Closing cap for containers

Abstract

A closing cap for containers with a threaded neck portion, includes a lower ring coupled to the neck of the container and an upper cap provided internally with a thread to be coupled to the outer threaded neck portion, the upper cap and the lower ring are joined to rotate together. The connection between the upper cap and the lower ring is made by two flexible extensions diametrically opposed to each other, which are formed by a thickening present in the lower ring that includes a grooved portion. The lower edge of the body of the upper cap has a step defining a recessed portion where the extensions are located. In a closed condition, the two extensions are arranged above and parallel to the body of the lower ring. In an open position, the upper end of the extensions acts as a hinge region allowing the upper cap to rotate.

Claims

1. A closing cap for a container, the container having an opening in a neck provided with an outer threaded portion, the closing cap comprising: a lower ring coupled to the neck of the container and an upper cap that has on the inner face thereof a thread coupled to the outer threaded portion of a container neck, the upper cap and the lower ring being joined to each other in such a way that they are able to rotate together, wherein the connection between the upper cap and the lower ring is carried out by two flexible extensions that are diametrically opposed to each other, each flexible extension of the two flexible extensions formed from a thickening present in the lower ring that includes a grooved portion such that the two flexible extensions are formed above the grooved portion in such a way that the two flexible extensions have the same outer diameter as the outer diameter of the thickening, the lower edge of the body of the upper cap having a step that defines a recessed portion in which the two flexible extensions are located, and such that in a closed condition the two flexible extensions are arranged above and parallel to the body of the lower ring; while in an open position of the closing cap, respective upper ends of each flexible extension of the two flexible extensions act as a hinge region in such a way that the upper cap is able to rotate, and in which the interior of the lower ring includes retaining means intended to act on a perimeter projection present on a container neck, such retaining means being disposed on the inner diameter of the body of the lower ring, in such a way that the regions are aligned in height with the position where each flexible extension of the two flexible extensions is generated from the lower ring are devoid of such retaining means such that the two flexible extensions flex responsive to a vertical movement of the lower ring.

2. The closing cap according to claim 1, wherein the closing cap includes stop means intended to keep the upper cap fixed in an inverted position with respect to the arrangement taken on by the upper cap during the closed position.

3. The closing cap according to claim 2, wherein the stop means comprises a projection protruding from the lower ring, which is aligned in height with a tab protruding laterally from the lower edge of the upper cap, and wherein, in an open condition, the tab abuts a lower surface of the projection, in which the tab has a curved path that can be adapted to the radius of curvature of the lower ring.

4. The closing cap according to claim 1, wherein the retaining means comprise a plurality of protuberances aligned and spaced from each other, which run parallel to the lower edge of the upper cap.

5. The closing cap according to claim 1, further comprising a tamper-evident seal between the upper cap and the lower ring.

6. The closing cap according to claim 5, wherein the tamper-evident seal is made up of a plurality of break points distributed in a slot between the lower edge of the upper cap and the upper edge of the lower ring.

7. The closing cap according to claim 1, wherein the closing cap is made up of a single piece of injection-mouldable or compression-moulded plastic material.

8. A closing cap for a container, the container having an opening in a neck provided with an outer threaded portion, the closing cap comprising: a lower ring coupled to the neck of the container and an upper cap that has on the inner face thereof a thread coupled to the outer threaded portion of a container neck, the upper cap and the lower ring being joined to each other in such a way that they are able to rotate together, wherein the connection between the upper cap and the lower ring is carried out by two flexible extensions that are diametrically opposed to each other, each flexible extension of the two flexible extensions formed from a thickening present in the lower ring that includes a grooved portion such that the two flexible extensions are formed above the grooved portion in such a way that the two flexible extensions have the same outer diameter as the outer diameter of the thickening, the lower edge of the body of the upper cap having a step that defines a recessed portion in which the two flexible extensions are located, and such that in a closed condition the two flexible extensions are arranged above and parallel to the body of the lower ring; while in an open position of the closing cap, respective upper ends of each flexible extension of the two flexible extensions act as a hinge region in such a way that the upper cap is able to rotate, and in which the interior of the lower ring includes retaining means intended to act on a perimeter projection present on a container neck, such retaining means aligned and equidistant from each other along the inner diameter of the body of the lower ring, except in regions aligned in height with the position where each flexible extension of the two flexible extensions is generated from the lower ring whereby the regions aligned in height are devoid of such retaining means to which the two flexible extensions flex responsively.

9. The closing cap according to claim 8, wherein the closing cap includes stop means intended to keep the upper cap fixed in an inverted position with respect to the arrangement taken on by the upper cap during the closed position.

10. The closing cap according to claim 9, wherein the stop means comprises a projection protruding from the lower ring, which is aligned in height with a tab protruding laterally from the lower edge of the upper cap, and wherein, in an open condition, the tab abuts a lower surface of the projection, in which the tab has a curved path that can be adapted to the radius of curvature of the lower ring.

11. The closing cap according to claim 8, wherein the retaining means comprise a plurality of protuberances aligned and spaced from each other, which run parallel to the lower edge of the upper cap.

12. The closing cap according to claim 8, further comprising a tamper-evident seal between the upper cap and the lower ring.

13. The closing cap according to claim 12, wherein the tamper-evident seal is made up of a plurality of break points distributed in a slot between the lower edge of the upper cap and the upper edge of the lower ring.

14. The closing cap according to claim 8, wherein the closing cap is made up of a single piece of injection-mouldable or compression-moulded plastic material.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of an embodiment of the closing cap according to the present invention;

(2) FIG. 2 is another side elevation view of the closing cap shown in FIG. 1;

(3) FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the closing cap according to the invention;

(4) FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the closing cap according to the invention where the inner portion thereof is shown;

(5) FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the closing cap mounted on a container and in a partially open condition;

(6) FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the closing cap in a closed condition;

(7) FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the closing cap in a partially open condition; and

(8) FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the closing cap in a completely open condition.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

(9) In light of the aforementioned figures, and in accordance with the adopted numbering, one may observe therein a preferred exemplary embodiment of the invention, which comprises the parts and elements indicated and described in detail below.

(10) Furthermore, the terms first, second, third, and the like in the description and in the claims are used to distinguish between similar items and not necessarily to describe a sequential or chronological order. The terms may be interchanged under appropriate circumstances and the embodiments of the invention may operate in sequences other than those described or illustrated herein.

(11) Furthermore, the terms upper, lower, top, bottom, and the like in the description and in the claims are used for descriptive purposes and not necessarily to describe relative positions.

(12) As can be seen in the figures, the closing cap for containers is intended for containers that have an opening in a neck (100) provided with an outer threaded portion. Said cap is formed by a lower ring (1) configured to be coupled to the neck of the container and an upper cap (2) that has on the inner face thereof a thread (21) configured to be coupled to the outer threaded portion (101) of a container neck (100), the upper cap (2) and the lower ring (1) being joined to each other in such a way that they are able to rotate together around the container neck. This closing cap is made from a single piece of injection-mouldable or compression-moulded plastic material. It should be mentioned that the container neck can have a lower height by using the closing cap described below.

(13) An outer surface of the lateral face defined by the body of the upper cap (2) has a non-smooth surface (22), in particular, a knurled surface formed by a plurality of ribs in a radial distribution that extend from the upper portion to the lower portion of the body of the upper cap (2), as can be seen in FIGS. 1 to 8.

(14) The connection between the upper cap (2) and the lower ring (1) is carried out by means of two extensions (3) with a certain degree of flexibility and constant cross section, which are diametrically opposed to each other, each one of them formed from a thickening present in the lower ring that includes a grooved portion (7) such that the extensions are formed above the grooved portion (7), in such a way that the two extensions (3) have the same outer diameter as the outer diameter of the thickening, the lower edge of the body of the upper cap (2) having a step (20) that defines a recessed portion in which the extensions (3) are located, such that in an open position of the closing cap, the upper end of the extensions (3) acts as a hinge region in such a way that the upper cap (2) is able to rotate.

(15) In addition, the cap includes stop means intended to keep the upper cap (2) fixed in an inverted position with respect to the arrangement taken on by the upper cap (2) during the closed position.

(16) In particular, these stop means comprise a projection (4) protruding from the lower ring (1), which is aligned in height with a tab (5) protruding laterally from the lower edge of the upper cap (2), such that, in an open condition (FIG. 8), the tab abuts a lower surface of the projection (4), in which the tab (5) has a surface (50) with a curved path that can be adapted to the radius of curvature of the lower ring.

(17) The interior of the lower ring (1) includes retaining means (described below) that are intended to act on a perimeter projection present on a container neck, such retaining means being present partially along the inner diameter of the body of the lower ring (1), in such a way that the regions (11) aligned in height with the position where each of the extensions (3) is generated from the lower ring (1) are devoid of such retaining means.

(18) Referring to the aforementioned retaining means, they comprise a plurality of protuberances (8) aligned and equidistant from each other, which run parallel to the lower edge of the upper cap (2).

(19) To assure the user that the container including the closing cap has not been tampered with, the closing cap includes a tamper-evident seal located between the upper cap (2) and the lower ring (1). This seal is made up of a plurality of break points (6) spaced apart from each other and located between the lower portion of the upper cap (2) and the upper edge of the lower ring (1).

(20) The details, shapes, dimensions and other accessory elements, used to manufacture the closing cap of the invention, may be suitably substituted for others which do not depart from the scope defined by the claims which are included below.