NECK FOR CONTAINERS AND CLOSING SYSTEM FOR CONTAINERS

The invention relates to a neck for containers and a closing system for containers.

In particular, the invention relates to a neck for a container, such as for example a bottle or a tube or similar product, in which the neck is configured to be coupled to a relative cap.

More specifically, this invention relates to a neck for a container made of natural and renewable and recyclable material, for example cellulose- based or other-fibre-based material, generally used for making many objects which are currently made of synthetic polymeric material, in particular but not exclusively in the packaging sector. Cellulose-based materials are advantageously much less polluting and easier to dispose of than synthetic polymeric materials. In addition, the relative closing cap applicable to the neck is also made of natural material, preferably cellulose-based.

As is known, the neck of the container has a lateral wall extending in a substantially cylindrical shape and at the top provided with a transit opening for the material housed in the container. The lateral wall is generally threaded to allow a cap to be screwed onto the neck.

Alternatively, the cap may also be coupled to the neck by means of pressure and mechanical interference.

The transit opening of the neck is defined by a generally circular edge which is coupled to the cap to define a seal suitable for blocking the opening and preventing the passage of the material housed in the container.

In particular, the seal is created by the coupling between the edge of the neck and a circular protuberance (called the “plug”) emerging from the inner surface of the cap. In this way, the circular protuberance is positioned on the inside of the edge and abuts against it. Alternatively, the circular protuberance may be wider than the opening of the neck so that it can be positioned on the outside of the edge and in contact with it. Furthermore, there are also prior art caps provided with two circular, concentric protuberances configured to be in contact both with the inside and with the outside of the edge.

In the case of containers for liquid or paste products, such as for example tubes of toothpaste or the like, the opening of the neck may be particularly narrow so as to contain and control the transit flow of the material coming out of the container.

Therefore, the lateral wall which defines the neck is also made with very compact dimensions. In this context, as is better illustrated in Figure 1 , to facilitate operations for gripping and screwing/unscrewing the cap “A”, the cap is oversized relative to the size of the neck “B”. In particular, a cap “A” is made having a first inner lateral wall “A1”, sized depending on the neck “B”, on which the thread is made for operating in conjunction with the thread of the neck “B”, and an outer lateral wall “A2” suitable only for obtaining an outer surface of the cap which is wider and therefore easier for the user to grip.

However, the caps of this type, better illustrated in Figure 1 , have a major disadvantage derived first and foremost from the structural complexity of the cap itself provided with two lateral walls “A1 , A2”, with the consequent disadvantages in the production processes. A further complexity is derived from the cellulose-based material which renders making complex caps and necks of this type expensive and in some cases unfeasible.

Additionally, the outer lateral wall “A2” is easily deformable if gripped with too much force by the user. In fact, in this case the outer wall “A2” is not internally supported by the neck “B” of the container and for this reason can be bent inwards, that is to say, towards the inner lateral wall “A1”.

There are also prior art containers with a neck and respective cap which are both made of natural materials, such as for example cellulose-based material, which however have design constraints derived from the relative forming processes and from the structural capacity of the material itself. In this context, the circular protuberance (“plug”) which emerges from the inner wall of the cap is at a distance from the lateral wall of the cap itself, so that it can be correctly formed in the respective moulds and to give the cap sufficient structural stability. To ensure the constraint between the edge of the neck and the circular protuberance, the neck is made with the respective lateral wall having a width slightly greater than that of the protuberance.

In other words, to ensure the container seal, the neck is sized depending on the width of the circular protuberance, so as to correctly couple the edge of the neck between the protuberance and the wall of the cap.

However, it should be noticed that in this condition the lateral wall of the neck is at a distance from the lateral wall of the cap and to ensure that the cap is screwed onto the neck very pronounced and therefore particularly pointed threads are made.

In this context, the use of excessively pointed threads necessitates a variation in thickness not achievable with cellulose-based materials which in order to be correctly compacted must have constant thicknesses.

Moreover, even the moulding of protuberances this pronounced may be difficult with cellulose-based material which, given its density, would be damaged during the step of extracting the product (neck or cap) from the mould.

In this context, one aim of this invention is to make a neck for a container capable of overcoming the disadvantages of the prior art

In particular, a first aim of this invention is to provide a container provided with a neck which can be made of cellulose and at the same time can be adapted to the structure of the cap.

More specifically, one aim of this invention is to make a neck made of cellulose which is easy to make in the prior art processes for forming by moulding and at the same time which is optimally couplable to the respective cap. A further aim of this invention is to provide a container provided with a neck which, although having size constraints in the cross-section of the transit opening for the material contained in the container, can be adapted to the dimensions of the cap, simplifying its relative structure.

Furthermore, the invention allows the usual function of systems of necks and caps using simple and inexpensive geometries. Inexpensiveness and even “ecodesign” are also guaranteed by the lower weight, therefore lower consumption of material, than more complex solutions.

According to a first aspect of the invention, what is provided is a neck for a container comprising: a lateral wall having a substantially tubular shape and having a lower edge configured to be joined to a respective container and defining a lower transit opening for the material contained in the container and an upper edge defining an upper transit opening for said material contained in the container. The neck also has coupling means configured to allow reversible or non-reversible coupling to a respective cap. Advantageously, the upper opening defines a transit cross-section which is smaller than the transit cross-section of the lower opening.

In other words, the width of the upper edge is less than the width of the lower edge.

In this way, it is possible to obtain an upper opening with dimensions which are less than the dimensions of the lateral wall of the neck.

In this way it is also possible to put a plug even or only on the outside of the edge of the neck.

For that purpose, the lateral wall has a first stretch near the upper edge which is tapered relative to a second stretch near the lower edge.

Advantageously, the coupling means, preferably in the form of a thread, are made on the second stretch of the outer surface of the lateral wall configured to couple to a thread of a respective cap.

Advantageously, the second stretch of the lateral wall, on which the upper opening is made, is sized irrespective of the size of the second stretch which supports the thread. Moreover, the neck is advantageously made of cellulose-based material.

According to a further aspect of this invention a closing system for containers is provided, comprising the neck described above and a cap removably engageable with said neck, also advantageously made of cellulose-based material.

Preferably, the cap has a closing wall for closing the upper opening and a lateral wall extending perpendicularly to said closing wall. The closing wall has an annular protuberance emerging from an inner surface of the closing wall facing the neck so that it is in contact with the upper edge and inside the upper opening.

Advantageously, the entire system made of cellulose-based material also allows great versatility in making the upper opening irrespective of the dimensions of the neck and of the cap.

The invention can be better understood and implemented with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate an example, non-limiting embodiment of it, in which:

- Figure 1 shows a side elevation cross-section view of a neck and relative cap which belong to the prior art described above;

- Figure 2 shows a side elevation cross-section view of a neck for containers according to this invention and coupled to a respective cap;

- Figure 3 shows a side elevation cross-section view of the neck in a second embodiment of this invention; and

- Figures 4a and 4b show side elevation cross-section views of the neck according to a third embodiment and in two respective operating conditions.

With reference to the accompanying figures, the numeral 1 denotes in its entirety a neck for a container 2 which is only partly illustrated since it is not part of this invention.

In fact, the container 2, to which the neck 1 according to the invention is applied, may be of any type and made of any material depending on the product which must be contained (products in solid, semi-solid or liquid form).

Advantageously, the neck 1 is entirely made of natural material, preferably cellulose-based.

The neck 1 comprises a lateral wall 3 having a substantially tubular shape and extending around a respective longitudinal axis of extension “X”.

The wall 3, preferably cylindrical and with a circular cross-section, has a lower edge 3a configured to be joined to the container 2 by means of known coupling techniques, and an upper edge 3b opposite to the lower edge 3a.

The lower edge 3a defines a lower transit opening 4a for the material (not illustrated) contained in the container 2. In other words, the lower opening 4a is in fluid communication with an inner compartment of the container 2 for the transit of the material from the container 2 towards the inside of the neck 3.

In contrast, the upper edge 3b defines an upper transit opening 4b for the material contained in the container.

In more detail, the upper opening 4b allows the transit of the material from the inside of the wall 3 towards the outside. The upper opening also defines a transit cross-section “S” having a predetermined width depending on the nature of the material contained in the container 2 and depending on the shape and dimensions of the container 2 itself.

Advantageously, as is explained in more detail below, the upper opening 4b defines a cross-section “S1 ” having a width which is less than the width of the transit cross-section “S2” defined by the lower opening 4a.

In other words, as is clearly illustrated in the accompanying figures, the width of the upper edge 3b is less than the width of the lower edge 3a.

The neck 1 also comprises coupling means 5 configured to allow reversible coupling to a respective cap 101 . Advantageously, the coupling means 5 comprise protuberances 6a, 6b preferably threads, made on the outer surface of the lateral wall 3 and configured to couple to a thread 102 of the respective cap 101 (Figure 2).

In the accompanying figures, the neck 1 is illustrated with threads 6a and 6b, which are different and alternatives to each other. In fact, a first thread 6a is produced by a shaping of the wall 3 suitable for defining a concave portion on the inner surface of the wall 3 and a convex portion on the outer surface of the wall 3. In this situation, the wall 3 has a constant thickness along its entire extent. In fact, the thread 6a also has a constant thickness. In an alternative embodiment, there is a second thread 6b which does not have an inner concavity but only a convexity on the outer surface of the wall 3. In this case, the wall 3 has a variation in its thickness at the thread 6b, that is to say, a thickening of the cross-section. However, both of the threads 6a, 6b described above allow avoidance of thinning of the crosssection of the wall 3 with the advantages derived from the compactness achievable with the cellulose material which guarantees a mechanical seal of the entire neck 1 .

The wall 3 also comprises a first stretch 7 near the upper edge 3b and tapered relative to a second stretch 8 near the lower edge 3a.

In other words, the wall 3 has a variation in the cross-section in which it narrows at the top first stretch 7 (near the upper edge 3b).

In this situation it should be noticed that the thread is positioned in the second stretch 8 of the lateral wall 3, therefore near the lower edge 3a and the container 2.

In more detail, according to a first embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figure 2, the first and the second stretches 7, 8 are both defined by annular portions, which are coaxial with the axis “X” and are joined to each other by a curved stretch 9.

In this situation it should be noticed that the curved stretch 9 unites without a gap the first stretch 7 with the second stretch 8 so as to define the variation in the transit cross-section from the lower opening 4a with greater width, to the upper opening 4b with smaller width.

According to a second embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figure 3, the first stretch 7 comprises: a first portion 7a extending in an annular fashion and associated with the above-mentioned curved stretch 9, and a second portion 7b extending transversally relative to the first portion 7a and defining the above-mentioned upper edge 3b.

In other words, in this embodiment the first stretch has a second portion 7b extending in a planar fashion perpendicular to the longitudinal axis “X” and to the annular extension of the first portion 7a.

In this situation, the upper edge 3b and the relative opening 4b is obtained in the form of a hole made on the above-mentioned second portion 7b of the first stretch 7. That hole is obtained, preferably but without limiting the scope of the invention, axially relative to the longitudinal axis “X”, that is to say, at the centre of the second portion 7b.

Advantageously, the opening 4b made on the second portion 7b may have any transit cross-section “S1”, again smaller than the cross-section “S2” of the lower opening 4a, sized depending on the various needs involved in its use.

According to a third embodiment illustrated in Figures 4a and 4b, the first stretch 7 comprises: a first portion 7a extending in an annular fashion coaxial with the axis “X” and associated with the curved stretch 9; a second portion 7b extending in an annular fashion coaxial with the longitudinal axis “X” and defining the above-mentioned upper edge 3b; and a third portion 7c extending transversally relative to the first portion 7a and to the second portion 7b and interposed between those portions.

More specifically, in this embodiment the third portion 7c extends in a planar fashion perpendicular to the longitudinal axis “X” and to the annular extension of the first and second portions 7a, 7b.

In this situation, the second portion 7b is emerging (projecting) from the planar extension of the third portion 7c to extend above it. In other words, the second portion 7b of the first stretch 7 defines a “spout” projecting from the third portion 7c on which the upper opening 4b with cross-section “S1 ” which is smaller than the cross-section “S2” of the lower opening 4a is made.

With reference to Figure 4a, it should be noticed that there may also be a blocking wall 10 for blocking the upper opening 4a. That wall 10 extends in a planar fashion parallel to the extension of the third portion 7c and is configured to be removed, by appropriate systems for cutting or piercing the wall 10 itself, and to define the upper edge 3b with the relative upper opening 4b.

Advantageously, the blocking wall 10 may also be provided in the preceding embodiments, that is to say, those illustrated in Figures 2 and 3. This invention also relates to a closing system 100 which comprises the cap 101 couplable to the neck 1 according to any of the embodiments described above.

In fact, even if the cap 101 is illustrated only in Figure 2, it should be noticed that the closing system 100 is used for any type of neck 1 .

In particular, the cap 101 , also preferably made of cellulose-based material, has a closing wall 103 suitable for blocking the upper opening 4b of the neck 1 , and a lateral wall 104 extending perpendicularly to the closing wall 103.

The lateral wall 104 has the above-mentioned thread 102 which interacts with the thread 6a, 6b of the neck 1 for screwing/unscrewing the cap 101 from the neck 1 .

Advantageously, the cap 101 may be provided with at least one interference element for interfering with the blocking wall 10 suitable for cutting and removing that wall 10 during the movement (rotation) of the cap 101 relative to the neck 1 .

Therefore, in this situation the cap 101 also defines the upper edge 3b and the relative opening 4b during a single movement for opening the cap 101 itself. The closing wall 103 has an annular protuberance 105 emerging from an inner surface of the closing wall 103 itself facing the neck 1. Advantageously, in the cap 101 closed on the neck 1 condition, the annular protuberance 105 is positioned inside the upper opening 4b and in contact on the upper edge 3b to define a mechanical seal suitable for preventing material from coming out of the container 2.

Alternatively, the protuberance (105) may even be provided on the outside of the upper edge (3b) or there may be two concentric protuberances (105), configured to be in contact with the inside and the outside of the edge 3b.

Advantageously, the cap 101 has the above-mentioned protuberance 105 at a distance from the respective lateral wall 104 in such a way as to facilitate the respective steps of moulding of the cellulose material. In this situation, the mechanical seal is still guaranteed, given by the position of the upper edge 3b, positioned on the first stretch 7 which is tapered relative to the second stretch 8. In other words, the possibility of reducing the cross-section “S1 ” of the upper opening 4b relative to the cross-section “S2” of the lower opening 4a allows the first stretch 7 of the wall 3 to also be distanced from the lateral wall 104 of the cap 101 .

It should be noticed that, advantageously, in this situation the size of the second stretch 8 on which the thread 6a, 6b is made is kept unchanged.

Moreover, this invention allows a neck 1 to be obtained which is provided with an upper opening 4b of any size irrespective of the dimensions of the thread, if necessary imposed by the respective cap.

In other words, it is possible to make a neck 1 with a lateral wall which is particularly wide, suitable for example for coupling to caps with a wide diameter, and at the same time to have a first stretch 7 which is tapered to define a particularly narrow upper opening 4b.