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EP-4488192-B1 - A CLOSURE ASSEMBLY AND CONTAINER PROVIDED WITH SUCH A CLOSURE ASSEMBLY

EP4488192B1EP 4488192 B1EP4488192 B1EP 4488192B1EP-4488192-B1

Inventors

  • VAN DER MOLEN, PETER-JAN

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20230703

Claims (15)

  1. A closure assembly (100) comprising: - a monolithic fitment (10) made, e.g. injection moulded, of plastic material, which fitment comprises: - a base portion (20) configured to be secured or secured to a container body, - a tubular neck (30) around a product passage (31), which tubular neck extends from the base portion along a main axis (5) and forms a mouth at a top end of the tubular neck allowing for dispensing of product from the container body, - a plug (40) integrally made to the top end of the tubular neck (30), wherein the plug has a seal portion (42), and wherein the plug is connected via a frangible peripheral connection (46) to the neck (30) so as to close the product passage, - a cap body (60) made, e.g. injection moulded, of plastic material, the cap body having a skirt portion (61) defining an open-ends bore (62) extending from a lower opening at a lower end of the cap body to an upper opening at an upper end of the cap body, wherein the cap body (60) is mounted over the tubular neck (30) and over the plug (40) such that the plug is located in the bore (62) at or near the upper end of the cap body and the skirt portion (61) extends about the tubular neck, wherein the plug (40) and the cap body (60) are provided with cooperating locking formations configured to lock the plug and cap body in axial and rotational directions, wherein the closure assembly (100) is configured to allow for a first-time opening by the user engaging the cap body (60) and causing the frangible peripheral connection (46) to break so that the plug and the cap body then form a cap part (70) and so that the product passage (31) is open, and wherein the cap part (70) is replaceable by the user over the tubular neck into a reclosing position thereof, wherein the seal portion (42) of the plug is introduced into a top section of the tubular neck (30) and sealingly engages the tubular neck so as to close the product passage, characterized in that the skirt portion (61) of the cap body has an outwardly protruding longitudinal rib (63) extending parallel to the main axis (5), wherein the bore (62) of the cap body comprises a longitudinal groove (64) extending parallel to the main axis (5), wherein the longitudinal groove is partially located within the longitudinal rib (63), wherein the plug (40) has an outwardly projecting tab (45), the tab being received in the longitudinal groove (64), the tab and groove cooperating to provide a rotational locking of the plug (40) and the cap body (60), and wherein the plug and cap body are further provided with cooperating axial locking formations (47,67), distinct from the tab and groove (45,64), which axial locking formations (47,67) are configured to lock the plug and cap body in axial directions.
  2. Closure assembly according to claim 1, wherein the cap body (6) has two diametrically opposed wing portions (65) which extend outwardly from the skirt, wherein the skirt portion of the cap body has two outwardly protruding longitudinal ribs (63) extending parallel to the main axis and diametrically opposite from each other, wherein each wing portion (65) is integral with a corresponding longitudinal rib (63), wherein the bore of the cap body comprises two diametrically opposed longitudinal grooves (64) extending parallel to the main axis, wherein each longitudinal groove is partially located within a respective one of the two longitudinal ribs (63), wherein the plug (40) has two diametrically opposed and outwardly projecting tabs (45), each tab being received in a respective one of the two longitudinal grooves (64), the tabs and grooves cooperating to provide a rotational locking of the plug and cap body.
  3. Closure assembly according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the axial locking means are embodied by one or more outwardly projecting snap formations (47) of the plug, distinct from the at least one tab (45), and one or more complementary snap formations (67) of the cap body so as to provide axial locking of the plug and the cap body, wherein, for example, the plug (40) has two diametrically opposed and outwardly projecting snap formations (47), e.g. perpendicular to the tabs (45) in an embodiment according to claim 2, and wherein the cap body is provided with diametrically opposed windows (67) extending from the bore (62) through the cap body.
  4. Closure assembly according to any one or more of claims 1 - 3, wherein the cap body is provided with an outwardly protruding collar portion (66) merging with the at least one longitudinal rib (63), wherein, for example, in an embodiment according to claim 3, the one or more complementary snap formations (67) of the cap body are embodied as one or more windows (67) extending from the bore (62) through the collar portion (66) of the cap body, a corresponding snap formation (47) of the plug being received in each window (67), wherein, for example, the plug has two diametrically opposed and outwardly projecting snap formations (47) and the cap body is provided with diametrically opposed windows (67) extending from the bore through the collar portion of the cap body.
  5. Closure assembly according to any one or more of claims 1 - 4, wherein the plug has a transverse wall portion (41), wherein the seal portion (42) is an annular seal portion projecting downward from the transverse wall portion, and wherein the plug further has an annular top wall portion (43) projecting upward from the transverse wall portion (41), wherein the frangible peripheral connection (46) adjoins a lower edge of the annular seal portion (42) of the plug, wherein, for example, the annular top wall portion (43) adjoins a periphery of the transverse wall portion (41) and the annular seal portion has a smaller horizontal cross-section than the transverse wall portion (41) and the annular top wall portion.
  6. Closure assembly according to any one or more of claims 1 - 5, wherein the cap body (60) has a lower edge defining two diametrically opposed recesses (75), each recess defining a pair of inclined sides (76) which extend with opposite inclinations from a lowermost face of the cap body upward to an apex of the recess, and wherein the fitment (10) has two diametrically opposed ramp portions (80), e.g. at or near a lower end of the tubular neck (30), e.g. protruding upwardly from the base portion (20), which ramp portions (80) each have inclined sides, and wherein the ramp portions (80) and the recesses (75) at the lower edge of the cap body are complementary so that, in the reclosing position of the cap part (70), each ramp portion (80) is located in a corresponding one of the two recesses (75), and wherein, upon the user rotating the cap part (70) in the reclosing position thereof, the cooperating inclined sides of the recesses (75) and of the ramp portions (80) cause a lift action of the cap part relative to the tubular neck.
  7. Closure assembly according to any one or more of claims 1 - 6, wherein the tubular neck (30) is provided with at least one circumferential bead (32,33), e.g. two axially spaced circumferential beads, wherein the at least one circumferential bead (32,33) is configured to frictionally engage the cap body internally.
  8. Closure assembly according to any one or more of claims 1 - 7, wherein the cap part (70) and the tubular neck (30) are configured to provide a snap joint when the cap part is in the reclosing position thereof, e.g. only in the reclosing position thereof, wherein, for example, remnants of the frangible peripheral connection (46) on the tubular neck form a snap joint with the plug, e.g. in an embodiment of claim 5 with the annular seal portion (42) of the plug (40).
  9. Closure assembly according to any one or more of claims 1 - 8, wherein the closure assembly further comprises an integrated strap (90), preferably has a single one integrated strap, which is made, e.g. moulded, integrally with the fitment (10) and with the cap body (60) as one piece of a plastic material, wherein the strap (90) has a first end connected to the fitment (10) and a second end connected to the cap body (60), and wherein the strap is configured to keep the cap part connected to the fitment after first-time opening of the closure assembly, wherein, for example, the first end is connected to the base portion (20) of the fitment, remote from the tubular neck, wherein, for example, the second end of the strap is connected to a wing portion (65) of the cap body, preferably wherein the strap (90) is an articulated strap comprising multiple strap segments (92,94,96) joined in series by one or more hinges (93,94).
  10. Closure assembly according to claim 9, wherein the strap is an articulated strap (90) comprising a first strap segment (92) joined to the fitment e.g. to the base portion (20), via a first hinge (91), a second strap segment (94) joined to the first strap segment via a second hinge (93), a third strap segment (96) joined to the second strap segment via a third hinge (5), and the third strap segment (96) being joined to the cap body (60) via a fourth hinge (97), where the hinges (91,93,95,97) define parallel hinge axes, preferably wherein the strap (90) is configured such that, in the reclosing position of the cap part (70), the first strap segment (92) extends parallel to the main axis (5), the second strap segment (94) extends perpendicular to the main axis away from the cap body, and the third strap segment (96) extends along the second strap segment.
  11. Closure assembly according to any one or more of claims 1 - 10, wherein the base portion (20) of the fitment (10) is embodied with a seal boat portion adapted to be secured or secured between opposed film walls of a collapsible pouch container, or wherein the base portion of the fitment is embodied with a lower circumferential flange portion adapted to be secured or secured to a panel of a container, e.g. a panel of a carton or to a wall of a collapsible pouch.
  12. Container provided with a closure assembly (100) according to any one or more of the claims 1 - 11, e.g. a collapsible pouch container or a carton.
  13. Method for production of a closure assembly (100) according to any one or more of the claims 1 - 11, in which method: - a monolithic component (1) is made, e.g. injection moulded, of plastic material, which monolithic component is composed of both the fitment (10) and the cap body (60), wherein the lower end of the cap body (60) is integrally connected to the plug (40) via one or more breakable bridges (55) and the cap body (60) extends away from the plug (40) along the main axis (5) opposite the tubular neck (30), wherein the component (1) is subsequently subjected to an axial compression action in order to obtain the closure assembly (100), in which axial compression action the cap body is (60) forced towards the base portion (20) of the fitment (10) in such a manner that the frangible peripheral connection (46) remains intact and the one or more breakable bridges (55) are broken, wherein, in the axial compression action, the at least one tab (45) of the plug (40) enters into the respective longitudinal groove (64) and slides through the groove until the plug is located in the bore (62) at or near the upper end of the cap body (60) and the axial locking formations (47,67) cooperate to lock the plug and cap body in axial directions.
  14. Method according to claim 13, wherein the monolithic component (1) is made by injection molding in an injection mold, and wherein the axial compression action is performed prior to the closure assembly (100) being ejected from the injection mold.
  15. Method according to claim 13 or 14, wherein the monolithic component (1) is made with an integrated strap (90) which is made, e.g. moulded, integrally with the fitment and with the cap body as one piece of a plastic material, which strap has a first end connected to the fitment and a second end connected to the cap body, and which strap (90) is configured to keep the cap part connected to the fitment after first-time opening of the closure assembly, preferably wherein the strap is an articulated strap (90) comprising multiple strap segments (92,94,96) joined in series by one or more hinges, and wherein the strap is folded due to the compression action as strap segments fold about the one or more hinges, wherein, for example, the first strap segment (92) extends parallel to the main axis, the second strap segment (94) extends perpendicular to the main axis away from the cap body, and the third strap segment (96) extends along the second strap segment after completion of the compression action.

Description

A first aspect of the present invention relates to a closure assembly according to the preamble of the claim 1 and to a container provided with such a closure assembly, e.g. the container being filled with a product to be dispensed via the closure assembly. For example, the container is a collapsible pouch container or a carton. The closure assembly comprises a monolithic fitment which is made, e.g. injection moulded, of plastic material, and comprises a base portion which is configured to be secured or is secured to a container body, a tubular neck around a product passage, which tubular neck extends from the base portion along a main axis of the closure assembly and forms a mouth at a top end of the tubular neck allowing for dispensing of product from the container body, as well as a plug which is integrally made to the top end of the tubular neck. The plug has a seal portion and the plug is connected via a frangible peripheral connection to the neck so as to close the product passage. The closure assembly further comprises a cap body which is made, e.g. injection moulded, of plastic material. The cap body has a skirt portion defining an open-ends bore extending from a lower opening at a lower end of the cap body to an upper opening at an upper end of the cap body. The cap body has at least one wing portion which extends outwardly from the skirt portion. In the closure assembly, the cap body is mounted over the tubular neck and over the plug such that the plug is located in the bore at or near the upper end of the cap body and the skirt portion extends about the tubular neck. The plug and the cap body are provided with cooperating locking formations configured to lock the plug and cap body in axial and rotational directions relative to one another. The closure assembly is configured to allow for a first-time opening by the user engaging the cap body and causing the frangible peripheral connection to break so that the plug and the cap body then form a cap part and so that the product passage is opened. The cap part can be replaced by the user over the tubular neck into a reclosing position thereof, wherein the seal portion of the plug is introduced into a top section of the tubular neck and sealingly engages the tubular neck so as to close the product passage. An example of a closure assembly according to the preamble of claim 1 is disclosed in DE 10 2007 011 929. In this document, it is explained that the closure assembly is produced by injection moulding a monolithic component of plastic material, which monolithic component is composed of both the fitment and the cap body having two diametrically opposed wing portions. Herein the lower end of the cap body is integrally connected to the plug via a frangible connection and the cap body extends away from the plug along the main axis in a direction opposite from the tubular neck. The component is subsequently subjected to an axial compression action wherein the cap body is forced towards the base portion of the fitment in such a manner that the frangible peripheral connection between the neck and the plug remains intact and the frangible connection between the plug and the cap body is broken. In this action a circumferential rib of the plug having a multitude of fine teeth is snapped into a circumferential groove of the bore, which groove is provided with mating fine teeth. Hereby, the plug and the cap body are locked to one another in both rotational and axial directions. In this state, the closure assembly is secured to the container, so that the user will engage the wing portions of the cap body and twist it, causing the frangible peripheral connection to break so that the product passage is opened. Herein, the cap body and the plug together become a cap part, which cap part is replaceable by the user over the tubular neck into a reclosing position thereof, wherein the sealing portion of the plug is introduced into a top section of the tubular neck and sealingly engages the tubular neck so as to close the product passage. The known closure assembly is not satisfactory, for example in view of a desire to produce this type of closure assembly with a small diameter of the tubular neck. Also, the prior art closure assembly will in practice have to be produced from a relatively hard plastic material, e.g. a high-density polyethylene (HDPE) or polypropylene (PP), whereas recycling technologies prefer or demand that the closure assembly is made from other plastic materials, e.g. like low-density polyethylene (LDPE). For example, this is desired in case the container is also made (in part, or in majority, or entirely) of such material. The first aspect of the invention provides a closure assembly according to the preamble of claim 1, which is characterized in that the skirt portion of the cap body has an outwardly protruding longitudinal rib extending parallel to the main axis, wherein the bore of the cap body comprises a longitudinal groove extending parallel to