CLOSURE UNIT CONSISTING OF COVER AND VESSEL, CLOSURE COVER AND CLOSING METHOD

Abstract

What is proposed is a closure unit consisting of a glass container (50) with external, circumferentially offset threaded elements (54, 55) on a container neck (52) of the glass container, and a closure cover made of sheet metal, wherein the closure cover (1, 2) has an encircling plastics layer (30; 30h, 30v) on the inside of the cover. The closure cover is pressed onto the container neck (52) and can be opened with a rotational movement via the threaded elements (54, 55) and a vertical section (30v) of the plastics layer. The container neck (52) has a horizontal end surface (52a) on which a horizontal section (30h) of the plastics layer rests under pressure in a sealing manner. A central region (11) of the closure cover passes with an adjoining, circumferentially oriented transition zone (11a, 11b, 11c) into an axially downwardly projecting skirt section (12) which ends in a roll-up region (21a, 21; 22). The plastics layer (30; 30h, 30v) is arranged on the inside of the cover in a manner adhering to the transition zone (11a, 11b, 11c) and the skirt section (12). An axial extent (h.sub.0) of the skirt section (12) and a radial dimension (b52) of the horizontally oriented end surface (52a) of the container neck (52) form a first ratio (v.sub.1) which is smaller than three.

Claims

1-9. (canceled)

10. A closure cover consisting of sheet metal for a plastics or glass container (50) with outer, circumferentially offset threaded elements (54) on a container neck (52), wherein the closure cover (1, 2) is configured for and is capable of: being pressed axially onto the container neck (52) and over the threaded elements (54); being released from the container neck (52) and the threaded elements (54) by a screwing procedure; and comprises a central region (11), a circumferentially oriented transition zone (11a, 11b, 11c) and an axially downwardly projecting skirt portion (12) which leads into a roll-up region (21a, 21; 22); a plastics layer (30; 30h, 30v) which rests in an adhesive manner on the transition zone (11a, 11b, 11c) and on the skirt portion (12) on the inside of the cover; wherein an axial extent (h.sub.0) of the skirt portion (12) and a radial extent (dr) of the transition zone (11a, 11b, 11c) form a second ratio (v.sub.2) which is less than 1.00.

11. The closure cover according to claim 10, wherein the radial extent (dr) of the transition zone is greater than the axial extent as the length (h.sub.0) of the skirt portion (12).

12. The closure cover according to claim 10, wherein a radially outer end portion (11c) of the transition region is a 90 curved arc (11c), the radially outer end of which leads into a continuously straight skirt portion (12).

13. The closure cover according to claim 10, wherein the roll-up region (22) is an outer roll which directly adjoins the skirt portion (12).

14. The closure cover according to claim 10, wherein the roll-up region (21a, 21) has a lower transition region (21a) which is widened outwards and adjoins a lower end of the skirt portion (12), an inner roll (21) adjoining the end of the widening.

15. The closure cover according to or claim 13, wherein the roll-up region has at least a 360 roll.

16. The closure cover according to claim 10, wherein the axially downwardly projecting skirt portion (12) extends in a continuous straight line.

17. The closure cover according to claim 10, wherein the skirt portion (12) extends in a continuous straight line between an outer arc (11c) of the transition zone and the roll-up region and is oriented perpendicularly to a plane of the central region (11).

18. The closure cover according to claim 10, wherein the second ratio (v.sub.2) of axial extent (ho) to radial extent (dr) is greater than 0.85.

19. The closure cover according to either claim 10, wherein the second ratio (v.sub.2) is within a range of 0.95%.

20. The closure cover according to claim 10, wherein the second ratio (v.sub.2) of axial extent (h.sub.0) to radial extent (dr) is 0.89 1%.

21. The closure cover according to claim 10, wherein the second ratio (v.sub.2) is within a range of 0.982%.

22. The closure cover according to claim 10, wherein the roll-up region (21a, 21) has an inner roll-up (21).

23. The closure cover according to claim 10, wherein the roll-up region has an outer roll-up (22).

24. The closure unit according to claim 1, wherein an axial distance (h.sub.54) of the axially upper ends of the circumferentially offset threaded elements (54) from a horizontal plane (E.sub.52a) through the horizontally oriented end face of the container neck (52) of the glass container (50) is less than 2.0 mm.

25. The closure unit according to claim 24, wherein the axial distance (h.sub.54) of the axially upper ends of the circumferentially offset threaded elements (54) is less than or equal to 1.6 mm.

26. The closure unit according to claim 24, wherein the axial distance (h.sub.54) is less than or equal to 1.3 mm, corresponding to a significantly shortened axial portion of the container neck (52) without threaded elements.

27. A method for closing a container arrangement, comprising steps of: providing a container (50) which has an end portion (52) with at least two threaded segments (54) running over the circumference thereof; providing a closure cover comprising outer, circumferentially offset threaded elements on a container neck, wherein the closure cover is configured for and is capable of: being pressed axially onto the container neck and over the threaded elements; being released from the container neck and the threaded elements by a screwing procedure; and comprises: a central region, a circumferentially oriented transition zone and an axially downwardly projecting skirt portion which leads into a roll-up region; a plastics layer which rests in an adhesive manner on the transition zone and on the skirt portion on the inside of the cover: wherein an axial extent of the skirt portion and a radial extent of the transition zone form a second ratio which is less than 1.00; pressing the closure cover (1, 2) onto the end portion (52) of the container (50) so that the plastics layer (30; 30h, 30v) which rests on a transition zone (11a, 11b, 11c) and on the skirt portion (12) on the inside of the cover, comes into axially blocking contact with the threaded segments (54) of the container.

28. A method for closing a closure unit consisting of a glass container (50) with outer, circumferentially offset threaded elements (54) on a container neck (52) of the glass container and a sheet metal closure cover, comprising steps of: providing the glass container (50) which has an end portion (52) with many threaded segments (54) running in an offset manner over the circumference thereof; providing the sheet metal closure cover (1, 2), in which a plastics layer (30; 30h, 30v) rests, on the inside of the cover, in an adhesive manner on a transition zone (11a, 11b, 11c) and on a skirt portion (12) measured in the axial direction in the magnitude of the radial extent of the transition zone (11a, 11b, 11c); pressing the closure cover (1, 2) onto the end portion (52) of the container (50) so that the plastics layer (30; 30h, 30v) which rests on the transition zone (11a, 11b, 11c) and on the skirt portion (12) on the inside of the cover comes into axially blocking contact with the threaded segments (54) of the glass container (50).

29. The closure method according to claim 28, wherein the magnitude of the axial skirt portion to the radial extent of the transition zone (11a, 11b, 11c) is described with a quotient of between 1.1 and 0.8.

30. A press-on/twist-off closure (1, 2) for a container which has at least one threaded web on an end portion (52) thereof, wherein the closure comprises: a metal plate (11), a metal skirt (12) projecting downwards from the plate, wherein the skirt and the plate together define and delimit a generally cylindrical inner recess; wherein the downwardly projecting metal skirt (12) extends in a continuous straight line until it ends in a roll portion (22; 21, 21a); and wherein an axial length (h.sub.0) of the metal skirt (12) is less than a radial extent (dr) of a transition zone between the upper end (12a) of the metal skirt (12) and a radially outer end (11a) of the metal plate (11).

31. The closure according to claim 30, wherein a compound (30) is formed adhering to the inside of the metal skirt (12).

32. The closure according to claim 30, wherein the metal skirt (12) is rolled (up) at its lower end inwards (21) or, in another configuration, outwards (22).

33. The closure according to claim 32, wherein the metal skirt (12) with the inner roll (21) is formed in the shape of a bell at the lower end region.

34. The closure according to claim 32, wherein the metal skirt (12) with an outer roll (22) is formed in an axially straight and circumferentially cylindrical manner at the lower end (12b).

35. A method for closing a container arrangement, comprising steps of: a. providing a container (50) which has an end portion (52) with at least two threaded segments (54, 55) running over the circumference thereof; b. providing a closure cover (1, 2) having at least one threaded web on an end portion (52) thereof and comprising: a metal plate; a metal skirt projecting downwards from the plate, wherein the skirt and the plate together define and delimit a generally cylindrical inner recess; wherein the downwardly projecting metal skirt extends in a continuous straight line until it ends in a roll portion; wherein an axial length of the metal skirt is less than a radial extent of a transition zone between the upper end of the metal skirt and a radially outer end of the metal plate; and pressing the closure cover (1, 2) onto the end portion (52) of the container (50) so that the plastics layer (30; 30h, 30v) which rests on a transition zone (11a, 11b, 11c) and on the skirt portion (12) on the inside of the cover comes into axially blocking contact with the threaded segments (54, 55) of the container.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0042] FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a detail of an opening portion of a glass vessel 50 (as container neck) on which a closure cover 2 has been placed. The closure cover is a PT closure cover.

[0043] FIG. 2 shows another example of a closure cover 1 in the same detail enlargement.

[0044] FIG. 3 is a further detail enlargement of the upper end of the opening 52 of the glass container (as container neck), the sealing radially directed end face 52a serving as a connecting comprehension element. b.sub.52* denotes a radial measurement of the effective sealing surface and b.sub.52 denotes the horizontal end face.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED

[0045] The container 50 preferably consists of glass or rigid plastics. It has an opening region 52 as the container neck, which is shown in FIG. 1 in a detail view and in an enlarged view in FIG. 3. The upper end of the neck 52 of the container 50 is a radially directed end face 52a, which is closed inwards by a circumferential fillet groove 52b and outwards via an axial length h.sub.54, which extends as far as the axially upper end of the threaded web 54. Since an axial sectional view is shown, it is clear that this sectional view can apply to every circumferentially further offset, axial sectional view, except for the height position of the two illustrated threaded segments 54, 55, which are in a different height position of the outer surface of the container neck 52, depending on the circumferential twisting of the vertical section. The fitted closure cover 2 is also shown in a detail view, primarily in its retaining region on the opening 52.

[0046] The same applies in a comparable manner to the closure cover 1 in FIG. 2, where it is also shown in a detail view. Two of its radial measurements are given, D.sub.1 and D.sub.a.

[0047] Measurement D.sub.1 is the radial diameter measurement of the cover panel 11, which can also be called the central region. It extends radially inside an encircling bend 11a which leads into the peripheral region represented by reference numerals 11a, 11b and 11c.

[0048] The external measurement D.sub.a should firstly be described. It is the diameter measurement of the skirt 12 which adjoins the transition zone 11a, 11b, 11c radially outside, but projects downwards in an axial direction. FIGS. 1 and 2 do not show the left side of the skirt portion 12, and so the start of the external diameter Da also remains open on the left edge, but the diameter measurement Di can be shown at the left edge corresponding to the encircling bend line 11a.

[0049] The difference between the two diameters D.sub.a and D.sub.1 describes the radial measurement dr, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, where Da-Di=2 dr.

[0050] The measurement dr includes, starting from the encircling bend 11a, the first ramp portion 11a, a slightly less inclined second ramp portion 11b above the end face 52a of the neck 52 of the container 50, and the right-hand outer end of this second ramp portion 11b merges via a curved portion 11c into the skirt portion 12.

[0051] The upper end of the skirt portion 12 is 12a in FIGS. 1, and 12b denotes the lower end. The skirt 12 extends axially between these two ends or end points in a straight line and forms a cylinder, viewed in the circumferential direction.

[0052] Located under the lower end 12b of the skirt portion 12 is an outer roll 22 which is directly adjoined thereto.

[0053] Arranged in the radial transition portion of radial width dr is a radially directed, horizontal portion 30h of a sealing layer 30, and arranged radially inside the skirt 12 is the axial portion 30v of the plastics sealing layer.

[0054] The circumferentially running plastics layer consists of these two portions 30h and 30v, said layer extending in FIG. 1 as far as the roll region 22, radially inside the outer roll 22 where it is denoted by 32. Correspondingly in FIG. 2, portion 31 is above the inner roll 21, radially inside the widening portion 21a.

[0055] More details are provided below in respect of the measurement. It will firstly be shown that the closure cover 2, pressed on by axial pressure, has not yet been fully pressed on in FIG. 1, because the horizontal portion 30h of the plastics layer has not yet been compressed. Said horizontal portion merely rests on the end face 52a, but in reality is slightly compressed by the upper end face 52a so that the horizontal portion 30h of the sealing layer also extends beyond the initial sealing surface 52a to regions which can be seen having a radius of curvature (chamfer) on the left and right of FIG. 1. On the left in FIG. 1 or FIG. 2, the radial compound portion 30h extends slightly into the inner fillet groove 52b. This can be seen in the enlargement of FIG. 3, it being possible to use this FIG. 3 for the embodiments of FIGS. 1 and 2.

[0056] FIG. 3 shows the upper edge of the neck 52. The horizontally oriented, end face 52a of width b.sub.52 may be used as a connecting element. It is oriented purely horizontally and defines a horizontal plane E.sub.52a, in respect of which absolute dimensions and ratios will be explained in the following.

[0057] Located on the left and right of the horizontally oriented end face 52a are radii of curvature which fix a curvature 52and 52. They have an associated length of b.sub.52 and b.sub.52.

[0058] It should be understood that these surfaces extend circumferentially and that the idea of radial measurement must be considered in a purely radial manner. The length b.sub.52 lengthens for example the pure radial measurement, and must therefore be added to the radial measurement b.sub.52 on the inside. b.sub.52 extends as far as the turning point of the fillet groove 52b. Accordingly radially outside with b.sub.52.

[0059] It is possible to see on the outside another axially extending portion 52 which runs as far as the threaded segment 54. In the example of FIG. 3, this measurement is very short, compared to the curved measurement 52, which has the actual length b.sub.52, but only a very much smaller radial measurement which is added to the purely radial measurement b.sub.52, when viewing the entire extending sealing surface which has a purely radial measurement of b.sub.52*.

[0060] This is the radial measurement of the effective sealing surface, which can itself be much longer. Thus, the purely horizontal and purely radially extending end face 52a is measured more precisely with the purely radial measurement b52.

[0061] The sum of the surface portions b.sub.52, b.sub.52, b.sub.52, and b.sub.52 is decisive for the seal, the portion 52extending practically purely axially and also being oriented slightly radially with a very low inclination angle. The latter portion 52ends at the threaded webs, here for the measurement at the upper end of the, or of all of the circumferentially extending threaded webs 54, 55, also of others which are not shown.

[0062] In the following, understanding of FIG. 3 is to be carried over to FIGS. 1 and 2, although the inner roll-up will be explained first of all using the example of FIG. 2.

[0063] This inner roll-up 21 adjoins the skirt portion 12, with the same elements and functions used as described in FIG. 1. The associated reference numerals are also the same.

[0064] The lower axial end of the cylindrical skirt portion 12 does not lead directly into a roll, but into a widening portion 21a. The upper end 21 thereof starts at the lower end of the cylindrical portion 12. The widening portion 21a merges by its lower end 21a into an inwardly rolled-up portion 21 which describes a 360 roll. Designating the diameter as d.sub.21 can describe the roll 21 and the height h.sub.21 describes the height of the transition portion 21a which is used for the radial widening and the creation of space or room for the inner roll-up.

[0065] Provided radially inside the widening 21a is a region 31 of the plastics layer which also extends under the axial lower end 12b in FIG. 1, and in FIG. 2 widens radially, but does not extend axially downwards over the inner roll-up, but remains restricted to the height h.sub.21. Accordingly, the height portion d.sub.22 of the outer roll 22 of FIG. 1 can be used, which portion defines a comparable plastics portion 32.

[0066] Knowledge of FIG. 3 will now be carried over to FIGS. 1 and 2.

[0067] Here in FIG. 1, the radial measurement of the end face 52a is denoted by b.sub.52. The effective sealing surface is wider and also longer particularly in the radial direction, yet does not have a measurement corresponding to its real length, but rather the measurement b.sub.52* which is shown. These two measurements have been explained in FIG. 3 and are shown respectively in FIGS. 1 and 2, specifically under the second ramp portion 11b located above the end face 52a which is effective in terms of initial sealing.

[0068] The radial measurement dr of the transition zone, consisting of the three elements 11a, 11b, 11c is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. It is greater than the axial height of the cylindrical skirt portion 12. This height is denoted by ho; it starts at the upper end 12a of the skirt portion 12 which corresponds to the radial outer end 11c of the curved arc 11c. The inner end 11c of the curved arc 11c merges into the second ramp portion 11b. It is located approximately at the height of the outer surface of the upper end of the container neck 52 and extends between the upper end of all the threads and a correspondingly imaginary peripheral line (and the plane E.sub.52a) which describes the position and orientation of the horizontal end face 52a, or vice versa.

[0069] The measurement and the distance from the plane E52a to the upper end of the threaded segments 54 (and, correspondingly circumferentially offset, of segment 55 as well) is denoted by h54. This measurement is particularly short. It ensures that a substantially greater measurement in the prior art of more than 2.8 mm can be significantly shortened in the embodiments of FIGS. 1 and 2. This distance h54 is to be designated as a threadless zone between the end face 52a and the threaded region of the closer circumferentially offset threaded elements 54, 55.

[0070] In the embodiments, this height measurement h.sub.54 is in any case less than 2 mm. preferably less than 1.6 mm or even substantially 1.3 mm, which shall describe the very short extent in the axial direction. This is a significantly shorter axial portion of the container neck which does not have any threaded elements and to which the prior art attributed a significant contribution for the sealing effect. Although these threaded elements are no longer present according to the embodiments of the invention, the embodiments still provide a satisfactory sealing effect.

[0071] Another measurement is the radial measurement dr in relation to the described axial height ho of the skirt portion 12. Here, these two measurements are of the same magnitude, or the height measurement becomes smaller than the radial measurement.

[0072] The radial extent is decisive for the sealing effect on the end face of the opening. The axial measurement is decisive for the opening mechanics.

[0073] This radial measurement can be the radial measurement dr of the sheet metal cover, consisting of the three portions 11a, 11b, 11c in the transition zone, or it can be the above-described radial measurement 52a on the glass which produces the initial sealing contact and defines the plane E52a. Radial measurement 52a is on the container, radial measurement dr is on the closure cover.

[0074] The ratios are such that in an example of the outer roll 22 of FIG. 1, the height measurement ho can be given as 4.405 mm which, with a cover of an external measurement of 60 mm, is to be related to a dr of 4.48 mm. A ratio v2 of axial height of the skirt to radial extent of the transition zone of 0.98 is produced.

[0075] This ratio v.sub.2=0.98 to identify an axially very short skirt 12 can have a catchment area of 2%.

[0076] It is to be expected that other diameters of closure covers, not only those of 60 mm, will also have these ratios, because the sealing zone to the axial retaining zone also remains practically unchanged for closure covers of a smaller and greater diameter.

[0077] The corresponding dimensioning and fixing of the allocation can also be carried out in respect of the radial measurement b.sub.52. Here, the outer roll 22 according to FIG. 1 has an axial height measurement of the skirt 12 of h.sub.0=4.405, as stated above. The used measurement of the container 50 in the neck portion 52 is b.sub.52=1.5 mm. This relatively narrow measurement is supplemented by the further measurements which are described in FIG. 3 and which describe the effective sealing surface, and so the radial measurement of the effective sealing surface is given as b.sub.52*, amounting to 2.35 mm. Within this measurement b.sub.52*, the pure radial measurement of the end face 52a only measures 1.5 mm.

[0078] In the example of FIG. 1, the ratio vi of axial height to the pure radial measurement b52 is thus calculated with outer roll from the above values at 2.94, and is less than 3.00. The comparable ratio for the inner roll according to FIG. 2 is that of the height measurement ho to the extent b.sub.52 of the end face 52a. Here, the measurement b.sub.52 is equal to that of the example of FIG. 1 and is 1.5 mm.

[0079] For the configuration of the inner roll-up 21 according to FIG. 2, a relatively short skirt portion 12 can also be described by ratios, by the first ratio vi and by the second ratio v.sub.2, or by a combination thereof. The first ratio vi describes the ratio to the end face 52a on the glass vessel and the second ratio v.sub.2 describes the ratio to the radial extent dr of the transition zone 11a, 11b, 11c alone on the closure cover.

[0080] For the closure cover, here as well the axial portion ho is shorter than the radial measurement dr, and in the example, the height ho is given as 4.005 mm for FIG. 2 and the radial extent dr is given as 4.48 mm, as in the example of FIG. 1.

[0081] This produces a ratio of 0.89, thus smaller than the ratio v.sub.2 described with reference to the example of FIG. 1.

[0082] This ratio can be stated within a relatively great tolerance range (catchment area) of 0.95% just as over 0.891%, shown using the example of a 59 mm closure cover in FIG. 2, which diameter measurement Da is, however, of no significance for the described ratio, since this ratio in the opening region of the closed container 50 remains practically the same irrespective of the diameter of different closures.

[0083] An upper limit can be stated which results in this second ratio v2 being less than 1, but a lower limit can also be stated such that the ratio should be greater than 0.85 which, in the case of a technical-functional limitation, should always be described by an upper and a lower limit, while primarily the upper limit is crucial for a distinction from the prior art, as it is best able to describe the small measurement of the axial extent of the skirt 12.

[0084] In the example of FIG. 1, the ratio v.sub.1 of axial height to the pure radial measurement b.sub.52 with outer roll is thus 2.94 and is less than 3.00. The other ratio for the inner roll according to FIG. 2 is that of the height measurement ho to the extent .sub.52 of the end face 52a. Here, the measurement b52 is the same as that of the example of FIG. 1 and is 1.5 mm.

[0085] Here, the radial measurement of the effective sealing surface .sub.52* is also given as 2.35 mmremaining the same. This is obvious because both glasses 50 are to be assumed as being the same, in one instance closed with a closure cover 2 with an outer roll 22 and in the other closed with a closure cover 1 with an inner roll 21, in each case at the lower end of the skirt portion 12.

[0086] Due to the lower height of 4.005 mm with the axial skirt portion 12, a smaller first ratio vi of 2.67 is produced. This is also below the upper limit of 3.0 and, specified more precisely, can be stated as being below 2.70.

[0087] In the examples of FIGS. 1 and 2, other height measurements are shown which result from the described height measurements.

[0088] The height measurement h=h.sub.2 for the outer roll 22 according to FIG. 1 is composed of three components, the diameter d.sub.22 of roll 22, the axial height ho of the short skirt portion 12 and an axial height h of the transition zone 11a, 11b and 11c, which has the radial width dr. This produces the overall height of the peripheral region of the closure cover 2 for h2.

[0089] There is a further component h2i in FIG. 2 in the closure cover 1 with an inner roll 21, in addition to the three described components from FIG. 1, here to form the height measurement h=h.sub.1. The three components are the same, the axial measurement h.sub.0 of the skirt 12, the diameter d.sub.21 of the inner roll 21 and the axial height measurement h of the transition zone 11a, 11b, 11c, which can be carried over from FIG. 1. Measurement h2i is the axial height of the intermediate portion 21a, widened in the shape of a bell, by its lower end 21a.