WO1991006486A2

WO1991006486A2 - Screw cap with tamperproof element, in particular for wide-necked containers

Info

Publication number: WO1991006486A2
Application number: PCT/EP1990/001819
Authority: WO
Inventors: Bernhard Burmann
Original assignee: Mhk Max Hübner Gmbh
Priority date: 1989-11-02
Filing date: 1990-10-31
Publication date: 1991-05-16
Also published as: CA2044631A1; WO1991006486A3; EP0465608A1; AU6745190A; DE4002967A1; JPH04505309A

Abstract

A screw cap (1) with tamperproof element, in particular for wide-necked containers (2), comprises a closure cap which can be screwed onto the neck (5) of the container. The tamperproof element consists of a visible or palpable tamperproof feature on the screw cap, which is irreversibly formed by deformation of a part of the closure cap (6) when the closure is turned in order to open the container or by locking of parts of the closure cap.

Description

Screw cap for tamper-evident protection, especially for wide-neck containers

The invention relates to a screw closure with originality assurance according to the preamble of claim 1.

Screw closures with tamper-evident protection for containers are generally known. Such closures usually have a securing ring formed on the lower edge section of the closure cap via narrow webs forming predetermined breaking points, which engage from below a bead formed on the container neck. As soon as the closure cap is rotated for the purpose of opening the container and thus moved upwards, the narrow connecting webs designed as predetermined breaking points tear, since the retaining ring cannot be moved upwards because of the bottle bead protruding outwards. The locking ring is thus blasted off the closure cap and remains on the bottle neck, unless the ring itself breaks and falls off the bottle neck or is removed from it. This type of originality assurance is, however, for wide-neck containers This is disadvantageous because, due to the large container circumference, it is difficult to break open the predetermined breaking bars when opening the container, so that the bars usually have to be cut through with a tool, and secondly due to the tolerances that have to be accepted it is possible to pull off the sealing cap with a pointed tool after expanding the tamper-evident ring without the securing function being able to unfold. Tampering with the closure cannot therefore be ruled out.

Another very serious disadvantage of such a closure on wide-neck containers is that the closure can already be opened by turning the cap by a certain amount, so that a vacuum built up inside the container is released, but the retaining ring itself still is not blown off. If the closure cap is then closed again, the vacuum inside the container is released, but the opening of the closure that has already taken place is not visible from the outside. A container which has been opened and closed again in this way can thus be returned to the store shelf without the opening once having been controllable from the outside. It is obvious that goods opened in this way often become moldy long before the expiry date stated on the package or can otherwise spoil.

The object of the invention is to provide a screw closure, in particular for wide-neck containers, which has a tamper-evident device, which indicates any opening of the closure in a secure manner and furthermore avoids the rejects occurring in the previous tamper-evident closures as a result of a detached snap ring.

This object is achieved according to the invention by the features contained in the characterizing part of claim 1, expedient developments of the invention by the in the Characteristics specified subclaims are marked.

According to the invention, when the closure is opened in rotation, parts of the closure cap are locked, which is irreversible and causes the occurrence of a visible or tactile tamper-evident feature on the screw closure itself. This can be done for example by indenting protrusions in window-like openings or disengaging protrusions from window-like openings and interlocking tongues and recesses, the originality position can still be clarified by different colors. In an alternative expedient embodiment, the screw cap is discolored due to a deformation of part of the screw cap when the screw is opened. This discoloration can take place by means of a color layer which is displaced under deformation into a visible section of the closure cap or by appropriate choice of material in that a material is used for the cap which discolors permanently under deformation stress. As a result, it can be determined on the screw cap or on the screw closure itself whether the closure has already been tampered with without a scrap in the form of a detached locking ring.

In the case of discoloration of the screw cap, the deforming section is implemented in a particularly expedient manner by a combination of active surfaces consisting of a conically inwardly running lower edge section of the closure cap in connection with a conical inclined surface on the container neck. If the cap is pulled off by turning it upwards, the lower edge section is deformed outwards, so that the lower and section remains discolored and the opening of the closure is indicated for the first time. The closure can then be easily reused.

The originality feature is formed in a particularly expedient manner when it is locked between a cap and a locking member of the closure, which is thus constructed in two parts. Here, the cap sits on the locking member, which is in the rotationally engaged position with the container neck, that is to say has the screw threads. The cap can be rotated on the locking element until a locking position is reached, which is achieved by locking elements on the cap in cooperation with locking on the locking element. If the cap is rotated into the latching position, in which the latching elements and latches of the cap and the latching member latch in the latching position, the tamper-evident feature is formed, for example by inserting or disengaging parts of the cap or the latching member into openings or Ausneh¬ mungen the locking member or the cap a permanent visible or tactile change in the screw cap is generated. It is advantageous here that the locking position can also be heard, so that the first user of the closure can also control the first opening by means of an audible signal. As soon as the formation of the tamper-evident feature with a non-releasable latching position between the cap and the latching member is achieved, the latching member now coupled is also rotated so that the closure is opened when the cap is turned further. That is, , The tamper-evident feature is formed in a secure manner immediately before the screw cap actually opens, so that manipulation of the screw cap (opening without triggering the tamper-evident device) is no longer possible.

The display of the tamper-evident feature in the latching position can be displayed in a variety of ways on the screw closure, for example by forming a toothing on the lower edge section of the cap, which is aligned in the latching position with a corresponding counter-toothing on the latching member, in the latching position the cap is moved downwards relative to the locking member, so that the toothing and the counter toothing come into engagement and the originality feature is thus visible to the outside. Kinematic reversal is also possible by the cap of the locking element in the locking position lifted off and thus an engagement position between the cap and the locking member is canceled. This disengagement, which then forms the originality feature, can be emphasized by different colors. In an alternative embodiment, a bead or bead-like projections in the manner of knobs are pressed through window-like openings of the other part or disengaged from them, which in turn produces a visible change in the screw closure, which forms the originality feature.

In a particularly advantageous manner, the locking member is designed in the manner of a cap and is made of a softer material with sealing properties, so that the locking member itself also represents the seal of the container neck. In a further development of the invention, one or more sealing lips can also be provided on the latching element, which in the closed position lie sealingly on surfaces of the container neck, in particular on the inner surface of the container neck in the region of the container mouth.

Of course, different configurations of the catches or catch elements can be undertaken, the catches only coming into a blocking function in a particularly expedient manner in one direction of rotation, which expediently corresponds to the rotational opening movement of the catch member and thus the opening movement of the closure.

In a further exemplary embodiment, a tamper-evident ring is provided between the latching member and the cap, which is initially pulled or disengaged from the closure cap via a steep thread when the closure is opened, until this ring irreversibly engages with a molded-on part in the latching ring or in the latching member, so that the closure thread is opened only when the cap is turned further. By moving this additional tamper-evident ring in or out, an irreversible tamper-evident feature becomes visible. In an expedient development, the latching member forms the outer cap of the closure and engages over an inner cap which, in the closed position, rests firmly on the neck of the container, the tamper-evident feature again being irreversibly visible when opened, here by rotating the outer cap, due to latching with the inner cap. In particular, saw tooth profiles are used according to the invention for the catches and catch elements, which allow the outer cap to rotate relative to the inner cap in the opening direction, but prevent relative rotation in the opposite direction, so that the outer cap is blocked with the inner cap in the opposite direction and so that the originality feature once created can no longer be undone.

The tamper-evident feature is advantageously achieved by covering identification fields with openings in the outer cap, the identification fields being provided on the top of the inner cap. When opening, i.e. when the outer cap is opened in rotation, despite the engagement position due to the sawtooth-like profile, it is possible for the catches to overflow over the catch elements, so that the openings pass over the identification fields as a result of the relative rotation between the cap and the inner cap, and the originality feature is thus shown . On the other hand, turning the outer cap back relative to the inner cap is no longer possible, so that the tamper-evident feature is irreversibly retained.

The labeling fields can be formed by color fields or labeled fields. Although it is expedient to provide the openings and the color fields on the cap base, it can also be expedient to provide the openings in the manner of recesses or the like on the side wall of the outer cap and the identification fields on the side wall of the inner cap. The same also applies to the arrangement of the catches or catch elements, which are an alternative to the arrangement can also be provided on the cap base on the side wall of the cap.

Appropriately, from a certain rotational position, and in particular when the identification fields have reached a full overlap with the openings, the inner cap is lifted from the container neck, with the result that the tight fit of the inner cap in the container neck is removed and thus the Inner cap is rotated with the outer cap. As a result, there is no change in the overlap between the opening and the identification fields, even in the direction of the rotary opening, so that the originality feature is irreversibly retained here as well. The driving shoulder is expediently formed on a projection which projects radially inwards from the side wall of the outer cap and which holds the inner cap on the outer cap. Here, the engagement position between the sawtooth profiles or the catches and the catch elements is such that both when the driving shoulder rests on the inner cap but also in the closed position, where the catch shoulder is at a distance from the inner cap, the catch engagement position between the catches and the Locking elements is guaranteed. This is essential for maintaining the originality feature.

In particular in the case of pressurized materials which are accommodated in the container, it is expedient if the outer cap is designed in such a way that, when it is opened, it presses the inner cap onto the container neck until the driving shoulder begins, the inner cap from Take off the container. This can be accomplished by a resilient part, for example a resilient lip, formed on the bottom of the outer cap, but expediently the bottom of the outer cap is bulged downward in a bulbous manner, so that the bulging with prestress on the inner cap presses.

Preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention are described below with reference to the drawing. In it show: 1 shows a schematic sectional view of a part of a screw cap for a container,

2 is an analog sectional view of an alternative embodiment,

3 shows an analog sectional view of a further embodiment,

Fig. 4 shows a variant of the locking member shown in Fig. 3 and

5 shows a further embodiment of a screw closure in a schematic representation and in a sectional view,

6 shows a schematic partial sectional view of a further embodiment of a screw closure.

7 shows a sectional view of an embodiment according to the invention of a closure cap screwed onto a wide-neck container,

8 is an enlarged view of part of the in

Fig. 7 shown cap,

9 is a sectional view taken along the line A-A in Fig. 8,

10 is a sectional view of the inner cap,

11 is a plan view of the inner cap,

12 is a sectional view of the outer cap,

Fig. 13 is a plan view of the outer cap shown in Fig. 12 as well 14 the view Z from FIG. 12.

FIG. 1 shows a screw closure, generally designated 1, for a container 2, in particular a wide-neck container made of glass or plastic. The screw cap 1 comprises a locking member 3 with a screw thread 4, which is in the rotationally engaged position with the container neck 5 and on which a cap 6 is arranged. The cap 6 is secured against being pulled off from the latching member 3 by means of a radially inwardly projecting bead 7, the bead 7 engaging in a corresponding recess 8 in the latching member 3. Between the locking member 3, in particular the cap-like base 9 of the locking member 3 and the cap base 10 of the cap 6, there are locking elements distributed over the circumference on the cap 6 and detents on the locking member 3, generally denoted by 11. In one embodiment, the latching elements of the cap 10 can be bulging projections which can be latched into correspondingly cut-out recesses in the latching member 3, the latching position being intended to be irreversible.

As can be seen from FIG. 1, in the exemplary embodiment shown there, the cap base 10 and the base 9 of the latching element 3 are arranged at a distance from one another in terms of height, to be precise due to the latching elements of the cap 6. In the latching position, that is to say when snapping in, ie. H. when the locking elements 11 engage in the corresponding grooves on the bottom 9 of the locking member 3, the cap base 10 is seated on the bottom 9 of the locking member 3, so that the vertical distance is overcome. That is, in the locking position, an axial downward movement of the cap 6 is effected relative to the locking member 3.

Furthermore, the cap 6 has on its lower edge section at 12, from the detail shown on the right in FIG. 1, tongue-like projections 13, which correspond to corresponding recesses 14 distributed over the circumference of the locking member 13 at 15. The cap 6 can be rotated on the latching member 3 until the latching elements formed on the cap 6 come to the rest of the latching member 3, where they snap or snap when the cap 6 is rotated further due to the formation of the latches , so that the cap 6 is locked with the locking member 3. In this latching position, as described above, the cap 6 has been moved downward relative to the latching member 3, so that the tongues 13 and recesses 14 which are aligned with one another in the latching position engage with one another. This position of engagement forms the originality feature which can be seen from the outside and which can no longer be undone. Upon further rotation of the cap 6, the locking member 3 is rotated due to the locking of the two parts, so that the screw cap 1 is now opened.

In an alternative embodiment not shown in the drawing, kinematic reversal of the catches or the catch elements can cause the cap 6 to be moved upward away from the catch member 3 so that the tongues 13 disengage from the recesses 14, as a result of which then the originality feature is brought about by the pulled-apart tongues and recesses.

For better clarification of the tamper-evident feature, the latching element 3 can be colored differently than the cap 6, and here numerous possibilities of variation can be realized according to the chosen kinematics, for example with a tamper-evident feature, where the tongues 13 from the recesses 14 are moved, the surface of the locking element located behind the tongue 13 or under the tongue 13 is given a signal-colored coloring which is clearly visible when the cap 6 and locking element 3 are moved apart.

The locking member 3, which is cap-shaped, is expediently made of a work piece that is softer than the cap 6. Fabric with sealing qualities, so that the insertion of a sealing washer or a compound can be omitted. In particular, the locking member 3 at 16 has a circumferential sealing lip which rests in sealing contact on the inner surface of the container mouth.

In the embodiment according to FIG. 2, the same reference numerals as in FIG. 1 have been used for the same components. Here, too, the cap 6 is located with its cap bottom 10 at a distance from the bottom 9 of the latching member 3. As soon as the latching elements 17 reach the latches 18 and the latching engagement position is effected, the cap 6 is moved axially relative to the latching member 3, so that the cap bottom 10 rests on the bottom 9 of the locking member 3. The large-area bead 19, which is formed centrally on the bottom 9 of the locking member 3, passes into the corresponding opening 20 of the cap base 10, so that the surface of the bead 19 is flush with the surface of the cap base 10 and the originality feature is thereby formed, whereby by - Before the coloring between the bead 19 or locking member 3 and cap 6, the tamper-evident mark is clearly visible.

Here too there is the kinematic reversal, in that the cap 6, which normally rests on the bottom 9 of the locking member 3, is raised in the locking position, so that the opening 20 is inevitably opened by the bead 19, which in turn forms a tamper-evident mark , which is clearly visible from the outside.

In the embodiment according to FIG. 3, the same reference numerals as in FIGS. 1 and 2 have again been used for the same components. According to FIG. 3, the cap 6 has window-like openings 21 at the lower edge section at 15 distributed over the circumference, and the latching member 3 is divided into two parts and consists of a cap-shaped section 3a and the actual latching member section 3b, which is in rotary engagement with the container neck 5 is located. The coupling of the Both parts 3a and 3b are carried out via a cam 22 which is guided in a corresponding cam curve 23. The actual catches are shown in turn at 11. Here, too, the cap 6 can be rotated until the catch elements of the cap 6 come against the catches of the catch element section 3b. As soon as the irreversible locking engagement position is reached, the locking member section 3b is also rotated, so that as a result of the interaction between the cam 22 and the cam curve

23, the locking member section 3b is pressed radially outward and, as a result, beads 24 molded on the locking member section 3b dip into the window-like openings 21. This creates the originality feature that is visible from the outside.

Alternatively, the latching member section 3a can be omitted, but this is advantageous due to the additional sealing effect or sealing function. Such an embodiment is shown in FIG. 4, where the cam 22 is formed on the cap 6 and the cam curve 23 on the locking member 3. Depending on the design of the cam and cam curve 22 and 23, the tamper-evident feature can be obtained by disengaging the beads 24 from the window-like openings 21 or by indenting the beads

24 can be effected in the window-like openings 21. Here too, the originality feature can be increased by a color effect due to different colors between the cap 6 and the locking member 3. In addition, it should be noted in this context that the reaching of the locking position is also audible, so that the first-time user of the bottle can hear when the cap 6 is turned into the locking position that the screw cap is moved into the irreversible locking position for the first time.

FIG. 5 shows a further embodiment, in which case the cap 6 is in the engagement position with the container neck 5. At the lower edge section of the cap 6, an inwardly pre-shaped tongue 25 is provided, which is expediently formed all around the cap 6 and is integral with the cap 6. This tongue engages over an inclined surface 26 which is formed on the container neck 5 and which is formed by a raised formation. can be fertilized or circumferential. If the cap 6 is unscrewed towards the top, the tongue 25 inevitably deforms on the corresponding conical surface 26, the deformation being identified by V. If the cap 6 or the tongue 25 is made of material which changes its color, in particular plastic material, under deformation stress, the deformation V causes the end section 25 to become discolored, which is irreversible and thus a clearly visible originality - feature forms. Of course, the tongue 25 need not be formed on the lower edge portion of the cap 6, but can also be realized on the cap base 10 or at another suitable location of the cap 6. It is only important that with the opening of the twist a deformation takes place on a part, which changes its color under deformation tension.

In the embodiment according to FIG. 6, the same reference numerals have been used for the same components as in the previous figures. In the embodiment according to FIG. 6, an intermediate ring 27 is provided between the cap 6 and the locking element 3, which is guided non-rotatably but axially movably in a groove 28 of the locking element 3 and via a thread 29 with a greater pitch than the thread 30 between the locking element 3 and the container neck 5 of the cap 6 is in the rotationally engaged position. Depending on the direction of the thread, rotating the cap 6 of the intermediate ring 27 either moves it from a retracted position within the cap 6 down to a visible position, which then represents the tamper-evident feature, or retracts it from an extended position into the cap 6, so that the retracted position forms the originality feature. In any case, the intermediate ring 27 has at least one locking element with which the intermediate ring can be locked with the locking member, so that the screw closure can only be opened in the locking position with a further rotation of the cap 6. This also ensures originality before the actual opening operation. is sufficient so that no uncontrolled opening of the closure is possible. In the embodiment according to FIG. 6, the latching element on the intermediate ring is formed by a knob-like projection 31, which can be irreversibly pressed into a corresponding recess 32 on the latching member 3 (positive locking or the like).

7 shows a screw cap, generally designated 1 ', for a container 2', in particular a wide-necked container made of glass or plastic (container neck diameter preferably greater than 30 mm). The screw cap 1 'comprises a locking member 3' with a screw thread 4 'which is in the rotationally engaged position with the container neck 5' or can be screwed onto the container neck. The locking member 3 'here represents the outer cap of the screw cap 1'. Inside the outer cap 3 'there is an inner cap 6' which rests on the container neck 5 'from above.

As can best be seen from FIG. 8, the inner cap 6 'has a circumferential sealing lip 7' which projects downward from the bottom underside and which in the illustrated embodiment has a wedge-shaped contact surface 8 'sealingly against the inner surface of the container neck 5' , The inner surface of the container neck being complementarily conical or wedge-shaped. However, other sealing lip designs are also possible.

The outer cap 3 ', which in the exemplary embodiment shown is provided with a catchy screw thread, as can best be seen in FIG. 12, has a driver shoulder, designated 9', which runs all the way round and through an inwardly projecting projection 10 ' lower end of the outer cap 3 'is formed. In the closed position shown in FIG. 8, the driver shoulder 9 'is located at a vertical distance from an all-round stop shoulder of the inner cap 6', designated 11 '. 8 also shows the engagement position of the locking member or the external Ren cap 3 'trained notches 12' with the inner cap 6 'formed locking elements 13'. The catches 12 'and the catch elements 13' are more clearly shown in FIGS. 11 and 14, where they are shown in plan view.

9 shows that the catches 12 'and the catch elements 13' are each designed in the manner of a sawtooth profile, the blocking ramp of the catches and the catch elements being denoted by 14 'and the ramp of the sawtooth profile being denoted by 15'. As can be seen, a relative movement between the outer cap 3 'and the inner cap 6' is possible when the outer cap 3 'is moved to the right in FIG. 9, which corresponds to a rotation of the outer cap 3' in the clockwise direction and thus in the rotational opening direction, since the outer cap 6 'with the catches 12' runs over the run-up ramps 15 'of the sawtooth profile of the inner cap 6' or overflows into them. On the other hand, a relative movement or relative rotation between the outer cap 3 'and the inner cap 6' is blocked due to the vertically running ramps 14 'and irreversibly, since the outer cap 3' is not to the left in FIG. 9 and thus can be moved in the closing direction against the inner cap 6 '.

10 and 11 show the structure of the inner cap 6 'with the locking elements 13' formed on the top of the cap base, which are formed according to FIG. 11 as a circular sawtooth profile at 16 '. Furthermore, identification fields 17 'are provided on the upper side of the inner cap 6', namely in the exemplary embodiment shown a total of four identification fields 17 'in the manner of segments which are offset by 90 degrees to one another and have an angular width of approximately 25 degrees. The identification fields 17 'can be formed by color fields, for example with red color or by other identifications.

According to FIGS. 12 to 14, the outer cap 3 'has correspondingly designed openings 18', which likewise are arranged in segments and offset by 90 degrees to one another and have an angular width of approximately 25 degrees. The radial distance from the center point is the same as in the case of the marking fields 17 ', so that in a certain rotational position of the outer cap 3' and the inner cap 6 'the marking fields 17' come into register with the openings 18 ', so that the marking fields 17 'can be seen from above through the outer cap 3'. The shape and size of the identification fields 17 'do not have to be adapted to the openings 18'. It must only be ensured that, from a certain rotational position, there is an overlap between the labeling fields 17 'and the openings 18', so that the labeling fields 17 'can be recognized as an irreversible originality feature through the openings 18' in a certain rotational position. Fig. 14 shows that the catches 12 'formed along the same circular line as the catch elements 13' of the inner cap 6 'are provided in segments on the underside of the bottom of the outer cap 3', in four segments which are offset by 90 degrees to one another and have an angular width of about 40 degrees each. If required, the catches 12 ', which represent a sawtooth profile in segments, can also be circumferentially analogous to the sawtooth profile 16' according to FIG. 11.

For production reasons, in the closed position of the closure cap 1 shown in FIG. 8, the openings 18 'are not overlapping with the identification fields 17', rather the radial edge 19 'which leads in the rotational opening direction F (FIG. 13) is immediately adjacent to the trailing one radial edge 20 'of the assigned identification field 17', namely in the direction of the opening of rotation, before this trailing edge 20 ', so that there is no overlap between the identification field 17' and the opening 18 '. As soon as the outer cap 3 'is rotated in the rotational opening direction F, the leading edge 19' of the opening 18 'overflows the associated identification field 17', so that the originality feature, for example the red color of the identification field 17 'through the opening 18' is visible. As soon as a rotation takes place in the rotational opening direction F, ie the outer cap 3 'is rotated relative to the inner cap 6', which sits with a corresponding tight fit due to the wedge surface 8 'in the container neck 5', the catches 12 'overflow the sawtooth-like locking elements 13 '. A turning back of the outer cap 3 'relative to the inner cap 6' is no longer possible due to the described latching action between the sawtooth profiles or the vertically extending ramps 14 ', ie the identification field 17' made visible in the opening 18 ', ie the Originality feature can no longer be undone by turning back the outer cap 3 'relative to the inner cap 6'. Thus, once an opening has taken place, that is to say a slight opening of the closure cap as a result of the openings 18 'being covered with the identification fields 17', this originality feature could not be undone again.

When the outer cap 3 'is turned further, it comes up as a result of the screw thread engagement with the container neck 5', so that in a certain rotational position the driving shoulder 9 'strikes the abutment shoulder 11' of the inner cap 6 ', so that with further rotation the outer cap 3 'finally the inner cap 6' is taken up. In this position, the catches 12 'and the catch elements 13' are of course still in the fully engaged position, so that now with the rotation of the outer cap 3 ', the inner cap 6' is also rotated due to the catch engagement, and thus the full overlap of the characteristics achieved in the meantime. drawing field 17 'with the openings 18' is maintained. The size and arrangement or orientation of the identification fields 17 'and the openings 18' is such that, when the outer cap 3 'is rotated from its closed position, the overlapping of the identification fields 17' with the corresponding openings 18 'begins and the complete overlap of the marking fields 17 'with the openings 18' is achieved as soon as the inner cap 6 'over the driver shoulder 9' is lifted out of the container neck 5 'and begins to rotate. If a slight rotation of the outer cap 3 'is to be permitted without the original feature already being visible, this can be taken into account by appropriate displacement or choice of the size of the identification fields 17' and the openings 18 '.

Even when the container neck is closed again by fitting the closure cap, the tamper-evident feature can no longer be reversed.

Instead of the formation of the catches and catch elements on the bottom of the outer cap and the inner cap, the catches and catch elements can also be formed on the inner or outer surface of the side wall of the outer cap and the inner cap. Instead of the thread shown in FIG. 12 or in FIG. 8 over the circumference of the container neck or the cap, segment-like screw beads offset on the circumference can also be provided.

If the container bottles are under pressure, it may be expedient to provide a resilient element on the underside of the bottom of the outer cap 3 ', in particular in the center, so that when the outer cap 3' is screwed on, the inner cap 6 'is still pressed, so that it remains in the sealing position until the inner cap 6 'is lifted off the container neck via the driver shoulder 9'. In this case, a bulbous shape on the underside of the bottom of the outer cap 3 ', which presses on the inner cap 6' under prestress, is particularly suitable.

Claims

Patent claims

1. Screw cap with tamper-evident device for in particular wide-neck containers, with a screw cap that can be screwed onto the container neck, characterized in that the tamper-evident device is formed by a tamper-evident or tactile tamper-evident feature on the screw cap (1), which is deformed when the cap is opened when it is turned a part (25) of the cap (6) or by locking parts of the cap (6, 3) is formed irreversibly.

2. Closure according to claim 1, d a d u r c h g e k e n n z e i c h n e t that the tamper-evident feature is formed by a deformation or stress-induced discoloration of the screw closure.

3. Closure according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the cap (6) on at least one section (25) has a color layer or is formed from a material which changes color under tension, which turns when the closure (1) is opened Container neck formation (26) deformed in such a way that, in order to produce the tamper-evident feature, the color is displaced to a visible section of the closure and made visible from the outside, or a visible section of the closure is permanently discolored under the deformation tension.

4. Closure according to claim 3, characterized in that the portion deforming during the turning opening (25) is formed by the lower edge section of the closure, which protrudes obliquely downwards and radially inwards and engages behind a raised design (26) of the container neck (5), such that the section passes through the raised one when opened Formation under deformation is pressed outwards.

5. Closure according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the closure (1) has a latching member (3) which can be brought into the rotationally engaged position with the container neck (5) and a cap (6) which sits on the latching member and prevents pulling off is secured by the locking element and has locking elements which can be locked with locking elements on the locking element (3) in a 5 irreversible locking position (11), in which the tamper-evident feature is formed due to the locking engagement.

6. Closure according to claim 5, oddurchgekennzeichne t that the tamper-evident feature by changing the height and / or radial position of the cap (6) and locking member (3) is formed in the locking position, such that one or more beads (19, 24th ) or projections (13) 5 in openings (14, 20, 21) of the cap (6) or the locking member (3) can be engaged or disengaged.

7. Closure according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the latching member (3) is cap-like and designed as a seal of the closure (1) for the container, in that the latching member (3) made of a softer material than the cap (6th ) and / or with sealing lips (16), which rest sealingly on the container neck 5 in the closed position.

8. Closure according to one of claims 5 to 7, characterized in that the tamper-evident feature by the engagement or disengagement position of tongue-like projections (13) formed on the lower edge portion of the cap (6) seated on the locking member (3) in corresponding recesses (14) of the locking member (3), by the engagement or disengagement position of a bead (19), which is formed on the part (9) of the latching member (3) that overlaps the container mouth, into a corresponding opening, (20) on

10 cap base (10) or by the engagement or disengagement position of knob-like radial projections (24) distributed over the circumference of the locking member with window-like openings (21) of the cap (6), which are arranged on the neck portion of the cap (6) are formed

15 is.

9. Closure according to one of claims 5 to 8, d a d u r c h g e k e n n z e i c h n e t that the locking member (3) in several parts, preferably second!

2 _Q lig is formed, with a part (3b) for the rotational engagement position with the container neck and another part (3a) or part of the cap (6) against a cam (22) and a cam curve (23) against ¬ above the other part (3b) when turning open radially in

25 the engagement position can be moved to form the tamper-evident feature.

10. Closure according to one of claims 5 to 9, d a d u r c h g e k e n n z e i c h n e t,

30 that the cap (6) and locking member (3) made of materials of different colors is expediently formed by two-component injection molding, or at least the parts forming the originality feature differ from the other parts of the screw closure.

35 ses (1) are colored.

11. Closure according to one of claims 5 to 10, characterized in that the locking member (3) has an intermediate ring (27) which is held in the locking member in a guide (28) in a rotationally fixed but axially movable manner and cooperates with the cap (6) via a steep thread (29), such that when Rotation of the cap (6) of the intermediate ring (27) is moved relative to the latching member into a latching position in which the intermediate ring with a latching element (31) formed thereon latches with a latch of the latching member and by extending out of the cap (6) or by entering the cap (6) forms the originality feature.

12. Closure according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the closure (1 ') has a locking member (3') which can be screwed to the container neck (5 ') and which forms an outer cap of the closure and an inner cap which sits on the container neck ( 6 ') of the closure, which has latching elements (13') which, when the closure cap is opened, can be latched with detents (12 ') on the latching member (3') into a latching position which irreversibly forms the originality feature.

13. Closure according to claim 12, characterized in that the detents (12 ') and the latching elements (13') are designed such that a relative rotation between the outer cap (3 ') and inner cap (6') in the direction of rotation opening possible , but is blocked in the opposite direction.

14. Closure according to claim 12 or 13, characterized in that detents (12 ') and detent elements (13') are designed as a sawtooth profile.

15. Closure according to one of claims 12 to 14, characterized in that the latching elements (13 ') on the inner cap (6') are formed as a circular sawtooth profile and the notches (12 ') on the outer cap (6') as segments with a sawtooth profile or vice versa.

16. Closure according to claim 15, characterized in that four segments with an angular width of approximately 40 degrees are arranged distributed by 90 degrees to one another.

17. Closure according to one of claims 12 to 16, characterized in that to form the tamper-evident feature on the outer cap (3 ') openings (18') and on the inner cap (6 ') identification markers (17') are formed, which overlap in the rest position to make the originality visible.

18. Closure according to claim 17, characterized in that the openings (18 ') in the bottom of the outer cap (3') and the marking fields (17 ') are provided on the top of the bottom of the inner cap (6').

19. Closure according to claim 17 or 18, characterized in that four openings (18 ') and four marking fields (17'), each with an angular width of preferably approximately 25 degrees and 90 degrees offset from one another, are provided.

20. Closure according to one of claims 12 to 19, characterized in that the outer cap (3 ') has a driver shoulder (9') for the inner cap (6 ') which is in the closure position the screw cap (1 ') lies at a distance below an abutment shoulder (11') on the inner cap (6 '), which is the same as the slope when rotating with the outer cap (3') until the original feature is fully displayed, preferably for the complete coverage of openings (18 ') and marking fields (17 *).

21. Closure according to one of claims 12 to 20, characterized in that the inner cap (6 ') has a circumferential sealing lip (7') which extends from the bottom side downward for tight and firm contact with the inner neck surface of the container (5 ').

22. Closure according to claim 21, characterized in that the sealing lip (7 ') has a wedge-shaped contact surface with the container.

23. Closure according to one of claims 12 to 22, in particular for use on containers for receiving pressurized material, characterized in that the outer cap (3 ') preferably has a resilient or prestressed component which the inside ¬ Press the cap onto the container until the driver shoulder (9 ') lifts the inner cap (6').