WO2003086892A1

WO2003086892A1 - Closure of the push-pull type for containers for soft drinks and similar

Info

Publication number: WO2003086892A1
Application number: PCT/GB2002/001477
Authority: WO
Inventors: Romeo Mestriner
Original assignee: TECHNOCAPS Ltd
Current assignee: TECHNOCAPS Ltd
Priority date: 2002-04-05
Filing date: 2002-04-05
Publication date: 2003-10-23
Anticipated expiration: 2004-10-05
Also published as: AU2002251203A1

Abstract

A closing device for bottles. The closing device has a collar (1) which is attachable to a bottle neck (4), and which has first (9) and second (8) walls, the first wall (9) containing at least one aperture (10) through which a liquid can pass, and which supports a sealed end section (5). The first wall (9) is sized to fit within the perimeter defined by the second wall (8) so as to define a recess. A cap (6) containing abutment means (15) is attachable to the collar (1) in a first position and a second position. The abutment means (15) is located in the recess and abuts against an outer surface of the first wall (9) and an inner surface of the second wall (8) thereby blocking the aperture (10) to provide a gas-tight seal when in the first position. When the cap is in the second position, the abutment means (15) is remote form said recess and allows liquid to pass through the collar and cap.

Description

CLOSURE OF THE PUSH-PULL TYPE FOR CONTAINERS FOR SOFT

DRINKS AND SIMILAR

The invention relates to a closing device for containers and in particular one which allows drinking directly from the container itself sucking with the mouth and/or by squeezing the container.

Such closing devices are normally made up of a collar ring screwed onto or in anyway anchored to the container and by a mobile sealing device moving axially by means of an action of push-pull or screwing between a closed position and an open position.

The opening of the container can be obtained either by means of the teeth or by means of the hands and so also for the re-closing of it. Closures of the type above mentioned have been known for years and are diffused in the market of the still (non-carbonated) drinks for sportsmen. Pouring is obtained, after moving the closing devise, by squeezing the container that must therefore be of an elastic material.

For containers suitable for carbonated drinks more complex solutions have been developed, which are expensive and of difficult fabrication, with a high number of components as required by the market they are aimed to which makes them over-complex and expensive.

The US patent no. 5810185 describes a closure for carbonated soft drinks of the type with unscrew motion of the re-closing devise, between a position of closed and one of open, that employs washers to obtain the air tight seal: but the washers imply an additional cost and are difficult to position during fabrication while the opening of the re-closing devise is obtained by rotation only; an operation not easy to execute with the mouth.

The objective of the invention is the manufacturing of a closure of the type described above that: allows its usage on containers for carbonated drinks, that is of easy and economical production, provides an air tight seal under pressure and can be opened by means of a simple pulling action on the re-closing devise, a characteristic, this last one, very appreciated in the sports world.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a closing device for bottles capable of containing carbonated or non-carbonated drinks, the closing device comprising, a collar which is attachable to a bottle neck, the collar having first and second walls, the first wall containing at least one aperture through which a liquid can pass, said first wall supporting a sealed end section and being sized to fit within the perimeter defined by the second wall so as to define a recess between the first wall and the second wall, a cap, attachable to the collar and moveable axially relative to the collar between a first position and a second position, the cap comprising abutment means that project from the cap such that when the cap is in the first position, the abutment means is located in the recess and abuts against an outer surface of the first wall and an inner surface of the second wall thereby blocking the aperture to provide a seal and when the cap is in the second position the abutment means is remote from said recess to allow liquid to pass through the collar and cap.

Preferably, the inner surface of the outside wall against which the abutment means abuts is shaped to prevent movement in two mutually perpendicular directions.

Preferably, the recess and abutment are substantially cylindrical in shape.

Preferably, the cap is attachable to the collar in a third position between the first and second positions such that the abutment means abuts against the outer surface of the first wall of the collar.

Preferably, the collar and cap are attachable using attachment means provided by a plurality of beads each extending around the perimeter of an outer surface of the second wall of the collar and spaced along its length, and at least one projection extending from a side wall of the cap, the at least one projection being arranged to abut against one of said beads.

Preferably, the beads are segmented.

Preferably, the side wall of the cap is elastically defor able .

Preferably, the aperture consists of a plurality of slots made in the first wall, supported by reinforcing elements which connect the first wall to the second wall.

Preferably, the outer wall of the collar contains a recess that intersects at least one of said beads. Preferably, the abutment means is connected to the side wall of the cap by a shoulder.

The present invention provides a gas-tight seal when the cap is arranged in the first position with respect to the collar. In addition, the walls of the cap and collar are arranged in an advantageous manner such that the internal pressure exerted by gases in the container apply forces on the wall in a radial direction and therefore do not exert a force that will cause the container to be opened.

The present invention allows furthermore the intermediate discharge of the gas accumulated between the cap and collar when they are arranged in the third position, making it easier to open the container directly with the mouth before drinking.

The present invention will be illustrated by example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is represented a full length section of the assembled closure, along axis x-x, in the closed position;

Fig. 2 is represented a full length section of the assembled closure, along axis x-x, in the intermediate gas release position;

Fig. 3 is represented a full length section of the assembled closure, along axis x-x, in the open position; Fig. 4 is represented a lateral view of the first component of the closure; and

Fig. 5 is represented a full-length section, along axis x-x, of the second component of the closure. With reference to Fig. 1, a closing device is shown with a collar 1 screwed onto the container 4 and fitted with traditional sealing means with the latter as for example a transverse wall 2, that settles on the opening of the container by screwing on. From the above transverse wall 2, the collar extends to a hollow tube-shaped member, overall indicated with 3, communicating with the interior of the bottle on one end and closed at the other end. The tube shaped member 3 is comprised of two co-axial walls 8 and 9, one an extension of the other. The wall 9 is of smaller diameter than 8 and is closed at the top end by means of an end section or blind wall 5. The wall 9 is open by at least one slot 10 that forms a passage between the interior of container 4 and the external atmosphere and allows the passage of the liquid when the opening device is in the pen (second) position.

In this example, there are five slots between which are positioned reinforcing elements 11 that extend from the wall of smaller diameter 9 and that of larger diameter 8. The two above mentioned walls 8 and 9 are connected by a shoulder 12 on which it is carved out a circular recess 13 practically as wide as the shoulder itself and of sufficient depth to retain by locking the external terminal part 23 of wall 22 as we shall see later.

In this example the depth of recess 12 must be at least one millimetre and as much must be its width.

The external side of wall 8 has a circular bead in sections 17 just below the shoulder 12, of a recess 18 extending in parallel to axis x-x by a predetermined height and by a further circular recess 19 that too in sections and also positioned on the outside of wall 8 just above the transversal wall 2.

A cap is located outside the collar that comprises a tube 6 made up of two co-axial walls 14 and 15, wall 15 forming abutment means .

The wall 14 of a wider diameter matches up and moves along the outside of wall 8 of the collar. At the internal side of the lower end of wall 14, is located a circular bead 16 that has the function of clipping in position below the circular bead 19 located at the very end of wall 8 when the closure is in closed position. Such a coupling must be mobile so as to allow the de- coupling of the two circular beads when you wish to open the container, which is achieved by sliding the first tube over the second one.

In the intermediate position between the first circular bead 17 and the second circular bead 19 is a third intermediate position of tube 3 in relation to but 6 during the opening operation. The bead 20 will be in practice positioned at the very top end of recess 18 that will be therefore contained between such circular bead 20 and circular bead 19.

The wall or abutment means 15 of the tube 6 is of a smaller diameter of wall 14 and is connected to that by means of a shoulder 21. The internal side of wall 15 couples up and slides onto the external side of wall 9 of tube 3 and is fitted with a co-axial extension 22 of a stipulated length so as to lock and air tight seal in throat 13 of shoulder 12 in the closed position. Alternatively, the wall or abutment 15 is sized so as to lock and air tight seal in throat 13 of shoulder 12 in the closed position. The coaxial extension may be part of wall 15 and need not be fitted separately thereto.

Shoulder 21 may be extended with advantage in a perpendicular direction to axis x-x so as to create a bead 24 used to facilitate the grip of the fingers or of the teeth while opening the container.

With reference to fig. 2 the space 18 will create an area of decompression that, during the intermediate position of opening, will allow gas to escape from the container towards the external atmosphere on an alternative routing to that through the dispensing orifice 27 that remains closed because wall 9 is abutted against wall or abutment 15. The circular beads 19 and 20, being in segments, do not oppose the passage of the gas.

With reference to fig. 3 it is possible to see the mechanism according to the invention in the position of dispensing. The circular bead 16 has skipped over the intermediate stop 20 and it has stopped against the bead 17, and advantageously the external part of wall 19 will couple and seal with circular bead 16 of wall 14, while the ending part 23 of wall 22 shall leave open a dispensing gap in relation to wall 9.

The closing device may also include an overcap which functions as a dust and dirt protection and also as a tamper-evident initial seal of known type and therefore not represented here.

The closing device according to the present invention is assembled to form and overall unit that can be handled easily as a single unit by inserting by pressure long axis x-x the first component unto the second component until it overcomes and clicks by elastic deformation the circular ring 19 by circular bead 16. The closing device obtained in such a way is ready to be assembled by attaching it to the neck of a bottle or other container by screwing, clipping or by any other suitable means.

The advantage that is obtained from the use of the closing device according to the invention is in the fact that the surface exposed to the internal pressure of the container in the closed mode is the internal part of lower section 22 of wall or abutment 15 where it covers the slots 10. Such a force is resisted by the shoulder 21 and by the inner surface of the second wall 13 into which the terminal part of wall 22 is locked. In this way expansions and deformations that may compromise the air tight seal are avoided. In addition, the outer surface of the inner wall of the collar abuts against wall or abutment 15 abuts.

Another advantage that is obtained from the closing device according to the invention is of having an axial push that acts unto tube 6 which is practically non- existent, and therefore the interference between the circular beads 16 and 19 (which maintains the device in closed position) must be minimal and therefore the opening of the container, specially if done with the mouth, does not present any difficulties.

The closing device according to the invention allows therefore the closing of containers containing carbonated drinks by overcoming the disadvantages presented by the devices based on known technology. The present invention is summed up in a device which allows the pressurised seal on bottles to be maintained and at the same time is of simple and easy manufacturing and easy use.

Improvements and modifications may be incorporated herein without deviating from the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A closing device for bottles capable of containing carbonated or non-carbonated drinks, the closing device comprising, a collar which is attachable to a bottle neck, the collar having first and second walls, the first wall containing at least one aperture through which a liquid can pass, said first wall supporting a sealed end section and being sized to fit within the perimeter defined by the second wall so as to define a recess between the first wall and the second wall, a cap, attachable to the collar and moveable axially relative to the collar between a first position and a second position, the cap comprising abutment means that project from the cap such that when the cap is in the first position, the abutment means is located in the recess and abuts against an outer surface of the first wall and an inner surface of the second wall thereby blocking the aperture to provide a seal and when the cap is in the second position the abutment means is remote from said recess to allow liquid to pass through the collar and cap.

2. A closing device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the inner surface of the outside wall against which the abutment means abuts is shaped to prevent movement in two mutually perpendicular directions.

3. A closing device as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the recess and abutment are substantially cylindrical in shape.

4. A closing device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the cap is attachable to the collar in a third position between the first and second positions such that the abutment means abuts against the outer surface of the first wall of the collar.

5. A closing device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the collar and cap are attachable using attachment means provided by a plurality of beads each extending around the perimeter of an outer surface of the second wall of the collar and spaced along its length, and at least one projection extending from a side wall of the cap, the at least one projection being arranged to abut against one of said beads.

6. A closing device as claimed in claim 5 wherein the beads are segmented.

7. A closing device as claimed in claim 5 or claim 6 wherein the side wall of the cap is elastically deformable .

8. A closing device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the aperture consists of a plurality of slots made in the first wall, supported by reinforcing elements which connect the first wall to the second wall.

9. A closing device as claimed in any of claims 5 to 8 wherein the outer wall of the collar contains a recess that intersects at least one of said beads.

10. A closing device as claimed in any of claims 5 to 8 wherein the abutment means is connected to the side wall of the cap by a shoulder.

11. A closing device as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.