U.S. patent application number 10/637977 was filed with the patent office on 2005-02-10 for fluted crown cap.
Invention is credited to Golding, Richard.
Application Number | 20050029218 10/637977 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34116694 |
Filed Date | 2005-02-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050029218 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Golding, Richard |
February 10, 2005 |
Fluted crown cap
Abstract
A crown cap for applying to a beverage bottle has a circular top
member; a skirt depending downwardly from a periphery of the skirt;
and a flange extending from a periphery of the skirt. The flange
includes plural, substantially radially oriented repeating potions,
which include circumferentially spaced apart, upwardly extending
flutes and land portions disposed between each flute. Each land
portion has a circumferential dimension, which is measured at a
perimeter of the flange, that is greater than a distance between
the flat portions. The flutes are in the shape of an inverted V.
The configuration prevents gearing engagement of oppositely
oriented crowns and likely would enhance gripping and comfort by a
user.
Inventors: |
Golding, Richard; (Chicago,
IL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
WOODCOCK WASHBURN LLP
ONE LIBERTY PLACE, 46TH FLOOR
1650 MARKET STREET
PHILADELPHIA
PA
19103
US
|
Family ID: |
34116694 |
Appl. No.: |
10/637977 |
Filed: |
August 8, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
215/328 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 41/12 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
215/328 |
International
Class: |
B65D 041/12 |
Claims
What is claimed:
1. A crown cap for applying to a beverage bottle, comprising: a
circular top member; a skirt depending downwardly from a periphery
of the skirt; and a flange extending from the periphery of the
skirt, the flange including plural, substantially radially
oriented, circumferentially spaced apart, upwardly extending flutes
formed therein and land portions disposed between each flute each
land portion having a circumferential dimension measured at a
perimeter of the flange that is greater than a distance between the
flat portions measured at the perimeter of the flange, thereby
preventing gearing engagement of oppositely oriented crowns
caps.
2. The crown cap of claim 1 wherein each flute includes a pair of
upwardly-extending, opposing flute sidewalls that meet at an
uppermost portion thereof, a lower portion of each flute sidewall
extending downwardly to couple with the land.
3. The crown cap of claim 1 wherein each land is substantially
flat.
4. The crown cap clam 1 wherein each lands is substantially flat
with gradually upturning edges.
5. The crown cap of claim 1 wherein the crown has 27 flutes,
whereby gripping by and feel on a user's hand is enhanced.
6. The crown cap of claim 1 wherein the crown has 27 flutes and, in
a radial cross section, the flutes are substantially inverted-V
shaped, whereby gripping by a user's hand is enhanced.
7. The crown cap of claim 6 wherein the land is substantially
flat.
8. The crown cap of claim 6 wherein the peripheral, circumferential
dimension A of the land is greater than ((.pi.D/2N)-{square
root}(G+R)), where D is the outside diameter of the base of the
crown cap, N is the number of flutes, G is the starting plat
thickness, and R is the tooling radius.
9. The crown cap of claim 8 wherein the land is substantially
flat.
10. The crown cap of claim 8 wherein opposing sidewalls of each
flute are oriented to form an angle, in a radially-oriented,
transverse cross section, of approximately 36 degrees.
11. The crown cap of claim 6 wherein the peripheral,
circumferential dimension A of the land is greater than
((.pi.D/2N)-{square root}(G+R)), where D is the outside diameter of
the base of the crown cap, N is the number of flutes, G is the
starting plat thickness, and R is the tooling radius.
12. The crown cap of claim 11 wherein the land is substantially
flat.
13. The crown cap of claim 11 wherein opposing sidewalls of each
flute are oriented to form an angle, in a radially-oriented,
transverse cross section, of between 21 and 51 degrees.
14. The crown cap of claim 11 wherein opposing sidewalls of each
flute are oriented to form an angle, in a radially-oriented,
transverse cross section, of between 26 and 46 degrees.
15. The crown cap of claim 11 wherein opposing sidewalls of each
flute are oriented to form an angle, in a radially-oriented,
transverse cross section, of between 31 to 41 degrees.
16. The crown cap of claim 11 wherein opposing sidewalls of each
flute are oriented to form an angle; in a radially-oriented,
transverse cross section, of approximately 36 degrees.
17. A crown for applying to a beverage bottle, comprising: a
circular top member; a skirt depending downwardly from a periphery
of the skirt; and a flange extending from a periphery of the skirt
having an outer diameter of approximately 1.263 inches, the flange
including twenty-seven, substantially radially oriented repeating
portions formed therein, the repeating portions including:
circumferentially spaced apart, upwardly extending, substantially
V-shaped flutes, opposing sidewalls of each flute forming an angle
therebetween, in side view, of approximately 36 degrees; and
substantially flat lands disposed between each flute, each land
having a circumferential dimension measured at a perimeter thereof
that is greater than a distance between the flat portions, thereby
preventing gearing engagement of oppositely oriented crowns;
whereby gripping by a user's hand is enhanced.
18. The crown cap of claim 17 wherein the peripheral,
circumferential dimension A of the land is greater than
((.pi.D/2N)-{square root}(G+R)), where D is the outside diameter of
the base of the crown cap, N is the number of flutes, G is the
starting plat thickness, and R is the tooling radius.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates to closures, and more particularly to
fluted crown caps for sealing a bottle opening
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Crown caps are well known for sealing bottle openings.
Conventional crown cap configurations include a circular top, a
circular skirt depending downwardly from a periphery of the top,
and a downwardly and radially outwardly extending flange extending
from a periphery of the skirt. The skirt generally has flutes or
serrations formed therein to enhance capping and gripping on a
bottle finish.
[0003] For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,458,253 describes a
conventional crown in which substantially trapezoidal-shaped
troughs or depressions are formed between raised flutes. The
industry is the United States is presently standardized on a
configuration employing 21 flutes.
[0004] Crown caps, originally developed for opening by deforming
upon actuation by a lever opener, are often configured for twisting
off by employing threads formed on the finish of the bottle. Such
twisting, in some circumstances, requires a relative high amount of
opening torque and may be difficult to open or uncomfortable with
respect to a user's hand.
[0005] Also, some crown cap configurations are subject to gearing,
which is the engagement and interlocking of the flange of a crown
cap with the opposite facing flange of another crown cap during
shipping or handling thereof. In this regard, because crown caps
are often shipped loose, two adjacent, oppositely facing crown caps
may maneuver into a position in which the underside of a trough of
the first cap may (in some configurations) become aligned and
inserted into the underside of a serration of a second cap. If the
first and second caps become engaged or locked together, the
two-crown cap combination has the potential to jam capping
equipment or otherwise be detrimentally affect the capping or
crown-cap handling process.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] A crown cap for applying to a beverage bottle comprises a
circular top member; a skirt depending downwardly from a periphery
of the skirt; and a flange extending from a periphery of the skirt.
The flange includes plural, substantially radially oriented
repeating potions, which include circumferentially spaced apart,
upwardly extending flutes and land portions disposed between each
flute. Each land portion has a circumferential dimension, which is
measured at a perimeter of the flange, that is greater than a
distance between the flat portions, thereby preventing gearing
engagement of oppositely oriented crowns.
[0007] Each flute includes a pair of upwardly-extending, opposing
flute sidewalls that meet at an uppermost portion thereof to form a
crest. A lower portion of each flute sidewall extends downwardly to
couple with a land portion. Preferably, at least a portion of each
land is flat. The invention, however, is not limited to flat lands,
but rather encompasses any shaped land, as explained more fully
below.
[0008] Each flute preferably is formed in an inverted-V shape that
forms an angle that preferably is between 21 and 51 degrees, more
preferably, between 26 and 46 degrees, even more preferably between
31 and 41 degrees, and, in the embodiment illustrated in the
figures, approximately 36 degrees.
[0009] The crown cap preferably has 27 flutes, which, in accordance
with the flute configuration described herein, is believed to
enhance a user's ability to grip the crown cap while at the same
time making it more comfortable to a user's hand during the
twist-off process. An equation is provided governing the
configuration of the lands relative to the configuration of the
flutes to prevent or substantially reduce engagement or gearing
between oppositely disposed, crown caps in circumstances where such
crown caps are loose.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a crown cap illustrating
the present invention;
[0011] FIG. 2 is another top perspective view of the crown cap
shown in FIG. 1;
[0012] FIG. 3 is a bottom perspective view of the crown cap shown
in FIG. 1;
[0013] FIG. 4 is another bottom perspective view of the crown cap
shown in FIG. 1;
[0014] FIG. 5 is a top view of the crown cap shown in FIG. 1;
[0015] FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the crown cap shown in FIG.
1;
[0016] FIG. 7 is an enlarged view taken through line 7-7 in FIG.
5;
[0017] FIG. 8 is a side view of the crown cap shown in FIG. 1;
and
[0018] FIG. 9 is an enlarged view taken of a portion of FIG. 8.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS
[0019] A crown cap 10, as illustrated in the perspective views
shown in FIGS. 1 through 4, includes a substantially circular top
member 12 about which a circumferential skirt 14 downwardly
depends. Skirt 14 smoothly merges into a downwardly and radially
outwardly extending flange 14. Flange 14 is divided into
undulating, repeating portions including flutes 18 and lands 20.
Preferably, the repeating portions are circumferentially evenly
spaced apart such that each flute 18 is identical to all other
flutes around the circumference of crown cap 10, and each land 20
is identical to all other lands around the circumference of crown
cap 10.
[0020] As best shown in FIG. 7, flange 16 extends at a flange
angle, measured from a horizontal plane, that is approximately
27.25 degrees. As best shown in FIGS. 3, 4, 8, and 9, each flute 18
includes a crest 22 that is formed by a pair of opposing flute
walls 24. A lowermost portion of each flute sidewall 24 preferably
smoothly merges with a land 20.
[0021] Preferably, the land portions 20 are flat (as shown in the
figures), or are substantially flat with slightly upturned edges
(in side view) that smoothly merge with the lowermost portions of
the flute sidewalls. The present invention is not limited to such
flat or substantially flat lands, but rather encompasses lands of
any shape (in side view) that comport with the broad aspects of the
present invention.
[0022] The juncture between flutes 18 and lands 20 are formed by a
tooling radius R, which is indicated in FIG. 9. The magnitude of
radius R may be chose according to conventional tooling
considerations.
[0023] As described above, some crown cap configurations may be
detrimentally coupled together when oppositely oriented crown caps
are aligned such that a land of a first crown cap is inserted into
the flute of an adjacent crown cap.
[0024] Crown cap 10 prevents such gearing because land 20 has a
peripheral dimension that is greater than the opening dimension of
the underside of the flute 18. Such configuration may not always be
optimum, however, and thus the land 20 may have a peripheral
dimension that is less than the opening at the underside of flute
18 by a dimension that depends on the starting plate thickness and
the radius at which flute sidewalls 24 merge into land 20. In
particular, the circumferential, peripheral land dimension A
(illustrated in FIG. 9) may be governed by the following
equation:
A>((.pi.D/2N)-{square root}(G+R)),
[0025] where D is the outside diameter of the base of the crown
cap,
[0026] N is the number of flutes,
[0027] G is the starting plat thickness (generally shown in FIG.
7), and
[0028] R is the tooling radius (generally shown in FIG. 9).
[0029] A crown cap for which land dimension A is equal to or
slightly less than the right side of the above equation would
enable a land to enter the underside of an opposing crown cap, but
such a land would not likely engage or gear together with such an
opposing crown cap.
[0030] The crown cap illustrated in the figures has twenty-seven
flutes 18, which departs from the current standard that is set at
21 flutes. A crown cap with twenty-seven flutes, it is believed,
would generally enable a user to more effectively grip crown cap 10
(compared with prior art 21 flute caps) for crew-type opening crown
caps, and would generally provide a better feel for the user
because the magnitude or height of each flute in crown cap 10 would
likely be less than in conventional crown caps. The present
invention is not limited to crown caps having flutes with lower
heights than the prior art, and this discussion merely points out
one of the advantages of a particular configuration to which crown
cap 10 is suitable.
[0031] The actual configuration of the flutes would depend upon the
particular configuration of parameters, including (in addition to
the number of flutes), diameter of the blank from which the crown
cap is formed, choice of material, thickness of the sheet from
which the crown cap is formed, and like parameters, as will be
understood by persons familiar with conventional crown cap
configuration, engineering, and manufacturing. In the preferred
embodiment shown in the Figures, crown cap 10 is formed of 78
pound, conventional tin plate. The overall diameter (that is,
across the outermost points of flange 16 as, for example, shown in
FIG. 7) is 1.263 inches, which is conventional.
[0032] For the configuration illustrated in the Figures, and as
indicated in FIG. 9, flute sidewalls 24 are oriented at an angle
alpha that is approximately 36 degrees. The present invention,
however, encompasses flute angles alpha between 21 and 51 degrees,
more preferably between 26 and 46 degrees and even more preferably
31 to 41 degrees.
[0033] The actual height of a flute configured according to the
present disclosure may be determined according to the factors
discussed above, as will be understood by persons familiar with
conventional crown cap design in light of the present disclosure.
Furthermore, the configuration of the dies and related
manufacturing processes for forming crown caps made in accordance
with the present invention, and the configuration of the machinery
to apply crown caps made in accordance with the present invention
to conventional bottles, will be apparent to persons familiar with
crow cap design and implementation.
[0034] The present invention has some advantages relating to
comfort with respect to twist-off crown caps, but the invention is
not limited to crown caps only for such twist-off use. Moreover,
the invention is illustrated by the present disclosure, which is
not intended to be limiting. Rather, the present invention
encompasses all crown caps configured according to the broad
principles provided herein, as will be understood by persons
familiar with crown cap design.
* * * * *