Screw cap with a cutting sleeve

Abstract

For the first time, a screw cap ( 1 ) is realized with which a tubular bag to which the screw cap ( 1 ) is attached can be opened by a self-cutting process and metered dispensing from a metering opening ( 31 ) is simultaneously realized. The screw cap ( 1 ) consists of a lower part ( 2 ), on which a spacing means ( 4 ), used in practical terms as transport protection, is placed, and onto which a cutting sleeve ( 3 ) with a lateral metering opening ( 31 ) is screwed. The container can be opened by means of the cutting sleeve ( 3 ) and thereafter its contents can be dispensed in a metered manner by means of a valve piston ( 5 ) that is guided in the cutting sleeve ( 3 ) by a screwing movement. In the closed state, the valve piston ( 5 ) reaches into the cylinder ( 30 ) of the cutting sleeve ( 3 ) underneath the metering opening ( 31 ) and seals the cylinder ( 30 ), which is open at both ends, off against the container that is welded to the flange ( 21 ) of the lower part ( 2 ).

1 . A screw cap ( 1 ), consisting of a lower part ( 2 ), which comprises a cylindrical tubular section ( 20 ) having threads ( 22 ) and a terminal flange ( 21 ) for attaching to a closed container made from film material, and a cutting sleeve ( 3 ) connected to the threads ( 22 ) of the lower part ( 2 ) by means of a threaded connection, characterized in that the cutting sleeve ( 3 ) protrudes beyond the lower part ( 2 ) and a lateral metering opening ( 31 ) as well as an internal thread ( 39 ), in which a valve piston ( 5 ) is situated that closes and opens the lateral metering opening ( 31 ), is located in the region where the cutting sleeve ( 3 ) protrudes beyond the lower part ( 2 ), said valve piston engaging in a sealing manner in the cutting sleeve ( 3 ) in a region beneath the lateral metering opening ( 31 ). 
     
     
         2 . The screw cap ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the cutting sleeve ( 3 ) has double walls ( 33 ) beneath the lateral metering opening ( 31 ), said double walls ( 33 ) comprising an unthreaded inner lateral wall ( 35 ) having a terminal cutting edge as cutting means ( 38 ) and an outer lateral wall ( 34 ) having an internal thread ( 36 ) which meshes with the threads ( 22 ) on the lower part ( 2 ), and in that the outer lateral wall ( 34 ) is shorter in an axial direction than a height of the cylindrical tubular section ( 20 ) of the lower part ( 2 ). 
     
     
         3 . The screw cap ( 1 ) according to  claim 2 , characterized in that a spacing means ( 4 ) is mounted prior to the initial use between the flange ( 21 ) of the lower part ( 2 ) and a lower edge of the outer lateral wall ( 34 ) of a region of the double-walled ( 33 ) of the cutting sleeve ( 3 ). 
     
     
         4 . The screw cap ( 1 ) according to  claim 3 , characterized in that the spacing means ( 4 ) is an open or closed spacing ring ( 40 ) which rests against the lower part ( 2 ). 
     
     
         5 . The screw cap ( 1 ) according to  claim 3 , characterized in that the spacing means ( 4 ) is a tamperproof strip ( 40 ), which is connected via predetermined breaking point bridges to the outer lateral wall ( 34 ) of the double-walled region ( 33 ) of the cutting sleeve ( 3 ). 
     
     
         6 . The screw cap ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the valve piston ( 5 ) is a hollow cylinder ( 55 ), which is closed by a terminal top surface ( 52 ) and is provided with a circumferential apron ( 53 ) that serves as a gripping surface. 
     
     
         7 . The screw cap ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , characterized in that stop means ( 51 ) are integrally formed on the valve piston ( 5 ), said stop means delimiting an opening region of the valve piston ( 5 ). 
     
     
         8 . The screw cap ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , characterized in that at least one circumferential sealing bead ( 37 ) is located in the cutting sleeve ( 3 ) at least approximately at a height of the lower edge of the metering opening ( 31 ). 
     
     
         9 . The screw cap ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , characterized in that barbs ( 34 ′) oriented radially to an inside are integrally formed on a lower edge of an outer lateral wall ( 34 ) of the cutting sleeve ( 3 ), said barbs being capable of directly or indirectly hooking into the lower part ( 2 ) in an assembled state after initial opening. 
     
     
         10 . The screw cap ( 1 ) according to  claim 6 , characterized in that the hollow cylinder ( 55 ) of the valve piston ( 5 ) has an external thread ( 56 ) which meshes with an internal thread of the cutting sleeve ( 36 ). 
     
     
         11 . The screw cap ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , characterized in that a circumferential sealing lip or sealing bead is integrally formed on a lower edge of the valve piston ( 5 ). 
     
     
         12 . The screw cap ( 1 ) according to  claim 7 , characterized in that the stop means includes a stop lip ( 51 ) disposed in such a way that said stop lip ( 51 ) strikes against an inner upper edge of the metering opening ( 31 ) at an uppermost position of the valve piston ( 5 ). 
     
     
         13 . The screw cap ( 1 ) according to  claim 12 , characterized in that a closed formed-out area ( 61 ) which is diametrically opposite the metering opening ( 31 ) and corresponds in shape and size to said metering opening ( 31 ) is integrally formed on the cutting sleeve ( 3 ). 
     
     
         14 . The screw cap ( 1 ) according to  claim 13 , characterized in that two stop means ( 51 ) which are diametrically opposed to each other are located on the valve piston ( 5 ) and one stop means ( 51 ) comes to rest on the inner upper edge of the lateral metering opening ( 31 ) and an other stop means comes to rest on an upper inside edge of the formed-out area ( 61 ) in the uppermost opening position. 
     
     
         15 . The screw cap ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , characterized in that a closed formed-out area ( 61 ) which is diametrically opposite the metering opening ( 31 ) and corresponds in shape and size to said metering opening ( 31 ) is integrally formed on the cutting sleeve ( 3 ).