Abstract
The invention is directed to a closure moulded in closed position. The closure comprises a body and a lid, which are separated by a circumferential gap. A snap hinge comprising two trapezoid elements which are connected each by film hinges to the body and the lid, causes a snap action while opening or closing the closure. The closure offers opening angles in the range of 220.
Claims
1. A closure moulded in closed position with a body comprising fixing means to fix the closure on a neck of a bottle, and a lid, the lid comprising a sealing means to seal an orifice of the bottle, whereby the body and the lid are separated from each other by a circumferential gap and at least one of the body and the lid form a closure wall, the closure further comprising: a snap hinge comprising a first and a second trapezoid element that are spaced apart from each other, and a first and second pair of film hinges, each pair defining a first and second plane, respectively, the first and second pair of film hinges connecting the first and second trapezoid elements to the lid and the body, where the first and second plane are arranged substantially parallel to an axis A of the closure when the closure is in the closed position, wherein the film hinges are positioned along an inside of the closure wall, an inside of the film hinges is configured such that the film hinges are easily demoulded in a z-direction, which is a direction of the axis A of the closure, and an inner periphery of the film hinges is arranged along a secant to a circle having a radius equal to a maximum inner radius (R1) of the closure.
2. The closure according to claim 1 wherein the first and second pair of film hinges are arranged at an angle to each other, and the first and second plane defined by the first and second pair of film hinges are arranged at an angle , the angle and an opening angle of the closure is:
3. The closure according to claim 1, wherein the opening angle is in the range of 180 and 240.
4. The closure according to claim 1, wherein the trapezoid elements are separated by a cutout.
5. The closure according to claim 1, wherein the trapezoid elements are connected by a film hinge along a shorter edge.
6. The closure according to claim 1, wherein the body and the lid are connected by tamper evidence means, which are destroyed by initial opening.
7. The closure according to claim 1, wherein the body and the lid are in the open position spaced a distance s apart, whereby, the distance s is equal to 50% to 90% of the shorter edge of trapezoid elements.
8. The closure according to claim 1, wherein said closure is characterized by a cylindrical outer wall section.
9. The closure according to claim 1, wherein the first and the second trapezoid elements, and the first and second pair of film hinges are arranged along the inner wall of the closure, wherein the inner wall is formed by the body and the lid, such that no overlapping exists in an x-direction to allow easy demoulding after moulding is complete by releasing one of two mould halves on an outer side in the x-direction and at the same time releasing the other one of the mould halves to the other side in the x-direction, whereby the x-direction is vertical to the z-direction and also vertical to the direction in which the first and the second trapezoid elements are spaced apart from each other.
10. The closure according to claim 1, wherein the inner periphery of the hinges is configured such that they do not protrude beyond a maximum inner radius (R1) of the closure.
11. The closure according to claim 1, wherein the film hinges are each defined by a plane on the inside of the closure and the outside of the film hinges are each defined by two flat boundary planes, arranged at an angle to each other, and a cylindrical boundary surface having a radius (R3).
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
(1) The herein described invention will be more fully understood from the detailed description of the given herein below and the accompanying drawings which should not be considered limiting to the invention described in the appended claims.
(2) FIG. 1 shows in a perspective rear view a hinged closure;
(3) FIG. 2 shows in a perspective front view a hinged closure;
(4) FIG. 3 shows in a perspective front view a second embodiment of a hinged closure with a latching mechanism;
(5) FIG. 4 shows the hinged closure according to FIG. 3 in a side view;
(6) FIG. 5 shows a hinged closure and a bottle in a top view;
(7) FIG. 6 shows a cut through the closure and the bottle according to FIG. 5 in a plane view;
(8) FIG. 7 shows a hinged in a top view;
(9) FIG. 8 shows the closure according to FIG. 7 in a sectional view along line DD;
(10) FIG. 9 shows a detail P of FIG. 8;
(11) FIG. 10 shows the closure from FIG. 3 in a side view;
(12) FIG. 11 shows the closure according to FIG. 10 in a sectional view along line EE;
(13) FIG. 12 shows a detail F of FIG. 11.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
(14) A better understanding of the present invention may be obtained by the present detailed description which, when examined in connection the accompanying drawings sets forth preferred embodiments of the inventions described herein. It should be understood that corresponding elements in the various figures are generally identified with corresponding reference numbers.
(15) FIG. 1 illustrates a hinged closure 1 according to the present invention moulded in closed position in a perspective view from the back. The closure 1 comprises a ring shaped lower part 2 (body) and a cap like upper part 3 (lid) which are interconnected by a snap hinge 4. In contrast to most of the hinges known from the state of the art the snap hinge 4 does not have a main hinge connection between the body 2 and the lid 3. The snap hinge 4 comprises a first and a second trapezoid element 5, of which each is connected to the body 2 and the lid 3 by a first and a second film hinge element 6.1, 6.2, respectively 6J, 6.4. The hinge elements 6.1, 6.2, 63, 6.4 (abbreviation 6) are embodied as film hinges having a clear hinge action defined by a thin web of material aligned due to injection moulding. The preferred thickness of the film hinges is in the range of 0.2 to 0.6 mm, depending on the size of the closure. Each of the trapezoid elements 5 has a shorter and a longer free edge 7, 8, which are delimited to the body 2 and the lid 3 by a first shorter and a second longer gap 45, 46 which are arranged in the present embodiment substantially vertical and in x-direction such that they can easily be demoulded. The trapezoid elements 5 are spaced apart separated by a cutout 9. In certain embodiments the intermediate elements 5 may be connected to each other along their shorter free edge 7 directly or indirectly by at least one additional film hinge (not visible in this embodiment). Such connection may result in a weaker hinge and/or delimiting of the opening angle.
(16) The film hinges 6 of each trapezoid element 5 are defining a first and a second plane 48, 49, which are intersecting at an angle to each other. The definition of the angles are described in EP 0 836 576. This application is hereby incorporated in the present description with respect to the definition of the angles , and .
(17) The body 2 and the lid 3 are separated by a circumferential gap 10. In the gap 10 thin bridges 11 of plastic material may be arranged. These bridges are designed such that they are preventing collapsing of the closure while demoulding due to strip of forces. Simultaneously the bridges 11 are acting as tamper evidence elements which are destroyed while initial opening indicating initial opening of the closure. Good results are obtained when the bridges are having a pyramidal shape.
(18) Supplementary or in replacement of the bridges 11 a tear off band (not displayed) may be incorporated which is removed before initial opening.
(19) The closure 1 is arranged on the neck of a bottle 12 which is only partially visible. The orifice of the bottle 12 is arranged in the lid 3 (not visible), sealed off in closed position by a sealing mean. The body 2 is fixed on the neck of the bottle 12, in general by press on. On the inside the body 2 does have holding means (not visible) which are suitable to be engaged with corresponding elements on the neck of the bottle 12 guarantying secure fixation of the closure 1. Axis A of closure 1 is arranged parallel to z-Axis of the global coordinate system. Angle is the angle between the film hinges 6 adjoining the trapezoid element 5. The film hinges 6 (6.1, 6J, respectively 6J, 6.4) of each trapezoid element 5 may not be arranged parallel due to lack of functionality.
(20) FIG. 2 is showing an embodiment of a closure 1 moulded in closed position in a perspective front view. The hinge 4 of the closure 1 is not visible because it is arranged on the rear side of the closure 1. On the front of the closure 1 a finger recess 20 is visible arranged at the upper rim of lid 3. The lid 3 of the closure 1 comprises on the inside nearby to the circumferential gap 10 first elements (not visible) protruding radially inward which are in closed position of the closure engaged with corresponding second elements (not visible) of the neck of the bottle 12. The first and the second elements are preventing unforeseen opening of the closure. The shown closure 1 is mainly designed for still water/beverages (non-carbonized water/beverages) without internal pressure.
(21) Due to the undercuts often necessary in the area of the trapezoidal elements 5, the cutout 9 and the circumferential gap 10, the mould (not visible) used to make the closure 1 in general comprises preferably two parts on the outside, whereby the parting plane of the mould, indicated by line 13, is arranged parallel to the closure axis A (yz-plane of shown coordinate system) and perpendicular to the snap hinge 4. The inside of closure 1 is preferably formed by a single core.
(22) FIG. 3 is showing a further embodiment of the closure 1 in a perspective front view on the neck of a bottle 12. The hinge 4 is on the back of the closure 1 and therefore not visible in detail. Opposite to the snap hinge 4 a latching mechanism 15 is incorporated which prevents unforeseen opening of the closure 1. The latching mechanism 15 comprises a latch 16 which is part of the body 2. In the closed position of the closure the latch 16 is engaged with a corresponding notch 17. The latch 16 which is arranged movably in radial direction in the outer side wall of the lid 3 comprises a neck 18 and a head 19 which is wider than the neck 18 forming in the closed position a tangentially under-cut with the notch 17 preventing unforeseen opening of the closure. The circumferential gap 10 does surround the latch 16 and the notch 17. To open the closure the latch 16 is pressed inside in the direction of arrow FI versus the neck of the bottle 12 until the head 19 of the latch 16 releases the notch 17 and the lid 3 can be opened. The latch 16 is preferably formed such that while closing the lid 3 the latch 16 is moved automatically away outside or inside such that the lid 3 and the notch 17 may pass. To prevent collision, the upper edge of the latch 16 preferably is formed round or inclined. In the circumferential gap 10 tamper evidence features, such as bridges 11 may be arranged to indicate initial opening. The shown closure 1 is mainly designed for carbonized water/beverages causing an increased internal pressure in the bottle.
(23) FIG. 4 is showing the closure 1 according to FIG. 2 in a side view in open position. The snap hinge 4 is designed such that the opening angle (angle between the closed and the open position) is in the range of 220. This guarantees that drinking from an orifice 21 of the bottle 12 is not hindered by the lid 3. As it can be seen the trapezoid elements 5 are arranged in an inverse position at a position corresponding approximately to half of the opening angle . Closure 1 is designed such that the parts and elements of closure 1 are in the closed and in the open position stress free. In-between the open and the closed position, snap hinge 4 causes deformation of the parts of snap hinge 4 and the other parts of closure 1 and/or bottle 12. This deformation is depending on the design of the closure stored as elastic energy in certain areas of the lid 3 and/or the body 2 and/or the trapezoid 5 elements and/or the film hinges 6 causing the snap action of lid 3 versus body 2. While opening or closing closure 1 lid 3 has to be moved against a resilient force and after passing of a dead center position (instable) lid 3 moves automatically into the nearest open or closed position. The angle between the film hinges 6 of a trapezoid element is one parameter which takes influence on the snap effect of closure 1. The relation between the different angles of a snap hinge 4 is explained in FIG. 5. In the open position the body 2 and the lid 3 are spaced a distance s apart. Due to this it is possible to achieve an opening angle which is beyond 180. Depending on the size of the closure the distance s is in general 50% to 90% of the shorter edge 7 of trapezoid elements 5.
(24) FIG. 5 is showing a closed closure 1 in a top view. The snap hinge 4 is arranged on the left hand side of the drawing and the finger recess 20 on the right hand side. The trapezoid elements 5 which are arranged parallel to the cylindrical side wall 22 of the closure 1 are displayed in a top view. The axis of the hinge elements (film hinges) 6 are indicated by a dot-dash line. The angle between the normal on the ground projection (xy-plane) of the axis of the film hinges 6 is an important factor for calculating of the snap action of the hinge and the opening angle. The relation between the opening angle of the closure 1 the angle and the angle between two film hinges 6 of each trapezoid elements 5 is as follows:
(25)
(26) The cross cut along line BB is displayed in FIG. 6.
(27) FIG. 6 is showing a cross cut along line BB of FIG. 5. A sealing element 23 is arranged on the inside of lid 3. The sealing element 23 is in the closed position of the closure engaged with the neck 24 of the bottle 12. The sealing element 23 has a protruding rim 25 which is formed out on the inside of the horizontal (xy-plane) base 26 of the lid 3. The protruding rim 25 has in the shown embodiment a slightly conical shape divergent from ground 26 of lid 3. The largest diameter of rim 25 is in the contact area 38 with the inside surface 36 of orifice 37. Rim 25 is designed such that in the closed position of the closure 1 it is engaged with the neck 24 exposed to a certain radial compression, sealing of orifice 37 of bottle 12. Neck 18 of bottle 12 has on its outside on the level of lid 3 a radially protruding circumferential holding rim 39. In the closed position of lid 3 the holding rim 39 engages with a radially inwardly protruding holding element 29 formed out on the inside of lid 2 avoiding unintentional opening of closure 1.
(28) Neck 18 of bottle 12 comprises a fixing mean built out in the shown embodiment as radially protruding fixing rims 40. Closure 1 comprises circumferential recesses 41, arranged between three corresponding radial flanges 42, which are cooperating with the fixing rims 40 of bottle 12, serving as holding means on the inside of closure 1. Alternative means to securely fix closure 1 on the neck 18 of bottle 12 are applicable. The fixing mean of closure 1 may be preferably built such that it can be demoulded by force. To reduce demoulding forces (circumferential) the radial flanges 42 may be segmented.
(29) FIG. 7 is showing a top view of a closure 1. Line DD illustrates the cut as displayed in FIG. 8. Line DD is arranged through the middle of a trapezoid element 5 and the adjoining film hinges 6 of the snap hinge 4. The trapezoid elements 5, the film hinges 6, the cutout 9 and the circumferential gap 10, such as the bridges 11 and vertical first and second gaps 45, 46 are made such that they can be demoulded by opening the outer section of the mould (not visible) in +x and in x direction. Therefore the trapezoid elements 5, the film hinges 6 and the bridges 11 are preferably arranged along the inner wall 28 of the closure 1 such that no hindering overlapping exists in x-direction. The circumferential gap 10 and the vertical first and second vertical gap 45, 46 may be, if required, delimited by non-parallel side walls, e.g. conical.
(30) FIG. 8 is showing the cut along line DD according to FIG. 7. The cut runs through a trapezoid element 5 and the two adjoining hinge elements 6, the sealing element 23 and a radially inwardly protruding holding element 29 which is arranged near the circumferential gap 10. In the circumferential gap 10 bridges 11 are visible which are acting as tamper evidence means which are de-strayed while initial opening.
(31) The film hinges 6 and the trapezoid elements 5.1, 5.2 (abbreviation 5) are designed on the inside of the closure 1 such that they can easily be demoulded in z direction by stripping the closure 1 of a core of the mould (both not visible). As visible in this embodiment, the film hinges 6 are formed straight for optimized hinge performance. The inner periphery of this closure 1 is designed here as a flat plane 31 being arranged at a radius R2 which is smaller then the main inner radius R1 of the closure 1. In this view one flat plane 5.1 of one trapezoid element is perpendicular to the drawing plane and therefore only visible as a line. The flat plane 31 J of the opposite trapezoid element 5.2 is fully visible.
(32) All elements on the inside of the closure 1 are arranged on a smaller radius than the main inner radius R1, because otherwise it would be difficult to demould the closure 1 by a stripper-ring having an inner radius corresponding to R1. The snap hinge 4 is preferably designed that it does not form any undercut which has to be demoulded by force. The inner periphery of the film hinges 6 is arranged as a secant to a circle having a radius R1 equal to the main inner radius R1 of the closure 1.
(33) FIG. 9 is showing detail P of FIG. 8 in a magnified manner.
(34) FIG. 9 is showing detail P of FIG. 8 in a magnified manner. The film hinges 6 are preferably designed in a way that they are straight over there entire length. The periphery of the film hinge 6 is on the outside of the closure 1 formed by two straight (flat) boundary planes 35 and a cylindrical boundary surface 33 connecting the two boundary surfaces 35 tangentially having a radius R3. The two boundary surfaces 35 are arranged at an angle K to each other. While opening the closure 1, film hinge 6 hinges around a hinge axis 34. During opening of closure 1 the two boundary planes 35 are moved together until they reach closest position in fully open stage of the closure 1. Angle K is designed such that the closure can be opened without collision of the two boundary planes 35 such that no hindering occurs. For best performance the hinge is designed in a way that the (theoretical) hinge axis 34 of the film hinges 6 is aligned tangentially to the cylindrical boundary surface 33. The thickness T of the film hinges 6 is, depending on the size of the closure, preferably in the range of 0.2 mm to 0.6 mm. The film hinges 6 are formed such that the closure can be completely opened without collision of blocking of the movement. Alternative embodiments of film hinges, having a different cross-section may be incorporated.
(35) FIG. 10 is showing the closure 1 according to FIG. 3 in closed position from the front. In the circumferential gap 10 bridges 11 are visible. Latch 16 is arranged in notch 17 preventing unintentional opening of lid 3. Due to the reason that bridges 11, which are serving as tamper evidence means, are still connecting body 2 and lid 3 it becomes clear that the closure 1 never was opened. Snap hinge 4, which is arranged on the back of closure 1, is not visible in detail. Line FF illustrates the cut displayed in FIG. 11.
(36) FIG. 11 is showing a cross cut through the closure 1 of FIG. 10 along line EE. The closure 1 is arranged on the neck 24 of the bottle 12. The body of closure 1 is hold by radial fixing rim 40 of the bottle 12 which is engaged with the circumferential recess 41 of the closure 1. The hinge 4 is visible only partially. Behind the neck 24 of the bottle 12 an inner surface of trapezoid element 5 is visible. On the inside of lid 3 a sealing device 43 is visible having a conical rim-like shape which is directed inwardly with respect to the orifice 37 of neck 24. The sealing device 43 is centered on axis A of closure 1 and with respect to neck 24 of bottle 12. The sealing device is fixedly connected to the lid 3 and rests in closed position of the lid 3 on rim 44 of the orifice 37. The sealing device 43 of the herein shown embodiment is made of a different material which is more elastic than the material of the closure 1 and the neck 24 of the bottle 12. In certain embodiments it is possible to use the same material. The sealing device 43 is having a chamber 45 on the inside which is exposed to internal pressure P of the bottle 12. The sealing device 43 is built such that the when the chamber 45 is exposed to internal pressure P the sealing device 45 is deformed. The deformation due to internal pressure P is restricted by the rim 44 of the orifice 37 which results in that the sealing effect of the sealing device increases. A detailed description of the principle of functionality of the sealing device 43 can be retrieved from WO 0 232 775 . The sealing device 43 shown in this embodiment has a nipple 46 arranged on the outer surface versus the latch 16 having approximately the width of the nipple 46. Detail F is displayed in FIG. 12.
(37) FIG. 12 is showing detail F of FIG. 11. The nipple 46 is designed such that when pressing the latch 16 by force FI (see FIG. 12) radially inwardly (deformation indicated by arrow s1) the latch 16 contacts the nipple 46 causing local deformation of the sealing device 43. By this deformation the sealing device 43 is locally disengaged (indicated by arrow s2) from the upper rim 44 of the orifice 37 such that controlled release of the internal pressure P occurs. After releasing pressure P latch 16 is pressed further radially inwardly until latch 16 disengages notch 17 and the lid 3 may be opened. The bridges 11 are designed such that they are destroyed when latch 16 is pressed radially inwardly indicating initial opening of the closure 1.
