Closure assembly with valve and method for its manufacturing

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a container closure assembly for holding a substance, e.g. food or cosmetics, which closure assembly includes:

- a closing cap that can be attached or is attached to the container, which closing cap has a body with a peripheral wall and a top wall with a dispensing channel, which is defined by a tubular flange arranged on the top wall, which body is open at the end opposite the top wall so that it is placed on top of the container, and

- a resilient self-closing valve which is placed in the closing cap, for closing the dispensing passage and which comprises a central part which is equipped with at least one through slot which is closed and tightly closes the container interior when in an unloaded state and which is deformable under the pressure coming from inside the container to a state in which the gap is open so as to allow the dispensing of the substance from the container, wherein said closing valve further comprises a cover that extends downwardly from the peripheral edge of the central part and which has an outwardly extending flange at its lower end, in which the valve cover is concentric in the adapter flange and the valve flange is located below the flange and extends radially outwardly.

[0002] Such a closure assembly is known. EP 405 472 describes a closure used on a press-type container. The closure has a top wall with a collar extending upwards from it. A self-closing valve is arranged in the closure assembly, comprising a convex dome shaped element which is positioned above the outer end of the dispensing passage defined by the flange and also above the wall of the upper end of the flange. The valve additionally includes a sheath extending from the peripheral edge of the dome-shaped element down through the flange. An outward-extending orifice is formed at the opposite end of the sheath, which engages the lower end of the flange thereby fixing the valve in the closing cap.

[0003] The improved closure assembly is the closure assembly described at the very beginning, in which the valve orifice has a thickened portion, and on the lower surface of the upper wall, a circular wall or series of flanges arranged in a circular configuration, inseparably formed, at a distance coaxially and radially outwards from the flange defining the dispensing channel, which cylindrical wall or flanges are folded over at least part of the orifice, that the orifice is surrounded at least partially between the round wall or rims and the top wall so as to securely attach the valve to the closing cap.

[0004] This disclosure also relates to a method of manufacturing a substance container closure assembly including the steps of:

- providing a closing cap to be attached to the container, which closing cap has a body with a preferably substantially cylindrical circumferential wall and an upper wall provided with a dispensing channel which is defined by a tubular flange arranged on the upper wall which body is open on end opposite the top wall so that it is placed on the top of the container, and which cap has a round, preferably cylindrical, a wall or periphery arranged in a circular configuration, which are preferably shaped as cylinder segments, inseparably formed on the lower surface of the upper wall and extending from it coaxially with the dispensing channel;

- placing the covering lid on the upper side of the upper wall, thereby covering the dispensing channel;

- providing a resilient self-closing valve comprising a central part provided with at least one through slot and a cover that extends downwardly from the peripheral edge of the central part and an outwardly extending flange which is located at the lower end of the cover;

- placing the valve in the closing cap by inserting the central part and the cover from below concentrically into the dispensing channel of the cylindrical flange and by placing the valve flange at the lower end of the flange; and

- bends of the round wall or rim on at least part of the orifice thus surrounding at least partly the orifice between said wall or said rims and the top wall so as to securely fix the valve in the closing cap.

[0005] The fact that the round wall or flanges extend downwards from the top wall allows access to them from below for a suitable tool to bend them so as to securely attach the orifice to the valve. This makes it possible to bend the wall or rim with a lid placed on the upper surface of the upper wall. Preferably, the closing cap and lid are made entirely by injection molding from a suitable plastic. The closing cap and lid are then connected to each other by an inseparable hinge or the like which is known per se from the prior art. It is preferred that the hinged lid is in a closed position with respect to the cap, as this ensures easier transfer of the closing cap during the assembly process, during which the valve is mounted in the cap. In particular, when the assembly is carried out automatically, the closed lid allows the use of a simpler handling device to move and hold the attachment during the assembly process.

[0006] Preferably, the closing cap is upside down when placing the valve in it, during which operation a simple handling device becomes even more useful.

[0007] The rims or the cylindrical wall are bent as a result of heating them and subjecting them to the mechanical bending pressing force exerted by the shaping surface of the respective tool. Preferably, the energy needed to heat the periphery or cylindrical wall is provided by ultrasonic waves that are directed at them, preferably through a shaping surface.

[0008] Preferably the valve is made by injection molding of silicone rubber. Preferably, a gap is made in the central part of the valve just before the valve is placed in the closing cap.

[0009] Preferably, the upper end of the collar is provided with an inwardly extending radial flange. This orifice prevents substances or other particles from entering the annular space between the valve cover and the inside of the flange, which would cause difficulties in moving outside the valve cover and thus make it difficult to open the valve. In addition, in the case of foodstuffs, lubrication of the space between the valve cover and the inside of the flange could cause a hygiene risk.

[0010] The present invention relates to a self-closing valve made of an elastic material, in particular silicone rubber, and comprising a dome-shaped central part which is equipped with at least one through slot and which is internally concave when in an unloaded state, in which unloaded condition the gap is closed and tightly closes the inside of the container, and which dome-shaped central portion is deformed by pressure coming from the interior of the container into a convex shape in which the gap is open so as to allow the dispensing of the substance from the container, said closing valve further comprising a cover that extends downwards from the circumferential edge of the central part, and which has an outwardly extending flange at its lower end.

[0011] Such a valve is known from document EP 160 336.

[0012] Another self-closing valve is disclosed in WO 99/10247, on which the preamble of claim 1 is based. This valve has a cylindrical connecting wall portion and valve head with a cylindrical outer side having a smaller diameter than the cylindrical connecting wall portion. At the upper end of the cylindrical connecting wall part, a radially extending short and thin internally screwed flange is provided, which is connected to the cylindrical outer side of the valve head. [0013] The object of the invention is to provide a self-closing valve that has improved opening properties relative to a known valve.

[0014] This object is achieved thanks to the valve according to claim 1.

[0015] The invention will be described in more detail in the following description of a preferred embodiment, with reference to the drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the closing cap of the closure assembly according to the invention with the cover lid hingedly connected in the open position,

Fig. 2 shows the closing cap of Fig. 1 upside down,

Fig. 3 is a perspective view from above of a self-closing valve of the closure assembly according to the invention,

Fig. 4 is a perspective view from below of the self-closing valve of Fig. 3,

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the self-closing valve of Fig. 3,

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a preferred embodiment of the closure assembly according to the invention during assembly,

Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the closure assembly after the valve has been securely fastened in the closing cap,

Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view of another preferred embodiment of the closure assembly of the invention,

Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the closing cap for the container in the form of a tube according to the invention,

Fig. 10 is a perspective view from below of the closing cap of Fig. 9,

Fig. 11 is a perspective view from above of the closing cap of Fig. 9,

Fig. 12 is a cross-sectional view of the top of the tube container with the closing cap of Fig. 9,

Fig. 13 is a perspective view of another tube container with an inseparable closing cap,

Fig. 14 is a cross-sectional view of the container of Fig. 13, and

Fig. 15 is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the self-closing valve of the closure assembly of the invention.

[0016] Figs. 1 and 2 show a closing cap 1 to be attached to a container, e.g. a press-type container for foodstuffs, such as sauces, e.g. ketchup, mayonnaise or mustard. Such containers usually have a neck to attach the closure.

[0017] The closing cap 1 has a body 2 with a generally cylindrical circumferential wall 3 and an upper wall 4. The circumferential wall may also have a different circular shape. The upper wall 4 is equipped with a dispensing channel 5, which is defined by a cylindrical flange 6 arranged on the upper wall and extending upwards from it. The body 2 is open at one end opposite the top wall 4 so that it is placed on the top of the container. In principle, the container will have a neck portion with an external thread. Inside the circumferential wall 3, the closing cap 1 has a cylindrical cover 15, which extends from the upper wall 4 downwards and which in its interior is equipped with a thread 16 to cooperate with the external thread on the neck of the container.

[0018] The upper wall 4 is substantially flat and has a conical central part 4a. The flange 6 is located in the center of the conical part 4a. The lower end 7 of the collar 6 extends beyond the lower surface 4b of the upper wall 4 directly surrounding the collar 6, and thus in this case beyond the conical part 4a, which is more clearly visible in Fig. 6. In a practical embodiment, the bottom end 7 may extend 0.6 mm from the bottom surface 4b immediately surrounding the flange 6.

[0019] In a preferred embodiment, which is shown in Fig. 8, the upper end of the collar 6 is provided with an inwardly extending radial flange 86.

[0020] A series of flanges 8 shaped as cylinder segments are inseparably formed at a distance coaxially and radially outward from the flange

6. The rims 8 extend in an undeformed state, which is shown in Figs. 2 and 6, in an axial direction outside the flat part of the lower surface of the upper wall 4, which can be seen in Fig. 6. The rims 8 surround the flange 6 so that between the lower end 7 an annular seat 10 is formed by the flange 6 and the cylindrical wall or rims 8. Alternatively, a full cylindrical wall could be provided instead of the flanges that could be folded over the flange 24. However, the use of separate rims makes it easier to deform them into a closed cylindrical wall.

[0021] The cover lid 11 is hingedly connected to the closing cap 1 by means of one or more hinged elements 12. The cover 11, the closing cap 1 and one or more hinged elements 12 are in a preferred embodiment inseparably formed of a plastic material, e.g. from polypropylene. Although not preferred at this time, the lid and closing cap could also be separate components that are combined. The lid 11 can be folded away from the closed position, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7 in cross-section, where it lies on the upper surface of the upper wall 4 and the dispensing channel 5, to the open position, where it is offset from the upper surface of the upper wall 4 and the dispensing channel 5 as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

[0022] The lid 11 has on its bottom side 13 an annular clamping sleeve 14 for engaging the outside of the flange 6 in the closed position of the lid 11, which is shown in Figures 6 and 7. Alternatively, the lid 11 has a clamping sleeve 84 which engages with the inner end of the flange 86 of the collar 6, which can be seen in Fig. 8. In addition, the lid 11 has a stop element 17, in this case also a cylindrical shape, protruding from the bottom side 13 of the cap 11.

[0023] The resilient self-closing valve 20, which is shown in Figures 3-5, is placed in the closing cap 1 so as to close the dispensing channel 5. The valve 20 is made of silicone rubber by injection molding. The valve 20 comprises a dome-shaped central portion 21, which in this embodiment is provided with two intersecting through slots 22. Also a different number of slots is possible. The dome-shaped central portion 21 is concave inward when in an unloaded state, which state is illustrated in the figures. In this unloaded state, the slits 22 are closed and the valve 20 tightly closes the dispensing channel 5. The dome-shaped central portion 21 is deformable to a convex shape in which the slots 22 are open. When opening the valve, the cover moves at least partially out. This deformation from concave to convex shape is caused by an increase in pressure inside the container, e.g. due to pressure of the container. The substance can, therefore, be dispensed from the container through the open slots 22. Closing the valve 20 further includes a sheath 23 that extends downwardly from the peripheral edge of the central part 21.

[0024] An annular groove 26 is present in the transition between the bottom surface of the dome-shaped central part 21 and the cover 23, thereby providing a resilient connection at the periphery between the dome-shaped central part 21 and the cover 23 that allows the dome-shaped element to pass from the concave to a convex shape and vice versa.

[0025] At the lower end of the skirt 23, an outermost flange 24 is located. The flange 24 has on its outer part 25 a bead relative to the remaining portion of the orifice 24.

In a preferred embodiment, the upper surface 21 of the central dome-shaped portion 21 has a constant radius of curvature, as can be seen in the cross-section in Fig. 5. The lower surface 21b of the central-dome-shaped portion 21 has a flat central portion 21c surface and a conical portion 21 d of the outer surface that surrounds the flat portion 21 c of the surface. The conical part 21 d of the surface is slightly curved, which can be seen in the cross section in Fig. 5.

[0027] For clarity it should be noted that the valve 20 is shown upside down in Fig. 5 and that in the figure the upper surface 21 is directed downwards and the lower surface is directed upwards.

[0028] The cover 23 of the valve 20 is relatively thin, so that it can deform and move outwardly when the valve is opened. Preferably it has a thickness of about 0.3 mm and a length in the range 3.5-5.5 mm, more preferably in the range 4-5 mm. The groove 26 between the skirt 23 and the center portion 21 of the dome-shaped valve 20 has a depth of 0.4 - 1.2 mm, measured from the outer edge of the tapered portion 21 d of the surface.

[0029] In a particularly preferred embodiment of the valve 20, the skirt 23 is 0.3 mm thick, 5 mm long, and the groove 26 is 0.5 mm deep. In another particularly preferred embodiment of the valve 20, the skirt 23 is 0.3 mm thick, 4 mm long, and the groove 26 is 1 mm deep. Tests have shown that the latter embodiment opens at a clearly lower pressure than the other embodiments. This is beneficial if, e.g. the sauce with the particles is to be dispensed and the filtration effect causing the particles to remain in the valve 20 is reduced.

[0030] When assembling the valve with the closing cap 1, the covering lid 11 is in the closed position. The closing cap 1 is preferably placed upside down resting on the upper surface of the lid 11 as shown in Fig. 6.

[0031] Next, the valve 20 is placed in the closing cap 1 by inserting the central part 21 in the shape of a dome and the cover 23 from the open end side of the body 2 concentrically into the cylindrical flange 6 and the dispensing channel 5. There is a radial space between the outer surface of the cover 23 and the inner surface of the collar 6.

[0032] The orifice 24 of the valve 20 is located under the flange 6 and extends radially outwards. The flange 24 abuts against the lower end 7 of the collar 6, and the thickened outer portion 25 of the flange 24 fits in a slot 10 formed between the flanges 8 and the lower end 7 of the collar 6.

[0033] When the thickened portion 25 of the orifice 24 of the valve 20 is in the seat 10, the peripheral edge of the slotted center portion 21 of the dome of the valve 20 is positioned at the same height as the upper edge of the flange 6, which can be seen in Fig. 6 and 7. Alternatively, the peripheral edge of the slotted center portion 21 of the dome-shaped valve 20 is located at or just below the flange 86 at the upper end of the flange 6, which can be seen in Fig. 8. The dome-shaped portion 21 rests or is only a short distance from the end side of the thrust member 17. In use, when the lid 11 is in the closed position, as in the case of Figures 6 and 7, the thrust member 17 prevents deformation on the outside of the center portion 21 in the shape of the dome of the valve 20 in the event that there is excess pressure in the interior of the container. In this way, the valve 20 is kept closed, although the inside of the container is overpressurized, thereby preventing spoilage of the substance on the lid 11 and on the upper side of the upper wall 4.

[0034] Then, the rims 8 are folded over on the thickened portion 25 of the orifice 24, thus surrounding the thickened portion 25 between the rims 8 and the upper wall 4, so that the valve 20 is firmly fixed in the closing cap 1. The rims 8 are folded due to the forming pressure surface (not shown) on it, during the plastic material is heated. The heating of the material is preferably carried out using ultrasonic frequency vibrations, which are directed to the periphery 8 via the forming surface. The ultrasonic frequency vibrations are therefore generated by a suitable generator, which generators are known in the art. Heating could be done by other methods, but heating with ultrasonic vibrations is advantageous because it allows a significant reduction in heating time. When the plastic material is cooled again, the bent rims 8 firmly hold the valve 20 of silicone rubber in seat 10. The thickened portion 25 acts as a sealing ring in the seat 10 so that no fluid substance can flow through the valve 20 except for the substance discharged through the open slits 22.

[0035] The rims 8 are in a folded state as shown in Figs. 7 and 8 and do not extend beyond the level of the flat part 4c of the upper wall 4. Thus it is possible to place the film 88 in the closing cap on its upper wall. The film 88 is an inlet sealing film that, after screwing the closing cap onto the neck portion of the container, engages the upper edge surrounding the dispensing opening of the container. Sealing film 88 can then be heated by induction heating, so that it is attached to said upper edge and seals the dispensing opening of the container. The inlet seal 88 protects the substance in the container against rapid degradation. The consumer must remove this inlet seal 88 before dispensing the substance from the container for the first time.

[0036] It is preferable to make slots 22 in the central portion 21 of the dome of the valve 20 just before placing the valve 20 in the closing cap 1. This has the advantage that between the formation of the valve and the actual placement of the valve 20 in the closing cap 1, it is not possible, so that dust or other undesirable dirt particles can get into the gaps 22, which could contaminate the foodstuffs passing through.

[0037] An alternative embodiment of a self-closing valve is shown in Fig. 15. The parts of the self-closing valve that correspond to the valve of Figs 3-5 are indicated with the same reference numerals containing the prime (').

[0038] The difference between the valve 20 'of Fig. 15 and the valve 20 of Fig. 5 is that the valve of Fig. 5 has on its outer part a thickened portion with a substantially circular cross-section, while the valve 20' of Fig. 15 has an outer portion 25 'with a substantially rectangular shape. The outer part 25 'is higher than the outer part 25 of the valve 20, which has been found to allow a better attachment of the valve 20' by means of the flanges 8 in the closing cap 1.

[0039] Another difference between the valve 20 'of Fig. 15 and the valve 20 of Fig. 5 is that the valve cover 23' of the valve 20 'is less conical than the valve cover 23 of the valve 20. Preferably the angle between the central axis of the valve 20' and the cover is about 1 ° or in other words the angle α between the plane normal to the central axis of the valve is 89 °. Conical shape of cover 23,

23 'is advantageous for releasing the valve 20, 20' from the mold. During the assembly process of the closing cap, the valves 20, 20 'are collected in a collecting box or the like from which they are automatically selected one after the other to be placed in the closing cap 1. It has been found that the 20' valves with convergence angles of about 1 ° have less tendency to stick to each other when in the bulk box. This results in fewer errors during the assembly process, which is economically advantageous.

[0040] Another difference between the valve 20 of Fig. 5 and the valve 20 'of Fig. 15 is that the latter has a deeper groove 26'. The groove 26 'between the skirt 23' and the central portion 21 of the valve 20 'has a depth of approximately 1 mm, measured from the outer edge of the conical portion 21d'.

[0041] In Fig. 9-12 another embodiment of the closing cap according to the invention is illustrated. Fig. 9-11 shows a closing cap 101 that is adapted for use with the container 120 in the form of a tube (see Fig. 12). Such tubular container body 120 is typically made by extruding a tube of a suitable plastic material, e.g. polyethylene, and cutting the extruded tube to a suitable length.

[0042] The closing cap 101 is preferably made by injection molding of a suitable thermoplastic material, e.g. polypropylene or polyethylene, and has a body 102 with a peripheral wall 103 and a top wall 104. The top wall 104 is provided with a dispensing channel 105 which is defined by a tubular collar 106 disposed on the upper wall 104. The body 102 is open at the end opposite the upper wall 104.

[0043] In the embodiment shown in Fig. 9-12, the upper wall 104 is substantially tapered with respect to its central portion 104a, which is in this example tapered, in the center of which is the collar 106.

[0044] A series of rims 108 shaped as cylinder segments are inseparably formed at a distance coaxially and radially outwardly from the flange 106. The rims 108 extend axially in an undeformed state. The rims 108 surround the flange 106 such that an annular seat 110 is formed between the lower end 107 of the flange 106 and the cylindrical wall or rims 108.

[0045] The valve 20 is located in the closing cap 101 by inserting the central part 21 of the valve 20 and the cover 23 from the open end side of the body concentrically into the flange 106 into the dispensing channel 105. The orifice 24 of the valve 20 is located at the lower end 107 of the flange 6. The rims 108 are folded over on the thickened portion 25 of the orifice 24, thus surrounding at least part of the orifice 24 between said rims 108 and the upper wall 104 so as to securely fix the valve 20 in the closing cap 101. The rims 108 are preferably bent by applying vibration at ultrasonic frequency as described above.

[0046] The composite closing cap 101 may be attached to the tubular container body 120 in the form of a tube. This is preferably accomplished by arranging the end portion of the tubular body 120 on the circumferential wall 103 of the closing cap, as in the example shown in Fig. 12, on its outer side. Then said end portion of the container body is sealed to the peripheral wall by welding.

[0047] Once the closing cap 101 and the tubular container body are attached, they can be transferred to a filling machine, where the tube container is filled with substance through the open rear end of the tubular body. Then the rear end of the tubular body is closed as a result of sealing, preferably by bending and welding the end to close it.

[0048] According to the invention, it is possible to form an inseparable container with a closing cap, as will be described with reference to Figs 13 and 14 as follows. [0049] The container body 220 is made with an inseparable closing cap 201 of a suitable plastic material, e.g. made of polyethylene or polypropylene, by injection molding. The closing cap 201 has a body 202 with a peripheral wall 203 and an upper wall 204. The upper wall 204 has a dispensing channel 205 which is defined by a tubular flange 206 disposed on the upper wall 204. The closing cap 201 has periphery 208 arranged in a circular configuration and formed inseparably on the lower surface of the upper wall 204 and extending coaxially therewith to the dispensing channel 205 In Figs 13 and 14, these flanges are shown in unloaded condition. The upper wall 204 is shown in the example as being substantially flat and has an inwardly extending central portion 204a, which is preferably tapered, in the center of which the collar 206 is located.

[0050] The resilient self-closing valve 20 is placed in the closing cap 201 by inserting the central part 21 and the cover 23 from the open end side of the body concentrically into the flange 206 in the dispensing channel 205. The orifice 24 of the valve 20 is located at the lower end 207 of the flange 206 and the outer part 25 is placed in seat 210.

[0051] Next, the rims 208 are folded over the thickened portion of the orifice 24, preferably using ultrasonic vibrations as described above. In this way, at least a portion of the orifice is surrounded between said wall or said rims 208 and the upper wall 204 so as to securely fix the valve 20 in the closing cap 201.

[0052] The container body 220 may be filled with a substance, e.g. a cosmetic product, after which the open rear end 221 is closed, e.g., by squeezing it until it becomes flat and tightly closes as a result of heating. Alternatively, the lower part (not shown) may be attached to the rear end to close it.