U.S. patent application number 12/279036 was filed with the patent office on 2009-06-18 for cap.
This patent application is currently assigned to SACMI COOPERATIVA MECCANICI IMOLA SOCIETA' COOPERA. Invention is credited to Fabrizio Pucci.
Application Number | 20090152269 12/279036 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38345521 |
Filed Date | 2009-06-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090152269 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Pucci; Fabrizio |
June 18, 2009 |
CAP
Abstract
A cap comprises a body suitable for being associated with a
container neck and provided with a dispensing arrangement, a lid
arranged for closing said dispensing arrangement, an opening
indicating device connected to the lid through a breakable
arrangement and comprises a hooking arrangement arranged for
engaging with a corresponding further hooking arrangement of the
body, wherein with the further hooking arrangement there is
associated a guide arrangement arranged for limiting deformations
of the opening indicating device when the hooking arrangement
interacts with the further hooking arrangement.
Inventors: |
Pucci; Fabrizio; (Russi,
IT) |
Correspondence
Address: |
NIXON & VANDERHYE, PC
901 NORTH GLEBE ROAD, 11TH FLOOR
ARLINGTON
VA
22203
US
|
Assignee: |
SACMI COOPERATIVA MECCANICI IMOLA
SOCIETA' COOPERA
Imola
IT
|
Family ID: |
38345521 |
Appl. No.: |
12/279036 |
Filed: |
February 8, 2007 |
PCT Filed: |
February 8, 2007 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/IB07/00311 |
371 Date: |
November 10, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
220/254.3 ;
215/216; 215/224; 220/254.7; 220/259.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 2251/1025 20130101;
B65D 2401/20 20200501; B65D 47/0823 20130101; B65D 55/024
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
220/254.3 ;
220/254.7; 215/216; 215/224; 220/259.1 |
International
Class: |
B65D 47/08 20060101
B65D047/08; B65D 55/02 20060101 B65D055/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Feb 10, 2006 |
IT |
MO2006 A 000043 |
Claims
1-127. (canceled)
128. Cap, comprising a body suitable for being associated with a
container neck and provided with a dispensing arrangement, a lid
arranged for closing said dispensing arrangement, an opening
indicating device connected to said lid through a breakable
arrangement and comprising a hooking arrangement arranged for
engaging a corresponding further hooking arrangement of said body,
wherein with said further hooking arrangement there is associated a
guide arrangement arranged for limiting deformations of said
opening indicating device when said hooking arrangement interacts
with said further hooking arrangement.
129. Cap according to claim 128, wherein said further hooking
arrangement comprises a wall arrangement associated with said
body.
130. Cap according to claim 129, wherein said further hooking
arrangement comprises a further wall arrangement associated with
said body and arranged transversely with respect to said wall
arrangement.
131. Cap according to claim 130, wherein said further wall
arrangement comprises walls leading away from opposite ends of said
wall arrangement.
132. Cap according to claim 128, wherein said guide arrangement
comprises guide elements associated with said body.
133. Cap according to claim 132, wherein said further hooking
arrangement comprises a wall arrangement associated with said body
and said guide elements face said wall arrangement.
134. Cap according to claim 132, wherein said breakable arrangement
comprises a plurality of bridge elements, each guide element facing
a respective bridge element of said plurality of bridge elements
when said hooking arrangement interacts with said further hooking
arrangement.
135. Cap according to claim 128, wherein said further hooking
arrangement comprises an engagement promoting arrangement arranged
for inducing said hooking arrangement to interact with said further
hooking arrangement.
136. Cap according to claim 135, wherein said engagement promoting
arrangement comprises an engagement promoting surface tilted with
respect to an intended approach direction along which said hooking
arrangement interacts with said further hooking arrangement.
137. Cap according to claim 136, wherein said engagement promoting
surface converges on said dispensing arrangement.
138. Cap according to claim 136, wherein said further hooking
arrangement comprises a wall arrangement associated with said body
and said engagement promoting surface defines a bevelled portion of
said wall arrangement.
139. Cap according to claim 128, wherein said further hooking
arrangement comprises an opening arrangement arranged for enabling
the status of said breakable arrangement to be checked when said
cap is in a closed position in which said lid engages said
dispensing arrangement.
140. Cap according to claim 139, wherein said further hooking
arrangement comprises a wall arrangement associated with said body
and said opening arrangement comprises a plurality of openings
obtained in said wall arrangement.
141. Cap according to claim 140, wherein, in said closed position,
each opening of said plurality of openings is arranged at a
breakable element of a plurality of breakable elements with which
said breakable arrangement is provided.
142. Cap according to claim 128, and further comprising a hinge
connecting said lid to said body in such a way as to enable said
cap to assume a closed configuration, in which said lid engages
said dispensing arrangement.
143. Cap according to claim 142, wherein said body is provided with
a side wall and said hinge does not protrude from said body beyond
said side wall when said cap is in said closed configuration.
144. Cap according to claim 143, wherein said hinge is provided in
a zone arranged inside a perimeter edge of said body.
145. Cap according to claim 142, wherein said hinge defines a
rotation axis for mutual rotation of said lid and said body, said
body a comprising resting surface arranged for receiving an end of
said lid in said closed configuration and said rotation axis being
distant from said resting surface.
146. Cap according to claim 145, wherein said body is provided with
a side wall and said hinge does not protrude from said body beyond
said side wall when said cap is in said closed configuration and
said rotation axis is arranged on a side opposite said side wall
with respect to said resting surface.
147. Cap according to claim 145, wherein said rotation axis is
arranged substantially parallel to said resting surface.
148. Cap according to claim 145, wherein said hinge comprises a
pair of connecting elements defining said rotation axis.
149. Cap according to claim 142, wherein said hinge comprises an
elastic connecting arrangement arranged for maintaining said cap in
said closed configuration, or in an open configuration, in which
said lid disengages from said dispensing arrangement.
150. Cap according to claim 149, wherein said hinge comprises a
pair of connecting elements defining said rotation axis and said
elastic connecting arrangement comprises an elastic connecting
element interposed between said connecting elements.
151. Cap according to claim 128, wherein said hooking arrangement
comprises hooking elements projecting from said opening indicating
device.
152. Cap according to claim 151, wherein said further hooking
arrangement comprises recess elements arranged for cooperating with
said hooking elements.
153. Cap according to claim 152, wherein said further hooking
arrangement comprises a wall arrangement associated with said body
and said recess elements are obtained in said wall arrangement.
154. Cap according to claim 128, wherein said opening indicating
device comprises a pair of tamperproof bands.
155. Cap according to claim 154, wherein said tamperproof bands are
arranged on opposite sides with respect to a gripping zone of said
lid.
156. Cap according to claim 128, wherein said opening indicating
device comprises a tamperproof band.
157. Cap according to claim 156, wherein said tamperproof band is
arranged at a gripping zone of said lid.
158. Cap according to claim 128, and further comprising a
mouthpiece surface, said mouthpiece surface being more distant than
said further hooking arrangement from a zone of said body opposite
said dispensing arrangement.
159. Cap according to claim 128, wherein said further hooking
arrangement is received in a cavity arrangement of said body.
160. Cap according to claim 159, and further comprising a
mouthpiece surface, said mouthpiece surface being more distant than
said further hooking arrangement from a zone of said body opposite
said dispensing arrangement wherein said further hooking
arrangement is so shaped as to extend from said body towards said
dispensing arrangement without protruding from said cavity
arrangement beyond said mouthpiece surface.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is the U.S. national phase of International
Application No. PCT/iB2007/000311, filed 8 Feb. 2007, which
designated the U.S. and claims priority to Italy Application No.
M02006A000043, filed 10 Feb. 2006, the entire contents of each
application is hereby incorporated by reference.
[0002] The invention relates to a cap associable with a container,
in particular a cap of the flip top type.
[0003] Flip top caps are known that are made of plastics and
comprise a body arranged for being fixed to a container neck by
means of a threaded coupling and provided with a dispensing hole
through which a product contained inside the container can be
dispensed. The aforesaid caps further comprise a closing part that
is movable between a closed configuration, in which the closing
part is adjacent to the body to close the dispensing hole, and an
open configuration in which the closing part is distant from the
body, to enable the product to be drawn through the dispensing
hole.
[0004] The closing part is connected to the body through a hinge
that may be very voluminous. The hinge is obtained in a peripheral
end zone of the body and is positioned on a resting plane at which
the body and the closing part are in mutual contact in the
aforesaid closed configuration.
[0005] The body comprises a side surface and an end surface from
which a projecting element leads away in which the dispensing hole
is obtained. The projecting element is shaped in such a way as to
receive the mouth of a user.
[0006] From the closing part a retaining member projects that is
arranged for being received in the dispensing hole.
[0007] The caps disclosed above comprise a tamperproof band fixed
to the closing part through breakable bridge elements.
[0008] The tamperproof band is provided with first locking elements
that engage second locking elements obtained on the body.
[0009] When the closing part is rotated around the hinge, stress is
generated that breaks the bridge elements so as to separate the
tamperproof band from the closing part. A user checking whether the
tamperproof band is separated from the closing part (and whether
the breakable bridge elements have been broken), is informed of the
pristine condition of or possible tampering with the product
contained inside the container.
[0010] A drawback of known caps is that as the latter are
associated with a container neck, it is necessary to exert
considerable force to enable the first locking elements to engage
the second locking elements. The bridge elements can therefore be
stressed to such a point as to be damaged or even broken. In order
to overcome this drawback, tougher bridge elements can be used,
i.e. bridge elements having greater dimensions. These tougher
bridge elements are nevertheless more difficult to break during a
first opening of the cap, which is very unpleasant for a user.
[0011] When the caps disclosed above are formed, the closing part
is in the open configuration.
[0012] Subsequently, before the caps are associated with the
container necks, the closing part is rotated until it takes on the
closed configuration.
[0013] Another drawback of known caps is that when the closing part
is moved from the open configuration to the closed configuration,
the retaining member may not be aligned with the dispensing hole
and may interfere with the projecting element, making closure of
the cap difficult.
[0014] In addition, the locking elements may not be aligned on the
further locking elements, making closure of the cap still more
difficult.
[0015] A further drawback of the known caps is that the locking
elements and/or the further locking elements hide the breakable
bridge elements, making it very difficult, or even impossible, for
a user to check whether the breakable bridge elements have been
broken.
[0016] A still further drawback of the known caps is that they can
be applied to container necks only through dedicated capping
apparatuses, as conventional capping apparatuses comprise tools
that are not able to handle caps having hinges with very large
overall dimensions.
[0017] An object of the invention is to improve known caps.
[0018] Another object of the invention is to obtain a cap that,
when they are closed for the first time, do not require great force
to induce locking elements associated with a tamperproof band and
cooperating elements associated with a portion of the cap to engage
mutually.
[0019] A further object is to obtain a cap provided with breakable
bridge elements that are not broken when the cap is closed for the
first time, but which can easily be broken when the cap is opened
for the first time.
[0020] A still further object is to obtain a cap that enables a
user to check easily and rapidly whether the breakable bridge
elements are unbroken, or if they have been broken.
[0021] A still further object is to obtain a cap that can be
applied to container necks through usual capping apparatuses.
[0022] A still further object of the invention is to obtain a cap
in which the risks are limited that a retaining member obtained in
a closing part of the cap interferes with a projecting element
projecting from a body of the cap and provided with a dispensing
hole, when the closing part is placed to rest on the body, i.e.
when the cap is closed for the first time.
[0023] In a first aspect of the invention, a cap is provided,
comprising a body suitable for being associated with a container
neck and provided with a dispensing arrangement, a lid arranged for
closing said dispensing arrangement, an opening indicating device
connected to said lid through a breakable arrangement and
comprising a hooking arrangement arranged for engaging with a
corresponding further hooking arrangement of said body, wherein
with said further hooking arrangement there is associated a guide
arrangement arranged for limiting deformations of said opening
indicating device when said hooking arrangement interacts with said
further hooking arrangement.
[0024] Owing to this aspect of the invention, it is possible to
obtain a cap in which the breakable arrangement is not damaged, or
broken, during a first closure of the cap.
[0025] In an embodiment, the hooking arrangement is shaped in such
a way as to ensure great inviolability of the cap.
[0026] In a further embodiment, the hooking arrangement is
positioned in such a way as not to be unpleasant for the mouth of a
user.
[0027] In a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a
cap, comprising a body suitable for being associated with a
container neck and provided with a dispensing arrangement, a lid
arranged for closing said dispensing arrangement, an opening
indicating device connected to said lid through a breakable
arrangement and comprising a hooking arrangement arranged for
engaging a corresponding further hooking arrangement of said body,
wherein said further hooking arrangement comprises engagement
promoting arrangement arranged for inducing said hooking
arrangement to interact with said further hooking arrangement.
[0028] Owing to this aspect of the invention, it is possible to
obtain a cap provided with a hooking arrangement and with a further
hooking arrangement that easily engage with one another, during
first closing of the cap. In particular, when the lid is associated
with the body for the first time, great force is not required to
induce the hooking elements to engage with the further hooking
elements. As a result it is possible to make breakable arrangement
having cross sections of limited extent, which can easily be
fractured when the cap is opened for the first time.
[0029] In addition, the breakable arrangement may comprise a
plurality of bridge elements having cross sections that increase
the further they are from a zone of the lid that is intended for
being grasped by a user during opening of the cap. In this way it
is possible to obtain progressive--and therefore
facilitated--opening of the cap.
[0030] In a third aspect of the invention, a cap is provided,
comprising a body suitable for being associated with a container
neck and provided with a dispensing arrangement, a lid movable
between a closed configuration, in which said lid engages said
dispensing arrangement, and an open configuration, in which said
lid disengages from said dispensing arrangement, an opening
indicating device connected to said lid through a breakable
arrangement and comprising a hooking arrangement arranged for
engaging with a corresponding further hooking arrangement of said
body, wherein said further hooking arrangement comprises an opening
arrangement arranged for enabling the status of said breakable
arrangement to be checked when said lid is in said closed
configuration.
[0031] Owing to this aspect of the invention, it is possible to
obtain a cap that enables a user to check easily and rapidly
whether the breakable arrangement has been broken and thus whether
the cap has been tampered with.
[0032] In a fourth aspect of the invention, a cap is provided,
comprising a body suitable for being associated with a container
neck and provided with a dispensing arrangement, a lid movable
between a closed configuration, in which said lid engages said
dispensing arrangement, and an open configuration, in which said
lid disengages from said dispensing arrangement, a hinge connecting
said lid to said body, said body being provided with a side wall,
wherein said hinge, in said closed configuration, does not protrude
from said body beyond said side wall. Owing to this aspect of the
invention, it is possible to obtain a cap shaped in such a way as
to be able to be applied to container necks through usual capping
apparatuses.
[0033] In particular, the cap, being devoid of hinge portions that
project from the side wall away from a longitudinal axis of the
cap, can be applied by capping apparatuses provided with
cone-shaped heads and arranged for surrounding the side wall.
[0034] Owing to this aspect of the invention, it is not necessary
to use complex and costly special heads provided with complicated
movement devices.
[0035] In a fifth aspect of the invention, a cap is provided,
comprising a body suitable for being associated with a container
neck and provided with a dispensing arrangement, a lid movable
between a closed configuration, in which said lid engages said
dispensing arrangement, and an open configuration, in which said
lid disengages from said dispensing arrangement, a hinge connecting
said lid to said body, said hinge defining a rotation axis for
mutual rotation of said lid and said body, said body comprising a
resting surface arranged for receiving an end of said lid in said
closed configuration, wherein said rotation axis is distant from
said resting surface.
[0036] Owing to this aspect of the invention, it is possible to
obtain a cap that enables, when the cap is closed for the first
time, the lid to be brought near the resting surface in such a way
as to limit possible interference of parts extending from the lid
with further parts extending from the body.
[0037] In addition, during a first closure of the cap, it is
possible to align the lid and the dispensing arrangement with
greater precision.
[0038] The invention can be better understood and carried into
effect with reference to the attached drawings that illustrate some
embodiments thereof by way of non-limiting example, in which:
[0039] FIG. 1 is a side view of a cap in a closed
configuration;
[0040] FIG. 2 is a side view of the cap of FIG. 1 in an open
configuration;
[0041] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the cap in FIG. 1 in the
open configuration;
[0042] FIG. 4 is an enlarged and fragmentary side view of a portion
of the cap in FIG. 1 in the closed configuration;
[0043] FIG. 5 is an enlarged and fragmentary side view that shows a
portion of the cap in FIG. 1 in the closed configuration;
[0044] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the
cap in a closed configuration;
[0045] FIG. 7 is a view like the one in FIG. 6 that shows the cap
in an open configuration;
[0046] FIG. 8 is a section taken along a longitudinal plane of a
further embodiment of the cap;
[0047] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a still further embodiment
of the cap.
[0048] FIGS. 1 to 5 show a cap 1 comprising a body 2, associable
with a neck of a container, and a lid element 3, that may oscillate
with respect to the body 2. The cap can be made, for example,
through compression-forming of plastics, or through
injection-moulding of plastics.
[0049] The body 2 is provided internally with a thread 5 (shown in
FIG. 5) owing to which the body 2 can be screwed to the neck.
[0050] The body 2 comprises a side wall 4 bounded above by an end
wall 6, extending transversely with respect to the side wall 4, on
which there is provided a dispensing portion 8 through which a
product contained inside the container can be dispensed.
[0051] The end wall 6 defines a resting surface 9 on which the lid
element 3 abuts to close the dispensing portion 8.
[0052] The lid element 3 comprises a further side wall 7 bounded
above by a closing wall 11 arranged transversely with respect to
the further side wall 7.
[0053] From the closing wall 11 a closing portion 10 projects
transversely that, when the lid element 3 is brought nearer the
resting surface 9, surrounds the dispensing portion 8.
[0054] From the closing wall 11 a projecting element 41 further
projects that, when the lid element 3 is brought near the resting
surface 9, penetrates inside a hole 42 obtained in the dispensing
portion 8.
[0055] The closing wall 11 is provided with a gripping element 12
that receives, during opening of the container, the thumb of a
user.
[0056] The lid element 3 is connected to the body 2 by a hinge 13
that comprises two connecting elements 14 distanced from one
another and an elastic connecting element 15 interposed between the
connecting elements 14.
[0057] The hinge 13 enables the lid element 3 to be moved between a
closed configuration A (shown in FIG. 1), in which the closing
portion 10 engages the dispensing portion 8, and an open
configuration B (shown in FIG. 2), in which the closing portion 10
is distanced from the dispensing portion 8.
[0058] The hinge 13 is obtained peripherally on the end wall 6 and
is shaped in such a way as to be positioned, in the closed
configuration A, inside a region bounded by a perimeter edge 32 of
the side wall 4.
[0059] In other words, the hinge 13 is nearer the dispensing
portion 8 than the side wall 4 and does not protrude beyond the
side wall 4.
[0060] In this way, the cap 1 can be applied to container necks
through conventional capping heads.
[0061] The connecting elements 14 define a rotation axis X (shown
in FIG. 2) around which the lid element 3 rotates.
[0062] The rotation axis X is positioned at a distance D from the
resting surface 9.
[0063] The position of the rotation axis X enables the closing
portion 10, the projecting element 41 and the dispensing portion 8,
at the moment of their first interaction with one another when the
lid element 3 is rotated from the open configuration B to the
closed configuration A, to be mutually tilted by an angle of
limited width.
[0064] In particular, the aforesaid width is less than in cases in
which the rotation axis X lies on the resting surface 9, as occurs
in known caps.
[0065] In this way, the risks of interference between the closing
wall 11--and/or the projecting element 41--and the dispensing
portion 8, and mutual positioning drawbacks are limited that may
prevent the lid element 3 from assuming the closed configuration
A.
[0066] In particular, the projecting element 41 is guided towards
the hole 42 and penetrates inside the latter without interfering
with the walls that bound it.
[0067] The elastic connecting element 15 acts as a return spring
that enables the lid element 3 to be maintained near the resting
surface 9 in the closed configuration A, and enables the lid
element 3 to be maintained distant from the resting surface 9 in
the open configuration B.
[0068] The lid element 3 is provided with opening indicating device
16 that enables a user to check whether the cap 1 has been tampered
with.
[0069] The opening indicating device 16 comprises two tamperproof
bands 17 which, before the cap 1 is opened for the first time, is
connected to the further side wall 7 through bridge elements
18.
[0070] The tamperproof bands 17 define portions of the further side
wall 7.
[0071] The tamperproof bands 17 are positioned on opposite sides of
the lid element 3 with respect to the gripping element 12 and are
arranged in a zone comprised between the gripping element 12 and
the hinge 13.
[0072] In an embodiment that is not shown, it is possible to
provide only a tamperproof band 17 arranged between the gripping
element 12 and the hinge 13.
[0073] Each tamperproof band 17 comprises a first surface 20,
facing the outside of the lid element 3, and a second surface 21,
facing the inside of the lid element 3. Between the first surface
20 and the second surface 21 there extends an edge surface 19
arranged for being received on the resting surface 9 when the lid
element 3 is in the closed configuration A.
[0074] Each tamperproof band 17 is circumferentially bounded by
opening zones 22 that separate it laterally from the further side
wall 7.
[0075] Each tamperproof band 17 is provided with two wedge-shaped
hooking elements 23 that are distanced from one another that
project transversely from the first surface 20.
[0076] The hooking elements 23 are shaped in such a way as to have,
when the lid element is in the closed configuration B, cross
sections increasing progressively moving away from the resting
surface 9. Each hooking element 23 is provided with a third surface
24, tilted with respect to a first surface 20, and connected, at an
end opposite the edge surface 19, to a locking surface 25 (shown
better in FIG. 5).
[0077] The opening indicating device 16 comprises two locking
portions 26 associated with the body 2 and arranged on opposite
sides with respect to the dispensing portion 8 in such a way as to
receive, when the cap 1 is closed for the first time, the
tamperproof bands 17.
[0078] Each locking portion 26 comprises a first wall 27 that
projects from a peripheral zone of the resting surface 9
substantially parallel to the side wall 4. On the first wall 27
there are obtained hooking holes 28, with a substantially
rectangular shape, each of which is arranged for receiving a
corresponding hooking element 23, when the cap 1 is closed for the
first time. Each hooking hole 28 is bounded by a further locking
surface 29, arranged substantially parallel to the resting surface
9, that cooperates with the locking surface 25 to prevent the
corresponding hooking element 23, and therefore the tamperproof
band 17, from disengaging from the locking portion 26 when the cap
1 is opened for the first time.
[0079] Each locking portion 26 is provided with an engagement
promoting surface 30 obtained on the first wall 27 in such a way as
to face the dispensing portion 8 and arranged for interacting with
the hooking elements 23 when the cap is closed for the first time.
The engagement promoting surface 30 is tilted with respect to the
resting surface 9 in such a way as to guide each hooking element 23
to the corresponding hooking hole 28.
[0080] The engagement promoting surface 30 is tilted with respect
to an intended approach direction along which the lid element 3 is
brought near the body 2.
[0081] At opposite ends of each first wall 27 there are provided
second walls 31 that project from the wall 27 to a more internal
zone of the resting surface 9 in such a way as to be arranged
transversely to the perimeter edge 32. The second walls 31 make the
opening indicating device 16 safer and more reliable inasmuch as
the tamperproof bands 17 are surrounded on several sides and are
therefore more protected so as to limit the risk of tampering.
[0082] The locking portions 26 comprise a guide arrangement 34
arranged for guiding the tamperproof bands 17 when the cap 1 is
closed for the first time. The guide arrangement 34 projects from
the resting surface 9, is more distant from the perimeter edge 32
than the first walls 27 and faces the latter. The guide arrangement
34 comprises a pair of end guide elements 33 connected to the
second walls 31 and an intermediate guide element 35 interposed
between the two end guide elements 33.
[0083] In an embodiment that is not shown, a plurality of
intermediate guide elements can be provided.
[0084] In a further embodiment that is not shown, the end guide
elements may not be connected to the second walls 31.
[0085] The end guide elements 33 and the intermediate guide element
35 are positioned in such a way as to interact with the second
surface 21 of the tamperproof band 17.
[0086] Further, the end guide elements 33 and the intermediate
guide element 35 are arranged at the bridge elements 18.
[0087] When the cap 1 is closed for the first time, the tamperproof
band 17 is pushed towards the resting surface 9 to engage the
corresponding locking portion 26. The hooking element 23, owing to
the engagement promoting surface 30, is induced to occupy the
corresponding hooking hole 28.
[0088] When the third surface 24 interacts with the first wall 27,
the bridge elements 18 are deformed. Excessive deformation could
cause the bridge elements 18 to break and therefore make them
ineffective as opening indicator devices.
[0089] In order to prevent the bridge elements 18 from getting
excessively deformed the guide arrangement 34 limits flexure of the
tamperproof bands 17 at the bridge elements 18, preventing the
latter from breaking prematurely.
[0090] Further, the guide arrangement 34 reduces the risk of
tampering. The guide arrangement in facts prevents the hooking
elements from being pushed towards the dispensing portion 8, i.e.
to the inside of the cap 1, to be disengaged from the respective
hooking holes 28.
[0091] On each locking portion 26, in a zone that is more distant
from the resting surface 9, inspection openings 36 are obtained
that, when the lid element is in the closed configuration A, enable
a user to inspect the bridge elements 18 to check the unbrokenness
thereof.
[0092] When the cap 1 is opened for the first time, a user acts on
the gripping element 12 in such a way as to remove the lid element
3 from the resting surface 9. The locking portions 26 prevent the
tamperproof bands 17 from moving together with the lid element 3.
This generates stress that breaks the bridge elements 18.
[0093] The hooking elements interact with the hooking holes 28 so
that the tamperproof bands 17 are retained on the body 2 and are
not dispersed in the environment. The tamperproof bands 17 are
retained on the body 2 also owing to a labyrinth structure, or cage
structure, defined by the first wall 27 (and by the hooking holes
28 with which the first wall 27 is provided), by the guide
arrangement 34 and possibly by the second walls 31.
[0094] The labyrinth structure, or cage structure, mentioned above
enables cap 1 with great inviolability to be obtained.
[0095] The tamperproof bands 17 and the locking portions 26 are
nearer to the rotation axis X than the gripping element 12.
[0096] As the distance of the gripping element 12 from the hinge 13
is greater than the distances of each of the bridge elements 18
from the hinge 13, an opening promoting force exerted on the
gripping element 12 by a user thus has a greater arm than the arm
of forces resisting to the opening and generated by the bridge
elements 18.
[0097] As a result, the user can easily open the cap 1, also
exploiting the lever that is favourable to him that is defined by
the particular arrangement of the bridge elements 18 and of the
gripping element 12 on the lid element 3.
[0098] Further, as the bridge elements 18 of each tamperproof band
17 are arranged at different distances from the rotation axis X
--and then, when the cap is opened for the first time, are subject
to deformation that is greater the greater their distance is from
the rotation axis X--it is possible to break in sequence the bridge
elements 18 in such a way that the cap can be opened with greater
facility.
[0099] In an embodiment that is not shown, the bridge elements 18
arranged near the gripping element 12 have cross sections that are
less than the cross sections of the bridge elements 18 arranged
near the hinge 3.
[0100] In particular, the cross sections of the bridge elements
increase progressively the nearer they are to the hinge 3.
[0101] As a result, during the first closure of the cap 1, the
first bridge elements 18 to be stressed are those nearest the hinge
13, i.e. the most resistant ones.
[0102] This means that the risks of damage, or breakage, of the
bridge elements 18 during the first closure of the cap 1 are
reduced.
[0103] During the first opening of the cap 1, the bridge elements
18 that are most stressed are those that are nearest the gripping
element 12, i.e. the less resistant ones.
[0104] This enables the first opening of the cap 1 to be
facilitated.
[0105] In conclusion, as the cross sections of the bridge elements
18 increase proceeding from the gripping element 12 to the hinge
13, it is possible to limit the risks of breakage of the bridge
elements during the first closure of the cap 1 and to obtain an
improved seal.
[0106] FIGS. 6 and 7 show another embodiment of the cap 1
comprising a single tamperproof band (the further tamperproof band
37) cooperating with a corresponding sole locking portion (the
further locking portion 38).
[0107] The further locking portion 38 is arranged on an opposite
side of the hinge 13 with respect to the dispensing portion 8,
whilst the further tamperproof band 37 is arranged near the
gripping element 12. In this way, when the lid element 3 is in the
closed configuration A (shown in FIG. 7), the further tamperproof
band 37 cooperates with the further locking portion 38 and is
arranged between the gripping element 12 and the resting surface 9.
The further tamperproof band 37 can have a greater extent than the
tamperproof bands 17 and may comprise a greater number of hooking
elements 23, for example three hooking elements 23.
Correspondingly, the further locking portion 38 can be provided
with three hooking holes 28.
[0108] The further tamperproof band 37 can be provided with a
greater number of bridge elements 18 (for example four) with
respect to the tamperproof bands 17. Accordingly, the further
locking portion 38 can comprise a corresponding number of control
openings 36.
[0109] With reference to FIGS. 1 to 9, a tamperproof ring 39 can be
connected to the body 2 through bridge portions 40 that are broken
if the body 2 is loosened from the neck, thus indicating that the
cap has been opened or tampered with.
[0110] As shown in FIG. 8, the dispensing portion 8 protrudes from
a wall arrangement 43 arranged substantially parallel to the
resting surface 9 and more distant from the tamperproof ring 39
than the resting surface 9.
[0111] In such a case, a user can rest his mouth on the wall
arrangement 43 rather than on the resting surface 9, preventing
interaction, even accidentally, with the locking portions 26, or
with the further locking portion 38.
[0112] With reference to FIG. 9, there is shown the cap 1
comprising a recess arrangement 44 obtained in the body 2 and
arranged for receiving the tamperproof bands 17 when the lid
element 3 is in the closed configuration A.
[0113] The recess arrangement 44 has an opening 45 at the resting
surface 9 and is partially bounded by the locking portions 26 that
are positioned in such a way as to define a prolongation of the
side wall 4.
[0114] The locking portions 26 do not project from the recess
arrangement 44 through the opening 45.
[0115] In other words, the locking portions 26 are shaped in such a
way as not to project from the body 2 beyond the resting surface
9.
[0116] In this way, the cap 1 is more comfortable for a user, who
does not risk interacting, even accidentally, with the locking
portions 26.
[0117] Both in the embodiment shown in FIG. 8 and in the embodiment
shown in FIG. 9, a mouthpiece surface can be identified--defined,
respectively, by the wall arrangement 43, or by the resting surface
9,--which is arranged for receiving the mouth of a user and is more
distant from a zone of the body 2 opposite the dispensing portion
than the locking portions 26.
* * * * *