Dispensing closure

Abstract

The invention pertains to a dispensing closure of plastic for fluid containers, wherein said dispensing closure consists of a closure body that can be fixed in a sealed fashion on a neck featuring the dispensing opening of the container and a cap that is coupled to the closure body by means of a hinge, wherein the top plate of said cap is provided with an integral sealing cone on its underside that is designed for engaging into the neck opening of the container in a sealing fashion, and wherein the dispensing closure is integrally injection-molded in the closed state and the cap is at least partially connected to the closure body by at least one predetermined breaking point between an annular cover of the closure body and a cap shell.

1 . A dispensing closure ( 30 ;  230 ;  330 ;  430 ;  530 ) made of a plastic material for fluid containers, with a closure body ( 32 ;  232 ;  332 ;  432 ;  532 ) that can be fixed in a sealed fashion on a neck featuring the dispensing opening of the container and a cap ( 34 ;  234 ;  334 ;  434 ;  534 ) that is coupled to the closure body ( 32 ;  232 ;  332 ;  432 ;  532 ) by means of a hinge ( 36 ;  236 ;  336 ;  436 ;  536 ), wherein the top plate ( 50 ;  250 ;  350 ;  450 ;  550 ) of said cap is provided with an integral sealing cone ( 62 ;  262 ;  362 ;  462 ;  562 ) on its underside that is designed for engaging into the neck opening of the container in a sealing fashion, characterized in that the dispensing closure ( 30 ;  230 ;  330 ;  430 ;  530 ) is integrally injection-molded in the closed state and the cap ( 34 ;  234 ;  334 ;  434 ;  534 ) is at least partially connected to the closure body ( 32 ;  232 ;  332 ;  432 ;  532 ) by at least one predetermined breaking point ( 56 ;  256 ;  356 ;  456 ;  556 ) between an annular cover ( 38 ;  238 ;  338 ;  438 ;  538 ) of the closure body ( 32 ;  232 ;  332 ;  432 ;  532 ) and a cap shell ( 55 ;  255 ;  355 ;  455 ;  555 ).  
   
   
       2 . The dispensing closure according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the at least one predetermined breaking point ( 56 ;  256 ) extends in a horizontal plane of the dispensing closure ( 30 ;  230 ) that is arranged perpendicular to the main axis (x-x) of the dispensing closure ( 30 ;  230 ) and ends to both sides of the hinge ( 36 ;  236 ) that connects the inner edge ( 39 ;  239 ) of the annular cover ( 38 ,  238 ) of the closure body ( 32 ;  232 ) to the outer side of the cap shell ( 55 ;  255 ).  
   
   
       3 . The dispensing closure according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the at least one web ( 260 ) of the predetermined breaking point ( 256 ) between the annular cover ( 238 ) of the closure body ( 232 ) and the bottom region ( 254 ) of the cap shell ( 255 ) is arranged at the height of the upper side of the annular cover ( 238 ) of the closure body ( 232 ).  
   
   
       4 . The dispensing closure according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the at least one web ( 58 ) of the predetermined breaking point ( 56 ) between the annular cover ( 38 ) of the closure body ( 32 ) and the bottom region ( 54 ) of the cap shell ( 55 ) is arranged at the height of the underside of the annular cover ( 38 ) of the closure body ( 32 ).  
   
   
       5 . The dispensing closure according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the cap ( 34 ;  234 ) has the contour of a truncated cone with a top plate ( 50 ;  250 ), from the outer edge of which the cap shell ( 55 ;  255 ) extends to the annular cover ( 38 ;  238 ) of the closure body ( 32 ;  232 ), wherein the cap ( 34 ;  234 ) can be fixed in its open position by a locking device ( 66 ;  266 ).  
   
   
       6 . The dispensing closure according to  claim 5 , characterized in that the locking device ( 66 ;  266 ) consists of a tongue-and-groove connection ( 68 ,  70 ;  268 ,  270 ) between the rear side of the cap ( 34 ;  234 ) and the annular cover ( 38 ;  238 ) of the closure body ( 32 ;  232 ).  
   
   
       7 . The dispensing closure according to  claim 6 , characterized in that the locking groove ( 68 ;  268 ) extends over a larger angle of the circumference and is slightly bent toward the upper side of the cap ( 34 ;  234 ).  
   
   
       8 . The dispensing closure according to  claim 7 , characterized in that the locking groove ( 68 ;  268 ) has a rectangular cross section, wherein the cross section of the locking web ( 70 ;  270 ) approximately corresponds to the cross section of the locking groove such that the cap ( 34 ;  234 ) is held in the open position, but can be manually released.  
   
   
       9 . The dispensing closure according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the closure body ( 32 ;  232 ;  332 ) has a cylindrical shell ( 40 ;  240 ;  340 ) that is provided with an interior thread ( 42 ;  242 ;  342 ) for screwing the closure body ( 32 ;  232 ;  332 ) on an external thread of the container neck in a sealed fashion.  
   
   
       10 . The dispensing closure according to  claim 1 , characterized in that a shell ( 40 ;  240 ;  340 ) extending downward from the annular cover ( 38 ;  238 ;  338 ) of the closure body ( 32 ;  232 ;  332 ) is provided with at least one locking bead on its inner side in order to snap the closure body ( 32 ;  232 ;  332 ) on the container neck, wherein the at least one locking bead of the closure body ( 32 ;  232 ;  332 ) engages underneath at least one outer bead of the container neck.  
   
   
       11 . The dispensing closure according to  claim 10 , characterized in that a tamperproofing band ( 48 ;  248 ;  348 ) is fixed on the lower edge of the shell ( 40 ;  240 ;  340 ) of the closure body ( 32 ;  232 ;  332 ), namely over at least one predetermined breaking point ( 46 ;  246 ;  346 ), wherein the tamperproofing band ( 48 ;  248 ;  348 ) engages underneath an annular bead on the outer side of the container neck.  
   
   
       12 . The dispensing closure according to  claim 1 , characterized in that at least one supporting element ( 272 ;  373 ;  572 ) extends radially outward from the bottom region ( 254 ;  354 ;  554 ) of the cap shell ( 55 ;  255 ;  355 ).  
   
   
       13 . The dispensing closure according to  claim 12 , characterized in that the at least one supporting element ( 272 ;  372 ;  572 ) is realized in a plate-shaped fashion and arranged a certain distance above the annular cover ( 238 ;  338 ;  538 ) of the closure body ( 232 ;  332 ;  532 ).  
   
   
       14 . The dispensing closure according to  claim 13 , characterized in that the radial length of the at least one plate-shaped supporting element ( 272 ;  372 ;  572 ) approximately corresponds to half the width of the annular cover ( 238 ;  338 ;  538 ) of the closure body ( 232 ;  332 ;  532 ).  
   
   
       15 . The dispensing closure according to  claim 12 , characterized in that the at least one supporting element ( 272 ;  372 ;  572 ) has an arc-shaped outer edge, the radius of which is smaller than the radius of the bottom region ( 254 ;  354 ;  554 ) of the cap shell ( 255 ;  355 ;  555 ).  
   
   
       16 . The dispensing closure according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the at least one predetermined breaking point ( 356 ;  456 ;  556 ) extends around the entire closure and the cap ( 334 ;  434 ;  534 ) is connected to the annular cover ( 338 ;  438 ;  538 ) of the closure body ( 332 ;  432 ;  532 ) by a band-shaped hinge ( 336 ;  436 ;  536 ), the ends of which are coupled to the rear side of the cap shell ( 355 ;  455 ;  555 ) and to the upper side of the annular cover ( 338 ;  438 ;  538 ) of the closure body ( 332 ;  432 ;  538 ).  
   
   
       17 . The dispensing closure according to  claim 1 , characterized in that at least one snap-on bead ( 435 ;  535 ) is arranged on the outer side of the cap shell ( 455 ;  555 ) and engages underneath the inner edge ( 439 ;  539 ) of the annular cover ( 438 ;  538 ) of the closure body ( 432 ;  532 ) after the initial opening of the dispensing closure ( 430 ;  530 ).  
   
   
       18 . The dispensing closure according to  claim 17 , characterized in that the snap-on bead ( 535 ) is arranged on the outer side of the cap shell ( 555 ) a certain distance underneath the supporting and closing elements ( 572 ) in the original state of the dispensing closure ( 530 ) and engages underneath the inner edge ( 539 ) of the annular cover ( 538 ) of the closure body ( 532 ) after the initial opening of the dispensing closure ( 530 ).  
   
   
       19 . The dispensing closure according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the circumferential cap shell ( 555 ) arranged perpendicular to the main axis (x-x) of the dispensing closure ( 530 ) is provided with at least one supporting and closing element ( 572 ) a certain distance above the annular cover ( 538 ) of the closure body ( 532 ), wherein said supporting and closing element protrudes radially outward from two diametrically opposite sides of the cap ( 534 ) and limits the closed position of the cap ( 534 ) on the annular cover ( 538 ) of the closure body ( 532 ) after the predetermined breaking point ( 556 ) is destroyed due to the initial use of the dispensing closure ( 530 ).  
   
   
       20 . The dispensing closure according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the bottom region ( 453 ;  553 ) of the cap shell ( 455 ;  555 ) of the closure body ( 432 ;  532 ) is provided with an annular flange ( 433 ;  533 ) that can be fixed in a sealed fashion on the edge of an opening in a cardboard beverage pack by means of welding.  
   
   
       21 . The dispensing closure according to  claim 1 , characterized in that a handling aid ( 52 ;  253 ;  352 ;  452 ;  552 ) for opening the cap ( 34 ;  234 ;  334 ;  434 ;  534 ) is provided on the front side thereof.