EP0432059A1 - Threaded closure cap with temper-evident band - Google Patents

Abstract

Screw cap with tamper-proof band, for bottle (2) comprising a counter-ring (5) of the type constituted by a skirt (11) and by an annular tamper-proof belt (20), connected to the skirt (11) by connecting parts which can be cut (22, 23) and whose bottom (25) has a plurality of articulated tabs (30), folded against the inside face (24) of the belt (20), characterised in that the tabs (30) have a constant cross-section and comprise two sections, namely a first curved section (31), connected to the bottom (25) of the belt (20), prolonged by a second rectilinear section (32), the portion of connection (33) between these two sections (31, 32) being intended to bear on the counter-ring (5), while the free rectilinear portion (32) is intended to bear against the inside face (24) of the belt (20). …<IMAGE>…

Description

The invention relates to a new type of screw closure cap with tamper-evident band.

Screw closure caps with a one-piece plastic tamper-evident band are well known. Essentially, these devices essentially comprise a screw cap proper and an annular seat belt connected to the skirt of the capsule by a succession of bridges, coming from molding, which can be broken under the effect of unscrewing.

There are known closure caps of the type in question in which the annular safety belt has on its internal face tongues articulated at the base of the belt, intended to be folded on the inside to come into abutment against a projection of the neck, in particular the neck collar (see for example document FR-A-1,213,931, 2,290,364, EP-A-0049,876, GB-A-2,033,350 and US-A-4,506,795 and 4,595,110).

In document EP-A-0 107 680, it has been suggested to provide thinned zones on the tongues and to extend them by a thinning intended to come to coincide, after screwing, between the internal face of the annular belt and the counter ring. This device, although successfully marketed, still has the disadvantage, however, due to the successive thinning portions, of being difficult to install on the neck, in particular automatically, even as a result of the portions of the tabs of thinned section, therefore of variable rigidity, which sometimes leads to a resistance which opposes the correct screwing of the capsule on a neck.

The invention overcomes these drawbacks. It is aimed at an improved closure cap of the type in question which is easier to install.

This screw closure cap, with a tamper-evident band for a neck bottle comprising a thread and a counter-ring, of the type constituted by a capsule proper, the skirt of which is provided with an internal thread cooperating with the neck thread and by a annular tamper-evident belt, connected on the top to the bottom of the skirt by a plurality of breakable bridges, and the bottom of which has a plurality of articulated tabs, folded against the internal face of the belt, to come into abutment on the counter ring of the neck and go beyond the edge of this counter ring,
is characterized in that the tongues have a constant section and comprise two parts, namely a first curved part, connected to the bottom of the belt, extended by a second rectilinear part, the connecting portion between these two parts being intended to come s '' press the counter ring, while the free rectilinear portion is intended to come to rest against the internal face of the belt.

In an alternative embodiment, the top of the internal face of the belt has a shoulder against which the end of the straight part bears.

The manner in which the invention can be implemented and the advantages which ensue therefrom will emerge more clearly from the following exemplary embodiments in support of the attached figures.

Figure 1 shows a sectional view of a closure cap according to the invention.

Figures 2 and 3 show in detail the characteristic tabs of the invention, respectively placed in a bottle (Figure 2) and molded (Figure 3).

Figure 4 shows an alternative embodiment.

FIG. 5 shows in detail the characteristic tongue of the invention in the bracing position.

A closure cap according to the invention, designated by the general reference (1), is intended for a bottle, designated by the general reference (2), with a neck (3) comprising a thread (4) and a counter ring (5). The reference (6) designates a sealing ring intended to come to bear on the top of the neck, while the reference (7) designates a sealing skirt intended to come to bear on the internal face of the neck.

This closure cap (1) essentially consists of a capsule proper constituted by a ceiling (10) and an annular skirt (11), the internal face (12) of which has a thread (13) cooperating with the thread (4 ) of the cervix.

The capsule (1) also comprises an annular inviolability belt (20) connected on the top (21) to the bottom (14) of the skirt (11) by a succession of breakable bridges (22, 23) regularly spaced, obtained directly molding. The bottom (25) of the belt (20) has a succession of characteristic tabs (30) also regularly spaced and of predetermined width depending on the intended application.

According to a first characteristic of the invention, these tongues (30) have a constant thickness over substantially their entire length.

According to another characteristic of the invention, these tongues (30) essentially comprise two parts respectively a first part (31) curved, connected to the bottom (25) of the belt (20) and extended by a second straight part (32), the connection portion (33) between these two parts (31, 32) being intended to come to bear on the counter-ring (5).

Figure 3 shows in detail the tabs such as molding and before screwing, while Figure 2 shows the same tab in the screwed position. It can be seen that in position, the connection portion (33) is supported on the counter ring (5). When the skirt (11) is unscrewed, the portion (33) bearing strongly on the counter ring (5), the curved portion (30) tends to bend in the volume V defined between the counter ring (5) and the bottom of the inviolability belt (20). During this movement, the second rectilinear part (32) slides on the internal face (24) of the belt (20). It follows a frank rupture of the bridges (21).

In an alternative embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the top of the internal face (24) of the annular inviolability belt (20) has a recess (40) in which, in the screwing position, is housed l end of the straight part (32) of the tongue (30).

It is important that the characteristic tongues (30) have a section of constant thickness to ensure better locking. In fact, when the capsule (1) is unscrewed, under the effect of the routing on the threads (4), the tongue (30) is compressed, first of all by being supported by the portion connection (33) on the base (5) of the counter ring. It follows that the tongues (30) deform by bracing (see Figure 5) by bringing the two ends of the curved portion. The diameter of the portion of a circle formed by these tongues (30) is thus reduced. This increases the resistance applied to the breakable bridges (22). It then follows, when the time comes, a frank rupture of these bridges (22). During this whole movement, the second rectilinear part (32) of the tongues slides on the internal wall (24) of the belt (20) to ensure good deformation.

In known manner, these capsules are in one piece and made of plastic, such as in particular polyethylene or polypropylene.

• - la déformabilité progressive des languettes lors du dévissage, ce qui comme déjà dit, accroit la tenue de la ceinture sous la contrebague du col par réduction du diamètre, du fait de l'arc-boutage, ce qui provoque un étirement progressif des pontets et entraîne une rupture franche de ceux-ci;
• - une mise en place plus commode, notamment par les machines automatiques de bouchage, car les languettes caractéristiques, présentent une souplesse constante et uniforme sur toute leur longueur;
• - enfin, et par voie de conséquence, une meilleure sécurité dans l'inviolabilité.

This solution has many advantages over the solutions known to date, in particular those described in document EP-A-0 107 680 referred to in the preamble. We can cite:

• - the progressive deformability of the tongues during unscrewing, which as already said, increases the holding of the belt under the collar counter-ring by reduction of the diameter, due to the bracing, which causes a progressive stretching of the bridges and leads to a frank rupture of these;
• - A more convenient installation, in particular by automatic capping machines, because the characteristic tabs have a constant and uniform flexibility over their entire length;
• - finally, and consequently, better security in inviolability.

This type of capsule can be successfully used in all known applications of these screw closure capsules, such as for example for beverages, pharmaceuticals or others.

Claims (2)

Screw cap, with tamper-evident band, for bottle (2) with neck (3) comprising a thread (4) and a counter-ring (5), of the type constituted by a capsule proper whose skirt (11) is provided with an internal thread (13) cooperating with the thread (4) of the neck and by an annular tamper-evident belt (20), connected on the top to the bottom (14) of the skirt (11) by a plurality of bridges breakable (22, 23), and the bottom (25) of which has a plurality of articulated tongues (30), folded against the internal face (24) of the belt (20), to come into abutment on the counter-ring (5) of the neck and exceed the rim (8) of this counter-ring (5),
characterized in that the tongues (30) have a constant section and comprise two parts, namely a first curved part (31), connected to the bottom (25) of the belt (20), extended by a second straight part (32) , the connection portion (33) between these two parts (31, 32) being intended to come to bear on the counter-ring (5), while the straight rectilinear portion (32) is intended to come to bear against the face internal (24) of the belt (20). Screw closure cap according to claim 1, characterized in that the top of the internal face (24) of the belt (20) has a shoulder (40) against which the end of the straight part bears ( 32).

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