SK10282003A3 - Tamper-proof container cap - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a closing cap for recipients comprising an inner cap (10) and an outer cap (20), said inner cap (10) comprising on its upper face (13) retaining means (14, 15), breakable holding means (16), and ending stroke means (17) and said outer cap (20) comprising on its lower face (21) a relief arm (22) comprising relief cutting means (23) and retaining means (24).

Description

HANDLING

Technical field

The present invention relates to an improved lid closure for closing containers, and more particularly to a lid closure for closing bottles, thermos flasks, jars, demijohns, cans and the like.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Container closures (such as any liquid receiving container provided with a throat through which the liquid can be poured, such as bottles, thermos, jars, carboys, canisters and the like) are usually provided by cap closures. The containers and lids are usually made of plastic, for example polypropylene or polyethylene. The end section of the neck of the container is usually provided with a thread that allows connection with the thread provided with the cap. To prevent unwanted opening or tampering with the contents of the container, the threaded closure is usually provided with a tamper-evident tamper-evident ring attached to the closure by means of breakable plastic teeth. This protective ring is held on the neck of the container by a collar formed in the corresponding position. Upon removal of the closure, said breakable plastic teeth are cut to provide a clear signal to the consumer that the container is already open. Although the solution provides the advantage that it does not require any additional tools for opening the container (opener or corkscrew), it still has several errors and drawbacks.

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The first is that the necessity of cutting breakable plastic teeth requires the consumer to use a certain force, which increases when the container contains a carbonated beverage and thus, due to the pressure of the gas on the closure, increases and makes rotation and opening the closure much harder.

Another drawback is that the manufacture of the closure and container described above requires a thorough analysis of the preliminary costing and relatively expensive production equipment, and that when the closure is made of a plastic material different from that of the container, there is a recycling problem consisting in that the protective ring must be removed before it is recycled. In addition, such a cap can occasionally be removed without detaching it from the tamper-evident ring.

A further drawback is that dirt particles, residues, and any other type of dust can collect due to the presence of breakable plastic teeth in a small space formed between the closure and the tamper-proof ring, increasing the risk of contamination of the contents of the container.

And the last but not insignificant drawback is that, as practical experience shows, the system described above is not completely safe in some cases, especially in the case of a container containing plain water or a carbonated beverage, since both the cap and the protective ring the tampering can be removed together without breaking the breakable plastic teeth.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a lid closure for containers comprising an inner lid (10) and an outer lid (20), said inner lid (10) being disposed on its top side (13),

32168 / T gripping means (14, 15), breakable retaining means (16), and stop means (17), and said outer cap (20) has on its underside (21), a profiled arm (22) comprising profiled shear means (23) and gripping means (24).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be explained in more detail by way of examples of specific embodiments thereof, shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 and 2 are a top view of a cap according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 3 fig. 4 fig. 5, FIG. 6 fig. 7 shows an inner cap of a cap according to a second embodiment of the present invention, shown in a top and bottom (C) and cross-sectional view (B);

an outer cap of the cap according to a second embodiment of the present invention, shown in a top view (A) and a bottom view (C), and in a cross-sectional view (B);

a cap according to a third embodiment of the present invention, shown in cross-sectional view;

the cap according to the present invention shown in a plan view from above during the initial (A), intermediate (B) and final (C) opening phases; and the inner and outer caps of the cap according to the invention shown in an axonometric view.

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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Although the present invention will be further described in connection with certain preferred embodiments, it is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention to those described embodiments only. On the contrary, it is intended to cover and cover all alternatives, modifications and equivalents of such embodiments that fall within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims.

Referring to FIG. 1 to 6, the closure cap of the present invention comprises an inner cap 10 and an outer cap 20.

Referring to FIG. 3, the inner lid 10 includes fastening means 12 on the inside of its side walls for attaching the inner lid 10 to the neck of the container to close it. According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention said fastening means 12 is represented by a suitable thread 12a, 12b. Any other type of fastening means, for example a bayonet coupling, can be designed by those skilled in the art.

Further, the inner cap 10, on its upper side 13, comprises engagement means 14 and 15, breakable retaining means 16 and stop means 17. According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention the engagement means 14 and 15 consist of profiled teeth having an area 31 perpendicular to the upper side 13 and the surface 32 forming an angle of less than 80 ° with the upper side 13, preferably an angle of less than 45 °. According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the breakable retaining means 16 consist of a molded plastic element extending from a plane represented by the top side 13 of the inner cap 10 and closing the opening formed through the top side 13. The breakable retaining means 16 are preferably color-coded for easy identification by the user. According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the stop means 17 consists of a semicircular

The 32168 / T bolts comprising a first arm 17a and a second arm 17b joined together and forming an angle preferably between 30 ° and 100 ° therebetween.

Referring to FIG. 4 comprises an outer cap 20, on its underside 21, a profiled arm 22 comprising profiled shearing means 23 and gripping means 24. The shearing means are preferably represented by a semicircular profiled cutting edge 23. The gripping means 24 are substantially identical to the gripping means 14 and 15 of the inner cap 10. The profiled arm 22 may advantageously comprise a projection whose shape and size correspond to the shape and size of the opening formed by the removal of the breakable retaining means 16. The outer cap 20 may exhibit different outer shapes to provide a better grip and grip for the user. In FIG. 1 and 2 show an outer cap in the shape of an octagon, and FIG. 3 to 6, the outer lid is circular in shape. Those skilled in the art may use other shapes, for example hexagonal, for this purpose, as well as the outer cap may be provided with a grooved surface to further improve the grip of the cap by the user. The outer cap 20 is preferably made of a transparent material to allow tracking of the inner cap 10.

The outer cap 20 and / or inner cap 10 are provided with fastening means, the function of which is to allow the outer cap 20 to be attached and maintained on the inner cap 10. Referring to FIG. 4, said fastening means are preferably represented by an inner projection 40 formed at the inner end of the annular portion of the outer cap 20 over its entire circumference and capable of maintaining the inner cap 10 after insertion and insertion into the outer cap 20. Referring again to FIG. 4, the fastening means may alternatively or simultaneously be represented by a protrusion 43 formed on the inner cap 10 which, when assembling the closure, first engages in a vertical groove 44 formed in the outer cap 20, and then, during rotation of the outer

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A cap 20 on the inner cap 10 into a horizontal groove 45 forming an L-shaped profile with said vertical groove 44

Referring to FIG. 5, the fastening means is alternatively represented by a groove 18 formed in the middle portion of the outer wall of the inner cap 10 along its entire circumference and corresponding to a groove 26 formed in the middle portion of the inner wall of the outer cap 20 all the way around it.

Sliding means may advantageously be provided on the upper side 13 of the inner cap 10 and on the lower side 21 of the outer cap 20, in order to ensure smoother operation during rotation of the outer cap 20 on the inner cap 10.

Referring to FIG. 5, such sliding means are preferably represented by a circular projection 25 formed on the underside 21 of the outer cap 20 and a circular groove 19 formed on the upper side 13 of the inner cap W.

Referring to FIG. 6, the operation of the cap according to an embodiment of the present invention will now be described.

In FIG. 6a shows the starting position of the cap as set after assembly on the assembly line. The profiled arm 22 comprising the semicircular profiled cutting edge 23 and the gripping means 24 is held in position by the gripping means 14 and the breakable retaining means 16.

In FIG. 6b shows the transitional position of the cap after the initiation of rotation of the outer cap 20 (clockwise). The semicircular profiled cutting edge 23, in this condition, cuts the breakable retaining means 16, thereby opening an opening 41 through which excess carbon dioxide present in the container may be released. The opening of the opening 41 and the subsequent release of the excess amount of carbon dioxide present

The 32168 / T in the container reduces the pressure in the interior of the container and thus the amount of force required to rotate and open the cap.

In FIG. 6c shows the end position of the cap in the state when the opening operation is completed. The semicircular profiled cutting edge 23 reaches the stop means 17 upon engagement of the breakable retaining means 16 in the cavity 42. The gripping means 24 of the profiled arm 22 pass through the catching means 15 and thus prevent further rotation of the outer cap 20. In this state, the outer cap 20 is connected 10. The rear section of the profiled arm 22 covers the aperture 41 and thus prevents any accidental or unintentional leakage of fluid contained in the container. The cap closure of the present invention further improves the provision of a projection on the profiled arm 22 corresponding to the opening 41.

While the present invention has been described in detail with reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that further modifications of the present invention may be made within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Claims (11)

PATENT CLAIMS A lid closure for containers comprising an inner lid (10) and an outer lid (20), said inner lid (10) comprising on its top side (13) engagement means (14, 15), breakable retaining means (16), and stop means (17), and said outer cap (20) comprises on its underside (21) a profiled arm (22) comprising profiled shearing means (23) and gripping means (24). Container lid closure according to claim 1, characterized in that the gripping means (14, 15) are represented by profiled teeth with a surface (31) perpendicular to the top (13) and a surface (32) clamping with the top (13). Angle less than 80 °. Container lid closure according to claim 1, characterized in that the breakable retaining means (16) are represented by a molded plastic element extending from a plane formed by the top side (13) and closing the opening (41) formed over the top side (13) of the inner cap (10). Container lid closure according to claim 1, characterized in that the stop means (17) are represented by a semicircular bolt comprising a first arm (17a) and a second arm (17b). Container lid closure according to claim 4, characterized in that the first arm (17a) and the second arm (17b) are joined together and form an angle between them of 30 ° to 100 ° 32168 / T 9 yy r Container lid closure according to claim 1, characterized in that the profiled shearing means (23) are represented by a semicircular profiled cutting edge (23). Container lid closure according to claim 1, characterized in that the gripping means (24) are represented by profiled teeth having a surface (31) perpendicular to the lower side (21) and a surface (32) gripping the lower side (21) at an angle smaller. than 80 '. Container lid closure according to claim 1, characterized in that the inner cap (10) comprises, on the inside of its side walls (11), fastening means (12) for attaching the inner cap (10) to the neck of the container. Container lid closure according to claim 8, characterized in that the fastening means (12) are represented by a thread (12a, 12b). Container lid closure according to claim 1, characterized in that the inner lid (10) and the outer lid (20) are held together by fastening means (18, 26, 40, 43, 44, 45). Container lid closure according to claim 1, characterized in that the inner lid (10) and the outer lid (20) are provided with sliding means (19, 25). 32168 / T /> /> List - 02 annotation Name of the invention: Cap with tamper proof The present invention relates to a lid closure for containers comprising an inner lid (10) and an outer lid (20), wherein said inner lid (10) comprises on its top side (13) engaging means (14, 15) breakable retaining means (16). ) and stop means (17) and said outer cap (20) comprises on its underside (21) a profiled arm (22) comprising profiled shearing means (23) and gripping means (24).