Cap for forming a modular system

Abstract

A cap for a spout of a thin-walled flexible package which has a flattened head having a viewing region, at least one left tooth and at least two right teeth is provided. The at least one left tooth is suitable for being inserted with interference into a right housing to form a first joint and build a modular structure particularly appealing to children.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A cap for a spout of a flexible thin-walled packaging, comprising:
 a ring-shaped cap wall with a central cap axis (X), which extends between a closed upper end and an open lower end for insertion onto the spout;   a flattened head supported by the ring-shaped cap wall, comprising a viewing region enclosed in a peripheral edge, wherein the peripheral edge comprises a left stretch and a right stretch, the left and right stretches being arranged on opposite parts of the central cap axis (X);   wherein the flattened head comprises at least one left tooth, protruding radially outwards from the left stretch, and at least two right teeth, protruding radially outwards from the right stretch and aligned along a rectilinear tooth axis (K) parallel to the central cap axis (X), the at least two right teeth being axially spaced apart to form a right housing between each other;   the at least one left tooth being suitable for being inserted with interference in the right housing to form a first joint and build a modular structure.   
     
     
         2 . The cap of  claim 1 , wherein the first joint is labile in rotation relative to a joint rotation axis (Z) passing through said right housing, the joint rotation axis (Z) being parallel to and spaced apart from the central cap axis (X). 
     
     
         3 . The cap of  claim 1 , wherein the flattened head comprises two left teeth and three right teeth aligned along the rectilinear tooth axis (K), wherein the two left teeth are axially spaced apart to form a left housing between each other and the three right teeth are axially spaced apart to form two right housings between each other, and wherein the two left teeth are suitable for being respectively inserted with interference into the two right housings, and a middle tooth of the three right teeth is suitable for being inserted with interference into the left housing. 
     
     
         4 . The cap of  claim 1 , wherein the peripheral edge of the flattened head comprises an upper stretch comprising at least one upper housing and wherein a portion of the open lower end of the ring-shaped cap wall is suitable for being inserted with interference into the at least one upper housing to form a second joint. 
     
     
         5 . The cap of  claim 4 , wherein the upper stretch comprises two upper housings, radially spaced, which are symmetrical relative to the central cap axis (X), wherein each upper housing of the two upper housings has a radial width (L) suitable for accommodating with interference a portion of the open lower end of the ring-shaped cap wall. 
     
     
         6 . The cap of  claim 5 , wherein the cap further comprises at least one striker placed at the open lower end, wherein the at least one striker comprises a flat striker face facing radially outwards and wherein the cap has a radial thickness (T) defined as a distance between the flat striker face and an inner side surface of the ring-shaped cap wall, the at least one striker being insertable in the at least one upper housing and said radial thickness (T) being suitable for forming a coupling with interference with the at least one upper housing. 
     
     
         7 . The cap of  claim 6 , wherein the cap comprises two strikers arranged diametrically opposite one another. 
     
     
         8 . The cap of  claim 6 , wherein said at least one striker comprises an upper portion protruding radially outwards from the ring-shaped cap wall. 
     
     
         9 . The cap of  claim 6 , wherein said at least one striker comprises a lower portion. 
     
     
         10 . The cap of  claim 8 , wherein said at least one striker comprises a lower portion, and wherein the upper portion is axially aligned with the lower portion. 
     
     
         11 . The cap of  claim 1 , wherein the peripheral edge is contained on an imaginary plane parallel to the central cap axis (X) or containing the central cap axis (X). 
     
     
         12 . The cap of  claim 1 , wherein the viewing region is contained on an imaginary plane parallel to the central cap axis (X) or containing the central cap axis (X). 
     
     
         13 . The cap of  claim 1 , wherein the viewing region has two opposing faces. 
     
     
         14 . The cap of  claim 11 , wherein the peripheral edge of the flattened head comprises an upper stretch comprising at least one upper housing and wherein a portion of the open lower end of the ring-shaped cap wall is suitable for being inserted with interference into the at least one upper housing to form a second joint, wherein the cap further comprises at least one striker placed at the open lower end, wherein the at least one striker comprises a flat striker face facing radially outwards and wherein the cap has a radial thickness (T) defined as a distance between the flat striker face and an inner side surface of the ring-shaped cap wall, the at least one striker being insertable in the at least one upper housing and said radial thickness (T) being suitable for forming a coupling with interference with the at least one upper housing, and wherein the imaginary plane of the peripheral edge crosses the at least one striker to make an angular reference. 
     
     
         15 . The cap of  claim 1 , further comprising a cap flange, radially protruding outwards from the ring-shaped cap wall at the open lower end. 
     
     
         16 . A closure for a spout of a flexible thin-walled packaging, comprising:
 a cap comprising
 a ring-shaped cap wall with a central cap axis (X), which extends between a closed upper end and an open lower end for insertion onto the spout; 
 a flattened head supported by the ring-shaped cap wall, comprising a viewing region enclosed in a peripheral edge, wherein the peripheral edge comprises a left stretch and a right stretch, the left and right stretches being arranged on opposite parts of the central cap axis (X); 
 wherein the flattened head comprises at least one left tooth protruding radially outwards from the left stretch, and at least two right teeth, protruding radially outwards from the right stretch and aligned along a rectilinear tooth axis (K) parallel to the central cap axis (X), the at least two right teeth being axially spaced apart to form a right housing between each other; 
 the at least one left tooth being suitable for being inserted with interference in the right housing to form a first joint and build a modular structure; 
 a tamper-evident seal for highlighting a first opening of the closure, comprising a tamper-evident ring, suitable for being constrained to the spout, and 
   a plurality of breakable jumpers that join the cap to the tamper-evident ring, suitable for breaking by unscrewing the cap from the spout.   
     
     
         17 . The closure of  claim 16 , wherein the cap further comprises a cap flange radially protruding outwards from the ring-shaped cap wall at the open lower end, wherein
 the cap flange has a lower face lying on an imaginary plane orthogonal to the central cap axis (X) and facing towards the tamper-evident ring;   the tamper-evident ring has an upper face lying on an imaginary plane orthogonal to the central cap axis (X) and facing the cap flange; and   the breakable jumpers join the lower face of the cap flange and the upper face of the tamper-evident ringer.   
     
     
         18 . The closure of  claim 16 , comprising a strap joining the tamper-evident ring to the cap, which remains intact when the cap is unscrewed from the spout. 
     
     
         19 . The closure of  claim 18 , wherein the strap protrudes at one end from an outer side surface of the tamper-evident ring and at the other end from an outer side surface of the cap flange. 
     
     
         20 . The closure of  claim 19 , wherein the strap is configured to break under a pulling action tending to move the strap away from the tamper-evident ring, near the cap. 
     
     
         21 . A modular structure comprising:
 a plurality of caps, each cap of the plurality of caps comprising   a ring-shaped cap wall with a central cap axis (X), which extends between a closed upper end and an open lower end for insertion onto the spout;   a flattened head supported by the ring-shaped cap wall, comprising a viewing region enclosed in a peripheral edge, wherein the peripheral edge comprises a left stretch and a right stretch, the left and right stretches being arranged on opposite parts of the central cap axis (X);   wherein the flattened head comprises at least one left tooth-protruding radially outwards from the left stretch, and at least two right teeth, protruding radially outwards from the right stretch and aligned along a rectilinear tooth axis (K) parallel to the central cap axis (X), the at least two right teeth being axially spaced apart to form a right housing between each other;   the at least one left tooth being suitable for being inserted with interference in the right housing to form a first joint and build a modular structure, said caps being coupled to one another.   
     
     
         22 . The modular structure of  claim 21 , wherein said plurality of caps comprises:
 a first group of caps arranged horizontally side-by-side and coupled to each other by the first joint so that flattened heads are coplanar and central cap axes (X) are arranged side-by-side and parallel.   
     
     
         23 . The modular structure of  claim 21 , wherein the peripheral edge of the flattened head comprises an upper stretch comprising at least one upper housing and wherein a portion of the open lower end of the ring-shaped cap wall is suitable for being inserted with interference into the at least one upper housing to form a second joint, and wherein said plurality of caps comprises:
 a second group of caps vertically superimposed and coupled to one another by the second joint, so that flattened heads are coplanar, and central cap axes (X) are coaxial.   
     
     
         24 . The modular structure of  claim 21 , wherein the first joint is labile in rotation relative to a joint rotation axis (Z) passing through said right housing, the joint rotation axis (Z) being parallel to and spaced apart from the central cap axis (X), and wherein said plurality of caps comprises:
 a third group of caps arranged horizontally side-by-side and coupled to one another by the first joint so that flattened heads are on orthogonal planes and central cap axes (X) are arranged side-by-side and parallel.