EP0498954B2 - Closure cap for plastic closure - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a closure cap for a plastic closure, with a Screw cap, a hoop for pulling up and a retaining ring, the retaining ring being a cylindrical wall and one at the top of the cylindrical wall in a ring shape projecting flange, and one through the cylindrical wall and the flange Around the container neck and an insert ring of the closure from the outside and above and with the upper outer edge holds the insert ring on the container neck, with screw cap, Bracket and retaining ring in one piece and at least partially by tabs that can be torn by hand are interconnected, and wherein the projection of the bracket into the plane of the flange not overlapped with this flange and the top of the cylindrical wall.

Such a cap is known from DE-OS 37 30 225.6. With the known The sealing cap is an annular, on the upper side of the retaining ring forming the flange, possibly partially interrupted web, which has a double ring bracket and a Screw cap comprises, wherein the ring bracket by tabs by hand tearable with the web connected is. The ring bracket is designed as a double bracket and shaped so that it is partly radially inside the web, but partly also along the circumference of the in Corresponding sections of interrupted web runs. In these areas the Ring bracket are detected and bent up, the tabs between the ring bracket and web tear.

With such a closure construction, it is often difficult for the consumer to see how to open the lock. An attempt is often made to unscrew the retaining ring, but it does is either designed as a snap ring or equipped with an anti-rotation device so that you can't unscrew it.

A closure is known from EP-A-269,499, which is obviously intended for being bounced into Sheet metal packaging is provided, i.e. in relatively well defined, on the edge inwards flanged openings in sheet metal. Here, a circlip with radially outward pointing projections inserted into a closure insert, the projections flexible wall of the insert ring of the closure below the opening edge in radial Press outwards and thus the lock or the insert ring of the lock snap onto the container.

The locking ring extends in the axial direction over the upper edge of the insert ring addition and still includes the upper edge of a screw cap with safety clip.

From EP-A-044.797 is also a two-part closure consisting of one Closure insert and a cap with a ring clip known, but here no Retaining ring for fixing the insert ring is provided on the edge of a container opening. Instead, the insert ring has outward projections, which are behind the edge lock the opening of a tin container. In addition, in one embodiment, there is a flange the insert ring with a raised outer edge that surrounds the ring bracket and is interrupted in the area of grip tabs of the ring bracket. The tabs stick out in the radial direction beyond the outer edge of the flange edge.

Compared to this prior art, the object of the present invention is to design the cap with the features mentioned above so that the Handling for the consumer is more clearly recognizable and to be accomplished, the Cap should also be as material-saving and easy to manufacture as possible.

This object is achieved in that the upper end of the cylindrical wall and the Flange form the upper edge of the retaining ring and an interruption for one in radial Have the handle tab on the bracket pointing outwards.

The interruption of the retaining ring at its upper edge is obvious to the user lets him see immediately that the closure at this point by bending the handle tab is to be opened, whereby the entire bracket is folded up and any existing Tear tabs torn between retaining ring and bracket or between screw cap and bracket become. The screw cap can then together with the bracket upwards out of the retaining ring are pulled out, with a pouring spout of a corresponding closure insert which the screw cap is screwed on, is also pulled out. This pouring spout can z. B. either on a bellows closure or on a telescopic closure.

Because the projection of the bracket in the plane of the upper edge of the retaining ring is not overlapped with this upper edge of the retaining ring, the manufacture of the closure cap considerably simplified, since now one-piece, in the axial direction of the cap Movable molds can be used for the manufacture of the cap. Here the top of the screw cap and the bracket also have no overlap when they Be projected onto the same plane.

If, in addition, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the bracket with the top edge of the retaining ring lies in one plane, the production can be carried out in a very simple manner and material-saving, since no additional web is now required. With practical Trials have also shown that the short break at the outer edge of the Retaining ring for holding the handle tab on the stability of the retaining ring Abort does. In spite of this interruption, the retaining ring can be in its upper edge in exactly that be secured to the neck or edge of a corresponding container in the same way as this also happens with the already known closures with retaining ring.

The bottom or top of the screw cap, which has a ring bracket, is also expediently located and retaining ring is integrally formed, in the same plane as the bracket and the upper edge of the retaining ring. This design also contributes to material savings and easy manufacture at.

An embodiment of the invention is preferred in which the bottom of the screw cap, the Bracket and the retaining ring together the shape of a closed on one end Have hollow cylinders, with recesses in this end face and in the cylinder jacket are provided that the retaining ring through the cylinder jacket and a radially outer Part of the closed end of the cylinder is formed that the bracket with the exception of it Grip tab is located substantially radially within the retaining ring and that the bottom of the Screw cap formed by the remaining part of the closed face of the cylinder and is at least partially radially inside the bracket.

The particularly simple and material-saving production of such an embodiment is in this design obviously. So it only has to be a simple, hollow cylindrical body a closed end face can be produced, then only in the closed Front side recesses are to be provided due to their corresponding Shape separate the individual parts. Set radially within these recesses yet another hollow cylinder with an internal thread as part of the screw cap on the bottom. In principle, such recesses can be subsequently punched, preferably the caps, however, molded into an appropriate shape that already has all the necessary Provides recesses or interruptions, which may be at individual points can be bridged by quickly tearing by hand.

In such an embodiment, it is expedient in the end face of the hollow cylinder a substantially circular recess is provided at a distance from the cylinder jacket, which also on both sides of the tab in the radial direction to the outer edge of the Cylinder has an extension, a further, radially within this first recess Partially circular recess is provided symmetrically to the handle tab, which is the ring bracket limited in the radial direction inwards and also in the circumferential direction.

The ring bracket is thus essentially one between two at least partially circular Recesses formed annular part, which is also in the area of the mentioned Interruption has a grip tab directed radially outwards. Are there, as already mentioned, provided tabs that can be torn by hand between the bracket and the retaining ring, which bridge the first recess. Conveniently, only a single bracket is required To be provided, which essentially consists of a extending over at least 180 ° There is a ring bracket, which on the outside is symmetrical to its ends, i.e. In the Has grip tab lying in the middle of the ring bracket.

Depending on the force for pulling out the screw cap with the pouring spout of the Closure insert is required, it may be appropriate if the bracket has a greater thickness has than the adjacent bottom of the screw cap and possibly also thicker than the material of the part of the retaining ring lying radially outside the ring bracket. This is through a corresponding design of the injection mold is possible without any significant effort.

Optionally, the closure cap according to the present invention can either be a retaining ring have, which is designed as a snap ring with inwardly projecting, bead-like projections is, or is designed as a screw ring with reverse rotation lock.

The invention is also directed to complete plastic closures with a corresponding one Closure insert and a closure cap defined in more detail above. Likewise, the invention is directed to one with such a closure cap equipped container.

Figur 1

einen Teilquerschnitt durch eine erste Ausführungsform einer Verschlußkappe, zusammen mit einem Verschlußeinsatz an einem Behälterhals,

Figur 2

eine Draufsicht von oben auf die Verschlußkappe nach Figur 1,

Figur 3

eine Seitenansicht der Verschlußkappe mit Verschlußeinsatz gemäß Figur 1 von links ohne den Behälter

Figur 4

einen Querschnitt durch eine zweite Ausführungsform der Erfindung, wobei der Haltering auf einen Behälterhals aufgeschraubt ist,

Figur 5

die Draufsicht auf die Ausführungsform nach Figur 3,

Figur 6

eine Seitenansicht entsprechend Figur 3 von der zweiten Ausführungsform der Erfindung und

Figur 7

einen Schnitt durch die Verschlußkappe nach der ersten Ausführungsform entlang der Ebene VII-VII in Figur 2.

Further advantages, features and possible uses of the present invention will become clear from the following description of preferred embodiments and the associated figures. Show it:

Figure 1

2 shows a partial cross section through a first embodiment of a closure cap, together with a closure insert on a container neck,

Figure 2

2 shows a top view of the closure cap according to FIG. 1,

Figure 3

a side view of the cap with closure insert according to Figure 1 from the left without the container

Figure 4

3 shows a cross section through a second embodiment of the invention, the retaining ring being screwed onto a container neck,

Figure 5

the top view of the embodiment of Figure 3,

Figure 6

a side view corresponding to Figure 3 of the second embodiment of the invention and

Figure 7

3 shows a section through the closure cap according to the first embodiment along the plane VII-VII in FIG. 2.

In Figure 1 you can see a closure insert 20 which is inserted into a container neck 30. A flange 21 of an insert ring 22 rests on the edge of the container neck 30. The Insert ring 22 is connected via a bellows 23 to a pouring spout 24 on its external thread the screw cap 2 is screwed on. The cap 1 consists in detail the radially inner screw cap 2, the screw cap 2 at least partially surrounding ring bracket 4 and the ring bracket and screw cap surrounding retaining ring 5, wherein a tab 7 of the ring bracket radially outwards in a corresponding interruption of the protrudes the upper edge of the retaining ring 5. The retaining ring 5 holds the insert ring 22 or its Flange firmly on the edge of the container neck 30. The screw cap 2 consists of the Screw cap base (short "base") 3, which with the ring bracket and the upper edge of the Retaining ring is essentially in one plane, and from a concentric to the retaining ring 5 cylindrical approach 11 on the bottom 3 with an internal thread and a radially inside of this, also cylindrical sealing lug 12. The bottom 3 of the screw cap 2 forms together with the ring bracket 4 lying in the same plane and the retaining ring 5 a total of a part in the form of a hollow cylinder closed on one end. The Recesses 9a, 9b and the interruption 6, which is in the otherwise closed end face this hollow cylinder and the upper edge of the retaining ring 5 are provided, limit the individual elements of the cap against each other, the rest of some for it provided locations are connected to one another to form a one-piece unit.

The two ends of the bracket 4 are integrally connected to the screw cap 2, the Bracket 4 is in turn via tabs 8 that can be torn by hand (see FIG. 2) with the retaining ring 5 connected. The retaining ring 5 consists of a substantially cylindrical wall 5b, one lower reinforcing edge 5c and an annular inwardly projecting collar or flange 5a. This flange 5a and the upper edge of the cylinder wall 5b have an interruption on one side in which a grip tab 7 of the bracket 5 in the radial direction to the outside protrudes. The radially outer edge of the grip tab 7 closes approximately with the Circumference of the cylinder wall 5b.

The cylinder wall 5b has a ring-shaped cross-section on the inside circumferential projection 13 so that the retaining ring 5 with the projection 13 when pushed on the container neck 30 behind an annular, radially facing outward Projection 31 locked on the outside of the container neck 30. The projection 13 and the Projection 31 can optionally also have interruptions.

Usually, the cap 1 and the insert 20 are made after their manufacture interconnected and delivered in the form shown in Figure 1 and thus as a unit the filling of the container pressed onto the container neck 30, the projection 13 behind the Projection 31 locked.

In Figure 2 you can clearly see the one-piece cohesion of the retaining ring 5, ring bracket 4 and Screw cap 3. The outer circle corresponds to the outer circumference of the reinforcing ring 5c. The The next inner circle corresponds to the outer cylinder wall 5b of the retaining ring 5, on the other the upper edge is followed by a flange-like inward projecting part 5a. This part 5a and also the upper edge of the cylinder wall 5b, as can be seen in the left part of FIG. 2, an interruption 6, into which a grip tab 7 protrudes, which protrudes from the ring bracket 4 extends outward in the radial direction. The outer edge of the grip tab 7 follows Contour of the cylinder wall 5. The section plane along which the closure is shown in Figure 1 is in the area of the grip tab 7.

The retaining ring 5 or the flange part 5a of the retaining ring 5 is only with the tabs 8 with the Ring bracket 4 and indirectly connected via this to the screw cap 2. Furthermore a circular recess 9a extends around the ring bracket 4 and the screw cap 2 in a ring shape, both ends of this recess being widened in the radial direction or change into the interruption 6 for the handle tab 7.

Concentric to this, but limited to a pitch circle of approx. 200 °, a second extends Recess 9b, the foldable part of the ring bracket 4 from the bottom 3 of the Separates screw cap 2. The bottom 3 of the screw cap 2 is in that of the recess 9b not covered circle sector expanded in the radial direction to the recess 9a. In Figure 2 this is radial extension 3 'as part of the cap base lying outside a dashed line 3 indicated. The ring bracket 4 sets in the region of the ends of the recess 9b on this radial Extension 3 'of the bottom 3 of the screw cap 2. With this design, the Grip tab 7 of the ring bracket 4 directly to the user for grasping and bending up, the tabs 8 are torn between the ring bracket 4 and the flange part 5a. In that way folded up ring bracket 4 can then be inserted one or more fingers, whereupon by pulling this ring bracket 4, the screw cap 2 together with the pouring spout 24 is pulled out of the neck of the container. The bellows 23 is turned outwards. Now the screw cap 2 can be unscrewed and after removing the seal 26 the contents of the container be emptied through the pouring spout 24.

Without tearing the tabs 8, the screw cap 2 cannot be released from the pouring spout 24 become. The projections 13 and 31 are carried out with such a close fit that a Manipulation by prying off the entire closure from the neck of the container is practically not without Destruction of the closure or the tabs 8 is possible.

Figure 3 shows the closure of Figure 1 in a view from the left, but without the Container neck. In addition to the closure cap 1, the closure insert 20 can also be seen protrudes from the cap 1 open at the bottom. The grip tab 7 is easy to grip and lifting up noticeably. The ring bracket 4 is otherwise, as can also be seen in FIG. 1, somewhat thicker than the rest of the material lying radially inside and outside the bracket 4 Cap 1, so that it has a correspondingly higher stability and in particular a better Tear resistance, so that it the tensile forces to be applied depending on the type of closure for pulling out the pouring spout 24 in any case withstands.

4 shows a section through a second embodiment of the invention, the The cutting plane is laid in the same way as in FIG. 1, but the cut is through the whole Closure stretches. In this embodiment too, a closure insert 20 is also included a bellows 23 is provided, an insert ring 22 of the closure insert in sealing Engagement with the upper edge of the container neck 30 is.

The screw cap 2 is in turn on the external thread of the central pouring spout 24 screwed on. The main difference to the first-mentioned embodiment consists in essential in the design of the inner surface of the cylinder jacket 5b and or the lower Reinforcing edge 5c of the retaining ring 5. In those shown in Figures 4 to 6 Embodiments, this retaining ring 5 namely has an internal thread 14, which on a corresponding external thread 32 of the container neck 30 can be screwed on. Doing so various positions of this thread are arranged with anti-rotation devices, e.g. one row of teeth each on the inside of the cylinder jacket or the reinforcing edge and on the outside of the Container neck 30, the flanks of these teeth extending so that screwing very well of the retaining ring on the container neck, but it is not possible to unscrew it in the opposite direction.

All other details of the construction of the cap are essentially the same the first embodiment. The bottom 3 of the central screw cap 2 is therefore one surrounded part-circular recess, along the outside of which the ring bracket 4 extends. This is in turn essentially circular by the ring bracket 4 and the screw cap 3 comprehensive recess 9a separated from the retaining ring 5, being opposite the handle tab 7 on the radiai expanded part of the bottom 3 of the screw cap 2 and on the radially there internally projecting flange 5a of the retaining ring 5 a driver in the form of a cam 16 and a recess for the engagement of the cam 16 is provided,

The rare view according to FIG. 6 on the closure cap according to FIGS. 4 and 5 differs of the embodiment shown in Figure 3 from the same point of view only by somewhat modified form of the retaining ring, which because of the provided on its inside Thread is higher, for the anti-rotation a step-shaped heel and also has vertical reinforcing ribs 15.

Figure 7 shows again schematically a cross section through a closure cap Snap edge according to the first embodiment, the cutting plane along the line VII-VII runs in Figure 2. In this section plane are the three main parts that make up the Cap 1, namely the screw cap 2, the ring bracket 4 and the retaining ring 5th clearly recognizable by the recesses 9a, 9b separated from each other, the recess 9a in the original state of manufacture of the cap 1 by those already mentioned Straps 8 bridges, while the ring bracket 4 with its two ends on the radial Extension 3 'of the screw cap base 3 attaches.

The closure cap according to the invention can be of relatively short axial length and with a minimal material consumption are produced, while still being high overall Have stability The grip tab is immediately recognizable in its function for the user, what the Handling of the closure is considerably easier. The cap is initially made in one piece, but later in use the retaining ring of the ring bracket and inner screw cap is separated. The screw cap 2 has on the inside of the Screw cap bottom 3 has a cylindrical neck 11 with an internal thread, the dimension the external thread of the pouring spout 24 of the closure insert 20 is adapted, in addition Concentric to the cylindrical extension 11 is a smaller cylindrical sealing extension 12 provided, which engages with the upper inner edge of the pouring spout 24 when screw cap 3 is screwed completely onto closure insert 20 or pouring spout 24 is.

Claims (13)

1. A closure cap for a plastics closure comprising a screw cap (2), a loop (4) for pulling up and a holding ring (5), wherein the holding ring has a cylindrical wall (5b) and a flange (5a) projecting annularly inwardly at the upper end of the cylindrical wall and by said cylindrical wall (5b) and the flange (5a) embraces a container neck (30) and an insert ring (22, 21) of the closure from the outside and above and thus retains the insert ring (22, 21) on the container neck (30), wherein the screw cap (2), the loop (4) and the holding ring (5) are connected together integrally and at least in part by tongues (8) which can be torn by hand and wherein the projection of the loop (4) into the plane of the flange (5a) does not overlap with the flange (5a) and the upper end of the cylindrical wall (5b), characterised in that the upper end of the cylindrical wall (5b) and the flange (5a) form the upper edge of the holding ring (5) and have an interruption (6) for a gripping tongue (7) of the loop (4), the gripping tongue facing outwardly in a radial direction.
2. A closure cap according to claim 1 characterised in that the loop (4) lies in one plane with the upper edge of the holding ring (5).
3. A closure cap according to claim 1 or claim 2 characterised in that the end portion (3) of the screw cap (2) lies in the same plane as the loop (4) and the upper edge of the holding ring (5).
4. A closure cap according to one of claims 1 to 3 characterised in that the end portion (3) of the screw cap (2), the loop (4) and the holding ring (5) are jointly in the form of a hollow cylinder which is closed at one end, wherein openings (9a, b, 6) are provided in said end and in the peripheral portion (5b) of the cylinder in such a way that the holding ring (5) is formed by the peripheral portion (5b) of the cylinder and a part (5a) of the end of the cylinder, which is directly radially inwardly of the peripheral portion of the cylinder, that the loop (4), with the exception of its gripping tongue (7), is disposed substantially radially within the holding ring (5) substantially in the plane of the end of the cylinder and that the end portion (3) of the screw cap (2) is formed by the remaining part of the closed end of the cylinder and is disposed at least partially radially within the loop (4).
5. A closure cap according to claim 4 characterised in that provided in the end of the hollow cylinder at a spacing from the peripheral portion of the cylinder is a substantially circular opening (9a) which has an enlargerent on both sides of the gripping tongue (7) in a radial direction to the outer edge of the cylinder, and that disposed radially within said first opening (9a) is a further part-circular opening (9b), in symmetrical relationship with the gripping tongue (7), which defines the loop (4) inwardly in a radial direction.
6. A closure cap according to claim 4 or claim 5 characterised in that tongues (8) which can be torn by hand and which bridge over the first opening (9a) are provided between the loop (4) and the holding ring (5).
7. A closure cap according to one of claims 1 to 6 characterised in that there is provided only one single loop (4).
8. A closure cap according to claim 7 characterised in that the loop substantially comprises a ring loop (4) which extends over an arc of at least 180° and which at its outward side has a gripping tongue (7) which is disposed symmetrically relative to the ends of the loop.
9. A closure cap according to one of claims 1 to 8 characterised in that the loop (4) is of greater thickness than the end portion (3) of the cap.
10. A closure cap according to one of claims 1 to 9 characterised in that the holding ring is in the form of a snap ring with inwardly projecting, bead-like projections (10).
11. A closure cap according to one of claims 1 to 9 characterised in that the holding ring is in the form of a screw ring with means for preventing unscrewing thereof.
12. A plastics closure having a closure insert which has a pouring spout with an external screwthread on to which the screw cap of a closure cap can be screwed, characterised by a closure cap according to one of claims 1 to 10.
13. A container characterised by a closure according to claim 12.

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