CA2488042C - Closures for containers - Google Patents
Closures for containers Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- CA2488042C CA2488042C CA2488042A CA2488042A CA2488042C CA 2488042 C CA2488042 C CA 2488042C CA 2488042 A CA2488042 A CA 2488042A CA 2488042 A CA2488042 A CA 2488042A CA 2488042 C CA2488042 C CA 2488042C
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- container
- closure
- container closure
- contact regions
- directed contact
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Lifetime
Links
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D41/00—Caps, e.g. crown caps or crown seals, i.e. members having parts arranged for engagement with the external periphery of a neck or wall defining a pouring opening or discharge aperture; Protective cap-like covers for closure members, e.g. decorative covers of metal foil or paper
- B65D41/02—Caps or cap-like covers without lines of weakness, tearing strips, tags, or like opening or removal devices
- B65D41/10—Caps or cap-like covers adapted to be secured in position by permanent deformation of the wall-engaging parts
- B65D41/12—Caps or cap-like covers adapted to be secured in position by permanent deformation of the wall-engaging parts made of relatively stiff metallic materials, e.g. crown caps
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D41/00—Caps, e.g. crown caps or crown seals, i.e. members having parts arranged for engagement with the external periphery of a neck or wall defining a pouring opening or discharge aperture; Protective cap-like covers for closure members, e.g. decorative covers of metal foil or paper
- B65D41/32—Caps or cap-like covers with lines of weakness, tearing-strips, tags, or like opening or removal devices, e.g. to facilitate formation of pouring openings
- B65D41/40—Caps or cap-like covers adapted to be secured in position by permanent deformation of the wall-engaging parts
- B65D41/42—Caps or cap-like covers adapted to be secured in position by permanent deformation of the wall-engaging parts made of relatively-stiff metallic material, e.g. crown caps
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Closures For Containers (AREA)
- Structures Of Non-Positive Displacement Pumps (AREA)
Abstract
A container closure is provided with twenty-seven indentations defining inwardly directed contact regions for releasably contacting a container. Each individual inwardly directed contact region has a substantially circular formation and contacts the container along a contact length of 0,79 mm. The container closure can be used to seal any kind of products within a container, for example, carbonated beverages, beers, isotonic beverages, natural fruit juices and all kinds of alcoholic beverages.
Description
Closures for Containers Field of the Invention The present invention relates to closures for containers and particularly, but not exclusively, to closures which are removable from containers by the application of a rotating or twisting force.
Background of the Invention In 1892, William Painter obtained a Patent for a Crown Cap for sealing beverage containers. The term "crown" was coined because of its likeness to the crowns used by the nobility. Caps having various inner linings, for example cork and paper backings, were used to preserve carbonated beverages and over time a standard crown was established having twenty-one indentations in its flanged edge. The principle of the crown closure means has remained essentially the same over the last 110 years.
Other developments included the 'continuous-thread' cap system, also known as 'twist-off' or 'easy-open' caps. Such caps can be removed either by applying a prying force with a lever such as a bottle opener or a similar instrument, or by applying a manual force to twist the cap until it detaches from the container.
Background of the Invention In 1892, William Painter obtained a Patent for a Crown Cap for sealing beverage containers. The term "crown" was coined because of its likeness to the crowns used by the nobility. Caps having various inner linings, for example cork and paper backings, were used to preserve carbonated beverages and over time a standard crown was established having twenty-one indentations in its flanged edge. The principle of the crown closure means has remained essentially the same over the last 110 years.
Other developments included the 'continuous-thread' cap system, also known as 'twist-off' or 'easy-open' caps. Such caps can be removed either by applying a prying force with a lever such as a bottle opener or a similar instrument, or by applying a manual force to twist the cap until it detaches from the container.
A problem with current crown caps having twenty-one indentations is that the contact region of each indentation has a flat contact area against the container's surface thereby causing excessive resistance to a user's hand during opening or closing of the container.
Summary of the Invention According to the present invention, there is provided a container closure provided with twenty-seven indentations defining inwardly directed contact regions for releasably contacting a container, wherein each of the individual inwardly directed contact regions has a substantially circular formation and contacts said container along a contact length of 0.79 mm.
Preferably, each inwardly directed contact region has a substantially circular formation.
Preferably, the container closure is formed from a metallic material.
Preferably, the metallic mater_al is tin plate.
Preferably, the container closure is provided with outwardly directed contact regions for contacting the hand of a user during application or removal of the closure, said outwardly directed contact regions having a substantially circular contour.
Summary of the Invention According to the present invention, there is provided a container closure provided with twenty-seven indentations defining inwardly directed contact regions for releasably contacting a container, wherein each of the individual inwardly directed contact regions has a substantially circular formation and contacts said container along a contact length of 0.79 mm.
Preferably, each inwardly directed contact region has a substantially circular formation.
Preferably, the container closure is formed from a metallic material.
Preferably, the metallic mater_al is tin plate.
Preferably, the container closure is provided with outwardly directed contact regions for contacting the hand of a user during application or removal of the closure, said outwardly directed contact regions having a substantially circular contour.
Preferably, the outer edge of the container closure is angled laterally with respect to the remainder of the closure.
Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the following drawings, in which:
Brief Description of the Drawings Fig. 1 is a side view of a container closure according to the present invention; and Fig. 2 is a view from below showing the internal structure of the container closure of Fig. 1.
Detailed Description of a preferred embodiment From an analysis of the standard crown cap having twenty-one indentations in its flanged edge, it was found that the resistance to a user's hand during opening or closing of a container is reduced by: (i) reducing the contact length of each contact region between the cap and container; (ii) increasing the number of indentations in the cap; and (iii) forming a circular surface formation on each indentation.
In particular, it was found that a crown cap having twenty-seven circular contact regions, each having a contact length with the container of 0.79 mm per indentation (and thus a total contact length with the container of 21.43 mm) was desirable. This compares with the standard crown cap having twenty-one flat contact regions, each having a contact length with the container of 1.59 mm per indentation (and thus a total contact length with the container of 33.34 mm). The smaller contact region between the cap and, for example, the cords, strings or threads of a bottle's finish requires a smaller removal torque of approximately 2 to 4 in-lb (2.306 to 4.612 Kgf-cm) less than current standards.
The container closure of the present invention can be used to seal any kind of product within a container (such as a bottle), for example, carbonated beverages, beers, isotonic beverages, natural fruit juices and all kinds of alcoholic beverages contained within containers in the Glass Packing Institute (GPI) 500 and 600 series.
The closure of the present invention is a tin crown closure suitable for use with containers of the 500 and 600 Glass Packing Institute (GPI) series. Such closures can be removed from a container by applying a rotating or twisting force (or torque) measured in units of Kgf-cm. The closure comprises a thermoformed plastics disc (1) on the underside of a transverse panel (2) for contacting the container to create a hermetic seal and preserve the characteristics or attributes of the beverage or foodstuff contained therein. The container may be formed from any suitable material such as glass, plastic, aluminium etc.
Adjacent to the panel (2) is a skirt or flange (3) which comprises twenty-seven indentations (also known as grooves, fasteners or locks) each having inwardly directed circular formations (4) which reduce the contact between the closure and the container. The outer edge of the skirt or flange (3) is formed with a lateral extension (5). The closure is further provided with outwardly directed contact regions (6) between each indentation, said outwardly directed contact regions having a substantially circular contour for contacting the hand of a user during application or removal of the closure. The combination of the above factors acts to reduce the resistance to a user's hand during opening or closing of the container as compared to conventional closures.
The process for manufacturing the crown closure of the present invention comprises the following steps:
(i) cutting the material from which the closures are formed; (ii) stamping the cut material by means of a corrugated die which defines a profile corresponding to the desired closure having twenty-seven indentations; and (iii) assembling the stamped out pieces into a closure.
Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the following drawings, in which:
Brief Description of the Drawings Fig. 1 is a side view of a container closure according to the present invention; and Fig. 2 is a view from below showing the internal structure of the container closure of Fig. 1.
Detailed Description of a preferred embodiment From an analysis of the standard crown cap having twenty-one indentations in its flanged edge, it was found that the resistance to a user's hand during opening or closing of a container is reduced by: (i) reducing the contact length of each contact region between the cap and container; (ii) increasing the number of indentations in the cap; and (iii) forming a circular surface formation on each indentation.
In particular, it was found that a crown cap having twenty-seven circular contact regions, each having a contact length with the container of 0.79 mm per indentation (and thus a total contact length with the container of 21.43 mm) was desirable. This compares with the standard crown cap having twenty-one flat contact regions, each having a contact length with the container of 1.59 mm per indentation (and thus a total contact length with the container of 33.34 mm). The smaller contact region between the cap and, for example, the cords, strings or threads of a bottle's finish requires a smaller removal torque of approximately 2 to 4 in-lb (2.306 to 4.612 Kgf-cm) less than current standards.
The container closure of the present invention can be used to seal any kind of product within a container (such as a bottle), for example, carbonated beverages, beers, isotonic beverages, natural fruit juices and all kinds of alcoholic beverages contained within containers in the Glass Packing Institute (GPI) 500 and 600 series.
The closure of the present invention is a tin crown closure suitable for use with containers of the 500 and 600 Glass Packing Institute (GPI) series. Such closures can be removed from a container by applying a rotating or twisting force (or torque) measured in units of Kgf-cm. The closure comprises a thermoformed plastics disc (1) on the underside of a transverse panel (2) for contacting the container to create a hermetic seal and preserve the characteristics or attributes of the beverage or foodstuff contained therein. The container may be formed from any suitable material such as glass, plastic, aluminium etc.
Adjacent to the panel (2) is a skirt or flange (3) which comprises twenty-seven indentations (also known as grooves, fasteners or locks) each having inwardly directed circular formations (4) which reduce the contact between the closure and the container. The outer edge of the skirt or flange (3) is formed with a lateral extension (5). The closure is further provided with outwardly directed contact regions (6) between each indentation, said outwardly directed contact regions having a substantially circular contour for contacting the hand of a user during application or removal of the closure. The combination of the above factors acts to reduce the resistance to a user's hand during opening or closing of the container as compared to conventional closures.
The process for manufacturing the crown closure of the present invention comprises the following steps:
(i) cutting the material from which the closures are formed; (ii) stamping the cut material by means of a corrugated die which defines a profile corresponding to the desired closure having twenty-seven indentations; and (iii) assembling the stamped out pieces into a closure.
Claims (5)
1. A container closure provided with twenty-seven indentations defining inwardly directed contact regions for releasably contacting a container, wherein each of the individual inwardly directed contact regions has a substantially circular formation and contacts said container along a contact length of 0.79 mm.
2. A container closure according to claim 1, wherein the container closure is formed from a metallic material.
3. A container closure according to claim 2, wherein the metallic material is tin plate.
4. A container closure according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the closure is provided with outwardly directed contact regions for contacting the hand of a user during application or removal of the closure, said outwardly directed contact regions having a substantially circular contour.
5. A container closure according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the container closure has an outer edge that is angled laterally with respect to the remainder of the closure.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| MXUNKNOWN | 2002-06-04 | ||
| PCT/MX2003/000046 WO2003101854A2 (en) | 2003-06-04 | 2003-06-04 | Crown cork comprising 27 grooves |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2488042A1 CA2488042A1 (en) | 2003-12-11 |
| CA2488042C true CA2488042C (en) | 2011-07-26 |
Family
ID=29707787
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA2488042A Expired - Lifetime CA2488042C (en) | 2002-06-04 | 2003-06-04 | Closures for containers |
Country Status (4)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| AU (1) | AU2003230444A1 (en) |
| CA (1) | CA2488042C (en) |
| GB (1) | GB2405633B (en) |
| WO (1) | WO2003101854A2 (en) |
Families Citing this family (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB2422824A (en) * | 2005-02-04 | 2006-08-09 | Tapon Corona S A De C V | Crown cap with 27 indentations or grooves |
Family Cites Families (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US5458253A (en) * | 1993-09-01 | 1995-10-17 | Zapata Technologies, Inc. | Bottle cap |
| IT1274911B (en) * | 1994-09-23 | 1997-07-25 | Pelliconi Abruzzo Srl | METAL CAPSULE FOR CLOSING BOTTLES. |
-
2003
- 2003-06-04 CA CA2488042A patent/CA2488042C/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 2003-06-04 GB GB0428431A patent/GB2405633B/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 2003-06-04 WO PCT/MX2003/000046 patent/WO2003101854A2/en active IP Right Grant
- 2003-06-04 AU AU2003230444A patent/AU2003230444A1/en not_active Abandoned
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| WO2003101854A2 (en) | 2003-12-11 |
| GB2405633A (en) | 2005-03-09 |
| CA2488042A1 (en) | 2003-12-11 |
| AU2003230444A1 (en) | 2003-12-19 |
| GB0428431D0 (en) | 2005-02-02 |
| GB2405633B (en) | 2006-04-12 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| EEER | Examination request | ||
| MKEX | Expiry |
Effective date: 20230605 |