WO2003008288A1 - Tamperproof closing element for beverage containers - Google Patents
Tamperproof closing element for beverage containers Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- WO2003008288A1 WO2003008288A1 PCT/IB2002/002804 IB0202804W WO03008288A1 WO 2003008288 A1 WO2003008288 A1 WO 2003008288A1 IB 0202804 W IB0202804 W IB 0202804W WO 03008288 A1 WO03008288 A1 WO 03008288A1
- Authority
- WO
- WIPO (PCT)
- Prior art keywords
- closing element
- element according
- container
- weakened
- free edge
- Prior art date
Links
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D41/00—Caps, e.g. crown caps or crown seals, i.e. members having parts arranged for engagement with the external periphery of a neck or wall defining a pouring opening or discharge aperture; Protective cap-like covers for closure members, e.g. decorative covers of metal foil or paper
- B65D41/32—Caps or cap-like covers with lines of weakness, tearing-strips, tags, or like opening or removal devices, e.g. to facilitate formation of pouring openings
- B65D41/46—Snap-on caps or cap-like covers
- B65D41/48—Snap-on caps or cap-like covers non-metallic, e.g. made of paper or plastics
- B65D41/485—Snap-on caps or cap-like covers non-metallic, e.g. made of paper or plastics with integral internal sealing means
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D2401/00—Tamper-indicating means
- B65D2401/15—Tearable part of the closure
- B65D2401/20—Frangible elements completely enclosed in closure skirt
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D2401/00—Tamper-indicating means
- B65D2401/15—Tearable part of the closure
- B65D2401/25—Non-metallic tear-off strips
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D2401/00—Tamper-indicating means
- B65D2401/15—Tearable part of the closure
- B65D2401/35—Vertical or axial lines of weakness
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a tamper-evident closing element made of plastic for containers for liquids, in particular for beverages, whether still or carbonated.
- the closures for these containers/bottles especially those made of plastic consist of caps divided broadly into three categories :
- the first is the traditional screw-on cap (either metal, usually aluminium, or of plastic, usually polyolefin based such as, for example, polyethylene or polypropylene) which, obviously, enable the container to be re- closed after being opened for the first time and (each time it is re-opened thereafter) enable the gas produced by the beverage when the container is opened after shaking to be released into the atmosphere prior to removal of the closure (also known as "venting") .
- the disadvantages of this type of closure for some applications are its conventional appearance and the fact that the container neck must necessarily be threaded, resulting in a less than optimal drinking surface for the consumer, and additional weight of plastic in the bottle neck.
- the second category of cap is a metal cap (usually aluminium) associated with an opening grip ring wrapped around or set alongside the container neck.
- This type of cap requires little force to apply it to, and remove it from, the container, and it does not damage the neck of the container, which makes it suitable for re-usable bottles.
- the disadvantages of this type of cap are its high production cost, the impossibility of re-closing the container after opening for the first time and its low safety level since the consumer can, if he or she does not exercise due care in opening, be injured by the resulting sharp edges; as well as the fact that the cap must be removed using both hands.
- the third type of cap available on the market is the traditional crown cap, which is the most widespread type of cap on the market thanks to its excellent sealing properties and low cost not only in terms of machinery used to apply it, but also in terms of the product itself.
- the disadvantages of the crown cap are due to: the high axial loads on the container when the closure is applied, making it difficult (or impossible) to apply it plastic containers owing to the risk of destroying the container itself during the capping process; the impossibility, or difficulty, of opening the container manually; the impossibility of properly re-closing the container because the cap is irreversibly deformed on opening; and, lastly, the impossibility of re-using the container - if it is made of plastic - since the corrugations and the tightening force applied during capping irremediably scratch the mouth of the container.
- a closing element consisting of a main body with a circular- cylindrical shape defined by an upper surface and a lower annular liner made in a single piece.
- This type of closing element comprises a lateral portion having a pair of weakened and/or tear lines extending from the free edge of the annular liner for a length equal to a first dimension. The two lines are separated, at their end sections away from the free edge, by a second dimension and, at the free edge, by a third dimension.
- a closing element of plastic for beverage containers comprising a main body with a circular-cylindrical shape and defined by an upper surface and a lower annular liner made in a single piece to enclose an end portion of the container; the closing element further comprises a lateral portion having a pair of weakened and/or tear lines extending from the free edge of the annular liner for a length equal to a third dimension; the two lines are separated, at their end sections, by a first dimension and, at the free edge, by a second dimension; the lateral portion defined by the pair of lines is acted upon by a tab associated with the annular liner and used to separate the closing element from the neck so as to open the container; the first dimension between the two lines is equal to the second dimension calculated at the free edge from which the tab, forming an extension of the lateral portion, extends; the extension of the tab outside the limits of the free edge is greater than the second dimension.
- Figure 1 is a front view, with some parts cut away in order to better illustrate others, of a tamper-evident closing element of plastic for containers for liquids according to the present invention
- Figure 2 is a top plan view, with some parts cut away in order to better illustrate others, of the closing element of Figure 1;
- Figure 3 is a perspective view of the closing element shown in Figures 1 and 2.
- the closing element according to the invention made of a plastic material, is applied to containers 1 for beverages such as beer, tea, soft drinks in general and other similar beverages but without thereby limiting the scope of the inventive concept .
- the closing element may be made of any of a number of different types of plastic (without excluding others), such as, for example, polyethylene or polypropylene or a polyester resin such as polyethylene terephthalate or polyethylene naphthalate .
- This closing element comprises a main body 2, with a circular-cylindrical shape (or, more specifically, a circular- truncated cone shape) , defined by an upper surface 3 and a lower annular liner 4 made in a single piece to enclose an end portion of the container 1 comprising a mouth 5 for dispensing the beverage and defined by the neck 6 of the container 1.
- the annular liner 4 comprises, along its inside surface an annular tooth 7, forming an undercut that stably engages a corresponding annular bead 8 on the neck 6 of the container 1.
- the closing element according to the invention further comprises a lateral portion 10 defined by weakened and/or tear lines 9a and 9b, which break the tooth 7 and extend from the free edge 4a of the annular liner 4 for a length, labelled C, equal to a third dimension.
- the two weakened and/or tear lines 9a and 9b are separated, at their end section away from the free edge 4a, by a first dimension, labelled A, and, at the free edge 4a, by a second dimension, labelled B.
- the lateral portion 10 defined by the pair of weakened and/or tear lines 9a and 9b is acted upon by a tab 11 associated with the annular liner 4 and designed to separate the closing element from the neck 6 so as to open the container by partly or totally breaking the weakened and/or tear lines 9a and 9b.
- the first dimension A between the two weakened lines 9a and 9b is substantially equal to the second dimension B calculated at the free edge 4a from which the tab 11, forming an extension of the lateral portion 10, extends . Further, the extension of the tab 11 outside the limits of the free edge 4a is greater than the second dimension B.
- the tab 11 comprises a central portion 12 and two lateral wings 13 and 14 together forming a single piece, also with the lateral portion 10.
- the lateral wings 13 and 14 extend (see also Figure 2) in a plane that coincides with the plane in which the free edge 4a extends in such a way as to define an arced extension.
- each of the lateral wings 13 and 14 presents at least one bridge 15 and 16 joining it to the free edge 4a and unambiguously indicating that the container 1 has been opened by turning the tab 11 upwardly in such a way as to break the bridges 15 and 16 themselves (as described in more detail below) .
- the free edge 4a has a pair of sections 17 and 18, each one close to one of the weakened and/or tear lines 9a and 9b.
- Each of these two sections 17 and 18 enlarges a portion of the free edge 4a so that the end of it close to the end of the corresponding weakened and/or tear line 9a and 9b protrudes from it, and thus forms one of a pair of levers that facilitate opening of the container 1.
- Each of the protrusions 17 and 18 faces one of the lateral wings 13 and '14, each of the latter presenting at least one bridge
- each of the protrusions which, as stated, forms a manual push surface, close to the corresponding weakened and/or tear line 9a and 9b, in such a way as to enable the container 1 to be opened, and when this is done, breaking the bridges 15 and 16 placed between the wings 13 and 14 and the lower surfaces of the protrusions 17 and 18.
- This third weakened line 19 forms a section joining the weakened and/or tear lines 9a and 9b and, in practice, constitutes a hinge line allowing the tab 11 to be turned upwardly in such a way as to open the container 1.
- both the third hinge line 19 and the pair of lines 9a and 9b can be made on the outside surface of the annular liner 4.
- the three lines 9a, 9b, 19 may be made on the inside surface of the annular lining 4, without thereby departing from the scope of the inventive concept.
- the third hinge line 19 and the pair of weakened and/or tear lines 9a and 9b define a lateral portion 10 with a substantially rectangular shape.
- the pair of weakened and/or tear lines 9a, 9b may be parallel or, alternatively, they may be divergent, extending from the third hinge line 19 at an angle ⁇ to the perpendicular that is greater than 1° and substantially equal to
- the aforementioned internal tooth 7 extends circumferentially around the inside surface of the main body 2 through an angle ⁇ large enough to position the ends of the tooth 7 close to the weakened and/or tear lines 9a and 9b and in such a way as to enable, in combination with the aforementioned three dimensions A, B and C calculated at least as a function of the diameter D and height H of the container 1 neck 6 and of the pressure, actual or potential, inside the container 1, to enable the container 1 to be re-closed - after first-time opening - while at the same time compensating for the pressure, whether actual or potential, inside the container 1 itself.
- the angle ⁇ of circumferential extension of the internal tooth 7 ranges from 180° to 330°.
- the optimum angle a of circumferential extension of the internal tooth 7 is a value between 270° and 300°, a range that allows a secure seal suitable for the type of pressure, whether actual or potential, inside the container 1.
- the lateral portion 10 defined by the pair of weakened and/or tear lines 9a and 9b presents a protruding section 20 forming an arced portion of the internal tooth 7.
- the protruding section 20 of the tooth 7 extends for an angle ⁇ of between 20° and 160°. In this case too, tests have shown that the optimum value of the angle ⁇ falls within a range of 30° to 50°.
- the security of the seal of the closing element may be completed by adding to an inside portion of the closing element a sealing element 21 acting in conjunction with the internal tooth 7 to enhance the effectiveness of the seal against the pressure, whether actual or potential , inside the container 1 (see Figure
- the sealing element 21 may be made of plastic and may be moulded on the inside face of the upper surface 3. Alternatively, the sealing element 21 may be a separate part applied to the inside face of the upper surface 3.
- the closing element according to the invention therefore achieves all the preset aims thanks to an extremely simple structure which, considered in its entirety, is more practical and easier to apply and use than other types of closures hitherto available on the market .
- the user first pulls the tab 11 outwards (see arrow F in Figure 3) to start opening the container 1 by breaking the tamper-evident bridges 15 and 16. At this point, the user can push one of the surfaces defined by the protrusions 17 and 18 upwards in such a way as to flip the closing element off the neck 6 of the container 1 (see arrow FI in
- the special design of the closing element enables the container 1 to be securely re-closed, irrespective of the pressure build-up inside it, but at the same time provides clear evidence that it has been opened.
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Closures For Containers (AREA)
Abstract
Description
Claims
Priority Applications (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
AU2002346285A AU2002346285A1 (en) | 2001-07-18 | 2002-07-11 | Tamperproof closing element for beverage containers |
US10/363,386 US20050230342A1 (en) | 2002-07-11 | 2002-07-11 | Tamperproof closing element for beverage containers |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
ITBO2001A000459 | 2001-07-18 | ||
IT2001BO000459A ITBO20010459A1 (en) | 2001-07-18 | 2001-07-18 | ANTI-TAMPERING CLOSING ELEMENT FOR LIQUID CONTAINERS |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
WO2003008288A1 true WO2003008288A1 (en) | 2003-01-30 |
WO2003008288A9 WO2003008288A9 (en) | 2003-06-05 |
Family
ID=11439504
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/IB2002/002804 WO2003008288A1 (en) | 2001-07-18 | 2002-07-11 | Tamperproof closing element for beverage containers |
Country Status (3)
Country | Link |
---|---|
AU (1) | AU2002346285A1 (en) |
IT (1) | ITBO20010459A1 (en) |
WO (1) | WO2003008288A1 (en) |
Citations (8)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
FR1326208A (en) * | 1962-06-25 | 1963-05-03 | Self-adhesive stopper for glass bottle with neck | |
DE1270434B (en) * | 1963-12-18 | 1968-06-12 | Graebner & Co | Tamper evident closure for crown cork caps |
US3899097A (en) * | 1973-05-09 | 1975-08-12 | Obrist Ag Albert | Plastic closure cap for a container |
DE8100467U1 (en) * | 1981-01-12 | 1981-05-21 | Novanorm I. Welfonder KG, 4100 Duisburg | Sealing cap |
US4354610A (en) * | 1980-08-29 | 1982-10-19 | Kessler Products Co., Inc. | Reusable container closure cap |
GB2097768A (en) * | 1981-04-06 | 1982-11-10 | Smiths Containers Ltd | Bottle and like container closures |
US4522308A (en) * | 1984-01-18 | 1985-06-11 | Sullivan James J | Manually mountable tamper evident oral liquid dose viral and seal assembly |
WO2001068467A1 (en) * | 2000-03-15 | 2001-09-20 | Pelliconi Abruzzo S.R.L. | Tamper proof closure for containers of liquids |
-
2001
- 2001-07-18 IT IT2001BO000459A patent/ITBO20010459A1/en unknown
-
2002
- 2002-07-11 WO PCT/IB2002/002804 patent/WO2003008288A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 2002-07-11 AU AU2002346285A patent/AU2002346285A1/en not_active Abandoned
Patent Citations (8)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
FR1326208A (en) * | 1962-06-25 | 1963-05-03 | Self-adhesive stopper for glass bottle with neck | |
DE1270434B (en) * | 1963-12-18 | 1968-06-12 | Graebner & Co | Tamper evident closure for crown cork caps |
US3899097A (en) * | 1973-05-09 | 1975-08-12 | Obrist Ag Albert | Plastic closure cap for a container |
US4354610A (en) * | 1980-08-29 | 1982-10-19 | Kessler Products Co., Inc. | Reusable container closure cap |
DE8100467U1 (en) * | 1981-01-12 | 1981-05-21 | Novanorm I. Welfonder KG, 4100 Duisburg | Sealing cap |
GB2097768A (en) * | 1981-04-06 | 1982-11-10 | Smiths Containers Ltd | Bottle and like container closures |
US4522308A (en) * | 1984-01-18 | 1985-06-11 | Sullivan James J | Manually mountable tamper evident oral liquid dose viral and seal assembly |
WO2001068467A1 (en) * | 2000-03-15 | 2001-09-20 | Pelliconi Abruzzo S.R.L. | Tamper proof closure for containers of liquids |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
AU2002346285A1 (en) | 2003-03-03 |
WO2003008288A9 (en) | 2003-06-05 |
ITBO20010459A0 (en) | 2001-07-18 |
ITBO20010459A1 (en) | 2003-01-18 |
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