Bottles and jars – Closures – Including visual indicia
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-05
2001-07-10
Shoap, Allan N. (Department: 3727)
Bottles and jars
Closures
Including visual indicia
C215S232000, C220S377000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06257430
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a closing device which has a container shoulder, a container head for dispensing the contents of the container, and a closure cap, wherein the closure cap is operated with a twisting motion.
A closure mechanism of this type, which is also referred to as fractal closure mechanism, may be used with containers of arbitrary size and design which can be closed with a cap, wherein the container has an integrated container head with an opening for withdrawing measured quantities from the container.
EP-A-0 554 239 A2 describes a closure mechanism of this type. In this mechanism, a central lid portion presses against the freshness seal affixed to the applicator.
A similar twist-on closure device without a freshness seal is disclosed in DE-C-4342251.
GB 2 218 077 A proposes to form major portions of the closure mechanism or even the entire closure mechanism as a transparent unit.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide protection for a first-time user of the container by arranging the protective device, i.e., the freshness seal, in the closure device in such a way that the user can view the freshness seal from the outside.
According to one aspect of the invention, the cover plate of the closure cap has openings or windows located in the region of the inner cylinder of the closure cap, and a closure lid supported by ribs. The closure lid is arranged concentrically inside the cover plate in the form of a closing and sealing surface, with the diameter of the closure lid corresponding at least to the diameter of the container opening, so that the closure lid reliably seals the applicator opening when the closure cap is screwed on.
Portions of the freshness seal which is centered on the front face of the applicator cone of the container head, can be viewed from the outside through the aforedescribed window in the closure lid, even if the container is closed.
The diameter of the freshness seal corresponds to approximately to the diameter of the base area of the applicator cone.
By arranging the freshness seal and the cover plate of the closure cap in the manner described above according to the invention, the user can be assured that the freshness seal is intact and that the packaging of the product has not been tampered with before the first use.
An annular ring or a similar element may be provided on the inside of the closure lid facing the applicator opening of the container head to improve the closing performance of the closure device, wherein the outside diameter of the annular ring is greater than or approximately the same as the inside diameter of the container opening.
The form and the number of the windows of the closing device may be arbitrarily selected. More openings than necessary for viewing the freshness seal from the outside may be provided, thereby saving material and/or providing a more advantageous design.
When used for the first time, the closure mechanism is removed by a rotation of no more than 90°, so that the freshness seal can be pulled off. The pitch and the material strength of the threaded portion and the clamping action of the container shoulder provide a reliable seat of the closure mechanism.
Only a small break-off torque is required for opening the closure mechanism.
REFERENCES:
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patent: 4852774 (1989-08-01), Crawford
patent: 5018632 (1991-05-01), Schmidt
patent: 5115929 (1992-05-01), Buono
patent: 5184739 (1993-02-01), Kusz
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patent: 5803283 (1998-09-01), Barker et al.
patent: 5823373 (1998-10-01), Sudo et al.
patent: 2 044 631 (1991-05-01), None
patent: 2 105 640 (1994-03-01), None
patent: 92 12 026 (1992-12-01), None
patent: 0 554 239 A2 (1993-08-01), None
patent: 2 107 290 (1983-04-01), None
patent: 2 203 729 (1987-03-01), None
patent: 2 218 077 (1989-11-01), None
patent: WO 91/0486 (1991-05-01), None
Gueldenzopf Hans-Joachim
Jahn Jochen
Johne Guido
Rinnie Rolf W.
Stoll Gerhard
Darby & Darby
Dental-Kosmetik GmbH Dresden
Merek Joe
Shoap Allan N.
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