CLOSURE

Abstract

A closure for a container is provided. The closure comprises a cap and a retaining ring arranged under the cap for retaining the closure on the container in use. The cap and ring are joined by a pair of connecting arms. A first arm is non-frangibly connected to the cap at a cap tether end and circumferentially anticlockwise therefrom is non-frangibly connected to the ring at a ring root end. A second arm is non-frangibly connected to the cap at a cap tether end and circumferentially clockwise therefrom is non-frangibly connected to the ring at a ring root end. The cap can be tilted away from the ring with the arms providing a hinge-like function, and each of the arms twists between its cap tether end and its ring root end, whereby tension is generated in the arms.

Claims

1. A closure connectable to a container neck, the closure comprises a cap and a retaining ring, the cap comprises a top plate and a sidewall that depends from the periphery of the top plate, at the free end of the sidewall a retaining ring is provided, the interior of the sidewall includes a screw thread formation that can engage a corresponding formation on the neck, an internal annular seal depends from the underside of the top plate and fits into the bore of the neck when the closure is in place and the cap is closed, an external annular seal also depends from the underside of the top plate and fits onto the outside of the neck when the closure is in place and the cap is closed, the ring includes an internal annular snap bead which can be positioned under a neck bead to prevent the ring from being removed axially, the retaining ring comprises a first connecting arm and a second connecting arm the first arm is non-frangibly connected to the cap at a cap tether end and circumferentially anticlockwise therefrom is non-frangibly connected to the ring at a ring root end, the second arm is non-frangibly connected to the cap at a cap tether end and circumferentially clockwise therefrom is non-frangibly connected to the ring at a ring root end, characterised in that each arm is formed as a first linear portion that extends from the root end, an inclined portion, and a second linear portion, the second linear portions connect non-frangibly to the free end of the sidewall by thinned webs, between the cap tether ends of the arms a central tab is provided, the ring has a cut-out to accommodate the portions and the tab, the cap can be tilted away from the ring with the arms providing a hinge-like function, and each of the arms twists between its cap tether end and its ring root end, whereby tension is generated in the arms, the position of the hinge provided by the arms is completely in the retaining ring structure and not in the closure cap, during the unscrewing the cap can lift vertically along the corresponding screw thread formation, to allow freedom to get access to a container, while still remaining tethered thereto.

2. A closure as claimed in claim 1, in which the axial extent of the sidewall is generally constant.

3. A closure as claimed in claim 1, in which the tab depends from the cap.

4. A closure as claimed in claim 1, in which the tab is generally inverted as the cap is tilted away from the ring and rests on the container to hold the cap in an open position.

5. A closure as claimed in claim 1, in which the ring is fitted to be freely rotatable on the container neck.

6. A closure as claimed in claim 1, in which the cap can be moved to a stable open position.

7. A closure as claimed in claim 6, in which the stable open position is approximately 130-140 degrees with respect to the closed position.

8. A closure as claimed in claim 1, in which the arms hinge or bend with respect to the sidewall as the cap tilts.

9. (canceled)

10. A closure as claimed in claim 1 in combination with a container.

11. A closure in combination with a container, the container is filled with a carbonated beverage, the container has a container neck, the closure is connected to the container neck, the closure comprises a cap and a retaining ring, the cap comprises a top plate and a sidewall that depends from the periphery of the top plate, at the free end of the sidewall a retaining ring is provided, the interior of the sidewall includes a screw thread formation that can engage a corresponding screw thread formation on the neck, an internal annular seal depends from the underside of the top plate and fits into the bore of the neck when the closure is in place and the cap is closed, an external annular seal also depends from the underside of the top plate and fits onto the outside of the neck when the closure is in place and the cap is closed, the ring includes an internal annular snap bead which can be positioned under a neck bead to prevent the ring from being removed axially, the retaining ring comprises a first connecting arm and a second connecting arm the first arm is non-frangibly connected to the cap at a cap tether end and circumferentially anticlockwise therefrom is non-frangibly connected to the ring at a ring root end, the second arm is non-frangibly connected to the cap at a cap tether end and circumferentially clockwise therefrom is non-frangibly connected to the ring at a ring root end, characterised in that each arm is formed as a first linear portion that extends from the root end, an inclined portion, and a second linear portion, the second linear portions connect non-frangibly to the free end of the sidewall by thinned webs, between the cap tether ends of the arms a central tab is provided, the ring has a cut-out to accommodate the portions and the tab, the cap can be tilted away from the ring with the arms providing a hinge-like function, and each of the arms twists between its cap tether end and its ring root end, whereby tension is generated in the arms, the position of the hinge provided by the arms is substantially completely in the retaining ring structure and not in the closure cap, during the unscrewing the cap can lift vertically along said corresponding screw thread formation of the container neck, to allow freedom to get access to the container, while still remaining tethered thereto.

Description

[0044] In the following description, all orientational terms, such as upper, lower, radially and axially, are used in relation to the drawings and should not be interpreted as limiting on the invention.

[0045] Referring first to FIGS. 1 and 2 there is shown a closure generally indicated 5 and connected to a container neck 15.

[0046] The closure 5 comprises cap 10 and a retaining ring 30.

[0047] The cap 10 comprises a top plate 20 and a sidewall 25 that depends from the periphery of the top plate. “Under” the sidewall, at the free end thereof the retaining ring 30 is provided.

[0048] The interior of the sidewall 25 includes a screw thread formation 35 that engages a corresponding formation 40 on the neck 15.

[0049] An internal annular seal 45 depends from the underside of the top plate 20 and fits into the bore of the neck when the closure is in place and the cap 10 is closed. An external annular seal 50 also depends from the underside of the top plate 20 and fits onto the outside of the neck when the closure is in place and the cap 10 is closed.

[0050] The ring 30 includes an internal annular snap bead 31 which is positioned under a neck bead 16 to prevent the ring from being removed axially.

[0051] The retaining ring 30 comprises a first connecting arm 55 and a second connecting arm 60.

[0052] The first arm 55 is non-frangibly connected to the cap at a cap tether end 56 and circumferentially anticlockwise therefrom is non-frangibly connected to the ring at a ring root end 57.

[0053] The second arm 65 is non-frangibly connected to the cap at a cap tether end 66 and circumferentially clockwise therefrom is non-frangibly connected to the ring at a ring root end 67.

[0054] In this embodiment each arm 55, 60 is formed as a first linear portion 58, 68 that extends from the root end 57, 67, an inclined portion 59, 69, and a second linear portion 60, 70. The second linear portions 60, 70 connect non-frangibly to the free end of the sidewall by thinned webs 61, 71.

[0055] Between the cap tether ends of the arms a central tab 75 is provided. The ring 30 has a cut-out 32 to accommodate the portions 60 and the tab 75.

[0056] As described in more detail below, the cap can be tilted away from the ring with the arms providing a hinge-like function, and each of the arms 55, 60 twists between its cap tether end 56, 66 and its ring root end 57, 67, whereby tension is generated in the arms. The position of the “hinge” provided by the arms is 100% in the tamper-evident band/retaining ring structure i.e. not in the closure shell.

[0057] During the unscrewing the closure can lift vertically along the thread helix, to allow freedom to get access to a container, while still remaining tethered thereto.

[0058] Referring now to FIGS. 3 to 6 there is shown a carbonated soft drink closure 105 formed according to a further embodiment. The closure is similar to the closure 5.

[0059] In this embodiment the arms 155, 160 are frangible connected to the sidewall and to the by frangible bridges 180. In addition the central tab 175 is connected to the ring 130 by a bridge 185.

[0060] Operation of a closure 205 formed in accordance with the present invention is shown in FIGS. 7 to 13.

[0061] During the unscrewing the cap 210 can lift vertically along the thread helix while still remaining tethered thereto by the ring 230 (FIGS. 7 and 8).

[0062] Once the screw threads have disengaged the cap can be tilted away from the ring (FIGS. 9 and 10).

[0063] As the cap tilts the arms are twisted and the tab begins to invert (FIGS. 11 and 12).

[0064] FIG. 13 shows the fully open position, with the tab resting on the neck, which holds the cap in a stable position.

[0065] The open position of a closure is also illustrated in FIGS. 14 to 17.

[0066] Some other features/advantages of aspects and embodiments of the present invention include: [0067] the thin webs have a real hinge function. [0068] the flexible area is not inclined but aligned vertically. [0069] the flexible areas do bend but not as much and will transfer torsion to the connecting arms. [0070] the flexible areas are not positioned as high as possible inside the lid cap but in fact totally in the TE band. [0071] as a consequence the flexible areas are not positioned lower than the thread start.

[0072] Referring now to FIG. 18A to 18D there is shown a comparison between an embodiment of the present invention, being a carbonated soft drink closure of the type generally described above, and a known closure of the type as described in W000/26108.

[0073] In the case of the embodiment the position of the hinge is off-set of 100% into the TE band, whereas in the prior art it is positioned partially in the closure shell.

[0074] FIGS. 18A to 18D show the different opening kinematic between the prior art closure and a closure formed in accordance with the present invention. The opening sequences show how the arms are twisted during opening of the present invention, which is different to the prior art closure, where the thin webs have a real hinge function.

[0075] Prior Art: essentially operates by flexion of the films. Flexion: the action of bending or the condition of being bent. The hinge is partly provided in the closure shell (as well as in the tamper-evident, tethering, retention band).

[0076] Embodiment: operates by torsion of the arms. Torsion: the action of twisting or the state of being twisted. The hinge is completely provided in the closure shell (and not at all in the tamper-evident, tethering, retention band).

[0077] Although illustrative embodiments of the invention have been disclosed in detail herein, with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is understood that the invention is not limited to the precise embodiments shown and that various changes and modifications can be effected therein by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.