U.S. patent application number 14/110510 was filed with the patent office on 2014-02-06 for container closure with a spout and a lid.
This patent application is currently assigned to Aptar Freyung GmbH. The applicant listed for this patent is Bruno Konigseder, Franz Lenz, Alexander Stifter. Invention is credited to Bruno Konigseder, Franz Lenz, Alexander Stifter.
Application Number | 20140034663 14/110510 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 44625775 |
Filed Date | 2014-02-06 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140034663 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Konigseder; Bruno ; et
al. |
February 6, 2014 |
CONTAINER CLOSURE WITH A SPOUT AND A LID
Abstract
The present invention relates to a closure for a container that
has an interior where a product may be stored and that has an
opening to the container interior, said closure comprising a base,
that base comprising a skirt for extending from said container at
said opening, a base deck, and a spout projection upwardly from
said base deck to define a discharge aperture, characterised in
that said base deck has an at least partly curved outer or upper
plane, said outer or upper plane and/or an edge between skirt and
base deck having, at its periphery, at least two elevation regions
and at least two depression regions extending between said at least
two elevation regions. The invention further refers to a container
with such a closure.
Inventors: |
Konigseder; Bruno;
(Rohrnbach, DE) ; Lenz; Franz; (Hinterschmiding,
DE) ; Stifter; Alexander; (Freyung, DE) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Konigseder; Bruno
Lenz; Franz
Stifter; Alexander |
Rohrnbach
Hinterschmiding
Freyung |
|
DE
DE
DE |
|
|
Assignee: |
Aptar Freyung GmbH
Freyung
DE
|
Family ID: |
44625775 |
Appl. No.: |
14/110510 |
Filed: |
April 8, 2011 |
PCT Filed: |
April 8, 2011 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP11/01773 |
371 Date: |
October 8, 2013 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
220/835 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 2401/15 20200501;
B65D 43/22 20130101; B65D 2547/066 20130101; B65D 2401/45 20200501;
B65D 2547/063 20130101; B65D 47/0804 20130101; A47G 19/2272
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
220/835 |
International
Class: |
A47G 19/22 20060101
A47G019/22; B65D 43/22 20060101 B65D043/22 |
Claims
1. A closure for a container that has an interior where a product
may be stored and that has an opening to the container interior,
said closure comprising comprising: a base (100), said base (100)
comprising comprising; a skirt (120) for extending from the
container at the opening, a base deck (160), and a spout (180)
projecting upwardly from said base deck (160) to define a discharge
aperture (182), said closure having at least one of the following
configurations (1) or (2) wherein: (1) said base deck (160) has an
at least partly curved outer or upper plane, said outer or upper
plane having, at its periphery, at least two elevation regions
(152) and at least two depression regions (154) extending between
said at least two elevation regions (162); and an edge (150)
between said skirt (120) and said base deck (160) is at least
partly curved, having at least two elevation regions (152) and at
least two depression regions (154) extending between said at least
two elevation regions (152).
2. The closure according to claim 1, wherein at least one at said
plane of said base deck (160); and said edge (150) between said
skirt (120) and said base deck (160) comprises at least one maximum
elevation point and at least one minimum elevation point being, in
a vertical or z-direction, offset by a distance "a", wherein said
distance "a" depends on the circumferential length "u" of the
closure, wherein the distance "a" follows the following formula:
u*10.sup.-1.gtoreq.a.gtoreq.u*10.sup.-3.
3. The closure according to claim 1, wherein at least one of: said
plane of said base deck (160); and said edge (150) between said
skirt (120) and said base deck (160) comprise two maximum elevation
points (152) being, in a peripheral direction, offset by
180.degree..
4. The closure according to claim 1, wherein at least one of: said
plane of said base deck (160); and said edge (150) between said
skirt (120) and said base deck (160) comprise two maximum
depression points (154) being, in a peripheral direction, offset by
180.degree..
5. The closure according to claim 1, wherein at least one of: said
plane of said base deck (160); and said edge (150) between said
skirt (120) and said base deck (160) comprise two maximum elevation
points (152) positioned in an x-z-plane, with an x-axis being
normal to a vertical z-direction, and comprising two maximum
depression points (154), positioned in an y-z-plane, said y-axis
being normal to said x-axis and normal to said vertical
z-direction.
6. The closure according to claim 1, wherein said base deck (160)
extends completely around said spout (180) in a peripheral
direction.
7. The closure according to claim one preceding-claims, wherein
said spout (180) is dome-shaped.
8. The closure according to claim 1, wherein said spout (180) is a
separate element, inserted into said base (100).
9. The closure according to claim 1, further comprising a lid (200)
movable between a closed position, occluding said discharge
aperture (182), and an open position.
10. The closure according to claim 9, wherein said lid (200) is
attached to said base (100) by a hinge structure (300).
11. The closure according to claim 10, wherein said hinge structure
(300) is, in a peripheral direction, arranged in close proximity to
at least one of: an elevation region; and a maximum elevation point
(152).
12. The closure according to claim 9, wherein said lid (200) has a
peripheral skirt (220) defining a peripheral termination surface
(222) adapted to contact or confront said base deck (160) when said
lid (200) is in said closed position.
13. The closure according to claim 1, wherein the said base deck
(160) defines a peripheral shoulder (164) at an outer side,
recessed below a corresponding main portion (162) of said base deck
(160).
14. The closure according to claim 12, wherein said base deck (160)
defines a peripheral shoulder 164) at an outer side, recessed below
a corresponding main portion (162) of said base deck (160), said
peripheral shoulder (164) confronts said peripheral termination
surface (222) of said lid skirt (220), when said lid (200) is
closed.
15. The closure according to claim 1, in an assembly comprising one
of: a container; and a container unit.
Description
[0001] The present invention relates generally to product
packaging, in particular to packaging of fluid products and the
like. The present invention in particular relates to a closure for
a container as well as to a container or parts or sub-units of a
container with such a closure.
[0002] Many different types of packages or containers are available
for packaging non-solid products of the type which are capable of
flowing, such as fluid or fluidized materials, including liquids,
pastes, powders, and the like, which substances are collectively
and generically referred to herein as "fluids".
[0003] Some packages also include a self-sealing dispensing valve,
which permits a selected amount of fluid to be discharged from the
package, and then reseals to close the package,
[0004] Of specific importance are closures for bottles, which
contain beverages, especially PET-bottles, which are frequently
used for selling beverages, sports drinks etc.
[0005] It is an object of the present invention to enhance such a
closure, especially for bottles, in which beverages are sold, and
it is especially an object of the invention to enhance user
friendliness, including the haptic feeling of the user when
drinking from a bottle or a container with such a closure.
[0006] This object is solved by a closure according to claim 1 and
a container with such a closure according to claim 14. Claims 2 to
13 relate to specifically advantageous realizations of the closure
system according to claim 1.
[0007] The present invention provides a closure for a container
that has an interior where a product, especially a fluid, may be
stored and that has an opening to the container interior.
[0008] According to the invention, said closure comprises a base,
while said base comprises a skirt for extending from said container
at said opening of the container, a base deck, and a spout
projecting upwardly from said base deck to define a discharge
aperture.
[0009] The deck of the base is at least partly curved and defines a
partly curved outer or upper plane. The plane, being curved,
essentially extends in a horizontal direction, i.e. in a direction
normal or perpendicular to a vertical direction, which is also the
discharge or dispensing direction.
[0010] Frequently, the closures have an essentially circular cross
section, as typically also the apertures of the bottles are
circular or tube-like, while the closures are, in frequent cases,
attached to the container by screwing, while the bottles have an
outer thread and the closure has an inner thread, typically at the
inner side of the skirt.
[0011] According to the invention, the curved outer or upper plane
of the deck has, at its periphery, at least two elevation regions
and at least two depression regions, extending between said at
least two elevations.
[0012] An elevation region means that the periphery of the deck is,
in a vertical direction or a z-direction, higher than in the
surrounding areas at its periphery, while a depression region means
that the periphery of the deck is lower in a vertical direction or
a z-direction than the surrounding area or region.
[0013] Alternatively or in addition, typically, however in
addition, the edge between skirt and deck of the base is at least
partly curved and comprises at least two elevation regions and at
least two depression regions extending between said at least two
elevation regions. The peripheral edge between deck and skirt of
the base, which extends around the vertical or z-direction is
therefore in the form of a wave. The deck extends from this edge
between deck and skirt radially inwardly and into the direction of
the spout.
[0014] This contour of the deck and/or the edge between deck and
skirt of the base has the advantage that the outer form of the deck
and/or the edge between deck and skirt of the base is adapted to
the form of the mouth and/or the lips of the user, who is drinking
from said closure, which therefore enhances the "haptic" feeling of
the user and enhances therefore user friendliness when
drinking.
[0015] The user when drinking inserts the spout into his mouth,
while his lips are surrounding or enclosing the spout essentially
on all sides. With the specific outer contour of the deck of the
base, the lips are also typically in close contact with the deck at
all positions around the periphery, without however exerting an
uneven pressure on the lips while drinking, as it is the case with
the typically flat base decks in closures of the prior art.
[0016] Additionally also the sealing between lips and closures,
especially lips and deck, can be increased, which is especially
important for bottles being used during sporting, e.g. when the
user is doing sports like bicycle riding or running, where the body
of the person is in constant movement and coordination of the
movement of the bottle is more difficult.
[0017] The closure according to the invention therefore enhances
the handling and especially the haptic feeling of the user when
drinking from such a closure. Additionally, also the optical
appearance of such a closure is enhanced.
[0018] The closure according to the present invention can be
manufactured and provided separate to the container, and typically
it is attached to a container later on by respective attachment
means, typically the closure is screwed onto a container, while the
closure typically has internal threads, provided at an inner side
of the skirt.
[0019] However, the closure can be also part of the container
itself, or it can be releasably or unreleasably attached to the
container or part of the container.
[0020] According to a preferred embodiment, said plane of said base
deck and/or said edge between said skirt and said base deck
comprises at least one maximum elevation point and at least one
minimum elevation point being, in a vertical or z-direction, offset
by a distance a, wherein said distance a is depending on the
circumferential length u of the closure, wherein the distance a
follows the following formula:
u*10.sup.-1.ltoreq.a.ltoreq.u*10.sup.-3.
[0021] The distance a is measured in a z-direction or a vertical
direction, which is typically essentially a discharge direction
through the opening of the closure, and is thereby preferably
determined to be arranged such that it is especially suitable for
creating an outer form of the closure, which best adapts to the
form of the lips of the user, in order to further enhance the
haptic feeling of the user when drinking.
[0022] According to a further preferred embodiment, the deck of the
closure comprises two maximum elevation points, which are, in a
peripheral direction, offset by 180.degree. or nearly 180.degree.,
preferably offset by 180.degree.+/-10.degree. and more preferably
by 180.degree.+/-5.degree..
[0023] The maximum elevation points can be in fact singular,
maximum elevation points, like the maximum of a curve, but the
maximum elevation "points" can be also extended, e.g. the elevation
can be constantly high for a certain peripheral extension,
preferably however for at maximum an angle of 10.degree. or 5 in a
peripheral direction.
[0024] Preferably the closure comprises also two maximum depression
points, which are, in a peripheral direction, also offset by
180.degree. or nearly 180.degree., preferably
180.degree.+/-10.degree. or more preferably by
180.degree.+/-5.degree.. As explained with respect to the maximum
elevation points, the maximum depression points could be also
essentially singular points, but could also extend about a certain
peripheral extension, preferably at maximum over an angle of
10.sup.0 or 5.degree. in a peripheral direction.
[0025] Preferably the height of the maximum elevation points are
identical, and the same is true for the maximum depression points,
while the height is measured in a z-direction or a vertical
direction or essentially in a discharge direction through the
opening of the closure.
[0026] According to a specifically preferred embodiment, the
closure has a deck which comprises two maximum elevation points
being positioned at an x-axis being normal to a vertical direction
or a z-direction (or z-axis), or being normal to the discharge
direction, while the deck comprises two maximum depression points,
positioned at a y-axis being normal to said x-axis and being normal
to said vertical or z-direction (z-axis). From a side view, the
deck essentially therefore shows a wave-form, with two maximum
elevations arranged along an x-axis and therefore 180.degree.
offset and with two maximum depressions (Or "minimum elevations")
arranged at an y-axis, being 90' offset to the x-axis.
[0027] Preferably, the contour of this plane and/or the edge is
continuous, with no steps or discontinuous gradient inbetween.
[0028] This specific form is especially suitable to adopt to the
form of the mouth and the lips of a user drinking from this closure
by taking the spout into his mouth and between his lips, so that
his lips come in contact with the deck of the closure.
[0029] Preferably, the deck extends completely around the spout,
while however the radial extension of the deck around the spout
might vary, also depending on the form of the spout and the
cross-section form of the closure.
[0030] Furthermore, also the transition from deck to spout is
preferably curved and continuous. In one embodiment it is, in
principle, also possible that the spout extends, in some peripheral
regions, essentially completely to the outside, i.e. to the skirt
of the closure, so that the radial extension of the deck is, in
this peripheral region, minimized or even zero, so that the deck is
interrupted and does not extend completely around the spout. The
spout can, in its lower area, also form part of the deck,
especially in case there is a continuous transition from spout to
deck.
[0031] Preferably the spout is in the form of a dome, and
preferably the dome has an essentially circular cross-section or is
rotation- symmetric, especially axially symmetric to the z-axis or
vertical direction.
[0032] The spout and especially a dome-shaped spout defines an
opening, typically an opening with a circular cross section, The
vertical or z-axis extends typically in a discharge direction
through the aperture of the spout and typically exactly through the
middle of the spout and/or aperture, as the spout is arranged
centrally. The vertical or z-axis also typically extends parallel
to a tube-like or essentially cylinder-like skirt of the base.
[0033] However, in another embodiment, the spout, being preferably
dome-shaped, can also have an essentially oval cross-section or
another cross-section, deviating from a circular cross-section.
[0034] The definition and arrangement of the vertical or z-axis is
hereby, however, not influenced, and the above definition and
arrangement of the vertical or z-axis can apply to all embodiments
covered by this invention.
[0035] In one preferred embodiment, the cross-section of the
dome-shaped spout is extended or elongated in the x-direction,
therefore in the direction in which also the maximum elevation
points or regions are arranged, as this is especially of advantage
for the haptic feeling of the user and especially adapts even
better to the contours of mouth and lips of the user.
[0036] Preferably, the spout is a separate element, being inserted
into and/or attached to the base, and frequently the spout is also
made from a material being different from the material of the
base.
[0037] However, it is also possible that the spout is an integral
element of the closure and consists of the same material.
Especially depending on the application and the manufacturing
process, the expert can choose the one or the other
realization.
[0038] According to a preferred embodiment, the closure comprises a
lid moveable between a closed position, occluding the discharge
aperture, and an open position. Preferably, such a lid is attached
to said base by a hinge structure.
[0039] Such a lid has the advantage that the discharge aperture
could be safely closed when the lid is in its closed position,
while the lid can be easily switched open and rotated around the
hinge, so that the lid comes into an open position at one side of
the base, in order to enable the user to bring the bottle and the
closure to his mouth and to drink.
[0040] Preferably, the angular position of the hinge structure is
in proximity to the position of an elevation, preferably therefore
in a position where the x-axis cuts or crosses the skirt, as the
user would typically hold the bottle such that the lid or lid
member is sidewards when being opened, so that the lid does not
disturb the user while drinking. When arranging the hinge structure
essentially at a location where the x-axis cuts the skirt of the
base, automatically also the elevations and depressions and the
form of the plane of the base deck and/or the edge between deck and
skirt are arranged such that it best fits to the outer contours of
the mouth and/or lips of the user.
[0041] Preferably, the lid has a peripheral skirt defining a
peripheral termination surface adapted to contact or confront the
base deck, when the lid is in its closed position. This has the
advantage that the skirt of the lid also essentially covers a major
or the complete area of the deck of the closure, covering the spout
when the lid is in its closed position.
[0042] In one of the preferred embodiments the deck defines a
peripheral shoulder at an outer side, recessed below the
corresponding main portion of the deck, while preferably the
recessed shoulder confronts the peripheral termination surface of
the lid skirt, when the lid is in its closed position. This has an
additional advantage that there is also a sealing effect between
the outer skirt of the lid on the one hand and the base on the
other hand. Furthermore, the optical appearance of the closure is
enhanced, especially when the lid is in its closed position.
[0043] The present invention also relates to a container or a
container unit with a closure as described above, and it is
therefore fully referred to the above-mentioned explanations of the
closure.
[0044] Typically the closure and the container are manufactured and
provided separately, and the closure is attached to the container,
e.g. by screwing on the container, but also other attachments
means, like welding, gluing etc. are possible without any
restrictions.
[0045] Numerous other advantages and features of the present
invention will become readily apparent from the following detailed
description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, from the
claims and from the accompanying drawings.
[0046] FIG. 1 schematically shows a side view of an embodiment of
the closure according to the present invention, with the lid being
in its closed position,
[0047] FIG. 2 schematically shows a front view of the embodiment
shown in FIG. 1, with the lid being in its closed position;
[0048] FIG. 3 schematically shows a perspective view of an
embodiment of the closure of the present invention with its lid
being in the open position;
[0049] FIG. 4 shows schematically a front view of an embodiment of
the closure according to the invention, with its lid in the open
position;
[0050] FIG. 5 shows a cross section of the embodiment of the
closure according to the present invention along an x-z-plane, with
the lid in its open position; and
[0051] FIG. 6 shows the outer form and contour of a skirt of a
closure according to an embodiment of the present invention over
the complete circumference from 0 to 360, as if it were cut at one
position and shown over its complete longitudinal or
circumferential extension.
[0052] FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a closure 10 of the present
invention having a base 100 with a skirt 120 having a peripheral
wall 122 and a lid 200, being attached to the base by a hinge
member 300, while the lid 200 is in its closed position.
[0053] The skirt 120 and the peripheral wall 122 of the base 100
has an essentially circular cross section (in a plane parallel to
an x-y-plane or perpendicular to the vertical or z-axis), so that
the closure can be attached to a (not shown) container having a
tubular or circular opening, like standard bottles.
[0054] Attached to the base is a temper-evident element 140, the
specific arrangements of these temper-evident elements are known to
the expert.
[0055] The lid 200 has a skirt 220, which extends, in its closed
position, downwards such that lid peripheral termination surfaces
222 contact or confront the outer contour of the deck 140 of the
base 100 or the edge 150 between skirt 120 and deck 160.
[0056] Additionally the lid 200 comprises a nose or a protrusion
240, which is arranged at a front side of the lid 200, so that the
user can open the lid and rotate it around the hinge means from its
closed position shown in FIG. 1, into an open position, see e.g.
FIG. 3.
[0057] FIG. 2 shows the embodiment. shown in FIG. 1, however in a
front view, however most elements, as explained with respect to
FIG. 1, are also visible in FIG. 2. In order to avoid repetition it
is therefore fully referred to the description of FIG. 1.
[0058] Additionally in FIG. 2 another temper-evident element 400 is
shown. This additional temper-evident element indicates whether the
lid has been opened once or not. The temper-evident element 400 is
in the form of an anchor and is attached to the lid 200, while
predetermined breaking points 420 are provided at the linkage
between the anchor and lid 200.
[0059] The anchor-like temper-evident element 400 is arranged in a
pocket 180 within the base 100, while the outer-edges 440 of the
anchor-like temper-evident element are arranged such that when
pulling the lid 200 and thereby the anchor upwards, namely when
opening the lid, these outer elements 440 abut against stoppers
provided in the pocket 180, so that the anchor element can not move
outside of the pocket 180, so that the predetermined breaking
points 420 will break. The anchor-like temper-evident-element 400
will then move downwards and will fall deeper into the pocket 180
of the base 100, clearly indicating to the user that the lid had
already been opened at least once.
[0060] The side and the front view of the embodiment of the closure
of the present invention shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 do clearly show
the contour of the at least partly curved outer or upper plane of
the deck and of the edge 150 between skirt or skirt walls 122 and
deck 160 of the base 100, see also FIG. 3, and also the outer
contour of the peripheral termination surface 222 of the lid 200,
which corresponds to the form of the outer deck 160 at its outer
peripheral position and of the edge 150. Both FIG. 1 and FIG. 2
clearly show the "wave form" of the contour, with a maximum
elevation 152 at the front side, see FIG. 2 and FIG. 1 on the left
side, and on the back side of the closure, namely in the area of
the hinge, see FIG. 1 on the right side. Furthermore clearly the
two depressions 154 can be seen on the left and right side of the
closure, see FIG. 2 left and right and FIG. 1 in the middle, here
only the left side depression is visible.
[0061] This embodiment therefore only comprises two depression
areas 154 and two elevation areas 152 and all together two maximum
elevation points 154 and two maximum depression points 152, each
being offset in peripheral direction by 180', while each maximum
elevation point is offset by 90.degree. of the next maximum
depression point.
[0062] FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of the closure of the present
invention with a lid 200 being in its open position. it has to be
noted that FIG. 3 shows the closure before its first closing,
therefore with the anchor-like-temper-evident element 400 still
attached to the lid and before, for the first time, inserted into
the pocket 180 of the base.
[0063] In the peripheral view of FIG. 3, both the deck 160 with its
curved surface and the edge 150 between skirt 120 and deck 160, as
already explained with respect to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, is clearly
visible, as well as the dome shaped spout 180, extending upwards
from the curved plane of the deck 160 and comprising the aperture
182, which opens an access to the interior of the closure and the
container, to which the closure is attached (the container is not
shown in the figures).
[0064] FIG. 3 especially very well shows the continuously curved
plane of the deck 160, with two depression areas 154, on the left
and right side, and the two elevation areas 152 at the front side,
where the pocket 180 is arranged, and at the backside, where the
hinge is arranged.
[0065] In FIG. 3, as well as in FIG. 2, the z-axis is indicated,
being the vertical axis, while an x-axis is normal to the z-axis
and extends from the front side to the back side of the closure,
i.e. from the middle of the pocket to the middle of the hinge. In
this respect is also referred to FIG. 5, which shows a
cross-section through an embodiment of the closure according to the
invention, while the cross-section is done in the x-z-plane.
[0066] FIG. 4. shows a front view of an embodiment of the closure
of the present invention, which shows again very well the contours
of the dome-shaped spout 180 and the deck 160 and the edge 150,
with its two depressions 154 on the side, in FIG. 4 on the left and
the right side, essentially in the area of an y-axis. However, only
one elevation 152 is visible, namely the one at the front side, the
one at the back side is covered by the dome-shaped spout 180.
[0067] It has to be noted that in FIG. 4 also parts of the lid are
still visible above the deck 160.
[0068] As it can be well seen in FIG. 4, the deck 160 defines a
peripheral shoulder at the outer side, recessed below the
corresponding main portion 162 of the deck. This recessed shoulder
164 confronts the peripheral termination surface 222 of the lid
skirt 220, when the lid 200 is closed, and it leads to an
additional sealing effect between the lid 200 and the base 100,
when the lid 200 is in its closed position.
[0069] FIG. 5 shows a cross section through an embodiment of the
closure according to present invention, while the cross section is
along the x-z-plane,
[0070] FIG. 5 very well shows the dome-shape of the spout 180 with
the aperture 182 provided therein. The lid 200, shown in its open
position, has at its inside a tubular extension 280, which fits
into the opening 182 of the aperture 180 and thereby occludes the
aperture 182 when the lid is in its closed position.
[0071] The elevations and also the two maximum elevation points 152
are arranged in the x-z-plane, therefore at the front side and the
back side of the closure, which, however, is shown in FIG. 5 on the
left side and right side. The cross-section of FIG. 5 through the
x-z-axis therefore directly goes through these two maximum
elevation points 152.
[0072] The base 100 is provided with internal threads 124 at its
skirt wall 122 and the threads 124 enable the closure to be screwed
onto a container, having corresponding outer threads.
[0073] Fig, 6 shows a skirt of a closure according to an embodiment
of the invention in a "scrolled open" view over the complete
circumference from 0.degree. to 360.degree.. Of course, the skirt
does not exist in this form, however the drawing clearly
illustrates the contour of a closure according to the present
invention over its circumference.
[0074] In FIG. 6, clearly two maximum elevation points 154, offset
in a peripheral direction by 180.degree. are visible, while each
maximum elevation point 154 is offset by 90.degree. of the next
maximum depression point 152, so that there are in total two
maximum depression points 152 and two maximum elevation points 154,
each point 90.degree. offset of the next point (one maximum
depression point 152 is in this figure indicated twice, namely at
the same position 0.degree. and 360.degree.).
[0075] The distance a in a vertical direction or z-direction
between a maximum depression point 152 and a maximum elevation
point 154 is, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention,
dependent on the circumference or the length of the circumference u
of the skirt, i.e. the length measured from position 0.degree. to
360.degree., a full length of a circumference.
[0076] The distance a is, according to a preferred embodiment of
the invention, determined according to the following formula:
u*10.sup.-1.gtoreq.a.gtoreq.u*10.sup.-3
[0077] With a closure having a diameter of e.g. 28 mm, a minimum
value of a would be in the area of about 0.09 mm and a maximum
value would be about 8.8 mm.
[0078] It is clear to the expert that various amendments can be
made to the embodiment, without departing from the scope of the
present invention as defined by the attached claims, and any
features disclosed in connection with the embodiments or the
general description can be important for realizing the invention,
either alone or any combination thereof.
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