Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
Stopper for a Container
The invention relates to a stopper for a container with a lid with a
peripheral wall engaging
around the neck of the container, integrally formed on whose lower edge there
is a
peripheral security ring, which may be torn off, for tamper-evident security
of the contents
of the container with inwardly directed locking formations, which in the
fastened position of
the stopper engage beneath an outwardly directed annular projection on the
container, and
with an olive provided with an outer, peripheral annular bead for gripping
engagement in
the container opening.
Such stoppers are known and have proved to be satisfactory in many cases for
tightly
sealing the contents of the container with the aid of the olive, wherein the
tamper-evident
ring ensures that the contents of the container cannot be tampered with in an
unauthorised
manner. When a user wishes to remove the stopper from the container for the
first time, he
firstly tears the tamper-evident ring away from the lower edge of the
peripheral wall
engaging around the container, whereafter he can lever the stopper away from
the neck of
the container.
As a result of the unavoidable manufacturing tolerances, it can happen that
the annular
olive is situated in the neck of the container with such a tight force fit
that a considerable
force is necessary in order to separate the peripheral wall integrally formed
on the lid and
the olive from the neck of the container, which can be problematic e.g. for
elderly users.
The oblique "levering off' of the stopper is also made difficult by the rigid
lid of the stopper.
Since the stopper is a mass produced item, its manufacturing costs should be
as low as
possible, whereby the amount of the plastic material which is used is an
important cost
factor.
It is the object of the present invention to provide a stopper for a
container, which reliably
seals the contents of the container and also can be more easily removed with a
tight force
fit of the olive in the container than is the case with the previously usual
stoppers. The
stopper is also to be manufacturable with less plastic material.
This object is solved in accordance with the invention by the features of
Claim 1.
Advantageous embodiments of the invention are characterised in the dependent
claims.
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The invention provides that formed in the circular lid of the stopper there is
a circular,
concentric recessed channel, which has a radially outer annular wall and a
radially inner
annular wall, which are connected together by a base wall. The outer annular
wall and the
radially inner annular wall preferably extend parallel to one another and at
right angles to
the central, circular lid region and the outer, annular lid region, on which
they are integrally
formed. The recessed channel thus has preferably a U-shape in cross-section.
The invention further provides that the radially outer annular wall defines
the olive, which
has the peripheral annular bead on its outer side, which causes the gripping
engagement
in the neck of the container.
Since the annular olive is connected at its lower end to the base wall of the
recessed
channel, which braces the olive against the action of the lateral forces when
it is grippingly
engaged in the container neck, the olive can be of shorter construction in
comparison to the
conventional stoppers, whereby the amount of the plastic material used for the
stopper can
be reduced. Furthermore, the wall thickness of the olive which is thus braced
can also be
reduced.
The recessed channel additionally facilitates the levering away of the stopper
from the
container neck in that when sliding back the stopper from the container throat
the recessed
channel can be compressed a little, whereby the removal of the stopper from
the container
neck is facilitated.
The invention additionally provides that directly above the locking formations
openings are
formed which pass through the security ring and which extend on both sides
beyond the
locking formations. These openings are produced by lateral sliders in the
injection moulding
tool, which, together with an inner contoured sleeve, form the locking
formations, as is
described in connection with a conventional stopper with a closed lid in DE 42
36 741 Cl.
It is ensured by these lateral openings that no foreign materials can get into
the vicinity of
the container opening from the exterior, as would be the case if the locking
formations were
formed by plunger cores, which were guided through openings in the lid
portion. Due to
these openings in the outer, annular lid region, the levering away of the
stopper would
otherwise be made more difficult since the outer, annular lid region would not
have the
necessary stiffness.
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Date recue / Date received 2021 -1 1-09
It is also proposed with great advantage that the radially inner annular wall
is extended
beyond the base wall and defines the peripheral wall defines a desiccant
chamber.
Furthermore, the stopper conveniently includes a spiral retainer, the elastic
spiral webs of
which, which end in a cover ring, can be integrally formed on the recessed
channel.
The recessed channel is integrally formed on the central, circular lid region
and the outer,
annular lid region, wherein the lower end region of the radially outer annular
wall defining
the olive can be linearly bevelled in order to facilitate its demoulding
during manufacture of
the stopper. This bevel serves at the same also as an insertion aid when
automatically
plugging the closure onto the tube. The levering away of the stopper is also
facilitated
thereby.
In order to increase the stiffness of the stopper, it is proposed with
advantage that the upper
side of the circular lid region and/or of the annular lid region is provided
with upwardly
projecting ribs.
It is also proposed with great advantage that the olive ring has a ribbed wall
surface on its
inner side, which is defined by a plurality of grooves in the wall of the
olive extending in the
axial direction of the stopper. The grooves can have a constant depth of about
10% to
about 50% of the minimum wall thickness of the olive ring, whereby the
suitable value
depends on the plastic material that is used and the geometry of the ribbing.
The webs of
the ribbing preferably have a domed cross-sectional shape.
Tests with such a ribbed olive have shown that the pressure produced by the
olive and thus
the sealing integrity of the contents of the container is only insignificantly
reduced whilst the
ribbing significantly facilitates the levering away of the stopper from the
neck of the
container. Thus even users with low power in their hands can manage better
with the
stopper.
The peripheral wall of the stopper and the security ring are connected
together at positions
situated between the locking formations with short webs, which can be easily
torn away.
Further details of the invention will be apparent from the following
description and with
reference to the drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a partly cutaway embodiment of the
invention;
Figure 2 shows an embodiment reinforced by webs;
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Figure 3 shows a comparison of a conventional stopper and a stopper in
accordance
with the invention;
Figure 4 the same comparison as figure 3 without dimensions;
Figure 5 is a perspective view of the stopper in accordance with the
invention shown
in Figures 3 and 4.
Figure 1 shows an embodiment of the stopper in accordance with the invention,
formed in
the circular lid of which there is a concentric recessed channel 1, which
includes a radially
outer annular wall 2, a base wall 3 and an inner annular wall 4. The recessed
channel 1
has a U-shape in cross-section and is integrally formed on a central, circular
lid region 5
and an outer, annular lid region 6. The radially inner annular wall 4 is
extended beyond the
base wall 3 and defines together with the annular wall 4 the peripheral wall 7
of a desiccant
chamber.
Connected to the annular lid region 6 there is a peripheral wall 8, which is
bent away at right
angles and integrally formed on whose lower edge there is a security ring 9,
which may be
torn away, for tamper-evident security of the contents of the container, which
is connected
with inwardly directed locking formations 10. Situated above the locking
formations 10 there
are openings 11 which pass through the security ring 9.
The radially outer annular wall 2 of the recess channel 1 is constructed as an
olive in that it
is provided with an outer, circumferential annular bead 12 for gripping
engagement in the
opening of a container, which is not shown. The lower end region 13 of the
olive extends
linearly obliquely inwardly.
A spiral retainer 14 is formed integrally with its elastic spiral-shaped webs
15 on the base
wall 3 of the recess channel 1.
Figure 2 shows a stopper which is identical except webs 7a, 8a extending in
the radial
direction are formed on the upper side of the central lid region 5 and on the
upper side of
the annular lid region 6, which increase the stiffness of the two lid regions.
The protruding
webs 7a and 8a are in each case uniformly spaced from one another and
distributed over
the entire periphery of the lid region 5, 6.
Figure 3 shows a combination of a conventional stopper 16 in the left-hand
half of the figure
and the stopper 17 in accordance with the invention in the right-hand half of
the figure. It
may be seen from this comparison that the olive 2 is considerably shorter in
the stopper 17
in accordance with the invention than the olive 18 of the conventional stopper
16, which is
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possible due to the fact that the olive 2 is held and braced by the base wall
3. As a result
of this bracing, the olive 2 develops the same pressure as the longer olive
18, whereby
additionally the levering away from a container is considerably facilitated
due to the shorter
dimension. The oblique surface 13 at the lower end of the olive 2 also
contributes to this.
.. Formed on the upper side of the annular lid region 6 is an annular rib 19.
Ribbing can be formed on the radially inner surface of the olive 2. This
ribbing, which
consists of grooves situated closely together and projections between them of
rounded
cross-section, facilitates the levering away of the stopper in accordance with
the invention,
whereby at the same time the pressure of the olive necessary for the sealing
of the contents
of the container is maintained.
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