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WO2000061447A1 - Capsule a encliqueter et recipient associe - Google Patents

Capsule a encliqueter et recipient associe Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2000061447A1
WO2000061447A1 PCT/GB2000/001346 GB0001346W WO0061447A1 WO 2000061447 A1 WO2000061447 A1 WO 2000061447A1 GB 0001346 W GB0001346 W GB 0001346W WO 0061447 A1 WO0061447 A1 WO 0061447A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
cap
wall
curvilinear
container
combination
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Ceased
Application number
PCT/GB2000/001346
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Mark Sillince
James Edward Rooney
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
United Distillers & Vintners (er) Ltd
Original Assignee
United Distillers & Vintners (er) Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by United Distillers & Vintners (er) Ltd filed Critical United Distillers & Vintners (er) Ltd
Priority to AU38302/00A priority Critical patent/AU3830200A/en
Publication of WO2000061447A1 publication Critical patent/WO2000061447A1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Ceased legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D41/00—Caps, e.g. crown caps or crown seals, i.e. members having parts arranged for engagement with the external periphery of a neck or wall defining a pouring opening or discharge aperture; Protective cap-like covers for closure members, e.g. decorative covers of metal foil or paper
    • B65D41/02—Caps or cap-like covers without lines of weakness, tearing strips, tags, or like opening or removal devices
    • B65D41/16—Snap-on caps or cap-like covers
    • B65D41/18—Snap-on caps or cap-like covers non-metallic, e.g. made of paper or plastics
    • B65D41/185—Snap-on caps or cap-like covers non-metallic, e.g. made of paper or plastics with integral internal sealing means

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a snap-on cap for a container and to a snap-on cap in combination with a container.
  • a snap-off cap in combination with a container, the container comprising an opening; and a curvilinear formation surrounding the opening, the formation in cross-section including a first convex arcuate surface, and the cap comprising a top of sufficient size to cover the opening; and a first complimentary curvilinear wall of resilient material depending from the top, the curvilinear wall being sized to snap into engagement with, and inwardly of, the formation such that in cross-section the curvilinear wall at least partially conforms to the shape of said first convex arcuate surface, the combination being such that when the cap is initially snapped-off the container a first part of the curvilinear wall is disengaged from the formation while a second part remains in engagement therewith, further pivotal movement of the
  • the first curvilinear wall may be oversized with respect to the curvilinear formation such that on snapping the cap onto the container the first curvilinear wall is urged into engagement with the curvilinear formation along a region of contact.
  • the region of contact may be of arcuate cross-section as a result of the resilience and flexibility of the curvilinear wall. Alternatively the region of contact may be less extensive and simply define a line of contact.
  • the first curvilinear wall may at least partially conform to the shape of the first convex arcuate surface when the cap is snapped onto the container by virtue of the flexibility of the curvilinear wall.
  • the wall may at least partially conform to the shape of the first convex arcuate surface when the cap is snapped onto the container by virtue of the wall being suitably shaped.
  • the first curvilinear wall may include a groove of arcuate cross-section having substantially the same radius of curvature as the first convex arcuate surface, the convex arcuate surface seating against the groove when the cap is snapped onto the container.
  • the curvilinear wall may taper as it depends downwardly from the top.
  • the curvilinear formation on the container may be continuous. It will however, be apparent that this need not necessarily be the case provided that steps are taken to ensure an adequate seal.
  • the first complimentary curvilinear wall on the cap is also preferably continuous although, once again, this is not essential as the wall may include a number of interruptions along its length.
  • the curvilinear formation and the first complimentary curvilinear wall may be annular.
  • the curvilinear formation and the first complimentary curvilinear wall may be elliptical or some other variation from circular in plan view.
  • the groove with which the wall may be provided may advantageously extend continuously around the wall.
  • the groove may be interrupted at one or more intervals along its length.
  • the groove may also be annular or part annular, albeit perhaps interrupted.
  • the first complimentary curvilinear wall may include respective wall portions disposed on opposite sides of the groove which are so arranged that a wall portion remote from the top is of greater wall thickness than a wall portion adjacent the top with the result that as the cap is applied to the container the first complimentary curvilinear wall engages the formation surrounding the opening and is caused to flex radially inwardly.
  • the first curvilinear wall may slope outwardly as it depends downwardly from the top which, once again, enhances the radial inward flexing of the wall as the cap is applied to the container as well as its subsequent resilient engagement therewith.
  • the formation surrounding the opening may, in cross-section, include a second convex arcuate surface and the cap may include a second curvilinear wall spaced outwardly of the first curvilinear wall, the second curvilinear wall being of arcuate cross-section and of substantially the same radius of curvature as the second convex arcuate surface, the second curvilinear wall and the second convex arcuate surface being arranged such that when the first curvilinear wall is snapped into engagement with the curvilinear formation the second convex arcuate surface seats against the second curvilinear wall.
  • This provides the cap and container with an enhanced sealing capability and serves to support the hinging action of the first convex arcuate surface and first complimentary curvilinear wall.
  • the radius of curvature of the first convex arcuate surface is substantially the same as the radius of curvature of the second convex arcuate surface.
  • the first and second convex arcuate surfaces are preferably contiguous.
  • the first and second convex arcuate surfaces may define a formation that is of substantially circular or part circular cross-section with the first and second convex arcuate surfaces facing in opposite directions.
  • Such a formation may be provided as part of a roll-over neck finish.
  • first and second walls of the cap may define a channel for the receipt of the formation provided on the container.
  • the combination may include a bead that depends from the cap for engagement with the formation on the container when the first curvilinear wall is snapped into engagement with the formation.
  • the bead is advantageously interposed between the first and second walls.
  • the provision of a bead on the cap which engages the formation serves to increase the sealing characteristics of the combination.
  • the cap may be provided with a rim which is spaced outwardly of the or each curvilinear wall to facilitate the snapping-off of the cap from the container.
  • this rim may be of any desired shape but in one preferred embodiment may include one or more lobes circumferentially spaced about a periphery of the cap.
  • the cap may include three lobes spaced 120° apart. In this way however the cap and container rests in the palm of the hand of a user, one of the lobes will be readily accessible to facilitate the snapping-off of the cap from the container
  • the cap may be moulded as one piece of plastics material. Once again, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the cap may be formed of materials other than plastics.
  • those parts of the cap are preferably of substantially constant wall thickness. This facilitates the moulding process. Having said that, the first curvilinear wall is preferably of reduced wall thickness compared with the remaining parts of the cap as this enables the wall to flex more readily.
  • a snap-off cap for a container, the cap being trilobate in plan view.
  • a periphery of the cap is defined by three arcuate portions each subtending an angle of 120° and each being of the same radius of curvature. In this way, as previously described, however the cap and container rest in the hand of the user, one of the lobes defined by the arcuate portions will be readily accessible to facilitate the snapping-off of the cap from the container.
  • the cap may be provided with means for releasably engaging the curvilinear formation of the container and the lobes of the cap may project outwardly beyond these means.
  • the means for releasably engaging the curvilinear formation of the container comprise a complimentary formation provided on the cap, the lobes of the cap may project outwardly beyond the complimentary formation.
  • Figure 1 is a side view of a container shown partly in cross section
  • Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional view of a rim of the container of Figure 1 ;
  • Figure 3 is a plan view of the top a cap for use with the container of Figure 1;
  • Figure 4 is a cross sectional view of the cap of Figure 3 ;
  • Figure 5 is an enlarged cross sectional view of a radially outer portion of the cap of Figure 3;
  • Figure 6 is a plan view of the underside of the cap of Figure 3 ;
  • Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view of a radially outer portion of a second design of cap for use with the container of Figure 1.
  • a container 10 which, in the particular example illustrated, comprises a substantially circular base 12 and a cylindrical side wall 14.
  • the circular base 12 is substantially planer, the cylindrical side wall 14 projects upwardly from the perimeter of the base, merging with it via a radiused corner 16.
  • the side wall 14 merges with a radially inward sloping wall portion 18 to define a shoulder 20.
  • the radially inward sloping wall portion 18 in turn merges with an annular portion which, in cross section, first curves radially outwardly along arcuate wall 24 and then curves radially inwardly along arcuate wall 26 to define a roll-over neck finish 28 having a hollow annular rim 30 of substantially circular cross section.
  • the radially inwardly curving arcuate wall 26 preferably terminates in close proximity to the upper end of the radially inward sloping wall portion 18 close to where it merges with the radially outwardly curving arcuate wall 24.
  • the roll-over neck finish 28 presents a substantially smooth outer surface which is unlikely to catch or snag on the hands or fingers of a user and which prevents the annular rim 30 from being distorted by the deliberate insertion of a tool between the radially inward sloping wall portion 18 and the radially inwardly curving arcuate wall 26.
  • the container 10 may be formed of any suitable material and may, for example, be formed of a metal such as aluminium. Alternatively, the container 10 may be formed of plastics material.
  • the container 10 may be of any desired dimensions, in one embodiment it may have a height of 55mm and a base diameter of 35mm.
  • the roll-over neck finish 28 may have an internal diameter of 25.4mm and an external diameter of 31.3mm while the arcuate walls 24 and 26 may each extend along the circumference of a circle having a radius of 1.5mm and the same centre of curvature.
  • the vertical distance between the top of the annular rim 30 and where the radially inward sloping wall portion 18 merges with the cylindrical side wall 14 may be 7.7mm.
  • a snap-on cap 40 for use with the container 10 is shown in plan view in Figure 3.
  • the cap 40 has an outer periphery defined by three arcuate portions
  • the cap 40 is provided in the centre of its upper surface with a circular recess 54.
  • the upper surface of the cap 56 surrounding the circular recess 54 slopes both downwardly and radially outwardly and, at the perimeter of the circular recess 54, defines an upward and radially outward directed surface 58.
  • the under surface of the cap 40 is shown in Figure 6 to comprise a central circular region 60 bounded around its periphery by an annular groove 62 defined by intersecting inclined surfaces 64 and 66.
  • inclined surface 64 extends generally parallel to the upward and radially outward directed surface 58 while surface 66 extends generally parallel to the downwardly and radially outwardly sloping upper surface 56.
  • the under surface of the cap 40 is provided with an annular depending wall 68 having a substantially cylindrical inner surface 70 which nevertheless slopes downwardly and radially outwardly at a shallow angle to the vertical.
  • the depending wall 68 projects somewhat below the downward extremity of the generally downwardly and radially outwardly sloping upper surface 56 and is defined on its radially outer surface 72 by an upper cylindrical wall portion 74; a shallow annular groove 76 of arcuate cross section that merges with the upper cylindrical wall portion 74; a lower cylindrical wall portion 78 which merges with the shallow annular groove 76 but which is spaced radially outwardly with respect to the upper cylindrical wall portion 74; and a radially inwardly and downwardly inclined surface 80 which merges with the lower cylindrical wall portion 78.
  • the upper cylindrical wall portion 74 merges with a downwardly and radially outwardly sloping surface 82 which extends in a direction generally parallel to both the inclined surface 66 and the downwardly and radially outwardly sloping upper surface 56.
  • the downwardly and radially outwardly sloping surface 82 is provided with a small annular downwardly depending rib 84 before then merging with a generally downwardly and ultimately inwardly sloping surface 86 of arcuate cross section. In cross section the downwardly and ultimately inwardly sloping surface 86 has the same radius and centre of curvature as does the shallow annular groove 76.
  • the downwardly and ultimately inwardly sloping surface 86 simply merges with a rounded end surface 88 which in turn merges with the downwardly and radially outwardly sloping upper surface 56.
  • the rounded end surface 88 merges, not with the downwardly and radially outwardly sloping upper surface 56, but with an additional arcuate surface 90 having substantially the same centre of curvature as the downwardly and ultimately inwardly sloping surface 86.
  • This additional arcuate surface 90 in turn merges with a further downwardly and radially outwardly sloping surface 92 which extends generally parallel to the downwardly and radially outwardly sloping upper surface 56 and merges with it via a further rounded end surface 94.
  • the additional arcuate surface 90 and the downwardly and radially outwardly sloping surface 92 serve to define respective recesses 96, 98, 100 which, when viewed from below, are substantially triangular.
  • the cap 40 may be formed of any suitable material in a currently preferred embodiment the cap is injection moulded from a resilient plastics material such as polypropylene.
  • the plastics material is preferably introduced into the injection mould at a location corresponding to the centre of the circular recess 54.
  • the furthest extremities of the mould are substantially equidistant from the point of injection which in turn means that the plastics material that is introduced into the mould can be expected to reach those extremities at substantially the same time. This enables cycle times to be reduced and decreases the cost of the moulding operation.
  • the moulding operation is further facilitated by the cap design described above in which most of the walls of the cap are of substantially the same thickness.
  • the central portion of the cap radially inwardly of the annular depending wall 68 would be of significantly greater cross section than, say, the various walls spaced radially outward of the annular depending wall.
  • this require an increased use of plastics material, making the cap more expensive to manufacture, but it might also lead to consistency problems in the moulding operation of a type that is well known in the art where two adjacent portions of a moulded article are intended to be moulded to different thicknesses.
  • the cap may be of any desired dimensions, provided of course that it can snap on to the associated container for which it is designed, in a currently preferred embodiment the cap has a standard wall thickness of 1.2mm while each of the arcuate portions 42,44 and 46 defining the outer periphery of the cap have a radius of curvature of 24mm.
  • the circular recess 54 is preferably recessed by 0.5mm and has a radius of 11mm while the upward and radially outward directed surface 58 is preferably inclined at an angle of 45° to the vertical.
  • the annular depending wall 68 preferably has a depth of 6mm measured from where the downwardly and radially outwardly sloping upper surface 56 merges with the upward and radially outward directed surface 58 and, from the same reference point, the centre of curvature of the shallow annular groove 76 and the downwardly and ultimately inwardly sloping surface 86 is preferably spaced 4.4mm while the lower extremities of the rounded end surfaces 88 and 94 are preferably spaced 5.6mm.
  • the annular depending wall 68 preferably has an outer diameter of 25.55mm and a wall thickness, at least adjacent the upper cylindrical wall portion 74, of 0.9mm, the radius of curvature of the shallow annular groove 76 and the downwardly and ultimately inwardly sloping surface 86 is preferably 1.5mm with the downwardly and ultimately inwardly sloping surface subtending an angle of approximately 125 degrees.
  • the shallowness of the shallow annular groove 76 is exemplified by the fact that the lower cylindrical wall portion 78 is preferably spaced radially outwardly only a distance of 0.25mm from the deepest portion of the shallow annular groove while the radially inwardly and downwardly inclined surface 80 preferably extends at an angle of 45° to the vertical.
  • the annular rib 84 preferably depends from the downwardly and radially outwardly sloping surface 82 to a distance of 1.4mm from this centre of curvature.
  • the downwardly and radially outwardly sloping upper surface 56 may comprise a radially inner portion having a radius curvature of 32mm which then merges with a radially outer portion having a radius curvature of 2.7mm with the result that, in the regions of the cap intermediate the three lobes, the horizontal distance between the centre of the circular recess 54 and the periphery of the cap is 16.85mm.
  • the radially outwardly sloping upper surface 56 will simply comprise a single portion having a radius curvature of 32mm thereby enabling the two rounded end surfaces 88 and 94 to have a radius curvature of 0.6mm and the additional arcuate surface 90 to have a radius curvature of 2.7mm.
  • the cap 40 may be snapped onto the container 10 by offering up the cap to the roll-over neck finish 28 so that the annular depending wall 68 fits inside the hollow annular rim 30.
  • the hollow annular rim 30 is guided by the engagement of the ' radially outwardly curving arcuate wall 24 and the radially inwardly and downwardly inclined surface 80 and by the engagement of the radially inwardly curving arcuate wall 26 with the rounded end surface 88 into the annular space 102 defined between the radially outer surface 72 of the annular depending wall 68 and the downwardly and ultimately inwardly sloping surface 86.
  • the engagement of the radially inwardly curving arcuate wall 26 with the rounded end surface 88 may also cause the downwardly and ultimately inwardly sloping surface 86 to flex radially outwardly, albeit slightly, and even though this flexing movement may be facilitated by applying a force in the region of the circular recess 54 in order to press the cap onto the container, it is anticipated that the majority of the flexing movement will be accommodated by the annular depending wall 68 which, as previously noted, is of somewhat reduced wall thickness for this purpose.
  • cap snaps onto the container with the shallow annular groove 76 in engagement with the radially outwardly curving arcuate wall 24, the downwardly and ultimately inwardly sloping surface 86 in engagement with the radially inwardly curving arcuate wall 26 and the annular downwardly depending rib 84 in engagement with the upper surface of the hollow annular rim 30.
  • the container contents are secure against possible leakage. Even if the container contents are liquid, the engagement of the radially outwardly curving arcuate wall 24 with the shallow annular groove 76 acts as a primary seal to prevent the egress of the liquid contents past the annular depending wall 68 which acts as a plug. In addition to this primary seal, the engagement of the annular downwardly depending rib 84 with the upper surface of the hollow annular rim 30 acts as a secondary seal to prevent the further egress of any liquid contents that may have escaped past the primary seal. A tertiary seal, if one were needed, is provided by the engagement of the inwardly curving arcuate wall 26 and the downwardly and ultimately inwardly sloping surface 86.
  • the container and snapped-on cap sit comfortably in the hand of a user. Indeed, if necessary, the typical user may hold a plurality of such containers in a single hand. However, assuming the hand to hold only one such container, its dimensions are such that two fingers of a typically sized hand may curl easily round the cylindrical side wall 14 while a third finger supports the container adjacent the cap. In such a position it is a feature of the trilobate shape of the cap that one of the lobes 48,50 or 52 projects generally towards the thumb enabling the cap to be easily snapped-off irrespective of the orientation of the container in the palm of the hand.
  • the cap may comprise a different number of radially projecting lobes
  • a three lobed cap is considered to be particularly advantageous.
  • a one or two lobed cap it is necessary for the container to be orientated in the hand of the user prior to the cap being snapped-off in order to bring the or one of the lobes into opposition to the thumb of the user.
  • caps having more than three lobes one very soon reaches the position where the cap might as well be provided with an annular projecting rim which not only detracts from the characteristic shape of the cap but also, of course, necessitates the use of an increased amount of plastics material and thereby increases the cost of the cap.
  • the container In order to snap the cap off the container the container is held in the palm of the hand in the manner described and the thumb used to apply an upward force to one of the lobes 48,50 or 52.
  • This upward force which is applied to the region bounded by the additional arcuate surface 90 and the downwardly and radially upwardly sloping surface 92, causes the downwardly and ultimately inwardly sloping surface 86 to flex upwardly away from the container, thereby releasing that portion of the hollow annular rim 30 adjacent the lobe from a corresponding portion of the annular space 102. It is then possible for the contents of the container to be dispensed.
  • the cap and container that, having released a portion of the hollow annular rim 30 from its engagement by the cap, the cap is not totally disengaged from the container. Indeed, if no further upward force is applied by the thumb, the cap would remain attached to the container by virtue of the receipt of an arcuate portion of the hollow annular rim 30 in a corresponding arcuate portion of the annular space 102 in a region diametrically opposed to the lobe to which the upward force was applied. Thus, to totally remove the cap an additional upward force must be applied to the lobe in what is usually a second movement. This additional force causes the cap to pivot upwardly away from the container about what is in effect a hinge located in a diametrically opposed region of the cap.
  • this hinge is arcuate rather than linear and is formed by the cooperation between the shallow annular groove 76 and the radially outwardly curving wall 24 on the one hand and the downwardly and ultimately inwardly sloping surface 86 and the radially inwardly curving wall 26 on the other in the region of that portion of the hollow annular rim 30 still received in the annular space 102.
  • the portion of the hollow annular rim 30 released from the annular spaced 102 is increased while the arcuate length of the hollow annular rim that remains in engagement with the shallow annular groove 76 and the downwardly and ultimately inwardly sloping surface 86 is correspondingly decreased.
  • the cap suddenly and uncontrollably flips from the rim of the container and rotates as it falls, generally about an axis substantially coplanar with the thickness of the cap.
  • This ability of the cap to partially snap-off and then pivot with respect to the container before then flipping-off completely is seen as a positive and distinguishing feature of the cap and container structure.
  • FIG. 7 A second design of snap-on cap for use with the container 10 is shown in Figure 7.
  • the second design is similar to the first described above and for that reason like features have been denoted by the same reference numerals and will not be further described.
  • the annular depending wall 68 of the previous design has been replaced by a thinner, more flexible annular depending wall 104.
  • annular depending wall 104 is spaced radially outward of the annular groove 62 and has a substantially cylindrical inner surface 106 which nevertheless slopes downwardly and radially outwardly at a shallow angle to the vertical to facilitate the removal of the plastics cap from the mould tool.
  • annular depending wall 104 stops short and does not project below the downward extremity of the generally downwardly and radially outwardly sloping upper surface 56.
  • annular depending wall 104 is also not provided on its radially outer surface 108 with a shallow annular groove.
  • outer surface 108 presents a substantially smooth cylindrical surface such that the depending wall 104 gradually tapers as it depends downwardly away from the undersurface of the cap. Radially outward of the annular depending wall 104, the outer surface 108 merges with a radially outwardly extending surface 110 which, unlike the corresponding downwardly and radially outwardly sloping surface 82 of the first design of cap, does not slope downwardly nor extend in a direction generally parallel to the inclined surface 66 and the downwardly and radially outwardly sloping upper surface 56. As a result the wall thickness of the cap is somewhat thicker in this region than elsewhere.
  • the radially outwardly extending surface 110 is provided with a small annular downwardly depending rib 84 before then merging, as in the first design of cap, with a generally downwardly and ultimately inwardly sloping surface 86 of arcuate cross-section.
  • the second design of cap may be identical to the first.
  • the second design of cap may be snapped-on and flipped-off the container 10 in the same way as has been described with reference to the first design of cap.
  • the cap may be offered up to the roll-over neck finish 28 so that the annular depending wall 104 fits inside the hollow annular rim 30.
  • the hollow annular rim 30 is guided by the engagement of the radially outwardly curving arcuate wall 24 and the cylindrical outer surface 108 and by the engagement of the radially inwardly curving arcuate wall 26 with the rounded end surface 88 into the annular space 102.
  • the engagement of the radially outwardly curving arcuate wall 24 with the outer surface 108 causes the annular depending wall 104 to flex radially inwardly allowing the radially outwardly curving arcuate wall to pass beyond the constriction which, even in the second design of cap, is formed at the entrance to the annular space 102.
  • the engagement of the radially inwardly curving arcuate wall 26 with the rounded end surface 88 may also cause the downwardly and ultimately inwardly sloping surface 86 to flex radially outwardly, albeit slightly, and even though this flexing movement may be facilitated by applying a force in the region of the circular recess 54 in order to press the cap onto the container, it is anticipated that the majority of the flexing movement will be accommodated by the annular depending wall 104 which is of reduced wall thickness for this purpose.
  • the cap snaps onto the container with the outer surface 108 of the annular depending wall 104 bearing against the radially outwardly curving arcuate wall 24, the downwardly and ultimately inwardly sloping surface 86 in engagement with the radially inwardly curving arcuate wall 26 and the annular downwardly depending rib 84 in engagement with the upper surface of the hollow annular rim 30.
  • the engagement between the outer surface 108 and the radially outwardly curving arcuate wall 24 may be such that the wall 104 at least partially conforms to the shape of the radially outwardly curving arcuate wall 24.
  • the region of contact between the two may be such that it has an extent which in cross-section is arcuate having substantially the same radius of curvature as the radially outwardly curving arcuate wall 24.
  • the region of contact may be more limited so that the region of contact is essentially a line of contact.
  • the container contents are secure against possible leakage. Even if the container contents are a liquid, the engagement of the radially outwardly curving arcuate wall 24 with the outer surface 108 acts as a primary seal to prevent the egress of the liquid contents past the annular depending wall 104 which acts as plug. In addition to this primary seal, once again the engagement of the annular downwardly depending rib 84 with the upper surface of the hollow annular rim 30 acts as a secondary seal to prevent the further egress of any liquid contents that may have escaped past the primary seal. A tertiary seal, if one were needed, is provided by the engagement of the inwardly curving arcuate wall 26 and the downwardly and ultimately inwardly sloping surface 86.
  • the container In order to snap the cap off the container the container is held in the palm of the hand in the same way as described in connection with the first design of cap and the thumb used to apply an upward force to one of the lobes 48, 50 or 52.
  • This upward force which is applied to the region bounded by the additional arcuate surface 90 and the downwardly and radially upwardly sloping surface 92, causes the downwardly and ultimately inwardly sloping surface 86 to flex upwardly away from the container, thereby releasing that portion of the hollow annular rim 30 adjacent the lobe from a corresponding portion of the annular space 102. It is then possible for the contents of the container to be dispensed.
  • cap it is a feature of the second design of cap as well as the first that, having released a portion of the hollow annular rim 30 from its engagement by the cap, the cap is not totally disengaged from the container. Indeed, if no further upward force is applied by the thumb, the cap would remain attached to the container by virtue of the receipt of an arcuate portion of the hollow annular rim 30 in a corresponding arcuate portion of the annular space 102 in a region diametrically opposed to the lobe to which the upward force was applied. Thus, to totally remove the cap an additional upward force must be applied to the lobe in what is usually a second movement.
  • this additional force causes the cap to pivot upwardly away from the container about what is in effect a hinge located in a diametrically opposed region of the cap.
  • this hinge is arcuate in extent rather than linear and is formed by the cooperation between the cylindrical outer surface 108 and the radially outwardly curving wall 24 on the one hand and the downwardly and ultimately inwardly sloping surface 86 and the radially inwardly curving wall 26 on the other in the region of that portion of the hollow annular rim 30 still received in the annular space 102.
  • the portion of the hollow annular rim 30 released from the annular space 102 is increased while the arcuate length of the hollow annular rim that remains in engagement with the outer surface 108 and the downwardly and ultimately inwardly sloping surface 86 is correspondingly decreased.
  • the radially outwardly curving arcuate wall 24 of the roll-over neck finish 28 is brought into engagement with the lower extremity of the outer surface 108, thereby causing the annular depending wall 104 to flex radially inwardly and release the hollow annular rib 30 from the annular space 102.
  • the cap it retrieved and the cap offered up to the container in the manner previously described.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Closures For Containers (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne une capsule (40) à encliqueter en combinaison avec un récipient (10). Ce dernier (10) comporte une ouverture et une formation curviligne entourant ladite ouverture. En coupe transversale, la formation comprend une première surface (24) convexe courbée. La capsule (40) comprend un chapeau d'une dimension suffisante pour couvrir l'ouverture. Une première paroi (60) curviligne complémentaire, faite dans un matériau élastique, est solidaire du chapeau. La paroi (68) curviligne est dimensionnée de façon à s'encliqueter en prise avec et à l'intérieur de la formation de sorte que, en coupe transversale, ladite paroi (68) correspond, du moins partiellement, à la forme de la première surface (24) convexe courbée. La combinaison est telle que lorsque la capsule (40) est initialement désencliquetée du récipient (10), une première partie de la paroi (68) curviligne sort de la formation, tandis qu'une seconde partie reste en prise avec elle. Un autre mouvement tournant de la capsule sortant du récipient (10) accroît la courbure de la première partie sortant de la paroi (68) curviligne et, parallèlement, diminue la forme curviligne de la seconde partie en prise. En définitive, du fait d'une déformation induite de la seconde partie en prise décroissante, la capsule se désolidarise et sort du récipient (10). L'invention concerne également une capsule (40) à désencliqueter d'un récipient (10). La capsule, vue en plan, est trilobée.
PCT/GB2000/001346 1999-04-08 2000-04-10 Capsule a encliqueter et recipient associe Ceased WO2000061447A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU38302/00A AU3830200A (en) 1999-04-08 2000-04-10 Snap-on cap and container

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9908035.0 1999-04-08
GBGB9908035.0A GB9908035D0 (en) 1999-04-08 1999-04-08 Snap-on cap and container

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2000061447A1 true WO2000061447A1 (fr) 2000-10-19

Family

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Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/GB2000/001346 Ceased WO2000061447A1 (fr) 1999-04-08 2000-04-10 Capsule a encliqueter et recipient associe

Country Status (3)

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AU (1) AU3830200A (fr)
GB (1) GB9908035D0 (fr)
WO (1) WO2000061447A1 (fr)

Citations (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR1030600A (fr) * 1949-08-04 1953-06-15 Fermeture pour récipients
CH317397A (it) * 1953-02-25 1956-11-30 Rossi Gestione Guinzio Dispositivo di chiusura di un recipiente, specialmente bidone per latte e per pasta da gelati
US3352448A (en) * 1965-11-15 1967-11-14 Jay G Livingstone Resilient closure
BE735064A (fr) * 1968-03-11 1969-12-01
US3494496A (en) * 1968-01-08 1970-02-10 Jay G Livingstone Closure cap and container-and-cap assembly
FR2124130A1 (fr) * 1971-02-04 1972-09-22 Bouchons Plastiques
GB1291964A (en) * 1971-06-05 1972-10-04 Reckitt & Colmann Prod Ltd Improvements in and relating to plastics material snap-lock closure caps for bottles
US3722729A (en) * 1970-08-21 1973-03-27 E Yamada Bottle cap structure and method for making the same
US5718334A (en) * 1996-09-11 1998-02-17 Allergan Container closure for flexible containers

Patent Citations (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR1030600A (fr) * 1949-08-04 1953-06-15 Fermeture pour récipients
CH317397A (it) * 1953-02-25 1956-11-30 Rossi Gestione Guinzio Dispositivo di chiusura di un recipiente, specialmente bidone per latte e per pasta da gelati
US3352448A (en) * 1965-11-15 1967-11-14 Jay G Livingstone Resilient closure
US3494496A (en) * 1968-01-08 1970-02-10 Jay G Livingstone Closure cap and container-and-cap assembly
BE735064A (fr) * 1968-03-11 1969-12-01
US3722729A (en) * 1970-08-21 1973-03-27 E Yamada Bottle cap structure and method for making the same
FR2124130A1 (fr) * 1971-02-04 1972-09-22 Bouchons Plastiques
GB1291964A (en) * 1971-06-05 1972-10-04 Reckitt & Colmann Prod Ltd Improvements in and relating to plastics material snap-lock closure caps for bottles
US5718334A (en) * 1996-09-11 1998-02-17 Allergan Container closure for flexible containers

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AU3830200A (en) 2000-11-14
GB9908035D0 (en) 1999-06-02

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