MANIPULABLE CONTAINER HAVING REDUCED NECK HEIGHT FOR CLOSURE WITH A CLOSURE CAP, AND METHOD OF CLOSURE

Abstract

The invention relates to a container made of glass or hard plastic having a container neck (52) with a plurality of external thread elements (53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58), which are offset circumferentially relative to one another, as thread segments. The container can be closed by means of the thread segments by a closure cap made of metal sheet, wherein the closure cap (1, 2) has a circumferential plastic layer (30;30h,30v) on the inside of the cap and on the rim of the cap which has a sealing and retaining action. The closure cap can be pressed onto the container neck (52) and over the thread elements (53, 54, 55, . . . ) during closure and a vertical portion (30v) of the plastic layer can be opened with a rotary movement relative to the thread segments (53, 54, 55, . . . ). The container neck (52) has an upper horizontal end face (52a) as an annular surface which is adapted and suitable to be pressed into a horizontal portion (30 h) of the plastic layer (30;30h,30v) of the closure cap (1.2) under pressure and to produce a seal under pressure. An axial spacing (h54) is defined which extends between axially upper ends (53a, 54a, 55a, 56a, 57a) of the thread segments (53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58) and a horizontal plane (E52a) through the horizontally oriented end face (52a) of the container neck (52) of the glass container (50). An annular width (b52) of the upper horizontal end face (52a) is defined as an annular surface. A ratio of the axial spacing (h54) to the annular width (b52) is less than 1.35.

Claims

1-12. (canceled)

13. A container made of glass or hard plastic having a container neck (52) with a plurality of external thread elements (53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58), as thread segments, circumferentially offset relative to one another, the container being closable by the thread segments with a closure cap made of sheet metal, wherein the closure cap (1, 2) has on an inside of the cap and on a rim of the cap a circumferential plastics layer (30; 30h, 30v) providing a sealing and retaining function, and the closure cap is adapted to be pressed onto the container neck (52) and over the thread elements (53, 54, 55, . . . ) during closing and a vertical section (30v) of the plastics layer is openable by a rotary movement relative to the thread segments (53, 54, 55, . . . ); and wherein the container neck (52) has an upper horizontal end face (52a) as an annular surface adapted and suitable for pressing into a horizontal section (30h) of the plastics layer (30; 30h, 30v) of the closure cap (1, 2) under pressure and for producing a seal under pressure; wherein a ratio of an axial spacing (h.sub.54) to an annular width (b.sub.52) is less than 1.35, and (a) the axial spacing (h.sub.54) is defined to extend between axially upper ends of the thread segments and a horizontal plane (E.sub.52a) through the horizontally oriented end face (52a) of the container neck (52) of the container (50); and (b) the annular width (b.sub.52) of the upper horizontal end face (52a) is defined as an annular surface.

14. The container according to claim 13, wherein the ratio of the axial spacing (h.sub.54) to the annular width (b.sub.52) is less than 1.0.

15. The container according to claim 13, wherein the container neck (52) has an outwardly directed step (60) positioned axially above upper ends of the thread segments (53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58) and below the horizontal end face (52a), the container neck (52) being capable of producing, up to this step (60), a seal under pressure by pressing into a horizontal section (30h) of the plastics layer (30; 30h, 30v).

16. The container according to claim 13, wherein the ratio of the axial spacing (h.sub.54) to the annular width (b.sub.52) is less than 0.9.

17. A container having a plurality of external thread elements or thread segments, circumferentially offset relative to one another on a container neck (52) of the container (50) for receiving thereon a closure cap made of sheet metal, wherein the closure cap (1, 2) has on an inside of the cap a circumferential plastics layer (30; 30h, 30v) providing a sealing and retaining function, wherein the closure cap is adapted to be pressed onto the container neck (52) and is openable by the thread elements or segments and a vertical section (30v) of the plastics layer by a rotary movement; wherein the container neck (52) has an upper horizontal end face (52a) as an annular surface adapted and suitable for pressing into a horizontal section (30h) of the plastics layer of the closure cap (1, 2) under pressure; the container neck (52) has an external step (60) positioned axially above upper ends (53a, 54a) of the thread segments or elements and below the horizontal end face (52a), the container neck (52) being capable of producing, up to this step (60), a seal under pressure by pressing into the horizontal section (30h) of the plastics layer (30; 30h, 30v).

18. The container according to claim 17, wherein an axial spacing (h.sub.54) of the axially upper ends of the circumferentially offset thread elements or segments from a horizontal plane (E.sub.52a) through the horizontally oriented end face of the container neck (52) of the glass container (50) is smaller than 2.0 mm.

19. The container according to claim 18, wherein the axial spacing (h.sub.54) of the axially upper ends (53a, 54a, 55a, 56a, 57a) of the circumferentially offset thread elements or segments is smaller than or equal to 1.6 mm.

20. The container according to claim 18, wherein the axial spacing (h.sub.54) is smaller than or equal to 1.3 mm, according to a substantially shortened axial section of the container neck (52) having no thread elements and located above the thread elements.

21. The container according to claim 17, wherein an axial spacing (h.sub.60) of the upper horizontal end face (52a) from the external step (60) is smaller than 1 mm.

22. The container according to claim 17, wherein (a) an axial spacing (h.sub.54) is defined, extending between the axially upper ends of the circumferentially offset thread segments or elements and a horizontal plane (E.sub.52a) defined by the horizontally oriented end face (52a) of the container neck (52) of the container (50); (b) an annular width (b.sub.52) of the upper horizontal end face (52a) is defined as an annular surface; and a ratio of the axial spacing (h.sub.54) to the annular width (b.sub.52) is less than 1.35.

23. The container according to claim 17, wherein a further ratio is defined from an axial spacing (h.sub.60) between the external step (60) and the upper horizontal end face (52a); as well as from a radial width (b.sub.52) of the upper horizontal end face (52a) as an annular surface; wherein the further ratio (h.sub.60 to b.sub.52) is less than 0.7.

24. (canceled)

25. A method of closing a container (50) having external, circumferentially offset thread elements, the thread elements in common defining a thread profile on a container neck (52) of the container, and having a closure cap (1, 2) made of sheet metal, the container and the cap defining a closure unit, the method comprising the steps of a. providing the container (50) having an end section (52) with elements extending thereon in a circumferentially offset manner; b. providing the closure cap (1, 2) made of sheet metal, a plastics layer (30; 30h, 30v) being, on an inside of the cap, in adherent contact with a transition zone (11a, 11b, 11c) and a skirt section (12) dimensioned according to the order of magnitude of the radial extension of the transition zone (11a, 11b, 11c); c. filling the container (50); d. pressing the closure cap (1, 2) onto the end section (52) of the container (50) with a three-dimensional sealing area (51) as a sealing profile, with an upper horizontal end face (52a) as a component part of the three-dimensional sealing area (51), so that a horizontal section (30h) of the plastics layer (30; 30h, 30v) defines a sealing and the thread profile thus is close to the sealing area (51) to an extent corresponding to a width (b.sub.52) of the upper horizontal end face (52a).

26. The method of closing according to claim 25, wherein an order of magnitude of the axial skirt section to the radial extension of the transition zone (11a, 11b, 11c) is a quotient between 1.1 and 0.8.

27. The method according to claim 25 or 26, wherein (a) an axial spacing (h.sub.54) is defined, extending between the axially upper ends of the thread elements and a horizontal plane (E.sub.52a) through the horizontally oriented end face (52a) of the container neck (52) of the glass container (50); (b) an annular width (b.sub.52) of the upper horizontal end face (52a) is defined as an annular surface; and a ratio of the axial spacing (h.sub.54) to the annular width (b.sub.52) is less than 1.35.

28. The method according claim 25, wherein the container neck (52) has an external step (60) positioned axially above upper ends of the circumferentially offset thread elements and below the horizontal end face (52a), the container neck (52) producing, up to this step (60), a seal under pressure by pressing into the horizontal section of the plastics layer.

29. The method according to claim 25, wherein the closeness of the upper ends of the thread elements to the horizontal end face (52a) does not comprise any axial spacing larger than 1.5 mm10%, so as to configure the end section (52) of the container (50), as a container neck, short, reduced in length and compact.

30. The method according to claim 25, wherein the closeness amounts to 1.5 mm at the most so as to configure the end section (52) of the container (50), as a container neck, short, reduced in length and compact.

31. A container having a plurality of external thread elements or thread segments, circumferentially offset relative to one another on a container neck (52) of the container (50) for receiving thereon a closure cap made of sheet metal; wherein the container neck (52) has an upper horizontal end face (52a) as an annular surface; the container neck (52) has an external step (60) positioned axially above upper ends (53a, 54a) of the thread segments or elements and below the horizontal end face (52a) such that the axial spacing between the step (60) and the upper horizontal end face (52a) does not exceed 1 mm (h.sub.60); the closure cap (1, 2) has, on an inside of the cap, a circumferential plastics layer (30; 30h, 30v) comprising a vertical section (30v) and a horizontal section (30h), so as to provide a sealing and retaining function in the closed condition; the thread elements or segments are arranged and configured such that the closure cap is adapted to be pressed onto the container neck (52) over the thread elements and the external step (60) and into a retaining position.

32. The container according to claim 31, wherein the spacing of the step (60) defines an axial spacing (h.sub.60) of the upper horizontal end face (52a) from the outwardly directed step (60) that is smaller than 0.8 mm, in a tolerance range of 10%.

33. The container according to claim 31, wherein a ratio is defined from an axial spacing (h.sub.60) between the external step (60) and the upper horizontal end face (52a); as well as from a radial width (b.sub.52) of the upper horizontal end face (52a) as an annular surface; wherein this ratio (h.sub.60/b.sub.52) is less than 0.7.

34. The container according to claim 31, wherein an axial spacing (h.sub.54) of the axially upper ends of the circumferentially offset thread elements from a horizontal plane (E.sub.52a) through the horizontally oriented end face of the container neck (52) of the container (50) is smaller than 2.0 mm.

35-37. (canceled)

38. The container of claim 22, wherein the ratio of the axial spacing is less than 0.9.

39. The method of claim 27, wherein the ratio of the axial spacing is less than 0.9.

40. The container of claim 33, wherein the ratio is less than 0.55.

41. The container of claim 34, wherein the axial spacing is smaller than or equal to 1.6 mm.

42. The container of claim 41, wherein the axial spacing is smaller than or equal to 1.3 mm.

43. A method of closing a glass container, the method comprising: providing the glass container as a container made of glass, having a container neck with a plurality of external thread elements, circumferentially offset relative to one another, the glass container being closable by receiving a metallic closure cap made of sheet metal at the container neck; wherein the metallic closure cap has on an inside thereof and on a rim portion thereof a circumferential plastics layer providing sealing and retaining of the metallic closure cap, wherein the metallic closure cap is adapted to be pressed onto the container neck and over the thread elements during closing and an axial section of the plastics layer provides for a rotary movement of the metallic closure cap relative to the thread segments for opening the glass container; wherein the container neck has an upper horizontal end face as an annular surface adapted and suitable for pressing into a horizontal section of the plastics layer of the closure cap under pressure, thereby providing a seal under pressure; and wherein: an axial spacing is defined, extending between axially upper ends of the thread segments and a horizontal plane, extending through the horizontally oriented end face of the container neck of the glass container; an annular width of the upper horizontal end face is defined as an annular surface; and a ratio of the axial spacing to the annular width that is less than 1.35; pressing the metallic closure cap onto the container neck of the glass container, thereby an axial section of the plastics layer provided on an inside of the metallic closure cap at a skirt section thereof, enters into an axially locking contact with the thread segments at the container neck.

Description

[0091] Embodiments illustrate and supplement the claimed invention.

[0092] FIG. 1 illustrates a mouth area of a glass vessel 50 having a closure cap 2 attached thereto, in an axial sectional view and as an enlarged detail representation. The closure cap 2 is a PT closure cap.

[0093] FIG. 2 illustrates another example of a closure cap 1 in the same enlarged detail representation on the same glass vessel 50, again in an axial sectional view.

[0094] FIG. 3 shows still another enlarged detail representation of the upper end of the mouth area 52 of the glass container, the sealing end face 52a representing a connective element that makes FIG. 2 or 1 more easily understandable.

[0095] FIG. 4 shows an example of a container in its entirety (e.g. as a glass vessel) 50 in an axial sectional view and with the filled-in product F accommodated therein.

[0096] FIG. 5 shows a detail of the mouth area 52 of FIG. 4.

[0097] FIG. 6 shows, from radially outside, a view unrolled into a plane for making the inclined, staggered thread elements (as thread segments) 53 to 58 visible on the mouth area 52. 180 of 360 are shown.

[0098] FIG. 6a shows an upper end of a thread element 55 in an enlarged representation.

[0099] FIG. 7 shows an enlarged section A-A according to FIG. 6.

[0100] The 3D extension (as 3D annular surface) of the sealing area 51 is visible more clearly, which sealing area was explained in the respective parts of FIG. 3.

[0101] FIG. 7a FIG. 7b show FIG. 7 with a closure cap (1 or 2 according to FIG. 1 or FIG. 2); this cap has only been placed on top of the container in FIG. 7a and has been axially pressed down to a certain extent in the z direction in FIG. 7b, so that the end face 52a presses into the horizontal section 30h of the plastics layer 30.

[0102] FIG. 8 shows a representation of the sealing area 51 with the purely horizontal section 52a and with a curved section up to the external, circumferentially extending step 60, which representation has been enlarged once more.

[0103] The container 50 according to FIG. 4 is preferably made of glass or hard plastic (hereinafter referred to as glass container). It has a mouth area 52 with a diameter D.sub.50, the mouth area 52 being shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 2 and FIG. 5 in part and in FIG. 3 (as well as FIGS. 6 to 8) in an enlarged representation. The upper end of the container neck (as mouth area 52) of the container 50 is a radially directed end face 52a delimited inwards by a circumferential fluted groove 52b and outwards by an axial piece h.sub.54 extending up to the axially upper end of the thread web 54 in FIGS. 1 to 3. Since an axial section is shown, it is evident that this sectional view may stand for any circumferentially further displaced sectional representation, with the exception of the height position of the two thread segments 54, 55 shown, which, depending on the respective circumferential rotational displacement of the vertical section, are positioned on a different height level of the outer surface of the container neck 52.

[0104] A product F to be filled in is schematically shown, the product being first filled in and then closed, or intended to be closed by a closure cap 1 or 2 according to FIG. 1 or 2. The filling takes place in a hot or in a cold condition of the product. One of the thermal treatment methods may be used, cf. page 3, second paragraph.

[0105] In FIGS. 4 to 8, a step 60 is additionally provided above the thread segments on the container neck 52.

[0106] The closure cap 2 in FIG. 1 is only shown in part. Two of its radial dimensions are indicated, D.sub.i and D.sub.a. The dimension D.sub.i is the radial diameter dimension of the cap face 11 that may also be referred to as central area. It extends inside a circumferential bend 11a merging with the rim area represented by reference numerals 11a, 11b and 11c.

[0107] The external dimension D.sub.a will be described previously. D.sub.a is the diameter dimension of the skirt 12 adjoining the transition zone 11a, 11b and 11c in a radially outward direction but projecting downwards in an axial direction. In the representation according to FIGS. 1 and 2, the left side of the skirt section 12 cannot be seen, so that also the beginning of the external diameter D.sub.a on the left margin remains open, but the diameter dimension D.sub.i can be shown on the left margin according to the circumferential bent line 11a.

[0108] The difference between the two diameters D.sub.a and D.sub.i describes by the radial dimension dr, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, where D.sub.a-D.sub.i=2 dr.

[0109] The dimension dr (in the sense of delta r) comprises, starting at the circumferential bend 11a, the first ramp section 11a, a slightly less inclined second ramp section 11b above the end face 52a of the neck 52 of the container 50 and the right outer end of this second ramp section 11b, the right outer end merging with the skirt section 12 via a curved section 11c.

[0110] The upper end of the skirt section 12 in FIG. 1 is designated by 12a, and 12b stands for the lower end. Between these two ends or end points, the skirt 12 extends straight in an axial direction and defines a cylinder, when seen in the circumferential direction.

[0111] Below the lower end 12b of the skirt section 12, there is an outward curl 22 which directly adjoins the lower end 12b.

[0112] In the radial transition section having the radial width dr, a radially directed, horizontal section 30h of a sealing layer 30 is arranged, and radially inside of the skirt 12 the axial section 30v of the sealing layer made of plastic is arranged.

[0113] The circumferentially extending plastics layer comprises these two sections 30h and 30v and extends down to the curl area 22 in FIG. 1, where it is designated by 32 radially inside of the outward curl 22. This is likewise the case in section 31 above the inward curl 21 in FIG. 2, radially inwards of the expansion section 21a.

[0114] Some measures of length will here be presented. Their meaning will be explained in more detail hereinbelow.

[0115] The plastics layer is 30 or 30h (horizontal) with 30v (vertical).

[0116] The transition zone is 11a, 11b, 11c.

[0117] The turning point 52b is in the fluted groove 52b.

[0118] Staggered thread elements 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58 are provided.

[0119] The entire extending sealing area above is 51.

[0120] The sealing area 51 has a radial dimension of b.sub.52*.

[0121] The horizontally directed end face is 52a.

[0122] The horizontal end face 52a as an annular surface has an annular width b.sub.52.

[0123] The axial distance is h.sub.60 between the external step 60 and the upper horizontal end face 52a.

[0124] The ratio h.sub.60/b.sub.52 is smaller than 0.7.

[0125] An axial spacing h.sub.54 is defined, it extends between the axially upper ends 53a, 54a, 55a, 56a, 57a of the circumferentially offset thread elements 53, 54, 55, 56, 57 and a horizontal plane E.sub.52a.

[0126] The plane E.sub.52a is defined by the horizontally oriented end face 52a of the container neck 52 of the glass container 50.

[0127] The second axial distance is h.sub.60, this being the distance between the upper horizontal end face 52a and the outwardly directed step 60.

[0128] h.sub.0 is the axial extension of the skirt section 12 of the closure cap 1 or 2.

[0129] dr is a radial extension of the transition zone 11a, 11b, 11c.

[0130] As regards the dimensions, more detailed comments will be made hereinbelow. First, it will be shown that the closure cap 2, which has been pressed on by axial pressure, has not yet been fully pressed on in FIG. 1, since the horizontal section 30h of the plastics layer is not yet compressed. The horizontal section 30h only rests on the end face 52a, but is, in reality, compressed to a certain extent by the upper end face 52a, so that the horizontal section 30h of the sealing layer extends beyond the initial sealing area 52a also into areas visible in FIG. 1 on the left and on the right hand side with a radius of curvature (edge chamfering). On the left hand side of FIG. 1 or FIG. 2, the radial compound section 30h extends to a certain extent into the fluted groove 52b.

[0131] This can be seen in the enlarged representation according to FIG. 3. This FIG. 3 can be taken into account in connection with the embodiments according to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2.

[0132] FIG. 3 shows the upper edge of the neck 52. The horizontally oriented end face 52a having a width b.sub.52 may serve as a connection element. It is oriented fully horizontally and defines a horizontal plane E.sub.52a with respect to which reference dimensions and ratios will be explained hereinbelow.

[0133] On the left and on the right hand side of the horizontally oriented end face 52a, there are radii of curvature determining a curvature 52 and 52 (as arc section). The respective length associated therewith is b.sub.52 and b.sub.52.

[0134] It goes without saying that these areas or elements extend circumferentially and that the concept of radial dimension must be considered exclusively from a radial point of view. The length b.sub.52 is e.g. longer than the pure radial dimension that is added to the radial dimension b.sub.52 on the inner side. The latter extends up to the turning point of the fluted groove 52b (the turning point in section is a circumferential line when seen in the circumferential direction).

[0135] At the outside, a further, almost axially extending section 52 can additionally be seen, which extends up to the thread segment 54. In the example according to FIG. 3, this dimension is very short in comparison with the arc 52 having the actual length b.sub.52, but it only supplements a much smaller radial dimension that complements the purely radial dimension b.sub.52, taking into consideration the entire extending sealing area 51 that has a purely radial dimension b.sub.52* and a purely horizontally oriented end face 52a.

[0136] This is the radial dimension of the effective sealing area 51. The effective sealing area 51 itself may, however, be definitely longer. The purely horizontally oriented and purely radially extending end face 52a is therefore more precisely dimensioned with the purely radial dimension b.sub.52.

[0137] As regards the sealing, the sum of the area sections b.sub.52, b.sub.52, b.sub.52 and b.sub.52 is of decisive importance, the section 52 extending practically purely axially and a piece thereof being also radially oriented with a very small angle of inclination. The last-mentioned section 52 ends, in the present example, at the upper end of the thread segments. Here for the dimension at the upper end of the thread web or of all the circumferentially extending thread webs 53, 54, 55, 56 etc. and also of additional ones, which are not shown in FIG. 6.

[0138] The understanding of FIG. 3 will be transferred to FIGS. 1 and 2 in the following, but the inward curl 21 of the closure cap 1 in the case of the example according to FIG. 2 will be explained previously.

[0139] This inward curl 21 adjoins the skirt section 12, the other elements and functions being used in a way corresponding to that which has been explained in connection with FIG. 1. The respective associated reference numerals are identical as well.

[0140] The lower axial end of the cylindrical skirt section 12 does not terminate directly in a curl, but in an expansion section 21a. The upper end 21a of the latter adjoins the lower end of the cylindrical section 12. The lower end 21a of the expansion section 21a merges with an inwardly rolled section 21 defining one complete turn. The indication of the diameter d.sub.21 can define the curl 21, and the height h.sub.21 defines the height of the transition section 21a that serves the purpose of radial expansion and the provision of space for the inward curl.

[0141] Radially inwards of the expansion 21a, a plastics area 31 is provided, which extends also below the axial lower end 12b according to FIG. 1, here in FIG. 2, and expands there in a radial direction. It does, however, not extend axially beyond the inward curl in a downward direction, but is limited to the height h.sub.21. The height section d.sub.22 of the outward curl 22 according to FIG. 1 can be referred to analogously, this height section defining a comparable plastics area 32.

[0142] The findings according to FIG. 3 will now be transferred to FIGS. 1 and 2.

[0143] In FIG. 1, the radial dimension of the end face 52a has the dimension b.sub.52. The effective sealing area is broader and, especially in the radial direction, also longer, but the effective sealing area does not have a dimension corresponding to the actual length thereof, but its dimension is the depicted dimension b.sub.52*. These two dimensions have been explained in FIG. 3 and are shown in each of FIGS. 1 and 2 below the second ramp section 11b that is positioned above the end face 52a providing the initial sealing effect.

[0144] The radial dimension dr of the transition zone 11a, consisting of the three elements 11a, 11b, 11c, is depicted in both FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. It is larger than the axial height of the cylindrical skirt section 12. This height has the dimension h.sub.0. It begins at the upper end 12a of the skirt section 12, which corresponds to the radial outer end 11c of the curved section 11c. The inner end 11c of the curved section 11c merges with the second ramp section 11b.

[0145] h.sub.54 is positioned approximately on the level of the outer surface of the upper end of the container neck 52 and extends between the upper end of all threads (of a respective imaginary circumferential line) and the plane E.sub.52a defining the position and the orientation of the horizontal end face 52a or vice versa.

[0146] The spacing of the plane E.sub.52a from the upper end of the thread segments 54 (and with a corresponding circumferential displacement also of the segment 55) is specified as h.sub.54. This dimension is particularly short. It allows a prior art dimension, which is much higher and which amounts to more than 2.8 mm, to be reduced substantially in the embodiments according to FIGS. 1 and 2. This spacing h.sub.54 will be referred to as a threadless zone between the end face 52a and the thread area consisting of the plurality of circumferentially offset thread elements 54, 55.

[0147] In the embodiments, this height dimension h.sub.54 is definitely smaller than 2 mm, preferably smaller than 1.6 mm, or even substantially 1.3 mm, which stands for the very small size of this dimension in the axial direction. This is an axial section of the container neck of substantially reduced length, which does not comprise any thread elements and which substantially contributes to the sealing effect in the prior art. These thread elements are no longer provided according to the embodiments of the present invention, although these embodiments still produce a sufficient sealing effect.

[0148] Another dimension is the radial dimension dr in relation to the specified axial height h.sub.0 of the skirt section 12. These two dimensions are here in the same order of magnitude, or the height dimension becomes smaller than the radial dimension.

[0149] The radial dimension is significant for the sealing effect on the end face of the mouth. The axial dimension is significant for the opening mechanics.

[0150] This radial dimension may here be the radial dimension dr of the sheet metal cap and consists of the three sections 11a, 11b and 11c in the transition zone, or it may be the above described radial dimension 52a on the glass, which establishes the initial sealing contact and defines the plane E.sub.52a. The latter is on the container, the former is on the closure cap.

[0151] The ratios are such that, in an example of the outward curl of FIG. 1, the height dimension h.sub.0 can be specified as 4.405 mm. In the case of a cap having an external dimension of 60 mm this has to be related to a dr of 4.48 mm. The resultant ratio v.sub.2 of axial height of the skirt to radial extension of the transition zone is 0.98.

[0152] This ratio v.sub.2=0.98 for characterizing a skirt having very short axial dimensions may have a tolerance range of 2%.

[0153] The respective dimensioning and determination of assignment may also take as a basis the radial dimension b.sub.52. In this case, the outward curl 22 according to FIG. 1 has an axial height dimension of the skirt 12 according to FIG. 1 of h.sub.0=4.405, as specified above. The dimension used for the container 50 in the neck section 52 is b.sub.52=1.5 mm. This comparatively narrow dimension is supplemented by the additional dimensions specified in FIG. 3, which define the effective sealing area, so that the radial dimension of the effective sealing area is given by b.sub.52*, which amounts to 2.35 mm, the pure radial dimension of the end face 52a being, however, only 1.5 mm within this dimension b.sub.52*.

[0154] In the example according to FIG. 1 comprising an outward curl, the ratio v.sub.1 of axial height to the pure radial dimension b.sub.52 is thus calculated from the above values as 2.94 and is smaller than 3.00. The other ratio for the inward curl according to FIG. 2 is that of the height dimension h.sub.0 to the extension b.sub.52 of the end face 52a. The dimension b.sub.52 is here equal to that of the example according to FIG. 1 and amounts to 1.5 mm.

[0155] For the embodiment of the inward curl 21 according to FIG. 2 also a comparatively short skirt section 12 can be described by ratios, in one case through the first ratio v.sub.1 and in another case through the second ratio v.sub.2, or through the combination of these ratios. The first ratio v.sub.1 describes the ratio of the length (of the skirt section) to the horizontal end face 52a on the glass container; the second ratio v.sub.2 describes the ratio h.sub.0 to the radial extension dr of the transition zone 11a, 11b and 11c on the closure cap alone.

[0156] It is to be expected that other diameters of closure caps, not only that of the 60 mm closure cap, will also exhibit these ratios v.sub.1 and v.sub.2, since the width 52 of the sealing zone to the length of the axial retaining zone as well as dr and h.sub.0 remain virtually unchanged for closure caps having smaller and larger diameters.

[0157] Also in this case, the axial section h.sub.0 is shorter than the radial dimension dr for the closure cap. According to the example in question, the height h.sub.0 for FIG. 2 is to be specified as 4.005 mm and the radial extension dr is to be specified as 4.48 mm, as in the case of the example according to FIG. 1.

[0158] From the above, a FIG. 2 ratio v.sub.2 of 0.89 is obtained, i.e. a ratio that is even smaller than the FIG. 1 ratio v.sub.2 of 0.98 explained on the basis of the example according to FIG. 1.

[0159] This ratio can, in a larger tolerance range, be specified as 0.95%, so can 0.891%, shown on the basis of the example of a 59 mm closure cap in FIG. 2, this diameter dimension D.sub.a being, however, not of essential importance for the ratio described, since in the mouth area of the closed container 50 this ratio remains the same, virtually independently of the diameter of various closures.

[0160] On the one hand, it is possible to specify an upper limit having the effect that this second ratio v.sub.2 will be smaller than 1, but also a lower limit can be specified, according to which the ratio should be larger than 0.85. In the case of a technical-functional limitation, this should always be described by an upper and a lower limit. However, it is primarily the upper limit that is significant for a differentiation from the prior art, since the small dimension of the axial extension of the skirt 12 can be described best by the upper limit.

[0161] It follows that, in the example according to FIG. 1 comprising an outward curl, the ratio v.sub.1 of the axial height to the pure radial dimension b.sub.52 is 2.94 and, consequently, smaller than 3.00. The other ratio for the inward curl according to FIG. 2 is that of the height dimension h.sub.0 to the extension b.sub.52 of the end face 52a. The dimension b.sub.52 is here equal to that of the example according to FIG. 1 and amounts to 1.5 mm.

[0162] Also the radial dimension b.sub.52* of the effective sealing area remained here the same and is specified as 2.35 mm. This is evident, since both glass containers 50 are to be assumed as being identical, in one case closed with a closure cap 2 having an outward curl 22 and in another case closed with a closure cap 1 having an inward curl 21, in either case at the lower end of the skirt section 12.

[0163] In view of the low height of 4.005 mm of the axial skirt section 12, a smaller first ratio v.sub.1 of 2.67 is obtained. Also this ratio lies below the upper limit of 3.0 and, specified more precisely, it can be indicated as lying below 2.70.

[0164] In the examples of FIGS. 1 and 2 other height dimensions are additionally shown, which result from the height dimensions described.

[0165] The height dimension h=h.sub.1 for the skirt with the outward curl 22 according to FIG. 1 is composed of three components, the diameter d.sub.22 of the rolled-in area 22, the axial height h.sub.0 of the short skirt section 12 and an axial height h of the transition zone 11a, 11b and 11c having the radial width dr. The resultant overall height of the rim area of the closure cap 2 is here h.sub.1.

[0166] FIG. 2 discloses a further component h.sub.21 of the closure cap 1 with the inward curl 21, in addition to the above described three components according to FIG. 1, here for the formation of the height dimension h=h.sub.2. Hence, the three components are, accordingly, the axial dimension h.sub.0 of the skirt 12, the diameter d.sub.21 of the inward curl 21 and the axial height dimension h of the transition zone 11a, 11b and 11c, which can be taken from FIG. 1. The newly added axial dimension h.sub.21 is the axial height of the bell-shaped, expanded intermediate section 21a with its lower end 21a.

[0167] The container according to FIG. 4 is closed at the bottom and has a mouth area 52, which is open at the top and which will often also be referred to as mouth in the following. The upper end of this mouth defines a sealing area 51, which is configured as a three-dimensional annular surface and which will be specified more precisely in the enlarged representations of details in the following.

[0168] The mouth area 52 of the container is provided with an upper sealing profile (as three-dimensional sealing area 51) and has a thread profile arranged therebelow, the thread profile consisting of the thread segments 53, 54, . . . . FIG. 6 shows these thread segments unrolled into a plane, only one hemisphere, i.e. 180 of the mouth area, being shown unrolled into a plane. Preferably, between six and ten thread segments in a 4 cm to 7 cm range of diameters of the container 50 are provided on a circumference of 360. What can be seen on the present representation are four complete thread segments and two half segments 53 and 58 on 180.

[0169] The shape of the container is shown in an example in FIG. 4. The container comprises a substantially cylindrical body part 50b, followed, at the lower end thereof, by a slightly vaulted bottom part 50a, and above the cylindrical body part 50b a constriction 50c is provided, whose upper end merges with the above-mentioned mouth area 52.

[0170] Also a great variety of other shapes of closed bodies may be used, some of them having no constriction, others having a flat bottom, and a cylindrical body part 50b need not necessarily be provided. This example according to FIG. 4 only singles out one possible example and emphasizes, in the following description, the mouth area 52 being configured for attachment to a basic body (container body) of arbitrary shape or for being adjoined to the top of the latter.

[0171] The material of the container is preferably glass. Also a dimensionally stable plastic may be used, elastic deformations of the container should be avoided, so that neither flexible plastic materials nor formed carton can be used, when a dimensionally stable neck 52 is to be provided as a mouth area.

[0172] FIG. 5 shows an enlarged representation of a detail of FIG. 4. The sealing area 51, a more precise embodiment of which has been explained in FIG. 3, can here be seen in more detail. An additional step 60 is added, which, as regards the glass body 50, slightly modifies the embodiment according to FIG. 5 in comparison with the examples according to FIG. 1 FIG. 2.

[0173] The upper end of a thread element 55 is shown in a sectional view, the step 60 being positioned axially above this thread element 55 and, again axially above, the three-dimensional sealing area 51 is provided, which begins at step 60 (on the outer side) and extends up to the turning point 52b of the fluted groove 52b on the inner side of the mouth 52 (as a lateral groove that is open at the top).

[0174] In the example according to FIG. 5, a slight inclination of substantially 7 of the almost axial section 61 can be seen. The curvatures 52 and 52 can be adopted from FIG. 3, so can the horizontally oriented annular surface 52a, which defines a portion of the sealingly effective area 51. Its width in the radial direction is b.sub.52.

[0175] FIG. 5 shows a subsequent thread element 56. The section A-A according to FIG. 6 can here be assumed to be shown.

[0176] Below the thread profile of all thread elements, among which elements 53 to 58 are shown in FIG. 6, there is a stabilizing thickened portion of the class container, up to which also the axially lower end section of the closure cap shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 extends. This lower end section may have an outward curl or an inward curl, as has been explained in connection with FIGS. 1 and 2.

[0177] The above-mentioned thread elements according to FIG. 6 are partially overlapping, they extend at a slightly upwards directed inclination angle of 4.5 to 5 and, due to their staggered arrangement, they accomplish the effect of a continuous thread, which would be impossible to position on such a short height of the mouth section 52. In addition, they allow the effect of pressing on a closure cap having a plastics layer arranged on the side of the inner rim thereof, the plastics layer consisting of a vertical and a horizontal section. When the closure is being pressed on, the vertical section comes into contact with the thread segments and forms paths by impression. Along these paths, the closure cap can axially be lifted off when it is being unscrewed. The latter is done on the part of the user or by the user or the person handling the closure cap, the former takes place when the container is being closed through or by the filler.

[0178] FIG. 6 explains the position of the external step 60 that can be seen from FIG. 5. The step 60 is positioned slightly above the upper ends of the thread elements, which, in the following, will be described, inherently, by the term thread segments as being staggered, delimited in length, circumferentially offset relative to one another and slightly inclined.

[0179] The upper horizontal sealing area 52a is, in FIG. 6, the upper end of the container neck unrolled into a plane, the container neck having the thread profile. The spacing of step 60 from this upper end is smaller than the axial dimension h.sub.54. This section from step 60 up to the horizontal section 52a of the sealing area 51 is designated by 61 and corresponds analogously to the two sections 52 and 52 according to FIG. 3, where no step 60 is provided.

[0180] The thread segments, which are shown in FIG. 6 in a representation unrolled into a plane, are shown more clearly on the basis of the enlarged representation of a detail according to FIG. 6a. Here, it will be explained, with respect to a thread segment 55, what the axial upper end of this thread segment is. This explanation applies, however, equally to all thread segments. The end of the thread segment is designated by 55a. The axial upper end is designated by 55a, when seen in a purely axial direction of view. It defines a circumferential height dimension or a circumferential line H.sub.54 serving as a determination base. It extends parallel to the circumferential profile of step 60 and parallel to the upper horizontal sealing area 52a.

[0181] In the following, it will be explained by the parameters described that the upper axial ends of the thread segments 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58 and of all the thread segments located on the other hemisphere, which is not shown in FIG. 6, approach the step 60 very closely and are therefore also located in very close proximity to the sealing area 51.

[0182] In other words, the step 60 of the embodiments according to the present invention shown in FIG. 5 is located very close to the axial upper ends 53a, 54a, 55a, 56a and 57a as well as to all those axial upper ends located on the other 180 of the container mouth, which is not shown in FIG. 6.

[0183] In the embodiments according to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the step 60 does not exist, as can especially be seen in the case of the embodiments according to FIG. 3. Instead, the sealing area 51 with both external sections 52 and 52 is configured to extend up to the upper end (the axial upper end 54a in the representation according to FIG. 3).

[0184] It follows that, in the case of all embodiments, with or without a step 60, the defined axial upper end H.sub.54 of the thread area approaches the sealing area 52 very closely, in other words particularly closely to such an extent that the term short neck is an appropriate term to use. This short neck may also be described by other terms as being reduced in length, compact or by a combination of these terms.

[0185] However, a particularly short or compact and/or length-reduced structural design of a neck can only be described in comparison with the prior art. Such a comparison is, however, difficult to express in a claimed subject matter, so that it is necessary to make use of orders of magnitude or magnitudes, in connection with which the dimensional lines or dimensional planes have been described hereinbefore, which will be filled hereinbelow with informative content by specifying dimensional and proportional data with respect to spacings or ratios of lengths or widths.

[0186] The first dimension of this height reduction of the mouth area 52 is explained in FIG. 5. Here, the step 60 is spaced from the horizontal section 52a of the sealing area 51 by a distance of approx. 0.8 mm.

[0187] When seen from the reverse point of view, the step 60 is spaced from the upper axial end of the thread segments by a similar dimension, viz. by 0.7 mm.

[0188] The radial width of the entire sealing area 51 amounts to approx. 2.35 mm and is composed of the various sections that can be seen from FIG. 3. The purely radially directed dimension b.sub.52 amounts to approx. 1.5 mm (the horizontal end face 52a).

[0189] When a closure cap according to e.g. FIG. 1 or 2 is placed onto the mouth area 52, the sealing area 51 is dimensioned such that it is formed by impression. This three-dimensional sealing area extends from the turning point 52b of the fluted groove 52b to the external step 60. This corresponds to an approximate extension into the depth direction of 80% to 90% of a horizontal section 30h of the plastics layer 30 (comprising the horizontal section 30h and the vertical section 30v) positioned on the cap. The order of magnitude of this plastics layer is normally in the range of 1 mm, so that pressing in and a pressureresulting from such pressing inwill occur, whereby the food content of the container 50 will be sealed reliably.

[0190] The positioning of the step 60 and the dimensioning of the short neck 52 also allow various other geometries and dimensions, in the case of which the step still exists, or does not exist, as is the case with FIGS. 1 and 2 and the container neck 52 shown there. What is referred to here is the threadless height h.sub.54, which describes an axial section of the container neck 52 having neither any thread nor any thread segment provided thereon. Hence, it will be assumed in the following description that the upper end of each of the segments is the lower end of the height dimension h.sub.54. The upper ends of the segments are located on a circumferential line H.sub.54.

[0191] The circumferential line H.sub.54 according to FIG. 6 illustrates that which is shown in FIG. 5 in a sectional view.

[0192] If the person skilled in the art intends to choose the definition of the short neck such that a ratio is defined, i.e. to consider a width b.sub.52 of the horizontal section of the sealing area 51 and the axial spacing h.sub.54 that is independent of the existence of a step 60 (the step being positioned at the outside and being therefore also directed outwards), this will result in the reflection following hereinbelow.

[0193] The axial spacing is defined between the axial upper ends of the (of all) segments and a horizontal plane. This horizontal plane is a working hypothesis that is intended to describe the horizontally oriented end face 52a of the container neck 52. Between this plane and the imaginary circumferential line H.sub.54 a spacing is defined. This spacing is to be related to the width b.sub.52 necessary or required for the sealing effect, so that a ratio is obtained that is capable of equally expressing the performance or function of sufficient sealing and the performance or function of the comparatively short axial length of the mouth area 52.

[0194] This ratio is less than 1.35, even in modified embodiments following the embodiment of FIG. 5 or the stepless structural design of FIGS. 1 and 2 with respect to the container. The height h.sub.54 does here not exceed 2 mm, and may vary around the depicted example according to FIG. 5 with h.sub.54=1.5 mm and may also be smaller than that. Tests have been conducted with h.sub.54=1.6 mm and h.sub.54=1.3 mm, i.e. with values slightly above and below the depicted spacing according to FIG. 5. The non-depicted examples, up to h.sub.54=2 mm at the most, are to be understood as having been made comprehensible to the person skilled in the art according to the embodiment of FIG. 5.

[0195] When the person skilled in the art assumes a radial dimension of 1.5 mm in the case of a horizontal sealing area b.sub.52, a ratio of approx. 1.0 is obtained in the embodiment shown.

[0196] The step 60 may additionally be provided and is suitably positioned in the spacing h.sub.54 such that preferably up to this step the horizontal section of the plastics layer 30 will be sealingly pressed into, when the cap is placed onto the glass 50 by being pressed on mechanically at the filler's.

[0197] In the case of higher h.sub.54 values of up to 2 mm, the step 60 may also be positioned such that this closure sealing is established by pressing-in under pressure, thus forming the seal by the sealing area 51 shown in FIG. 7 more precisely and in more detail. The step 60 may, however, also be positioned such that it is located closer to the axial upper ends (the circumferential line H.sub.54), so that it will not necessarily press into the horizontal section of the plastics layer, but into a piece of the vertical section 30v of the plastics layer 30.

[0198] The smallest hitherto tested dimension with respect to the axial spacing h.sub.54 is 1.3 mm, which, related to the assumed width b.sub.52=1.5 mm, results in a ratio of approx. 0.9 (more precisely 0.867). The here specified ratios are rounded values. The respective specified width and height dimensions have been measured precisely.

[0199] A dimension taken from FIG. 5 is illustrated in FIG. 7. A detail of this FIG. 7 is shown in FIG. 8 in a representation that has been enlarged once more.

[0200] The step 60 shown there is spaced apart from the horizontal surface 52a at a spacing h.sub.60. The height dimension h.sub.54 is here not shown. When a step 60 is provided, its spacing or its positioning between the surface 52a and the axial upper end of the thread segments, in the present example 55a, may also be used for characterizing the short structural design of the neck. Preferably, the step 60 is positioned such that it does not come to lie outside a plastics-layer horizontal section to be attached. In other words, a sufficient amount of material has been removed from the neck 52 for still making the step 60 press into this horizontal section or for still producing the sealing effect in the horizontal section up to this step 60, and the thread segments thus closely approach this step 60. In other words, they will also approach the sealing area 52a very closely, so that the neck is compact, short or length-reduced in shape, of course in comparison with the prior art, but here concretely described by the positioning of the step 60 in the threadless section axially above the thread segments (above H.sub.54).

[0201] This definition is here specified as 0.8 mm and may be considered in addition to the definition of the maximum spacing dimension h.sub.54 or it may be characterized alone. Likewise, the spacing dimension h.sub.54 alone may be characterizing for the short dimensions of the mouth area (of the neck 52), without taking the position of the step 60 additionally into account.

[0202] In the present embodiment, the dimension h.sub.60 is less than 1 mm. In the preferred design of the very short neck according to FIG. 5, this is an axial dimension of h.sub.60=0.8 mm. If a ratio is calculated as a fourth ratio also in this case, the dimension h.sub.60 and the width b.sub.52 can be taken into account, which are both values that are representative of the sealing behavior and the shortness of the neck.

[0203] With the two represented dimensions smaller than 1.0 mm and smaller than 0.8 mm, or equal to the specified magnitude for h.sub.60, an upper limit of the ratio of not higher than 0.7 (rounded from 0.67) and not less than 0.55 (rounded from 0.53) is obtained. This is based on a width of 1.5 mm of the radial part (also: purely horizontal part 52a) of the sealing area 51 forming three-dimensionally.

[0204] As has been described above, this dimension is an additional possible characterization, but not an exclusive characterization. Hence, the two above-mentioned characterizations should not or must not be interpreted such that they must always occur together. For example, a step 60 may be provided, in the case of which h.sub.60>1.0 mm, but the axial spacing h.sub.54 is still less than 2 mm, or, expressed in a ratio to the radial extension of the horizontal section of the sealing area 51, less than 1.35 (calculated from a spacing of 2.0 mm between the axial upper ends of the thread segments and a radial width of 1.5 mm as well as rounded up from 1.33 to a handier value of 1.35).

[0205] The additional representation of an enlarged detail according to FIG. 8 illustrates that which has been said in the preceding figures. The turning point 52b in the fluted groove 52b is clearly visible. The effective radial dimension b.sub.52* is explained in FIG. 3 and is here applied to the container 50 having an external step 60. The dimension b.sub.52* is measured up to the inner edge of this step 60 (it also has an outer edge located further out) and in the present example it amounts to 2.35 mm with a certain tolerance that can be specified in the order of 10%.

[0206] The horizontal part of the entire sealing area 51 is 52a with a width b.sub.52 of 1.5 mm, again with a correspondingly specified tolerance.

[0207] The attaching of the closure cap (cap 1 or 2 of FIGS. 2 and 1, respectively) is shown in FIGS. 7a and 7b. FIG. 7a shows an initial state of closure cap attachment, where the closure cap has already reached the first thread segment with the vertical section 30v of the plastics layer. The horizontal section 30h of the entire plastics layer 30 rests on the horizontal end face 52a. The sealing area 51 formed after pressing-in is illustrated in FIG. 7b. The cap has been pressed-in downwards, the compressed zones of the plastics layer 30 being identified by more closely spaced dots, and, forming small bulges, the sealing material 30 is displaced in the horizontal section to the left and to the right. The substantially vertically oriented section 61 of the sealing area was initially positioned in spaced relationship with the section 30v of the plastics layer 30. After the pressing-in, this spacing is occupied by horizontal components of the horizontal section 30h due to displacement. The radially inner end has provided therein the laterally oriented groove 52b that accommodates the inner bulge formed due to the displacement.

[0208] Due to the slope of the transition area of the closure cap, the remaining spacing at the inner edge region of the sealing area 51 is smaller than at the outer edge region. A complete pressing down of the closure cap subsequent to the intermediate state according to FIG. 7b makes the horizontal section 52a approach the metallic section 11b very closely and the circumferential step 60 reaches now the horizontal section 30h of the plastics layer 30. As regards the nature of the plastics layer, reference is made to the introduction, cf. page 3, third paragraph.

[0209] The lower end of the skirt 12 of the respective closure cap according to FIGS. 1 and 2 is shown neither in FIG. 7a nor in FIG. 7b. This lower end may be followed by an inward curl or an outward curl according to the two above-mentioned figures.

[0210] The aim achieved by this reduction of the length of the neck 52 or the purpose associated therewith is to be seen in a reduction of the amount of material used. It can be achieved that the thread segments approach the 3D sealing area 51 (the sealing profile) more closely, with the sealing effect remaining the same, so that glass (more general: material of the container) can be saved. If hard plastic is used instead of glass, the material saved is hard plastic. Parallel or simultaneously, material is also saved on the cap side. The skirt 12 of the cap can be reduced in length, since it need not extend axially downwards on the glass as far as before for arriving at the thread segments 53 to 58. The fact that there is no change in the sealing area 51 contributes to making it unnecessary that material components, which are no longer required in the axial direction, have to be added in the radial direction, so as to supplement the sealing effect in the radial direction. Instead, the radial dimension of the sealing area in the examples did not change in comparison with the prior art.

[0211] The proportions and dimensional data described characterize a short container neck in the mouth area, and while maintaining an equally effective sealing area in the horizontal section of the plastics layer (of the compound or sealing material arranged in the cap), these short dimensions are accomplished by axially shifting the thread segments towards the three-dimensional sealing area 51. In so doing, material above the thread segments 53 to 58 and below the sealing area 51 is removed, saved, and the short dimensions of the neck are achieved in this way. Surprisingly enough, the neck, which has been shortened to a certain extent, allows the person skilled in the art to save not only material for the container but also sheet metal material for the associated cap.

[0212] Auxiliary measures or compensation measures for adding at some other point the material saved are not necessary, but the saving is absolute.

[0213] The above is advantageously supplemented by a third effect occurring as a surprise. It is the opening force or break-open moment, which a user or a person handling the closure cap has to apply for unscrewing the closure cap from the thread segments and for opening the closed container for accessing the product F filled therein. Here, a specially small force is accomplished by the shorter neck section, since the removed zone at the end of the vertical section of the three-dimensional sealing area above the axial upper ends of the thread segments created part of the friction, and since this is now no longer the case.

[0214] In spite of the advantageous elimination of part of the static friction, the sealing effect and the retaining effect at the thread segments are as good as those achieved in the prior art, these effects being, however, accomplished by using a smaller amount of material.