U.S. patent application number 15/348536 was filed with the patent office on 2017-06-15 for closure capsule for closing bottles.
The applicant listed for this patent is SACMI COOPERATIVA MECCANICI IMOLA SOCIETA' COOPERATIVA. Invention is credited to ALESSANDRO FALZONI.
Application Number | 20170166360 15/348536 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 59018372 |
Filed Date | 2017-06-15 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170166360 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
FALZONI; ALESSANDRO |
June 15, 2017 |
CLOSURE CAPSULE FOR CLOSING BOTTLES
Abstract
A closure capsule for closing a container, comprising: a lateral
portion (2), having a substantially cylindrical shape; a
transversal wall (3), connected to an end of the lateral portion
(2); a first seal lip (4), having a substantially cylindrical
shape, concentric to the lateral portion (2) and projecting below
the transversal wall (3); the second seal lip (5), concentric to
the lateral portion (2) and projecting below the transversal wall
(3), the second seal lip (5) being interposed between the lateral
portion (2) and the first seal lip (4); characterised in that it
comprises a plurality of ribs (6) which are interposed between the
second seal lip (5) and the lateral portion (2) and connect the
second seal lip (5) with the lateral portion (2).
Inventors: |
FALZONI; ALESSANDRO; (IMOLA,
IT) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
SACMI COOPERATIVA MECCANICI IMOLA SOCIETA' COOPERATIVA |
40026 IMOLA (BOLOGNA) |
|
IT |
|
|
Family ID: |
59018372 |
Appl. No.: |
15/348536 |
Filed: |
November 10, 2016 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 41/0435 20130101;
B65D 41/0421 20130101; B65D 41/045 20130101 |
International
Class: |
B65D 41/04 20060101
B65D041/04 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 14, 2015 |
IT |
202015000082677 |
Mar 22, 2016 |
IT |
202016000029622 |
Claims
1. A closure capsule for closing a container, comprising: a lateral
portion (2), having a substantially cylindrical shape; a
transversal wall (3), connected to an end of the lateral portion
(2); a first seal lip (4), having a substantially cylindrical
shape, concentric to the lateral portion (2) and projecting below
the transversal wall (3); a second seal lip (5), concentric to the
lateral portion (2) and projecting below the transversal wall (3),
the second seal lip (5) being interposed between the lateral
portion (2) and the first seal lip (4); characterised in that it
comprises a plurality of ribs (6) which are interposed between the
second seal lip (5) and the lateral portion (2) and connect the
second seal lip (5) with the lateral portion (2).
2. A closure capsule for closing a container, comprising: a lateral
portion (2) having a substantially cylindrical shape; a transversal
wall (3), connected to an end of the lateral portion (2); a first
seal lip (4), having a substantially cylindrical shape, concentric
to the lateral portion (2) and projecting below the transversal
wall (3); a plurality of grooves (7) fashioned on an internal face
of the lateral portion (2) and arranged parallel to a central axis
of the lateral portion (2); characterised in that it comprises a
plurality of ribs (8) arranged within the grooves (7) transversally
to the central axis of the lateral portion (2).
3. The capsule according to claim 2, wherein the lateral portion
(2) comprises an internal thread which is interrupted at each
groove (7), wherein the ribs (8) are aligned with the internal
thread.
4. A closure capsule for closing a container, comprising: a lateral
portion (2), having a substantially cylindrical shape; a
transversal wall (3), connected to an end of the lateral portion
(2); characterised in that it comprises a cup-shaped seal element
(12), associated to the transversal wall (3) and projecting below
the transversal wall (3) concentrically to the lateral portion (2),
the seal element (12) being made of a gas-impermeable material.
5. The capsule according to claim 4, wherein the seal element (12)
is alternatively made of: polypropylene, polyethylene, PET, PBT,
PEF, PLA, PEE.
6. The capsule according to claim 4, wherein the seal element (12)
is realised by compression or by injection.
7. The capsule according to claim 4, wherein the seal element (12)
comprises a circular rib (13).
8. A closure capsule for bottles or containers, comprising: a
lateral portion (2), having a cylindrical shape and a longitudinal
axis (X); a transversal wall (3), associated to an end of the
lateral portion (2) at a junction zone (4); a plurality of ribs
(5), which project externally from the surface of the lateral
portion (2) and are orientated parallel to the longitudinal axis
(X); characterised in that the ribs (5) also extend to the junction
zone (4).
9. The capsule according to claim 8, wherein the ribs (5) extend
over the entire thickness of the transversal wall (3).
10. The capsule according to claim 8, wherein the transversal wall
(3) is substantially tangential to an end plane (T) perpendicular
to the longitudinal axis (X), and wherein the ribs (5), at an end
thereof, are tangential to the end plane (T).
11. The capsule according to claim 8, comprising a seal gasket (6),
applied to the transversal wall (3) within of the lateral portion
(2).
12. The capsule according to claim 11, wherein the seal gasket (6)
has a projecting seal lip (61).
Description
[0001] The present invention relates to a closure capsule for
closing bottles. Various types of closure capsule for closing
bottles, substantially cylindrical in shape, are known, which are
provided with a transversal wall and a lateral portion. The lateral
portion is predisposed for coupling to the neck of the bottle,
typically by means of a thread. The transversal wall is instead
destined to face the opening delimited by the neck of the bottle.
The transversal wall is generally provided at the bottom with a
seal lip, having an overall cylindrical shape, structured for
partly entering into the neck of the bottle and realising a
substantially hermetic seal.
[0002] There also exist capsules provided with a second closing
lip, which extends below the transversal wall parallel to the first
seal lip, The two seal lips are mutually concentric, the first
being located in a more internal position and the second being
located in a more external position, i.e., between the first seal
lip and the lateral portion. In capsules provided with two seal
lips the upper portion of the neck of the bottle inserts between
the two lips when the capsule is applied in the closed position to
the container.
[0003] For reasons of dimensions, the second seal lip is located
relatively close to the lateral portion of the capsule and must be
realised with a limited thickness. For this reason the second seal
lip is poorly rigid and tends to deform in an undesired way.
[0004] A further zone having an often not-sufficient rigidity is
located in the breather grooves with which the closure capsules can
be provided. The grooves are fashioned on the internal face of the
lateral portion of the capsule, interrupting the thread, and extend
along a parallel direction to the rotation axis of the capsule. The
function of the described grooves is to enable, on the unscrewing
of the capsule from the closed position, an at least partial
venting of any pressurised gases accumulated within the bottle. At
the breather grooves, the lateral portion of the capsule has a
rather limited thickness and thus is relatively weak and
deformable.
[0005] Some types of capsules are provided, below the transversal
wall, with a seal gasket. The seal gasket has a substantially
discoidal shape and is directly moulded in the capsule in contact
with the transversal wall. The seal gasket can be generally
provided at the bottom with a seal lip, structured for partly
inserting into the neck of the bottle and realising a substantially
hermetic seal.
[0006] The upper edge zone of the capsule, i.e. the zone in which
the lateral portion joins the transversal wall, has a consistent
thickness, so as to provide a sufficient rigidity for the moulding
process of the seal gasket. This zone therefore requires an
increase in the material necessary for the production of the
capsule. Further, the considerable thickness of the upper edge zone
complicates the production process of the capsule.
[0007] An aim of the present invention is to provide a closure
capsule for bottles which enables obviating the drawbacks of the
capsules at present available.
[0008] An advantage of the invention is to enable a significant
reduction in the thickness of the upper edge zone of the capsule,
while maintaining the necessary rigidity for moulding the seal
gasket.
[0009] Characteristics and advantages of the capsule according to
the invention will more fully emerge from the following detailed
description of an embodiment of said invention, as illustrated in a
non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0010] FIG. 1 is a first view of a first embodiment of the closing
capsule of the invention;
[0011] FIG. 2 is a section view of the capsule along plane II-II of
FIG. 1;
[0012] FIG. 3 is a section view of the capsule along plane III-III
of FIG. 1;
[0013] FIG. 4 is a plan view of a second embodiment of the capsule
of the invention;
[0014] FIG. 5 is a section view of the capsule along plane V-V of
FIG. 4;
[0015] FIG. 6 is a section view of the capsule along plane VI-VI of
FIG. 4;
[0016] FIG. 7 is a third embodiment of the capsule of the
invention;
[0017] FIG. 8 is a section view of the capsule along plane A-A of
FIG. 7;
[0018] FIG. 9 shows the capsule of the invention in section view
along plane I-I of FIG. 10;
[0019] FIG. 10 is a view from above of the capsule of the
invention.
[0020] The closure capsule of the invention comprises a lateral
portion (2) having a substantially cylindrical shape, a transversal
wall (3) being connected to an end of the lateral portion (2).
Overall the closure has a cup-shaped conformation, defined by the
lateral portion (2) and the transversal wall (3), both concentric
to a central axis (X).
[0021] A first seal lip (4), having a substantially cylindrical
shape projects below the transversal wall (3), concentric to the
lateral portion (2). The capsule further comprises a second seal
lip (5), concentric to the lateral portion (2) and projecting below
the transversal wall (3). The second seal lip (5) is interposed
between the lateral portion (2) and the first seal lip (4).
[0022] The first and the second lip (4, 5) are structured and
positioned so as to tightly house the upper edge of the neck of the
container to which the capsule is destined to be applied. For
example, in order to enable the coupling with the neck of the
container the lateral portion (2) is provided with an internal
thread.
[0023] The capsule of the invention comprises a plurality of ribs
(6) which are interposed between the second seal lip (5) and the
lateral portion (2) and connect the second seal lip (5) with the
lateral portion (2).
[0024] The ribs (6) enable a stiffening of the second seal lip (5),
improving the coupling with the neck of the container.
[0025] As visible in FIG. 3, the ribs (6) can be orientated on
non-radial planes with respect to the central axis (X), or, in an
embodiment that is not illustrated, they can be orientated on
radial planes
with respect to the central axis (X).
[0026] The ribs (6) preferably have a height, i.e. a dimension
measured parallel to the central axis (X), equal to or smaller than
the height of the second seal lip (5).
[0027] In a second embodiment, illustrated in figures from 4 to 6,
the capsule of the invention comprises a plurality of grooves (7)
fashioned on an internal face of the lateral portion (2) and
arranged parallel to the central axis (X) of the lateral portion
(2). The grooves (7) have the function of enabling at least partial
venting of the gases that may be contained within the bottle or
container to which the capsule is applied, during the unscrewing of
the capsule. The grooves (7) are preferably aligned radially with
zones of greater thickness of the lateral portion (2).
[0028] A plurality of ribs (8) are arranged within the grooves (7)
transversally to the central axis of the lateral portion (2). The
ribs (8) enable stiffening and strengthening the bottom wall of the
grooves (7), a zone in which the thickness of the lateral portion
(2) is smaller.
[0029] In the illustrated embodiment, the lateral portion (2)
comprises an internal thread which is interrupted at each groove
(7). As is visible in FIG. 5, the ribs (8) are aligned with the
internal thread, i.e. they carry on with the extension of the
internal thread. The ribs (8) can be located within the grooves
(7), so that the internal thread has in any case some interruptions
at the grooves (7), or can be continuous with respect to the
internal thread, so that the internal thread substantially has a
continuous extension that is free of interruptions. The ribs (8)
can be located within the grooves (7), so that the internal thread
has in any case some interruptions at the grooves (7), or can be
continuous with respect to the internal thread, so that the
internal thread substantially has a continuous extension that is
free of interruptions.
[0030] In the embodiment of figures from 4 to 6 the capsule might
be without the ribs (6) and/or the second seal lip (5).
[0031] In a further variant, the closing capsule of the invention
comprises cup-shaped seal element (12), associated to the
transversal wall (2) and projecting below the transversal wall (3)
concentrically to the lateral portion (2).
[0032] The seal element (12) is made of a gas-impermeable
material.
[0033] The seal element (12) can alternatively be made of polymers
with barrier properties to water vapour (for example polypropylene,
polyethylene), polymers with barrier properties to oxygen, carbon
dioxide or other volatile compounds (for example PET, PBT, PEF,
PLA, PEN). The seal element (12) is realised by compression or by
injection.
[0034] In the illustrated embodiment of FIGS. 7 and 8, the seal
element is cup-shaped and projects below the transversal wall (3).
In the illustrated embodiment the seal element (12) has a circular
rib (13), concentric to the central axis (X) and projecting towards
the central axis (X). The circular rib (13) makes the seal element
(12) more rigid and obstructs any eventual deformations due to the
internal pressure of the container to which the capsule is
applied.
[0035] The seal element (12) can be realised in various shapes and
configurations, one of which can be the one represented in FIGS. 7
and 8. Other possible embodiments of the seal elements (12) are
illustrated, for example, in patent publications: U.S. Pat. No.
5,984,124, U.S. Pat. No. 4,493,427, U.S. Pat. No. 5,421,470, U.S.
Pat. No. 3,788,510, U.S. Pat. No. 3,574,333, U.S. Pat. No.
3,979,004, U.S. Pat. No. 2,716,504, U.S. Pat. No. 4,192,428, U.S.
Pat. No. 5,884,788, U.S. Pat. No. 4,473,163, U.S. Pat. No.
4,997,097, EP0636550, EP0261047.
[0036] As is easily deducible from FIG. 8, the seal element (12) is
destined to at least partly insert within the neck of the container
or bottle to which the capsule is applied, and to tightly contact
the internal surface of the neck. The capsule provided with the
seal element (12) can be made without both seal lips (4, 5).
[0037] With reference to FIGS. 9 and 10, the closure capsule (1) of
the invention comprises a lateral portion (2), having a cylindrical
shape and concentric to a longitudinal axis (X); In the illustrated
embodiment, the lateral portion (2) is provided within with a
thread, predisposed so as to couple to a thread arranged on the
neck of the container it is destined to close. Other coupling means
might however be adopted in place of the thread.
[0038] A transversal wall (3) is associated to an end of the
lateral portion (2) at a junction zone (4). The transversal wall
(3) is arranged perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis (X) and
closes the lateral portion (2) at an end thereof. In a common way,
the capsule (1) has overall a cup-shaped conformation.
[0039] The junction zone (4) is arranged substantially at an end
edge of the lateral portion (2) and the transversal wall (3). The
junction zone (4) substantially defines the transition between the
lateral portion (2) and the transversal wall (3), which are
realised in a single piece.
[0040] A plurality of ribs (5) are associated to the lateral
portion (2). The plurality of ribs (5) project externally from the
surface of the lateral portion (2) and are orientated parallel to
the longitudinal axis (X).
[0041] The ribs (5) advantageously also extend to the junction zone
(4). Since the ribs significantly strengthen the zones in which
they are arranged, it is possible to considerably reduce the
thickness (4s) of the junction zone (4), without the junction zone
(4) substantially losing rigidity. Even with the thickness (4s)
made slimmer with respect to the capsules of known type, the
junction zone (4) is sufficiently rigid to enable moulding of a
seal gasket (6).
[0042] The ribs (5) preferably extend over the entire thickness
(3s) of the transversal wall (3).
[0043] In the illustrated embodiment, the transversal wall (3) is
substantially tangential to an end plane (T) perpendicular to the
longitudinal axis (X). The ribs (5), at an end thereof, are
tangential to the end plane (T). This enables significantly
increasing the rigidity of the junction zone (4), including in the
presence of a particularly reduced thickness (4s).
[0044] The capsule can be provided with a seal gasket (6), applied
to the transversal wall (3) within the lateral portion (2). The
seal gasket (6) is destined to be positioned in contact with the
end of the neck of the bottle or container to be closed. In
particular, when the capsule is applied in a closed position, the
seal gasket (6) is compressed between the transversal wall (3) and
the end of the neck of the bottle. The seal gasket (6)
advantageously has a projecting seal lip (61). The seal lip (61) is
structured for partly entering into the neck of the bottle, coming
into contact with the neck of the bottle so as to realise a
substantially hermetic seal.
[0045] The capsule of the invention provides important advantages.
The extension of the ribs (5) on the junction zone (4) enables
considerably stiffening the junction zone. In this way it is
possible to significantly reduce the thickness (4s) of the junction
zone (4), realising a considerable saving of material. Further, the
reduction of the thickness (4s) of the junction zone (4)
facilitates the production cycle of the capsule.
* * * * *