CAP MADE OF PAPER

Abstract

A cap and a corresponding method of manufacturing the cap for closing a container are described. The cap comprises a spirally wound sleeve comprising a first opening an a second opening, wherein the first opening and the second opening are opposed. Further, the cap comprises a head disk, wherein the head disk is arranged to close the first opening of the sleeve. The sleeve is made of paper. The second opening of the sleeve has a reinforcing element, and the reinforcing element is a structure extending into the interior of the sleeve.

Claims

1.-10. (canceled)

11. A cap for closing a container, the cap comprising: a spirally wound sleeve comprising a first opening and a second opening, wherein the first opening and the second opening are opposed; a head disk, wherein the head disk is arranged to close the first opening of the sleeve, wherein the sleeve is made of paper, wherein the second opening of the sleeve comprises a reinforcing element, and wherein the reinforcing element is a structure extending into the interior of the sleeve.

12. The cap according to claim 11, wherein the first opening comprises a bead, wherein the bead extends into the interior of the sleeve, and wherein the head disk is coupled to the portion of the bead extending into the interior of the sleeve.

13. The cap according to claim 11, wherein at least one of an outer surface of the sleeve and an inner surface of the sleeve is provided with a synthetic or bio-based coating.

14. The cap according to claim 11, wherein the sleeve comprises at least an inner layer and an outer layer which are spirally wound.

15. The cap according to claim 11, wherein the reinforcing element comprises a thickened area at the second opening of the sleeve, wherein the thickened area is provided by flanging an end portion of the sleeve into the interior of the sleeve, wherein the flanged end portion of the sleeve is compressed in a radial direction.

16. The cap according to claim 11, wherein the reinforcing element comprises a thickened area at the second opening of the sleeve, wherein the thickened area is provided by means of applying an adhesive.

17. The cap according to claim 14, wherein the reinforcing element comprises a thickened area at the second opening of the sleeve, wherein the thickened area is provided by folding down the outer layer into the interior of the sleeve so that the outer layer at least partially covers the at least one inner layer.

18. A method of manufacturing a cap for closing a container, the method comprising: spiral winding a sleeve comprising a first opening and a second opening, wherein the first opening and the second opening are opposed, arranging a head disk to close the first opening of the sleeve, wherein the sleeve is made of paper, providing a reinforcing element at the second opening of the sleeve, wherein the reinforcing element is a structure extending into the interior of the sleeve.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein arranging a head disk comprises: flanging of the first opening of the sleeve, feeding the head disk, and coupling the head disk to the flange which extends into the interior of the sleeve.

20. The method according to claim 18, wherein providing a reinforcing element at the second opening of the sleeve comprises a thickened area, wherein the thickened area is provided by means of one of: flanging of the second opening and subsequently compressing the resulting flange in a radial direction; arranging an adhesive at the second opening; when the sleeve comprises at least an inner layer and an outer layer, folding down the outer layer of the sleeve so that the outer layer at least partially covers the at least one inner layer.

21. The cap according to claim 12, wherein the bead is a flange.

22. The cap according to claim 16, wherein the adhesive is a recyclable adhesive.

23. The method according to claim 19, wherein flanging of the first opening of the sleeve comprises flanging with a round cross-section.

24. The method according to claim 19, wherein coupling the head disk to the flange comprises coupling the head disk to that part of the flange which is arranged inside the sleeve.

25. The method according to claim 20, wherein flanging of the second opening comprises flanging with a round cross-section.

26. The method according to claim 20, wherein the adhesive is a recyclable adhesive.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0038] FIG. 1 shows a cross-section of an embodiment according to the disclosure of the cap.

[0039] FIG. 2 shows a side view of an embodiment according to the disclosure of the cap according to FIG. 1,

[0040] FIG. 3 shows a cross-section of a detailed view of an embodiment according to the disclosure of the reinforcing element of the cap according to FIG. 1.

[0041] FIG. 4 shows a cross-section of a detailed view of a further embodiment according to the disclosure of the reinforcing element of the cap according to FIG. 1.

[0042] FIG. 5 shows a cross-section of a detailed view of a further embodiment according to the disclosure of the reinforcing element of the cap according to FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0043] It is pointed out that in the following detailed description, features or components of different embodiments which are identical or at least functionally identical to the corresponding features or components of another embodiment are provided with the same reference signs or with reference signs which are identical in the last two digits to the reference signs of corresponding identical or at least functionally identical features or components. To avoid unnecessary repetitions, features or components already explained on the basis of a previously described embodiment will not be explained in detail at a later point.

[0044] It is further pointed out that the representation in the figures is schematic and not to scale.

[0045] It is further pointed out that space-related terms, such as “front” and “back,” “top” and “bottom,” “left” and “right,” etc., are used to describe the relationship of an element to another element or to other elements, as illustrated in the figures. Accordingly, the space-related terms may apply to orientations which are different from the orientations illustrated In the figures. It is understood, however, that all such space-related terms refer to the orientations shown in the drawings for the sake of simplicity of description and are not necessarily limiting, since the particular device, component, etc. shown, when in use, may assume orientations that may be different from the orientations shown in the drawing.

[0046] FIG. 1 shows a cap 100 for closing a container, in particular an aerosol can. The cap 100 comprises a spirally wound sleeve 101 that comprises a first opening 105 and a second opening 104. The first opening 105 and the second opening 104 are opposed. Further, the cap 100 comprises a head disk 102, wherein the head disk 102 is arranged to close the first opening 105 of the sleeve 101. The sleeve 101 and the head disk 102 are made of paper. The second opening 104 of the sleeve 101 comprises a reinforcing element 106, wherein the reinforcing element 106 is a structure extending into the interior of the sleeve 101.

[0047] The cap 100 comprises an elongated cylindrical tubular sleeve 101. The sleeve 101 has a length a, a thickness or material thickness b, and a width c. The width c is defined as the distance between the outer surface 107 of the sleeve 101 at that of a first opening 105 of the sleeve 101 in the radial direction RR. In particular, the sleeve 100 is a rotationally symmetrical body having an axis of symmetry (central axis) parallel to the longitudinal direction (length direction) LR. The radial direction RR is perpendicular to the center axis and intersects it. The length a is defined as the distance between the first opening 105 and a second opening 104. The thickness or material thickness b is defined as the distance between a radially inner surface 108 and the radially outer surface 107. Here, the thickness or material thicknesses b of the sleeve 101 is determined by the number of paper plies as well as the thickness of the paper piles. The sleeve 101 and the head disk 102 may comprise the same or a different number of paper plies. In this embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the cap 100, i.e. the sleeve 101 and the head disk 102, comprises 3 plies, i.e. spirally wound paper webs.

[0048] Further, the sleeve 101 comprises the first opening 105 and the second opening 104. A flange 103 is directly arranged at the first opening 105. A flange is generally used to stiffen a bent edge of a structure and is formed by bending an edge of a structure. This flange 103 is circumferential and has a circular shape in cross-section, which extends both inwardly in the radial direction RR and outwardly in the longitudinal direction LR. In other words, the flange 103 extends into an area corresponding to the cylindrical volume of the sleeve. The second opening 104 is opposite the first opening 105, wherein the first opening 105 and second opening 104 respectively represent the top surfaces of a cylinder and of the sleeve 101, respectively. After flanging, or after folding the end region of the sleeve inwards, as in FIG. 1, a cavity may be present between the layers that are in contact after folding, or the layers may be in loose contact.

[0049] The sleeve 101 is homogeneous, i.e., no further openings or recesses are present in the lateral surface of the sleeve 101 besides the first opening 105 and the second openings 104. In a further exemplary embodiment, at least one further opening may be provided in the sleeve, for example in the lateral surface or the head disk. This has the advantage that a head portion of a can, which may remain in the shower for example, may dry and corrosion by water of the valve carrier covered by the cap is prevented, since water may exit through the further opening. This also prevents water from attacking the cap through long-term exposure.

[0050] A head disk 102 is coupled to the flange 103. The head disk 102 may be completely or selectively bonded to the flange 103 by means of an adhesive, in particular a recyclable adhesive. Furthermore, the head disk 102 may also be attached to the flange 103 by means of an interference fit.

[0051] The head disk 102 may be made from a multi-layered cardboard. The sleeve 101 may be made of spirally wound paper, cardboard, paperboard, thin layers of wood, or other thin walled materials that can be processed as described.

[0052] A reinforcing element 106 is directly arranged at the second opening 104, which leads to a stiffening, an increased strength and dimensional stability of the sleeve 101. Further embodiments of a reinforcing element 106 are shown in detail B in FIGS. 3 to 5. The reinforcing element 106 is a structure, in particular a circumferential bead, which extends into the interior of the sleeve 101. Here, the reinforcing element 106 extends inwardly both in the radial direction RR, preferably with 1% to 10% of the width c of the sleeve 101, and inwardly in the longitudinal direction LR, preferably with 5% to 20% of the length a of the sleeve 101, and is thus present in the region corresponding to the cylinder volume of the sleeve 101. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, in the region in which the reinforcing element 106 is present on the inner surface 108 of the sleeve 101, the diameter of the cap 100 is larger, which also ensures a tight, non-slip fit on a compatible can, in particular an aerosol can. Within this range, a width d of the sleeve 101 at the second opening 104 is greater than a width e of the second opening 104, with the width c of the sleeve 101 at the first opening 105 being between the width d and the width e. In this regard, a widening of the cap extends 0.5% to 2% of the width c of the sleeve 101 at the first opening 105.

[0053] FIG. 2 shows a side view of an embodiment according to the disclosure of the cap 100 as shown in FIG. 1. The cap 100 has a longitudinal direction LR and a radial direction RR, wherein the radial direction RR is orthogonal to the longitudinal direction LR. The longitudinal direction LR in FIG. 2 runs along the center axis.

[0054] FIG. 3 shows a cross-section of a detailed view B of an embodiment according to the disclosure of the reinforcing element 106. The reinforcing element 301 has a thickened area A. The thickened area A extends into the interior of the sleeve 101. The thickened area A extends into the interior of the sleeve 101. The thickened area A is provided into the interior of the sleeve 101 by means of flanging or folding down an end portion, i.e., a portion which is directly arranged at an opening of the sleeve 101 and has a cut edge of the sleeve 101. In addition to flanging the end portion into the interior of the sleeve 101, the flanged end portion is compressed in the radial direction RR. Compression of the flanged end portion is achieved here by means of applying a compressive force outward in the radial direction RR. Furthermore, compression may be provided by means of a combination of thermal compression and mechanical compression with a counter-guide, a so-called “thermo-mechanical compression”.

[0055] FIG. 4 shows a cross-section of a detailed view B of a further embodiment according to the disclosure of the reinforcing element 106 of the cap 100. The reinforcing element 401 has a thickened area A. The thickened area A extends into the interior of the sleeve 101, which may be achieved by means of targeted adhesive application using adhesive nozzles. Further, the thickened area A may extend into the interior of the sleeve as well as outwardly. The thickened area A is provided by means of applying an adhesive, in particular a recyclable adhesive, which extends into the interior of the sleeve 101. A recyclable adhesive is here an adhesive which is properly recyclable.

[0056] FIG. 5 shows a cross-section of a detailed view B of a further embodiment according to the disclosure of the reinforcing element 106 of the cap 100. The reinforcing element 501 has an area A at the second opening 104 of the sleeve 101. The area A is provided by means of folding down an outer layer 503 into the interior of the sleeve 101 around a free end of the inner layer 502. In this case, the outer layer 503 covers an Inner layer 502 at least partially on the inner side, i.e., the outer layer 503 completely covers the end portion of the inner layer 502 of the sleeve 101. In this embodiment, the cap may be held by the friction-induced frictional connection between the cap and the aerosol can.

[0057] It is noted that the terms “comprise” or “have” do not exclude other elements and that the “a” does not exclude a plurality. Also, elements described in connection with different embodiments may be combined. It should also be noted that reference signs in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope of the claims.

REFERENCE SIGNS

[0058] 100 cap

[0059] 101 sleeve

[0060] 102 head disk

[0061] 103 flange

[0062] 104 second opening

[0063] 105 first opening

[0064] 106 reinforcing element

[0065] 107 outer surface

[0066] 108 inner surface

[0067] 301 reinforcing element

[0068] 401 reinforcing element

[0069] 501 reinforcing element

[0070] 502 inner position

[0071] 503 outer position

[0072] a length of the sleeve

[0073] b thickness/material thickness of the sleeve

[0074] c width of the sleeve at the first opening

[0075] d width of the sleeve at the second opening

[0076] e width of the second opening

[0077] A thickened area

[0078] B detail

[0079] LR longitudinal direction

[0080] RR radial direction