Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
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INDUCTION-SEALABLE CLOSURE FOR LIQUID CONTAINER
Field of the Invention
[0001] The present invention is related to closures
for liquid containers. Particularly, the present invention
is related to child-resistant closures. The present
invention is equally related to closures for liquid
containers with external trigger and dispensing devices.
State of the Art
[0002] Child-resistant closures are used nowadays
for containers carrying lightly inflammable and/or toxic
liquids, in order to prevent accidental exposure of a child
to the container's content. These liquids, which may
contain hazardous agricultural or household chemicals, are
dispensed from the container in a number of different ways.
In some applications, e.g. for pesticides, it is desirable
to apply the liquid solution by spraying in order to
achieve a maximal coverage of the surface to be treated. In
a spraying device, the fluid is dispensed under pressure
through a nozzle. The nozzle may be integrally comprised in
the closure, or may be mounted in an outlet hose or
extension rod. Pressure is applied by squeezing the
container or pressurizing the liquid with the use of a
pump.
[0003] Document US 2004/0129728 discloses a child-
resistant fluid delivery device comprising a tubular wand
with spray nozzle. The wand is assembled onto a liquid
container through a child-resistant rotatable connector.
This connector is provided with a ratchet mechanism to
per:r_it at1achme:t o= the connector to the container and
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thereafter prevent removal of the connector from the
container. The spray nozzle is protected by a child-
resistant cover of the "squeeze-and-turn"-type. A drawback
here is that, in order to be child-resistant, the wand has
to remain assembled with the container.
[0004] Patent document US 3874562 discloses a
squeeze bottle having a closure with a flip spout. The
bottle dispenses liquid in a pump-like fashion. The closure
comprises a vent and inlet and outlet check valves, the
combination of which constitutes what in effect is a pump.
The flip spout can rotate between a closed and open
position. The vent is located within the housing that
accepts the flip spout when in closed position. The flip
spout is provided with a bump, which closes the vent when
the spout is closed, thereby avoiding leakage of liquid
through the vent. However, if the spout is not fully
rotated to the closed position, there is a possibility of
leakage through the vent. This closure is not child-
resistant.
[0005] In the Patent Abstracts of Japan, 1996,
Japanese patent application publication 08 072915 discloses
a liquid discharging container comprising a closure
comprising a base connected to the container and a cap
rotatably coupled to the base for closing and opening a
discharge of the container. The axis of rotation of the cap
is substantially parallel to the cylindrical axis of the
base. The closing valve is formed by a cylindrical
projection provided on the first body and a mating cylinder
provided on the cap. Both the cylindrical projection and
the mating cylinder comprise two grooves arranged at 180
degree angle. The valve is open in a position of the cap
where the grooves of the cylindrical projection match the
grooves of the cylinder. A drawback of this configuration
that t:-e closing face cf zhe va_ve _~ 7 ocated in b?=ween
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the base and the cap. Hence, when the valve is closed,
there may be liquid trapped outside of the container, in
between the base and the cap. The trapped liquid may leak
when the cap is deformed by an unauthorized person (e.g. a
child), causing a possible hazardous situation.
Summary of the Invention
[0006] Therefore, the present invention aims at
providing an improved closure for a container.
Particularly, it is an aim of the invention to provide a
closure which does not present the drawbacks of prior art
closures.
[0007] It is a further aim of the invention to
provide a closure comprising a valve with improved closing
properties. It is still a further aim of the invention to
provide a closure comprising a child-resistant closing
valve.
[0008] It is a further aim of the invention to
provide an improved child-resistant closure.
[0009] It is a further aim of the invention to
provide a closure to which a dispensing device can be
connected and disconnected.
[0010] It is a further aim of the invention to
provide a closure arranged for not being removed from the
container and with improved sealing properties compared
with prior art closures.
[0011] The invention further aims at providing an
improved method of sealing a closure onto a container for
carrying liquids.
[0012] Aims of the invention are met by providing a
closure, as set out in the appended claims, for a container
for carrying a liquid.
[0013] According to a first aspect cf the present
_nvention, there is prcvided a closu_e comp;ising a first
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body, a second body, a valve and an outlet. The first body
comprises an upper face, a sidewall and means for mounting
onto a discharge opening of the container. The first body
also comprises a passageway for the evacuation of liquid
out of the container. The valve is arranged for closing
said passageway. The second body is (rotatably) mounted
onto the first body.
[0014] The closure comprises means for rotating the
second body with reference to the first body between a
position in which the valve is open and a position in which
the valve is closed. Preferably, when the valve is open,
the container communicates with the outlet of the closure
through said valve. In the closure, for opening and closing
the valve, the second body is arranged to rotate around a
main axis substantially perpendicular to the upper face of
the first body.
[0015] The main axis refers to the axis of rotation
of the second body relative to the first body (and hence
relative to the container). According to a preferred
embodiment, the main axis is parallel to the symmetry axis
of the sidewall of the first body. The main axis is
preferably substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of
the container, although other embodiments are possible as
well.
[0016] The valve comprises a valve seat and a valve
element. The valve seat is arranged for housing the valve
element. The first body comprises the valve seat and the
second body comprises the valve element. The valve seat and
the valve element together constitute the valve.
[0017] According to a preferred embodiment, the
valve element and valve seat are arranged so that the
passageway through the valve (i.e. at the location of the
valve) is substantially parallel to the main axis.
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[0018] The combination of valve element and valve
seat comprises an extension (or a projection), arranged to
liquid-tightly fit inside an opening (or a hollow member)
and arranged to rotate with reference to said opening.
5 [0019] The opening and the extension are concentric.
The axis of rotation of the extension relative to the
opening is coincident with the main axis.
[0020] Preferably, the liquid passageway through the
valve is essentially concentric with the main axis.
[0021] The extension and the opening are
advantageously of substantially cylindrical shape. The
extension and the opening can have the shape of conical
segments. The extension and the opening can have the shape
of cylinders.
[0022] Preferably, the opening and the extension
provide a liquid passageway which is substantially parallel
to the main axis.
[0023] Either the opening or the extension comprises
a transverse member which narrows the liquid passageway and
the other of the opening and the extension comprises at
least one tab. The transverse member and the at least one
tab are arranged for sliding over each other, whereby the
at least one tab opens or closes the valve. The sliding is
performed by said rotation of the second body.
[0024] Preferably, the transverse member is
substantially perpendicular to the main axis. Either of the
opening or the extension that comprises the transverse
member preferably comprises a fitting :or frictionally
holding a dip tube.
[0025] The narrowing of the liquid passageway is
achieved by the transverse member comprising one or more
apertures. The tabs are arranged for opening or closing
said one or more apertures.
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[0026] Even more preferably, the first body
comprises a vent and the second body comprises a second
valve arranged for closing the vent. The vent is closed
when the closure is in a closed position. According to a
preferred embodiment, the vent is comprised in the upper
face of the first body. According to an equally preferred
embodiment, the vent comprises an L-shaped channel, the
channel abutting in the upper face of the first body. The
vent passes in both cases through the upper face of the
first body.
[0027] Preferably, in the closure of the invention,
said means for rotating the second body with reference to
the first body comprise a circular rib provided on either
the first body or the second body and a circular groove
provided on the other of the first body and second body,
the groove accepting said rib and the groove and rib
guiding the rotation of the second body.
[0028] Preferably, either the first body or the
second body further comprises an arc-shaped skirt and the
other of the first body and the second body further
comprises a bar arranged for engaging with the lateral ends
of said skirt. Even more preferably, said bar extends
between the valve (i.e. the opening or the extension) and
the outlet of the closure and comprises a passageway for
the evacuation of liquid from the valve to the outlet of
the closure.
[0029] Preferably, the first body of the closure
comprises a projection and the second body comprises a lip.
The projection is arranged for engaging with the lip when
the second body is in the closed position thereby
preventing rotation of the second body towards the open
position. The lip is more preferably arranged for being
disengaged from the projection by application of a
squeezing =orce on 7-he second bodv at a substantially rig'-a
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angle with reference to the location of said projection and
lip.
[0030] Preferably, the first body of the closure
comprises a (second) tab and the second body comprises a
flap, arranged for engaging with the (second) tab at a
position in which the valve is open. The action of said
engaging produces a click-sound.
[0031] The closure according to the invention
preferably comprises a double-sided induction seal
comprising an electrically conductive core layer coated at
both sides with plastic. The double-sided induction seal is
preferably located at a distance from the upper face of the
first body. The double-sided induction seal can contact the
sidewall of the first body, at an end remote of the upper
face.
[0032] Preferably, the outlet of the closure
comprises a socket arranged for accepting a connector plug.
[0033] The present invention equally provides a
method of sealing a closure non-removably onto a container,
the method comprising the steps of: providing a closure and
providing a seal between the closure and the container,
wherein the seal is a double sided induction seal
comprising an electrically conductive core layer coated at
both sides with plastic. The method further comprises the
step of induction-heating the seal.
Brief Description of the Drawings
[0034] Figure 1 represents the closure according to
the invention.
[0035] Figure 2a represents the closure base that is
mounted onto a containe-r. Figure 2b represents a top view
of the closure base.
[0036] Figure 3 represents a cross sec--ion of the
c' os'are :nd the dio tube.
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[0037] Figure 4 represents a bottom view of the
closure cap that is mounted on top of the base.
[0038] Figure 5 represents a cross-sectional view of
the closure.
5[0039] Figure 6 represents a bottom view of the
closure base comprising an induction seal.
[0040] Figures 7a and 7b represent respectively a
cross sectional and upper view of the closure base.
[0041] Figures 8a, 8b and 8c represent respectively
a bottom view, a cross sectional view of the cap and a
cross sectional view of the vent valve.
Detailed description of the Invention
[0042] The closure according to the invention, for a
container carrying liquids, can be provided with a spout
for discharging the container's content, or with a spray
nozzle. Preferably, the closure is provided with a socket
at its outlet. The socket accepts a connector plug of an
extension hose. At the distal end of the extension hose a
spray gun is preferably provided. Liquid may be withdrawn
from the container by the sucking action of the spray gun
creating a vacuum at the outlet of the extension hose. The
liquid in the container may be brought under pressure. The
closure can be arranged for attaching a dip tube to it for
withdrawing liquid from the bottom of the container.
[0043] The closure comprises two main bodies: a
first body or closure base, comprising means for mounting
onto the discharge opening of the container, and a second
body or cap that is secured onto the base and is allowed to
rotate thereby opening or closing a liquid passageway from
the container to the outlet of the closure.
[0044] The closure comprises a valve for closing the
liquid passageway. The valve comprises a valve element
arranaed fcr =itting intc a valve seat.
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[0045] According to the invention, the valve
comprises a first member (or opening) of rotation
symmetrical shape, arranged for accepting a second member
(or extension) of rotation symmetrical shape. The first
member and the second member are preferably of
substantially cylindrical shape (they are referred to as
respectively the first cylinder and the second cylinder)
The second member can rotate relative to the first member.
[0046] The second cylinder can be a substantially
cylindrical extension which is arranged to liquid tightly
fit inside the first cylinder, which can be a substantially
cylindrical opening. The first and the second cylinders
provide a liquid passageway which is substantially parallel
to the axis of rotation of the cap and which can be closed
by rotation of the cap (the second body) with reference to
the base (the first body).
[0047] The first cylinder forms part of either the
valve seat or the valve element. The second cylinder forms
part of the other of the valve seat and the valve element.
[0048] Either the first or the second cylinder
comprises a member, arranged transversely in the cylinder
which comprises the member. The other of the first and the
second cylinder comprises sliding means arranged to
slidingly rotate over the transverse member. By slidingly
rotating, the sliding means open or close one or more
apertures provided in the transverse member, thereby
opening or closing the valve. Advantageously, said means
can be one or more tabs.
[0049] Hence, when the cap is rotated, the one or
more tabs rotate relative to the transverse member. The
rotation of the cap (the second body) relative to the base
(the first body) causes the second cylinder (cylindrical
extension) and the first cylinder (cylindrical o~Dening) to
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rotate relative to one another and the one or more tabs to
rotate relative to and slide over the transverse member.
[0050] The transverse member can be a plate provided
at the inside of the first or the second cylinder. One or
5 more apertures are provided in the plate.
[0051] The one or more tabs refer to one or more
flaps or tags, projecting from the inside wall of the first
or the second cylinder. The tabs' face sliding over the
transverse member advantageously ensures liquid-tight
10 sealing of the apertures.
[0052] The first and second cylinders (members) can
be conical segments instead of cylinders.
[0053] The axis (of symmetry) of the first and
second cylinders substantially coincides with the axis of
rotation of the cap relative to the closure base (i.e. the
main axis) . Hence, the first and second cylinders (the
opening and extension) are preferably concentric. The
transverse member is preferably arranged perpendicular to
the axis (of symmetry) of the first and the second
cylinders.
[0054] The closure of the invention allows to close
a container liquid tightly. When the valve is in a closed
position, the liquid of the container can not go beyond the
closure base. As a result of the valve assembly, no liquid
can get entrapped between the closure base and the cap. As
the liquid passageway of the valve and the closing elements
(i.e. the transverse member, the one or more tabs and the
first and second cvlinder) can be arranged in close
proximity of the axis of rotation of the cap, a liquid
tight closure is ensured even in case of inappropriate use
of the closure, such as during actions of deforrning the cap
in order to open or to damage it. Hence, an improved child-
resistant closure results.
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[0055] According to a preferred embodiment, the
closure comprises a vent. The vent is closed off when the
closure is in its closed position. The vent is preferably
also closed when the cap is positioned in between the open
and closed positions.
[0056] The closure is preferably attached in such a
way to the container that it can not be removed from the
container without damaging both the container and the
closure. Securing the closure on the container is
preferably achieved by use of a double-sided induction
seal. The induction seal is interposed between the
container's discharge opening and the closure base.
Induction-heating the seal bonds the closure to the
container.
[0057] The closure according to the invention is
preferably child-resistant. Preferably, the cap's rotation
from the closed to the open position is child-resistant.
The liquid passageway in the closure can only be opened
after application of a squeezing force onto the cap. The
squeezing force releases a lip that otherwise is stuck
behind a projection.
[0058] The valve in the closure that closes off the
liquid passageway is designed so as not or almost not to
deform during the squeezing action. This ensures a liquid-
tight closure and prevents accidental discharge of liquid.
These properties are best achieved when the valve is
located in the vicinity of, and preferably concentrically
around the cap's axis of rotation and the valve opening is
as small as possible.
[0059] An additional advantageous child-resistant
feature of the cap is the tight mounting of the cap onto
the closure base. A circular groove and rib, present both
on the cap and on the base, er.gaae in each other and ensure
that the cao is not easily torr_ off the base.
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Description of a Preferred Embodiment of the Invention
[0060] Embodiments of the present invention will now
be described in detail with reference to the attached
figures, the invention is not limited thereto but only by
the claims. The drawings described are only schematic and
are non-limiting. In the drawings, the size of some of the
elements may be exaggerated and not drawn on scale for
illustrative purposes. The dimensions and the relative
dimensions do not necessarily correspond to actual
reductions to practice of the invention. Those skilled in
the art can recognize numerous variations and modifications
of this invention that are encompassed by its scope.
Accordingly, the description of preferred embodiments
should not be deemed to limit the scope of the present
invention.
[0061] Furthermore, the terms first, second and the
like in the description and in the claims are used for
distinguishing between similar elements and not necessarily
for describing a sequential or chronological order. It is
to be understood that the terms so used are interchangeable
under appropriate circumstances and that the embodiments of
the invention described herein are capable of operation in
other sequences than described or illustrated herein.
[0062] Moreover, the terms top, bottom, left, right,
over, under and the like in the description and the claims
are used for descriptive purposes and not necessarily for
describing relative positions. The terms so used are
interchangeable under appropriate circumstances and the
embodiments of the invention described herein can operate
in other orientations than described or illustrated herein.
For example "left" and "right" from an element indicates
being located at opposite sides of this element.
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[0063] It is to be noticed that the term
"comprising", used in the claims, should not be interpreted
as being restricted to the means listed thereafter; it does
not exclude other elements or steps. Thus, the scope of the
expression "a device comprising means A and B" should not
be limited to devices consisting only of components A and
B. It means that with respect to the present invention, A
and B are relevant components of the device.
[0064] A preferred embodiment of the closure
according to the present invention is depicted in figure 1.
Figure 1 presents a closure 1 for a liquid container, said
closure comprising a base part 2 and a cap 3 on top of base
2. Cap 3 can rotate with reference to base 2 around axis 4
between an open and closed position. Referring to figure 3,
base 2 is screwed onto a container with aid of internal
thread 31. The thread 31 is provided at the inner side of
the sidewall 210 of base 2. It is therefore necessary for
this embodiment that the discharge opening of the container
accepting closure 1 is provided with an external thread of
the same size. Figures 2a and 2b present the base 2 with
cap 3 removed. On top of sidewall 210, the base is provided
with an upper face 200. Face 200 is related to the axis of
rotation 4, in that axis 4 is essentially perpendicular to
face 200.
[0065] Figure 4 presents cap 3 turned upside down.
Cap 3 is assembled onto base 2 by pressing circular rib 41
and groove 42 into circular groove 21 and rib 22
respectively. The cap comprises a hollow cylindrical
extension 43 which fits liquid-tightly into a cylindrical
opening 23 arranged in the base. The cylindrical opening 23
defines a passageway for the fluid out of the containe-r.
The engagement of rib 41 into groove 21 and of rib 22 into
groove 42 enable a tight fit o= cap 3 onto base 2 and make
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it difficult for e.g. a child to accidentally remove the
cap from the base.
[0066] The cylinders 43 and 23 constitute a
combination of a valve element and valve seat respectively,
arranged concentrically with the main axis 4 around which
the cap can rotate. Referring to figure 2b, into
cylindrical opening 23 a transverse member 24 is provided,
with a number of apertures 25. The transverse member 24
narrows the liquid passageway of cylinder 23 to only the
apertures 25. In the present embodiment, the transverse
member has four apertures. Cylinder 23 abuts in face 200
and extends at both sides of the transverse member 24 as
shown in figure 3, thus defining the liquid passageway out
of the container. The lower end of the cylinder 23,
proximal to the container, is meant to frictionally hold a
dip tube 70 (see figure 3) which leads to the bottom of the
container from where liquid is taken. Referring to figure
4, the cylindrical extension 43 abuts in tabs 44 around
aperture 45.
[0067] When assembled, tabs 44 slide over transverse
member 24. In a closed position, tabs 44 close all
apertures 25. No liquid can escape from the container. By
rotating cap 3 towards the open position, tabs 44 will free
the apertures 25, thereby providing a passage for the
liquid out of the container. The apertures 25 should be
large enough in size and/or sufficient in number so as to
avoid an excessive pressure loss when the liquid flows
through apertures 25.
[0068] The reverse arrangement of cylinders 23 and
43 is equally possible. In that case, the base 2 comprises
a cylindrical extension with tabs 44 at its end aperture,
and the cap 3 comprises a cylindrical opening with a
transverse member comprising apertures 25. In the same way
as described above, t~_e ex-:iension fits in the cpe~~_i= in a
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liquid-tight way. In this reverse embodiment, the
cylindrical opening plays the part of the valve element
(i.e. the movable part), which rotates around the
cylindrical extension, the latter playing the part of the
5 valve seat (i.e. the non-movable part). In both the
embodiment shown in the drawings, and the reverse
embodiment described above, the tabs 44 and transverse
member 24 with apertures 25 may be interchanged, i.e. tabs
44 may be provided in the cylindrical opening, while the
10 transverse member 24 with apertures 25 is provided at the
end of the cylindrical extension.
[0069] The walls of cylinders 23 and 43 constitute a
liquid-tight seal so as to avoid liquid leakage. A small
internal diameter of cylinder 23 reduces possible
15 deformations and eases the closing off of the liquid
passageway. The flow path of the liquid is best seen on
figure 5, which depicts a cross-sectional view of closure
1. Cylinder 43 is in fluid communication with passage 51
which provides a lateral discharge aperture 52 for the
liquid. Discharge aperture 52 may be shaped in a determined
way for accepting a connector plug of an extension hose to
which a spray gun is connected at a distal end. It may
alternatively be provided with a spray nozzle.
[0070] Cylinders 43 and 23, together with tabs 44
and the intermediate member 24 constitute a valve that
opens or closes the liquid passage out of the container.
The cylinders 43 and 23 are concentric with the axis of
rotation 4 of cap 3. The liquid passageway through the
valve is located in a close vicinity around the axis of
rotation 4. Therefore, closure of the valve is ensured even
when an unauthorized user, such as e.g. a child tries to
deform cap 3 by squeezing it or by trying to tear cap 3 off
frcm base 2.
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[0071] Referring to figures 2a and 4, the rotation
of cap 3 with reference to base 2 is guided by groove 21,
rib 22 and cylinder 23. The cap's angle of rotation is
limited by skirt 28 to the arc in between closed position 5
and open position 6 (see fig. 1). This skirt 28 is provided
onto face 200. The lateral ends of skirt 28 constitute end
travels for the rotation of the body 48 of fluid passage
51.
[0072] In a preferred embodiment, the closure is
equipped with a vent 26 (see figure 2b) providing a fluid
communication between the internal volume of the container
and the ambient air. Vent 26 is provided on face 200. In
order to prevent the vent from spilling liquid when the
closure is in a closed position, cap 3 is provided with a
projection 46 having a bump 47. The projection 46 acts as a
valve. Vent 26 accepts bump 47 when cap 3 is rotated in the
closed position, thereby sealing the vent. When cap 3 is
rotated to the open position, projection 46 travels to
depression 27 in face 200 providing a seat for bump 47,
thereby leaving vent 26 open. The projection 46 has the
shape of an arc. Bump 47 is located substantially in the
centre of the arc. Even if cap 3 is not fully rotated to
the closed position 5, projection 46 will be on top of vent
26. Hence, vent 26 is closed liquid-tightly by bump 47 in
the closed position. In between the closed and open
position, the closing of vent 26 by projection 46 is
generally not liquid-tight (i.e. sealing liquids such as
water or comparable to water). However, accidental spill of
liquid through the vent when e.g. the container is turned
over is considerably reduced in the latter case.
[0073] Figures 7 and 8 represent an alternative
embodiment for the vent 26 and the skirt 28. In this
embodiment, vent 261 is provided in the skirt 28. As can be
seen in figure 7a, the ver.t 261 is an _-shaped tube bctween
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face 200 and the outer wall of skirt 28. At the outer wall
of skirt 28, vent 261 is closed off by a projection 81
provided in cylinder 80. This cylinder also comprises rib
41 and groove 42. Projection 81 ensures closure of the vent
261 when the closure is in the closed position.
[0074] Referring to figure 7b, skirt 28 abuts in
tags 71 and 72 at both ends of the arc. The tags 71 and 72
constitute the end travels for the rotation of the body 48
of fluid passage 51.
[0075] Cap 3 of closure 1 is provided with a child-
resistant turning mechanism. Opening of the closure - i.e.
turning cap 3 from the closed position to the open position
- is made impossible for persons not having enough force or
not knowing how to perform the non-obvious combination of
actions, which are based on the "squeeze and turn"
principle. In the closed position 5, the cap 3 is locked
because lip 49 on cap 3 (fig. 4) engages with projection 29
of base 2 (fig. 2b). Hence, the cap can not be rotated in a
direction towards the open position 6. In the closed
position of cap 3, a rotation lock in the other direction
is provided by skirt 28 as explained previously. The child-
resistant locking mechanism resembles that of a ratchet
mechanism. In order to rotate cap 3 from the closed
position 5 to the open position 6, a pressure has to be
applied onto cap 3 at the positions indicated by numeral 7
in figure 1. This pressure has to be directed towards the
cap centre, such as tending to squeeze the cap in a
direction indicated by arrows 8. The squeezing action
causes the outer skirt 9 of the cap (see fig. 4) to move
outwards in a perpendicular direction with reference to the
squeezing direction 8. Lip 49 is located along this
direction, at a 90 degree angle from where the squeezing
force should be applied. Hence, the squeezing causes lip 49
to move cutwards, w'=ch: releas=s lip 49 frcm projection 29.
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Cap 3 is now enabled to rotate towards position 6. When cap
3 is rotated back from position 6 towards position 5, the
lip 49 engages with projection 29 at side 291, which guides
lip 49 radially outwards, thereby deforming cap 3 a little.
Once lip 49 passes side 292, cap 3 reassumes its undeformed
state and the engagement of lip 49 with projection 29 at
side 292 ensures a rotation lock in the direction of
opening the cap.
[0076] Referring to figures 2b and 4, base 2 may be
provided with tabs 203 at the open position and optionally
also at the closed position and cap 3 may be provided with
flap 401. When turning cap 3, flap 401 engages with tabs
203 so as to produce a click-sound each time the cap has
been turned in the open or closed position. Hence, the
click-sound draws the user's attention to the fact that the
closure has reached either the open or the closed position.
Referring to figure 7b, tab 203 is provided only at the
open position. In the closed position, the engagement of
lip 49 with projection 29 already serves as an
acknowledgement of reaching the closed position of the cap
3.
[0077] At the open position, the engagement of flap
401 with tab 203 has the additional advantage of
constituting a certain resistance against an accidental,
unwanted rotation of cap 3. For example, supposing that a
hose with spray gun is attached to the cap, and the user is
in the action of spraying the container's contents (e.g.
insecticide, herbicide, etc.), the engagement of flap 401
with tab 203 reduces the risk that the cap is accidentally
rotated a little towards the closed position thereby
closing the valve element 44 a little, which would reduce
pressure and cause a less optimal flow of liquid out of the
container (and in this particular case a less optimal
spraying).
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[0078] The closure may additionally be equipped
with a tamper evidence. In such case, cap 3 is provided
with a tag 402, as depicted in figure 4. Tag 402 is
connected to cap 3 at both lateral ends 403 and 404 with
tooth-shaped links. The tag is removed from cap 3 at first
use of closure 1 by tabs 201 and 202 provided on base 2
(see figure 2a) . Tabs 201 and 202 engage with the tooth-
shaped links 403 and 404 respectively when cap 3 is turned
from the closed position 5 towards the open position 6,
thereby destroying each link between tag 402 and cap 3.
Hence, tag 402 need not be removed manually prior to first
usage of the closure 1. Furthermore, the present
configuration ensures that tag 402 will be completely
removed from the closure at first usage of the closure
(i.e. first turning from the closed to the open position).
[0079] Closure 1 is preferably mounted onto the
discharge opening of a container in a sealed and non-
removable way. This can be performed in a number of ways.
According to a first embodiment, the base 2 is provided
with internal thread, arranged for being screwed onto the
discharge opening of a container, which is provided with
external thread of the identical size. Liquid-tight sealing
of the base onto the container can be achieved by state-of-
the-art methods, such as providing a circular, tapered seal
in the base that engages with the discharge opening of the
container, such as is usual for sealing bottles with screw
caps. In that case, removal of the base may be prevented by
a ratchet mechanism such as the one described in document
US 2004/0129728.
[0080] The present invention additionally proposes
an alternative embodiment of the closure and a method of
sealing a closure, as e.g. the closure 1 onto a container.
The embodiment provides a closure for a container for
car_rying a i iqu_d which comprises a do,ubl?-sid_d _nduction
CA 02612152 2007-11-23
seal. Referring to figure 5, a double-sided induction seal
53 is provided at the bottom of base 2, above the thread
31. This induction seal 53 comprises a metal, electrically
conductive (e.g. aluminium) core layer, coated at both
5 sides with a plastic foil (e.g. a PE-foil).
[0081] In the method of sealing, the double-sided
induction seal also prevents removal of the closure from
the container. When base 2 is screwed onto the container,
the seal 53 is pressed between base 2 and the discharge
10 opening of the container. Thereafter, an inductive heating
of seal 53 is performed, through which the plastic foils at
both sides of the seal 53 melt thereby sealing at the lower
face the seal 53 to the container and at the upper face the
seal 53 to the base 2. Solidification of the plastic foils
15 ensures a high-resistant fixation of closure base and
container, making removal of the closure base from the
container impossible. A large contact area between seal and
base and between seal and container increases the sealing
force.
20 [0082] Figure 6 depicts the closure base 2 viewed
upside down with the induction seal 53 mounted in it. As is
clear from figures 5 and 6, a clearance is provided between
induction seal 53 and cylinder 23. The clearance ensures a
fluid (air) passage between the container's internal volume
and vent 26 or vent 261. Furthermore, in order to prevent
that vent 26 or vent 261 is closed off by the double-sided
induction seal when it is heated, face 200 is provided at a
distance from the double-sided induction seal 53.
[0083] An advantage of the closure according to the
present invention is that it is leakage-free even when
unauthorised persons try to deform the cap. As the valve
element 44 of the valve for closing the liquid passageway
is located near the axis of ro-ation of the cap, -he valve
will not deform w:.en -he cap 3 =s accidentally squeesed.
CA 02612152 2007-11-23
21
Therefore, the valve remains liquid-tightly closed when in
closed position.
[0084] Leakage through vent 26 or 261 is also
unlikely to occur. The valve 46 for vent 26 closes the vent
unless the closure is in an open position.
[0085] Alternative embodiments than the ones
disclosed above are possible. Particularly, the thread 31
for screwing the base 2 onto a container may be substituted
with a skirt comprising one ore more grooves and/or ribs.
These grooves and/or ribs are intended to mate with ribs
and/or grooves provided on the neck of the container. Such
a configuration is analogous to the rib/groove combination
21/22-41/42 for snapping the cap 3 onto the closure base 2.
Alternatively it may be of the kind as described in patent
document US 3874562.
[0086] While the foregoing description and drawings
represent the preferred embodiments of the present
invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art
that various changes and modifications may be made therein
without departing from the spirit and scope of the present
invention.
