Abstract:
The present document describes a cap ( 110 ) for closing a container ( 114 ), the container having a neck ( 112 ) with an upper edge ( 118 ) defining a discharge opening ( 116 ). The cap comprises a lid ( 122 ) and a seal gasket ( 136 ) for sealingly engaging the neck of the container. The lid has at least one inwardly extending projection ( 132 ) for supporting the seal gasket.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a US National Phase of PCT/EP2011/064818 filed on Aug. 29, 2011, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/378,087 filed on Aug. 30, 2010, which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     This description relates to the field of caps for use in closing and sealing a discharge opening at a container&#39;s neck such as that of a liquid container. 
     Several types of cap are already provided for sealing an opening at a container&#39;s neck. The main problem generally encountered is that there is a large variation of dimension of the necks, depending on the method used for making necks (e.g. extrusion blow, extruded blow with compressed neck or injection blow). For reducing number of type of caps and for facilitating cap mounting, manufacturers search to produce the most robust cap as possible. A cap must be able to seal a large variety of neck finishes and design. Also, the cap has to seal the container even if neck&#39;s external surface is rough/damaged or the pressure in the container is different than outside. In order to seal properly, the cap has to absorb neck surface defects, dents or scratches due to manufacturing imperfections or handling accidents. 
     Some molded caps comprise one or more flexible lips made of the same material than the cap with a view to provide a seal. The more lips on a cap the more material is used to manufacture the cap. 
     Other types of cap comprise a seal gasket located on the inner top of the cap. It is generally a ring-shaped seal which is compressed while the cap is mounted on the neck. For sealing necks having various dimensions, the seal gasket must be voluminous for adapting itself. Usually the seal gasket material is more costly than cap material. 
     There is therefore a need for improved sealing cap providing a water-tight closure at a lower cost. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY 
     It is an object of the present disclosure to provide sealing cap that overcomes or mitigates one or more disadvantages of known cap or at least provides a useful alternative. 
     To this end, the subject of the invention is a cap for closing a container, as defined in the claims. 
     This arrangement creates conditions for a cost-efficient solution since it provides for a minimum amount of seal gasket material. 
     Also, this arrangement can be applied to all kinds of closures, including without limitation, screw cap, threadless cap, crown cork, tamper-evident and tamper-resistant caps, among others. 
     Additional advantageous features of this cap are specified in the claims. 
     Thus, according to an embodiment of the invention, there is provided a threadless cap for closing a container, the container having a neck with an upper edge defining a discharge opening; the cap comprising:
         a) a lid for overlying and sealingly engaging the upper edge;   b) the lid including:
           a disk portion for facing the opening;   a tension ring for retaining the cap on the neck of the container, wherein the tension ring having an inwardly extending rib for engaging the neck of the container; and   a shoulder peripherally extending from the disk, wherein the shoulder having at least one inwardly extending projection for supporting a minimum sealing amount of a seal gasket to sealingly engage the neck of the container;   
           c) a skirt peripherally depending from the lid.       

     The lid of the cap according to the invention may be made of glass, aluminum, metal, polymer material, polyolefin materials including, but not limited to propylene or ethylene polymers or copolymers, cellulose-based plastics, polystyrene, pvc, nylon, rubber, synthetic rubber, acrylic, polyester, silicone, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyurethane or combinations thereof. Preferably, the lid is formed of a low-density polyethylene (LDPE), however, one should appreciate that other suitable materials can be used including, but not limited to, high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and other olefinic copolymers and mixtures, and flexible vinyl compositions. 
     The extending projection of the cap according to the invention may be made of a same or different material than the lid. Preferably, the projection is made of a polymer material including, without limitation, cellulose-based plastics, polystyrene, pvc, nylon, rubber, synthetic rubber, acrylic, polyester, silicone, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyurethane. Most preferably, the projection is pliable allowing for a synergetic spring effect with a seal gasket to allow for a better sealing of the container. Preferably, the projection is formed of a low-density polyethylene (LDPE), however, one should appreciate that other suitable materials can be used including, but not limited to, high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and other olefinic copolymers and mixtures, and flexible vinyl compositions 
     The seal gasket of the cap according to the invention is formed of a material that is more pliable than that which forms the lid. Preferably, the seal gasket is formed of a resilient material having more elasticity than that of the lid which allows the seal gasket to more readily conform to the container crown finish and provide a more effective seal than which cap could alone. For example, the seal gasket may be formed of Ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA), elastomers, silicones, or urethanes. Preferably, the liner is formed of a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE). One should appreciate that other suitable materials can be used in accordance with the present invention including, but not limited to, olefin-based thermoplastic elastomers. One should appreciate that the seal gasket may also be formed with foaming agents to form a thermoplastic elastomer foam which may further enhance sealing characteristics of the seal gasket. 
    
    
     
       Further features and advantages of the present disclosure will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in combination with the appended drawings, in which: 
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1 a    is an axonometric view of a cap for closing a container&#39;s neck in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 1 b    is an axonometric view of the neck of the container shown in  FIG. 1   a;    
         FIG. 2 a    is a schematic partial cross-sectional view of a cap, mounted on a neck, in accordance with the cap of  FIG. 1   a;    
         FIG. 2 b    is a schematic expanded partial cross-sectional view of the cap of  FIG. 2 a   , being mounted on a neck; 
         FIG. 2 c    is a schematic expanded partial cross-sectional view of the cap of  FIG. 2 a    mounted on the neck; 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic expanded partial cross-sectional view of a cap, mounted on a neck, in accordance with another embodiment; 
         FIGS. 4 a  and 4 b    are schematic partial cross-sectional views of a cap, being mounted on a neck, in accordance with another embodiment; 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic partial cross-sectional view of a cap, mounted on a neck, in accordance with another embodiment; 
         FIGS. 6A and 6B  are schematic expanded partial cross-sectional views of a cap, mounted on a neck, in accordance with another embodiment; 
         FIG. 7  is a schematic expanded partial cross-sectional view of a cap, mounted on a neck, in accordance with another embodiment; 
         FIGS. 8A and 8B  are a schematic cross-sectional views of a cap in accordance with another embodiment; and 
         FIG. 9  is a schematic cross-sectional view of a cap in accordance with another embodiment; 
         FIG. 10 a    is cross-sectional view of a cap in accordance with another embodiment; 
         FIG. 10 b    is cross-sectional view of a cap in accordance with another embodiment; 
         FIG. 10 c    is cross-sectional view of a cap in accordance with another embodiment; 
         FIG. 10 d    is cross-sectional view of a cap in accordance with another embodiment; 
         FIG. 10 e    is cross-sectional view of a cap in accordance with another embodiment; 
     
    
    
     It will be noted that throughout the appended drawings, like features are identified by like reference numerals. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly concurrently to  FIG. 1 a    and  FIG. 1 b   , there is shown a threadless cap  110  mounted on a neck  112  of a container  114  on  FIG. 1 a    and the neck  112  alone on  FIG. 1 b   . The neck  112  defines an opening  116  for filling and discharging the container  114 . An upper edge  118  surrounds the opening  116 . An external surface  120  peripherally extends from the upper edge  118  around the neck  112 . The cap  110  comprises a disk  122  for facing the opening  116 , a shoulder  123  which peripherally extend from the disk  122  for fitting around the external surface  120  of the neck  112  and a skirt  124  which peripherally extends from the shoulder  123  for fitting around an inflection  142 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 a   , there is shown a partial cross-sectional view of the cap  110  mounted on the neck  112 . The shoulder  123  has an internal surface  126  and a peripheral protrusion  128 , namely an engaging means, for engaging the neck  112  in a recess  130  of the neck  112 . The protrusion  128  is in a shape of a continuous or non-continuous rib extending along a substantial portion of the perimeter of the shoulder  123 . In other embodiments the protrusion  128  can be segmented so that the rib is formed of individual segments disposed along the periphery of the shoulder  123  rather than a continuous structure. 
     It has been observed that the maximum diameter  140  of neck of water bottles are statistically more precise than the shape of the recess  130  characterized by a distance J between an inflexion  142  of the recess  130  and a top  144  of the neck  112 . Many blown finish water bottle manufacturers rework or grind the outside of the bottle at the maximum diameter  140  area to control the size of the maximum diameter, among others. That means that it is easier to laterally seal the cap as shown on  FIG. 2 a    rather than to seal the cap on the top  144  without a compensation system. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 b    and  FIG. 2 c   , concurrently referred to, there are respectively shown expansions of the circled area of  FIG. 2 a   , the cap  110  being mounted on the neck  112 . The shoulder  123  comprises a projection  132  extending from the internal surface  126 . The projection  132  has an end portion  134  distal to the internal surface  126 . The cap  110  further comprises a seal gasket  136  supported by the end portion  134  of the projection  132 . The sealing gasket  136  is non-rigidly supported by the projection  132 . More specifically, the sealing gasket  136  is moveable in relation to the projection  132 . Starting from the position depicted on  FIG. 2 b   , for mounting the cap  110  on the neck  112 , the shoulder  123  is downwardly moved to be engaged to the neck  112 . The seal gasket  136  contacts the external surface  120 . While the projection  132  continues to move downwardly, a portion of the seal gasket  136  rubs more or less on the external surface  120  and gets stuck between the external surface  120  and the end portion  134 . In such a manner, the seal gasket  136  is supported by the end portion  134  of the projection  132 . On  FIG. 2 c   , the seal gasket  136  seals a space existing between the internal surface  126  of the cap  110  and the external surface  120  of the container&#39;s neck  112 . 
     The projection  132  is in a form of a continuous projection  132  extending along a substantial portion of the perimeter of the shoulder  123 . In other embodiments the projection  132  can be segmented so that the projection  132  is discontinuous and formed of individual segments disposed along the periphery of the shoulder  123  rather than a continuous structure. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , there is shown a detail of a seal gasket  336  supported by an end portion  334  of a projection  332  of a cap  310  according to another embodiment. The lower portion of the projection  332  has a conical form. While the projection  332  is downwardly moved, arrow A ( FIG. 3 ), a frictional force B is applied to the seal gasket  336  by an external surface  320 . That compresses the portion of the seal gasket  336  which faces the end portion  334  of the projection  332 . The end portion  334  supports the seal gasket  336  against the external surface  320 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 a   , there is shown a cap  410  being mounted on a neck  412 . A projection  432  is extending from an internal surface  426  of a shoulder  423 . The projection  432  is integrally formed with the shoulder  423 . A seal gasket  436  is embedded on an end portion  434  of the projection  432 . While the shoulder  423  is downwardly moved, arrow C ( FIG. 4 a   ), the flexible projection  432 , namely a lip, is pivoting, arrow D ( FIG. 4 a   ), so that a frictional force E is applied to the seal gasket  436  by an external surface  420  wedging the seal gasket  436  between the external surface  420  and the end portion  434  of the projection  432 . The seal gasket  436  is supported by the end portion  434  of the projection  432 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 b   , there is shown the cap  410  mounted on the neck  412 . The seal gasket  436  is compressed and seals a space between the internal surface  426  of the cap  410  and the external surface  420  of the neck  412 . The projection  432  is such oriented that when a pressure F is applied on the projection  432 , the end portion  434  presses the seal gasket  436  according to G against the external surface  420  thereby increasing the efficiency of the seal gasket  436 . In this manner, the end portion  434  is active and supports the seal gasket  436 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , there is shown a cap  510  mounted on a neck  512  of a container  514 . A projection  532  is extending from an internal surface  526  of a shoulder  523 . A seal gasket  536  is embedded on an end portion  534  of the projection  532 . The projection  532  can be flexible for forming a lip allowing compensation of dimension of the neck  512  to ensure the contact of the seal gasket  536  to the neck  512 . The internal surface  526  further comprises a peripheral recess  546  forming a groove  548  adjacent to the projection  532 . While the container  514  is moved, the fluid contained in the container  514  creates a water hammer effect to the cap. In that case, the groove  548  provides an easier reflux effect of the fluid and reduces the pressure applied to the projection  532 . Thereby, the groove  548  improves the sealing in case of a water hammer effect occurring when the container  514  is moved. 
     Referring to  FIG. 6A , there is shown an expanded view of a projection  632  extending from an internal surface  626  and having an end portion  634 . The projection defines a channel  650  in which a seal gasket  636  is located. 
     Referring to  FIG. 6B , there is shown an expanded view of a projection  632  extending from an internal surface  626  and having an end portion  634 . The projection defines a channel  650  in which a seal gasket  636  is located. 
     Referring to  FIG. 7 , there is shown an expanded view of a projection  732  extending from an internal surface  726  and having an end portion  734 . The projection  732  comprises protuberances  752  to aid in retaining a ring-shaped seal gasket  736  supported by the end portion  734 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 8A , there is shown a cap  810 . The cap  810  comprises a disk  822  for facing an opening, not shown, a shoulder  823  which peripherally extend from the disk  822  and having an internal surface  826 ; and a skirt  824  which peripherally extend from the shoulder  823 . A projection  832  extends from the internal surface  826  and has an end portion  834 . A seal gasket  836  is supported by the end portion  834  of the projection  832 . The cap  810  further comprises an annular sleeve  852  inwardly extending from the disk  822  and sized to receive and guide a feed tube of a liquid dispenser, not shown, used with a container, not shown, closed by the cap  810 . The cap  810  further comprises a plug  854  fixed in a detachable manner by means of a frangible connection to a free edge  856  of the annular sleeve  852 . The plug  854  is coaxial to the annular sleeve  852  and devised to be separated from the same when the container closed by the cap is inserted into the liquid dispenser. The frangible connection between the annular sleeve  852  and the plug  854  is located in an angularly oriented inlet zone made in the free edge  856  of the annular sleeve  852  for, on one hand, facilitating tearing of the frangible connection during insertion of the cap  810  onto the feed tube of the liquid dispenser and, on the other hand, facilitating engagement of the plug  854  within the annular sleeve  852  during extraction of the feed tube. The plug  854  then acting as an obturator, the plug is also provided with internal gripping means  857 , for fixing it temporarily to an upper end of the feed tube during water flow, and with external sealing means for closing the annular sleeve  852  when the container is removed from the liquid dispenser. The plug  854  is then pulled back to the annular sleeve  852  and forced into the same by the feed tube while the same is extracted from the annular sleeve  852 . Also, the seal gasket  836  can be positioned inside two projections  832  that can form a “V-Shape” structure, as it is shown in  FIG. 8B . 
     The skirt  824  includes a line of weakness  858  for facilitating a manual tear of the skirt  824  thereby creating a line of tear propagating as a result of a manual pull applied on the skirt. The cap  810  may further include a tear stop  860  at a location intersecting the line of weakness  858 . The tear stop  860  prevents the line of tear to propagate beyond the tear stop  860 . The line of weakness  858  may include a portion extending across a tension ring  862 , namely an engaging means, to reduce a retaining force exerted by the tension ring  862  on the neck of the container when a tear line propagating as a result of a manual pull applied on the skirt  824  extends across the tension ring  862 . 
     In  FIG. 9 , there is shown a cap  910 . The cap  910  comprises a shoulder  923  having an internal surface  926 . A projection  932  extends from the internal surface  926  and has an end portion  934 . A seal gasket  936  is supported by the end portion  934  of the projection  932 . A projection  938  forms a tension ring, namely an engaging means, for engaging the cap on a neck of a container, not shown. 
     The cap  910  has a central recess  964  including a tubular guiding portion  966  projecting from the cap  910  in a same direction as the skirt  924 . The guiding portion  966  is sized and positioned to receive a supply tube  968  of a dispenser. The central recess  964  may also include a bottom portion  970  in the shape of a cone that projects away from the guiding portion  966 . The cone is provided with a number of frangible lines extending within meridian planes in such a manner so as to allow splitting of said cone into a corresponding number of petal-shaped segments each having a tip when the container is installed onto the dispenser and its cap  910  and neck are penetrated by the supply tube  968 . The cone also having a truncated top and a peripheral surface forming an annular, outwardly projecting step of a generally V-shaped cross-section that is adjacent to the guiding portion and defines an annular inner flange at a distance from the top, whereby, in use, when the cone is split, the flange comes into contact with the supply tube  968  and causes the tips of the segments to extend at a short distance away from the supply tube  968 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 10 a , 10 b , 10 c , 10 d  and 10 e   , there is shown a cross-sectional view of the caps  1010  in which a projection  1032  is having an end portion  1034 . 
       FIG. 10 a    is a cross-sectional view of the cap  1010  in which a first possible projection  1032  is having an end portion  1034 . 
       FIG. 10 b    is a cross-sectional view of the cap  1010  in which a second possible projection  1032  is having an end portion  1034 . 
       FIG. 10 c    shows the seal gasket  1036  being supported by the projections  1032  and  1034  which adopts a “V shape” structure. 
       FIG. 10 d    is a cross-sectional view of the cap  1010  in which a third possible projection  1032  is having an end portion  1034 . 
       FIG. 10 e    is a cross-sectional view of the cap  1010  in which a fourth possible projection  1032  is having an end portion  1034 . The seal gasket  1036  is supported by the end portion  1034  of the projection  1032 . 
     In any embodiments previously described, the seal gasket can be made of a polymer material being pliable or flexible to allow a watertight contact with any water bottle irrespective of the neck size or variation in necks. 
     While preferred embodiments have been described above and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, it will be evident to those skilled in the art that modifications may be made therein without departing from the essence of the invention as defined in the appended claims. Such modifications are considered as possible variants comprised in the scope of the disclosure.