2701 having 3D supports 2702 for forming 3D features in a resulting closure.

[0320] In some embodiments, a ‘trapped flap’ is a tab or flap geometry that is designed to restrict the movement of the tab and tamper band (e.g., a tamper evidence band (TEB) portion of the closure) after capping. A trapped flap may be conjoined with a locking mechanism that holds the TE band down, allowing for a locking function by a trapping function of an adjacent tab or flap portion. Trapped flaps, when long enough, may be constructed such that when a closure is applied to a bottle, a portion of each of the trapped flaps may be tucked between a skirt or outer wall of the closure and a tamper evidence feature (e.g., a tamper evidence band of a closure or bead of a bottle / container) on the finish. Such tucking traps the closure that reduces the closure’s ability to unfold. More specifically, the mechanism of this flap allows the cap to have stronger bridges and still break upon opening.

[0321] In some embodiments, a trapped flap is connected to an outer cylindrical wall of the closure via at least one hinge. In some embodiments, a hinge is formed on one side of an outer cylindrical wall via a contour of the mold or formed on both sides with that contour, as well as a constraint (such as, for example, a knife edge) that moves or compresses material to a constrained thickness. In some embodiments, at least one hinge comprises at least two hinge, which can allow for accommodating the thickness of the sheet itself as it is folded under the edge of the cap and back up again. FIGS. 33A and 33B illustrate exemplary single and double hinge closures, respectively, described in more detail below. In some embodiments, a trapped flap having at least two hinges can allow for a tighter upward angle to the final fold (see, for example, FIG. 34B, described in more detail below).

[0322] In some embodiments, a trapped flap having at least one hinge can allow the trapped flap to reach or tuck under a support ledge of the finish. In some embodiments, a hinge comprises a coined hinge (e.g., see FIG. 31 below) or the like. In some embodiments, coining as used herein can denote the compressive force used to prescribe the thickness at the hinge. Coining can also be referred herein as crimping. In some embodiments, a coined hinge comprises at least one indentation in the closure between a tamper-evidence area (i.e., where a trapped flap may be formed) and the outer cylindrical wall of the closure such that a thickness of the closure at theAtorney Docket No. 227254-748601 / PCT hinge is thinner than at other regions of the closure while allowing the trapped flap to remain connected to the outer cylindrical wall of the closure. A coined hinge can be implemented for each of the trapped flaps such that, when forming the trapped flaps, there is control over how the trapped flap is going to fold as compared to when the hinge is formed solely via thermoforming. In particular, the coining allows for getting the edge of the trapped flap into a corner of the support ledge to better prevent the flap from unfolding.

[0323] In some embodiments, the locking mechanism of the trapped flap comprises a three- dimensional (3D) feature (e.g., raised portion of trapped flap 2856 as shown in FIG. 28A) that can reach under a support ledge of the finish. In some embodiments, the 3D feature is formed via a 3D trim or a 2D trim. A 2D trim can comprise trimming along a flat plane of a tamper evidence area ofthe closure (e.g., see details below with respect to FIGS. 33A-33C. A 3D trim can comprise trimming along a 3D feature of outer cylindrical wall of the closure. In some embodiments, a 3D trim can comprise trimming the 3D feature while it is supported (e.g., in some embodiments, a 3D trim can comprise trimming the 3D feature while it is not supported). Trimming the 3D feature without support can be lower cost while also allowing for potential deformation of the 3D feature. In some embodiments, such a potential deformation is consistent among multiple 3D trims. Such a 3D feature may resist upward motion of the closure. When the closure is opened or removed from the bottle, this resistance can cause one or more bridges of the tamper evidence feature to break. Because the trapped flap can be tucked (i.e., trapped), the flap cannot unfold and the bridges must break. In some embodiments, the bridges breaking can occur even if the bridges are stiff. Without being trapped, each of the flaps could optionally unfold instead of a bridge breaking, resulting in the tamper evidence feature or band to be left behind.

[0324] The stronger bridges can allow for increased survival of the stresses of capping the closure to the bottle. This also opens the manufacturing process window for PET closures, relative to previous options that rely on a resistance to unfolding to combat a bridge strength upon opening. Since PET caps may be formed differently than HDPE caps, current cams or flaps used for maintaining tamper evidence are hard to fold at first and easy to unfold once applied. Because the trapped flaps allow for preventing the flaps on a tamper evidence band (TEB) portion of the closure from unfolding, the trapped flaps also allow for greater design freedom for a different bridge or tethering for closures. By increasing the effectiveness of the tabs to allow for stronger bridges, wider bridges and shorter tamper evidence bands are further options for closure designs. Wider bridges for example, may better survive machine capping, and shorter tamper evidence bands allow for a wider range of cap designs to fit multiple customer preferences.Atorney Docket No. 227254-748601 / PCT

[0325] FIGS. 28A-28C illustrate exemplary embodiments of a preliminary product 2810 for an alternative closure element having trapped flaps. FIGS. 28A-28B illustrate perspective and top views, respectively, of a preliminary product 2810 for forming an alternative closure element. FIG. 28C illustrates a corresponding trim contour 2890 for producing the alternative closure element. The alternative closure element produced from the preliminary product 2810 may be a closure cap for a bottle by positioning the trapped flaps 2856 similar to the positioning of the folding tabs 56 shown schematically in FIG. 15. The trapped flaps 2856 shown in FIGS. 28A-28B have a left- handed / clockwise orientation.

[0326] The resulting alternative closure element may include discrete trapped flaps 2856. In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 28A, there is no continuous rotational symmetry with respect to the trapped flaps 2856. In some embodiments, there is continuous rotational symmetry with respect to the trapped flaps 2856.

[0327] Trapped flaps 2856 are shown arranged on a side wall 2818 of preliminary product 2810. The trapped flaps 2856 form a tamper-evident device on the alternative closure element; when a corresponding alternative closure element closes a container, increased effort and in particular increased force must be exerted at least when the container is first opened due to the presence of the trapped flaps 2856. The trapped flaps 2856 are integrally connected to the side wall 2818.

[0328] The preliminary product 2810 comprises a plurality of trapped flaps 2856a, 2856b, etc. In an embodiment example of a preliminary product 2810, twelve trapped flaps 2856 are provided. The number of trapped flaps 2856 depends on the application and in particular on the shape of the container that is to be closed by the alternative closure element.

[0329] The trapped flaps 2856 are discrete elements on the side wall 2818; adjacent trapped flaps 2856a, 2856b are separate from one another and independent of one another. In particular, adjacent trapped flaps 2856a, 2856b may be positioned independently of one another and / or separately from each other. This means that the positioning of a particular trapped flaps 2856a does not have a significant influence on the positioning of the adjacent trapped flaps 2856b.

[0330] In some embodiments, in order to position all trapped flaps 2856 in an interior of the alternative closure element, a tool is used to act on all trapped flaps 2856 for synchronized positioning of these trapped flaps 2856. The individual mobility of trapped flaps 2856 does not mean that these are actually moved individually and individually for positioning, but that the mobility of adjacent trapped flaps 2856a, 2856b is not coupled.Atorney Docket No. 227254-748601 / PCT

[0331] FIGS. 28D-28F illustrate a side view of the preliminary product 2810, and cross- sectional views of knurls along Section C-C (FIG. 28E) and Section D-D (FIG. 28F), respectively. As shown, Section C-C is provided along upper and middle outer walls, including along threads, of an outer cylindrical wall of a main body of the preliminary product 2810. Section D-D is provided along a tamper evidence feature of the preliminary product 2810, which is along a lower outer wall of the outer cylindrical wall of the main body of the preliminary product 2810. FIGS. 28G-28H illustrate photographs of a perspective view and a top view, respectively, of a preliminary product for producing the alternative closure element.

[0332] FIGS. 29A-29C illustrate exemplary embodiments of a preliminary product 2910 for an alternative closure element having trapped flaps. FIGS. 29A-29B illustrate perspective and top views, respectively, of a preliminary product 2910 for forming an alternative closure element. FIG. 29C illustrates a corresponding trim contour 2990 for producing the alternative closure element. The trapped flaps 2956 shown in FIGS. 29A-29B have a right-handed / counterclockwise orientation.

[0333] FIGS. 29D-29F illustrate a side view of the preliminary product 2910, and cross- sectional views of knurls along Section C-C (FIG. 29E) and Section D-D (FIG. 29F), respectively. As shown, Section C-C is provided along upper and middle outer walls, including along threads, of an outer cylindrical wall of a main body of the preliminary product 2910. Section D-D is provided along a tamper evidence feature of the preliminary product 2910, which is along a lower outer wall of the outer cylindrical wall of the main body of the preliminary product 2910.

[0334] As discussed above in more detail, the corresponding shape of the trapped flaps 2856, 2956 is achieved by cutting or punching a workpiece from a thermoforming process. In some embodiments, one or more trapped flaps of the plurality of trapped flaps 2856, 2956 are cut using the corresponding trim contours 2890, 2990 in FIGS. 28C and 29C, respectively. Cutting processes and, in particular, punching processes may then be used to form the trapped flaps 2856, 2956 by shaping the punching tool accordingly. In some embodiments, the trim contour is a male trim contour. In some embodiments, the trim contour is a female trim contour.

[0335] The result of such punching processes are trapped flaps 2856, 2956 that correspond to the alternative closure elements. The respective closure elements are then produced from the preliminary product 10’ by acting on the trapped flaps 2856, 2956. One or more punches are used to pivot the trapped flaps 2856, 2956 into their initial position in such a way that the corresponding angle is increased. The correspondingly positioned trapped flaps 2856, 2956 may then be pivotedAtorney Docket No. 227254-748601 / PCT or folded or tilted through an opening into the interior of the alternative closure elements by a further punch and may be folded or tilted into an end position.

[0336] FIGS. 30A-30C illustrate tabs and flaps (an extended finger like geometry in each of the left- and right-hand trim in FIGS. 28A and 29A, respectively) in a tamper evidence area of the closure. FIG. 30A illustrates how the tabs 3056 are folded from a preliminary product to an alternative closure element 3012, where FIG. 3 OB shows a partial perspective view of the alternative closure element 3012. Such folding may vary, i.e., greater than 90 degrees, greater than 120 degrees, greater than 150 degrees, greater than 180 degrees, greater than 210 degrees, greater than 240 degrees, or greater than 270 degrees, depending on the structure of the finish of the bottle 3162 on which the closure is to be engaged. As shown in FIG. 30C, once folded, each of the raised tabs is stuck under a tamper evidence band (TEB) or a pilfer bead diameter, and the flap may be squeezed in between the closure wall and the TEB diameter. FIGS. 30D-30E illustrate photographs of closures having tabs 3056.

[0337] In some embodiments, other types of flap geometries may be used that could trap the flap from unfolding. In some embodiments, trimming can be performed to allow for changing a locking side of the tab. In some embodiments, a flap geometry may include one or more dimples on the flap. In some embodiments, a flap geometry may be of varying lengths, allowing for a flap that is both trapped and locked. In some embodiments, a geometry of the flap may be symmetrical or asymmetrical. In some embodiments, a flap may be tilted to bite into a tamper bead of a TEB. In some embodiments, a flap may be of varying thicknesses. In some embodiments, a locking side of the TEB is cut at different depths, ranging from not being cut at all to being cut all the way.EXAMPLE 8Thermoformed PET Closure Dimensions

[0338] Herein is described exemplary dimensions of closure elements with folded tabs. Table 7 summarizes the closure formats for a closure with folded tabs, such as the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 16A-16F, or with folded tabs comprising trapped flaps, such as the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 28A and FIG. 29A.TABLE 7Attorney Docket No. 227254-748601 / PCTExemplary Closure FormatsEXAMPLE 9Trapped Flaps with 3D Features

[0339] Herein are described exemplary embodiments of alternative closure elements with trapped flaps having 3D features. Specifically, FIG. 31 illustrates a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a closure prior to being trimmed, wherein the trimming results in closures having trapped flaps with a locking mechanism. As illustrated in FIG. 31, the closure 3100 is crimped at a location between the outer cylindrical wall 3101 and a tamper evidence area 3102 of the closure, forming crimped hinge 3103. The crimp, also referred herein as a coined hinge, is shown to have a thickness of about 0.15 mm, however this thickness is merely an example and one of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate that other thicknesses can be used. FIG. 31 also illustrates a surface change 3104 between an annular wall and an outer wall of the closure, as well as additional crimping to form 3D features 3105 on the tamper evidence area 3102. The surface change 3104 comprises a merging of a deeper thread on the outer wall with a top part of the annular wall at an angle so as to form a seamless transition between the walls.

[0340] FIGS. 32A-D illustrate top views (FIGS. 32A, 32C) and top view photographs (FIGS. 32B, 32D) of exemplary embodiments of closures once the closures have been subjected to a 3D trim, i.e., trimming the tamper evidence area along or through the crimped 3D features. FIGS. 32A-B illustrate versions of closures 3210 when the 3D trim is applied along an “H” contour (i.e., a right-handed or clockwise direction, see arrow as illustrated), while FIGS. 32C-D illustrate versions of closures 3220 when the 3D trim is applied along an “I” contour (i.e., a left-handed or counter-clockwise direction, see arrow as illustrated).

[0341] FIGS. 33A-C illustrate exemplary embodiments of closures once the closures have been subjected to a 2D trim, i.e., trimming the tamper evidence area along a flat plane of a tamperAtorney Docket No. 227254-748601 / PCT evidence area of the closure so as to avoid trimming through the crimped 3D features. FIGS. 33 A- B illustrate perspective views of 2D-trimmed closures 3310 and 3320, respectively, with different crimped 3D features (3311, 3321) and having a single hinge 3312 (FIG. 33 A) or a double hinge 3322 (FIG. 33B), and FIG. 33C illustrates a top view of the 2D-trimmed closure in FIG. 33B.

[0342] FIGS. 34A-B illustrate a side view photograph and a perspective view photograph, respectively, of a closure 3400 having been subjected to a 2D trim, as well as having a domed top wall 3401 and a double hinge 3402. FIG. 34A illustrates the closure 3400 prior to trapped flaps 3403 being folded inward, but after having been subjected to the 2D trim. FIG. 34B illustrates the closure 3400 after the trapped flaps 3403 have been folded inward, simulating how the trapped flaps 3403 would interact with a finish of a container. As shown in FIG. 34B, the trapped flaps 3403 have a tight inward fold as a result of the double hinge, which would result in a more secure engagement to the container.DEFINITIONS

[0343] The uses of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similar referents in the context of describing the present disclosure (especially in the context of the following claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The use of the term “plurality of’ is defined by the Applicant in the broadest sense, superseding any other implied definitions or limitations hereinbefore or hereinafter unless expressly asserted by Applicant to the contrary, to mean a quantity of more than one. All methods described herein may be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein by context.

[0344] As will be understood by one skilled in the art. for any and all purposes, all ranges recited herein also encompass any and all possible sub-ranges and combinations of sub-ranges thereof, as well as the individual values making up the range, particularly integer values. It is therefore understood that each unit between two particular units is also disclosed. For example, if “10 to 15” is disclosed, then 11, 12, 13, and 14 are also disclosed, individually, and as part of a range. A recited range (for example, weight percentages or car bon groups) includes each value, integer, decimal, or identity within the range. Any listed range may he easily recognized as sufficiently describing and enabling the same range being broken down into at least equal halves, thirds, quarters, fifths, or tenths. As will also be understood by one skilled in the art, all language such as “up to,” “at least,” “greater than,” “less than,” “more than,” “or more,” and the like,Atorney Docket No. 227254-748601 / PCT include the number recited and such terms refer to ranges that may be subsequently broken down into sub-ranges. In the same manner, all ratios recited herein also include all sub-ratios falling within the broader ratio. Accordingly, values recited for radicals, substituents, and ranges are for illustration only, they do not exclude other defined values or other values within defined ranges for radicals and substituents. It will be further understood that the endpoints of each of the ranges are significant both in relation to the other endpoint, and independently of the other endpoint.

[0345] One skilled in the art will also readily recognize that where members are grouped together in a common manner, such as in a Markush group, the present disclosure encompasses not only the entire group listed as a whole, but each member of the group individually and all possible subgroups of the main group. Additionally, for all purposes, the present disclosure encompasses not only the main group, but also the main group absent one or more of the group members. The present disclosure therefore envisages the explicit exclusion of any one or more of members of a recited group. Accordingly, provisos may apply to any of the disclosed categories or examples whereby any one or more of the recited elements, species, or examples may be excluded from such categories or examples, for example, for use in an explicit negative limitation.

[0346] As used herein, the terms “comprise(s),” “include(s),” “having,” “has,” “can,” “contain(s),” and variants thereof, are intended to be open-ended transitional phrases, terms, or words that do not preclude the possibility of additional acts or structures. The present description also contemplates other examples “comprising,” “consisting of,” and “consisting essentially of,” the examples or elements presented herein, whether explicitly set forth or not.

[0347] In describing elements of the present disclosure, the terms “1st,” “2nd,” “first,” “second,” “A,” “B,” “(a),” “(b),” and the like may be used herein. These terms are only used to distinguish one element from another element, but do not limit the corresponding elements irrespective of the nature or order of the corresponding elements.

[0348] Unless otherwise defined, all terms used herein, including technical or scientific terms, have the same meanings as those generally understood by those skilled in the art to which the present disclosure pertains. Such terms as those defined in a generally used dictionary are to be interpreted as having meanings equal to the contextual meanings in the relevant field of art.

[0349] As used herein, the term “about,” when used in the context of a numerical value or range set forth means a variation of ±15%, ±14%, ±10%, or ±5%, among others, would satisfy the definition of “about,” unless more narrowly defined in particular instances.Atorney Docket No. 227254-748601 / PCT

[0350] Although the present disclosure has been described with reference Io examples and the accompanying drawings, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, but may be variously modified and altered by those skilled in the art to which the present disclosure pertains without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

[0351] The subject-matter of the disclosure may also relate, among others, to the following aspects:

[0352] A first aspect relates to a thermoformed polyester resin closure for closing a container, the closure comprising: an annular wall that scales against a top surface of a rim of a finish of the container; an outer cylindrical wall that extends downwardly from the annular wall, the outer cylindrical wall comprising an outer skirt configured to be spaced outwardly from an outer surface of the rim of the finish to provide a clearance between the closure and the outer surface of the rim of the finish; an inner cylindrical wall that extends downwardly from the annular wall, the inner cylindrical wall configured such that an outwardly facing surface of the inner cylindrical wall has an interference fit with an inwardly facing surface of the finish of the container for scaling against the inwardly facing surface of the finish; and a lower wall that extends across a bottom of the inner cylindrical wall.

[0353] A second aspect relates to the closure of aspect 1, wherein the polyester resin comprises polyethylene terephthalate (“PET”).

[0354] A third aspect relates to the closure of aspect 1, wherein the polyester resin comprises polyethylene furandi carb oxy late (“PEF”).

[0355] A fourth aspect relates to the closure of any preceding aspect, wherein the polyester resin is a copolymer comprising PET and PEF.

[0356] A fifth aspect relates to the closure of any preceding aspect, wherein the lower wall comprises a ramped portion for centering the inner cylindrical wall during engagement of the closure with the finish.

[0357] A sixth aspect relates to the closure of any one of aspects 1 to 4, wherein the lower wall has a concave upward shape when in an unpressurized state and a concave downward shape when the closure closes a pressurized container, such that a pressure acts to increase a scaling force of the inner cylindrical wall against the finish.Atorney Docket No. 227254-748601 / PCT

[0358] A seventh aspect relates to the closure of any preceding aspect, wherein the closure is colored by a removable dye and / or an ink.

[0359] An eighth aspect relates to the closure of any one of aspects 1 to 6, wherein a nanocoating is deposited on a surface of the closure.

[0360] A ninth aspect relates to the closure of any preceding aspect, wherein the closure comprises a tamper evidence band about a bottom circumferential surface of the outer cylindrical wall.

[0361] A tenth aspect relates to the closure of aspect 9, wherein the tamper evidence band comprises a plurality of knurls distributed about an outer surface or an inner surface of the tamper evidence band.

[0362] An eleventh aspect relates to the closure of aspect 9, wherein the tamper evidence band is configured to form a tether for attaching the closure to the container when the closure is removed from the finish.

[0363] A twelfth aspect relates to the closure of any preceding aspect, wherein the outwardly lacing surface of the inner cylindrical wall is smooth.

[0364] A thirteenth aspect relates to the closure of any one of aspects 1 to 12, wherein the outwardly facing surface of the inner cylindrical wall comprises a roughness of 0.2 microns.

[0365] A fourteenth aspect relates to the closure of any preceding aspect, further comprising a thread in the outer cylindrical for engaging a thread of the finish.

[0366] A fifteenth aspect relates to the closure of aspect 14, comprising a plurality of threads in the outer cylindrical wall, each of the plurality of threads beginning at a corresponding thread start.

[0367] A sixteenth aspect relates to the closure of any preceding aspect, wherein the outer cylindrical wall comprises a plurality of knurls or a plurality of knurled portions distributed about at least a portion of an outer surface or an inner surface of the outer cylindrical wall.

[0368] A seventeenth aspect relates to the closure of any preceding aspect, further comprising a seal attached to the rim of the finish to close the finish of the container, the seal in contact with the lower wall of the closure when the closure is applied to the finish of the container.Atorney Docket No. 227254-748601 / PCT

[0369] An eighteenth aspect relates to the container of any preceding aspect, comprising PET.

[0370] A nineteenth aspect relates to the container of any one of aspects 1 to 17, comprisingPEF.

[0371] A twentieth aspect relates to the container of any preceding aspect, comprising a copolymer comprising PET and PEF.

[0372] A twenty-first aspect relates to a method of sterilizing the closure of any one of aspects 1 to 17, comprising: exposing the closure and the container to a source of electromagnetic radiation capable of inactivating pathogens.

[0373] A twenty-second aspect relates to the method of aspect 21 , further comprising applying the closure to the container before the exposing.

[0374] A twenty -third aspect relates to the method of aspect 21, further comprising applying the closure to the container after the exposing.

[0375] A twenty -fourth aspect relates to the method of any one of aspects 21 to 23, wherein the source of electromagnetic radiation is of a wavelength of from 200 to 300 nanometers.

[0376] A twenty-fifth aspect relates to the method of any one of aspects 21 to 24, wherein the closure comprises an antimicrobial coating on an outer surface and / or an inner surface.

[0377] A twenty-sixth aspect relates to a method of making the closure of any one of aspects 1 to 17, comprising thermoforming a sheet of polyester resin into the closure.

[0378] A twenty-seventh aspect relates to the method of aspect 26, wherein the thermoforming comprises applying the sheet of polyester resin to a male mold.

[0379] A twenty-eighth aspect relates to a thermoformed polyester resin closure for closing a container comprising a polyester, the closure comprising: a top wall that scales against a top surface of a rim of a finish of the container; and a cylindrical wall extending downwardly from the top wall and configured such that an inwardly facing surface of the cylindrical wall has an interference fit with an outwardly facing surface of the rim for scaling against the outwardly facing surface of the rim.

[0380] A twenty-ninth aspect relates to the closure of aspect 28, wherein the polyester resin comprises polyethylene terephthalate (“PET”).Atorney Docket No. 227254-748601 / PCT

[0381] A thirtieth aspect relates to the closure of aspect 28, wherein the polyester resin comprises polyethylene furandi carb oxy late (“PEF”).

[0382] A thirty -first aspect relates to the closure of any one of aspects 28 to 30, wherein the polyester resin is a copolymer comprising PET and PEF.

[0383] A thirty-second aspect relates to the closure of any one of aspects 28 to 31, wherein the closure is colored by a removable dye and / or an ink.

[0384] A thirty -third aspect relates to the closure of any one of aspects 28 to 31, wherein a nanocoating is deposited on a surface of the closure.

[0385] A thirty-fourth aspect relates to the closure of any one of aspects 28 to 33, wherein the closure comprises a tamper evidence band about a bottom circumferential surface of the cylindrical wall.

[0386] A thirty-fifth aspect relates to the closure of aspect 34, wherein the tamper evidence band comprises a plurality of knurls distributed about an outer surface or an inner surface of the tamper evidence band.

[0387] A thirty-sixth aspect relates to the closure of aspect 34, wherein the tamper evidence band is configured to form a tether for attaching the closure to the container when the closure is removed from the finish.

[0388] A thirty-seventh aspect relates to the closure of any one of aspects 28 to 36, further comprising a thread in the cylindrical wall for engaging a thread of the finish.

[0389] A thirty-eighth aspect relates to the closure of aspect 37, comprising a plurality of threads in the cylindrical wall, each of the plurality of threads beginning at a corresponding thread start.

[0390] A thirty-ninth aspect relates to the closure of any one of aspects 28 to 38, wherein the cylindrical wall comprises a plurality of knurls or a plurality of knurled portions distributed about at least a portion of an outer surface of the cylindrical wall or the inwardly facing surface.

[0391] A fortieth aspect relates to the closure of any one of aspects 28 to 39, further comprising a seal attached to the rim of the finish to close the finish of the container, the seal in contact with a lower surface of the top wall of the closure when the closure is applied to the finish of the container.Atorney Docket No. 227254-748601 / PCT

[0392] A forty-first aspect relates to the container of any one of aspects 28 to 40, comprising PET.

[0393] A forty-second aspect relates to the container of any one of aspects 28 to 40, comprising PEF.

[0394] A forty-third aspect relates to the container of any one of aspects 28 to 42, comprising a copolymer comprising PET and PEF.

[0395] A forty -fourth aspect relates to the closure of any one of aspects 41 to 43, wherein the closure is shrunk onto the finish.

[0396] A forty-fifth aspect relates to the closure of aspect 44, wherein the closure is heat shrunk onto the finish.

[0397] A forty-sixth aspect relates to the closure of any one of aspects 41 to 43, wherein the closure is bonded to the finish by thermal bonding or ultrasonic bonding.

[0398] A forty-seventh aspect relates to the closure of aspect 46, wherein the closure is bonded to the top surface of the rim of the finish.

[0399] A forty-eighth aspect relates to the closure of aspect 46 or 47, wherein a bonding of the closure to the finish is configured to provide tamper evidence.

[0400] A forty-ninth aspect relates to a method of sterilizing the closure of any one of aspects 28 to 40, comprising: exposing the closure to a source of electromagnetic radiation capable of inactivating pathogens.

[0401] A fiftieth aspect relates to the method of aspect 49, further comprising applying the closure to the container before the exposing.

[0402] A fifty-first aspect relates to the method of aspect 49, further comprising applying the closure to the container after the exposing.

[0403] A fifty-second aspect relates to the method of any one of aspects 49 to 51, wherein the source of electromagnetic radiation is of a wavelength of from 200 to 300 nanometers.

[0404] A fifty-third aspect relates to the method of any one of aspects 49 to 52, wherein the closure comprises an antimicrobial coating on an outer surface and / or an inner surface.Atorney Docket No. 227254-748601 / PCT

[0405] A fifty-fourth aspect relates to a method of making the closure of any one of aspects 28 to 40, comprising thermoforming a sheet of polyester resin into the closure.

[0406] A fifty-fifth aspect relates to the method of aspect 54, wherein the thermoforming comprises applying the sheet of polyester resin to a male mold.

[0407] A fifty-sixth aspect relates to an injection molded polyester resin closure for closing a container comprising a polyester, wherein the polyester resin comprises polyethylene furandi carb oxy late (“PEF”).

[0408] A fifty-seventh aspect relates to the closure of aspect 56, wherein the polyester resin comprises up to 90 mole percent of PEF; and wherein the PEF is derived from a react ion of furandicarboxylic acid (“FDCA”) with polyethylene glycol (‘TEG”) and / or di ethylene glycol (“DEG”).

[0409] A fifty-eighth aspect relates to a method of making the closure of aspect 56 or 57, comprising injection molding or compression molding a polyester resin into the closure.

[0410] A fifty-ninth aspect relates to a thermoformed polyester resin closure for closing a container comprising a polyester, the closure comprising: an outer layer comprising: an outer layer annular wall; an outer layer outer cylindrical wall that extends downwardly from the outer layer annular wall; an outer layer inner depression wall that extends downwardly from the outer layer annular wall; and an outer layer lower wall that extends across a bottom of the outer layer inner depression wall; the outer layer outer wall comprising a first shaped downward depression; and an inner layer comprising: an inner layer annular wall; an inner layer outer cylindrical wall that extends downwardly from the inner layer annular wall; an inner layer inner depression wall that extends downwardly from the inner layer annular wall, the inner layer inner depression wall configured such that an outwardly facing surface of the inner layer inner depression wall has an interference fit with an outwardly facing surface of the finish for scaling against the outwardly facing surface of the finish; and an inner layer lower wall that extends across a bottom of the inner layer inner depression wall, the inner layer lower wall comprising a second shaped downward depression that receives the first shaped downward depression; and wherein a lower surface of the first shaped downward depression is configured to confront and lock against an upper surface of the second shaped downward depression.Atorney Docket No. 227254-748601 / PCT

[0411] A sixtieth aspect relates to the closure of aspect 59, wherein the outer layer outer cylindrical wall comprises an outer layer folded band disposed radially outward along a bottom circumference of the outer layer outer cylindrical wall.

[0412] A sixty-first aspect relates to the closure of aspect 59 or 60, wherein the outer layer outer cylindrical wall comprises a plurality of knurls distributed circumferentially about an outer surface of the outer layer outer cylindrical wall.

[0413] A sixty-second aspect relates to the closure of any one of aspects 59 to 61, wherein an inner surface of the inner layer outer cylindrical wall comprises a thread for engaging a thread of a finish of the container.

[0414] A sixty-third aspect relates to the closure of any one of aspects 59 to 62, wherein the inner layer outer cylindrical wall comprises an inner layer folded band disposed radially outward along a bottom circumference of the inner layer outer cylindrical wall.

[0415] A sixty-fourth aspect relates to the closure of aspect 63, wherein the outer layer folded band is configured to tightly fit within a groove between an outer surface of the inner layer outer cylindrical wall and the inner layer folded band.

[0416] A sixty-fifty aspect relates to the closure of any one of aspects 59 to 64, wherein the polyester resin comprises polyethylene terephthalate (‘“PET”).

[0417] A sixty-sixth aspect relates to the closure of any one of aspects 59 to 65, wherein the polyester resin comprises polyethylene furandi carb oxy late (“PEF”).

[0418] A sixty-seventh aspect relates to the closure of any one of aspects 59 to 66, wherein the polyester resin is a copolymer comprising PET and PEF.

[0419] A sixty-eighth aspect relates to the closure of any one of aspects 59 to 67, wherein the inner layer lower wall comprises a ramped portion for centering the inner layer cylindrical wall during engagement of the closure with the finish.

[0420] A sixty-ninth aspect relates to the closure of any one of aspects 59 to 68. wherein the inner layer lower wall has a concave upward shape when in an unpressurized state and a concave downward shape when the closure closes a pressurized container, such that a pressure acts to increase a scaling force of the inner layer inner cylindrical wall against the finish.Atorney Docket No. 227254-748601 / PCT

[0421] A seventieth aspect relates to the closure of any one of aspects 59 to 69, wherein the outer layer and / or the inner layer is colored by a removable dye and / or an ink.

[0422] A seventy-first aspect relates to the closure of any one of aspects 59 to 69, wherein a nanocoating is deposited on a surface of the outer layer and / or the inner layer.

[0423] A seventy-second aspect relates to the closure of any one of aspects 59 to 71, wherein the closure comprises a tamper evidence band about a bottom circumferential surface of the inner layer.

[0424] A seventy-third aspect relates to the closure of any one of aspects 59 to 72, wherein the inner surface of the inner layer outer cylindrical wall comprises a plurality of threads, each of the plurality of threads beginning at a corresponding thread start.

[0425] A seventy-fourth aspect relates to the container of any one of aspects 59 to 73, comprising PET.

[0426] A seventy-fifth aspect relates to the container of any one of aspects 59 to 73, comprisingPEF.

[0427] A seventy-sixth aspect relates to the container of any one of aspects 59 to 75, comprising a copolymer comprising PET and PEF.

[0428] A seventy-seventh aspect relates to a method of sterilizing the closure of any one of aspects 59 to 73, comprising; exposing the closure to a source of electromagnetic capable of inactivating pathogens.

[0429] A seventy-eighth aspect relates to the method of aspect 77, further comprising applying the closure to the container before the exposing.

[0430] A seventy -ninth aspect relates to the method of aspect 78, further comprising applying the closure to the container after the exposing.

[0431] An eightieth aspect relates to the method of any one of aspects 77 to 79, wherein the source of electromagnetic radiation is of a wavelength of from 200 to 300 nanometers.

[0432] An eighty -first aspect relates to the method of any one of aspects 77 to 80, wherein the closure comprises an antimicrobial coating on an outer surface and / or an inner surface.Atorney Docket No. 227254-748601 / PCT

[0433] An eighty-second aspect relates to a method of making the closure of any one of aspects 59 to 73, comprising: thermoforming a sheet of polyester resin into the outer layer; separately thermoforming a second sheet of polyester resin into the inner layer; and combining the outer layer and the inner layer.

[0434] An eighty-third aspect relates to the method of aspect 82, wherein the transforming comprises applying the sheet of polyester resin to a male mold.

[0435] An eighty-fourth aspect relates to the method of aspect 82 or 83, wherein the separately transforming comprises applying the second sheet of polyester resin to a second male mold.

[0436] In addition to the features mentioned in each of the independent aspects enumerated above, some examples may show, alone or in combination, the optional features mentioned in the dependent aspects and / or as disclosed in the description above and shown in the figures.

Claims

1. Attorney Docket No. 227254-748601 / PCTCLAIMSWhat is claimed is:

1. A polyester resin closure that mounts onto a finish of a container; the polyester resin closure comprising: a. a plug seal configured to seal against an inner surface of the finish; b. an annular wall configured to seat against a top surface of a rim of the finish; c. an outer cylindrical wall extending downward from the annular wall, wherein the outer cylindrical wall comprises internal threads configured to engage with the finish; and d. a plurality of folding tabs arranged on an end position of the outer cylindrical wall, the plurality of folding tabs comprising one or more adjacent folding tabs being separate from one another and individually movable relative to the outer cylindrical wall.

2. The polyester resin closure of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of folding tabs comprises a trap flap, a portion of the trap flap extending sufficiently to rest between a tamper evidence feature and the outer cylindrical wall.

3. The polyester resin closure of claim 1, wherein a material of the polyester resin closure comprises polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene furandi carb oxy late, or a copolymer of polyethylene terephthalate and polyethylene furandi carboxyl ate.

4. The polyester resin closure of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of external knurls distributed around a circumference of the outer cylindrical wall.

5. The polyester resin closure of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of internal knurls distributed around a circumference of the outer cylindrical wall.

6. The polyester resin closure of claim 1, wherein adjacent folding tabs are spaced apart from one another.

7. The polyester resin closure of claim 6, wherein the folding tabs each have a base, with which they sit on the outer cylindrical wall, and have an outer side opposite the base.

8. The polyester resin closure of claim 7, wherein in an initial position, the folding tabs point outwards away from the outer cylindrical wall and a diameter of a circle with a secondAtorney Docket No. 227254-748601 / PCT circular line formed by the outer side of the folding tabs is greater than a diameter of a circle with a first circular line formed by a diameter of the base.

9. The polyester resin closure of claim 8, wherein the folding tabs in the end position on the outer cylindrical wall point inwards towards the outer cylindrical wall and the diameter of the circle with the second circular line formed by the outer side of the folding tabs is smaller than the diameter of the circle with the first circular line formed by the diameter of the base.

10. The polyester resin closure of claim 9, wherein a width of a respective folding tab at its outer side is smaller than a width at its base.

11. The polyester resin closure of claim 10, wherein the folding tabs have such a shape that, when folding from an initial position, in which the folding tabs point outwards away from the outer cylindrical wall, into an end position, in which they point inwards at an opening on the outer cylindrical wall, there is no contact and / or no overlapping of adjacent folding tabs.

12. The polyester resin closure of claim 11, wherein the folding tabs have an initial position, in which they point outwards away from the outer cylindrical wall, and an end position in which they lie in the opening and point inwards.

13. The polyester resin closure of claim 12, wherein a free space between adjacent folding tabs is trapezoidal or triangular or rectangular in shape.

14. The polyester resin closure of claim 13, further comprising an end face at the end position, wherein the end face comprises an inner edge line and an outer edge line, and in that the folding tabs cover and touch the inner edge line.

15. The polyester resin closure of claim 14, wherein the folding tabs are separated from one another by punching.

16. The polyester resin closure of claim 15, wherein the folding tabs at abase, when positioned within the opening of the outer cylindrical wall, do not project into an outer space surrounding the outer cylindrical wall, or project at most 0.5 mm into the outer space.

17. The polyester resin closure of claim 16, wherein the folding tabs have a recess on a folding line and / or pivot axis and / or tilting axis, which recess forms a depression starting from anAtorney Docket No. 227254-748601 / PCT underside of the respective folding tab, wherein in an end position of the respective folding tab the underside faces the outer cylindrical wall.

18. The polyester resin closure of claim 17, wherein the recess is channel-shaped and extends between a first transverse side and an opposite second transverse side of the respective folding tab and is adapted to the end position.

19. The polyester resin closure of claim 18, wherein the folding tabs are arranged and designed in such a way that they maintain their reached position during a movement towards the outer cylindrical wall.

20. The polyester resin closure of claim 19, further comprising a thread, wherein the thread is arranged on the outer cylindrical wall, the thread is positioned between the annular wall and the end position, or the thread is an internal or external thread.

21. The polyester resin closure of claim 20, wherein the folding tabs form a tamper-evident device for the polyester resin closure.

22. The polyester resin closure of claim 21, wherein the outer cylindrical wall has a first part and a second part, the folding tabs being arranged on the first part and the annular wall being arranged on the second part, wherein the first part and the second part are connected to one another, and wherein the outer cylindrical wall is designed such that when force is exerted on the second part relative to the first part and a force threshold is exceeded, the second part moves relative to the first part and in particular detaches from the first part.

23. The polyester resin closure of claim 22, wherein a thread is arranged on the second part, a transition from the first part to the second part is provided with at least one predetermined breaking point, and the first part and the second part are connected to one another via at least one securing element, wherein in particular the at least one securing element is seated in one piece on the first part.

24. The polyester resin closure of claim 23, wherein at least one securing element is arranged on the outer cylindrical wall, the at least one securing element being connected to the outer cylindrical wall in such a way that at least one securing element is connected to the outer cylindrical wall in one piece.Atorney Docket No. 227254-748601 / PCT25. The polyester resin closure of claim 1, wherein one or more folding tabs of the plurality of folding tabs comprise a cutting depth such that movement of the one or more folding tabs influences a position of one or more neighboring tab when folded.

26. The polyester resin closure of claim 1, wherein the internal threads are configured for a snap-on engagement with the finish.

27. The polyester resin closure of claim 1, wherein the outer cylindrical wall comprises an outer skirt having a clearance with a corresponding outer surface of the rim to enable the polyester resin closure to deform in a region of the plug seal.

28. The polyester resin closure of claim 1, wherein the plug seal comprises a chamfer for guiding the plug seal past a lip of the inner surface of the finish when the polyester resin closure is capped onto the container.

29. The polyester resin closure of claim 1, wherein the plug seal comprises an inner cylindrical wall that extends downwardly from the annular wall.

30. The polyester resin closure of claim 29, wherein the inner cylindrical wall comprises a radial surface that is dimensioned for an interference fit with a corresponding inwardly facing surface of the rim of finish for sealing.

31. The polyester resin closure of claim 30, wherein the interference fit is configured to seal the polyester resin closure to the finish.

32. The polyester resin closure of claim 31, wherein an amount of interference in the interference fit is from 0.02 mm to 0.2 mm.

33. The polyester resin closure of claim 31, wherein an amount of interference in the interference fit is about 0.05 mm.

34. The polyester resin closure of claim 29, wherein a lower wall extends across a bottom of the inner cylindrical wall.

35. The polyester resin closure of claim 34, wherein the lower wall is configured to change shape in response to pressurized contents within an interior of the container.Attorney Docket No. 227254-748601 / PCT36. The polyester resin closure of claim 35, wherein the lower wall has a concave upward shape that becomes a convex upward shape when pressure is applied by pressurized contents within the interior of the container.

37. The polyester resin closure of claim 29, wherein the plug seal is configured to establish a sealing interface with the finish.

38. The polyester resin closure of claim 37, wherein a width of the sealing interface is configured to bridge defects present in the finish.

39. The polyester resin closure of claim 34, wherein the lower wall is configured to increase pressure on a sealing interface between the plug seal and the finish.

40. The polyester resin closure of claim 1, wherein the outer cylindrical wall comprises a folded band.

41. The polyester resin closure of claim 40, wherein the outer cylindrical wall comprises a plurality of spaced-apart bridges that connect the folded band to the outer cylindrical wall of the polyester resin closure.

42. The polyester resin closure of claim 41, wherein the plurality of spaced-apart bridges is configured to break when the polyester resin closure is unthreaded from the finish.

43. The polyester resin closure of claim 42, wherein the folded band is configured to be retained in position by a ledge when the polyester resin closure is unthreaded from the finish.

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