Closure for drink containers

Abstract

A closure for beverage containers that have a substantially cylindrical neck with an end opening and a closure cap includes a neck with an inside circumferential detent collar and a closure cap having an insertion shaft. A circumferential detent groove is provided on an outer circumference of the shaft. The detent groove corresponds to the detent collar, is profiled in a direction of insertion, and engages over the detent collar on a ring surface thereof that lies in the direction of insertion.

Claims

1. A closure for kegs having a substantially cylindrical neck with an end opening and a closure cap, wherein the neck has an inside circumferential detent collar and wherein the closure cap has an insertion shaft, an opening for receiving an extraction valve, and a circumferential detent groove provided on an outer circumference thereof, the detent groove corresponding to the detent collar and being profiled in a direction of insertion, wherein the detent groove engages over the detent collar on a ring surface thereof that lies in the direction of insertion, wherein the closure cap has a circumferential support and/or guide ring that engages over an outside of the neck, wherein the closure further comprising a structure selected from the group consisting of a seal, a circumferential retaining and/or guiding groove, and a circumferential support ring, wherein the seal is on a ring surface of the detent collar on an opening side thereof, wherein the circumferential retaining and/or guiding groove is on an outside of the neck, and wherein the circumferential support ring is on an inside of the neck.

2. The closure according to claim 1, wherein the selected structure is the seal.

3. The closure according to claim 1, further comprising a seal on the outer surface of the insertion shaft.

4. The closure according to claim 1, wherein the selected structure is the circumferential retaining and/or guiding groove.

5. The closure according to claim 1, wherein the selected structure is the circumferential support ring.

6. A closure for kegs having a substantially cylindrical neck with an end opening and a closure cap, wherein the neck has an inside circumferential detent collar and wherein the closure cap has an insertion shaft, an opening for receiving an extraction valve, and a circumferential detent groove provided on an outer circumference thereof, the detent groove corresponding to the detent collar and being profiled in a direction of insertion, wherein the detent groove engages over the detent collar on a ring surface thereof that lies in the direction of insertion, said closure further comprising a seal on a ring surface of the detent collar on an opening side thereof.

7. The closure according to claim 6, further comprising a seal on the outer surface of the insertion shaft.

8. The closure according to claim 6, further comprising a circumferential support ring on an outside of the neck.

9. The closure according to claim 6, further comprising a circumferential retaining and/or guiding groove on an outside of the neck.

10. The closure according to claim 6, further comprising a circumferential support ring on an inside of the neck.

11. A closure for kegs having a substantially cylindrical neck with an end opening and a closure cap, wherein the neck has an inside circumferential detent collar and wherein the closure cap has an insertion shaft, an opening for receiving an extraction valve, and a circumferential detent groove provided on an outer circumference thereof, the detent groove corresponding to the detent collar and being profiled in a direction of insertion, wherein the detent groove engages over the detent collar on a ring surface thereof that lies in the direction of insertion, said closure further comprising a circumferential retaining and/or guiding groove on an outside of the neck.

12. The closure according to claim 11, further comprising a circumferential support ring on an inside of the neck.

13. The closure according to claim 12, wherein the circumferential support ring is configured such that deformation of the closure cap jams the detent groove with the support ring.

14. The closure according to claim 11, further comprising a circumferential support ring on an outside of the neck.

15. A closure for kegs having a substantially cylindrical neck with an end opening and a closure cap, wherein the neck has an inside circumferential detent collar and wherein the closure cap has an insertion shaft, an opening for receiving an extraction valve, and a circumferential detent groove provided on an outer circumference thereof, the detent groove corresponding to the detent collar and being profiled in a direction of insertion, wherein the detent groove engages over the detent collar on a ring surface thereof that lies in the direction of insertion, wherein said closure further comprises a seal on the outer surface of the insertion shaft and a circumferential retaining and/or guiding groove on an outside of the neck.

16. The closure according to claim 15, further comprising a circumferential support ring on an outside of the neck.

17. A closure for kegs having a substantially cylindrical neck with an end opening and a closure cap, wherein the neck has an inside circumferential detent collar and wherein the closure cap has an insertion shaft, an opening for receiving an extraction valve, and a circumferential detent groove provided on an outer circumference thereof, the detent groove corresponding to the detent collar and being profiled in a direction of insertion, wherein the detent groove engages over the detent collar on a ring surface thereof that lies in the direction of insertion, further comprising a circumferential support ring on an outside of the neck, said closure further comprising a circumferential retaining and/or guiding groove on an outside of the neck.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Additional advantages and features of the invention are produced from the drawings, in which

(2) FIG. 1 shows a partially sectional side view of a first embodiment of a closure according to the invention,

(3) FIG. 2 shows a partially sectional side view of a second embodiment of a closure according to the invention,

(4) FIG. 3 shows a partially sectional side view of a third embodiment of a closure according to the invention,

(5) FIG. 4 shows a partially sectional side view of a fourth embodiment of a closure according to the invention and

(6) FIG. 5 shows a partially sectional side view of a fifth embodiment of a closure according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(7) A beverage container 1, as shown in FIG. 1, has a substantially cylindrical neck 2. A closure cap 3 is located at the upper opening of the neck 2. An opening for an extraction valve is situated in the closure cap 3.

(8) The neck 2 has an interior circumferential detent collar 4 that extends radially inward. The circumferential detent collar 4 has a first ring surface 7 and a second ring surface 8. These surfaces are called ring surfaces because they look like rings. The first ring surface 7 faces the direction of insertion. The second ring surface 8 faces away from the direction of insertion.

(9) The closure cap 3 has an insertion shaft 5 that extends downward from the cap 3. A circumferential detent groove 6 is located at the end of the insertion shaft 5 remote from the cap 3. The detent groove 6 is profiled to be beveled in the direction of insertion. This makes it easier to insert the closure cap 3 into the neck 2.

(10) Upon insertion of the cap 3, the detent groove 6 engages over the first ring surface 7. A first ring seal 9 is located on the second ring surface 8 of the detent collar 4. In addition, a circumferential support ring 10 extends radially outward to enable the beverage container 1 to be reliably grasped using known systems.

(11) An alternative embodiment, shown in FIG. 2, is similar to the embodiment represented in FIG. 1. However, in addition to the features shown in FIG. 1, the closure cap 3 shown in FIG. 2 also has a support and/or guiding ring 11 that extends downward along a first surface of the neck opening. The ring 11 and the detent groove 6 cooperate to generate a counter force against the insertion shaft 5, which extends downward into the interior along a second surface of the neck opening. The ring 11, in addition, further simplifies the fitting process by having a lower end that is inclined in the direction of insertion.

(12) A circumferential second ring seal 12 between the surface of the insertion shaft 5 and the container neck cooperates with the first ring seal 9 lying on the detent collar 4 to further improve sealing.

(13) The embodiment shown in FIG. 3 is similar to that shown in FIG. 2, but with the neck 2 of the beverage container 1 having a circumferential holding and/or guiding groove 13. The groove 13 provides an alternative way to grasp the container 1 at its neck 2 and to mechanically move the container 1.

(14) In another embodiment, shown in FIG. 4, the outside of the neck 2 is completely flat and thus has neither a support ring 10 nor a holding and/or guiding groove 13. The embodiment shown in FIG. 4 is otherwise analogous to the previously described embodiments. In particular, the embodiment shown in FIG. 4 has a similar closure cap 3 and opening region of the beverage container neck 2.

(15) An embodiment shown in FIG. 5 includes an inside circumferential support ring 14. The support ring 14 mechanically stabilizes the neck opening. In addition, there is a space between support ring 14 and the ring surface of the detent collar 4 that is situated opposite in the direction of the opening. This space is selected in such a manner that the detent groove 6 engages in the groove formed between the support ring 14 and the ring surface 7. The spacing is additionally selected such that deformation of the closure cap 3 results in a jamming between the groove 6 and the support ring 14 in connection with the ring surface 7. This can considerably increase the stability of the overall arrangement.

(16) The embodiment shown in FIG. 5 is further improved by a third ring seal 15 that is located between the lower end of the detent groove 6 and the support ring 14. The third ring seal 15 is located so that a ring space 16 that is formed between neck 2 and the detent groove 6 is completely hermetically sealed. The bridging of the spacing between detent groove 6 and support ring 14 by the third ring seal 15 results in further mechanical support of the closure cap 3. As a result, the closure cap 3 can be even flatter and can have more delicate features.

(17) Naturally, the invention is not limited to the present exemplary embodiments, but can be converted in a wide respect without departing from the inventive concept.

(18) Thus, for example, the developments of the neck just as the dimensioning of the individual components are dependent on the application and are variable.