U.S. patent application number 12/787458 was filed with the patent office on 2010-12-02 for bung stopper closure for bung-type container.
Invention is credited to Udo Schuetz.
Application Number | 20100301046 12/787458 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 42332781 |
Filed Date | 2010-12-02 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100301046 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Schuetz; Udo |
December 2, 2010 |
Bung Stopper Closure For Bung-type Container
Abstract
A bung stopper closure includes a bung stopper and a sealing cap
for bung-type containers, which is particularly suitable for
machine closing of bung-type barrels in automatic filling plants
for liquids.
Inventors: |
Schuetz; Udo; (Selters,
DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
QUARLES & BRADY LLP
411 E. WISCONSIN AVENUE, SUITE 2040
MILWAUKEE
WI
53202-4497
US
|
Family ID: |
42332781 |
Appl. No.: |
12/787458 |
Filed: |
May 26, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
220/259.4 ;
220/256.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 41/48 20130101;
B65D 55/024 20130101; B65D 55/0863 20130101; B65D 39/088
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
220/259.4 ;
220/256.1 |
International
Class: |
B65D 51/18 20060101
B65D051/18; B65D 41/18 20060101 B65D041/18 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 27, 2009 |
DE |
10 2009 022 800.4 |
Claims
1. A bung stopper closure for bung-type containers, in particular
for bung-type barrels made of plastic for liquids, said bung
stopper closure comprising: a cup-shaped bung stopper made of
plastic or metal, which can be screwed into a bung connecting piece
of the container, implemented as a threaded connecting piece, and a
sealing cap made of plastic, which can be snapped onto the bung
stopper, for detection of manipulations, the bung stopper having a
cylindrical outer wall having an external thread, on whose internal
circumference socket engagement eyes for a socket are situated
concentrically to the stopper central axis, which extend radially
and axially in the stopper depression of the bung stopper, said
sealing cap including a central, delimited elastic clamping sleeve
(16), attached using tear-off webs (15) to the inner side (13) of
the sealing cap disc (14), which extends axially in a stopper
depression (12) and has an annular detent element (18) on its inner
end (17) protruding radially into the stopper depression (12) for
locking with counter detent elements (19), which are in the form of
ring segments and protrude radially into the stopper depression
(12), on the lower section (20) of the outwardly curved inner walls
(21), in the form of cylinder segments, of the socket engagement
eyes (10), the external diameter (D.sub.1) of the annular detent
element (18) on the clamping sleeve (16) of the sealing cap (5)
being approximately equal to the diameter (D.sub.2) of the inner
walls (21) of the socket engagement eyes (10) of the bung stopper
(4) in such a manner that when the sealing cap (5) is snapped onto
the bung stopper (4), which is screwed into the bung connecting
piece (3), the annular detent element (18) on the inner end (17) of
the clamping sleeve (16) of the sealing cap (5) is guided by the
inner walls (21) of the socket engagement eyes (10) before locking
with the counter detent elements (19) on the inner walls (21) of
the socket engagement eyes (10) of the bung stopper (3).
2. The bung stopper closure according to claim 1, in which the
annular detent element (18) on the inner end (17) of the clamping
sleeve (16) of the sealing cap (5) and the counter detent elements
(19) in the form of ring segments on the socket engagement eyes
(10) of the bung stopper (4) have hooked cross-sectional profiles
(22, 23).
3. The bung stopper closure according to claim 1, in which the
annular detent element (18) on the inner end (17) of the clamping
sleeve (16) of the sealing cap (5) and the counter detent elements
(19) in the form of ring segments on the socket engagement eyes
(10) of the bung stopper (4) have a tongue-shaped cross-sectional
profile.
4. The bung stopper closure according to claim 1, in which the
annular detent element (18) on the inner end (17) of the clamping
sleeve (16) of the sealing cap (5) is equipped with multiple
toothed rings (24) for locking with corresponding toothed ring
segments (25) of the counter detent elements (19) on the socket
engagement eyes (10) of the bung stopper (4).
5. The bung stopper closure according to claim 1, in which the
clamping sleeve (16) of the sealing cap (5) is connected to the
sealing cap disc (14) via tear-off webs (15) and a tear-off tab
(26), which is integrated in the sealing cap disc (14).
6. The bung stopper closure according to claim 1, including an
outer tear-off tab (27), which is molded onto a tear-off ring (28),
and which is attached by tear-off webs (29) and a retention web
(30) to a downwardly directed outer edge (31) of the sealing cap
(5).
7. A bung stopper closure for bung-type containers, in particular
for bung-type barrels made of plastic for liquids, said bung
stopper closure comprising: a bung stopper having a stopper
depression defined by a cylindrical outer wall having an external
thread threadably engageable with a threaded connecting piece of a
bung connecting piece of the container, said bung stopper having
socket engagement eyes situated concentrically to a stopper central
axis on an internal circumference of the outer wall and extending
radially and axially in the stopper depression of the bung stopper,
said socket engagement eyes including outwardly curved inner walls
defining a diameter (D.sub.2); a sealing cap snapped onto the bung
stopper, said sealing cap including a sealing cap disc and a
central, delimited elastic clamping sleeve attached to said sealing
cap disc by tear-off webs, said sleeve extending axially into the
stopper depression and having an annular detent element on an inner
end of said sleeve protruding radially into the stopper depression;
and counter detent elements protruding radially into the stopper
depression from a lower section of the outwardly curved inner walls
of the socket engagement eyes lock with said annular detent
element, wherein an external diameter (D.sub.1) of the annular
detent element on the clamping sleeve of the sealing cap being
approximately equal to the diameter (D.sub.2) of the inner walls of
the socket engagement eyes of the bung stopper in such a manner
that when the sealing cap is snapped onto the bung stopper, which
is screwed into the bung connecting piece, the annular detent
element on the inner end of the clamping sleeve of the sealing cap
is guided by the inner walls of the socket engagement eyes before
locking with the counter detent elements on the inner walls of the
socket engagement eyes of the bung stopper.
8. The bung stopper closure according to claim 7, in which the
annular detent element on the inner end of the clamping sleeve of
the sealing cap and the counter detent elements in the form of ring
segments on the socket engagement eyes of the bung stopper have
hooked cross-sectional profiles.
9. The bung stopper closure according to claim 7, in which the
annular detent element on the inner end of the clamping sleeve of
the sealing cap and the counter detent elements in the form of ring
segments on the socket engagement eyes of the bung stopper have a
tongue-shaped cross-sectional profile.
10. The bung stopper closure according to claim 7, in which the
annular detent element on the inner end of the clamping sleeve of
the sealing cap is equipped with multiple toothed rings for locking
with corresponding toothed ring segments of the counter detent
elements on the socket engagement eyes of the bung stopper.
11. The bung stopper closure according to claim 7, in which the
clamping sleeve of the sealing cap is connected to the sealing cap
disc via tear-off webs and a tear-off tab, which is integrated in
the sealing cap disc.
12. The bung stopper closure according to claim 7, including an
outer tear-off tab, which is molded onto a tear-off ring, and which
is attached by tear-off webs and a retention web to a downwardly
directed outer edge of the sealing cap.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims the priority benefit of German
Patent Application No. 10 2009 022 800.4 filed on May 27, 2009, the
contents of which is hereby incorporated by reference as if fully
set forth herein in its entirety.
STATEMENT CONCERNING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR
DEVELOPMENT
[0002] Not applicable.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The invention relates to a bung stopper closure for
bung-type containers, in particular for bung-type barrels made of
plastic for liquids, having a bung stopper made of plastic or
metal, which can be screwed into a bung connecting piece of the
container implemented as a threaded connecting piece, and a sealing
cap made of plastic, which can be snapped onto the bung stopper,
for detecting manipulations, the cup-shaped bung stopper having a
cylindrical outer wall having an external thread, on whose internal
circumference socket engagement eyes for a socket are situated
concentrically to the stopper central axis, which extend radially
and axially in the stopper depression of the bung stopper.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0004] The sealing cap of a bung stopper closure of the type
according to the species, which is described in EP 1 697 224 B1,
for bung-type containers has elastic legs, which extend axially in
the stopper depression and have a radially protruding foot. When
the sealing cap is snapped onto the bung stopper, which is screwed
into the bung connecting piece of a bung-type container, the
elastic legs of the sealing cap plunge into the stopper depression
and the leg feet lock with radial undercuts, which are formed on
the base of the socket engagement eyes. The external diameter of
the circularly situated leg feet of the sealing cap is greater than
the internal diameter of the circularly situated, outwardly curved
inner walls of the socket engagement eyes of the bung stopper
having the undercuts for locking the leg feet of the sealing cap.
This geometry of the closure stopper and the sealing cap results in
difficulties when snapping the sealing cap onto the closure stopper
in automatic filling plants for liquids, because the catch feet of
the elastic legs of the sealing cap hit the upper edge of the
socket engagement eyes of the bung stopper of the container to be
closed at the beginning of the snapping procedure and are not
guided by the inner walls of the socket engagement eyes of the bung
stopper, but rather must be compressed far enough that the catch
feet may engage with the inner walls of the socket engagement
eyes.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The invention is based on the object of developing a bung
stopper closure which is suitable for automatic filling plants for
bung-type containers, in particular bung-type barrels. This object
is achieved in one embodiment of the invention by a bung stopper
closure for bung-type containers, as described herein.
[0006] This and still other objectives and advantages of the
present invention will be apparent from the description which
follows. In the detailed description below, preferred embodiments
of the invention will be described in reference to the accompanying
drawings. These embodiments do not represent the full scope of the
invention. Rather the invention may be employed in other
embodiments. Reference should therefore be made to the claims
herein for interpreting the breadth of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] The invention is explained hereafter on the basis of the
figures of the drawing. In the figures:
[0008] FIG. 1 shows a longitudinal section of a first embodiment of
a bung stopper closure for a bung-type container;
[0009] FIG. 2 shows the top view of the bung stopper;
[0010] FIG. 3 shows a perspective internal view of the sealing cap
of the bung stopper; and
[0011] FIG. 4 shows a longitudinal section of a second embodiment
of the bung stopper closure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS
[0012] The bung stopper closure 1 according to FIGS. 1 through 3
for bung-type containers 2 made of plastic such as bung-type
barrels is formed by a bung connecting piece 3, implemented as a
threaded connecting piece, of the container 2, a bung stopper 4
made of plastic or metal, which can be screwed into the bung
connecting piece 3, and a sealing cap 5 made of plastic, which can
be snapped onto the bung stopper 4, for the detection of
manipulations. The bung stopper 4 is sealed in the bung connecting
piece 3 using a sealing ring 6.
[0013] The cup-shaped bung stopper 4 has a cylindrical outer wall 7
having an external thread 8, on whose internal circumference 9
socket engagement eyes 10 for a socket, which extend radially and
axially in the stopper depression 12 of the bung stopper 4, are
situated concentrically to the stopper central axis 11-11.
[0014] A concentric, delimited elastic clamping sleeve 16 is
attached on the inner side 13 of the sealing cap disc 14 using
tear-off webs 15, which extend axially into the stopper depression
12 and have an annular detent element 18 protruding radially into
the stopper depression 12 on their inner and 17, for locking with
counter detent elements 19, which are in the form of ring segments
and protrude radially into the stopper depression 12, on the lower
section 20 of the outwardly curved inner walls 21, in the form of
cylinder segments, of the socket engagement eyes 10.
[0015] The annular detent element 18 of the clamping sleeve 16 of
the sealing cap 5 and the counter detent elements 19, in the form
of ring segments, on the socket engagement eyes 10 of the bung
stopper 4 have hooked cross-sectional profiles 22, 23.
[0016] The external diameter D.sub.1 of the annular detent element
18 on the clamping sleeve 16 of the sealing cap 5 is approximately
equal to the diameter D.sub.2 of the inner walls 21 of the socket
engagement eyes 10 of the bung stopper 4, in such a way that when
the sealing cap 5 is snapped onto the bung stopper 4, which is
screwed into the bung connecting piece 3, the annular detent
element 18 at the inner end 17 of the clamping sleeve 16 of the
sealing cap 5 is guided by the inner walls 21 of the socket
engagement eyes 10 before locking with the counter detent elements
19 on the inner walls 21 of the socket engagement eyes 10 of the
bung stopper 4.
[0017] This mode of operation of sealing cap 5 and bung stopper 4
when the sealing cap is snapped onto the bung stopper allows
machine closing of the bung connecting piece 3 of bung-type
containers 2 in automatic filling plants, in particular for
bung-type barrels.
[0018] In a further embodiment (not shown) of the bung stopper
closure, the annular detent element 18 on the inner end 17 of the
clamping sleeve 16 of the sealing cap 5 and the counter detent
elements 19 in the form of ring segments on the socket engagement
eyes 10 of the bung stopper 4 have a tongue-shaped cross-sectional
profile.
[0019] In the further embodiment of the bung stopper closure 1
shown in FIG. 4, the annular detent element 18 on the inner end 17
of the clamping sleeve 16 of the sealing cap 5 is preferably
equipped with three toothed rings 24 for locking with three
corresponding toothed ring segments 25 of the counter detent
elements 19 on the socket engagement eyes 10 of the bung stopper
4.
[0020] The clamping sleeve 16 of the sealing cap 5 is connected by
a tear-off tab 26 to the sealing cap disc 14 in addition to the
tear-off webs 15, the tear-off tab 26 being integrated in the
sealing cap disc 14.
[0021] The sealing cap 5 is equipped with an outer tear-off tab 27,
which is molded onto a tear-off ring 28, which is attached by
tear-off webs 29 and a retention web 30 to the downwardly-directed
outer edge 31 of the sealing cap 5.
[0022] When the sealing cap 5 is torn off of the bung stopper 4
using the tear-off tab 27, firstly the tear-off webs 29 of the
tear-off ring 28 of the tear-off tab 27 are destroyed and then the
tear-off webs 15, using which the clamping sleeve 16 is attached to
the sealing cap disc 14, are broken. During this tear-off
procedure, the retention web 30 of the tear-off ring 28 of the
tear-off tab 27 and the tear-off tab 26, which is integrated in the
sealing cap disc 14 and is connected to the clamping sleeve 16,
ensure that the tear-off ring 28 having the tear-off tab 27, the
sealing cap disc 14 and the clamping sleeve 16 of the sealing cap 5
remain loosely connected to one another and thus the sealing cap 5
can be removed easily with its individual components from the bung
stopper 4.
LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS
[0023] 1 bung stopper closure [0024] 2 bung-type container [0025] 3
bung connecting piece [0026] 4 bung stopper [0027] 5 sealing cap
[0028] 6 sealing ring [0029] 7 outer wall of 4 [0030] 8 external
thread on 7 [0031] 9 internal circumference of 7 [0032] 10 socket
engagement eyes on 9 [0033] 11-11 stopper central axis [0034] 12
stopper depression [0035] 13 inner side of 14 [0036] 14 sealing cap
disc [0037] 15 tear-off web of 16 on 13 [0038] 16 clamping sleeve
[0039] 17 inner end of 16 [0040] 18 detent element on 17 [0041] 19
counter detent element on 20 [0042] 20 lower section on 21 [0043]
21 inner wall of 10 [0044] 22 hooked cross-sectional profile of 18
[0045] 23 hooked cross-sectional profile of 19 [0046] 24 toothed
ring on 18 [0047] 25 toothed ring segment on 10 [0048] 26 tear-off
tab for 16 in 14 [0049] 27 tear-off tab of 5 [0050] 28 tear-off
ring of 27 [0051] 29 tear-off web of 28 [0052] 30 retention web of
28 [0053] 31 outer edge of 5 [0054] D.sub.1 external diameter of 18
on 16 [0055] D.sub.2 diameter of 21 of 10
* * * * *