Abstract
A closure unit for selectively closing or releasing a container opening of a container. The closure unit includes a closure cap, wherein the closure cap has a cap cover plate and a cap skirt adjoining the cap cover plate on the circumferential side. The cap skirt extends at least in sections cylindrically and/or conically about a closure cap axis. The cap skirt has an outer surface directed away from the closure cap axis and an inner surface directed towards the closure cap axis. The closure cap has a first guide which is arranged on the inner surface of the cap skirt, wherein the first guide is configured and arranged in such a way that it can be brought into engagement with a second guide of a container in order to close the container opening of the container.
Claims
1. A closure unit for selectively closing or opening a container opening of a container, wherein the closure unit comprises: a closure cap, wherein the closure cap has a cap cover plate and a cap skirt adjoining the cap cover plate on the circumferential side, wherein the cap skirt extends at least in sections cylindrically and/or conically around a closure cap axis, wherein the cap skirt has an outer surface directed away from the closure cap axis and an inner surface directed towards the closure cap axis, wherein the closure cap has a first guiding means which is arranged on the inner surface of the cap skirt, wherein the first guiding means is configured and arranged in such a way that it can be brought into engagement with a second guiding means of a container in order to close the container opening of the container, wherein a lattice structure band composed of a plurality of first recesses and webs is provided in the inner surface of a cylindrical section of the cap skirt, wherein the lattice structure band extends in the circumferential direction and has a sequence of the webs and first recesses, wherein a first recess is arranged in each case between two webs in the circumferential direction, wherein the lattice structure band is arranged on a side of the first guiding means facing away from the cap cover plate and/or on a side of the first guiding means facing the cap cover plate and/or between two guiding means segments arranged one above the other in the direction of the closure cap axis.
2. The closure unit according to claim 1, wherein the lattice structure band has at least two sections spaced apart from each other in the circumferential direction.
3. The closure unit according to claim 1, wherein the lattice structure band extends over at least one circumferential angle section over which the first guiding means extends.
4. The closure unit according to claim 1, wherein the dimension of the lattice structure band or its section in the direction of the closure cap axis corresponds in each case to the length of the respective first recess including the side walls of the first recess adjoining in the direction of the closure cap axis in this direction and is smaller than the extent of the first guiding means in the direction of the closure cap axis.
5. The closure unit according to claim 4, wherein the first guiding means has at least one second recess which extends in the direction of the closure cap axis and whose dimension in the direction of the closure cap axis is greater than or equal to the extent of the guiding means in the direction of the closure cap axis.
6. The closure unit according to claim 5, wherein elevations are configured on the outer surface of the cap skirt, wherein each elevation runs parallel with a second recess in such a way that the cap skirt has a U-shaped profile in the region of the second recess.
7. The closure unit according to claim 5, wherein the lattice structure band is arranged in a section of the cap skirt which is arranged below the end of the second recess facing away from the cap cover plate, or begins in a section of the cap skirt at this end of the second recess and extends in the axial direction away from the cap cover plate.
8. The closure unit according to claim 5, wherein the plurality of first recesses, viewed in the circumferential direction, are arranged in sections lying between two circumferentially adjacent second recesses.
9. The closure unit according to claim 1, wherein each first recess has a rectangular, triangular, circular, elliptical or polygonal shape or a shape composed of these shapes when viewed in the plane of an unrolled cap skirt.
10. The closure unit according to claim 1, wherein the first recesses have similar shapes when viewed in the plane of the unrolled cap skirt.
11. The closure unit according to claim 1, wherein the first recesses are arranged in a section of the lattice structure band in groups of three first recesses arranged next to each other in the circumferential direction.
12. The closure unit according to claim 1, wherein the recess base of each first recess is planar in shape and extends parallel or obliquely to the closure cap axis.
13. The closure unit according to claim 1, wherein the lattice structure band extends, optionally in sections, over a circumferential angle of at least 180.
14. A combination comprising: a container with closure unit according to claim 1, wherein the container has a container opening and a second guiding means and the closure unit cooperates with the container for selectively closing or releasing the container opening, wherein the first guiding means of the closure unit can be brought into engagement with the second guiding means of the container for this purpose.
15. The closure unit according to claim 4, wherein the webs extend in each case over the entire dimension of the respective lattice structure band in the direction of the closure cap axis.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0046] Further features, advantages and embodiments of the present invention can be found in the attached figures and the accompanying description. It shows schematically:
[0047] FIG. 1 a first embodiment of a closure unit according to the invention in a perspective view from the side,
[0048] FIG. 2 a cross-sectional view of the embodiment according to FIG. 1,
[0049] FIG. 3 a section of a further cross-section of the embodiment according to FIG. 1,
[0050] FIG. 4 an enlargement of section A of FIG. 3,
[0051] FIG. 5 a second embodiment of a closure unit according to the invention in a perspective view from the side,
[0052] FIG. 6 a cross-sectional view of the embodiment according to FIG. 5,
[0053] FIG. 7 a section of a further cross-section of the embodiment according to FIG. 5,
[0054] FIG. 8 an enlargement of the section B of FIG. 7,
[0055] FIG. 9 a third embodiment of a closure unit according to the invention in a perspective view from the side,
[0056] FIG. 10 a cross-sectional view of the embodiment according to FIG. 9,
[0057] FIG. 11 a section of a further cross-section of the embodiment according to FIG. 9,
[0058] FIG. 12 an enlargement of the section C of FIG. 11,
[0059] FIG. 13 a fourth embodiment of a closure unit according to the invention in a perspective view from the side,
[0060] FIG. 14 a cross-sectional view of the embodiment according to FIG. 13,
[0061] FIG. 15 a section of a further cross-section of the embodiment according to FIG. 13,
[0062] FIG. 16 an enlargement of the section D of FIG. 15,
[0063] FIG. 17 a fifth embodiment of a closure unit according to the invention in a perspective view from the side,
[0064] FIG. 18 a cross-sectional view of the embodiment according to FIG. 17,
[0065] FIG. 19 a section of a further cross-section of the embodiment according to FIG. 17,
[0066] FIG. 20 an enlargement of the section AA of FIG. 19,
[0067] FIG. 21 a sixth embodiment of a closure unit according to the invention in a perspective view from the side,
[0068] FIG. 22 a cross-sectional view of the embodiment according to FIG. 21,
[0069] FIG. 23 a section of a further cross-section of the embodiment according to FIG. 21,
[0070] FIG. 24 an enlargement of the section BB of FIG. 23,
[0071] FIG. 25 a seventh embodiment of a closure unit according to the invention in a perspective view from the side,
[0072] FIG. 26 a cross-sectional view of the embodiment according to FIG. 25,
[0073] FIG. 27 a section of a further cross-section of the embodiment according to FIG. 25,
[0074] FIG. 28 an enlargement of the section CC of FIG. 27.
[0075] FIG. 29 an eighth embodiment of a closure unit according to the invention in a perspective view from the side,
[0076] FIG. 30 a cross-sectional view of the embodiment according to FIG. 29,
[0077] FIG. 31 a section of a further cross-section of the embodiment according to FIG. 29 and
[0078] FIG. 32 an enlargement of the section DD of FIG. 31.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PARTICULAR EMBODIMENTS
[0079] FIGS. 1 to 4 show a first embodiment of a closure unit 1 according to the invention in the form of a closure cap 2, which has a substantially cylindrical cap skirt 3 and a cap cover plate 4. The cap skirt 3 adjoins the circumference of the cap cover plate 4. An outer surface 6 of the cap skirt has a circumferential grip fluting in the upper section 6a, which ensures a good grip of the closure cap 2 when it is rotated to release or close a container opening not shown. An inner surface 7 has a guiding means in the form of an internal thread 9, wherein the internal thread 9 is interrupted by second recesses 10 arranged equidistantly around the inner circumference of the cap skirt 3. Each of the second recesses 10 extends axially parallel to the cap axis 13 and over the entire axial extent of the internal thread 9 and constitutes a venting groove. Each second recess 10 separates two adjacent thread segments, which form an imaginary, continuous thread, from one another in the circumferential direction. As can be seen from FIG. 3, the imaginary thread of the internal thread 9 extends over a circumferential angle of more than 720 in total. In order to completely unscrew or screw on the closure unit 1 shown from a container neck with a corresponding external thread (not shown) surrounding the container opening, an angle of rotation of more than 720 degrees is therefore required, i.e. more than two full turns. Alternatively, internal threads with shorter imaginary threads can be used, in particular in the range from 360 degrees to 720 degrees or even below 360 degrees.
[0080] Below the upper section 6a of the cap skirt 3 with grip fluting on the outer surface 6 and internal thread 9 on the inner surface 7, there is a circumferential ring 6b which projects radially from the upper section 6a. A guarantee ring 14 is arranged at the lower end of the ring 6b, which is connected to the cap skirt 3 via a weakening line 15. The guarantee ring 14 has a flex band section 17, which is clearly recognizable in FIGS. 1 to 3, which is hingedly connected to an outer section of the guarantee ring 14 at its lower end and is bent inwards in the representation shown here. The flex band section 17 also has weakening recesses 18. These weakening recesses 18 make it easier to fold the flex strap section 17 inwards.
[0081] The closure unit 1 also has a lattice structure band in the inner surface, which has a plurality of sections 19a to 19e, each of which is separated from the other by the second recesses 10. Each section 19a to 19e of the lattice structure band has a first recess 20 and webs 21 arranged on both sides of the first recess 20 in the circumferential direction. Each first recess 20 has a substantially rectangular shape in the recess base (corresponds here and in the following embodiments to the shape when the cap skirt 3 is unrolled). In particular, the magnification of FIG. 4 shows that the wall thickness (material thickness in radial direction in relation to the cap skirt axis 13) of the cap skirt 3 is reduced in the area of the first recess 20. The first recesses 20 and the webs 21 are arranged in an area of the cap skirt 3 below the internal thread 9, i.e. on the side of the internal thread 9 facing away from the cap cover plate 9. A section of the portions 19a to 19e of the lattice structure band is provided in the circumferential direction in each case between two adjacent second recesses 10 serving for venting. The axial extent of each first recess 20 is, for example, 2.3 mm, wherein the first recesses 20 shown on the right-hand side in FIG. 2 and in FIG. 3 have a smaller axial extent (e.g. 1.7 mm) than the other first recesses 20 shown in FIG. 2. The webs 21 form the transition to the second recesses 10. The lattice structure band with the first recesses 20 and the webs 21 extends approximately over a circumferential angle of 210, wherein each section 19a to 19e of the lattice structure band comprises a respective circumferential angle of 30. In the circumferential direction, the first recesses 20 have a length of approximately 6 mm, for example. The recess base of the first recesses 20 runs parallel to the closure cap axis 13 (see FIG. 4). As can be seen in particular from FIG. 4, the wall thickness in the area of the first recesses 20 is reduced by the amount r of e.g. 0.25 mm compared to the wall thickness in the other areas of the internal wall 7 (see e.g. areas 7a and 7b above the internal thread 9 and below the internal thread 9). This results in considerable material savings, wherein the stability and load-bearing capacity of the closure unit is not impaired, since the lattice structure comprises first recesses 20 and webs 21. It should be pointed out here that the wall thickness of the cap skirt 3 to be measured radially is identical in all areas without second and first recesses 10, 20, since the cap skirt 3 is regarded in the sense of the present invention as an element separate from the internal thread 9 as guiding means. The one-piece configuration of cap skirt 3 and internal thread 9 shown here results in the variation of the material thickness in the sectional planes shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, since the first guiding means configured as an internal thread 9 with a thread pitch greater than zero naturally exhibits a variation of the radial material thickness in the axial direction in a sectional plane parallel to the closure cap axis 13.
[0082] The embodiment shown in FIGS. 5 to 8 and all subsequent embodiments of the closure unit are configured identically to the first embodiment with regard to many features. Identical reference signs refer to identical elements, so that reference is made to the explanations above. In the following, only the differences between the embodiments shown are discussed.
[0083] In contrast to the first embodiment, the second embodiment (see FIGS. 5 to 8) of a closure unit 1 has first recesses 40 in sections 19a to 19e, the recess base of which extends at an angle to the closure cap axis 13. This can be seen in particular in FIG. 8. The reduction r of the wall thickness is greater in the lower region of the first recess 40 than in the upper region, wherein the reduction r at the lower end of the first recess 40 can be about 0.25 mm, for example. The material reduction by the lattice structure band with the webs 21 and first recesses 40 is thus somewhat less than in the first embodiment. However, the lattice structure band has slightly greater stability.
[0084] The third embodiment shown in FIGS. 9 to 12 has, in each section 19a to 19e, a group of three first recesses 60 and webs 61 located between them or delimiting the respective section 19a to 19e on the sides, which are arranged next to one another in the circumferential direction. The first recesses 60 each have a triangular shape on their recess base when the cap skirt 3 is unrolled. The webs 61 are correspondingly adapted to this shape. For reasons of clarity, the first recesses 60 and webs 61 are only partially labeled in FIGS. 10 and 11. The same applies analogously to the other embodiments described with reference to FIGS. 13 to 32. The first recesses 60 and the webs 61 are arranged in a region of the cap skirt 3 below the internal thread 9. The axial extent of each first recess 60 is, for example, 1.25 mm. The lattice structure band with the first recesses 60 and the webs 61 extends approximately over a circumferential angle of 210, wherein each section 19a to 19e of the lattice structure band comprises a respective circumferential angle of 30. Each first recess 60 is approximately 1.4 mm long at its lower end in the circumferential direction. As can be seen from FIG. 12, the recess base of the first recesses 60 runs parallel to the closure cap axis 13. As can be seen in particular from FIG. 12, the wall thickness in the region of the first recesses 60 is reduced by the amount r of, for example, 0.25 mm compared with the wall thickness in the other regions of the sections 19a to 19e, that is to say the webs 61. The shapes of the first recesses 60 and the webs 61 increase the stability of the region of the cap skirt 3 in the region immediately adjacent to the internal thread 9. It is understood that other shapes of the recess base (for example pentagons or circles) can also be provided. Furthermore, as shown, the first recesses 60 of a section 19a to 19e may be provided with the same orientation of the shape of the recess base (an upwardly pointing corner of the triangular shape) or with different orientations with respect to the circumferential direction or the cap axis (for example, the shape of the recess base of the center first recess 60 is a triangle with a downwardly pointing corner, and the two adjacent first recesses are triangles with an upwardly pointing corner) or with different shapes of the recess base.
[0085] The fourth embodiment, which is shown in FIGS. 13 to 16, has, instead of the triangular first recesses of the third embodiment, three first recesses 80 in the areas of the cap skirt 3 below the internal thread 9 in each section of the lattice structure band 19a to 19e and webs 81 arranged between them and laterally in the circumferential direction, which have a rectangular shape on the recess base. The centrally arranged first recess 80 is slightly longer in the circumferential direction than the two laterally arranged first recesses 80. For example, each first recess 80 is approximately 2.6 mm or 1.3 mm long in the circumferential direction. In addition, in an area between two thread segments arranged one above the other, the lattice structure band has further groups 19f to 19j each comprising three first recesses 82 and corresponding webs 83, wherein the first recesses 82 also have a rectangular shape at the recess base. Above the internal thread 9, i.e. on the side of the internal thread 9 facing the cap cover plate 4, further groups 19k to 19o are also arranged, as can be seen in particular from
[0086] FIG. 13, each comprising three first recesses 84 with corresponding webs 85, wherein the first recesses 84 also have a rectangular shape at the recess base. The first recesses 84 have, for example, an axial distance of approximately 1 mm from the cap cover plate 4. The lattice structure band with the first recesses 80, 82, 84 and the webs 81, 83, 85 thus extends overall over a circumferential angle of approximately 630, wherein each section 19a to 19o of the lattice structure band comprises a respective circumferential angle of 30. As can be seen from FIGS. 15 and 16, the recess base of the first recesses 80, 82, 84 runs parallel to the closure cap axis 13. The length of each first recess 82, 84 in the circumferential direction corresponds to the length of the first recess 80 of approximately 2.6 mm and 1.3 mm respectively. The axial extent of the first recesses 80, 82 and 84 is different. As can be seen in particular in FIG. 14, not all first recesses 80 have the same axial length. This is, for example, between 0.3 mm and 3 mm. The axial length of the first recesses 82 is, for example, approximately 0.3 mm and that of the first recesses 84 is, for example, between 3.2 mm and 1.5 mm. It is understood that in this embodiment, a particularly large saving in material is achieved without having to compromise on the stability of the cap skirt 3. As can be seen in particular in FIG. 16, the wall thickness in the area of the first recesses 80 is reduced by the amount r of e.g. 0.25 mm compared to the wall thickness in the other areas of the sections 19a to 19o, i.e. the webs 81, 83, 85.
[0087] The embodiments five to eight shown in FIGS. 17 to 32 differ from the first four embodiments in part in the design of the closure cap 2. The closure cap has elevations 11 on the outer surface 6 in the upper section 6a, which run parallel to the second recesses 10 serving for venting in such a way that the cap skirt 3 has a U-shaped profile in this area. In addition, the cap skirt 3 is conically shaped in an upper section of the elevations 11 before it changes into a cylindrical shape. The circumferential ring 6b of the outer surface 6 has a grip fluting in an upper section. The second recesses 10 extend over the entire axial height of the internal thread 9 in the respective section. The recesses 11 also extend into an annular section 3a of the cap skirt 3 (exemplarily designated in FIG. 22), which is located below the end of the second recesses 10 that faces away from the cap cover plate 4. A first wall thickness of the cap skirt is located there in the area of the elevations 11. In the embodiments of FIGS. 17 to 32 described in more detail below, at least some of the first recesses 100, 120, 140, 160 of the respective lattice structure band 19, 19a are arranged in this annular section 3a, but between the raised portions (or, in other words, in extension of the sections located between the second recesses 10). Therefore, in the region between the recesses 11 and where the webs 101, 121, 141, 161 are arranged, the annular section 3a has a second wall thickness which is smaller than the first wall thickness in the region of the recesses 11. Furthermore, in the region of the first recesses 100, 120, 140, 160, there is a third wall thickness which is smaller than the second wall thickness. This further improves the stability of the closure cap.
[0088] The lattice structure band 19 of the fifth embodiment has only a single section with a plurality of first recesses 100 and webs 101, which are arranged alternately next to one another in the circumferential direction. The lattice structure band 19 thus extends below the second recesses 10 and the internal thread 9. The dimensions of the first recesses 100 of the lattice structure band 19 are 2.9 mm in the axial direction and 7.3 mm in the circumferential direction. As can be seen in FIG. 20, for example, the wall thickness in the area of the first recesses 100 is reduced by the amount r of, for example, 0.3 mm compared to the wall thickness in the other areas of the lattice structure band 19 (i.e. in the area of the webs 101).
[0089] Analogous to the difference between the first and second embodiments, the recess base of the first recesses 120 of the lattice structure band 19 of the sixth embodiment extends with the first recesses 120 and webs 121 at an angle to the closure cap axis. The dimensions of the entire lattice structure band 19 and the first recesses 120 correspond to the dimensions of the fifth embodiment with the recesses 100 and the webs 101. The reduction of the wall thickness in the area of the first recesses 120 is approximately r=0.3 mm at the lower end of the first recesses 120 compared to the wall thickness in the other sections of the lattice structure band 19 (webs 121).
[0090] The seventh embodiment also differs from the first embodiment in analogy to the difference in the third embodiment. The lattice structure band 19 comprises groups of three first recesses 140 arranged next to each other and corresponding webs 141 in a lattice structure band 19 having a single section, wherein the webs 141 between groups of three adjacent in the circumferential direction have a greater length in the circumferential direction than the webs 141 arranged between two first recesses 140 of the same group. Each first recess 140 has a triangular shape on its recess base when the cap skirt 3 is unrolled. Each such recess 140 has, for example, a dimension in the axial direction of 1.9 mm, a dimension in the circumferential direction at the lower end of 2.2 mm and a reduction in the wall thickness in the area of the first recess 140 of r=0.3 mm (see FIG. 28) compared to the wall thickness in the other sections of the lattice structure band 19 (webs 141).
[0091] Finally, the eighth embodiment differs from the seventh embodiment analogously to the difference between the fourth embodiment and the third embodiment. A section 19a of the lattice structure band arranged below the internal thread 9 is formed, which comprises groups of three first recesses 160 and corresponding webs 161 arranged next to each other, wherein the webs 161 between groups of three adjacent in the circumferential direction have a greater length in the circumferential direction than the webs 161 arranged between two first recesses 160 of the same group. In this case, the webs 161 each have approximately the same length in the circumferential direction, for example of 2.2 mm. Sections 19b to 19l of the lattice structure band, each with 3 first recesses 162 and corresponding webs 163, are also provided between thread segments of the internal thread 9 lying one above the other in the axial direction, which are each arranged between two second recesses 10. Sections 19m to 19w with first recesses 164 and webs 165 are provided above the internal thread, also between adjacent second recesses 10, wherein the first recesses 164 have a distance of, for example, 3 mm to 4 mm from the cap cover plate 4. The lattice structure band with the first recesses 160, 162, 164 and the webs 161, 163, 165 thus extends overall over a circumferential angle of approximately 630, wherein each section 19a to 19w of the lattice structure band comprises a respective circumferential angle of 30. As can be seen from FIGS. 31 and 32, the recess base of the first recesses 160, 162, 164 extends parallel to the closure cap axis 13. The length of each first recess 162, 164 in the circumferential direction corresponds to the length of the first recess 160 of approximately 2.2 mm. The axial extent of the first recesses 160, 162 and 164 is different. As can be seen in particular from FIG. 30, not all first recesses 160, 164 have the same axial length. This is, for example, between 3.7 mm and 1.2 mm. The axial length of the first recesses 162 is 0.7 mm, for example. Analogous to the fourth embodiment, it is understood that a particularly large saving in material is also achieved in this embodiment without having to make compromises in the stability of the cap skirt 3. For example, each first recess 160, 162, 164 has a reduction in wall thickness in the area of the first recess 160, 162, 164 of r=0.3 mm (see FIG. 32) compared to the wall thickness in the other sections (e.g. webs 161).
