HINGED CLOSURE

Abstract

Closure (1), for sealing of a neck finish (2) of a liquid container, comprising a top deck (3) and an outer skirt (4) extending from the top deck (3) in an axial direction (z) away from the top deck (3). The outer skirt (4) comprises a top section (5) arranged adjacent to the top deck (2) and a bottom section (6) separated from the top section (5) by a gap (7). The top section (5) and the bottom section (6) are interconnected to each other by a hinge (8). The outer skirt (4) comprises an inwardly protruding locking bead (9) extending along an inner surface (10) of the outer skirt (4), wherein the locking bead (9) at at least one location continues across the gap (7).

Claims

1. A closure, for sealing of a neck finish of a liquid container, comprising a. a top deck and an outer skirt extending from the top deck in an axial direction (z) away from the top deck; b. the outer skirt comprising a top section arranged adjacent to the top deck and a bottom section separated from the top section by a gap; c. the top section and the bottom section are interconnected to each other by a hinge; and wherein d. the outer skirt comprises an inwardly protruding locking bead extending along an inner surface of the outer skirt, wherein the locking bead at at least one location continues across the gap.

2. The closure according to claim 1, wherein the top section comprises at least one fastening flap extending from a lower end of the top section in the axial direction (z) inside a recess of the bottom section, wherein the locking bead continues across the gap into the fastening flap.

3. The closure according to claim 2, wherein the fastening flap is arranged within a contour of the top deck in the axial direction (z).

4. The closure according to claim 2, wherein the fastening flap is de-formable in a radial direction.

5. The closure according to claim 1, wherein in an initial position, before initial opening of the closure, the top section and the bottom section are interconnected by at least one fragile bridge.

6. The closure according to claim 1, wherein the top section comprises a brim arranged in a circumferential direction opposite of the hinge, extending in a radial direction away from the top section to facilitate opening of the closure.

7. The closure according to claim 6, wherein the closure comprises two fasting flaps and respective recesses arranged in a circumferential direction adjacent to the brim.

8. The closure according to claim 1, wherein the locking bead is a thread for interconnecting the closure to the neck finish.

9. The closure according to claim 8, wherein the closure comprises at least one first locking tooth arranged on the inner surface on the bottom section for locking the closure with respect to the circumferential direction on the neck finish of the liquid container.

10. The closure according to claim 9, wherein the at least one first locking tooth is arranged at a lower end of the bottom section.

11. The closure according to claim 9, wherein the at least one first locking tooth is arranged adjacent to the recess in the bottom section.

12. The closure according to claim 1, wherein top deck comprises a top dish circumvented by a rim, wherein the top dish has an offset in the axial direction with respect to said rim.

13. The closure according to claim 12, wherein an inner skirt extends from the inner surface of the top dish.

14. A liquid container with a neck finish comprising at least one second locking tooth foreseen to engage behind the at least one first locking tooth of the closure according to claim 9.

15. A system of a liquid container having a neck finish and a thereto interconnected closure according to claim 1.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] The herein described invention will be more fully understood from the detailed description given herein below and the accompanying drawings which should not be considered limiting to the invention described in the appended claims. The drawings are showing:

[0019] FIG. 1 A first variation of the closure according to the invention in a perspective view;

[0020] FIG. 2 The closure according to FIG. 1 in a front view;

[0021] FIG. 3 The closure according to FIG. 2 in a sectionized view A-A;

[0022] FIG. 4 The closure according to FIG. 1 in an open and applied position;

[0023] FIG. 5 The closure according to FIG. 1 before the application on a neck finish;

[0024] FIG. 6 A second variation of a closure according to the invention in a perspective view;

[0025] FIG. 7 The second variation of the closure according to FIG. 8 in a front view;

[0026] FIG. 8 The second variation of the closure in a sectionized view according to FIG. 7.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0027] Reference will now be made in detail to certain embodiments, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which some, but not all features are shown. Indeed, embodiments disclosed herein may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will satisfy applicable legal requirements. Whenever possible, like reference numbers will be used to refer to like components or parts.

[0028] FIG. 1 to FIG. 5 show a first variation of the closure 1 according to the invention. FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 illustrate the closure 1 in a perspective and a front view. FIG. 3 shows the closure 1 in a sectionized view A-A according to FIG. 2.

[0029] The closure 1 according to the first variation of the invention comprises a top deck 3 and an outer skirt 4 extending from the top deck 3 in an axial direction z away from the top deck 3. The outer skirt 4 comprises a top section 5 arranged adjacent to the top deck 2 and a bottom section 6 separated from the top section 5 by a gap 7. The top section 5 and the bottom section 6 are interconnected to each other by a hinge 8. The outer skirt 4 comprises a locking bead 9 extending along an inner surface 10 of the outer skirt 4 and protruding inwardly towards a center axis 23 of the closure. In the shown variation the locking bead 9 is a thread extending along the inner surface 10 of the outer skirt 4 in an inclined manner. Alternatively, the locking bead may however also be a snapped on a corresponding bead arranged on the neck finish of the container by forming an undercut in the axial direction. In FIG. 3, the inner surface 10 of the outer skirt 4 can be observed. The locking bead 9, respectively the thread, continues across the gap 7, with the thread being divided by the gap 7 in at least one first segment 19 arranged on the bottom section 6 of the outer skirt 4 and at least one second segment 20, arranged on the top section 5 of the outer skirt 4. Before initial opening of the closure 1, the bottom section 6 and the top section 5 are interconnected by at least one fragile bridge 14.

[0030] The top section 5 comprises at least one fastening flap 11 extending from a lower end 12 of the top section 5 in the axial direction z inside a recess 13 in the bottom section 6. In FIG. 3 is further shown, that the locking bead 9, respectively the thread, continues across the gap 7 into the fastening flap 11. In the shown variation the thread ends on the fastening flap 11, however it is understood that the thread 9 may also continue along the outer skirt 4 crossing the gap 7 at least on a second location back to the bottom section 6.

[0031] FIG. 3 further shows sealing means 17 arranged on the top deck 3 of the closure 1 comprising a deformable primary and secondary sealing lip 21,22. The primary and secondary sealing lip 21,22 are arranged on an inner surface of the top deck 3 and extend in a circumferential manner along the top deck 3. The sealing lips 21,22 are arranged with respect to its cross-section in an inclined manner facing radially inwards towards the center axis 23 and away from the outer skirt 4. The secondary sealing lip 22 is arranged coaxially to the primary sealing lip 21 on the inner surface of the top deck 3. If the closure 1 is applied for the first time on a neck finish 2 of the liquid container, the primary and the secondary sealing lip 21,22 are deformed. The secondary sealing lip 22 is configured to support the deformed primary sealing lip 21 with respect to the neck finish 2 in the applied position of the closure 1.

[0032] FIG. 4 illustrates the closure 1 applied on the neck finish 2 (applied position) in an open position. Here the recess 13 in the bottom section 6 of the outer skirt 4 can be seen. Furthermore, the fastening flaps 11 extending from the lower end 12 of the bottom section 6 in the axial direction z can be seen. The arrangement of the locking bead 9 on the top section 5 on the fastening flap 11 is advantageous, since the fastening flap 11 is deformable in the radial outwards direction. Hence an opening and reclosing of the closure is facilitated. As can be seen clearly in FIG. 4, the closure 1 comprises in total two fastening flaps 11. The fastening flaps 11 are arranged on both sides next to a brim 18. The brim 18 extends in the radial direction away from the lower end 12 of the top section 5 and facilitates the opening of the closure 1, respectively the folding back of the top section 6 of the closure 1 around the hinge 8. The brim 18 is arranged opposite of the hinge 8 in the circumferential direction.

[0033] FIG. 5 illustrates the closure 1 according to the first variation of the invention before the first application on the neck finish 2. It can be seen, that the closure 1 comprises at least one first locking tooth 15 arranged on the inner surface 10 of the bottom section 6 of the outer skirt 4. In the shown case four first locking teeth 15 are orientated around the circumference of the closure. Corresponding second locking teeth 16 are arranged on the neck finish of the liquid container. On one hand, the (first and second) locking teeth 15, 16 prevent the closure to be removed from the neck finish 2 once attached. On the other hand, the (first and second) locking teeth 15, 16 position the closure in a predefined manner on the neck finish in the circumferential direction. In the shown variation, the (first and second) locking teeth 15, 16 each comprise a locking shoulder which forms in the applied position of the closure 1 on the neck finish 2 an undercut in the circumferential direction such that a detachment of the closure 1 from the container is prevented.

[0034] FIG. 6 to FIG. 8 show a second variation of the closure 1 according to the invention. FIG. 6 illustrates the closure 1 in a perspective view. FIG. 8 shows the closure 1 in a sectionized view B-B according to FIG. 7.

[0035] The second variation of the closure 1 for sealing of a neck finish of a liquid container comprises a top deck 3 and an outer skirt 4 extending from the top deck 3 in the axial direction (z) away from the top deck 3. The outer skirt 4 comprises a top section 5 arranged adjacent to the top deck 3 and a bottom section 6 separated from the top section 5 by a gap 7, as explained above. The top section 5 and the bottom section 6 are interconnected to each other by a hinge 8. The outer skirt 4 comprises an inwardly protruding locking bead 9 extending along an inner surface 10 of the outer skirt 4, wherein the locking bead 9 at at least one location continues across the gap 7, as can be seen in FIG. 8. The overall mechanism for locking the top section 5 on the liquid container is essentially the same as for the first variation of the closure 1 or may be applied accordingly.

[0036] However, the second variation of the closure 1 differs from the first variation of the closure in that the top deck 3 has a different structure. The top deck 3 comprises a rim 24 surrounding a top dish 25. The top dish 25 is preferably circular and set back (towards the outer skirt) in the axial direction with respect to the rim 24. This design allows for the hinge to be placed in the axial direction closer to the top deck and thus results in less collision risk during opening and closing. An inner skirt 26 extents from the inner surface of the top dish 25. The inner skirt 26 is circumvented by the outer skirt 4. The inner skirt 26 is arranged coaxially with respect to the outer skirt 4 and with respect to the center axis 23 of the closure 1. The inner skirt 26 varies in length in the axial direction over its circumference. Preferably, the inner skirt 26 comprises on a first surface 28, which is facing towards the outer skirt 4, a circumferential sealing bead 27. An additional top seal 33 may be present on the inner surface of the top deck 3 between the inner skirt 26 and the outer skirt 4 for contacting and sealing the top end of the neck finish from the axial direction.

[0037] The rim 24 may comprise at least one drainage 29. The drainage 29 may be designed as a slit and/or an interruption and/or a passage in the rim for liquid accumulated on the top deck 3. Between the rim 24 and the top dish 25 a transition area 31 is present. The transition area 31 may be e.g. a bevelled surface angled towards the center axis 23. On the transition area 31, respectively on the bevelled surface, additional rips may be present. In the shown variation, a knurl 32 extends on the bevelled surface allowing a machinery device to grip the closure e.g. while the closure 1 is rotated onto the neck finish during application.

[0038] In order to prevent the closure 1 in the open position to be applied further, at least one stopping means 30 may be present on the outer skirt 4. The stopping means 30 may be designed in form of a circumferential bead arranged in the axial direction away from the top deck and behind the (first circumnavigation) of the lock bead. The stopping means 31 interacts with the thread of the neck finish and block a further application of the closure 1 on the neck finish in the axial direction.

[0039] The words used in the specification are words of description rather than limitation, and it is understood that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

TABLE-US-00001 LIST OF DESIGNATIONS 1 Closure 18 Brim 2 Neck finish 19 First thread segment 3 Top deck 20 Second thread segment 4 Outer skirt 21 Primary sealing lip 5 Top section 22 Secondary sealing lip 6 Bottom section 23 Center axis 7 Gap 24 Rim 8 Hinge 25 Top dish 9 Locking bead/thread 26 Inner skirt 10 Inner surface 27 Sealing bead 11 Fastening flap 28 First surface 12 Lower end 29 Drainage 13 Recess 30 Stopping means 14 Fragile bridge 31 Transition area 15 First locking tooth 32 Knurl 16 Second locking tooth 33 Top seal 17 Sealing means