Patent ID: 12234061

In all the drawings, individual reference numerals denote the same or similar elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ONE EMBODIMENT

With reference to the drawings, a preferred embodiment of a container closure according to the present invention is characterized by reference numeral10. The closure10is intended to be mounted on the neck12of a container, as shown inFIG.4. The neck12usually has a rotationally symmetrical design. The closure10can be made of a plastics material or a different material that is compatible with the contents of the container. In this case, a polymer, in particular a thermoplastic plastics such as polyethylene or polypropylene, is preferred.

The container closure10comprises a retaining ring14, a cap part16and a hinge18, which connects the retaining ring14to the cap part16. The hinge18is shown as a snap hinge here and allows the cap part16to pivot about a pivot axis that extends perpendicularly to the sectional plane inFIG.4. The retaining ring14, the cap part16and the hinge18are cast together in one piece in the closed position and the cap part16is connected to the retaining ring14by means of tearable bridges20.

The retaining ring14surrounds a reference axis200of the container closure10and comprises means intended to be fastened to the container neck12, in this embodiment a number of resilient engagement hooks22that are distributed on the circumference of the retaining ring and engage behind a circumferential retaining bulge121of the container neck when mounted on the container neck and sit between this retaining bulge121and a flanged rim122of the container neck, also known as a “support ring” in technical jargon (seeFIG.4). Other means are, however, conceivable, for example a circumferential fixing bulge or a thread.

The cap part16comprises an end plate24, a circumferential wall26, which surrounds an inner wall surface28of the end plate24, and a gripping projection30, which extends radially outward from the circumferential wall26at an axial spacing from the end plate24. In this embodiment, the gripping projection30extends radially outward from the lower edge of the circumferential wall26that is opposite the end plate24and extends around the reference axis200at an angle300(seeFIG.1) of more than 60°, preferably more than 90°. The gripping projection30comprises a smooth, preferably flat, lower surface32, which forms a comfortable surface for the user to press their thumb on during opening. This lower surface32is arranged on a side of a transverse plane400(seeFIG.2) that is opposite the end plate24, extends transversely to the reference axis200and contains the pivot axis100. This ensures that, when opening the closure10, the initial movement of the gripping projection30occurs virtually perpendicularly to the transverse plane400and in parallel with the reference axis200.

The end plate24can be flat or curved. An annular sealing skirt34extends from the inner side32of the end plate24(seeFIG.4) and is surrounded by the circumferential wall26at a radial spacing therefrom. This sealing skirt34is intended to engage in the interior of the container neck12when the container closure10is placed on the container neck12and the cap part16is in the closed position. The sealing skirt34can comprise a circumferential bulge36.

According to the invention, the circumferential wall26comprises a deformable region40that lies diametrically opposite the hinge18and extends between the end plate24and the gripping projection30. The deformable region40in particular consists of a curved engagement projection42that is directed radially inward, a lower wall portion44between the engagement projection42and the gripping projection30and an upper wall portion46between the engagement projection42and the end plate24. The engagement projection42is supposed to find an engagement position beneath the upper edge123of the container neck. As can be seen inFIGS.4and5, the upper edge123of the container neck12can rest directly on the lower surface28of the end plate24.

The deformable region40extends circumferentially at an angle500of less than 60°, preferably less than 45° (seeFIG.1) such that the gripping projection30extends on either side of the deformable region40in the circumferential direction. The deformable region40is surrounded by two reinforcing regions47of the circumferential wall26in the circumferential direction that connect the gripping projection30to an outer rim48of the end plate24. Each reinforcing region47comprises a reinforcement rib50, which extends outward from the circumferential wall26and runs in parallel with the reference axis200in order to connect the gripping projection30to the outer rim48of the end plate24, and a reinforced wall portion52, the wall thickness of which is greater than the wall thickness of the upper wall portion46and than the wall thickness of the lower wall portion44.

The engagement projection42of the deformable region40is circumferentially spaced apart from the reinforcing regions46and is connected to the reinforcing regions47by means of thin lateral wall portions54, which are flush with an inner surface55of the reinforced wall portion52or protrude slightly inward.

The wall thickness of the upper wall portion46, of the lower wall portion44and of the lateral wall portions54of the deformable region40are determined such that the engagement projection can move radially outward as a result of elastic deformation of the deformable region40, specifically such that the engagement projection42can slide past the upper edge123during opening and re-closing. In practice, the upper edge123extends almost as far as the upper wall portion46in the radial direction, and the radial extension600of the engagement projection44(seeFIG.5) is a measure of the desired radial movement of the engagement projection. Depending on the shape of the upper edge123, the engagement projection44is intended to be able to move for more than 50%, preferably more than 90%, of the radial extension600of the engagement projection44.

Therefore, when opening and re-closing the cap part24, the curved engagement projection42can be easily engaged and disengaged as a result of the contact with the edge12of the neck of the container. In particular, a desired haptic and, if necessary, audible signal is given when the engagement projection42passes the dead center and the deformable region suddenly expands when the closed position is reached. During opening, the forces exerted by the thumb on the lower side32of the gripping projection30are transferred to the end plate24by the lateral reinforcing regions47, while the deformable region40deforms outward and yields without substantially affecting the opening movement despite the fact that the engagement projection42is moved in the opposite direction to the finger pressure.

Of course, the wall thicknesses of the wall portions44,46,54of the deformable region40and the radial extension600of the inner engagement projection44can be tailored to the geometric conditions of the container neck in order to generate the desired signal.

The engagement projection42also helps maintain the closed position even though the opening resistance is actually generated by the elastic deformation of the sealing skirt34in the neck12.