Closure for containers with evidence of first opening
AssigneeTorrent Innova, S.L.
InventorsJorge Antonio GUERRERO GAMAZA, Eduardo JIMÉNEZ GÁLVEZ
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention relates to a cap-type closure for containers comprising means for showing evidence of a first opening, the closure preferably being coupled to the mouth of a container. The present invention is characterized by a closure comprising an inner cap and an outer cap interconnected to one another so as to allow a spacing to be set between the two once the first opening of the closure takes place.
Claims11
A closure for containers with evidence of first opening configured so as to be coupled to the mouth of a container according to an axial direction X-X′, comprising:
- an inner cap (1) comprising:
- a main body (1.1);
- an inner thread (1.2) complementary to a thread of either the mouth of the container or of a pouring element;
- fixing means (1.3) adapted for being fixed to the container;
- breakable means (1.4) adapted for connecting the main body (1.1) and the fixing means (1.3), wherein these breakable means (1.4) are adapted for breaking when a pre-established torque between the main body (1.1) and the fixing means (1.3) is surpassed in the operating mode;
- an outer cap (2) configured for at least partially housing the main body (1.1) of the inner cap (1);
- wherein a first part, either the inner cap (1) or the outer cap (2), comprises a flange (3) directed towards a second part other than the first part, either the outer cap (2) or the inner cap (1);
- wherein the second part comprises:
- at least one groove (4) with a helical segment (4.1) according to the axial direction X-X′ configured for guiding the path of the flange (3) of the first part such that a relative rotation between the first part and the second part brings about a mutual axial movement X-X′;
- a housing (4.2) for the flange (3), the housing (4.2) preferably located at one end of the helical segment (4.1);
- an elastically deformable prolongation (4.3) configured for restricting the section of the groove (4) in at least one part of the helical segment (4.1), with a section smaller than what is required for the passage of the flange (3) such that, in the operating mode, the forced passage of the flange (3) causes the elastically deformable prolongation (4.3) to bend;
- and wherein the configuration of the groove (4) is such that, after the flange (3) reaches the housing (4.2), the flexible prolongation (4.3) elastically recovers its initial position, partially or completely, irreversibly blocking the flange (3) from coming out of the housing (4.2);
- wherein
- the torque required for the forced passage of the flange (3) through the groove (4) causing the elastically deformable prolongation (4.3) to bend is less than the torque required for breaking the breakable means (1.4);
- and
- the first part and the second part comprise two end positions:
- a first position before the first opening in which the flange (3) is located in the groove (4) in a position away from the housing (4.2), and
- a second position after the first opening in which the flange (3) is located in the housing (4.2) after surpassing the segment of the groove (4) restricted by the elastically deformable prolongation (4.3) such that the first part and the second part are axially spaced with respect to the first position resulting in the irreversible separation between the first part and the second part, showing evidence of the first opening, and wherein said spacing is visually accessible.
The closure according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the assembly formed by the groove (4) and the flange (3) is concealed, preferably by a capsule covering the outer cap (2).
The closure according to any of the preceding claims, wherein it further comprises a capsule (5) comprising a lower skirt (5.1) and an upper portion (5.2) for covering the outer cap (2) at least partially, wherein:
- the breakable means (1.4) are configured by means of a ring with a perimetral flange (1.3.1);
- the lower skirt (5.1) is notched in order to retain the perimetral flange (1.3.1) of the breakable means (1.4) in order to fix the breakable means (1.4) either to a pouring element (6) or to the container.
The closure according to any of the preceding claims, comprising a pouring element (6) configured for being coupled to the container comprising:
- an outer thread (6.1) complementary to the inner thread (1.2) of the inner cap (1);
- a skirt (6.2) adapted for being coupled to the container.
The closure according to any of the preceding claims, wherein
- the inner cap (1) comprises a first upper surface (1.6) transverse to the axial axis X-X′ showing at least one upper housing (1.6.1) radially spaced from the center established by the axial axis of rotation X-X′;
- the outer cap (2) comprises a second upper surface (2.1) transverse to the axial axis X-X′ showing at least one supporting flange (2.1.1) radially spaced from the center established by the axial axis of rotation X-X′ by the same distance as the upper housing (1.6.1) of the first upper surface (1.6);
- wherein:
- in the first position between the first part and the second part the supporting flange (2.1.1) is housed in the upper housing (1.6.1), and
- in the second position between the first part and the second part the supporting flange (2.1.1) is in contact with the transverse first upper surface (1.6) and outside of the upper housing (1.6.1).
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.