U.S. patent application number 10/450857 was filed with the patent office on 2004-02-12 for closing element for containers.
Invention is credited to Folchini, Enrico, White, Steven.
Application Number | 20040026354 10/450857 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 11439668 |
Filed Date | 2004-02-12 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040026354 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Folchini, Enrico ; et
al. |
February 12, 2004 |
Closing element for containers
Abstract
A closing element (100) made of a plastic material for
containers (1) for liquids comprising a mouth (2) for dispensing
the beverage and defined by the neck (3) of the container (1) with
an annular bead (4). The element (100) comprises a first, outer
body (5) with a circular-cylindrical shape, defined by an upper
surface (6) and a lower annular liner (7) made as a single piece,
plus a plurality of projecting pins (8), arranged evenly on the
inner part of the annular liner (7); and a second, inner body (9)
with a circular-cylindrical shape, which can be inserted in the
first body (5) and has cams (10) on its own outer annular surface
(11), being designed, in conjunction with the pins (8), to allow a
stable minimum radial dimension configuration, or tightening, of
the second body (9), by the radial thrust of the pins (8), and a
maximum radial dimension configuration, by unique rotation of the
first body (5) about the second body (9), with radial opening of
the second body (9) relative to the first body (5).
Inventors: |
Folchini, Enrico;
(Maddalena, IT) ; White, Steven; (Cambridgeshire,
GB) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ARENT FOX KINTNER PLOTKIN & KAHN
1050 CONNECTICUT AVENUE, N.W.
SUITE 400
WASHINGTON
DC
20036
US
|
Family ID: |
11439668 |
Appl. No.: |
10/450857 |
Filed: |
June 18, 2003 |
PCT Filed: |
October 29, 2002 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/IB02/04552 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
215/272 ;
215/277 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 45/325
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
215/272 ;
215/277 |
International
Class: |
B65D 045/32 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Oct 31, 2001 |
IT |
BO2001A000665 |
Claims
1. A closing element (100) made of plastic for containers for
liquids, the container (1) comprising a mouth (2) for dispensing
the beverage and defined by a neck (3) of the container (1), the
neck (3) having an annular bead (4), the closing element being
characterised in that it comprises: a first, outer body (5) with a
circular-cylindrical shape and defined by an upper surface (6) and
a lower annular liner (7) made in a single piece, the first body
(5) also having a plurality of projecting pins (8), evenly arranged
on the inside of the annular liner (7); a second, inner body (9)
with a circular-cylindrical shape, which can be inserted in the
first body (5) and has cams (10) on its own, outer surface (11)
designed, in conjunction with the pins (8) of the first body (5),
to allow a stable minimum radial dimension configuration, or
tightening, of the second body (9), by the radial thrust of the
pins (8), and a maximum radial dimension configuration, by unique
rotation of the first body (5) about the second body (9), with
radial opening of the second body (9) relative to the first body
(5).
2. The element according to claim 1, characterised in that the
second body (9) comprises an upper surface (12) and the lower
annular liner (11) is divided into a plurality of sectors (13)
extending vertically, separate from one another, and each having a
cam (10).
3. The element according to claims 1 and 2, characterised in that
the number of vertical sectors (13) is equal to the number of pins
(8) on the annular surface (7) of the first body (5).
4. The element according to claim 1, characterised in that the cams
(10) comprise at least one annular surface (14) on the outer part
of the annular liner (11) designed to form a sliding zone for the
pins (8) of the first body (5) and, at the lower end, an undercut
(15) which engages the pins (8), allowing the minimum radial
dimension configuration of the second body (9) to be achieved.
5. The element according to claim 1, characterised in that the cams
(10) comprise an annular surface (14) on the outer part of the
annular liner (11) designed to form a sliding zone for the pins (8)
of the first body (5) and, at the lower end, an undercut (15) which
engages the pins (8), allowing the minimum radial dimension
configuration of the second body (9) to be achieved; at the zone
which forms the undercut (15), the annular liner (11) having a
plurality of protrusions (16) for guiding the pins (8), during the
unique rotation, with each protrusion (16) forming a sliding groove
for the pins (8) terminating with a seat (17) for holding and
locking the pins (8), to achieve the stable maximum radial
dimension configuration of the second body (9).
6. The element according to claims 1 and 2, characterised in that
the second body (9) has a seal (18) at the upper surface (12) in
the zone opposite that facing the first body (5).
7. The element according to claim 1, characterised in that, the
first body (5) has a central protrusion (19) in stable contact with
the outer surface of the upper surface (12) of the second body
(9).
8. The element according to claim 1, characterised in that the
first body (5) has a first, central protrusion (19) and a second,
peripheral annular protrusion (20) which are in stable contact with
the outer surface of the upper surface (12) of the second body
(9).
9. The element according to claims 1 and 2, characterised in that
the second body (9) has an inner annular tooth (21) which engages
the annular bead (4) on the mouth (2) of the container (1).
10. The element according to claim 5, characterised in that the
pins (8) have a pentagonal cross-section and the holding and
locking seat (17) has a matching profile, for at least three sides
of the pentagon, allowing the pin (8) to engage following rotation
of the first body (5), holding the pin (8) in a plane offset from
the annular liner (11), locking the first body (5) relative to the
second body (9).
11. The element according to claim 1, characterised in that the
first body (5) has a plurality of beads (5a) evenly arranged on the
outer part of the upper surface (6), allowing the consumer to grip
the first body (5).
12. A container (1) for liquids, comprising a mouth (2) for
dispensing the liquid and defined by the neck (3) of the container
(1), the neck (3) having an annular bead (4) and a closing element
(100) made of a plastic material, the container being characterised
in that the closing element (100) comprises: a first, outer body
(5) with a circular-cylindrical shape and defined by an upper
surface (6) and a lower annular liner (7), made in a single piece,
the first body (5) also having a plurality of projecting pins (8)
arranged evenly on the inner part of the annular liner (7); a
second, inner body (9) with a circular-cylindrical shape, inserted
between the first body (5) and the mouth (2) and having cams (10)
on its outer annular surface (11), being designed, in conjunction
with the pins (8) of the body (5), to allow a stable minimum radial
dimension configuration, or closing of the mouth (2) by engagement
of the annular bead (4) and an annular tooth (21) on the second
body (9), by the radial thrust of the pins (8), and a maximum
radial dimension configuration, or opening, of the mouth (2), by
unique rotation of the first body (5) about the second body (9),
distancing the second body (9) from the mouth (2).
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to a closing element made of
plastic for containers for liquids, in particular for
beverages.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] At present, the basic technical solutions in the known
systems for closing containers, that is to say, "caps" for plastic
and glass bottles, are the traditional metal crown cap or
alternatively aluminium or plastic screw caps.
[0003] In the current beverage container market these two solutions
are not enough to satisfy both the technical and marketing
requirements of new products.
[0004] As a result, valid alternatives to the traditional caps are
needed, above all for beverage containers, for example the latest
containers for beer or soft drinks which normally need to or do
allow excess gas pressure caused by handling the container to be
relieved (an operation known as "venting" to experts in the field).
Other requirements that have become standard for traditional caps,
especially those made of plastic are "tamper evidence" or "tamper
proofing", that is, a feature of the closure which, if breached or
missing, provides evidence to consumers that tampering has
occurred, and the feature of not damaging the neck of the
container, so that the container can be re-used.
[0005] As already indicated, three types of closures are basically
used to close such containers, two of which require threading on
the bottle neck and one of which is applied by pressing onto the
neck of the container, this being the traditional crown cap.
[0006] The latter type of cap, which can also be applied onto a
threaded glass container to yield a twist-off crown cap, is the
most widespread type of cap on the market thanks to its excellent
sealing properties and low cost not only in terms of machinery used
to apply it, but also in terms of the product itself.
[0007] The disadvantages of the crown cap applied using pressure
are due to: the high axial loads on the neck of the container when
the closure is applied, making it difficult (or impossible) to
apply it to plastic containers owing to the risk of damaging or
destroying the container itself during the capping process; the
impossibility, or difficulty, of opening the container manually;
the impossibility of re-using the container--if it is made of
plastic--since the corrugations and the tightening force applied
during capping irremediably scratch the mouth of the container.
[0008] Crown caps which can be screwed open have further
disadvantages owing to the difficulty of gripping and moving them
and, normally, the lack of tamper evidence which allows the
consumer to check if the container seal is intact.
[0009] For this reason, the Applicant invented and designed a
closing element made of plastic structured in a simple way and
which can be applied using pressure on unthreaded containers of the
type typically sealed by crown corks, creating an excellent seal,
providing effective tamper evidence enabling consumers to check if
the seal is intact before opening it for the first time, yet with
opening functionality similar to that of threaded closures.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
[0010] The stated aim is fulfilled using a closing element made of
plastic for containers for liquids. The element comprises a first,
outer body with circular-cylindrical shape, defined by an upper
surface and a lower annular liner made in a single piece and having
a plurality of projecting pins, evenly arranged on the inside of
the annular liner, and a second, inner body with
circular-cylindrical shape, which can be inserted in the first body
and which has cams on its outer surface designed to allow, in
conjunction with the pins, a stable minimum radial dimension
configuration, or tightening, of the second body, by the radial
thrust of the pins, and a maximum radial dimension configuration,
by unique rotation of the first body about the second body, with
radial opening of the second body relative to the first body.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] The technical characteristics of the invention, with
reference to the above aims, are clearly described in the claims
below and its advantages are apparent from the detailed description
which follows, with reference to the accompanying drawings which
illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention provided merely
by way of example without restricting the scope of the inventive
concept; and in which:
[0012] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a container closing element,
made in accordance with the present invention;
[0013] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of part of the closing element
illustrated in FIG. 1;
[0014] FIGS. 3, 4, 5 and 6 are front views with some parts cut away
to better illustrate others, of the closing element in a succession
of element closing steps on a container;
[0015] FIG. 7 is a schematic front view of a detail of the closing
element illustrated in the previous figures, that is to say, the
cam means and pins, in a step of opening the container on which the
closing element is applied.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE
INVENTION
[0016] With reference to the accompanying drawings, and in
particular, FIG. 3, the closing element disclosed, labelled 100 as
a whole, is made of a plastic material and is used to close
containers 1 for liquids such as beer or soft drinks.
[0017] This type of container 1 comprises a mouth 2 for dispensing
the beverage and defined by the neck 3 of the container 1 which has
an annular bead 4.
[0018] As illustrated in FIG. 1, the closing element 100 basically
comprises a first and a second body 5 and 9.
[0019] The first, outer body 5, (see also FIG. 2) has a
circular-cylindrical shape and is defined by an upper surface 6 and
a lower annular liner 7 made in a single piece.
[0020] The first body 5 also has a plurality of projecting pins 8,
evenly arranged on the inside of the annular liner 7.
[0021] The second, inner body 9, also circular-cylindrical, can be
inserted in the first body 5 and has cam means 10 arranged on its
outer annular liner 11, designed to allow, in conjunction with the
pins 8: a stable minimum radial dimension configuration, or
tightening, of the second body 9, by the radial thrust of the pins
8 (see FIG. 6); and a maximum radial dimension configuration, by
unique rotation of the first body 5 about the second body 9, with
radial opening of the second body 9 relative to the first body
5.
[0022] The second body 9 also comprises an upper surface 12 and the
lower annular liner 11, which is divided into a plurality of
sectors 13 extending vertically, separated from one another, and
each having cam means 10.
[0023] The number of above-mentioned vertical sectors 13 is
equivalent to the number of pins 8 on the annular surface 7 of the
first body 5.
[0024] More specifically, see FIGS. 3 to 6, the cam means 10
comprise an additional annular surface 14 on the outside of the
annular liner 11, this extra surface defining a sliding zone for
the pins 8 of the first body 5 and, at the lower end, an undercut
15 which engages with the pins 8: this allows the second body 9 to
assume the minimum radial dimension configuration.
[0025] In particular, this additional annular surface 14 adapts to
the shape of the annular liner 11 and allows the annular liner 11
to be "flattened" to form the minimum radial dimension
configuration.
[0026] At the zone forming the undercut 15, the annular liner 11
has a plurality of protrusions 16 which guide the pins 8 and can be
used during the unique rotation, the protrusions 16 forming a
groove or slide for the pins 8 which ends with a seat 17 that holds
and locks the pins 8 in place. This seat 17 is created in a
through-space which also separates the sectors 13, so that the
second body 9 stable maximum radial dimension configuration can be
achieved.
[0027] More specifically (see FIG. 7), the pins 8 have a pentagonal
cross-section and the holding and locking seat 17 has a matching
profile, for at least three sides of the pentagon and such that it
allows the pin 8 to engage, following rotation of the first body 5,
holding the pin 8 in a plane offset from the annular liner 11 and
so locking the first body 5 relative to the second body 9, that is
to say, preventing a return to the minimum radial dimension
configuration of the first body 5.
[0028] The second body 9 also has a seal 18 at the upper surface 12
in the zone opposite that facing the first body 5.
[0029] Returning to the first body 5, it has a central protrusion
19 in stable contact with the outer surface of the upper surface 12
of the second body 9 and a second, peripheral annular protrusion 20
in stable contact with the outer surface of the upper surface 12 of
the second body 9 to achieve constant and even pressure on the
second body 9 in the minimum radial dimension configuration.
[0030] As FIGS. 3 to 6 clearly show, the second body 9 has an inner
annular tooth 21 which engages the annular bead 4 on the mouth 2 of
the container 1.
[0031] The first body 5 may also have a plurality of beads 5a
evenly arranged on the outer part of the upper surface 6 so that
the first body 5 is easier to grip during rotation.
[0032] A container 1 for beverages may, therefore, have the closing
element 100 described and is substantially closed by this element
100 by means of simple positioning of the two bodies 5 and 9 (see
FIG. 3) on the container mouth and a subsequent vertical thrust
(see arrow F1 in FIG. 4) on the first body 5, allowing the first
body 5 to move towards the second body 9, with the second body 9
encompassing the mouth 2 of the container 1.
[0033] The thrust on the first body 5 stops at the moment when the
pins 8 reach the undercut 15 and the second body 9 is locked on the
mouth 2 of the container 1 by engagement of the annular tooth 21
with the annular bead 4 (see arrow F).
[0034] To open the container 1 with this type of closing element
100, the consumer must turn the first body 5 in the direction
indicated by the arrow F2 in FIGS. 1 and 7, to allow the pins 8 to
move along the protrusions 16 which allow the pins 8 to reach the
seat 17 (see arrow F3 in FIG. 7).
[0035] When each pin 8 reaches the seat 17, the pin 8 engages
thanks to the separating zone between the sectors 13 at the seat
17, allowing the container 1 to open thanks to the radial
distancing of the second body 9 from the mouth 2 of the container 1
(see arrow F4 in FIG. 6).
[0036] This is a unique opening action and, thanks to the
architecture in which the pins 8 lock in the seats 17 in a plane
which is offset relative to the rest of the annular liner 11 of the
second body 9, prevents the whole closing element 100 from being
returned to the original closing or minimum radial dimension
position.
[0037] A closing element structured in this way, therefore, fulfils
the preset aims thanks to an extremely rational construction
architecture with many advantages.
[0038] One of these is the possibility of having a closing element
which can be applied to containers for beverages in a simple way
and with low machinery costs, since the process is similar to that
for closing with crown caps.
[0039] The low level of force required to close the container means
that this closing element can even be used on containers made of
plastic without causing damage to the bottle finish.
[0040] The seal provided by this closing element is similar to that
of traditional elements, whilst it can be opened by simply rotating
the outer body without the aid of additional means and guaranteeing
that the container cannot be closed again with the same closing
element.
[0041] It will be understood that the invention can be subject to
modifications and variations without thereby departing from the
scope of the inventive concept. Moreover, all the details of the
invention may be substituted by technically equivalent
elements.
* * * * *