BOTTLE CLOSURE ASSEMBLY

Abstract

A bottle closure assembly comprising a cap, a retaining ring, and first and second connecting portions connecting the cap to the retaining ring, the cap being provided with a male thread configured to reversibly engage a female thread on a bottle opening, the retaining ring being configured to engage a bottle neck and where the connecting portions connect two points on the cap to two points on the retaining ring; each of the connecting portions comprises an upper end joined to the cap, and a lower end joined to the retaining ring, wherein as the cap is unscrewed it separates from the retaining ring but remains connected to said retaining ring via the connecting portions; and wherein, in the open configuration, the cap can be oriented such that the cap and retaining ring define an angle of at least 150?, especially at least 180?.

Claims

1. A bottle closure assembly comprising a cap, a retaining ring, and first and second connecting portions connecting the cap to the retaining ring, the cap being provided with a male thread configured to reversibly engage a female thread on a bottle opening, the retaining ring being configured to engage a bottle neck and where the connecting portions connect two points on the cap to two points on the retaining ring; each of the connecting portions comprises an upper end joined to the cap, and a lower end joined to the retaining ring, wherein as the cap is unscrewed it separates from the retaining ring but remains connected to said retaining ring via the connecting portions; and wherein, in the open configuration, the cap can be oriented such that the cap and retaining ring define an angle of at least 150?, especially at least 180?.

2. A bottle closure assembly comprising a cap, a retaining ring, and first and second connecting portions connecting the cap to the retaining ring, the cap being provided with a male thread configured to reversibly engage a female thread on a bottle opening, the retaining ring being configured to engage a bottle neck and where the connecting portions connect two points on the cap to two points on the retaining ring; each of the connecting portions comprises an upper end joined to the cap, a lower end joined to the retaining ring, and first and second tilting portions disposed between upper and lower ends and joined at an expansion point, wherein said first and second tilting portions are substantially parallel in the closed configuration and wherein in the closed configuration the first and second tilting portions of the first connecting portion extend from the upper and lower ends in a direction circumferentially away from the first and second tilting portions of the second connecting portion, and wherein in the closed configuration the first and second tilting portions of the second connecting portion extend from the upper and lower ends in a direction circumferentially away from the first and second tilting portions of the first connecting portion, wherein, in use, as the cap is unscrewed it separates from the retaining ring but remains connected thereto via the connecting portions which expand to accommodate movement of the cap away from the retaining ring.

3. A bottle closure assembly comprising a cap, a retaining ring, and first and second connecting portions connecting the cap to the retaining ring, the cap being provided with a male thread configured to reversibly engage a female thread on a bottle opening, the retaining ring being configured to engage a bottle neck and where the connecting portions connect two points on the cap to two points on the retaining ring; each of the connecting portions comprises an upper end joined to the cap, a lower end joined to the retaining ring, and first and second tilting portions disposed between upper and lower ends and joined at an expansion point, wherein an underside of the cap is provided with a projection having a cam face for cooperating with the bottle opening.

4. A bottle closure assembly comprising a cap, a retaining ring, and first and second connecting portions connecting the cap to the retaining ring, the cap being provided with a male thread configured to reversibly engage a female thread on a bottle opening, the retaining ring being configured to engage a bottle neck and where the connecting portions connect two points on the cap to two points on the retaining ring; each of the connecting portions comprises an upper end joined to the cap, a lower end joined to the retaining ring, and first and second tilting portions disposed between upper and lower ends and joined at an expansion point, wherein said first and second tilting portions are substantially parallel in the closed configuration and wherein in the closed configuration the first and second tilting portions of the first connecting portion extend from the upper and lower ends in a direction circumferentially away from the first and second tilting portions of the second connecting portion, and wherein in the closed configuration the first and second tilting portions of the second connecting portion extend from the upper and lower ends in a direction circumferentially away from the first and second tilting portions of the first connecting portion, wherein, in use, as the cap is unscrewed it separates from the retaining ring but remains connected thereto via the connecting portions which expand to accommodate movement of the cap away from the retaining ring; and wherein an underside of the cap is provided with a projection having a cam face for cooperating with the bottle opening.

5. A bottle closure assembly as claimed in claims 1 to 4 which comprises a polyethylene composition.

6. A bottle closure assembly as claimed in claims 1 to 5 which comprises a HDPE.

7. A bottle closure assembly as claimed in claims 1 to 6 which comprises a multimodal HDPE.

8. A bottle closure assembly as claimed in any previous claim comprising a HDPE having an MFR.sub.2 of 0.2 to 10 g/10 min, and a density of 940 to 960 kg/m.sup.3.

9. A bottle closure assembly as claimed in any previous claim comprising one more of: a HDPE having an SHI 1/100 of not more than 10; eta zero (Pas) of 30000 or less; ESCR F50 of 50-1000 hrs.; FNCT at least 40 hrs.

10. A bottle closure assembly as claimed in any previous claim weighing 5.0 g or less, preferably 3.0 g or less, especially 1.5 g or less.

11. A bottle closure assembly as claimed in any preceding claim wherein before the cap is first unscrewed a plurality of frangible bridges connect said cap to the retaining ring.

12. A bottle closure assembly as claimed in any preceding claim wherein, in use, as the cap is unscrewed it separates from the retaining ring and the first and second tilting portions of said first and second connecting portions are pulled apart.

13. A bottle closure assembly as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the lower ends of the connecting portions act as a hinge.

14. A bottle closure assembly as claimed in any preceding claim wherein after unscrewing the cap, it can be rotated through an angle of at least 150? such as 180? whilst remaining connected to the retaining ring.

15. A bottle comprising a bottle closure assembly as claimed in any preceding claim.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0120] FIG. 1 shows a bottle closure assembly (1) in its closed configuration. A cap (2) is connected to a retaining ring (3) via a plurality of frangible links which will break when the cap is opened.

[0121] First connecting portion (4) has tilting portions (5a) and (5b) connected via an expansion point (6). The tilting portions are parallel in the closed configuration. Second connecting portion (7) has the same features but in mirror image.

[0122] In order to accommodate the connecting portions the cap and retaining ring have an indentation.

[0123] In FIG. 2, the thread within the bottle closure can be seen along with the flange (10) which aids the resealing of the bottle.

[0124] In FIGS. 3a-d, a bottle opening process is shown. In FIG. 3a, the cap is shown on a bottle in closed form. The cap is connected to the retaining ring via a plurality of frangible bridges. The first connecting portion has tilting portions connected via an expansion point as described in FIG. 1. The tilting portions are parallel in the closed configuration. Second connecting portion has the same features but in mirror image.

[0125] In FIG. 3b, the cap has been unscrewed and is separated from the retaining ring which remains on the bottle. The tilting portions extend thus allowing the cap to be separated from the top of the bottle. The cap remains attached to the retaining ring.

[0126] FIG. 3c shows the unscrewed cap in cross section showing the position of the flange and the circular projecting portion adapted to fit the inside of the bottle top. There is a small gap between the circular projecting portion and flange.

[0127] The cap can then be bent back on itself. This is shown in FIG. 3d. The lower ends of the connecting portion function as a hinge to allow the cap to be bent back. In FIG. 3d, the cap is bent fully back to form an angle of 180 degrees between the cap and retaining ring.

[0128] When the bottle is closed, the cam face on the flange guides the cap into the correct position to enable the resealing operation. The connectors compress around the expansion point and return to the C shape closed configuration.

EXAMPLES

[0129] HDPEs suitable for use in the invention include:

TABLE-US-00001 FNCT Melt Flow Tensile ESCR (2% Rate Modulus (10% Arkopal, (190? C./ (1 mm/ Igepal- 6.0 Mpa, SHI Sr no Material Density 2.16 kg) min) F50) 50? C.) 1/100 ETA 0 ASTM/ISO ISO ISO ISO ASTM ISO Pas Standards 1183 1133 527-2 D1693-B 16770 1 BorPure? 955 1.5 920 400 40 6.8 11,971 MB6561 kg/m.sup.3 g/10 min MPa Hours Hours 2 BorPure? 955 1.5 920 400 40 7.2 12,260 MB6562 kg/m.sup.3 g/10 min MPa Hours Hours 3 BorPure? 956 0.8 1000 750 65 7.9 24,165 MB5568 kg/m.sup.3 g/10 min MPa Hours Hours 4 BorPure? 956 0.8 1000 750 65 7.8 23,849 MB5569 kg/m.sup.3 g/10 min MPa Hours Hours 5 BorPure? 958 4.0 1100 40 NA 5.7 4,154 MB7581 kg/m.sup.3 g/10 min MPa Hours 6 Borstar? 960 0.7 1100/1650 72 NA 7.0 25,492 FB5600 kg/m.sup.3 g/10 min MPa Hours

[0130] These HDPEs can be conveniently injection moulded to form the bottle closure assemblies of the invention.