A cap for closing a container, a combination of a cap and a neck

Abstract

A combination comprises a cap for a container and a neck of a container. The neck is delimited by an outer surface from which a circular enlargement projects, the outer surface extending up to a rim of the neck. The cap comprises a side wall extending about an axis. A separation line is provided on the side wall for defining a retaining ring intended to engage with the circular enlargement to remain anchored to the neck of the container and a closure element removably engageable with the neck so as to be movable between a closed position and an open position. The separation line extends about the axis and is circumferentially interrupted so as to leave a joining portion between the retaining ring and the closure element. The cap further has an incision line which extends transversally to the axis between the separation line and a free edge of the retaining ring, so that two connecting bands are defined between the separation line and the incision line, the connecting bands joining the retaining ring to the joining portion. The connecting bands are deformable for allowing the joining portion to rotate when the closure element is moved from the closed position to the open position, so that an edge of the joining portion which, in the closed position, faces the retaining ring, is facing towards the rim of the neck in the open position.

1 - 30 . (canceled) 
     
     
         31 . Combination of a cap for a container and of a neck of a container, wherein the neck is delimited by an outer surface from which a circular enlargement projects, the outer surface extending up to a rim of the neck, and wherein the cap comprises a side wall extending about an axis, a separation line being provided on the side wall for defining:
 a retaining ring intended to engage with the circular enlargement for remaining anchored to the neck,   and a closure element which can removably engage the neck so as to be movable between a closed position and an open position,   
       wherein the separation line extends about the axis and is circumferentially interrupted for leaving a joining portion between the retaining ring and the closure element, the cap further having an incision line which extends transversally to the axis between the separation line and a free edge of the retaining ring, so that two connecting bands are defined between the separation line and the incision line, the connecting bands joining the retaining ring to the joining portion, the connecting bands being deformable to allow the joining portion to rotate when the closure element is brought from the closed position to the open position, so that an edge of the joining portion which, in the closed position, faces the retaining ring, is facing towards the rim of the neck in the open position. 
     
     
         32 . Combination according to  claim 31 , wherein the connecting bands are deformable by a twisting movement which affects at least a part of the height of each connecting band when the closure element is brought from the closed position to the open position. 
     
     
         33 . Combination according to  claim 31 , wherein a distance between the separation line and the incision line is equal to, or greater than, 1.5 times half the difference between an external diameter of the circular enlargement and a diameter of the outer surface of the neck immediately above the circular enlargement. 
     
     
         34 . Combination according to  claim 31 , wherein the joining portion has an angular dimension about said axis, which is greater than, or equal to, 20° and less than, or equal to, 120°. 
     
     
         35 . Combination according to  claim 31 , wherein the joining portion has an angular dimension about said axis, which is greater than, or equal to, 25° and which is less than, or equal to, 90°. 
     
     
         36 . Combination according to  claim 31 , wherein the neck is provided with at least one fixing element suitable for engaging with the closure element to allow the closure element to be removably fixed to the neck, a distance between the circular enlargement and the at least one fixing element being greater than, or equal to, half of a distance between the separation line and the incision line. 
     
     
         37 . Combination according to  claim 31 , wherein the circular enlargement is delimited, towards the rim of the neck, by a truncated cone shaped surface, a generatrix of the truncated cone shaped surface forming an angle which is less than, or equal to, 35° with a straight line parallel to a longitudinal axis of the neck. 
     
     
         38 . Combination according to  claim 31 , wherein the side wall is externally provided with a plurality of knurling lines, the separation line intersecting the knurling lines. 
     
     
         39 . Cap for a container, comprising a side wall extending about an axis and a transversal wall arranged at an end of the side wall, a separation line being provided on the side wall for defining:
 a retaining ring intended to remain anchored to a neck of the container, and   a closure element which can removably engage the neck so as to open or close the container;   
       wherein the separation line extends about the axis and is circumferentially interrupted for leaving a joining portion between the retaining ring and the closure element, the cap further having an incision line which extends transversally to the axis between the separation line and a free edge of the retaining ring, so that two connecting bands are defined between the separation line and the incision line, the connecting bands joining the retaining ring to the joining portion, the joining portion having an angular dimension about said axis, which is greater than, or equal to, 20° and less than, or equal to, 120°. 
     
     
         40 . Cap according to  claim 39 , wherein said angular dimension is greater than, or equal to, 25°, and less than, or equal to, 90°. 
     
     
         41 . Cap according to  claim 39 , wherein the incision line lies in a plane arranged perpendicularly to said axis, when the closure element is in a closed position. 
     
     
         42 . Cap according to  claim 39 , wherein the side wall is externally provided with a plurality of knurling lines, the separation line intersecting the knurling lines. 
     
     
         43 . Cap according to  claim 39 , wherein the incision line and the separation line are cut lines extending on respective parallel planes. 
     
     
         44 . Cap according to  claim 39 , wherein the incision line has an angular extension about the axis of between 60° and 200°. 
     
     
         45 . Cap according to  claim 39 , wherein two fracture lines are provided on the side wall, the fracture lines extending towards the transversal wall, respectively from a first end and from a second end of the separation line. 
     
     
         46 . Cap according to  claim 45 , wherein the fracture lines are parallel to each other and to the axis, the fracture lines having equal length. 
     
     
         47 . Cap according to  claim 39 , wherein the closure element is provided with an inner thread suitable for engaging with an outer thread of the neck. 
     
     
         48 . Cap according to  claim 39 , wherein the separation line has a first end and a second end, the joining portion, which joins the retaining ring to the closure element, extending from the first end to the second end. 
     
     
         49 . Cap according to  claim 39 , wherein the separation line and/or the incision line have respective ends at which incision zones having a circular geometry are provided, for preventing propagation of fracture cracks starting from the separation line and/or from the incision line. 
     
     
         50 . Cap according to  claim 39 , wherein the joining portion has a thickness substantially constant on a plane containing the separation line.