United States Patent [ 19]
`Aichinger
`
`[54] PLASTIC CLOSURE CAP FOR A
`CONTAINER
`Inventor: Dietmar Aichinger, Arlesheim,
`Switzerland
`
`[75]
`
`[73] Assignee: Albert Obrist & Co., Reinach,
`Switzerland
`
`[22]
`
`Filed:
`
`May 2, 1974
`
`[21]
`
`Appl. No.: 466,194
`
`[30]
`
`Foreign Application Priority Data
`Switzerland ......................... 6556/73
`May 9, 1973
`
`u.s. CI. ................................. 215/253; 215/320
`Int. CI.' .......................................... B65D 41/32
`Field of Search .................... 215/253, 254, 320;
`220/266, 268, 269
`
`[52]
`[51]
`[58]
`
`[56]
`
`References Cited
`UNITED STATES PATENTS
`Lohrer ................................ 215/253
`1\/1966
`Golde ............................. 215/253 X
`12/1966
`
`3,266,652
`3,292,1\07
`
`[ II]
`
`3,899,097
`[45] Aug. 12, 1975
`
`3,722,729
`
`3/1973 Yamada .............................. 215/254
`
`Primary Examiner-George T. Hall
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Edward J. Brenner
`
`[57]
`ABSTRACT
`A closure cap formed of plastic for a container, espe(cid:173)
`cially a bottle or the like, comprising a cap lift-off or
`removal nose member which protrudes away from the
`outer periphery of the body of the closure cap. At
`least one reference rupture location is provided at a
`region in the neighborhood of the cap lift· off nose
`member, which region is stressed during pushing the
`closure cap off of the container, or such reference
`rupture location is provided at the cap lift-off nose
`member itself. Tearing of the reference rupture loca(cid:173)
`tion indicates any possible unauthorized opening of
`the container. The regions containing the reference
`rupture locations form a part of the closure cap mem(cid:173)
`ber which can be removed as a unit with the cap lift(cid:173)
`off nose.
`
`3 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures
`
`CLARIANTX 1011 Page 1
`
`

`
`PATENTED AUG 1 21975
`
`7
`
`2
`
`Fig. 4
`
`Fig. 5
`
`7'" 6'" 71
`
`"
`
`Fig. 7
`
`CLARIANTX 1011 Page 2
`
`

`
`3,899,097
`
`1
`PLASTIC CLOSURE CAP FOR A CONTAINER
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`The present invention relates to a new and improved
`construction of closure cap member for a container, 5
`especially a flask or bottle, which closure cap member
`is of the type comprising a cap lift-off or actuation nose
`member which protrudes away from the outer periph(cid:173)
`ery of the body of the closure cap member.
`Such type closure cap can be removed from the con- 10
`tainer by pushing away the lift-off nose member with
`the thumb. With heretofore known closure caps of this
`type, it was not possible to determine whether or not
`the container had already been opened prior to its ac-
`tual use.
`
`15
`
`2
`FIG; 1 is a side view, partially in section, of a closure
`cap designed according to the invention;
`FIG. 2 is a plan view of the closure cap depicted in
`FIG.·I;
`FIG. 3 is a plan view of a closure cap designed ac(cid:173)
`cording to the invention, the upper half of the illustra(cid:173)
`tion showing one embodiment and the lower half show(cid:173)
`ing a different embodiment;
`FIG. 4 is a side view, turned through 90° in compari(cid:173)
`son to the showing of FIG. 1, and depicting a further
`modification of closure cap acccording to the inven(cid:173)
`tion;
`FIG. 5 is a plan view of the closure cap depicted in
`FIG. 4;
`FIGS. 6 and 7 respectively illustrate plan views of still
`two different embodiments of closure cap designed ac(cid:173)
`cording to the invention.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`Hence, it is a primary object of the present invention
`to provide an improved construction of closure cap for
`a container or the like rendering possible the ready and 20
`easy determination whether the container has been
`previously improperly opened.
`Another object of the present invention aims at a new
`and improved construction of closure cap for a con- 25
`tainer or the like, which closure cap is relatively simple
`in construction and design and equipped with means
`enabling the rapid and quick determination whether
`the container with which the cap is used has previously
`been opened.
`Now in order to implement these and still further ob(cid:173)
`jects of the invention, which will become more readily
`apparent as the description proceeds, the closure cap
`of this development contemplates the provision of at
`least one reference rupture location provided at re- 35
`gions of the cap in the neighborhood of the cap lift-off
`nose member or at the cap lift-off or removal nose
`member itself, and which regions are stressed during
`removal of the closure cap from the container. Tearing
`of the reference rupture location or locations indicates 40
`unauthorized opening of the container. The regions
`containing the reference rupture locations form a part
`of the closure cap which can be removed as a unit to(cid:173)
`gether with the cap lift-off or removal nose.
`The invention is particularly suitable for closure caps 45
`. used in conjunction with containers which house a bev(cid:173)
`erage under pressure. Such closure caps, also known as
`crown corks, can possess a substantially cylindrical pe(cid:173)
`ripheral or marginal section which axially extends away
`from the floor of the cap, and at the inner periphery of 50
`which there is formed, for instance, a substantially ring(cid:173)
`shaped, elastically flexible support bead for coopera(cid:173)
`tion with a bead edge at the neck or throat of the con(cid:173)
`tainer, and a substantially cylindrical inner section
`which likewise axially extends away from the cap floor, 55
`the outer periphery of which possesses a substantially
`ring-shaped, elastically flexible sealing bead which seal(cid:173)
`ingly fits into the container throat. The outer contour
`or shape of such sealing bead approximates ths shape 60
`of an olive.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED
`EMBODIMENTS
`Describing now the drawing, the various embodi-
`ments of closure caps depicted therein possess a sub(cid:173)
`stantially bowl- or cup-shaped configuration. The sec(cid:173)
`tional view appearing at the right hand portion of FIG.
`1 is identical to all of the illustrated embodiments of
`closure caps. Accordingly, it will be seen that the clo(cid:173)
`sure cap possesses a cap floor or base 1 from which axi(cid:173)
`ally protrudes a substantially ring-shaped cylindrical
`30 peripheral or marginal section. 2 and radially and fur(cid:173)
`ther inwardly thereof a likewise substantially ring(cid:173)
`shaped cylindrical inner section 3. The marginal or pe(cid:173)
`ripheral. section 2 is provided at the region of its free
`end with an inwardly protruding support bead 4, the
`upper profile or contour of which, as shown in FIG. 1,
`extends or slopes more markedly towards the apex .or
`tip than its lower contour. The peripheral or marginal
`section 2 is reinforced at its free end by .means of a sub(cid:173)
`stantially circular or ring-shaped encircling collar 10
`and at its inside by ribs 11 which extend from the sup(cid:173)
`port bead 4 to the cap edge, these ribs being substan-
`tially· uniformly distributed along the inner peripheral
`wall of the cap.
`The inner section or portion 3 has a convex curved
`outer contour or profile 5 defining a sealing bead and
`similar to the shape of an olive. As concerns the spac(cid:173)
`ing of the tip or apex of the inner section 3 from the cap
`floor I, the same is spaced at a lesser or at most the
`same distance as the support bead 4 of the outer or pe-
`ripheral section 2.
`Owing to this construction, the support bead 4, upon
`pressing the closure cap into the neck or throat of the
`container or the like, bears prior to or at least simulta(cid:173)
`neous with the sealing bead 5 against the bead edge of
`the container, and thus during the cap pressing-in or
`insertion operation the pressure exerted by the sealing
`bead at the inner section towards the outside upon the
`inner wall of the container neck or throat is supported
`at the outer wall of the container neck. In this way
`there can be avoided destruction of the container neck
`during insertion of the closure cap owing to too large
`a pressure being exerted from the inner section or por(cid:173)
`tion 3 upon the container neck.
`The closure cap is provided at the outside with a cap
`lift-off or removal nose 6 (FIG. 2), 6' (FIG. 3), 6"
`(FIG. 3), 6'" (FIGS. 4 and 5), 6 IV (FIG. 6), and 6 v
`(FIG. 7), which in each of the exemplary illustrated
`
`65
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
`The invention will be better understood and objects
`other than those set forth above, will become apparent
`when consideration is given to the following detailed
`description thereof. Such description makes reference
`to the annexed drawing wherein:
`
`CLARIANTX 1011 Page 3
`
`

`
`3,899,097
`
`4
`3
`ments is that upon actuation of the cap lift-off or re-
`embodiments are equipped to both sides with a respec-
`tive reinforcement wall 7,7',7",7"', 7/V, and 7v.
`moval nose for pushing away the closure cap from the
`neck of the container, the reference rupture locations
`During actuation of the cap lift-off or removal nose,
`are caused to tear, thereby visually indicating that the
`by applying a pressure in the direction of the arrows
`shown in FIGS. 1 and 4 upwardly away from the neck 5 associated container has already been opened, in other
`of the container or the like, the closure cap, which
`words, indicating when necessary any unauthorized
`owing to high frictional forces is tightly seated at the
`opening of the container.
`neck of the container, is deformed, particularly at the
`While there is shown and described present preferred
`region of the cap lift-off or removal nose. This behavior
`embodiments of the invention, it is to be distinctly un-
`is beneficially utilized by arranging reference rupture 10 derstood that the invention is not limited thereto, but
`locations at the region of the nose and which are con-
`may be otherwise variously embodied and practiced
`structed such that the first time the closure cap is
`within the scope of the following claims. Accordingly,
`pushed or lifted off the container by means of the cap
`. What is claimed is:
`1. A closure cap formed of plastic for use with a con-
`lift-off or removal nose, such reference rupture loca-
`tions tear, thereby indicating any unauthorized opening 15 tainer, especially a flask or bottle, comprising a closure
`of the container or the like.
`cap having a cap body, a cap lift-off nose extending
`With the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, struts
`away from the outer periphery of the body of the clo-
`or webs 9 extend between the radial outermost corners
`sure cap, at least one reference rupture location pro-
`of the nose 6 and the cap periphery, and at which struts
`vided for said closure cap, said reference rupture loca-
`there is formed a reference rupture location 8 neigh- 20 tion tearing upon removal of the closure cap from the
`boring each corner of the lift-off nose 6. The reference
`container, the region of the closure cap containing said
`rupture location also can be of course arranged at the
`reference rupture location forming a part of the closure
`location of the connection of the struts or webs 9 with
`cap which can be removed as a unit together with the
`the cap periphery or at an intermediate location of the
`cap lift-off nose, said closure cap including at least one
`strut length.
`25 lateral connection surface extending between the cap
`With the embodiment according to FIG. 3, there are
`lift-off nose and the outer periphery of the body of the
`provided connection surfaces 9',9", between the nose
`closure cap, said at least one reference rupture location
`or nose member 6' or 6" and the periphery of the c10-
`comprising at least one reference rupture line provided
`sure cap. With the embodiment shown at the upper
`at said lateral connection surface.
`portion of FIG. 3, a broken-line illustrated reference 30
`2. A closure cap formed of plastic for use with a con-
`rupture line 8' extends neighboring the reinforcement
`tainer, especially a flask or bottle, comprising a closure
`wall 7' atthe connection surface 9', whereas with the
`cap having a cap body, a cap lift-off nose extending
`. modification illustrated at the lower half of FIG. 3 a ref-
`away from the outer periphery of the body of the clo-
`erence rupture line 8" initially extends along the pe-
`sure cap, at least one reference rupture location pro-
`riphery of the closure cap at the connection surface 9" 35 vided for said closure cap, said reference rupture loca-
`and thereafter flexes or bends-off towards the outside
`tion tearing upon removal of the closure cap from the
`from the radial inner corner of the reinforcement waH
`container, the region of the closure cap containing said
`7" and extends transversely through the connection
`reference rupture location forming a part of the closure
`surface 9", as shown.
`cap which can be removed as a unit together with the
`With the embodiment according to FIGS. 4 and 5, 40 cap lift-off nose, said reference rupture location com-
`there are arranged reference rupture lines 8'" to both
`prising a reference rupture line provided at the cap lift-
`sides of the cap lift-off or removal nose 6'" and such
`off nose at a region thereof neighboring the periphery
`reference rupture lines coincide with axially parallel
`of the body of the closure cap, and reinforcement wall
`jacket lines or generatrixes at the wall of the closure
`means provided for the cap lift-off nose, said reinforc-
`cap. With this embodiment the reinforcement walls 7'" 45 ing wall means laterally bounding said reference rup-
`are not constructed so as to extend up to the periphery
`ture line.
`of the closure cap, in order to insure for a sufficient de-
`3. A closure cap formed of plastic for use with a con-
`formation of the closure cap wall for tearing the refer-
`tainer, especially a flask or bottle, comprising a closure
`ence rupture lines 8'" during the initial lifting-off or re-
`cap having a cap body, a cap lift-off nose extending
`moval of the closure cap.
`50 away from the outer periphery of the body of the clo-
`With the embodiments according to FIGS. 6 and 7
`sure cap, at least one reference rupture location pro-
`the reference rupture lines are arranged at the nose
`vided for said closure cap, said reference rupture loca-
`member. itself. With the embodiment of closure cap de-
`tion tearing upon removal of the closure cap from the
`picted in FIG. 6, the reference rupture line 81v extends
`container, the region of the closure cap containing said
`adjacent to and along the periphery of the closure cap 55 reference rupture location forming a part of the closure
`at the web of the nose 6 IV between the reinforcement
`cap which can be removed as a unit together with the
`walls 7IV, which here again extend up to the peripheral
`cap lift-off nose, said closure cap including at least one
`wall of the closure cap.
`lateral connection strut extending between the cap Iift-
`With the embodiment of FIG. 7, the reference rup-
`ofinose and the outer periphery of the body of the clo-
`ture line 8 v extends approximately in radial direction 60 sure cap, said at least one reference rupture location
`and closer to one of both reinforcement walls 7 v at the
`comprising at least one reference rupture location pro-
`web of the nose 6 v.
`vided at said lateral connection strut.
`* * * * *
`What is common to all of the exemplary embodi-
`
`65
`
`CLARIANTX 1011 Page 4