Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02554445 2006-07-28
DISPENSING CLOSURE
The invention pertains to a dispensing closure of plastic for fluid containers
with a closure body
that can be fixed in a sealed fashion on a neck featuring the dispensing
opening of the container,
and with a cap that is coupled to the closure body by means of a hinge and the
top plate of which
is provided with a sealing cone on its underside that is designed for engaging
into the neck
opening of the container in a sealing fashion.
Dispensing closures of the above-mentioned type are usually injection-moulded
in such a way
that the cap is in the open position, wherein the cap of the open dispensing
closure is frequently
closed after the injection-moulding process within the plastic injection-
moulding machine by
utilizing special tools.
The present invention is based on the objective of manufacturing a dispensing
closure of the
initially cited type in a less complex fashion such that its manufacture can
be realized in a
simpler and more economical fashion.
According to the invention, this objective is attained in that the dispensing
closure is integrally
injection-moulded in the closed state, wherein the cap is at least partially
connected to the
closure body by at least one predetermined breaking point between an annular
cover of the
closure body and a cap shell.
Practical characteristics for additionally developing the invention are
disclosed in the dependent
claims.
In a first embodiment of the invention, the at least one predetermined
breaking point extends in a
horizontal plane that is arranged perpendicular to the main axis of the
dispensing closure and
ends to both sides of the hinge that connects the inner edge of the annular
cover of the closure
body to the outer side of the cap shell.
A second embodiment of the inventive dispensing closure features at least one
predetermined
breaking point that extends over 360°, as well as a band-shaped hinge
on the outer side of the
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dispensing closure, wherein the ends of this band-shaped hinge are
respectively coupled to the
closure body and to the cap.
h1 all embodiments of the present invention, the web and/or the webs of the
predetermined
breaking point between the annular cover of the closure body and the bottom
region of the cap
shell may be arranged at the height of the upper side of the annular cover of
the closure body.
However, if the dispensing closure according to the invention is used for
closing a container or a
bottle that contains a beverage and the dispensing closure simultaneously
serves as a drinking
closure, through which the user can directly withdraw the beverage, it is
preferred to utilize an
embodiment of the predetermined breaking point, in which the single web or the
webs of the
predetermined breaking point between the annular cover of the closure body and
the lower end
region of the cap shell is arranged at the height of the underside of the
annular cover. Due to this
measure, the mouth of the user essentially comes in contact with smooth
surfaces of the
dispensing closure only.
In an additional development of the aforementioned embodiment of the
invention, the cap has a
contour in the shape of a truncated cone with a top plate, from the outer edge
of which the cap
shell extends to the annular cover of the closure body, wherein the cap can be
fixed in its open
position by means of a locking device. 'A cap that is shaped in the form of a
truncated cone
makes it possible to provide the closure body with a beak-shaped drinking
spout, wherein the
locking device locks the cap in its open position such that the user can
withdraw the beverage
situated in the container or the bottle from the dispensing closure in an
unobstructed fashion. The
locking device may be advantageously realized in the form of a tongue-and-
groove connection
between the rear side of the cap and the annular cover of the closure body.
The locking groove
may extend over a larger angle of the circumference and be slightly bent
toward the upper side of
the cap. The locking groove preferably has a rectangular cross section that
approximately
corresponds to the cross section of the locking web such that the cap is held
in the open position
and can be released manually.
In order to fix the dispensing closure on a container neck, the closure body
may be provided with
a round circumferential shell, e.g., a cylindrical shell that is provided with
an internal thread for
screwing the closure body on an external thread of the container neck in a
sealed fashion.
However, the inner side of the closure body shell may also be provided with at
least one locking
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bead for snapping the closure body on the container neck, wherein the at least
one locking bead
of the closure body engages underneath at least one outer bead of the
container neck.
The lower edge of the closure body shell may also be provided with a
tamperproofing band that
is arranged over a circumferential predetermined breaking line, wherein the
tamperproofing band
inseparably engages underneath an annular bead on the outer side of the
container neck
It is particularly preferred to provide at least one supporting element that
extends radially
outward from the bottom region of the cap shell, namely a certain distance
above the annular
cover of the closure body. Due to this measure, containers or bottles equipped
with the inventive
dispensing closure can be stacked on top of one another without risking
damages to the
dispensing closures. The supporting element may be advantageously realized in
a plate-shaped
fashion. The radial length of the at least one plate-shaped supporting and
closing element may
approximately correspond to half the width of the annular cover of the closure
body. The at least
one supporting element preferably has an arc-shaped outer edge, the radius of
which is smaller
than the radius of the lower end region of the cap.
In a second embodiment of the dispensing closure according to the present
invention, the at least
one predetermined breaking point may extend around the entire closure, i.e.,
over 360°, wherein
the cap is connected to the annular cover of the closure body by a band-shaped
hinge, the ends of
which are coupled to the rear side of the cap shell and to the upper side of
the ammlar cover of
the closure body, i.e., outside. In this case, the circumferential cap shell
that is arranged parallel
to the main axis of the dispensing closure may be provided with at least one
closing element a
certain distance above the annular cover of the closure body, wherein said
closing element is
preferably formed by the at least one supporting element and protrudes
radially outward from
two diametrically opposite sides of the cap. If the cap is in its closed
position after the initial use
of the dispensing closure and the destruction of the at least one
predetermined breaking point, the
at least one supporting and closing element lies on the ammlar cover of the
closure body and
thusly limits the closing movement of the cap.
It is also preferred to arrange at least one snap-on or fixing bead on the
outer side of the cap
shell, wherein said bead engages underneath an inner edge of the aru~ular
cover of the closure
body after the initial use of the dispensing closure and locks the cap in the
closed position. Such
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a snap-on or fixing bead may be advantageously arranged a certain distance
underneath the at
least one supporting and closing element in such a way that the closing
movement of the cap is
limited by the contact of the at least one supporting and closing element with
the ammlar cover
of the closure body and the snap-on or fixing bead engages underneath the
inner edge of the
annular cover.
In addition, the lower end of the closure body shell may be advantageously
provided with an
annular flange that can be connected in a sealed fashion to the edge of an
opening in a cardboard
beverage pack by means of welding.
It is also practical to provide a handling aid for opening the cap on the
front of its upper side.
The present invention is described in greater detail below with reference to
several embodiments
that are schematically illustrated in the figures. The figures show:
Figure l, a front view of a first embodiment of the dispensing closure
according to the
invention in the closed state;
Figure a side view of the dispensing closure according to Figure
2, 1;
Figure a rear view of the dispensing closure according to Figure
3, l;
Figure a top view of the dispensing closure according to Figure
4, 1;
Figure an enlarged representation of the detail A in Figure 2
5, that shows the position of
a predetermined breaking web;
Figure 6, an enlarged representation of the detail B in Figure 2 that shows a
locking
device for the opened cap;
Figure 7, an enlarged central longitudinal section of the dispensing closure
according to
Figures 1-6 with an open, locked cap;
CA 02554445 2006-07-28
Figure 8, an enlarged representation of the encircled detail C in Figure 7
with the locking
device for the cap;
Figure 9, a front view of a second embodiment of a dispensing closure
according to the
inventi on;
Figure 10, a side view of the dispensing closure according to Figure 9;
Figure 11, a rear view of the dispensing closure according to Figure 9;
Figure 12, a top view of the dispensing closure according to Figure 9;
Figure 13, an enlarged representation of the detail D in Figure 10 that shows
a different
position of a predetermined breaking web;
Figure 14, a front view of a third embodiment of a dispensing closure
according to the
invention;
Figure I 5, a side view of the dispensing closure according to Figure 14;
Figure 16, a rear view of the dispensing closure according to Figure 14;
Figure 17, a top view of the dispensing closure according to Figure 14;
Figure I 8, an enlarged representation of the encircled detail E in Figure 15;
Figure 19, an enlarged central longitudinal section of the dispensing closure
according to
Figure 14 with open cap;
Figure 20, an enlarged central longitudinal section of a fourth embodiment of
a dispensing
closure for a cardboard container with open cap;
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Figure 21, an enlarged central longitudinal section of the dispensing closure
according to
Figure 20 in the closed state after its initial use;
Figure 22, an enlarged representation of the:encircled detail F in Figure 21;
Figure 23, a front view of a fifth embodiment of the dispensing closure
according to the
invention;
Figure 24, a side view of the dispensing closure according to Figure 23;
Figure 25, a rear view of the dispensing closure according to Figure 23;
Figure 26, a top view of the dispensing closure according to Figure 23, and
Figure 27, an enlarged central longitudinal section of the encircled detail G
in Figure 23.
Several embodiments of an inventive dispensing closure of plastic for fluid
containers are
illustrated in the figures and described below, wherein said dispensing
closure consists of a
closure body that can be fixed in a sealed fashion on a neck featuring the
dispensing opening of
the container and a cap that is coupled to the closure body by means of a
hinge, wherein the top
plate of said cap is provided with a sealing cone on its underside that is
designed for engaging
into the neck opening of the container in a sealing fashion, and wherein the
dispensing closure is
characterized in that it is integrally injection-moulded in the closed state
and the cap is at least
partially connected to the closure body by at least one predetermined breaking
point.
Figures 1 through 8 show a dispensing closure 30, in particular, for beverage
bottles that consists
of a closure body 32 and a cap 34 that is connected to the closure body 32 by
an integral hinge
36 in Figure 4 and integrally manufactured in the closed state of a plastic
such as, e.g.,
polypropylene by means of injection-moulding.
The closure body 32 features an annular cover 38, from the outer edge of which
a circumferential
shell 40 (Figure 2) protrudes in the direction of a not-shown flexible or
rigid container.
According to Figure 5, the inner side of the shell 40 is provided with a
fixing means in the form
CA 02554445 2006-07-28
of an internal thread 42 or, e.g., at least one snap-on bead in order to
tightly fix the closure body
32 on the neck of the container that is equipped with corresponding fixing
means on its outer
side. The outer side of the shell 40 is at least sectionally provided with a
ribbing 44 in order to
improve the grip. The lower edge of the shell 40 is provided with a
tamperproofing band 48 that
is arranged over at least one circumferential predetermined breaking point 46,
wherein said
tampeiproofing band engages underneath an annular bead on the outer side of
the container neck
and is permanently held in this position such that the detaching or unscrewing
of the closure
body 32 from the container can be immediately detected. The predeternlined
breaking point 46
may consist of a single continuous, circumferential web o'f reduced wall
thickness or of a
plurality of webs of reduced wall thickness or thickness that are spaced apart
from one another
by identical or different clearances.
The cap 34 essentially has the shape of a truncated cone with a top plate 50
that extends about
perpendicular to the main axis x-x of the dispensing closure 30, wherein
horizontal gripping
grooves are arranged on the upper front side of the cap 34 as a handling aid
52 in order to
simplify the operation of the cap 34.
According to Figure 5, the bottom region 54 of a cap shell 55 that has the
shape of a truncated
cone is comlected to an inner edge 39 bf the annular cover 38 by at least one
predetermined
breaking point 56 at the height of the annular cover 38, wherein said
predetermined breaking
point circumferentially extends from the front side of the dispensing closure
30 to the two
respective sides of the integral hinge 36, e.g., over at least approximately
270°.
Figure 5 shows a predetermined breaking web 58 that is arranged at the height
of the underside
of the annular cover 38 of the closure body 32 and thusly simplifies the
handling of the
dispensing closure 30 and provides better protection for the user if the
dispensing closure 30 is
fixed on a beverage container or a beverage bottle and the user directly
drinks the beverage
through the open dispensing closure 30 placed against the mouth. As described
above with
reference to the predetermined breaking point 46, the predetermined breaking
web 58 may
consist of a single continuous, circumferential web of reduced wall thickness
or thickness or of a
predeternlined breaking web with a plurality of such predeternlined breaking
webs that are
spaced apart by identical or different clearances in the circumferential
direction of the closure.
CA 02554445 2006-07-28
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Figure 5 also shows that a sealing cone 62 extends downward from the bottom
region 54 of the
cap shell 55 in the shape of a truncated cone that is connected to the inner
edge 39 of the annular
cover 38, i.e., radially within the at least one predetermined breaking point
56, wherein said
sealing cone engages in a sealing fashion into a neck opening of the container
in the closed state.
The sealing cone 62 is provided with a circumferential sealing bead 64 on the
lower end of its
outer side in order to additionally improve the sealing effect.
Figure 6 shows a locking device 66 for the cap 34 that is indicated in the
form of an encircled
detail B in Figure 2. When the cap 34 is opened, the predetermined breaking
web 58 of the linear
predetermined breaking point 56 is destroyed such that the cap 34 can be
pivoted about the
integral hinge 36 and locked in its open position by means of the locking
device 66 shown in
Figures 7 and 8. The locking device 66 consists of a locking groove 68 in the
rear side of the cap
34 that extends in the shape of an arc in the circumferential direction and in
the direction of the
top plate 50 of the cap 34 as shown in Figures 3 and 4. This arc shape of the
locking groove 68 in
the circumferential direction of the cap shell 55 that has the shape of a
truncated cone
significantly simplifies the engagement with a locking web 70 that protrudes
from the annular
cover 38 of the closure body 32 about parallel to the main axis x-x of the
dispensing closure 30
on the rear side of the dispensing closure 30. The locking web 70 has a cross
section that
essentially corresponds to that of the locking groove 68. Consequently, the
cap 34 that is
provided with a projecting handling aid 52 in this case is firmly but
separably held in the open
position as illustrated in Figure 7 and in Figure 8 that shows an enlarged
representation of the
encircled detail C in Figure 7 such that the direct withdrawal of the
container contents through
the open dispensing closure 30 is simplified.
Figures 9 through 13 show a second embodiment of an inventive dispensing
closure, wherein
reference symbols that identify components identical or similar to the first
embodiment are
preceded by the numeral "2."
In this second embodiment of a dispensing closure 230 that is illustrated in
Figures 9 through 13,
at least one plate-shaped supporting element 272 is provided that extends
radially outward from
both sides of the cap 234 perpendicular to the main axis x-x of the dispensing
closure 230,
namely a short distance above the am~ular cover 238 of the closure body 232.
It serves for
stacking identical containers or bottles on top of one another without
damaging the dispensing
CA 02554445 2006-07-28
_ g _
closures 230. The at least one supporting element 272 protrudes toward about
diametrically
opposite sides in an arc-shaped fashion from the cap shell 255 of the cap 234
over a radial length
of up to about half the width of the annular cover 238, wherein the radius of
its arc-shaped outer
edge is smaller than the radius of the bottom region 254 of the cap 234 in the
shape of a
truncated cone. The opening of the cap 234 about the integral hinge 236 also
leads to the
simultaneous destruction of the at least one predetermined breaking web 360 of
the
predeternzined breaking point 256 in this case.
Figure 13 shows an enlarged representation of the encircled' detail B in
Figure 10, in which a
single predetermined breaking web 260 of a predetermined breaking point 256
that continuously
extends up to an integral hinge 236 in the circumferential direction is
arranged at the height of
the upper side of the annular cover 238, wherein this configuration provides
certain advantages
with respect to the injection-moulding technology in comparison with the
predetermined
breaking point 58 in Figure 5.
Figures 14 through 19 show a third embodiment of an inventive dispensing
closure 330 for
bottles containing fluids, wherein this dispensing closure is also integrally
injection-moulded of
plastic in the closed state, and wherein reference symbols that identify
components identical or
similar to the first embodiment are preceded by the numeral "3."
The significant differences in comparison with the above-described embodiments
can be seen in
that the cap 334 is connected to the closure body 332 by means of a
predetermined breaking
point 356 that extends over 360° (Figure 18), but may also consist of a
single continuous,
circumferential predetermined breaking web of reduced wall thickness or of
several
predetermined breaking webs of reduced wall thickness that are spaced apart
from one another
by identical and/or different clearances. In addition, the cap 334 has an
essentially cylindrical
shell 355, to the outer rear side of which one end of a band-shaped hinge 336
is coupled at 337,
wherein the other end of this hinge is coupled to the annular cover 338 of the
closure body 332 at
341 such that the hinge 336 extends between the cap 334 and the annular cover
338 of the
closure body 332 at a radial distance from the cap shell 355.
Figure l 8 shows that a sealing cone 362 also extends downward from a bottom
region 354 of the
cap shell 355 that lies at the height of the annular cover 338 in this
embodiment, wherein this
CA 02554445 2006-07-28
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sealing cone also serves for sealing an opening in the bottle neck when the
bottle needs to be
securely closed before the dispensing closure 330 is opened anew.
A handling aid 352 protrudes forward from the cap shell 355, but could also
consist of a
depression in the cap shell 355 in this case.
At least one supporting element 372 realized similar to that of the first
embodiment is also
provided in this case in order to stack the bottles or containers on top of
one another.
In addition, a tamperproofing band 348 is provided analogous to the first and
second
embodiments.
Figure 19 shows the dispensing closure 330 in the opened state, wherein the
remains of the at
least one predetermined breaking web 360 are shown on the inner edge 339 of
the closure body
332 and in the bottom region 354 of the cap shell 355, and wherein this figure
also shows the
hinge-like couplings 337 and 341 of the band-shaped hinge 336.
Figures 20 through 22 show a fourth embodiment of a dispensing closure 430
according to the
present invention that is integrally injection-moulded of plastic in the
closed state, wherein
reference symbols that identify components identical or similar to the above-
described
embodiments are preceded by a numeral "4."
This fourth embodiment of the dispensing closure 430 is intended for cardboard
packs,
particularly cardboard beverage packs. To this end, the underside of a closure
body 432 is
provided with an annular flange 433 to be welded into an opening in the
cardboard pack
containing a fluid or beverage. The closure body 432 is once again integrally
connected to the
round cap 434 by a predetermined breaking point 456 that extends over
360° and consists of a
single continuous predeternlined breaking web or a plurality of predetermined
breaking webs
that are spaced apart from one another, as well as by an outer band-shaped
hinge 436. The hinge
436 is coupled to the outer rear side of the cap shell 455 and to the annular
cover 438 of the
closure body 432 analogous to the third embodiment.
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One significant difference in comparison with the above-described embodiments
is a
circumferential snap-on or fixing bead 435 arranged a short distance above the
at least one 360°
predetermined breaking point 456 on the cap shell 455. The remains of at least
one
predetermined breaking web that is arranged on the upper side of an imzer edge
439 and
destroyed when the cap 434 is opened are identified by the reference symbol
460 and illustrated
on the inner edge 439 of the annular cover 438 as well as on the cap shell
455. The inner edge
439 features an inclined surface 447 that lies underneath the predetermined
breaking point 456
and extends downward and outward, wherein this inclined surface forms the
outer side of a
circumferential predetermined breaking groove, the opposite groove wall of
which is formed by
the cap shell 455. According to Figure 22, the snap-on or fixing bead 435
engages underneath
the destroyed predeterniined breaking point 456 on the inner edge 439 of the
cover 438 when the
cap 434 is reclosed, wherein said bead ultimately adjoins the inclined surface
447 such that the
cap 434 is fixed in its reclosed position.
Figures 23 through 27 show a fifth embodiment of an inventive dispensing
closure 530 for
cardboard packs, wherein reference symbols that identify components identical
or similar to the
above-described embodiments are preceded by a numeral "5."
In Figures 23 through 27, the circumferential cap shell 534 is realized
cylindrical referred to the
main axis x-x of the dispensing closure 530 and provided with at least one
supporting element
572 a certain distance above the annular cover 538 of the closure body 532,
wherein said
supporting element simultaneously serves as a closing element that protrudes
radially outward
from two diametrically opposite sides of the cap 534 and lies on the annular
cover 538 of the
closure body 532 in the closed position of the cap 534 after at least one
predetermined breaking
point 556 was destroyed due to the initial use of the dispensing closure 530.
In addition, at least one snap-on bead 535 is arranged on the outer side of
the cap shell 555 a
certain distance underneath the at least one flange-shaped supporting and
closing element 572,
wherein said bead engages underneath the inner edge 539 of the annular cover
538 of the closure
body 530 in the closed position of the cap 534 after the initial use of the
dispensing closure 530
and thusly locks tlZe cap.
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According to Figures 23 through 25 and, in particular, Figure 27, the fixing
or snap-on bead 535
is arranged on the outer side of the cap shell 555 at a height that lies about
centrally between the
annular cover 538 and the at least one plate-shaped supporting and closing
element 572. After
the cap 534 is initially opened by destroying the~at least one predetermined
breaking point 556
extending over 360°, this supporting and closing element 572 strikes
against the annular cover
538 of the closure body 532 at the end of the closing movement of the cap 534
and seals the
opening of the closure body 532 surrounded by the cover 538.
The outer side of the cap shell 555 that extends between the supporting and
closing element 572
and the annular cover 538 serves as a sealing surface 545 when the cap 534 is
reclosed after the
initial opening of the dispensing closure 530. In this case, the axial spacing
between the
circumferential fixing or snap-on bead 535 and the supporting element 572 is
chosen such that
the fixing bead 535 assumes the position shown in Figure 21, i.e., it adjoins
the inclined surface
547 on the inner edge 539 of the annular cover 538 in a sealing fashion.
As in the above-described embodiments, a sealing cone 562 also extends
downward from the cap
shell 555 in this case and serves as a seal if the dispensing closure 530
needs to be securely
closed after the initial use or fluid withdrawal from the cardboard pack.
In addition, a handling aid 552 for opening the cap 534 is provided on the
front upper side
th ereo f.
It is obvious that the cap 534 can be additionally pressed into the opening of
the closure body
532 after the destuuction of the at least one predetermined breaking web 560
of the 360°
predetermined breaking point 556, namely such that the snap-on or fixing bead
535 now engages
underneath the inner edge 539 of the annular cover 538 that was previously
connected to the cap
shell 554 by the predetermined breaking point 556 and its at least one
predetermined breaking
web 560. A reliable seal of the cardboard pack therefore is also ensured after
the dispensing
closure 530 is reclosed due to the contact between the snap-on bead 535 and
the inclined surface
547 underneath the firmer edge 539 of the annular cover 538.
CA 02554445 2006-07-28
13
List of Reference Symbols
30 Dispensing closure
32 Closure body
34 Cap
36 Integral hinge
3 8 Annular cover
39 Inner edge
40 Circumferential shell
42 W ternal thread
44 Ribbing
46 Predetermined breaking point
48 Tamperproofing band
50 Top plate
52 Handling aid
54 Bottom region (cap shell)
55 Cap shell in the form of a truncated
cone
56 270 predetermined breaking point
58 Predeternlined breaking web
62 Sealing cone
64 Sealing bead
66 Locking device
68 Locking groove
70 Locking web
230 Dispensing closure
232 Closure body
234 Cap
236 Integral hinge
238 Annular cover
239 Inner edge
248 Tamperproofing band
250 Top plate
254 Bottom region (cap shell)
255 Cap shell in the form of a truncated
cone
256 270 predetermined breaking point
CA 02554445 2006-07-28
14
260 Predetermined breaking web
262 Sealing cone
266 Locking device
268 Locking groove
270 Locking web
272 Plate-shaped support elements
x-x Main axis
330 Dispensing closure
332 Closure body
334 Cap
336 Band-shaped hinge
337 Hinge coupling (cap)
338 Annular cover
339 hmer edge (closure body)
341 Hinge coupling (closure
body)
346 360 predetermined breaking
point
348 Tamperproofing band
350 Top plate
352 Handling aid
354 Bottom region (cap shell)'
355 Round cap shell
356 360 predetermined breaking
point
360 Predetermined breaking webs
362 Sealing cone
372 Supporting elements
430 Dispensing closure
432 Closure body
433 Annular flange
434 Cap
435 Fixing or snap-on bead
436 Band-shaped hinge
438 Annular cover
439 Inner edge (cover)
447 Inclined surface
CA 02554445 2006-07-28
~ ~ 15
450 Top plate
455 Cap shell
456 360 predetermined breaking point
460 Predetenmined breaking webs
462 Sealing cone
530 Dispensing closure
532 Closure body
534 Cap
535 Fixing and snap-on bead
536 Band-shaped hinge '
538 Annular cover
539 Inner edge
545 Sealing surface
547 Inclined surface (Inner edge of cover)
552 Handling aid
550 Top plate
555 Cap, shell
556 360 predetermined breaking point
560 Predetermined breaking webs
562 Sealing cone '
572 Plate-shaped supporting elements
