GB2050320A

GB2050320A - Closure for container

Info

Publication number: GB2050320A
Application number: GB7926798A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: STAYNE PRODUCTS SA
Current assignee: STAYNE PRODUCTS SA
Priority date: 1979-05-29
Filing date: 1979-08-01
Publication date: 1981-01-07
Also published as: JPS55159363A

Abstract

A closure 2 for a container 1 having a cylindrical neck comprises a cap from which extends a cylindrical inner projection 4 for insertion into the neck to effect a seal therewith and a concentric open-ended outer skirt 5, in which in the container closing position, at least one continuous circumferential sealing member 6 is arranged between the neck inner surface and the outer surface of the inner projection 4. The outer skirt 5 may carry an internal screw thread (12), Figure 2 (not shown). The sealing member 6 is preferably integral with the cap. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Closure for container This invention pertains to a closure for container having a cylindrical neck defining a circular mouth, said closure comprising a cap from which extends a cylindrical inner projection for insertion into the neck to effect a seal therewith and an open-ended outer skirt concentric with said inner projection, radially spaced therefrom by an amount greater than the neck thickness, said outer skirt being axially longer than the inner projection, as well as to the container provided with such a closure.

It has become clear that it is possible to further improve the handling safety and the tightness of closures for containers as defined above, which containers are particularly suitable for containing samples, for instance contaminated blood samples.

There is provided according to the invention that in the container closing position, at least one continuous circumferential sealing member is arranged between the neck inner surface and the outer surface of the inner projection.

In another embodiment of the invention, the inner ring surface of the cap located between the outer skirt and the inner projection is provided with a circumferential continuous bulge made from a tight crushable material, said bulge in the container closing position being crushed between the top edge of the container neck and said inner ring surface.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, in that case where the cylindrical container neck is provided with an outer screw-thread, the outer skirt is provided with a corresponding inner screw-thread over part at least of the height thereof.

Other details and features of the invention will stand out from the following description given by way of non limitative example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is an axial cross-section through a closure for container according to the invention. The neck of the container with cylindrical mouth, as pushed inside the cap has only been drawn in the right-hand part of said figure for clearness sake.

Figure 2 is an axial cross-section of another embodiment of container closure according to the invention.

In both figures the same reference numerais pertain to similar elements.

In figure 1 has been shown a closure for a container 1 having a cylindrical neck defining a circular mouth. Said closure comprises a cap 2 comprising a top end wall 3 from which extends a cylindrical inner projection 4 to be inserted inside the neck of container 1 to provide a tight seal therewith, and an open-ended outer skirt 5 which is concentric with said inner projection 4. The outer skirt 5 is radially spaced from the inner projection 4 by a distance which is slightly greater than the neck thickness, in any case over the major length thereof.

The outer skirt 5 is finally axially longer than the inner projection 4.

In the embodiment as shown in figure 1, two continuous circumferential bulges 6 are provided on the outer surface of inner projection 4. Said bulges 6 are made from a tight crushable material in such a way as to form in the closing position of the container, two succeeding sealing members between the outer surface of inner projection 4 and the inner surface 13 of container 1. Said crushable tight material can advantageously be a resilient-memory plastic material and preferably the remaining portion from the cap is made from the same material.

It is clear that it is also possible to provide such bulges on the inner surface 13 of the neck of container 1.

In the embodiment as shown in figure 1, the inner ring surface of cap top end wall 3 lying between outer skirt 5 and inner projection 4 is also provided with a continuous circumferential bulge 7 from some tight crushable material. Said bulge 7 in the container closing position, is crushed between the top edge of the neck of container 1 and said inner ring surface.

Said bulge may for example be made from the same material as said bulges 6.

At the level of said inner ring surface of cap top end wall 3, the radial spacing between the outer skirt 5 and the inner projection 4 may be shorter than the thickness of the container neck. In the embodiment as shown in figure 1, outer skirt 5 is provided between same and said ring surface with a slight wedge-like overthickness 8 from crushable material, for instance from the same material as bulges 6 and 7. In the container closing position, the outer ridge from the top edge of the container neck enters said overthickness by crushing same and thus insuring an additional sealing.

It is clear that such an overthickness may be provided together therewith or instead thereof, between the outer surface of inner projection 4 and the cap inner ring surface.

To allow a better dripping-off of the liquid which has contacted inner projection 4, the outer ridge from the bottom edge thereof is provided with a bevei 9. For the same purpose inner projection 4 is closed at the inner and thereof by a wall 14 with concave inner surface. Said surface does indeed allow a better dripping-off of any liquid having contacted the cap.

Such an embodiment allows to dispense with the center portion from top end wall 3 of cap 2, which is then provided with a center recess 10. Said recess can be divided into two parts by a flat partition 11 located inside an axial plane from cap 2. Said partition 11 can for example be used for rotating cap 2 by hand about the axis thereof, which makes it much easier to close and open the container.

The embodiment as shown in figure 2 is similar to the embodiment shown in figure 1 with the difference that the inner surface of inner skirt 5 has over part of the height thereof an inner screw-thread 12.

Said cap 2 is intended for a container 1 not shown the neck of which is provided with a corresponding outer screw-thread.

It must be understood that the invention is in no way limited to the above embodiments and that many changes may be brought therein without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. Closure for container having a cylindrical neck defining a circular mouth, said closure comprising a cap from which extends a cylindrical inner projection for insertion into the neck to effect a seal therewith and an open-ended outer skirt concentric with said inner projection, in which in the container closing position, at least one continuous circumferential sealing member is arranged between the neck inner surface and the outer surface of the inner projection.

2. Closure as defined in claim 1, in which said sealing member or members are comprised of bulges from tight crushable material provided on the outer surface of the inner projection and/orthe neck inner surface.

3. Closure as defined in either one of claims 1 and 2, in which said inner ring surface of the cap located between the outer skirt and the inner projection is provided with a circumferential continuous bulge made from a tight crushable material, said bulge in the container closing position being crushed between the top edge of the container neck and said inner ring surface.

4. Closure as defined in either one of claims 2 and 3, in which said circumferential bulge or bulges are made from a resilient-memory plastic material and are integral with the remaining cap portion.

5. Closure as defined in any one of claims 1 to 4, in which the radial spacing between said inner projection and outer skirt is greater than the container neck thickness but over part of the height thereof.

6. Closure as defined in claim 5, in which the inner projection and/or the outer skirt are provided between same and that cap inner ring surface lying between said outer skirt and inner projection, with a wedge-like over-thickness from crushable material, said wedge-like overthickness or overthicknesses being crushed in the container closing position, between the neck top edge, said ring surface and the inner projection and/or the outer skirt.

7. Closure as defined in any one of claims 1 to 6, in which the outer ridge from the bottom edge of said inner projection is bevelled.

8. Closure as defined in any one of claims 1 to 7, in which said inner projection is closed at the inner end thereof by a partition with inner concave surface.

9. Closure as defined in claim 8, in which said cap is provided in the center thereof with an open recess bound by said inner projection and the inner concave surface partition, and said recess is divided into two parts by a flat partition lying in an axial plane from said cap.

10. Closure as defined in any one of claims 1 to 9, in which in that case where the cylindrical container neck is provided with an outer screw-thread, the outer skirt is provided with a corresponding inner screw-thread over part at least of the height thereof.

11. Container having a cylindrical neck defining a circular mouth, which is fitted with a closure as defined in any one of claims 1 to 10.

12. Container having a cylindrical neck defining a circular mouth and provided with an outer screwthread, which is fitted with a closure as defined in claim 10.

13. Container as defined in either one of claims 11 and 12, which comprises a container for blood samples.

14. A closure substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.