Abstract:
The present invention relates to a crown closure with 27 grooves that is opened or removed by applying a rotating force or a removal twist with a torque of from about 2 in lb to 9 in lb. The crown closure has a smaller contact surface between the grooves and the lip of the container that reduces friction and requires less force to open and therefore advantageously diminishes any potential harm the hands of those opening the closure.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/128,291 filed May 13, 2005, which in turn is a continuation-in-part of International Patent Application No. PCT/MX 03/00046 filed Jun. 4, 2003 and claims priority to Mexican Patent Application No. PA/a/2004/007219 filed Jul. 27, 2004. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates generally to an improved container closure. More particularly, the present invention relates to a crown closure that requires less force to be removed from a container, that does not harm consumers&#39; hands during the removal process, and that prevents excessive loss of carbonation. More specifically, the present invention relates to a preferably metallic crown closure with 27 groves. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    In general, container closures, such as bottle caps, are typically composed of a circular piece of die stamped steel or other suitable metal that is crimped over the top lip or bead of a bottle. Typically, the cap is removed with a tool that grabs a portion of the lower edge of the bottle cap, lifting it outward and upward. This movement has the effect of distorting the crimped portion and bottom edge of the cap, and often bends the top of the cap in such a way as to permanently crease it into a shape that prevents it from being reused. 
         [0004]    Originally, such closures were developed in 1892 by William Painter. This method of sealing beverages containers with a closure was called a crown because of the likeness it had with the crowns of kings and queens. The principle of the crown closure has remained largely unchanged for 110 years. 
         [0005]    For many years, before the standard crown of 21 grooves was developed, inserts combined with packaging were used to preserve carbonated beverages. A more recent improvement involved the twist off bottle cap that is similar to the threaded lid on jars. This continuously threaded cap system, which is also known an easy opening closure, consists in a combination of a crown and a continuously threaded cap that allows removal of the crown by applying a manual twisting force. 
         [0006]    An advantage of twist off or easy open closures is that they do not necessitate an opener that pries off the cap or a lever on the cap that assists in removing the cap. There is therefore a need for a crown closure that may be removed by merely twisting the cap. 
         [0007]    A smooth version of the crown closure with 21 grooves and a crown closure with 29 grooves has been more recently developed. However, neither development solves the present problem. The smooth crown closure with round grooves requires a high torque for removal of the cap and/or a force similar to that needed to remove a standard crown closure with 21 grooves. Further, the crown closure with 29 grooves is unsatisfactory because the loss of carbonation is unacceptable (a loss of carbonation of greater than 5%). 
         [0008]    As can be seen in Table 1 below, the rounded crown closure with 21 groves requires an average removing torque of 10.66 in lb, which is equal or greater than the average removing torque of 10.64 in lb required for removal of a regular crown closure with 21 grooves as can be seen in Table 2. 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
                 TABLE 1 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
                 Maximum 
                 12.20 in lb 
               
               
                   
                 Average 
                 10.66 in lb 
               
               
                   
                 Minimum 
                  8.60 in lb 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
                 TABLE 2 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
                 Maximum 
                 13.05 in lb 
               
               
                   
                 Average 
                 10.64 in lb 
               
               
                   
                 Minimum 
                  8.80 in lb 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0009]    Further, with regard to the crown closure with 29 grooves, 76% of the specimens tested exhibited a carbonation loss of greater than 5%. 
         [0010]    Therefore, the crown closure with 21 rounded grooves and the crown closure with 29 grooves do not provide the desired advantages. Accordingly, there remains a need for a bottle cap or closure that requires less resistance for removal and that does not harm consumers hands during the removal process, while preventing excessive loss of carbonation. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0011]    Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a crown closure that is easier to use by virtue of the fact that it requires less force or torque for removal from a container, such as a beverage container or bottle. 
         [0012]    It is a further object of the present invention to provide a crown closure that requires less force to remove than the standard crown closure with 21 grooves. 
         [0013]    It is a further object of the present invention to provide a crown closure that requires a torque of from about 2 in lb to about 9 in lb for removal. 
         [0014]    It is another object of the present invention to provide a crown closure that does not harm the hand of the person or at least reduces the harm to the hand of the person removing the cap from the beverage container or bottle. 
         [0015]    It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a crown closure with 27 grooves. 
         [0016]    There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described further hereinafter. 
         [0017]    In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
         [0018]    As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception upon which this disclosure is based may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention, are included in the present invention. 
         [0019]    For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter which illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0020]      FIG. 1  is a schematic side view of the closure according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0021]      FIG. 2  is a schematic bottom view of the closure according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0022]    According to a preferred embodiment, the torque required to remove the crown closure with 27 grooves of the present invention is lower than that required to remove standard crown closures with 21 grooves. More specifically, the torque required to remove the crown closure of the present invention is from about 2 in lb to about 9 in lb, preferably from about less than 2 in lb to about 4 in lb. As discussed above, the torque required to remove a standard crown closure with 21 grooves is from about 8 in lb to about 13 in lb, and in some cases as high as 15 in lb. 
         [0023]    As less torque is needed to remove the crown closure of the present invention, the result is a softer feel upon removal of the closure that benefits consumers and helps reduce the number of unsatisfied consumers. 
         [0024]    The crown cap of the present invention is preferably provided with a plastic packing in the interior  1  that may, optionally, be PVC (polyvinyl chloride), PVC-free or another thermoformed material that would be known to one of ordinary skill in the art. As seen in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the closure comprises a plastic thermoformed packing or disc  1  in the interior of the closure that creates a hermetic seal that resists at least 90 psi (pounds per square inch) of pressure. The closure of the present invention also has a transverse panel  2  for containment of the packing and formation of a seal at the time the crown is assembled with the bottle. Further, the closure of the present invention has a 27 groove skirt  3  adjacent to the panel  2 . Because of their shape on the inner circumference  4 , the 27 grooves or fasteners (locks)  3  reduce the contact area with the thread or lip of the container. The circular assembling angle  5  operates in combination with the grooves. From the exterior, the closure of the present invention reduces the potential harm to the hand of a user because of the larger number of grooves and the slightly circular contour of same 6. 
         [0025]    According to a preferred embodiment, the crown cap of the present invention is metal, preferably tin-plated, chromium-plated steal or aluminum or other material known to one of ordinary skill in the art, with 27 grooves for the series 500 and 600 GPI (Glass Packing Institute) bottle finish. The bottle or container may be of any material such as glass, plastic, aluminum, or other suitable material known to one of skill in the art. The grooves  3  of the present invention have a round shape  6  and have less contact with the closing surface or bottle closing  4 , thus reducing the friction between the container surface and the crown closure. 
         [0026]    Air tightness is achieved with a plastic packing  1  assembled in the interior of the crown closure that preserves the characteristics and/or the qualities of the contents of the bottle, preferably foods or beverages. The crown caps of the present invention should preferably hold an inner pressure of 90 psi (pounds per square inch) at a minimum and the typical carbonation found in the market. More preferably, the crown cap of the present invention should prevent a loss of more than 5% carbonation with respect to the initial carbonation value. 
         [0027]    The crown cap of the present invention is removed from the container or bottle by applying a twisting force or torque. 
         [0028]    As compared to the standard 21 groove crown cap, by reducing the contact area between the cap of the present invention and the container or bottle from 1.39 mm to about 1.69 mm per groove and a flat contact zone, to about 0.69 mm to about 0.89 mm per groove, preferably 0.79 mm, and a circular area, the total average area of contact is decreased from 33.34 mm in the standard 21 groove crown, to about 21.43 mm in the 27 groove crown of the present invention, thereby resulting in a 32% to 39% decrease, preferably 35% decrease, in friction. 
         [0029]    Additionally, with the increase of the number of grooves  3  and the circular shape of the grooves  6 , any potential harm to the hand of the consumer is reduced when opening or removing the closure of the present invention from a container. The standard 21 groove crown heretofore known in the art hurts and can sometimes cut the skin of the user. 
         [0030]    The crown closure of the present invention may be used to bottle any kind of product, but mostly carbonated beverages and preferably beer, isotonic beverages, natural fruit juices, and alcoholic beverages of the GPI 500 and 600 series. 
         [0031]    The method of making the crown closure of the present invention comprising the steps of:
       a) cutting and refining a thin, virgin plate of metal in preparation for lithographic printing, wherein the thin plate is cut to the appropriate size required for the following steps b)-d);   b) decorating the thin metallic plate with a lithographic print, wherein the thin metallic plate is stamped with a specific requested design;   c) stamping the inlayed decorated thin plate in a die, wherein the thin plate is processed in order to obtain the crown closure with 27 grooves of the present invention;   d) assembling the closure by placing a plastic packing in the interior of the crown for producing the seal.       
 
         [0036]    Having now described a few embodiments of the invention, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that the foregoing is merely illustrative and not limiting, having been presented by way of example only. Numerous modifications and other embodiments are within the scope of one of ordinary skill in the art and are contemplated as falling within the scope of the invention and any equivalent thereto. It can be appreciated that variations to the present invention would be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the present invention is intended to include those alternatives. Further, since numerous modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation illustrated and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention. 
         [0037]    Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. From the foregoing it is believed that those skilled in the pertinent art will recognize the meritorious advancement of this invention and will readily understand that while the present invention has been described in association with a preferred embodiment thereof, and other embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings, numerous changes, modifications and substitutions of equivalents may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention which is intended to be unlimited by the foregoing except as may appear in the following appended claims. Therefore, the embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined in the following appended claims.