Plastic capsule for hermetically closing large bottles

• US 7,228,980 B2
• Filed: 05/16/2002
• Issued: 06/12/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bormioli Rocco & Figlio SPA (Glass Italy BV)
• Original Assignee: Bormioli Rocco & Figlio SPA (Glass Italy BV)
• Inventors: Morini, Emilio
• Primary Examiner(s): HYLTON, ROBIN ANNETTE
• Application Number:
  US10/491,591
• Publication Number:
  US 20040238476A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,853 Days
• Field of Search: 215/253, 215/254, 215/256, 215/354, 215/250, 222/541.5, 222/541, 141/364, 206/219, 383/208
• US Class Current: 215/253
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 47/36 Closures with frangible parts adapted to be pierced, torn, or removed, to provide discharge openings B65D51/18 takes precedence; caps with piercable membranes B65D41/20, B65D41/50
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 3/0032 the bottle or container being held upside down and provided with a closure, e.g. a cap, adapted to cooperate with a feed tube

Abstract

The plastic capsule, especially for large-volume bottles for use in dispensers, includes an openable zone (4) which is accessible from the outside and closed by a cap (3) is externally protected by a disc (5) which is made in a single piece with the capsule. The cap (3) is peripherally connected to the openable zone by easy-break ribs (6) and also by a thin annular skin (6a) which hermetically closes an annular space existing between the upper surface (1a) of the capsule and the disc (5).

Claims

1. A plastic capsule for closing a large bottle, said capsule comprising:

an upper surface;

a cylindrical wall projecting coaxially from below said upper surface to form an openable zone that is accessible from outside said capsule and through which a liquid contained in a large bottle may be removed;

a cap closing said openable zone at the end of said cylindrical wall opposite said upper surface;

a disc being located above said openable zone, coplanar to said upper surface, made in a single piece with said capsule, and peripherally connected to said cylindrical wall of said openable zone by easy-break ribs such that an annular space is defined between said disc and upper surface;

an annular skin hermetically sealing said annular space, wherein said annular skin is made in a single piece with said capsule and is formed thinner than said disc and said ribs such that said skin is rupturable; and

an external annular hoop forming an outer lateral wall of said capsule extending coaxially below said upper surface and having a larger diameter than said cylindrical wall, wherein said external annular hoop rests on an annular projection of a neck of a bottle when said capsule is mounted on a bottle, said external annular hoop rests on said annular projection in such a way so as not to project laterally from said neck.

2. The capsule of claim 1, further comprising:

an internal annular hoop located internally and coaxially of said capsule that projects from an internal surface of said capsule, wherein said internal annular hoop inserts sealingly internally with a mouth of a bottle when said capsule is mounted to a bottle.

3. The capsule of claim 2, further comprising:

an internal annular projection located internally of said capsule, wherein said internal annular projection and said internal annular hoop define a seating in which an external annular projection from an external surface of a bottle neck inserts when said capsule is mounted on a bottle.

4. The capsule of claim 1, further comprising:

an upper part extending coaxially below said upper surface and having a diameter greater than said external annular hoop;

a connection zone between said upper part and said annular hoop where said upper part and annular hoop connect; and

a hooked shape section in said connection zone, wherein said hook-shape section provides an easy grip location for a bottling machine.

5. The capsule of claim 1, wherein said capsule is manufactured by injection-moulding, and is made of plastic for use with foodstuffs.

6. The capsule of claim 1, wherein said easy-break ribs are two ribs located in diametrically opposed positions of said disc.