CLOSURE DEVICE WITH SUPPORT RING

Abstract

A closure device for closing a container. The closure device includes a basic member, a closure cap, an anchor ring and a connecting device. The basic member has an additional support arranged axially between a fastener and a first guide. The support has a first surface element with a surface normal which points in the direction of a pouring plane. The closure device is configured such that, in the open state of the closure device, the closure cap can be brought into a first position in which the closure cap abuts neither against the first surface element nor against a first edge bounding the first surface element, and can be brought into a second position in which the closure cap abuts against the first surface element or against the first edge or against the first surface element and the first edge.

Claims

1-17. (canceled)

18. A closure device for closing a container, wherein the closure device comprises a basic member, wherein the basic member provides a channel extending along a closure axis with an inlet opening and a pouring opening axially opposite the inlet opening, wherein the pouring opening is arranged in an imaginary pouring plane configured substantially perpendicular to the closure axis, wherein the basic member comprises a first guiding means, wherein the basic member comprises a fastening means, wherein the closure device comprises a closure cap, wherein the closure cap has a cap cover and an axially extending cap skirt adjoining the cap cover on the circumferential side, wherein the closure cap has a second guiding means, wherein the closure cap and the basic member are configured such that in a closed state of the closure device, the first guiding means and the second guiding means are in engagement with one another and the closure cap closes the pouring opening, and in an open state of the closure device, the first guiding means and the second guiding means are disengaged and the closure cap releases the pouring opening at least in sections, wherein the closure device comprises an anchor ring and a connecting device, wherein the connecting device connects the anchor ring to the closure cap, wherein the anchor ring is in engagement with the fastening means both in the closed state and in the open state of the closure device in such a way that the closure cap is connected to the basic member by the connecting device and the anchor ring even in the open state, wherein the basic member has an additional support means, wherein the support means is arranged axially between the fastening means and the first guiding means, wherein the support means has a first surface element with a surface normal, wherein the surface normal points in the direction of the pouring plane, wherein the closure device is configured such that, in the open state of the closure device, the closure cap can be brought into a first position in which the closure cap abuts neither against the first surface element nor against a first edge delimiting the first surface element, and can be brought into a second position in which the closure cap abuts against the first surface element or against the first edge or against the first surface element and the first edge, wherein the closure cap is mounted in the second position in a stabilised manner relative to the basic member.

19. The closure device according to claim 18, wherein the support means, the connecting device and the closure cap are configured in such a way that a change from the first position of the closure cap to the second position of the closure cap and/or a change from the second position of the closure cap to the first position of the closure cap is only possible by an external action of an additional force.

20. The closure device according to claim 18, wherein the closure device is configured such that when the closure cap is changed from the first position to the second position and/or when the closure cap is changed from the second position to the first position, a clicking sound audible to the average user is heard.

21. The closure device according to claim 18, wherein the closure cap comprises a fixing element, wherein the closure cap and the connecting device are configured such that the fixing element abuts at least against the first surface element or against the first edge in the open state of the closure device when the closure cap is in the second position, so that a change in this second position can essentially only be brought about by a conscious application of force by a user of the closure device, wherein the fixing element preferably represents an axial extension of the cap skirt in the closed state of the closure device, wherein particularly preferably the maximum outer radius of the fixing element is not greater than the maximum outer radius of the cap skirt.

22. The closure device according to claim 21, wherein the connection of the connecting device to the anchor ring in the closed state is located closer to the pouring opening than the area of the fixing element at the maximum distance from the pouring opening.

23. The closure device according to claim 18, wherein the support means is arranged axially spaced from both the first guiding means and the fastening means.

24. The closure device according to claim 18, wherein the support means is a support ring extending over the full circumference of the basic member and projecting radially away from the closure axis, or the support means is a support ring section extending only over a partial area of less than 360 degrees and projecting radially away from the closure axis.

25. The closure device according to claim 18, wherein the support means has a maximum radial extension, to be measured from the closure axis, which is greater than the maximum radial extension of the first guiding means.

26. The closure device according to claim 18, wherein the connecting device and the closure cap are configured such that the closure cap in the open state is pivotally mounted relative to the basic member about a pivot axis perpendicular to the closure axis.

27. The closure device according to claim 18, wherein the connecting device comprises at least a first holding band and an additional second holding band, wherein the first holding band connects the closure cap to the anchor ring, wherein the second holding band connects the closure cap to the anchor ring, wherein the connecting device preferably exclusively comprises a first holding band and an additional second holding band.

28. The closure device according to claim 27, wherein at least the first holding band is twisted in the open state of the closure device when the closure cap is in the second position, wherein preferably the first holding band and the second holding band are twisted in the open state of the closure device when the closure cap is in the second position.

29. The closure device according to claim 27, wherein the first holding band and the second holding band each extend over a circumferential angle of at most 120 degrees, preferably at most 90 degrees and particularly preferably at most 60 degrees in the closed state of the closure device.

30. The closure device according to claim 18, wherein the first guiding means and the second guiding means are configured and arranged such that, in the closed state of the closure device, the closure cap is mounted on the basic member so as to be rotatable about the closure cap relative to the basic member, so that the closure cap is rotatable in an opening direction relative to the basic member in order to bring the closure device into the open state.

31. The closure device according to claim 30, wherein the first guiding means and the second guiding means are configured and arranged in such a way that the first guiding means and the second guiding means disengage at most after a rotation of the closure cap by 180 degrees in the opening direction of rotation out of the closed state, so that the closure cap can be brought into the open state without any further rotation of the closure cap in the opening direction of rotation.

32. A combination of a carton package with a closure device according to claim 18, wherein the closure device is connected to the carton package or is partially configured integrally with the closure device in such a way that the closure device enables the carton package to be opened or closed, or a plastic bottle with the closure device, wherein the closure device is connected to the plastic bottle or is partially configured integrally with the plastic bottle in such a way that the closure device enables opening or closing of the plastic bottle, wherein the plastic bottle has a bottle neck, wherein the bottle neck is or comprises the basic member of the closure device.

33. The combination according to claim 32, wherein the combination is configured such that a closure cap pivotable about a pivot axis perpendicular to the closure axis relative to the basic member is pivotable by a maximum of 180 degrees, preferably by a maximum of 170 degrees, before contact between the carton package or plastic bottle on the one hand and the closure cap or connecting device on the other hand prevents the closure cap from pivoting beyond this.

34. The combination according to claim 32, wherein the combination is configured such that a mere pivoting movement of the closure cap from the first position into the second position and before reaching the second position causes the closure cap and an outer surface of the carton package or the plastic bottle to come into contact, wherein preferably the combination is configured such that the closure cap coming into contact with the outer surface of the carton package or the plastic bottle facilitates guiding the closure cap into the second position for the consuming person.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0062] Further embodiments, features, advantages and uses of the present inventions will become apparent from the figures discussed below. These show:

[0063] FIG. 1: a perspective view of a first embodiment of the closure device according to the invention in the closed state of the closure device,

[0064] FIG. 2: a sectional view of the first embodiment of the closure device according to the invention shown in FIG. 1 in the closed state of the closure device,

[0065] FIG. 3a: a first perspective view of the first embodiment of the closure device according to the invention shown in FIG. 1 in the open state of the closure device,

[0066] FIG. 3b: a second perspective view of the first embodiment of the closure device according to the invention shown in FIG. 1 in the open state of the closure device,

[0067] FIG. 4: a sectional view of the first embodiment of the closure device according to the invention shown in FIG. 1 in the open state of the closure device,

[0068] FIG. 5: a plan view from above of the first embodiment of the closure device according to the invention shown in FIG. 1 in the open state of the closure device,

[0069] FIG. 6: a perspective view of a second embodiment of the closure device according to the invention in the closed state of the closure device,

[0070] FIG. 7: a sectional view of the second embodiment of the closure device according to the invention shown in FIG. 6 in the closed state of the closure device,

[0071] FIG. 8a: a first perspective view of the second embodiment of the closure device according to the invention shown in FIG. 6 in the open state of the closure device,

[0072] FIG. 8b: a second perspective view of the second embodiment of the closure device according to the invention shown in FIG. 6 in the open state of the closure device,

[0073] FIG. 9: a sectional view of the second embodiment of the closure device according to the invention shown in FIG. 6 in the open state of the closure device,

[0074] FIG. 10: a top view of the second embodiment of the closure device according to the invention shown in FIG. 6 in the open state of the closure device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0075] The first embodiment of a closure device 1 according to the invention shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 5 has a connecting device 13 with two holding bands, namely a first holding band 23 and a second holding band 24, and a fixing element 18. Before the closure device 1 is opened for the first time, the two holding bands 23, 24 are connected to the anchor ring 12 on the one hand and to the cap skirt 10 on the other hand via a total of two weakening lines 25, 26. When the closure device 1 is opened for the first time, these two weakening lines 25, 26 tear, so that the closure cap 8, as shown in FIGS. 3a, 3b, 5 and 5, remains attached to the basic member 2 via the two holding bands 23, 24namely via the anchor ring 12even when the closure cap 8 is lifted off in order to release the pouring opening 5.

[0076] For the purposes of the present application, a weakening line is a special formation of an easily tearable bridge and thus also provides a tamper-evident device.

[0077] In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, the two weakening lines 25 and 26 are configured such that, before the closure device 1 is opened for the first time, a first weakening line 25 connects the first holding band 23 to the cap skirt 10 and the second holding band 24 to the anchor ring 12, and that a second weakening line 26 connects the first holding band 23 to the anchor ring 12 and the second holding band 24 to the cap skirt 10. As can be seen in FIG. 1, the second weakening line 26 extends from a position on the second holding band 24 that is axially spaced from the first weakening line 25 in the direction of the pouring opening 5, sometimes also axially towards a position on the first holding band 23 that is axially spaced from the first weakening line 25 in the direction of the inlet opening 4.

[0078] The second weakening line 26 extends in a zig-zag manner, so that in the closed state of the closure device 1 a fixing element 18 is formed at a circumferential position between the two circumferential ends of the first weakening line 25, which is arranged on the cap skirt 10 as an axial extension of the cap skirt 10. The fixing element 18 and cap skirt 10 are configured in one piece. The cap skirt 10 and fixing element 18 are also essentially flush in the radial direction.

[0079] After the closure device 1 is opened for the first time, the closure cap 8 is pivoted out of the position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 in order to bring it into the second, stabilised position of the closure cap 8 shown in FIGS. 3a, 3b, 4 and 5. The holding bands 23 and 24 are twisted by pivoting. The twisted holding bands cause a restoring torque which, without the presence of the support means 14 configured as a support ring, would cause the closure cap 8 to pivot at least partially back in the direction of the pouring opening 5. However, in the first embodiment of the closure device 1 shown here, the fixing element 18 initially comes into contact with the surface of the support means 14 aligned in the direction of the inlet opening 4 during pivoting. By applying a slightly increased torque, the person consuming the product then ensures that the fixing element 18 is lifted or pressed out of this position in the direction of the pouring opening 5 over the support ring, whereby a clearly audible clicking sound is emitted in the course of this. As a result, the fixing element 18 is in the position shown in FIG. 3a. In the embodiment shown here, this means that the fixing element abuts with its outer surface against the first edge 17 of the support ring. In this position, the support of the fixing element 18 on the first edge 17 of the support ring counteracts the restoring torque caused by the twisted holding bands, so that the closure cap 8 cannot be moved out of this position without the application of increased force by the person consuming it and is thus mounted in a stabilised manner.

[0080] Axially spaced from the support ring in the direction of the inlet opening 4, the basic member 2 has the fastening means 7 configured as a fastening ring, more precisely as a pilfer-proof ring. This fastening ring holds the anchor ring 12 and thus also the closure cap 8, which is connected to the anchor ring 12 via the connecting device 13, attached to the basic member 2. In the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, the anchor ring is configured as a flex band.

[0081] A flex band section of the anchor ring that is folded over in the direction of the closure axis 50 is in engagement with the fastening means 7.

[0082] The embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 5 also has an asymmetrical position of the two holding bands 23 and 24 in relation to each other when the closure cap 8 is in the second position. This can be seen in particular in FIG. 5.

[0083] For the purposes of the present application, an asymmetrical position of two holding bands is to be understood as an arrangement of two holding bands in which the connection point between the first of the two holding bands and the anchor ring is arranged closer (or further away, depending on the definition of the holding bands) to the closure cap than the connection point between the second of the two holding bands and the anchor ring.

[0084] The first guiding means 6 of the embodiment of the closure device 1 according to the invention shown in FIGS. 1 to 5 is configured as an external thread and the second guiding means 11 as a corresponding internal thread, whereby a rotation through a circumferential angle of approximately 180 degrees is necessary in order to disengage the external and internal threads from a fully closed position or to bring them fully into engagement with one another.

[0085] It can be seen from FIGS. 2 to 5 that the embodiment shown here also has a sealing membrane 19 initially closing the channel. A pull-off tab 20 is arranged on the sealing membrane 19. To release the channel 3, a person consuming the product only has to grasp the pull-off tab 20 with one finger and pull it upwards with the usual everyday force to separate the sealing membrane 19 from the inside of the channel.

[0086] It can be seen from FIGS. 1 and 2 that an annular inner seal 21 extends from the inside of the cap cover 9 in the direction of the inlet opening 4 when the closure device 1 is in the closed state, the inner seal 21in precisely this stateabutting in a sealing manner against an inner surface of the basic member 2 pointing towards the closure axis 50 in order to seal the channel 3 in a liquid-tight manner even when the sealing membrane 19 also shown here has been removed.

[0087] The second embodiment shown in FIGS. 6 to 10 differs from the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 5 only with regard to the geometry of the weakening lines and with regard to the design of the first and second guiding means. Therefore, only these differences will be discussed below. The remaining features and advantages of the second embodiment shown in

[0088] FIGS. 6 to 10 correspond to the features and advantages already described for the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 5.

[0089] In particular, it can be seen in FIG. 6 that in the second embodiment, a first holding band 123 and a second holding band 124 are also characterised by a first weakening line 125 and a second weakening line 126. In contrast to the first embodiment, however, the two weakening lines 125 and 126 in this case always extend axially spaced apart from one another, each of the two weakening lines 125 and 126 being interrupted by a separating web. As a result, two symmetrically connected holding bands 123 and 124 are formed after the weakening lines 125 and 126 are torn. This means that the connection points of the two holding bands 123 and 124 to the anchor ring 12 are both at essentially the same distance from the closure cap 8.

[0090] The second weakening line 126 has a bulge projecting towards the inlet opening 4 in the area of the separating web of the first weakening line 125. As a result, the separating web of the first weakening line 125, which forms the fixing element 18, extends further in the direction of the inlet opening 4 than the connection points between the respective holding bands 123, 124 and the anchor ring 12. This advantageously causes the fixing element 18 to abut particularly firmly against the support ring in the second position. In other words, there is a stronger latching between the support means 14 and the fixing element 18namely due to the axially elongated design of the fixing element 18 in the direction of the inlet opening beyond the axial position of the connection points between the holding bands 123, 124 and the anchor ring 12.

[0091] The embodiment shown in FIGS. 6 to 10 also differs from the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 5 in that the first and second guiding means 6, 11 configured as external and internal threads are shorter in the circumferential direction, namely such that the external and internal threads are disengaged after the closure cap has been rotated by approximately 60 degrees from the fully closed position.

LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

[0092] 1 Closure device [0093] 2 Basic member [0094] 3 Channel [0095] 4 Inlet opening [0096] 5 Pouring opening [0097] 6 First guiding means [0098] 7 Fastening means [0099] 8 Closure cap [0100] 9 Cap cover [0101] 10 Cap skirt [0102] 11 Second guiding means [0103] 12 Anchor ring [0104] 13 Connecting device [0105] 14 Support means [0106] 15 First surface element [0107] 17 First edge [0108] 18 Fixing element [0109] 19 Sealing membrane [0110] 20 Pull-off tab [0111] 21 Inner seal [0112] 22 Foldable flex band section [0113] 23 First holding band of the first embodiment [0114] 24 Second holding band of the first embodiment [0115] 25 First weakening line of the first embodiment [0116] 26 Second weakening line of the first embodiment [0117] 50 Closure axis [0118] 123 First holding band of the second embodiment [0119] 124 Second holding band of the second embodiment [0120] 125 First weakening line of the second embodiment [0121] 126 Second weakening line of the second embodiment