U.S. patent application number 17/278998 was filed with the patent office on 2022-02-03 for sealing cap having a push-button for emptying a capsule formed thereby.
The applicant listed for this patent is Belcap Switzerland AG. Invention is credited to Fritz SEELHOFER.
Application Number | 20220033152 17/278998 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 68109294 |
Filed Date | 2022-02-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20220033152 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
SEELHOFER; Fritz |
February 3, 2022 |
SEALING CAP HAVING A PUSH-BUTTON FOR EMPTYING A CAPSULE FORMED
THEREBY
Abstract
The invention relates to a fillable sealing cap (1), which forms
a capsule (18), which is open to the bottom and can be sealed by a
sealing washer (3), in the interior thereof. A central push-button
(2) for depressing the capsule lid (6), thereby deforming the
capsule lid, is formed on the outside of the capsule lid (6). A
central stamp (7) protruding axially downward is formed on the
inside of the capsule (18) underneath the push-button (2). At least
three spreading legs (8) protruding downward and outward at an
acute angle to the sealing-rotation axis (21) are formed
distributed about the stamp. The capsule lid (6) is corrugated
about the stamp (7) in the radial direction, wherein said capsule
lid (6) has a thinner wall thickness in the first, interior region
(10) of the radius thereof than in the second, outer region (11).
The lid wall is flexed in two phases in the event of pressure from
above on the push-button (2). The stamp (7) presses on the sealing
washer (3), initially tensioning the sealing washer and then
opening sealing washer while the ends (26) of the spreading legs
(8) slide outward and press the sealing washer (3) downward on the
circumference thereof and then hold the sealing washing pivoted
downward.
Inventors: |
SEELHOFER; Fritz; (Lindau,
CH) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Belcap Switzerland AG |
Lindau |
|
CH |
|
|
Family ID: |
68109294 |
Appl. No.: |
17/278998 |
Filed: |
September 25, 2019 |
PCT Filed: |
September 25, 2019 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP2019/075956 |
371 Date: |
March 23, 2021 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 51/2842
20130101 |
International
Class: |
B65D 51/28 20060101
B65D051/28 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Sep 28, 2018 |
CH |
01188/18 |
Claims
1. A fillable sealing cap (1), screwable or attachable to a
threaded connector of a container, having a push button (2) for
triggering the emptying of a capsule (4) being formed under said
push button (2) and being open at the bottom and sealable with a
sealing washer (3), said capsule (4) having a circumferential
capsule wall (5) and capsule lid (6), for receiving a substance
which can be emptied into a container equipped with this sealing
cap (1), wherein, on the outside of the capsule lid (6), a central
push button (2) is formed for pressing down the capsule lid (6)
while deforming it, characterised in that a central, axially
downwardly projecting stamp (7) is formed on the inside of the
capsule (18) below the push button (2), and that at least two
spreading legs (8), which can be pivoted downwards and outwards to
the closure axis of rotation (21), are formed around the
circumference of this stamp (7), which taper off via their end
region into an elastically bendable tapering as feet (26), further
that the capsule lid (6) is designed to be corrugated around the
stamp (7) when viewed in the radial direction, wherein this capsule
lid (6) is designed in the first, inner corrugated area (10) of its
radius with a thinner wall thickness than in the second, outer
corrugated area (11), such that the lid wall can be flexed in two
phases by pressing the push button (2) from above, in that the
inner lid region (10) is first flexable by axially depressing the
push button (2), until the stamp (7) applies pressure to the
sealing washer (3) at pressure points (23) and thereby pretensions
said sealing washer and the spreading legs (8) touch the sealing
washer (3), thereafter the outer corrugated area (11) can be flexed
by further depressing the push button (2) and thus the end regions
of the spreading legs (8), while the stamp (7) breaks through the
sealing washer (3), pivot the resulting loose sealing washer
segments downwards so that the opening of the capsule (4) is
exposed.
2. The fillable sealing cap (1), screwable or attachable to a
threaded connector of a container, according to claim 1, wherein
the stamp (7) is star-shaped in cross-section and forms radially
protruding wings (27) so that it forms a two-dimensional end, which
is intended to act as a support for a sealing washer (3) pressed on
from below by outgassing the contents of the bottle, whereby this
sealing washer (3) is a plastic disc, which is provided with a
barrier coating (36) over its entire extent, wherein the plastic
disc by means of at least one diametrical slit (29) and at least
two arc-shaped slits (30, 31) adjoining the ends of this slit (29)
with their middle, which each leave a material bridge (32, 33) as a
hinge between their ends, forms two otherwise free semicircle
segments (34, 35), which can be pivoted in a hinge-like manner
around the material bridges (32, 33) by means of pressure from the
stamp (7) from above after bursting the coating (36) on their
underside.
3. The fillable sealing cap (1), screwable or attachable to a
threaded connector of a container, according to claim 1, wherein
the spreading legs (8) touch the sealing washer (3) and when
depressing the push button (2) the end regions (26) of the
spreading legs (8) bend elastically outwards and slide radially
outwards on the sealing washer (3) near to the slits (30, 31) and
generate a shearing effect and a break there, and their ends (26),
while the stamp (7) breaks through the sealing washer (3), pivot
the resulting loose sealing washer segments downwards so that the
opening of the capsule (4) is exposed.
4. The fillable sealing cap (1), screwable or attachable to a
threaded connector of a container, according to claim 1, wherein
the capsule lid (6) is designed to be corrugated around the stamp
(7) when viewed in the radial direction, wherein the capsule lid
(6) in the first, inner region (10) of its radius forms a wave
shape with a thinner wall thickness with at least one wave trough
(12) and one wave crest (13), and then the area (11) of its radius
with a thicker wall thickness also forms a wave shape having at
least one wave trough (4) and one wave crest (5) so that the
capsule lid (6) can be flexed in two phases by pressing the push
button (2) from above, with the push button (2) moving axially
downwards.
5. The fillable sealing cap (1), screwable or attachable to a
threaded connector of a container, according to claim 1, wherein
that the capsule lid (6) is designed to be corrugated around the
stamp (7) when viewed in the radial direction, wherein the capsule
lid (6) in the first, inner region (10) of its radius is designed
with a thinner wall thickness than in the outer region (11), and
this capsule cover (6) subsequently forms a wave trough (12) and
then a wave crest (13), viewed in the radial direction, on the push
button (2), and then the second region (11) forms a wave trough (4)
and then a wave crest (5), which is transferred into the yet larger
dimensioned capsule wall (25).
6. The fillable sealing cap (1), screwable or attachable to a
threaded connector of a container, according to claim 1, wherein
the push button (2) in the capsule lid (6) is formed as an
overturned cup (9) that widens conically at the bottom, with the
central stamp (7) on the inside, and that the spreading legs (8)
are produced and formed by recesses (15) in the cup wall (9).
7. The fillable sealing cap (1), screwable or attachable to a
threaded connector of a container, according to claim 1, wherein
the push button (2) forms a concave pusher surface (24) on its
outer, upper side, with a circumferential upwardly directed edge
(14) tapering to an acute angle, for centring and axial guidance of
a finger pressing on the push button (2).
8. The fillable sealing cap (1), screwable or attachable to a
threaded connector of a container, according to claim 1, wherein
the sealing washer (3) is divided into three segments (22) with
three radial and arcuate weakening lines (39) distributed around
the circumference in the form of thin spots or slits (30, 31) and
three spreading legs (8) are each intended to hit the middle of
each circle segment circumference, for pivoting the same when the
push button (2) and stamp (7) are pressed down around regions of
this circle segment formed as pressure points (23) on the edge of
the sealing washer (3).
9. The fillable sealing cap (1), screwable or attachable to a
threaded connector of a container, according to claim 1, wherein
the sealing washer (3) is divided into four segments (22) with four
arcuate weakening lines (39) distributed around the circumference
and radial weakening lines (29), each in the form of thin spots or
slits and four spreading legs (8) are each intended to hit the
middle of each circle segment, for pivoting the same when the push
button (2) and stamp (7) are pressed down around four regions,
acting as pressure points (23) on the edge of the sealing washer
(3) of these circle segments (22).
10. The fillable sealing cap (1), screwable or attachable to a
threaded connector of a container, according to claim 8, wherein
the spreading legs (8) are widened at their ends (26), so that the
torn circle segments (22) of the sealing washer (3) are held in
this open position after being pivoted downwards so that the
capsule (18) can be completely emptied into the container below.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates to a fillable sealing cap which forms
a capsule in its interior, which can be opened by pressing a push
button so that its contents fall from the capsule down into a
container equipped with the sealing cap.
[0002] Many beverages are already produced nowadays by mixing a
concentrate with water. Instead of distributing the finished
mixture, it would be much more efficient if the bottle fillers
could simply fill water locally, and the concentrate were only
added to the water in the bottle and then mixed therewith by means
of the initial opening of the bottle by the consumer. All kinds of
sensitive active ingredients and light-sensitive vitamins can also
be metered by means of such a closure.
[0003] A known solution for metering in a separate liquid is a
plastic metering closure and associated container neck for a
container. It consists of a threaded cap, an interior capsule that
can be filled separately and sealed with a film or closed after
filling and an associated container neck. The capsule with its
closing film is held in a downward direction inside the container
neck. When the cap is placed on the container neck, it protrudes
into the interior of the container neck, and there is a piercing
and cutting device on the lower edge of the container neck, by
means of which the closing film at the lower end of the capsule can
be opened when the plastic metering closure is opened for the first
time so that the substance contained in the capsule falls into the
container. When turning counter-clockwise, i.e., in the loosening
direction, the threaded cap is initially moved downwards on the
container neck so that the film of the capsule is pressed over a
piercing and cutting device and thus cut open while the threaded
cap comes to a stop on the container neck. If the threaded cap is
turned further in the loosening direction, it takes the container
neck with it, which in turn sits with a thread on the container
nozzle, which thread, however, requires a greater torque to
unscrew. If the threaded cap is rotated further, it takes the
container neck and the now empty capsule with it and the entire
closure is unscrewed from the container nozzle. The elegance of
this solution lies in the fact that it requires a single action,
namely only one continuous unscrewing of the threaded cap in the
loosening direction. Everything then takes place automatically in
sequence. The disadvantage of this solution, however, is that it is
complex in terms of construction and design, since left-handed and
right-handed threads are required, and the assembly of the closure
is also not without problems.
[0004] A further known solution for metering a separate liquid is a
plastic metering closure and an associated container neck for a
container as indicated in WO 2012/175'317 A1. This is a fillable
closure comprising a push button for release, which functions with
a separately filled capsule. The closure consists of a sealing cap
which can be screwed onto the threaded connector of a container and
into which said separately filled capsule can be inserted from
below in the closed state, the capsule having a downwardly directed
sealing film. The upper side of the inserted capsule is designed to
be deformable and can be pressed axially downwards so that the
downwardly directed sealing film of the capsule can be broken or
caused to split. According to this document, this is brought about
by means of a profile which is integrally moulded on the underside
of the sealing cap and projects axially downwards, and which fits
into a depression that is disposed in the deformable upper side of
the inserted capsule and matches the cross-section of this profile.
By pressing down said profile into the depression, the outer lower
corners of the profile are indirectly pressed onto the sealing film
of the capsule. The sealing film is provided with weakening lines
so that these corners impinge on the angle bisectors of the circle
segments formed by the weakening lines, and the same can be pivoted
downwards from the corners after splitting along the weakening
lines and can then be held pivoted downwards. In practice, however,
it has been found that although this solution works in principle,
it does not work flawlessly in every case, i.e., not in 100% of
cases. Therefore, this solution is insufficiently suitable for
implementation in practice in which hundreds of thousands of
closures have to be delivered and each individual closure has to
function perfectly. Carbonated beverages pose a particular
challenge. Because the beverages outgas and the pressure in the
container or bottle rises, the gas presses from below on the
sealing film of a sealed capsule housed in the container closure
and sealed at atmospheric pressure. If a stamp then rests inside
the capsule in the centre of the sealing film and with little
distance therefrom, which is attached to the inside of the capsule
top and which is to be pressed down together with the capsule top
to open, the following risk exists: The pressure in the container
or bottle pushes the sealing film from below in the direction of
the capsule and arches it upwards. The sealing film can then hit
the stamp and an unintentional tearing of the sealing foil can
occur along its weakening lines. This risk needs to be averted.
From US 2014/284337 A1 (RAFFERTY SIMON JAMES [GB]) dated Sep. 25,
2014, a sealing cap with a stamp and a sealing washer as a sealing
film is known, but without outwardly pivotable spreading legs. And
U.S. Pat. No. 5,809,786 A (SCUDDER JAMES A [US] ET AL) dated Sep.
22, 1998 discloses a push button and spreading legs as shown in
FIGS. 1 and 5. However, the use of the spreading legs shown there
does not encourage the combination of spreading legs with a stamp,
rather they are intended to replace the stamp.
[0005] The object of the present invention, in view of the facts
mentioned above and the indicated prior art, is to create a
fillable cap with a fillable capsule formed inside, wherein this
sealing cap is easier to manufacture and assemble, and wherein it
should be ensured that when opening and emptying the capsule
contents through a simple push of a button, which can easily be
applied with a finger, that the sealing film acting as a sealing
washer is completely opened and the entire contents of the capsule
falls safely down into a container, which is equipped with this
sealing cap. At the same time, the sealing cap with the fillable
capsule formed inside should also be suitable in a special design
for outgassing drinks, and unintentional opening of the capsule by
bursting the sealing washer as a result of the pressure increasing
in the container of the bottle due to outgassing should be safely
avoided.
[0006] This object is achieved by a fillable sealing cap being
screwable or attachable to a threaded connector of a container,
having a push button for triggering the emptying of a capsule being
formed under said push button and being open at the bottom and
sealable with a sealing washer, said capsule having a
circumferential capsule wall and capsule lid, for receiving a
substance which can be emptied into a container equipped with this
sealing cap, wherein on the outside of the capsule lid a central
push button is formed for pressing down the capsule lid while
deforming it, and wherein this sealing cap is characterised by the
characterising features of claim 1.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] In the figures, an exemplary embodiment of the sealing cap
is shown and it is described in detail below and its mode of
operation is explained.
[0008] FIG. 1: shows the sealing cap in a diametrical section,
before the push button is pressed down;
[0009] FIG. 2: shows a sealing washer in plan view;
[0010] FIG. 3: shows the sealing washer according to FIG. 2 shown
in a diametrical section;
[0011] FIG. 4: shows a further sealing washer, divided into three
equal circle segments by weakening lines in the form of thin spots
or slits;
[0012] FIG. 5: shows a further sealing washer, divided into four
equal circle segments by weakening lines in the form of thin spots
or slits;
[0013] FIG. 6: shows a sealing washer with, on the one hand,
star-shaped weakening lines in the form of thin spots or slits and,
on the other hand, such weakening lines arranged around the
circumference with three interruptions;
[0014] FIG. 7: shows a sealing cap at an angle from below, without
the sealing washer;
[0015] FIG. 8: shows the sealing cap according to FIG. 7 obliquely
from below with the sealing washer sealed on;
[0016] FIG. 9: shows a sealing cap in a diametrical section, at the
time of pretensioning and shortly before the bursting of the
weakening lines in the form of thin spots or slits in the sealing
washer;
[0017] FIG. 10: shows a sealing cap in a diametrical section, at
the point in time after the bursting of the weakening lines in the
form of thin spots or slits and the swivelling of the sealing
washer segments through the spreading legs;
[0018] FIG. 11: shows a sealing cap with a stamp which also acts as
a support for the attached sealing film so that the sealing cap is
suitable for containers or bottles with outgassing beverages;
[0019] FIG. 12: shows a sealing washer for a sealing cap according
to FIG. 11, which is suitable for containers or bottles with
outgassing beverages;
[0020] FIG. 13: shows a sealing cap with a further variant of a
stamp which also acts as a support for the attached sealing film so
that the sealing cap is suitable for containers or bottles with
outgassing beverages;
[0021] FIG. 14: shows a sealing washer in a diametrical section,
seen obliquely from below;
[0022] FIG. 15: shows the sealing washer according to FIG. 14 also
in a diametrical section, seen obliquely from above.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0023] The first question to be asked is what it takes to ensure
that, with such a sealing cap, the opening of the interior capsule
can be reached in the simplest and safest way, with minimal effort.
For closures with a pusher to open a cavity in the closure, the
high level of user-friendliness for consumers is a decisive
criterion. On the one hand, force is required to press the pusher
or push button down and, on the other hand, additional force is
required to open the capsule, and this force is dependent on the
way in which the capsule is closed. The capsules are often closed
with sealing films, which are tough and require a lot of effort to
puncture them and then open them in such a way that the sealing
foil is pivoted out of the passage as completely as possible. The
total forces necessary should, however, be as small as possible. In
order for this to be possible, various forces must be applied in
stages in order to break an otherwise necessary force peak.
[0024] The solution shown in FIG. 1 offers these advantages. The
sealing cap 1 is equipped with an internal thread 16 and forms in
its interior a tubular nozzle 17 which protrudes downwards from the
cap lid 20 of the sealing cap 1. Instead of the sealing cap 1 being
screwed onto a threaded connector, a variant can also be
implemented in which the sealing cap 1 is placed on a nozzle in a
different way, for example by being forced or welded or glued on. A
capsule 18 is then formed within this nozzle 17 and is integrally
connected to it on its inner wall. The capsule wall 25 extends
slightly inclined upwards towards the centre of the cap 18 and then
merges into a capsule lid 6. This is designed to be corrugated as
viewed in the radial direction. In the centre, the capsule lid 6
forms a central push button 2. Below the same, a stamp 7 extends
downward in the axial direction along the axis of rotation 21 of
the sealing cap 1.
[0025] The push button 2 taper to a certain extent into an
overturned cup 9, the walls of which are slightly inclined towards
the outside in the downward direction. Spreading legs 8 are formed
by recesses 15 in the walls of this cup 9, which taper towards the
bottom into a thinned end region which is elastically flexible and
is curved outwards, as indicated by number 26. At the lower end of
the capsule 18, a shoulder is formed on which a sealing washer 3 is
welded or glued or sealed. This sealing washer 3 needs to be opened
efficiently and safely in order to allow the contents of the filled
capsule to fall down. As a special feature for this, a stamp 7
extends axially downward from the push button 2, almost down to the
sealing washer 3. The spreading legs 8 arranged around it also
approximately touch the washer 3.
[0026] At the top, the pusher surface 24 of the push button 2 is
shaped in a strongly concave manner so that a fingertip can be
ideally placed in it, as shown in FIG. 1. As a result of this
concave shape of the pusher surface 24, the circumferential edge of
the pusher surface 24 tapers into an acute-angled edge 14. This
ensures that the person who operates this sealing cap 1 places
their finger correctly on the push button 2 and then presses it
down in the axial direction. The capsule lid 6 is designed to be
corrugated when viewed from the centre in the radial direction, as
can be clearly seen in FIG. 1. First of all, in a first region 10,
initially of the central push button 2, there is an all-round wave
trough 12, followed by a wave crest 13. In this region 10, the wall
thickness of the capsule lid 6 is designed to be thin. This region
10 is followed by a region 11 towards the outside, which begins
again with a wave trough 4, which is, however, made with a thicker
wall thickness and flows into another such wave crest 5, and this
finally merges into the circumferential side wall 25 of the capsule
18, which is designed to be yet thicker. The outer region 11 of the
capsule lid 6 is therefore thicker and thus designed to be stronger
than in the inner region 10, and the capsule wall 25 is dimensioned
to be yet thicker. As a result of the wave-shaped configuration of
the capsule lid 6, this can be flexed when the push button 2 is
pressed downwards.
[0027] If therefore the push button 2 is pressed from above, as
shown in FIG. 1 with the finger, then the capsule lid 6 is
initially deformed in the region 10, by a flexing, while the thick
region 11 of the capsule lid 6 hardly changes in its position. The
depressed push button 2 causes the stamp 7 to press on the sealing
washer 3 extended underneath and initially pretension it. At the
same time, the spreading legs 8 have also been pressed onto the
sealing washer 3 and, due to their elasticity, their ends 26 shift
outwards, i.e., the ends 26 of the spreading legs 8, to a certain
extent their feet, slide outwards a little on the sealing washer 3
in a radial direction. If the push button 2 is pressed further down
in the axial direction, the outer region 11 of the capsule lid 6 is
now also flexed and the stamp 7 pressed further down finally causes
the sealing washer 3 to burst. The feet of the spreading legs 8
have meanwhile slid further towards the circumferential area of the
sealing washer 3 and in the final phase of pressing the push button
2, these spreading legs 8 with their ends 26 press and shear the
burst sealing washer 3 downwards so that their respective formed
segments are folded downwards and henceforth held in this pivoted
down position by the spreading legs 8.
[0028] FIG. 2 shows a possible sealing washer 3, which here has as
a special feature a weakening line 39 extending almost completely
around the circumference of the sealing washer 3, which is
implemented in the form of thin spots or slits, with two
diametrically opposing regions 32, 33 where the sealing washer 3
remains intact. The weakening line 39 with its thin spots or slits
extends further from the circumferential area by an S-shaped line
through the diameter. Along this weakening line 39, the sealing
washer 3 is opened by the stamp 7 and the spreading leg ends 26
when there is sufficient pressure. For this sealing washer 3, two
spreading legs 8 are provided around the stamp 7 on the sealing cap
1 in a diametrically offset manner. The two mentioned intact
regions 32, 33 remain, here above and below in the picture. Around
these material bridges, the two exposed flaps of the sealing washer
3 are finally pivoted downwards by 90.degree. by the spreading legs
8, by the spreading leg feet 26 coming to rest on these two
material bridges and then pressing the flaps down around them,
wherein the regions 32, 33 act as hinges.
[0029] FIG. 3 shows this sealing washer 3 in a diametrical section.
The weakening line 39 in the form of thin spots or slits is
produced by a notch 19, which points downwards here at an obtuse
angle. The cross-section of the notch can of course also have other
shapes, from acute-angled to semicircular so that at specific
points a thinnest wall thickness of the sealing washer 3 is
produced, at which it will ultimately burst.
[0030] FIG. 4 shows a sealing washer 3 with weakening lines 39 in
the form of thin spots or slits which divide the sealing washer 3
into three equally sized circle segments 22. To open such a sealing
washer 3, three spreading legs 8 distributed around the
circumference are provided on the sealing cap 1. The feet 26 of the
spreading legs 8, after the sealing washer 3 has burst along the
three radial weakening lines and thus three circle segment tabs
hang down, press in the edge area in the middle of the
circumference of these three circle segments, i.e., at the
indicated pressure points 23, on the same, and the circle segments
22 are then pivoted downwards along one secant each and held in
this position.
[0031] FIG. 5 shows a sealing washer 3 with weakening lines 39 in
the form of thin spots or slits which divide the sealing washer 3
into four equally sized circle segments 22. To open such a sealing
washer 3, four spreading legs 8 distributed around the
circumference are provided on the sealing cap 1. The feet 26 of the
spreading legs 8 after the sealing washer 3 has burst along these
four three radial weakening lines 39 and thus four circle segment
tabs hang down, press in the edge area in the middle of the
circumference of these four circle segments 22, i.e., at the
indicated pressure points 23, on the same, and the circle segments
22 are then pivoted downwards along one secant each and held in
this position.
[0032] FIG. 6 shows a sealing washer 3 with an alternative
arrangement of the weakening lines 30, 31 in the form of thin spots
or slits. In addition to the star-shaped course with three radials,
circumferential lines 30 are also weakened at their outer ends,
wherein three regions are left free as later pressure points 23.
The spreading legs 8 will then press on these regions or pressure
points 23 that have remained free with their feet 26 and pivot the
respective 120.degree. circle segments downwards. FIG. 7 to the
right shows the arrangement of the three spreading legs 8 with the
central stamp 7. The spreading legs 8 are not shown here completely
correctly, in fact, they are bent outwards and their end regions
are elastically bendable as feet 26. In FIG. 8, this sealing cap is
shown together with the sealed-on sealing washer 3.
[0033] FIG. 9 shows a diametrical section through a sealing cap in
order to provide further information about how the stamp 7 and the
spreading legs 8 work. In the snapshot shown, the stamp 7 is
already pressing on the sealing washer 3 and expanding it, that is
to say placing it under a certain pretension. In FIG. 10, the
subsequent state is shown, after the further depressed stamp 7
caused the sealing washer 3 to burst or crack along its weakening
lines 39, that is to say along thin spots or slits. There are now
three 120.degree. circle segments protruding loosely downwards.
When the push button 2 is depressed further, these are pivoted
downward by the spreading legs 8, each by a secant at the location
of the attached spreading leg ends 26. The spreading legs 8 are
then curved outwardly in the radial direction and their feet or
ends 26 are in contact with the respective circle segments at the
edge region of the sealing washer 3.
[0034] Bottles with outgassing beverages therein, if they contain
carbonated beverages, present a particular challenge for such
sealing caps. In such a bottle, the gas pressure rises after
filling until it reaches a level which prevents further outgassing.
Under the increased pressure, however, the gas presses from below
on the sealing washer 3 so that its inner or upper side is pressed
against the stamp 7 in the sealing cap 1. In individual cases, this
can lead to the sealing washer 3 breaking under the load acting on
it and the contents in the capsule 18 falling prematurely and
unintentionally into the bottle. In the following, an embodiment of
the sealing cap is presented which is suitable even for bottles
with outgassing beverages and which ensures that the sealing washer
can withstand this pressure even after complete outgassing and as a
result of its strong pressure from below on the stamp above it
withstands this pressure and the capsule can still be opened safely
by pressing a button.
[0035] For this purpose, a special embodiment of the stamp 3 is
first important. In FIG. 11, a sealing cap 1 is shown, viewed from
below, which has a central stamp 3 in the capsule 18, which here
forms a star in cross-section, with three radially outwardly
extending wings 27. The stamp 3 thus acts not only in the centre on
the sealing washer. Rather, if a sealing washer is pressed onto the
stamp from below due to the pressure inside the bottle, the sealing
washer is supported over the entire end surface 28 of the stamp 3
that is visible here, that is to say over an area, and because the
wings 27 extend radially outwards from the centre, the sealing
washer is also supported over these radial wings 27, which is able
to reliably avoid bursting along its weakening lines, which are
present in the form of thin spots or slits. Between the wings 27,
the spreading legs 8 are arranged here, which after the bursting or
breaking open of the closing washer take over the function of
reliably folding down the washer parts that have been detached from
the washer composite.
[0036] For an overall reliable and safe function of breaking open
the sealing washer 3 and then folding down the sealing washer
parts, a specially designed sealing washer proves to be necessary.
Such a sealing washer 3 is shown in FIG. 12. It consists of a
plastic washer with through slits 29-31. A first slit 29 extends
diametrically over almost the entire diameter of the sealing washer
3 and leaves the washer intact in the edge region. Two further
through slits 30, 31 extend here arcuately along the circumference
in the edge area of the sealing washer 3, one at a distance from
the other so that between them, i.e., between the opposing ends of
the two arches, the sealing washer remains intact and material
bridges are formed there, which each act as a hinge 32, 33, as will
become clear. The diametrically extending slit 29 is arranged in
such a way that its two ends open in the middle of the two arcuate
slits 30, 31. Two semicircle segments 34, 35 are thus formed. Such
a sealing washer 3 is provided on its one, lower side with a
barrier layer 36 so that a barrier against water vapour or oxygen
or against various aromas is formed. Such a barrier layer consists,
for example, of an aluminium layer approx. 0.2 mm thick, glued on
by means of a contact foil, an adhesive or PE, which is also
provided on the outside with a thin protective layer made of
plastic, wherein this protective layer can be vapour-deposited or
sprayed on. Ultimately, this coating is a coated aluminium foil
that is intended to act as a barrier foil. The finished sealing
washer is finally sealed into a beaded edge on the sealing cap by
means of an induction welding process (torsional welding).
[0037] From a functional point of view, this sealing cap acts as
follows: First, the sealing washer 3 is biased when it is pressed
against the stamp 3 of the sealing cap 1 as a result of the
internal pressure acting in a bottle. It still seals the capsule
securely, even if the internal pressure in the bottle increases to
a maximum as a result of outgassing of the carbonated beverage,
which prevents further outgassing. For the targeted opening of the
capsule 18 integrated in the sealing cap 1, it is pressed down from
above by pressing the push button 2 formed thereby. In this way,
the stamp 7 is pressed down inside the capsule 18 and finally this
causes the sealing washer or its oxygen-tight coating or protective
film to burst along the diametrical slit 29. Immediately the
coating also tears along the arcuate slits 30, 31 and when the push
button 2 and stamp 7 are pressed down further, the latter presses
the two semicircle segments 34, 35 of the sealing washer 3
downwards so that they pivot downwards around the material bridges
acting as hinges 32, 33. The contents of the capsule thus fall down
into the bottle.
[0038] FIG. 13 shows a further possible design of the stamp 7. This
also has radially protruding wings 27, namely five wings 27 with an
equal angle of 72.degree. (5.times.72.degree.=360.degree.) between
each of them. Two of these wings 27, which include an angle of
144.degree. on one side and subsequently an angle of 216.degree. on
the other (144.degree.+216.degree.=360.degree.), are provided with
a recess 37 over almost their entire height from below so that a
spreading leg 8 is formed in its outer region. This embodiment also
works because a two-dimensional end of the stamp is formed for the
two-dimensional support of a pressed-on sealing washer, and the
stamp is nevertheless able to break open the coating of a sealing
washer by pressing it down as described and is able to pivot the
sealing washer segments away, wherein the two spreading legs 8 at
the end ensure that the circle segments of the sealing washer are
pivoted down completely by pivoting outwards.
[0039] FIG. 14 shows one half of the sealing washer along a
diametrical section. The view is of the underside of the sealing
washer 3, which faces the bottle contents, that is to say of the
coating 36, which acts as an oxygen-tight barrier. On the upper
side, the plastic washer with its circumferential slits 30, 31,
which open into the diametral here, can be seen. FIG. 15 shows the
sealing washer 3 viewed obliquely from above. The edges of the
sealing washer 3, regardless of whether the outer circular edge or
the edges of the slits 29-31, taper over their height in a
wedge-shaped manner and in the middle into an edge 38.
[0040] So, which features are found to be particularly important in
order to achieve the aim of the invention and to ensure the good
function of such a sealing cap? [0041] 1. A concave finger support
with sharp edges 14 is required, which intuitively provokes a
finger support lying in the central axis 21 of the closure. [0042]
2. The push button 2 must be designed as shown and described so
that it ensures a straight, vertical or axial downwards pushing.
[0043] 3. The push button 2 is held in the centre of concentric
adjoining waves and can therefore be depressed in two phases so
that the forces for bursting the sealing washer 3 and the
subsequent folding down do not generate a single high force peak
along the circumference of the detached segments. [0044] 4. The
wall thickness of the first corrugated area 10 from the centre of
the capsule lid 6 is designed to be thinner than that of the
corrugated area 11 adjoining it to the outside so that initially
only the first capsule lid region is flexed for the first phase of
pressing down. [0045] 5. The wall thickness of the adjoining second
region 11 is thicker and therefore offers more resistance when the
push button 2 is depressed. [0046] 6. The spreading legs 8 acting
on the closing washer 3 can be moved laterally, i.e., radially
outward, so that the ends 26 of the spreading legs 8, which are
rounded at the bottom, slide radially outward when they hit the
closing washer 3 and finally apply the downward pressure force as
close as possible to the peripheral edge area of the sealing washer
3. [0047] 7. The weakening notches or weakening lines 39 in the
form of thin spots or slits ensure that the sealing washer 3 bursts
and opens at the desired places as a result of the pressure of the
stamp 7 and the spreading legs 8, namely along the targeted
weakening lines 39. [0048] 8. For an oxygen-tight capsule, the
sealing washer 3 is designed with slits and the sealing washer 3 is
completely provided with a coating 36 which covers the slits. In
order to pivot away the sealing washer parts, the coating 36 must
first burst.
LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS
[0048] [0049] 1 Sealing cap [0050] 2 Push button [0051] 3 Sealing
washer [0052] 4 Wave trough of outer region 11 [0053] 5 Wave crest
of outer region 11 [0054] 6 Capsule lid [0055] 7 Stamp [0056] 8
Spreading legs [0057] 9 Cup-shaped connection to push button 2
[0058] 10 Inner region of the corrugated capsule lid [0059] 11
Outer region of the corrugated capsule lid [0060] 12 Inner wave
trough in the inner region 10 [0061] 13 Wave crest being adjacent
to 12 in the inner region 10 [0062] 14 Sharp edge of the pusher
surface [0063] 15 Recesses in the cup [0064] 16 Internal thread of
sealing cap [0065] 17 Inner pipe socket directed downwards [0066]
18 Capsule [0067] 19 Notch on the sealing washer [0068] 20 Sealing
cap lid [0069] 21 Axis of rotation of the sealing cap [0070] 22
circle segment [0071] 23 Pressure points [0072] 24 Pusher surface
[0073] 25 Capsule wall [0074] 26 End of spreading legs 8 [0075] 27
Radial wings on stamp 7 [0076] 28 Two-dimensional end face of the
stamp [0077] 29 Diametrical slit in the sealing washer [0078] 30
Arcuate slits in the sealing washer [0079] 31 Radial slits in the
sealing washer [0080] 32 First material bridge acting as hinge
[0081] 33 Second material bridge acting as hinge [0082] 34 First
semicircle segment [0083] 35 Second semicircle segment [0084] 36
Coating--oxygen-tight barrier [0085] 37 Recess in radial wing
[0086] 38 Protruding edge 38 on the slit wall [0087] 39 Weakening
line
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