Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
2044631
':' ,~'.
,;
Screw cap for originality protection ~ -
for, in particular, wide-necked containers ~
,, . : :' '
, .. .
The ln~ention relates to a screw cap with originality protec-
tion ln accordance with the preamble or patent claim 1.
Screw ca~s with originality protection are commonly known.
Such caps in most cases comprise a security ring ~ormed to
the lower edse portion of the cap by means of narrow webs
building preset breaking points and reaching from the bottom
behind a collar formed at the container neck. As soon as the
c~p is rotated for the purpose of opening the container and
thus is driven ln upward direction, the thin connecting webs
dimensioned as preset breaking points will tear apart, as the
security ring cannot be moved in upward direction because of
the bottle collar protruding to the outside. The security
ring thus is cut of, from the cap and remains on the bottle
neck, if the ring itself does not break anyway and falls down
from the bottle neck or is removed therefrom. This kind of
originality protection is, however, disadvantaseous in case
of wide-necked containérs, as on one hand due to the large
container ci-cumference the breaking open of the preset brea-
king webs can be ef'ected only with difficult~ upon openingof the c~ntainer so that n most cases the ~ebs have to be
cut by means of a tcol, and as on the other hand due to the
tolerances to be ac^epted, it frequently is possible to draw
"., ,"
' ~' ,
2 ~
W0 91/06-06486 - 2 - PCT/EP90/01819
o the cap upon having widened the originality ring with a
pointed tool without giving the security function a chance to
become effective. Thus, a manipulation at the cap cannot be
excluded.
A urther, very severe disadvantage of such a cap at wide-
necked containers lies in that the cap can already be opened
to a certain degree by rotating the cap so that a vacuum
created within the container will be neutralized, but the se-
10 curity rlng ~ill, however, not yet be blast off. If the capthen is closed agaln, the vacuum within the container is neu-
trallzed, but the already-efected opening of the cap will,
however, not be visible from the outside. Thus, a container
ha~lng been opened and again closed may be put back into the
15 sale~ shelf, without it being possible that the opeing effec-
ted once could be checked from the outside. It is obvious
that goods opened in such manner frequently will become moldy
or may get spoiled in another way long time in adavance of
the ex~ire date given on the package.
It is ob~ect of the invention to create a scsew cap, in par-
ticular for wide-necked containers, which has a originality
protection lndicating any opening of the cap in visible man-
ner and, furthermore, avoiding the waste ocurring in case of
25 tradltlonal origlnality protection caps due to a b?ast-off -
security ring.
According to the present invention this ob~ect is solved by
the features contained in the characterizing clause of claim
30 1, wherein advantageous further developments of the invention
are characterized by the features stated in the subclaims.
In accordance with the invention upon the rotational opening
of the cap an interlocking of elements of the cap is effec-
35 ted, the interlocking being irreversible and c~using the oc-
currence of a visible or sensible originality marking at the
scre~ cap. This may be effected by inserting protrusions into
,'. . ...
':
204~63~
W0 91/06-06486 - 3 - PCT/EP90/01819
window-llke openings or disconnecting protrusions from win-
dow-shaped openinss as well as engaging of tongues and reces-
ses, wherein the originality protection may even be make more
clear by using different colors. In an alternative, advanta-
geous embodiment a discoloration of the cap will take placedue to a deformation of a part of the screw cap during rota-
tional opening. This discloration may be efected by a color
layer which upon deformation is displaced into a visible sec-
tlon of the cap or, alternatively, by a corresponding selec-
tion of material, in using a material for the cap, which un-
dergoes lastlng discoloration upon deformation tension. By
means thereof, it can be recognized from the screw cap or the
screwed cap, respectively, whether a manipulation had taken ~;
place at the cap, no waste in form of a blast-off security
ring occurring therein.
In particularly advantageous manner, in case of th discolo-
ratlon of the screw cap the section undergoing deformation ls
embodied by a combination of effective surfaces out of a lo-
wer marginal section of the cap, conically tapered tothe in-
side ln connection with a conical, inclined surface at the
container neck. If the cap is drawn off to the top by rota-
tional action, a deformation of the lower marginal section to
the outside occurs so that the lower marginal section is du-
rably discolored and thus the primary opening of the cap is
lndicated. The cap can after this be further used without i
problem.
In particularly advantageous manner the formation of the ori-
ginality marking is effected in an interlock between a cap
and locking member of the cap which thus hzs a two-part
st~ucture. Herein, the cap is seated on the locking member
which is in a position o~ rotational engzgement with the con-
tainer nec~, i.e. comprises the screw threads. The cap herein
35 can be rota,ed on the locking mem~er, nzmely so long until a
locking position is reached, which is achieved by lockir.g
elements at the c~p in cooperation with locking elements at
2 ~
W0 91/06-06486 - 4 - PCT~E~90/01819
the locking member. When the cap is rotated into interlocking
position in which the locking elements of the cap and of the
locking member engage in interlocking position, the creation
of the originality marking is effected in that, e.g. by in-
serting or disengaging of parts of the cap or the lockingmember ln openings or recesses of the locking member or the
cap, a durable, visible or sensible change in the screw cap
is created. Herein, it is advantageous that the event of the
interlocked position is audible, too, so that the primary
user of the cape may check first-time opening also by an au-
dlbl~ marking. As soon as the creation of the originality
marking with a permanent interlocked position between the cap
and the locking member is achieved, upon further rotation of
the cap the locking member now coupled thereto is rotated,
too, so that the cap is opened. This means that the origina-
l~ty marking is created in visible manner already directly
prlor to the proper opening action of the screw cap so that a
manipulation o the scre~ cap topening without actuation of
the originality protection mechanism) ls no longer possible.
The lndicatlon of the originality marking in interlocked po-
sit~on may be displayed in manifold way and manner at the
scrsw cap, e.g. in that at the lower marginal section of the
cap a denticulation is formed which in interlocked position
25 i5 in alignment with a corresponding counter-denticulation at
the locking member, wherein in interlocking position the cap
i9 moved in downward direction with respect to the locking
member so that the denticulation and the counter-denticula-
tion come into mesh ~nd thus the originality marKing becomes
vlsible from the outside. Also the kinematic reversal is pos-
sible, in that in interlocking position the cap is lifted of
the locking member and thus an engaged position between the
cap and the locl~ing member is offset. This disengaged posi-
tion which then forms the originality ~marking, may additio-
35 nally be stressed by different coloring. In an alternativeembodiment a collar or bulgeous protrusions in the kind of
cams is/are forced through window-like openings of the other
: " :, -
J ',,
2~63~
W0 91/06-06486 - 5 - PCTJEP90/01819
part or disengaged with respect thereto, this again producing
a visible change forming the originality marking, of the
screw cap.
In particularly advantageous manner the locking member is em-
bodied ln the manner of a cap and produced from soft material
with sealing properties so that the loc~ing member itsself
simultaneously represents the seal of the container neck. In
further development of the invention, herein, also one or se-
veral sealing lips whlch in closing position sealingly bearcn surac2s o the container neck, in particular on the inner
face o~ the container neck in the area of the container ope-
ning, may be provided for at the locking member.
0 course, different embodiments of the locking elements or
members, respectively, may be formed, wherein in particularly
adavantageous manner the locking elements achieve an arres-
ting function only in one direction of rotation, which pre-
ferably coincides with the rotate/open movement o the loc-
king member and thus the opening movement of the cap.
. , '~ ''''"',,
In a further embodiment an originality ring is provided forbetween the locking member and the cap, which ring upon rota-
tional opening of the cap at first is pulled into the cap by
means of a quick thread or is disengaged therefrom, until
said ring with an integral portion irreversibly interlocks
into the loc~ing ring or the locking member, respectively, so
that only upon further rotation of the cap the cap thread is
opened. ~y engaging or disengaging this additional origina-
lity ring, however, a irreversible originality feature beco-
mes visible.
In an advantageous embodiment the locking membe- forms the
~outer cap of the screw cap and overlaps an inner cap fixedly
t' 35 bearing on the container neck in closed position, the origi-
; nality feature again becoming durably visible upon opening,
here by rotating the outer cap, due to interlockage with the
20~63~
W0 91/06-06486 - 6 - PCT/EP90/01819
lnner cap. In particular, according to the invention, saw-
tooth profiles are used for the locking elements and locking
members, which profiles permit a relative rotation of the ou-
ter cap with respect to the inner cap in opening direction,
whlch, however, inhibit a relative rotation in opposite di-
rection, so that in opposite direction the outer cap is bloc-
ked wlth the lnner cap and thus the originality feature once
produced cannot be reversed.
In advantageous manner the originality feature is obtained by
overlapplng marklng fields wlth openings in the outer cap,
the marklng fields belng provided for on the upper face of
the lnner cape. Upon opening, l.e. upon rotational openlng of
.the outer cap, lt is possible, not~ithstanding the engagement
posltlon due to the saw-tooth provile, that the locking ele-
ments pass the locking members so that due ~o the relative
rotatlon between the cap and the inner cap the openings moave
untll over the marXlng fields and thus the originality fea-
ture- is dlsplayed. On the other hand, lt is no longer possi-
20 ble to rotate the outer cap back relatlve to the inner cap sothat the orlglnality features is maintained permanently.
~he marklng fiels may herein be formed by colored fields or
fields ~ith an inscription. In spite of the fact that it is
25 approprlate to provide for the openings and colored fields in
the bottom of the cap, it may also be useful to provide for
the openings in kind of recesses or the like in the side wall
of the outer cap and for the marking fields in the side wall
of the inner cap. The same is true for the arrangement of the ;;
30 locking elements and locking members, respectively, which in ;
altarnative to the ar~angement in the cap bottom may be also
provided for in the side wall of the cap.
It is advantageous that a lifting of the inner cap from the
35 container neck is effected staring with a preset rotational
position and in partic~lar starting when the marking fields
have reached full overlapped position with the openings, this
': .:,'': ,'
,,.,,'.:,
20~53~
W0 91/06-06486 - 7 - PCT/EP90/01819
resulting in that the solid seating of the inner cap in the ;-
container neck is abolished and thus the inner cap is co-ro-
tated together with the outer cap. This results in that also
in the direction of rotational opening there is no change in
overlapping between opening and marking fields, so that here,
too, the originality feature is maintained irreversibly. Ap-
propriately, the driving shoulder is formed at a protrusion
pro~ecting ~rom the side wall of the outer cap radially to
the inside, whlch 2rotrusion holds the inner cap at the outer
cap. Herein the engagement position between the saw-tooth
prof~les and/or the locking elements, respectively, is such
that upon bearing of the driving shoulder on the inner cap as
well as also in closing position, where the driving shoulder
, i9 spaced from the inner cap, the interlocked position bet-
ween the loc~ing elements and the locking members is guaran-
teed. This is essential or the maintenance of the origina-
lity feature.
In particular in case of materials under pressure, which are
accomodated in the container, it is advantageous if the outer
cap is formed such that upon rotational opening it still
pres~es the inner cap onto the container neck until the dri-
ving shoulder starts liftlng the inner cap from the contai-
ner. This can be realized by means of a resilient member,
e.g. a resilient lip, formed at the bottom of the outer cap,
it is, however, advatageous if the bottom of the outer cap ;
-has a belly-shaped downward bulb so that the buld will press
onto the inner cap with pretension.
I ~ . ,
i30 In the following preferred embodiments of the invention are
described with reference to the drawings. Therein
:. ,,
FIG. 1 shows a schematical cut view of a part of a screw
cap for a container,
,
FIG. 2 shows an analogous cut view of an alternative em-
bodiment,
20~4631
W0 ~1/06-06486 - 8 - PCT/EP90/01819
FIG. 3 shows an analogous cut view of a further embodi-
ment,
FIG. 4 shows a modification o~ the locking member shown
in FIG. 3 as well as
F~G. S shows a further embodiment of a screw cap ln
schematical view and in cut view; ~.
10 F~G. 6 shows a schematical, partly sectional view of a
further embodiment of a screw cap,
. FIG. 7 shows a cut view of a embodiment according to the
present invention, of a cap screwed onto a wide-
necked container,
FIG. 8 shows an enlarged vlew of a part of the cap shown
in FIG. 7, ..
20 FIG. 9 shows a section ~along the line A-A of FIG. 8, ...
.'. ~:.
FIG. 10 shows a sectional view of the inner cap, ;~.:
. , . . , . ,,, ,".
FIG. 11 shows a top view onto the inner cap,
25 - :
FIG. 12 shows a cot view oi the outer cap, : :
FIG. 13 shows a top view onto the outer cap shown in FIG.
12 as well as
FIG. 14 shows the view ~ of FIG. 12. !~ "
FIG. 1 shows a screw closure generally referred to with 1, .. ;
for a container, in particular a wide-nec~ed container 2 made i .:
35 from glass or plastic material. The screw closure 1 includes '~
a locking member 3 with a screw thread 4, which locking mem- ;:
. . .. ,,,:,. .
,~ ' '~,.',','
2~4~3~
W0 91/06-06486 - 9 - PCT/EP90/01819
ber is in rotational engagement position with the container
neck 5 and on which a cap 6 is arranged. The cap 6 is secured
against being pulled off from the locking member 3 by means ~ ;
of a bulge 7 protruding radially to the inside, wherein the
5 bulge 7 engages into a corresponding recess 8 of the locking
member 3. Between locking member 3, in particular the cap-
shaped bottom 9 of the locking member 3, and the cap bottom
10 o the cap 6, locking elements distributéd over the cir-
cum~erence are located at the cap 6 and locking elements, ge-
10 nerally denominated with 11, are located at the locking mem-
ber 3. In an embodlment the locking elements o the cap 10
may be bulge-shaped protrusions insertable into correspondin-
gly cut-behind recesses of the locking member 3, wherein the
interlocked position is to be irreversible.
' '
As ls shown in FIG. 1, in the embodiment shown there the cap
bottom 10 and the bottom 9 o the locking member 3 are dispo-
sed at a mutual interval in height and namely due to the loc-
king elements o the cap 6. In interlocked position, i.e.
20 u~on interlocking, i.e. upon engagement of the locking ele-
ments 11 into the corresponding grooves at the bottom 9 of
-thelocklng member 3, the cap bottom 10 is seated on the bot-
tom 9 o~ the locking member 3, so that the interval in height
15 overcome. This means that in interlocked position, an
25 axial downward movement o the cap 6 relative to the locking
member 3 is efscted.
Furtheron, the cap 6 at its lower marginal section at 12 com-
prlses tongue-shaped projections 13, which can better be seen
30 from the detail shown at the right-hand side of FIG. 1, to
whlch correspond corresponding recesses 14 distributed over
the circumference o the locking member 13.
The cap 6 can be rotated on the locking member 13 until the
35 locking elements formed on the cap 6 reach the loc~ing ele-
ments of the locking member 3, where they in forced manner
interlock or engage, respectively, due to the shape of the
2 ~ 3 ~
W0 91/06-06486 - 10 - PCTtEP90/01819
locking elements upon further rotation of the cap 6, so that
the cap 6 is interlocked with the loc~ing member 3. In this
interlocked position, as is described above, the cap 6 has
besn moved in downward direction relative to the locking mem-
ber 3, so that the tongues 13 and recesses 14 being in mutualalignment during interlocked position engage mutually. By
this engaged position the originality feature visible from
outsids ls formed, which feature cannot be reversed. Upon
urther rotation of the cap 6, the locking member 3 is rota-
tsd because of the interlock of the two parts, so that thescre~ closure 1 now is opened.
In an alternative embodiment, which is not shown in drawing,
it may be ef'ected by kinematic reversal of the locklng ele-
ment3 and/or locking members, respectively, that the cap 6 i~moved away from the locking member 3 in upward direction, so
that the tongues 13 are disengaged from the recesses 1~, this
pro~oking the originality feature by the tongues and recesses
moved apart from one another.
For better elucidation of the originality feature, the loc-
klng member 3 may be given another color than the cap 6 and
hereln numerous possiblities of variation can be realized in
correspondance with the selected kinematical action in that,
e.g., in an originality feature where the tongues 13 are di-
sengaged from the recesses 14, the surface of the locking
member, lying behind the tongue 13 or under the tongue 13,
respectively, is given a signal-like coloration which becomes
! clearly visible upon moving apart cap 6 and locking member 3.
$ 30
The locking member 3 having a cap like shape advantageously
is made from a material being softer as compared to that of
the cap 6 and having sealing qualities, so that the insertion
of a sealing ring or a compound can be omitted. In particu-
35 lar, the locking member 3 has~ a circumferential sealing lipat 16 which bears on the inner face of the container opening
in sealing position.
........
,'1 ' '~,
204~63~
W0 91/06-06486 - 11 - PCT/EP90/01819
In the embodiment according to FIG. 2, for identical compo-
nents the same reerence numbers as in FIG. 1 have been used.
Here, too, the cap 6 with its cap bottom 10 is spaced with
respect to the bottom 9 of the locking member 3. As soon as
the locklng elements 17 reach the locking elements 18 and the
interlocked position is effected, an axial relative movement
of the cap 6 with respect to the locking member 3 takes pla-
ce, ~o that the cap bottom 10 bears on the bottom 9 of the
locklng member 3. The large-area bulge 19 centrically formed
ln the bottom 9 of the locking member 3 herein moves into the
correspondlng opening 20 o the cap bottom 10, so that the
surface of the bulge 19 ends in line with the surface of the
cap bottom 10 and hereby the originality feature is ormed,
the origlnalit~ feature being clearly visible because of dif-
~erent colors been gi~en between the bulge 19 or locking mem-
~sr 3, respectively, and cap 6.
Hsre, too, the kinematic reversal exists in that the cap 6
usually bearing on the bottom 9 of the locking member 3 is
llfted lnto lnterlocking position so that as a matter of fact
- the opening 20 is given ree by the bulge 19, whereby again
an orlglnality feature is formed which is clearly visible
~rom the ou~side.
25 In the embodiment according to FIG. 3 again for identical
components the same reference numbers as in FIGs. 1 and 2
have been used. According to FIG. 3 the cap 6 has window-like
openings 21 distributed over the circumference at the lower
marignal section at 15 and consists of a cap-shaped section
30 3a snd the proper locking member section 3b, located in rota-
tional engagement with the container neck 5. The coupling of
the two parts 3a and 3b is effected by means of a cam 22
guided ln a corresponding cam path 23. The proper locking
elements again are shown at 11. Here, too, the cap 6 can be
35 rotated until the locking elements of the cap 6 come against
the locking elements of the locking member section 3b. As
2 ~
W0 91/06-06486 - 12 - PC~/EP90/01819
soon as the irreversible locking engagement position is rea-
ched, the locking member section 3b is co-rotated, so tha~
due to the co-action between cam 22 and cam path 23 the loc-
king member section 3b is pressed radially to the outside and
thereby bulges 24 formed to the locking member section 3b im-
merge into the window-like openings 21. Threby the origina-
llty eature vislble from the outside ls formed.
Alternatively, the locking member section 3a may be omitted,
which however is advantageous due to the additional sealing
effect or sealing unction, respectively. Such an embodiment
13 ~hown ln FIG.4, wherein there the cam 22 is formed at the
cap 6 and the cam path 23 is formed at the locking member 3.
.Depending on the embodiment of cam and cam path 22 and 23 the
origlnality feature can be effected by disengaging the bulges
24 rom the wlndow-like openings 21 or by inserting the bul-
ges 24 into the window-like ~penings 21. Also here, the ori-
ginslity feature may be increased by a color efect by givlng
the cap 6 and the locking element 3 different colors. Supple-
mentarlly, lt should be remarked in this connectlon that thereaching of the interlocked position is audible too, so that
the primary user o the bottle upon rotating the cap 6 into
lnterlocked posltion can hear that the screw closure ls moved
lnto the irreversib}e interlocked position or the irst
time.
-
FIG. 5 shows a further embodiment, wherein here the cap 6 isin engaged position with the container neck 5. At the lower
marginal section of the cap 6 a tonge 25 preformed to the in-
side is provided or, which preferably is formed circumferen-
tially around the cap 6 and in one piece with the cap 6. This
tongue overlaps an inclined surface 26 formed at the contai-
ner neck 5 and which may be formed by a elevated structure
or, however, may be formed circumerentially. If the cap 6 is
unscrewed to the top, this will necessarily result in a de-
ormation os the tongue 25 at the corresponding conical sur-
face 26, wherein the deformation is marked by V. If the cap 6
.
~ ,
2 ~ 3 1
W0 91/06-06486 _ 13 - PCT/EP90/01819
and the tongue 25, respectively, are made from a material
changing in color upon deformative tension, in particular
plastic material, a discoloration of the end section 25, be-
ing irreversible and thus forming a clearly visible origina-
S lity feature will occur due to the deformation V. Of course,
the tongue 25 need not be formed at the lower marginal sec-
tlon of the cap 6, but it may also be realized in the cap
ground 10 or at an another appropriate location of the cap 6.
The only essential thing is that upon rotational opening a
10 deformation is effected at a part which changes lts color
upon deormative tension.
In the embodlment according to FIG. 6 for identical compo-
nents the same reference numbers as in the previous drawings
15 have been ussd. In the embodiment according to FIG. 6 a spa-
cer ring 27 is provided for between cap 6 and locking member
3, which ring is guided in torslonally strong manner, but
axlally movably in a groove 28 of the locking member 3 and is
in rotationally engaged position with the cap 6 by means of a
20 thread 29 having greater pitch than the thread 30 between
locking member 3 and container neck 5. Depending on the di-
rection of the thread, upon rotation of the cap 6, the spacer
ring 27 will either be moved out of an inserted position
wlthin the cap 6 downwardly into a visible position which
25 then respresent the originality feature, or is moved from an
disengaged position into the cap 6, so that then the engaged
position forms the originality feature. Anyway, the spacer
ring 27 comprises at least one locking element by means of
which the spacer ring is interlockable with the locking mem-
30 ber, so that then only in interlocked position the screw
closure can also be opened upon further rotation o the cap
~l 6. Thereby, also an originality protection prior to the very
3 rotational opening operation is ac~ieved, so t:~at no un-chec-ked opening of the closure is possible. In the embodiment ac-
35 cording to FIG. 6, the locking member at the spacer ring is
~j formed by a cam-snaped projection 31 which can be irrever-
,~ .
~ .
.,; ' -,
.!
2 ~
WO 91/06-06486 - 14 - PC'r/EP90/01819
sably pushed into a corresponding recess 32 at the locking
member 3 (positive lock or the like).
FIG. 7 shows a screw closure 1 generally referred to by 1',
S ~or a container 2', in particular a wide-neck container from
glass or plastlc material (container neck diameter preferably
more than 30 mm). The screw closure 1' includes a locking
member 3' with a screw thread 4', which is in rotationally
engaged posltion with the container neck 5' or can be screwed
onto th8 container neck, respectively. The locking member 3'
herein re~resents the outer cap of the screw closure 1'. An
inner cap 6' which from the top bears on the container neck
5' 1~ arranged within the outer cap 3'.
As can best be seen from FIG. 8, the inner cap 6' comprises
circumferential sealing lip 7' protruding from the bottom un~
der~ida downwardly and which in the shown embodiment sealin-
gly bears on the inner face of the container neck 5' by means
o~ a wedge-shaped bearing surface 8', wherein the inner face
20 o~ the container neck ls formed complementarily conically or
wedg~-shaped, respectively. But other sealing lip designs
also are possible.
,. ,1; ... .
The outer cap 3' which in the shown embodiment is provided
25 wlth a single-threaded screw thread, as can best be seen from
FIG. 12, comprises a driving shoulder referred to by 9' and
being ~ormed circumferentially and by a protrusion lO'
protruding inwardly at the lower end of the outer cap 3'. In
the closing position shown in FIG. 8, the driving shoulder 9'
30 ls located at a vertical distance to a circumferçntial bea-
ring shoulder denominated 11', of the inner cap 6'. FIG. 8
further shows the engaged position of locking elements 12'
formed at the locking member or the outer cap 3', respective-
ly, with locking elements 13' formed at the inner cap 6'. The
35 locking elements 12' and the locking elements 13' more clear-
I ly can be seen from FIGs. 11 and 14, wherein they are shown
in top view there.
"',' ,~ .
......
20~A63~ .
W0 91/06-06486 - 15 - PCT/EP90/01819
F~G. 9 shows that the locking elements 12' and the locking
elements 13' each are shaped in the manner of a saw-tooth
pro11e, wherein the blocking ramp of the locking members and
locking elements ls referred to by 14' and the leading ramp
of the saw-tooth proile is denominated 15'. As can be seen,
a relative movement between the outer cap 3' and the inner
cap 6' is possible upon a movement of the outer cap 3' in
FlG. 9 ln right-hand direction, which corresponds to a mo-
~ement of the outer cap 3' in cloc~-wise direction and thus
in rotatlonal opening direction, as the outer cap 6' with the
locking members 12 passes over the leading ramps 15' of the
saw-tooth profile of the inner cap 6' or merges into those,
respecti~ely. However, a relative movement or relative rota-
tion, respectively, between the outer cap 3' and the inner
cap 6' is blocked due to the vertically extending ramps 14'
and this in an irreversible manner namely, as the outer cap
3' cannot be moved in FIG. 9 to the left-hand side and thus
in closing dlrection contrary to the inner cap 6'.
FIGs. 10 and 11 shown the construction of the inner cap 6'
with the locking elements 13' fo~med on the top side of the
cap bottom and which according to FIG. 11 are formed as saw-
tooth profile extending along a the circumference of a circle
in 16'. Furtheron, marking ields 17' are provided for at the
top side of the inner cap 6' and namely in the shown embodi-
- ment, a total of four marking fields 17' in the kind of seg-
ments displaced with respect to one another by 90 and having
an angular width of 25 approximately. The marking fields 17'
may be formed by colored fields, e.g. with red dye or by
other markings.
~ As can be seen from FIGs. 12 to 14, the outer cap 3' compri-
,~j ses correspondingly shaped openings 18' which as well are ar-
r ranged like segments and displaced with respect to one
another by 90 as well as showing an angular width of 25 ap-
proximately. The radial distance to the center is the same as
,
., .
20~3~ ~:
W0 91/06-06486 - 16 - PCT/EP90/01819
in case of the marking fields 17~, so that in a particular
rotational position of outer cap 3' and inner cap 6' the mar-
king fields 17' are identical with the openings 18', so that
the marking fields 17' can be seen from top through the outer
ca~ 3'. Shape and dimensions of the marking fields 17' need
not be adapted to the openings 18'. It onl~ has to be mads
sure that star~ing with a given rotational position an over-
lapplng between the marking fields 17' and the openings 18'
ls created, so that in a given rotational position the mar-
king 1elds 17' can be recognlzed through the openings 18' aslrre~er~lble originality feature. FIG. 14 shows that the loc-
klng elements 12' for~ed along the same circle line as the
locking elements 13' of the inner cap 6', are segmentally
pro~lded or at the underside o the bottom of the outer cap
3' and namely in four segments which are mutually displaced
by 90' and each of which has an angular width of about 40.
ln re~uired, the locking elements 12' segmentally represen-
tlng a saw-tooth profile, may also be formed circumferenti-
ally ln analogy to the saw-tooth profile 16' according to
FIG. 11.
: ,
As a matter of manufacturing process, in the closure position
of the closure cap 1, to be seen from FIG. 8, the openings ~ :
1~' are not-ormed- in overlapping manner with the marking ;
flelds 17', on the contrary, the radial edge 19' leading in
rotational opening direction F (FIG. 13) is directly ad~acent
to the trailing radial edge 20' of the correlated marking
field 17' and namely in rotational opening direc~ion before
this trailing edge 20', so that no overlapping is present be- ;
tween the marking field 17' and the opening 18'. As soon as
the outer cap 3' is rotated in rotation opening direction F, .:
the leading edge 19~ of the opening 18~ passes the correlated i~
marking field 17', so that the originality feature, e.g. the '~;
red color of the marking field 17' becomes visible through ;~
the opening 18'. As soon as a rotation is effected in rota-
tional opening direc~ion F, i.e. the outer cap 3' is rotated ,;-~
relatively to the inner cap 6' which due to the wedge face 8'
: ,. ..
- 2 ~ 3 1
~0 91/06-06486 - 17 - PCT/EP90/01819
in t~e container nec~ 5' is arranged in correspondingly fixed
seat, the locking elements 12' pass over the sa-~-tooth-like
locking elements 13'. A backward rotation of the outer cap 3'
relative to the inner cap 6'herein is no longer possible as a
5 result of the described interlocking effect between the saw-
tooth profiles and the vertically extending ramps 14', re-
spectlvely, i.e. the marking field 17' rendered visible in
the opening 18', i.e. the ~riginality feature, can no longer
be reversed by rotating the outer cap 3' back in relation to
10 the ~nner cap 6'. Thus, an opening once effected and namely
already a sl~ght opening of the closure cap is indicated due
to the overlapping of the openings 18' with the marking
1elds 17', without such originality feature allowing rever-
sal,
In case of a further rotation of the outer cap 3', this one
is moved to the top due to the screw thread engagement with
the container neck 5', so that in a particular rotational po-
sition the driving shoulder 9' hits the bearing shoulder 11'
20 of the inner cap 6', so that upon a further rotation of the
outer cap 3' flnally the inner cap 6' is taken along upward-
ly. In this position, the locking elmeents 12' and the lock-
ing elements 13', of course, still are in complete engagement
posltlon, so that now upon rotation of . the outer cap 3' the
25 lnner cap 6' also is co-rotated due to the interlocking enga-
gement and thus the complete overlapping reached meanwhile,
o the marking fields 17' with the openings 18' remains main-
tained. Dimensions and arrangment or alignment, respectively,
of the marking fields 17' and the openings 18' herein is such
30 that starting with the rotation of the outer cap 3' from its
closure position, the overlapping of the marking fields 17'
with the corresponding opening~ 18~ starts and the full over-
,lapping of the marking fields 17~ with the openings 18' is
Ireached as soon as the inner cap 6' is lifted out of the con-
35 tainer neck 5',by means of the driving shoulder 9' and starts
co-rotating. If a slight rotation of the outer cap 3' is to
be permitted, without the originality f eature already becom-
'
2 ~ 3 ~
W0 91/06-06486 . - 18 - PCT/EP90/01819
ing vlsible, this may be accounted for by correspondingly
shifting or selecting the dimensions of the marking fields
17' and the openings 18'.
5 Also upon anew clsoing the container neck by putting the
closure cap thereon, the originaly feature may no not be re-
versed.
Instead o the embodiment o the locking members and locking
10 elements in the bottom of the outer cap and the inner cap,
the locking members and locking elements may also be built in
the inner or outer, respectively, ace o the side wall of
the outer cap and the inner cap. Instead of the thread over
the circumference of the container neck and the cap, re-
lS spectlvely, shown in FIGs. 12 and 8, respectively, it also is
possibls to provide for segmental screw bulges shifted with
respect to one another, on the circumference.
In case of a compressed content of the container bottles it
20 may be advisablg to provide for a resilient member at the un-
derslde of the bottom of the outer cap 3', in particular in
the middle, so that upon screwing-on of the outer cap 3'
stlll pressure is exerted on the inner cap 6' so that this
one remains in sealing position until the inner cap 6' is
25 lifted ~rom the container neck by the driving shoulder 9'.
Hereln, a belly-shaped structure at the underside of the bot-
¦tom of the outer cap 3' is particulary suitable, which pres-
!ses onto the inner cap 6 under pretension.
; :''
t ., '
~, ' ',' ,', . '~',
:1 ~ ''' ","
.. ,' '
