EP0696994B1 - Bottle cap - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a cap (1, 1') for closing a bottle (2) or similar container, having a projecting outer annular ridge (10) in the region of its container aperture. The cap (1, 1') has an inner cap section (3) with spring pins (7) which engage the annular ridge (10) of the bottle (2) from under in the closed position and can be secured in this engaged position by an outer cap section (4) in the form of a slide ring. In order to be able to fit or remove such a cap (1, 1') on or from an infusion or transfusion bottle (2) with little effort and to be able to properly recycle the plastic cap material, the invention proposes that the outer cap section (4) have a plurality of security projections (14) around its periphery between which there is a disengagement aperture (26), the outer cap section (4) and the inner cap section (3) are secured together so as not to rotate, when the cap (1, 1') is closed, by means of at least one releasable anti-rotation device and after the anti-rotation device has been released, both cap sections can be mutually separated by means of turning and then axially pushing the outer cap section in relation to the inner section.

Description

The invention relates to a closure cap for closing a bottle or similar container, which has a projecting outer annular bead in the region of its container opening, with an inner cap part which has a plurality of spring bars, each of which has a holding projection on the inside at its free end region for engaging behind the annular bead in a closed position have the closure cap, with an outer cap part which has a plurality of securing projections on the inside on its annular peripheral wall and which can be pushed onto the inner cap part against a deflection movement in such a way that the securing projections are located in the area of the spring bars in the closed position, and with a sealing element , which is arranged at least in regions between the edge region of the bottle or the like delimiting the container opening and the inner cap part, with on the outer cap part between the securing projections In each case a disengaging opening is provided and, after loosening a rotation lock, the outer and the inner cap part can be separated from one another by means of a rotary and a subsequent axial sliding movement of the outer cap part relative to the inner cap part.

So-called crimp caps are often used to close infusion and transfusion bottles. These previously known crimp caps have a cup-shaped cap part in the starting position, which is placed on the bottle opening. Between the cup-shaped cap part and the edge region of the bottle that delimits the bottle opening, a stopper made of elastomeric material is provided as a sealing element, which is pressed into the bottle neck with its cross-section-adapted partial region. Around the crimp cap and the stopper it grips on the bottle neck fix, the free edge area of the sheet metal cap part is molded inwards and engages behind the flanged edge of the bottle protruding outwards on the bottle neck.

On the upper end face of the cup-shaped cap part, a circular and approximately centrally arranged piercing opening is provided, which is defined by corresponding predetermined breaking points in the cup-shaped cap part. This piercing opening can be exposed by removing a cover part which is firmly connected to the portion of the pot-shaped cap part covering the piercing opening and is made of plastic material.

In order to empty the contents of the bottle without additional aids if necessary and to be able to separate the various materials as far as possible after emptying the bottle, the flanging of the cup-shaped cap part must be broken open and the closure cap and the sealing element removed from the bottle. However, sharp edges are often formed or exposed here, on which, for example, the medical personnel in the hospital can be injured. Also, a complete separation of the different materials is usually not readily possible with these previously known crimp caps, because at least on the cover part of the portion of the sheet metal cap part which covers the piercing opening in the closed position remains. This metal residue on the otherwise plastic part of the lid makes it difficult to recycle the plastic material.

From DE-A-40 15 510 a closure cap is already known, the individual cap parts of which are made entirely of plastic. This cap is held on the bottle by several spring bars of an inner cap part, which grip under the flanged edge of the bottle with an inside retaining projection. The inner cap part is secured in the under-grip position by an annular outer cap part encompassing it. For this purpose, the outer cap part has a circumferential, internal securing projection which supports the spring bars of the inner cap part in the closed position of the closure cap. In this closed position, the securing projection of the outer cap part in turn engages radially outwardly projecting locking tongues on the inner cap part, so that the outer and the inner cap part are held immovably to one another in the axial direction.

In order to remove the known closure cap from the bottle again and to be able to separate its two cap parts from one another, a tear-open tab is provided on the outer cap part designed as a sliding ring, which is limited by two parallel and axially oriented predetermined breaking notches in the plastic material of the outer cap part .
However, in the event that the container contents are to be removed by means of a cannula or a transfusion set, a puncture opening is provided on the exposed front-side ceiling of the inner cap part, which is also defined by two concentric predetermined breaking channels.

Irrespective of the material used, such weakening or predetermined breaking points have significant disadvantages. For example, the medical staff in the hospitals must destroy the known closure cap at these predetermined breaking points in order to be able to detach it from the bottle. However, this creates sharp edges that often pose a risk of injury.
In order to achieve the intended destructive demolition at such predetermined breaking points always with the same effort To be able to accomplish this reliably, it must also be ensured that the wall thickness of these weakening points remains constant over the entire service life of such a plastic injection mold. If the wall thickness of this weakening point increases due to wear of the tool or other disturbances influencing the production process, the cap can no longer be removed from the bottle or can only be removed with very great effort. If, on the other hand, the weakening point becomes too thin, the closure cap at this weakening point breaks during assembly on the corresponding bottle.

Such weakening points are produced by corresponding constrictions in the injection mold. The polypropylene plastic provided for the production of the closure cap according to DE-A-40 15 510, however, has long molecular chains which undergo polarization when these constrictions flow through. Due to the alignment of the molecular chains, material fibers form in the area of the weakening points, which counteract breaking through of the plastic material itself and can make it considerably more difficult to separate the different cap parts.

In addition, the cap according to DE-A-40 15 510 must be mounted on a bottle neck in several steps. In a first step, the elastomeric stopper is pressed into the bottle opening from above. In a further work step, the inner cap part is then pressed from above onto the bottle opening and the stopper located thereon, the spring bars of this cap part being temporarily deflected outwards as they pass through the ring bead delimiting the bottle opening, in order then to spring into their relaxed grip position. In a subsequent step, the outer cap part is then placed on the inner cap part pushed, thereby securing the spring bars in their under-grip or closed position.
In contrast to the assembly of conventional crimp caps, in which the crimp edge has to be formed laterally from the bottom inwards, the different cap parts in the closure cap known from DE-A 40 15 510 are thus placed one after the other onto the bottle from above. In order to be able to carry out these work steps, appropriately designed sealing machines are therefore necessary.

From US-A-4,359,166 a closure cap of the type mentioned at the outset is already known, which has an inner cap part and an annular outer cap part, these cap parts likewise being made of plastic. A plurality of spring bars are provided on the inner cap part, each of which engages behind the annular bead provided on a bottle neck with a holding projection arranged at its free end region. To secure the spring bars against a deflection movement, the outer cap part can be pushed onto the inner cap part. These cap parts can then be separated from one another again by means of a rotary and a subsequent axial sliding movement of the outer cap part relative to the inner cap part. In order to counteract an unintentional rotation of the two cap parts in the closed position of the known closure cap, a separate securing tab is provided as a rotation lock, which is welded on the outside to the inner cap part on the one hand and to the outer cap part on the other hand or the like. However, this locking of the closure cap is complex and requires several additional manufacturing steps.

It is therefore particularly the task of creating a closure cap of the type mentioned that is easy to assemble or can be disassembled and which requires a comparatively little effort in their manufacture or assembly.

The inventive solution to this problem in the cap of the type mentioned is that the cap has a lid part, which is designed as a tamper-evident closure for an end puncture of the inner cap part and is rotatably and releasably connected to the inner cap part, and that the rotation lock between the Has corresponding securing means cap parts, of which at least one securing means is provided on the outer cap part and the other securing means cooperating with it is provided on the cover part.

In the closed position of the closure cap according to the invention, the cover part is rotatably connected to the inner cap part on the one hand and to the outer cap part on the other. The cover part thus secures the non-rotatable unit between it and the two cap parts. By loosening the cover part from the inner cap part, the rotationally fixed connection between the inner and the outer cap part is at the same time canceled, so that these cap parts can be separated from one another relative to the inner cap part by means of a rotary and a subsequent axial sliding movement of the outer cap part. This rotary-sliding movement allows the closure cap according to the invention to be detached from the bottle or similar container easily and without risk of injury.

In order to be able to remove the closure cap according to the invention from a bottle or similar container, only the cover part has to be loosened and the inner cap part rotated relative to the outer cap part in order to then separate these two parts from one another in the axial sliding direction can. As a result of the twisting, the retaining projections provided on the spring bars of the inner cap part are moved from the area of the securing projections into the area of the disengagement recesses, which are distributed around the inner wall circumference of the outer cap part. These disengagement recesses, which form the intermediate space provided between the adjacent securing projections, allow the retaining projections of the spring webs to be brought out of the engagement area of the securing projections provided on the outer cap part in the axial direction. Due to the bayonet-like toothing of the outer and the inner cap part, these two cap parts can be separated easily and practically non-destructively and can be recycled.

Since no predetermined breaking points are required to separate the two cap parts, weakening points can also be dispensed with in the closure cap according to the invention, which lead to an undesired alignment of material fibers and to sharp-edged edges in the plastic material. Medical personnel can therefore easily remove the closure cap according to the invention without injuring themselves on such sharp-edged edges. At the same time, the components of the closure cap according to the invention can be easily separated from one another and can be recycled practically according to type. The plastic material used exclusively occurs in the hospital elsewhere in the form of syringes or similar plastic parts as waste, while the use of the aluminum material provided essentially only for conventional crimp caps can be dispensed with.

Since the closure cap according to the invention consists essentially of only three parts, its manufacture and assembly are connected with little effort. By slightly loosening the Cover part of the two cap parts of the closure cap according to the invention can both cancel the rotation lock provided between the cap parts and expose the puncture opening provided on the end face of the inner cap part. The contents contained in the bottle or similar container can thus be removed either by completely removing the closure cap or, for example, by means of a syringe cannula through the piercing opening of the inner cap part.

It is expedient if the inner cap part in the relaxed starting position has a clear inner diameter in the region of its holding projections, which corresponds at least approximately to the outer diameter of the ring bead of the bottle or the like and if the spring bars of the inner cap part by means of an axial relative movement of the inner and outer cap parts at least one run-up slope provided on the inner and / or on the outer cap part can be moved into their holding position which is spring-loaded relative to one another in the closed position.

Since the inner cap part has a clear diameter in its relaxed starting position, which corresponds at least approximately to the outer diameter of the ring bead of the bottle or the like, the inner cap part can be placed on the bottle practically without force when the closure cap according to the invention is assembled. The spring bars provided on the inner cap part are only moved into their holding position when, for example, the outer cap part is pushed onto the inner cap part from below. Since the work steps required for assembling the closure cap according to the invention and in particular the sideways upward sliding movement provided for connecting the inner cap part to the outer cap part correspond to the usual mode of operation also with conventional crimp caps, the caps according to the invention can also be processed on conventional closure systems.

A preferred further development according to the invention, which can be given protection independently, provides that the inner and the outer cap part are held in a preassembled pre-locking position by means of at least one projection provided between them, in which the spring bars are in their open position, and that Cap parts are movable by an axial relative movement of the outer cap part to the inner cap part in the closed position of the closure cap. The closure cap, which essentially consists of the inner cap part, the outer cap part and the lid part, can be delivered in a preassembled pre-locking position and placed on the infusion bottle. Subsequently, only an axial relative movement of the two cap parts is required in order to close the closure cap and the container which is sealed off from it. This embodiment also favors the simple assembly of the closure cap according to the invention.

It is expedient if the cover part has at least one anti-rotation protrusion or the like which engages in a locking opening or similar recess in the outer cap part assigned to it in the closed position of the closure cap. The securing means designed as a rotation locking projection is preferably integrally formed on the cover part. In this case, at least one securing means, which interacts with the outer cap part and at least one with the inner cap part, can be provided as a rotation lock on the cover part. The low manufacturing cost of the closure cap according to the invention is favored, however, if the securing means provided on the cover part both the rotation lock between the cover part and the inner cap part and the Anti-rotation is assigned between the cover part and the outer cap part.

A further development according to the invention provides that the anti-rotation projection of the cover part engages in a locking opening or similar recess of the inner cap part in the closed position of the closure cap and that the recess of the cap parts assigned to the anti-rotation projection correspond to one another in a rotational position of these cap parts.

A further development according to the invention provides that the cover part has at least one latching hook projecting on its flat side facing the inner cap part, preferably a plurality of latching hooks, which pass through the piercing opening of the inner cap part and with its free end protruding outwards or the like from the piercing opening reach behind the limiting edge area of the inner cap part. The cover part is detachably held on the inner cap part by means of the latching hooks, without any weakening or predetermined breaking points between the cover part and the inner cap part that are difficult to break through.

The inner cap part is immovably connected to the outer cap part in the closed position if a locking projection is provided on the outside of each spring bar in its free end area, which is held in the closed position of the closure cap between two locking projections spaced apart in the sliding direction, which on the inside on the annular wall portion of the outer Cap part are arranged.

For preassembly of the individual components, it is expedient if in the sliding direction in front of the mutually assigned Securing projections a Vorrastnocke is provided and when the spring bars of the inner cap part are held with their locking projection between this Vorrastnock and the adjacent securing projection of the outer cap part in the pre-assembled locking position of the closure cap.

An embodiment according to the invention provides that for the rotationally secure guidance of the locking projections in the sliding direction between at least one of the pre-locking cams and the adjacent securing projection on both sides of the projections, a guide bar oriented in the sliding direction is provided, and that at least one of the two mutually associated guide bars is preferably up to approximately in the edge area of the outer cap part facing the cover part. Thus, the individual components of the closure cap according to the invention are rotatably connected to one another already in their preassembled position. In the closed position of the closure cap, for example, the rotation lock provided on the cover part engages in the corresponding recess of the outer cap part, so that the individual parts of the closure cap according to the invention are held against one another in a rotationally fixed manner as long as the cover part has not been removed from the inner cap part.

It is expedient if on the same side of all the projections of the outer cap part there is a guide bar extending approximately into the edge area of the outer cap part facing the cover part and if two adjacent guide strips reaching the cover part each have a securing opening or similar recess in the outer cap part limit.

In order to be able to bring the two cap parts into their pre-locking position and then also into their closed position with as little effort as possible, one of Embodiment according to the invention provided that the flank of the latching projections facing the cover part is arranged approximately at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the spring bar and that the opposite flank of each latching projection runs obliquely inwards towards the free end of the spring bar. The easy assembly of the two cap parts is further favored if the flank facing the cover part, at least the securing projections facing the cover part, preferably in each case both mutually associated securing projections, are inclined inwards towards the container, and if the opposite flanks of at least the securing projections facing the cover part are preferably arranged approximately at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the annular wall section of the outer cap part.

The retaining projections of the spring bars are pressed particularly securely and firmly against the under-grip locking shoulder of the ring bead provided in the area of the bottle opening when the spring bars in the closed position also have the securing projection (securing projections) facing away from the lid part on its (their) inclined flank (s) a corresponding counter surface provided on the free end region of the spring bars.

A preferred embodiment according to the invention, in which the cap material used can be recycled particularly well, provides that the inner cap part, the outer cap part and the cover part are made of plastic, preferably of polypropylene.

The invention will become clear from the following description of an exemplary embodiment according to the invention in conjunction with the claims and the drawing.

Fig. 1

eine Infusions- oder Transfusionsflasche in einer Seitenansicht, wobei die Flasche mittels einer Verschlußkappe verschlossen ist, auf deren äußerem Kappenteil ein Deckelteil gehalten ist,

Fig. 2

das Deckelteil der Verschlußkappe in einer Draufsicht,

Fig. 3

das Deckelteil in einer Querschnittsdarstellung,

Fig. 4

ein inneres Kappenteil der Verschlußkappe aus Fig. 1 bis 3 in einer Draufsicht auf seine Oberseite, wobei das innere Kappenteil in das äußere Kappenteil der Verschlußkappe einschiebbar ist,

Fig. 5

das äußere Kappenteil, das innere Kappenteil sowie das Deckelteil der Verschlußkappe aus Figur 1 bis 4 in einer vormontierten Querschnittsdarstellung, wobei sich diese Bestandteile der Verschlußkappe oberhalb einer Flasche befinden, in deren Flaschenhals ein Stopfen als Dichtelement eingedrückt ist,

Fig. 6

die auf die Flaschenöffnung aufgesetzten Bestandteile der Verschlußkappe in einer vormontierten Vorraststellung,

Fig. 7

die Verschlußkappe in ihrer Schließstellung, in der das innere Kappenteil und das äußere Kappenteil axial unverrückbar sowie drehfest miteinander verbunden sind,

Fig. 8

einen Federsteg des inneren Kappenteiles, der in der Vorraststellung am äußeren Kappenteil gehalten ist, wobei das innere und das äußere Kappenteil nur bereichsweise dargestellt sind,

Fig. 9

den am äußeren Kappenteil gehaltenen Federsteg in Schließstellung der Verschlußkappe,

Fig. 10

den Federsteg des inneren Kappenteiles, der durch eine Drehbewegung und eine anschließende Axialbewegung aus der Eingriffsstellung mit dem äußeren Kappenteil entnommen werden kann, und

Fig. 11

eine bevorzugte Ausführungsform einer Verschlußkappe, ähnlich der aus Figur 1 bis 10.

It shows in different scales:

Fig. 1

a side view of an infusion or transfusion bottle, the bottle being closed by means of a closure cap, on the outer cap part of which a lid part is held,

Fig. 2

the top part of the closure cap in a plan view,

Fig. 3

the cover part in a cross-sectional view,

Fig. 4

1 to 3 in a top view of its upper side, the inner cap part being insertable into the outer cap part of the closure cap,

Fig. 5

the outer cap part, the inner cap part and the lid part of the closure cap from FIGS. 1 to 4 in a preassembled cross-sectional view, these components of the closure cap being located above a bottle, in the bottle neck of which a stopper is pressed as a sealing element,

Fig. 6

the components of the cap placed on the bottle opening in a pre-assembled pre-locking position,

Fig. 7

the closure cap in its closed position, in which the inner cap part and the outer cap part are axially immovable and non-rotatably connected to one another,

Fig. 8

a spring bar of the inner cap part which is held in the pre-locking position on the outer cap part, the inner and the outer cap part being shown only in regions,

Fig. 9

the spring bar held on the outer cap part in the closed position of the closure cap,

Fig. 10

the spring bar of the inner cap part, which can be removed from the engagement position with the outer cap part by a rotary movement and a subsequent axial movement, and

Fig. 11

a preferred embodiment of a closure cap, similar to that of Figures 1 to 10.

1 to 10 show a closure cap 1 which is provided for closing an infusion or transfusion bottle 2. The closure cap 1 essentially consists of an inner cap part 3, an outer cap part 4 and a cover part 5.

The inner cap part 3 has an upper cover plate 6, to which four spring bars 7 arranged crosswise are integrally formed at right angles to the plate plane. Each of these spring bars 7 has at its free end region a holding projection 8 which is angled inwards and protrudes beyond the inside of its spring bar 7. In the closed position of the closure cap 1, the spring bars 7 engage or engage under the retaining shoulder 8 with the annular shoulder 9 of a ring bead 10 of the bottle 2 facing away from the closure cap 1. The spring bars 7 are dimensioned such that between the cover plate 6 and the edge region delimiting the bottle opening Bottle 2 is the flange protruding outwards 11 of a stopper 12, which is designed as a sealing element and is pressed tightly into the bottle opening with its shape-adapted cylindrical partial region 13.

The outer cap part 4 of the closure cap 1 is essentially designed as an annular wall section. A plurality of securing projections 14, 15 are provided on the inside in the annular wall section of the outer cap part 4. To secure the spring bars 7 against a radially outward deflection movement, the outer cap part 4 can be pushed onto the inner cap part 3 in such a way that in the closed position shown in FIG. 7 the securing projections 14, 15 are located at the free end region of the spring bars 7.

In its relaxed starting position shown for example in FIGS. 5 and 6, the inner cap part 3 has a clear inner diameter which corresponds approximately to the outer diameter of the annular bead 10 of the bottle 2. In this relaxed starting position, the inner cap part 3 can be placed on the bottle opening practically without resistance. As FIGS. 5 to 7 show, a locking projection 16 is provided on the outside of each spring bar 7, the flank 17 of which facing the cover part is arranged approximately at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the spring bar 7. The opposite flank 18 of each locking projection 16 extends obliquely inwards towards the free end of the spring web 7 in question. A safety projection 14 is assigned to each of the spring bars 7, the width of which is adapted approximately to that of the spring bar 7. The flank 19 of each of these securing projections 14 facing the lid part 5 is inclined inwards in the direction of the bottle 2, while the opposite flank 20 is arranged approximately at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the outer cap part 4.

In the axial direction towards the bottle 2, a further securing projection 15 is provided, which is designed as a circumferential securing ring 15 and is formed here by the end region of the annular outer cap part 4 which faces the bottle and is inclined inwardly. Just like the flanks 18, 19 of the projections 14, 16, this protruding locking ring 15 of the outer cap part 4 facing away from the cover part 5 forms an inward bevel which, in the event of an axial relative movement of the cap parts 3, 4, simulates the spring bars 7 of the inner cap part 3 displaces and compresses inside. For this purpose, the spring bars 7 have at their free end on the outside a corresponding oblique counter surface 21 which can slide inwards on the flank of the retaining ring 15 which faces the lid part 5 and faces obliquely inward towards the bottle 2.
In the same way, the oblique flanks 18, 19 act on the mutually associated locking and securing projections 16, 14. In the axial direction, the distance between the securing projections 14 and the securing ring 15 is dimensioned such that the spring web 7 with its between the counter surface 21 and Locking projection 16 located portion in the closed position of the closure cap 1 is held axially immovably between the two locking projections 14, 15.

In the sliding direction in front of the securing projections 14, 15, a pre-locking cam 22 is provided, which is also adapted in the circumferential direction to the width of the spring bar 7 in question. The inner cap part 3 can first be pushed as far as necessary into the outer cap part 4, that the locking projections 16 are held on the spring bars 7 between the associated locking cam 22 and the adjacent securing projection 14 of the outer cap part 4. It is between the Vorrastnocken 22 and the Securing projection 14 formed a recess or recess in which the locking projection in question can engage. In this preassembled pre-locking position, the cap can be delivered to the consumer and placed there in this form on the bottle openings.

As FIGS. 7 and 9 show, the closure cap 1 can be moved from the pre-locking position into the closed position by simply applying pressure, which runs laterally from below in the direction of the fixed cover part 5. The closure cap 1 can be processed on the existing systems which are provided for aluminum crimping in crimp caps and which practically also have all the functions required for closing the closure cap 1 shown here.

As FIGS. 8 to 10 show, guide strips 23 oriented in the sliding direction are provided on both sides of the securing projections 14 and the pre-locking cams 22, which extend approximately into the edge area of the outer cap part 4 facing the cover part 5. These guide strips 23 prevent twisting of the two cap parts 3, 4 until they are in the pre-locking position.

In the closed position shown in FIGS. 1 and 7, the cover part 5 engages in a shape-matched, open-ended recess 25 of the outer cap part 4 with a shaping or similar anti-rotation protrusion (24) projecting axially on the edge and serving as a rotation lock 31. The lid part 5, which is detachably held on the inner cap part 3, secures the inner cap part 3, which is connected to it in a rotationally fixed manner, in the closed position against rotation relative to the outer cap part 4. Through this rotationally fixed connection of the components 3, 4 in the closed position of the closure cap 1, the locking projections 16 of the spring bars 7 are in their Figure 7 and 9 shown secured position. By loosening the lid part 5 from the inner cap part 3, the rotationally fixed connection between the two cap parts 3, 4 is canceled. Since the guide strips 23 only extend to the level of the securing projections 14, the latching projections 16 can be rotated out of their engagement position by a rotational movement of the outer cap part 4 relative to the inner cap part 3 and moved into the region of the disengagement openings 26, each through the between two adjacent ones Securing projections 14 are provided and extending to the cover part 5 intermediate space are formed. The cap parts 3, 4 can then be separated from one another and from the bottle 2 by a subsequent axial sliding movement indicated in FIG. 10 and can be recycled.

The flip-up lid part 5, which is designed as a tamper-evident closure for an end puncture opening 27 of the inner cap part 3, can be easily detached from the inner cap part 3. For this purpose, it has at least one, in the closure cap shown here, a plurality of latching hooks 28 which protrude approximately centrally on its flat side facing the inner cap part 3. The latching hooks 28 pass through the piercing opening 27 and, with their free ends angled outwards, engage behind the edge region of the inner cap part 3 which delimits the piercing opening 27. The angled free end of the latching hooks 28, which can be formed, for example, by heat deformation, can be obtained from the inner cap part 3 Loosen slightly, but do not put it back on afterwards. For the rotationally fixed connection of the cap part 3 to the cover part 5, a locking pin 29 protrudes on the flat side of the cover part 5 and engages in a corresponding recess 30 of the inner cap part 3.

Due to the bayonet-type connection between the inner and the outer cap part 3, 4 and by the releasable connection of the lid part 5 to the inner cap part 3 by means of the latching hooks 28, predetermined breaking or similar weakening points on the individual components 3, 4, 5 of the cap 1 can be dispensed with become.

By unlatching the lid part 5 from the inner cap part 3, the piercing opening 27 on the inner cap part can be opened and the stopper 12 exposed in some areas in order to be able to remove the contents of the bottle in the bottle 2 by means of a cannula or a transfusion set. If, on the other hand, the contents of the bottle are to be poured directly out of the bottle 2, after the lid part 5 has been removed, the cap parts 3, 4 only have to be rotated relative to one another and then axially displaced in order to completely remove the cap 1 and to expose the bottle opening of the bottle 2 can.
Even when the bottle 2 is completely opened and the closure cap 1 is removed, no sharp-edged edges are formed or exposed, on which the medical personnel could be injured, for example in a hospital.

FIG. 11 shows the preferred embodiment of a closure cap 1 'in an exploded view. The closure cap 1 'according to FIG. 11 largely corresponds to the closure cap 1 shown in FIGS. 1 to 10.

The cover part 5 of the closure cap 1 'also has a multiplicity of latching hooks 28 which are arranged in a circle with respect to one another, but not shown here, and which penetrate the likewise circular piercing opening 27 of the inner cap part 3 and which are angled outward in each case the free end engages behind the edge area of the inner cap part 3 which delimits this piercing opening 27.

It is clear from the illustration of the cover part 5, which is partially broken open in FIG. 11, that an integrally formed or similar anti-rotation protrusion 34 is integrally formed on the inner end face of this cover part 5. The inner cap part 3 has on its cover plate 6 in the region of each spring bar 7 a safety opening or similar recess 33 which is open at the edge. The tab-shaped anti-rotation projection 34 and the recesses 33 are matched to one another in such a way that the anti-rotation projection 34 can engage in one of the recesses 33. Due to the anti-rotation protrusion 34 engaging in one of the recesses 33, the cover part 5 and the inner cap part 3 are connected to one another in a rotationally fixed and yet detachable manner.

The outer cap part 4 of the closure cap 1 'also has on its inner circumference the securing projections 14, 15 and the pre-locking cam 22 connected upstream in the sliding direction. A guide bar 23, 23 'oriented in the sliding direction is provided between a pre-locking cam 22 and the respectively adjacent securing projection 14 on both sides of these projections and cams (14, 22) in order to guide the locking projections 16 arranged on the spring bars 7 in the sliding direction. While the left guide bar 23 ′ in FIG. 11 is only arranged in the area between the pre-locking cam 22 and the adjacent securing projection 14, the guide bar 23 assigned to it and right in FIG. 11 extends approximately into the edge area of the outer cap part 4 facing the cover part 5.

Such a guide bar 23 reaching up to approximately the cover part 5 is provided on all projections 14, 22 on one and the same side. But only with a couple of the mutually assigned projections 14, 22 on both sides of these projections 14, 22, the guide strips 23, 23 'are provided, the remaining projections 14, 22 have this guide strip 23 extending to the cover part 5 only on one side.

The securing openings or similar recesses 33 of the inner cap part 3 are delimited by arcuate cap part projections 35. In the closed position of the closure cap 1 ', these projections 35 of the inner cap part 3 engage in the securing openings or similar recesses 36 in the outer cap part 4, each of which extends through the guide strips which are adjacent to one another and extend approximately into the edge region of the outer cap part 4 facing the cover part 5 23 can be limited.

When there is a relative movement between the inner and the outer cap part 3, 4, the cap part projections 35 abut on the guide strips 23 and limit the further rotational movement. The guide strips 23 come into contact with a shape-matched recess 37 in the cap part projections 35. When the anti-rotation protrusion 34 provided on the cover part 5 engages in the associated locking openings 33, 36 of the inner and outer cap parts 3, 4 in the closed position of the closure cap 1 ', one of the guide strips 23 is held in the corresponding recess 37 of the cap part projection 35.

Since at the same time the anti-rotation protrusion 34 provided on the cover part 5 and one of the adjacent cap part projections 35 fill one of the securing openings 36 on the outer cap part 4, the cap parts 3, 4 and the cover part 5 are connected to a rotationally fixed unit in this closed position of the closure cap 1 '. The anti-rotation protrusion 34 on the cover part 5 also provides a securing means between the Cap parts 3, 4 provided rotation lock 31. By loosening the cover part 5, the rotation lock projection 34 can be removed from the securing opening 36 of the outer cap part 4 in order to release the rotation lock 31 between the cap parts 3, 4. By means of a subsequent rotary-sliding movement, in which the latching projections 16 on the spring bars 7 are released from their engagement position between the securing projections 14, 15 and pushed out of the latching opening 26, the cap parts 3, 4 can be easily and with little effort from the corresponding bottle or remove the same container.

After removing the caps 1, 1 'from the bottle 2, the individual materials can be recycled practically according to type. Since the individual parts 3, 4, 5 of the closure caps 1, 1 'are made of plastic, preferably of polypropylene plastic, no further material, for example aluminum sheet, is obtained here.

The caps 1, 1 'can be assembled or disassembled on an infusion or transfusion bottle or similar container with little effort. The cap material used to produce the individual cap parts 3, 4, 5 can easily be separated from one another and can be recycled particularly well.

Claims (16)

1. A cap (1, 1') for closing a bottle (2) or similar container having a projecting outer annular ridge (10) in the region of its container aperture, including an inner cap section (3) having a plurality of spring pins (7) each presenting at its free end area an internal retaining projection (8) for engaging behind the annular ridge (10) in a closed position of the cap (1, 1'), including an outer cap section (4) that has a plurality of security projections (14) around the inside of its annular peripheral wall and can be pushed onto the inner cap section (3) in such a way that in the closed position the security projections (14) are located in the area of the spring pins (7) for securing the latter against a deflecting movement, and further including a sealing element (12) at least partially arranged between the inner cap section (3) and an edge area defining the opening of the bottle (2) or similar container, wherein a disengagement aperture (26) is provided between the security projections (14) on the outer cap section (4), and wherein after the anti-rotation device (31) has been released both cap sections (3, 4) can be mutually separated by means of turning and then axially pushing the outer cap section (4) relative to the inner cap section (3), characterized in that the cap (1, 1') has a top section (5) which is in the form of a tamper evident closure for a penetrable opening (27) in the face of the inner cap section (3) and is non-rotatably and releasably connected to the inner cap section (3), and that the anti-rotation device (31) between the cap sections (3, 4) has corresponding securing means, at least one securing means thereof being provided on the outer cap section and the other securing means (24, 34) cooperating therewith being provided on the top section (5).
2. A cap as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that in the unstressed initial position the inner cap section (3) has in the region of its retaining projections (8) an inside diameter corresponding at least approximately to the outside diameter of the annular ridge (10) of the bottle (2) or the like, and that the spring pins (7) of the inner cap section (3) are movable into their sprung back holding position in the closed condition by an axial relative movement of inner and outer cap section (3, 4) by means of at least one incline provided on the inner and/or outer cap section (3, 4).
3. A cap as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that at least one projection provided between the inner and outer cap section (3, 4) holds them in a preassembled, prelocked position in which the spring pins (7) are in their open position, and that the cap sections (3, 4) are movable into the closed position of the cap (1, 1') by axially moving the outer cap section (4) in relation to the inner cap section (3).
4. A cap as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the top section (5) has at least one anti-rotation projection (24, 34) engaging with an associated guard opening (25, 36) or similar recess of the outer cap section (4) in the closed position of the cap (1, 1').
5. A cap as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the anti-rotation projection (34) of the top section (5) engages with a guard opening or similar recess (33) of the inner cap section (3) in the closed position of the cap (1') and that the recesses (33, 36) of the cap sections (3, 4) associated to the anti-rotation projection (34) correspond to one another in a rotary position of said cap sections (3, 4).
6. A cap as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the top section (5) is non-rotatably connected to the inner cap section (3).
7. A cap as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the top section (5) has projecting from its face confronting the inner cap section (3) at least one arresting hook, preferably a plurality of arresting hooks (28), said hooks traversing the penetrable opening (27) of the inner cap section (3) and having their outwardly angled or similarly projecting free ends engaging behind the edge area defining the penetrable opening (27) of the inner cap section (3).
8. A cap as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that each spring pin (7) is provided in its free end area with an external, arresting projection (16), in the closed position of the cap (1, 1') said projection being held between two security projections (14, 15) which are in spaced relationship to each other in the sliding direction and are arranged internally on the annular wall portion of the outer cap section (4).
9. A cap as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the associated security projections (14, 15) are preceded in the sliding direction by a prelocking lug (22), and that in the preassembled, prelocked position of the cap (1, 1') the spring pins (7) of the inner cap section (3) are held with their arresting projection (16) between said prelocking lug (22) and the adjacent security projection (14) of the outer cap section (4).
10. A cap as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that for non-rotatable guidance of the arresting projections (16) in the sliding direction there is a guiding strip (23, 23') oriented in the sliding direction provided between and on either side of at least one of the prelocking lugs (22) and the adjacent security projection (14), and that at least one of the two associated guiding strips (23) preferably extend(s) proximate to that edge area of the outer cap section (4) which faces the top section (5).
11. A cap as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that in each case one guiding strip (23) extending proximate to the edge area of the outer cap section (4) facing the top section (5) is provided on the same side of all the projections (14, 22) and that two adjacent guiding strips (23) extending to the top section (5) bound a guard opening or similar recess (36) of the outer cap section (4).
12. A cap as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that that flank (17) of the arresting projections (16) which points to the top section is arranged approximately at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the spring pin (7), and that the opposite flank (18) of each arresting projection (16) slopes inwardly towards the free end of the spring pin (7).
13. A cap as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that at least the security projections (14) facing the top section (5), preferably both associated security projections (14, 15), have their flanks (19) pointing to the top section (5) sloping inwardly towards the container (2), and that the opposite flanks (20) at least of the security projections (14) facing the top section (5) are preferably arranged approximately at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the annular wall portion of the outer cap section (4).
14. A cap as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that in the closed position the spring pins (7) are applied to the sloping flank(s) (19) of the security projection(s) facing away from the top section (5) with a corresponding companion face (21) provided at the free end area of the spring pins (7).
15. A cap as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that the security projection (15) facing away from the top section (5) takes the form of a circumferential security ring.
16. A cap as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that the inner cap section (3), the outer cap section (4) and the top section (5) are made of plastic, preferably of polypropylene plastic material.

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