Closure assembly

Abstract

A closure assembly with a spout having a body with a seal portion and a tubular neck, and, a rotational plastic cap having a top wall, a downward depending skirt and opposite wing parts, extending in a vertical plane from the skirt over a wing part length. The top portion of the wing parts has a top protrusion extending from the base portion. The top protrusion extends substantially in and/or opposed to the opening direction of the cap such that the top portion of the wing parts extends along the wing part length over/outside the base portion thereof in a direction corresponding or opposed to the opening direction, such that, for a cross-section in a vertical plane of the opening direction, the surface area of the at least one top protrusion contributes at least equally to the inertial moment as the surface area of the base portion.

Claims

1. A closure assembly comprising: a spout having a spout body that is injection moulded of plastic material, said spout body having, above a seal portion thereof, a tubular neck, wherein a product passage extends through the seal portion and the tubular neck of the spout, said tubular neck having a vertical main axis and forming a mouth at a top end of said product passage, said tubular neck having an exterior side; and a rotational cap that is injection moulded of plastic material and that is secured on or is to be secured on said tubular neck of the spout in a closed position of the rotational cap on said tubular neck such that the rotational cap seals the product passage, and the rotational cap, for removal of the rotational cap from the tubular neck of the spout by a user to open the product passage, being adapted to be manually rotated from the closed position in an opening direction; wherein the rotational cap comprises a top wall and a downward depending skirt, said skirt having an interior side, an exterior side, and a lower edge remote from the top wall, wherein the exterior side of the tubular neck and the interior side of the downward depending skirt have cooperating rotational connection members, wherein the rotational cap has exactly two diametrically opposite wing parts, which are integrally moulded of plastic material and extend outward from said downward depending skirt over a wing part length, wherein each wing part has a base portion embodied as a wing panel having a main extension in a vertical direction and an adjoining top portion with one top protrusion, and wherein, in a top view of the rotational cap, the top protrusion extends outside the respective wing panel in a direction opposite to the opening direction.

2. The closure assembly according to claim 1, wherein, in vertical cross-section, each wing part defines an overturned L-shape.

3. The closure assembly according to claim 1, wherein each wing part has a wing part height, wherein said wing part height decreases in a direction outward from said downward depending skirt.

4. The closure assembly according to claim 1, wherein each top portion links up with the top wall of the rotational cap.

5. The closure assembly according to claim 1, wherein, in a side view of the rotational cap, each wing part has a wing part height that decreases in a direction outward from said downward depending skirt and each top portion defines an arc along the wing part length.

6. A closure assembly comprising: a spout having a spout body that is injection moulded of plastic material, said spout body having, above a seal portion thereof, a tubular neck, wherein a product passage extends through the seal portion and the tubular neck of the spout, said tubular neck having a vertical main axis and forming a mouth at a top end of said product passage, said tubular neck having an exterior side; and a rotational cap that is injection moulded of plastic material and that is secured on or is to be secured on said tubular neck of the spout in a closed position of the rotational cap on said tubular neck such that the rotational cap seals the product passage, and the rotational cap, for removal of the rotational cap from the tubular neck of the spout by a user to open the product passage, being adapted to be manually rotated from the closed position in an opening direction; wherein the rotational cap comprises a top wall and a downward depending skirt, said downward depending skirt having an interior side, an exterior side, and a lower edge remote from the top wall, wherein the exterior side of the tubular neck and the interior side of the downward depending skirt have cooperating rotational connection members, wherein the rotational cap has exactly two diametrically opposite wing parts, which are integrally moulded of plastic material and extend outward from said downward depending skirt over a wing part length, wherein each wing part has a base portion embodied as a wing panel having a main extension in vertical direction and an adjoining top portion with at least one top protrusion, and wherein, in a top view of the rotational cap, the at least one top protrusion extends outside the respective wing panel in a direction in the opening direction of the rotational cap or opposite to the opening direction of the rotational cap, and wherein each top portion links up with the top wall of the rotational cap.

7. The closure assembly according to claim 6, wherein, in vertical cross-section, each wing part defines an overturned L-shape.

8. The closure assembly according to claim 6, wherein each wing part has a wing part height, wherein said wing part height decreases in a direction outward from said downward depending skirt.

9. The closure assembly according to claim 6, wherein, in a side view of the rotational cap, each wing part has a wing part height that decreases in a direction outward from said downward depending skirt and each top portion defines an arc along the wing part length.

10. A closure assembly comprising: a spout having a spout body that is injection moulded of plastic material, said spout body having, above a seal portion thereof, a tubular neck, wherein a product passage extends through the seal portion and the tubular neck of the spout, said tubular neck having a vertical main axis and forming a mouth at a top end of said product passage, said tubular neck having an exterior side; a rotational cap that is injection moulded of plastic material and that is securable on said tubular neck of the spout in a closed position of the rotational cap on said tubular neck such that the rotational cap seals the product passage, and the rotational cap, for removal of the rotational cap from the tubular neck of the spout by a user to open the product passage, being adapted to be manually rotated from the closed position in an opening direction; wherein the rotational cap comprises a top wall and a downward depending skirt, said skirt having an interior side, an exterior side, and a lower edge remote from the top wall, wherein the exterior side of the tubular neck and the interior side of the skirt have cooperating rotational connection members, wherein the rotational cap has two diametrically opposite wing parts, which are integrally moulded of plastic material and extend outward from said skirt over a wing part length, wherein each wing part has a base portion embodied as a wing panel having a main extension in a vertical direction and an adjoining top portion with a top protrusion, and wherein, in a top view of the rotational cap, the top protrusion extends outside the respective wing panel in a direction opposite to the opening direction.

11. The closure assembly according to claim 10, wherein, in vertical cross-section, each wing part defines an overturned L-shape.

12. The closure assembly according to claim 10, wherein each wing part has a wing part height, wherein said wing part height decreases in a direction outward from said downward depending skirt.

13. The closure assembly according to claim 10, wherein each top portion links up with the top wall of the rotational cap.

14. The closure assembly according to claim 10, wherein, in a side view of the rotational cap, each wing part has a wing part height that decreases in a direction outward from said downward depending skirt and each top portion defines an arc along the wing part length.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) In the drawings:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a perspective side view of the closing assembly in a closed position,

(3) FIG. 2 shows a perspective side view of the spout of the closing assembly,

(4) FIG. 3 shows a perspective side view of the cap of the closing assembly,

(5) FIG. 4 shows a perspective top view of the cap of the closing assembly,

(6) FIG. 5 shows a perspective bottom view of the cap of the closing assembly,

(7) FIG. 6 shows a perspective bottom view of the cap of the closing assembly,

(8) FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of the vertical cut B-B′ of a wing part,

(9) FIG. 8 shows a cross-sectional view of the vertical cut A-A′ of the cap,

(10) FIG. 9 shows a perspective view of a T-shaped cap of a closing assembly according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

(11) FIG. 1 shows a closure assembly according to the invention. The closure assembly comprises a spout 1, and a rotational cap 2.

(12) In FIG. 2, the spout 1 of a closure assembly according to the invention is shown. This spout 1 has a spout body 11 that is injection moulded of plastic material. This spout body 11 has, above a seal portion, a tubular neck 13, wherein a product passage 14 extends through the spout seal portion and the neck of the spout. The tubular neck has a vertical main axis 13c and forms a mouth 15 at a top end of said product passage. Furthermore, the neck has an exterior side 13a, which has rotational connection members 16. Preferably, as shown, these are embodied as a first screw thread 16 on the neck.

(13) The rotational cap 2 of the closing assembly is injection moulded of plastic material. It is secured on, or is to be secured on, the neck of the spout in a closed position of the cap on the neck, such that the cap seals the product passage. The cap is furthermore adapted to be manually rotated from the closed position, illustrated in FIG. 1, in an opening direction y, for removal of the cap from the neck of the spout by a user to open the product passage.

(14) In FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, perspective views of a rotational cap 2 according to the invention are shown. As indicated, the cap 2 comprises a top wall 21 and a downward depending skirt 22. The skirt has an interior side 22b, an exterior side 22a, and a lower edge remote from the top wall.

(15) FIG. 5 is a bottom perspective view of the cap 2, which shows the interior of the cap 2. As indicated, the interior side of the skirt has rotational connection members 23. These rotational connection members cooperate with the connection members on the exterior side of the neck of the spout. Preferably, as shown, these are embodied as a second screw thread 23 on the skirt.

(16) As indicated in each of FIGS. 3-8, the cap is provided with, as is preferred, two diametrically opposite wing parts 24, which are each being moulded of plastic material. The wing parts extend outward from said skirt in a lateral direction over a wing part length. Moreover, the wing parts each have a base portion 24a and a top portion 24b.

(17) The top portion of each of the two wing parts comprises at least one top protrusion 25. This top protrusion extends from the base portion over the height of the top portion, and in a lateral direction along the wing part length over a top protrusion length.

(18) Therein each top protrusion, in a top view of the cap, extends substantially in or opposed to the opening direction of the cap—particularly such that, in a top view of the cap, the top portion of each of the two wing parts extends along the wing part length over or outside the base portion thereof in a direction corresponding or opposed to the opening direction.

(19) More particularly, it extends in this way such that, along each top protrusion length, for a cross-section in a vertical plane of the opening direction, the surface area of the at least one top protrusion contributes at least equally to the inertial moment as the surface area of the base portion.

(20) In the preferred embodiment of the cap shown FIGS. 3-8, the top portion of each of the two wing parts comprises at least two top protrusions. At least one of these extends, in a top view of the cap, along the wing part length outside the base portion in the opening direction. At least another one of the at least two top protrusions extends, in a top view of the cap, along the wing part length outside the base portion in the direction opposite to the opening direction.

(21) In FIG. 3, the location of a vertical cut A-A′ is indicated, which is shown in FIG. 8 in a perspective view. It can be verified that for this embodiment, as preferred, the vertical cross-sectional area of the wing part defines a Y-shape over the majority or all of the top protrusion length.

(22) In alternative example embodiment, a vertical cross-sectional area of the wing part defines a T-shape along each top protrusion length. This is depicted in FIG. 9 wherein the same reference numerals denoted the same or similar components as in the embodiment of FIGS. 1-8. On the top face of the T-shape a broken line indicates the vertical plane of the wing part and delineates the top protrusions 25 that are oppositely directed, preferably symmetrical, relative to said vertical plane. The top face of the T-shape can be flat, but could also have a slight curvature in cross-sectional view.

(23) In another alternative embodiment, the top protrusions, in a top view of the cap, all either extend outside the base portion in the opening direction or all extend outside the base portion in the opposite direction.

(24) Therein, along each top protrusion length, a vertical cross-sectional area of the wing part may for instance define an overturned L-shape or a mirrored and overturned L-shape.

(25) Furthermore preferably, the top protrusions, just like the wing panels of the base portion of the wing parts, extend outward from the skirt, particularly such as to link up directly with the top wall of the cap. This allows for an efficient use of the height of the cap and further favors the torque transmission within the cap.

(26) In FIG. 3, the location of a vertical cut B-B′ is indicated, which is shown in FIG. 7 in a perspective view. It can be verified that for this embodiment, as preferred, the height of each wing part having at least one top protrusion decreases in lateral direction over the wing part length.

(27) As shown in FIG. 7, in this particular embodiment the top portion of each wing part having at least one top protrusion defines a bow shape over the height of the wing parts in the lateral direction along the wing part length.

(28) As can best be verified from the top perspective view of FIG. 4, as is preferred, in a top view of the cap, each top protrusion extends over substantially the whole respective wing part length. In this way, the rigidizing effect of the protrusions relative to the base portion, and the ensued material reduction is maximized in this dimension as well.

(29) Furthermore, a continuous course of the shape of the cross-section along the length, and thus the continuous course of the rigidity along the length enhances the reliability and user-friendliness. At each point along the length the user can expect sufficient rigidity to withstand the torque exerted by the fingers of the user to open and/or close the cap, and no discontinuities interfere with the grip.

(30) In further favor of the functionality and ergonomics, the wing part length is preferably larger than the average width of the thumb, that is, around 1.5 cm, in order to enable the user to engage the wing part during opening and/or closing. In view of the intended minimization of material, the wing part length should preferably still remain limited such that the outer end still makes a relevant contribution to the functionality of the cap. Furthermore, the length preferably does not exceed the length of the pouch the closure assembly is provided on in the lateral direction, to facilitate the transportation thereof. In practice, this would come down to around 4.5 cm.

(31) As most clearly visible from FIG. 6 and FIG. 8, in a preferred embodiment of the cap 2 each of the two wing parts further comprises at least one end protrusion 26. This end protrusion 26 extends along the edge of a lateral end of the at least one of the two wing parts over a height of said lateral end, and extends substantially in or opposed to the opening direction of the cap. At the lateral end of a wing part the two end protrusion together, as is preferred, form a rounded end. As preferred the protrusions 26 are curved, seen in plan view on the wing part, wherein the curvature merges into the top protrusion 25 at one end of the curvature and wherein the curvature merges into the lower edge of the wing part at the other end of the curvature. The end protrusions 26 serves to further stabilize the wing part, in particular the lateral end thereof.

(32) As can best be verified from FIGS. 2, 4-6, the embodiment shown therein comprises, as preferred, a tamper-evident ring 3 in accordance with the disclosure of WO2014/007612A1.

(33) This tamper-evident ring 3 is integrally moulded to the skirt. It is composed of at least two ring segments 31. Each ring segment has a base portion 32 and an indicator portion 33.

(34) Therein the base portion is connected via one or more non-frangible connector portions 34 to the skirt, and extends from a trailing end 32a thereof in opening direction over a base portion angle about the main axis. It has an inner face 32b with an inner face radius about the main axis.

(35) Therein the indicator portion 33 is integral with the base portion at a junction 33a. It extends from the junction in opening direction over an indicator portion angle about the main axis to a head end 35 of the indicator portion.

(36) Furthermore the indicator portion 33 is connected at the head end 35 thereof via an integrally moulded frangible bridge 36 to an adjacent trailing end 32a of a base portion of another ring segment 31.

(37) As is visible in FIG. 2, the spout has for each ring segment 31 of the tamper-evident ring a rotation preventing boss 4. This boss is arranged to be engaged by a corresponding head end 33a of an indicator portion 33 of the segment.

(38) The cap with tamper-evident ring is embodied such that upon rotating the cap in opening direction by the user from its closed position for the first time, the head end of the indicator portion 33 engages the boss. The boss then prevents the head end from further motion in opening direction of the cap, the frangible bridge 36 between said head end 33a and the trailing end 32a of the base portion breaking, and the indicator portion being subjected to permanent deformation.

(39) The boss 4 has a catch portion 41 having a recess 42 at a side of the boss facing the head end 33a of the indicator portion 33. Moreover it has a catch portion outer wall 41a with an outer face 41b. This outer face is arranged along the inner face 32b of the base portion near the trailing end 32a thereof, when the cap is in its closed position.

(40) The head end 33a of the indicator portion is arranged at a spacing radially inward from the trailing end 32a of the adjacent base portion when the cap is in its closed position—namely such that, upon rotating the cap in opening direction by the user from its closed position for the first time, the head end 33a of the indicator portion enters the recess 32 of the catch portion. It is then prevented from further motion in opening direction of the cap, whilst the catch portion outer wall 41a comes in the spacing between the spaced apart head end 35 and trailing end 32a. The frangible bridge 36 between said head end and trailing end breaks and the indicator portion 33 bends, folds, and/or buckles whilst being subjected to permanent deformation upon further rotation of the cap in opening direction.

(41) FIG. 1 schematically illustrates an embodiment wherein, when the closure assembly is provided to a collapsible pouch 50 with a top edge 51 and top edge seal that extends in the lateral direction, the wing parts—of the cap 2 in closed position—extend in a lateral direction parallel to the vertical plane of the top edge 51 of the collapsible pouch 50. This limits the take-up of space in the direction perpendicular thereto by the pouch provided with the closure assembly, so to enable efficient handling, storage and transportation thereof, in particular when handled, stored and/or transported in bulk.