Patent Publication Number: US-2017355496-A1

Title: Fillable closure device with push-button for releasing

Description:
The present invention refers to a fillable closure device, which may be released by means of a push-button, so that either a separately filled capsule arranged inside the closure device is thereby opened and is emptied into the container provided with the closure device, or the closure device itself forms such a capsule, which is then opened. 
     Many beverages are nowadays already produced by mixing a concentrate with water. Instead of distributing the finished mix, it would be much more efficient if the bottle filler would fill only water on site, and the concentrate be added to the water in the bottle by the consumer opening the bottle for the first time, and then mixing it with the same. The adding of all sensible active substances and light sensitive vitamins may be provided by such a closure device. 
     A known solution for metered addition of a separate liquid is comprised of a plastic dosing closure and corresponding container neck for a container, as disclosed in WO 2012/175,317 A1. This solution provides a fillable closure device with a push-button for release, which operates with a separately filled capsule. The closure device is comprised of a closure cap, which may be screwed on the threaded connector of a container, in which this separately filled capsule in the closed state may be inserted from below, with a seal film of capsule downwardly directed. The upper side of the inserted capsule is deformable and may be axially pushed downward, so that the downwardly directed sealing film of capsule is broken or may be exploded. According to this document, this is achieved by an axially and downwardly protruding profile, which is formed on the underside of the closure cap, which is fitted into a recess in the deformable upper side of the inserted capsule, which is fitted to the cross section of said profile. By pressing this profile downwards into the recess, the outer lower corners of the profile are pressed on the sealing film of capsule. The sealing film is provided with weakening lines, so that these corners impact the bisecting line of circle segments formed by the weakening lines, and after bursting the weakening lines, these segments may be pivoted by the corners of profile in the downward direction and are then held in the downwards tilted position. In reality it happens that this solution is fundamentally working, although not without exceptions, i.e. not in 100% of cases. This solution is therefore not sufficiently suitable for practical implementation, in which hundreds of thousands of closure devices have to be delivered and each of those has to work perfectly. 
     The object of the present invention is therefore to provide a fillable closure device, whose filling falls into the container provided with the same closure device, by operating a push-button, either by emptying a separately filled capsule arranged inside the closure device by releasing into the container, or by the fact that the closure device itself forms such a capsule, which is emptied by releasing the push-button. This fillable closure device has to be easier to manufacture and install, has to be comprised of a minimum amount of components, and has to be operated by a single operation—a single action —, so that its filling may be emptied with absolute certainty and reliability into the container provided with such a closure device. The closure device has to ensure, in particular, that the seal, once burst open, cannot get halfway due to elastic forces. Moreover, in a particular embodiment, the filling of capsule in the closure device has to be protected against penetration of oxygen, UV radiation and water vapor coming from the environment. 
     This object is achieved by a fillable closure device with push-button for releasing the emptying process, comprising a closure cap which can be screwed onto the threaded connector of a container, said closure cap forming a fillable capsule, that is open at the bottom, or in which a separate fillable capsule may be inserted, with a seal of the capsule which is directed downward, wherein the upper side of the capsule is designed to be deformable and can be pressed axially downward, so that the seal of capsule which is directed downward may be broken or burst open by this action, in that on the underside of the closure cap an axially downward protruding profile is formed, for pressing the seal of capsule, characterized in that the press element in the closure cap has a V-shaped cross section perpendicular to the rotational axis of the closure cap, so that two walls are formed as legs, which are connected, along their length, integrally with the bottom of the capsule, and that the downwards directed free edges of this press element having a V-shaped cross section rise to a point, where both walls meet, so that by down-pressing of the press element, the underlying film may be initially perforated or broken open by the point and then be folded away by the edges of walls. 
     In this way, the bursting takes initially place in a controlled manner, and the seal, which is burst open, is held open securely. The capsule is emptied by pressing down the push-button due to a reduction of its volume, and moreover, the downward directed segments of seal are reliably rotated downwards and the capsule is therefore held open, so that the content of the capsule may drain reliably and completely in the container provided with the closure device. Moreover, due to the laminated structure of seal, the tightness against penetration of oxygen, water vapor or UV radiation is guaranteed. 
     In figures, various variants of this fillable closure device with push-button for release are shown in different views. The closure device and its function are described in detail based on these figures. 
    
    
     
       In particular: 
         FIG. 1  shows a first variant with direct activation of capsule emptying in a perspective cross section; 
         FIG. 2  shows the closure device with corresponding separately filled capsule and separately drawn seal; 
         FIG. 3  shows the closure device in a perspective cross section, and beside it the crimpable edge of the capsule, which may be inserted from below, for fixing the same, as detailed solution A and as an alternative a barb for holding capsule as detailed solution B; 
         FIG. 4  shows said closure device after pushing down of push-button, with burst seal and emptied capsule; 
         FIG. 5  shows a first solution of the tamper-evident guarantee on closure device; 
         FIG. 6  shows a second solution of the tamper-evident guarantee with simultaneous oxygen, UV and water vapor barrier on the outer side of capsule; 
         FIG. 7  shows a second variant of the closure device with an inferiorly open capsule which is provided by the closure cap itself, which capsule may be filled separately in a toppled position of closure, as well as corresponding seal; 
         FIG. 8  shows a seal with a horse-shoe-shaped pre-notch of carrier material; 
         FIG. 9  shows a seal with a squared pre-notch and pre-notches diagonally positioned inside the square; 
         FIG. 10  shows a seal with two straight hinge lines and a corrugated fracture line and two semicircular fracture lines; 
         FIG. 11  shows seal of  FIG. 8  in a cross section along line A-A in  FIG. 8 ; 
         FIG. 12  shows seal of  FIG. 11  after pressing and breaking of horse-shoe-shaped tab; 
         FIG. 13  shows the closure cap with down-pressed push-button in an oblique view from below, after breaking open and pivoting of breakable part of seal; 
         FIG. 14  shows closure cap in an oblique view from below, with a press element having a V-shaped cross section, which ends downwards in a point at closure cap; 
         FIG. 15  shows closure cap of  FIG. 14  in a diametric section. 
     
    
    
       FIG. 1  shows a first variant of this closure device, which allows the emptying of the separately filled and inserted capsule  2  with a single direct actuation. The closure device forms a closure cap  1  with an inner thread  7 , so that it can be screwed on a threaded connector of a container. The closure cap  1  is provided on its lower edge with a circumferential band  3 , which is connected to the closure cap  1  by means of a thinned portion  5 . This band  3  provides a tamper-evident guarantee and remains on the bottle connector when unscrewing the closure cap  1 , when the bottle is opened for the first time, since the thinned portion  5  is broken. The closure cap  1  has on its upper side a recess  8 , i.e. a depression in the lid surface. This lid surface of this example is provided as a gable-shaped push-button  4 , which is axially deformable, and whose flattened point forms a circular press surface  6 . The press surface  6  is formed on its underside in a boss  9  as a press element, and the wall of push-button  4  is relatively thin, so that the push-button  4  may be pressed downwards by the convex form as seen from above by pressing on the press surface  6  in axial direction, deforming the push-button wall. The push-button  4  may so be pressed downwards in a form which looks concave as seen from outside. On the underside of push-button  4 , it forms with its outer edge a circumferential shoulder  10  which protrudes downwards. On this shoulder  10  a circular capsule  2  may be applied from below, wherein the capsule rests fittingly with its outer edge on this shoulder and is held on the same by a flanging  14 . This capsule  2  is composed in turn of a dome-shaped upper part, which terminates at the outer edge with a projection  12  with an upper and lower flat side. At the center of the upper part of capsule  2  a recess  11  is formed, in which the boss  9  on push-button  4  is inserted. For filling, this dome-shaped upper part of capsule  2 , which still forms a separate part, is brought into a toppled arrangement, so that it forms a cup. This cup is filled and then the capsule  2  is sealed or welded by a circular disc-shaped seal  15  of laminate, which fits on the capsule edge. Then capsule  2  is hermetically closed, and in this way an aseptic filling and sealing is ensured. The dome-shaped upper part of capsule  2  contains an aluminum foil and also the seal  15  contains such a foil, in order for the capsule  2  to be sealed against oxygen and light. In this way it is possible to perform a filling also with most sensitive, light sensitive substances. 
       FIG. 2  shows the closure device with the corresponding separately filled capsule  2  with its domed upper part  13  before use. It is inserted from below, its convex upper side  13  first, into closure device  1 . Capsule  2  has a flat underside and is closed by separately drawn seal  15 . This seal  15  is in particular made of a laminate, since it has to provide different functions, namely: 
     1. allow hermetical closure of capsule  2  by sealing or welding with capsule edge 
     2. ensure oxygen tightness, 
     3. ensure water vapor tightness, 
     4. ensure UV shielding of capsule content 
     5. ensure breaking by actuation of push-button 
     6. ensure open position after breaking open. 
     To this end, said seal  15  is composed of a laminate, with a carrier material  30  of at least 0.2 mm thickness. As said carrier material  30 , a circular cardboard disc may be suitable, for example. Also, a plastic disc, a wood cut disc or a circular disc made of pressed organic material may be suitable. Relative to capsule  2 , in an outwards direction, it follows a barrier film  31  glued onto carrier material  30 , which is made of aluminum or EVOH-film, for example. These materials act as a barrier against oxygen, UV and water vapor. Other materials may also be used, provided that they have a barrier function against oxygen, water vapor and UV radiation. On this barrier film  31 , composed of aluminum or EVOH film, a sealing layer  32  of paint or PE-laminate layer is sprayed or laminated. This sprayed paint or laminate layer  32  is drawn around the outer edge of seal  15 , so that it initially crimps the outer edge of barrier film  31 , for instance the aluminum or EVOH-film, and the edge of carrier material  30 , forming on inner side of carrier material  30 , relative to capsule a circular edge  34  resting on the same, by which the seal  15  may be sealed with the capsule edge. The total thickness of seal is in this case equal to about 0.3 mm. However, it is evident that also thicker seals may be used, in particular when the diameter of the container connector and therefore the closure capsule is larger and provides a larger capsule diameter. The carrier material  30  is provided with special pre-notches, which may be formed by a cutting plotter. This cutting plotter may perform, using a very sharp knife, very precise and thin cuts. In the example shown, a square was cut out, wherein cuts terminate shortly before the lower end of carrier material thickness, therefore leaving a very thin material bridge. The corners of square are connected to diagonal cuts  45 , which also extend up to the lower end of carrier material  30 , without reaching the underlying barrier film  31 , i.e. the aluminum or EVOH-film, so that the latter remains intact and may unfold its function as an oxygen, water vapor and UV barrier. These cuts  45  form weakening lines, in order for the seal  15 , as shown in the following, to be broken precisely along these weakening lines. Cuts or weakening lines  45  may also have different shapes, other than a cross and square, as shown in the following. The seal  15  is applied over the projection  12  ( FIG. 1 ) when upper part  13  is toppled, and is sealed or welded with same. The convex upper side  13  has a central recess  11 , in which the boss  9  on closure cap  1  is set to protrude. On lower edge of closure lid  1  the guarantee band  3  is shown, which is formed over a continuous thinned portion  5  or some material bridges  21 . On later unscrewing the closure cap  1 , the thinned portion  5  is sheared, or material bridges  21 , which provide predetermined breaking points, break and release the closure cap  1  for unscrewing. 
     Detail A of  FIG. 3  shows a first solution for holding capsule  2  in closure cap  1 . In order to attach capsule  2  on the downwards protruding shoulder  10  on underside of dome  4 , shoulder  10  is provided, on its outer edge, in this solution, with a perpendicular protruding wall attachment  17 , which axially extends to closure. After inserting capsule  2 , the wall attachment  17  is folded in a warm state inwardly towards the center of the closure device, as shown by a small curved arrow, and is pressed on seal  15  and cooled. Thenceforth, capsule  2  is securely fixed in closure device  1  by crimping  14 . As an alternative—as shown by detail solution B—a plurality of formed barbs  43  may be distributed along the circumference of wall attachment  17 . Capsule  2  may then be snapped with its edge into these barbs  43 , whereby it is securely held in this position. 
     In  FIG. 4  closure device is shown in a perspective cross section after pressing down of press surface  6 . Due to pressing down of press surface  6  and therefore of push-button  4  in downward axial direction, boss  9  presses against the underlying recess  11  in upper side  13  of inserted capsule  2 . Content of capsule  2  therefore presses from the inside on its underside, i.e. inwardly on seal  15 . If pressure is sufficiently increased, seal  15  breaks or tears due to elongation stress along weakening lines  45  ( FIG. 2 ) and capsule content completely falls downwards from the same. 
       FIG. 5  shows a first solution for providing a tamper-evident guarantee on said closure device, as shown in  FIGS. 1 to 4 . In fact, when closure cap  1  is provided as shown in previous figures, anyone can press the freely accessible press surface  6  downwards, emptying capsule  2  into the bottle content. This pressing on press surface  6  may be performed with malicious intent: simply as a practical joke, someone could easily press down the press surface  6  in a row of bottles on a shelf. The inhibition for such a prank is relatively low. In order to avoid this, the closure cap  1  shown has a lid  18  which is formed, in a hinged manner, on its edge. The lid  18  is provided on its outer edge, i.e. on side of lid  18  opposed with respect to hinge  19 , with a pawl  20  which acts as a snap element. If the lid  18  is tilted and rotated downwards on the closure cap  1 , pawl  20  hooks into a window  22  on a strip  21  which is formed on the same. The lid  18  may then be rotated into an open position, releasing access to push-button  4  and its press surface  6  only when the strip  21  has been previously torn away from closure cap  1 . To this end, the strip  21  is formed, via a thinned portion  23 , on the upper outer edge of closure cap  1 . The strip  21  may be grasped at the grip tab  24  and torn away along the circumference of closure cap  1 , breaking the thinned portion  23 . In order to prevent careless disposal of such strip  21 , thinned portion  23  may be provided on a partial length of strip  21 , so that strip, after partial tearing, is securely held on closure cap  1 , nonetheless releasing the pawl  20 , so that lid  18  may be rotated in the open position. The entire closure solution is essentially composed of three parts, i.e. the lid cap  1  with its integrally formed lid  18 , if necessary, for tamper-evident guarantee, then the separately fillable capsule  2 , which in turn is composed of two parts, i.e. the domed upper side  13  as a cup-shaped injection-molded part and seal  15  for the closing of capsule—hence, only three parts in total! 
       FIG. 6  shows a second variant of a tamper-evident guarantee, wherein on the upper side of closure cap  1  an aluminum or EVOH-film  33  is glued, in particular along its edge region  35 , so that it rests on the press surface  6 . At the time of first use, i.e. when pressing down the push-button, this film  33  is destroyed, therefore acting as a tamper-evident guarantee. At the same time, however, and this is very important, it also acts as a barrier against oxygen, water vapor and UV radiation on the upper side of closure device, so that the inner capsule and its content are also protected from above. 
     A particularly elegant and efficient, i.e. cost efficient and nonetheless technically exceptionally effective embodiment of this fillable closure device, which may be released by push-button, is shown in  FIG. 7 . In this case, closure cap  1  itself forms the capsule  2 , in that on the underside of closure cap lid a cylindrical wall  36  is formed, on whose lower edge  37  the seal  15  is sealed. At the center of the underside of closure cap lid a press element  38  is positioned, which has, in this case, a stool-like shape with four downwards directed legs  39 . These legs press with their lower ends on targeted points on seal  15 , which has been previously weakened by precisely arranged pre-notches.  FIGS. 11 and 12  show the function of pre-notches. Seal  15  is composed of the carrier material  30 , the barrier film  31  made of a film of aluminum or EVOH and the sealing film or PE-laminate layer  32 , which upwardly crimps around the edge of seal  15  and rests from above on the edge region of seal  15 . This seal  15  may then be directly sealed, after filling of capsule  2 , in a toppled position of closure cap  1 , on edge  37  of cylindrical wall  36 . If the closure cap  1  is still adhered on its upper side by the aluminum or EVOH-film, then the content of capsule is hermetically enclosed and protected against penetration of oxygen, water vapor and UV radiation. A penetration of these substances or UV radiation in a radial direction can be ruled out due to thickness of material of threaded cap, container connector and cylindrical wall of capsule. At the same time, as already shown, a tamper-evident guarantee is therefore obtained. This embodiment of the closure device is also very interesting from an economic perspective. It does not require a separately manufactured capsule, which lowers costs. Moreover, tightness of capsule is exceptional. The entire closure device with capsule function is only composed of two components, as well as an optional film on lid of closure device, if upper sealing against oxygen, water vapor and UV radiation is also required. 
       FIG. 8  shows an example of a pre-notch, i.e. a horse-shoe-shaped cut  27 . The ends of this cut  27  are connected by means of a straight cut  26 . The press element  38  has therefore to act in the anterior region of the horse-shoe comprised by the cut  27 , approximately on point  25  on this surface. If a pressure is applied thereon, the thickness of carrier material  30  is influenced by geometry so that high lever forces are generated, which give rise to high stresses underneath the cut, in a transversal direction with respect to cut, so that the underlying film  31  is torn open exactly in that position, and is then cut along the horse-shoe-shaped cut line  27 , while the horse-shoe-shaped tab, which is enclosed by this line is rotated downwards around the straight cut line  26 . The unbroken film along line  26  then functions as a hinge. 
       FIG. 9  shows an example of a pre-notch with straight cuts  26 ,  45 . A square is cut out with these straight cuts  26  or the carrier material  30  is almost cut through. Then the diagonals  45  are also almost cut through. Points  28 , at which the press element  38  has to be applied, which have to be subject to pressure, lie near the crossing point of diagonals  45 . Here also pressure on drawn points  28  generate high tension forces underneath cut lines  45  and transversal to same, due to lever action of thick carrier material  30 , and underlying films  31 ,  32  are broken along these diagonal cuts. The cut open triangular segments in seal  15  are rotated downwards about the straight lines  26 , providing a reliable emptying of capsule. 
       FIG. 10  shows a further example of a pre-notch with straight cuts  26  and curved cuts  27 . Pressure points  29  for press element  38  are positioned along a line. By pressing, the seal  15  initially breaks along the serpentine line  27  and thence along the semicircular cut lines  34 , while the unbroken film along the straight cut lines  26  functions as a hinge. The cut out parts on both sides of serpentine line  27  are folded downwards about the cut lines  26  and ensure a complete emptying of capsule. 
       FIG. 11  shows a cross section through seal  15 , along dashed line A-A of  FIG. 8 . Seal  15  is composed of a laminate. On the uppermost level, the laminate, which is directed towards the capsule inside, is comprised of a cardboard disc, a plastics disc or a wood veneer disc, for example. On this laminate a barrier film  31 , an aluminum film or an EVOH-film is glued, for example, on the underside. At the lowest level, the seal is provided with a sealing paint  32 , or with a PE-laminate layer. This paint or PE-laminate layer  32  is upwardly flanges about the edge and comprises the seal  16  about its edge and rest on the upper side of its edge region  40 . 
       FIG. 12  shows how the seal  15  is perforated, when the horse-shoe-shaped tab is subject, in its anterior region, to a pressure by the press element  38 . The thin portions of barrier film  31 , which are weakened by the pre-notches  27 , i.e. the aluminum or EVOH-film, for example, are perforated and the tab is rotated downwards about the hinge line  26 . 
       FIG. 13  shows this rotation of the horse-shoe-shaped tab about the hinge  26  formed along the straight cut line  26 , while the tab has been separated along the cut line  27  from seal  15 . The press element  38  rotates the tab downwards and holds it then in this tilted position, so that it cannot rotate back, so that the capsule may be completely emptied. 
       FIG. 14  shows a further variant of a closure cap with special press element  38 . This element has a V-shaped cross section. This means that two legs like walls  42  are formed, which are connected along their length fixedly and integrally with the bottom of capsule  2 . Free edges  43  on closure cap  1 , which are directed downwards, of this V-shaped press element  38  rise towards a point  39 , where both walls  42  meet each other. In this way a very stable puncturing and press point  39  is formed. This press element  38  is particularly stable due to its arrangement. If it is pressed by pushing from above on the film positioned under the press element  38 , the press element point  39  initially punctures or breaks the film, whether or not provided with weakening lines, and then the upper edges  43  of walls  42  act on the opened film and fold it downwards, for ensuring the emptying of capsule. 
       FIG. 15  shows a diametric section through this closure cap of  FIG. 14 . It may be seen that the push-button  4  has a circumferential inwardly curved groove  44  in its wall, which facilitates and assists collapsing of push-button  4  in case of pressing on press surface  6 . Obviously, the push-button wall may also be provided with a plurality of such grooves  44 , even outwardly curved ones, or the wall may also form a serpentine line or a bellows in the radial direction. 
     LIST OF REFERENCES 
     
         
         
           
               1  closure cap 
               2  capsule 
               3  circumferential band inferiorly at  1  (guarantee band) 
               4  push-button on closure cap 
               5  thinned portion 
               6  press surface on push-button 
               7  inner thread of closure cap 
               8  recess on upper side of closure cap 
               9  boss inferiorly on press surface 
               10  shoulder on push-button 
               11  recess at zenith of capsule  2   
               12  planar radial projection on separate capsule 
               13  domed upper side of separate capsule 
               14  flanging on insertable capsule 
               15  seal for capsule 
               16  material bridges 
               17  hinge 
               18  hinge 
               19  hinge 
               20  pawl 
               21  strip 
               22  window 
               23  thinned portion 
               24  grip tab 
               25  pressure portion 
               26  straight cut 
               27  curved cut 
               28  points in square 
               29  pressure points at serpentine line 
               30  carrier material seal  15   
               31  barrier film, aluminum or EVOH-film, for example 
               32  sealing paint or PE laminate layer 
               33  EVOH-film upper side on lid of closure cap 
               34  semicircular cuts ( FIG. 10 ) 
               35  edge upper side on closure cap 
               36  cylinder wall inferiorly in the closure cap 
               37  edge of cylinder wall 
               38  press element 
               39  leg on stool-like press element 
               40  edge region of seal  15   
               41  material bridges 
               42  walls of V-shaped press element 
               43  free edges of V-shaped press element 
               44  curved groove in push-button wall