WO2024156740A1 - Sealing cap and closure comprising the same - Google Patents

Abstract

This sealing cap (4), which is configured to engage a threaded neck of a bottle, comprises a top wall (43) from which extend a sidewall (41) and a sealing skirt (46). The sidewall (41) comprises a cap thread (44) configured to be screwed onto the neck thread around a screwing axis (X₁). The sealing skirt (46) comprises an inclined sealing surface (47) configured to be pressed against a corresponding surface of the neck on an opposite side from the surface comprising the neck thread, upon screwing the cap thread (44) onto the neck thread, the inclined sealing surface (47) being formed by a wall of the sealing skirt (46) surrounding a cavity. An inclination angle (α) between the inclined sealing surface (47) and the screwing axis (X₁) is selected to be between 7° and 25°, and an axial length (hT) of the cap thread (44), taken parallel to the screwing axis (X₁), is higher than or equal to 1.5 times the pitch (p) of the cap thread.

Description

SEALING CAP AND CLOSURE COMPRISING THE SAME

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a sealing cap configured to engage a threaded neck of a bottle. The invention also relates to a closure and a bottle comprising such a sealing cap, and to a specific use thereof.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is known to use closures providing both a sealing function and a screwing function to close bottles containing sensitive products such as pharmaceutical products. In particular, WO2008145674A1 discloses a child-resistant closure comprising an outer cap and an inner cap embedded into each other, where the inner cap comprises a cylindrical sealing skirt configured to engage with the inner surface of a bottle neck. A disadvantage of such a sealing structure is that it requires a precise dimensional adjustment between the outer diameter of the cylindrical sealing skirt and the inner diameter of the bottle neck. Therefore, a specific outer diameter of the cylindrical sealing skirt must be provided for each size of bottle neck. In addition, a precise adjustment between the bottle neck and the cylindrical sealing skirt is not compatible with the dimensional variability of the inner diameter of standard injection blow molded bottles.

It is these drawbacks that the invention is intended more particularly to remedy by proposing a sealing cap which fits on and securely seals different sizes of bottle necks, while preserving the ergonomics of use, in particular for bottles intended to receive sensitive products.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

For this purpose, a subject of the invention is a sealing cap configured to engage a threaded neck of a bottle, the sealing cap comprising a first top wall from which extend a first sidewall and a sealing skirt, wherein: the first sidewall comprises a cap thread configured to be screwed onto the bottle neck thread around a screwing axis, the sealing skirt comprises an inclined sealing surface configured to be pressed against a corresponding surface of the bottle neck on an opposite side from the surface comprising the neck thread, upon screwing the cap thread onto the neck thread, the inclined sealing surface is formed by a wall of the sealing skirt surrounding a cavity, an inclination angle between the inclined sealing surface and the screwing axis is between 7° and 25°, preferably between 10° and 20°, and an axial length of the cap thread, taken parallel to the screwing axis, from the level of a proximal end of the inclined sealing surface to the level of a distal end of the cap thread, is higher than or equal to 1 .5 times the pitch of the cap thread.

Within the meaning of the invention, the terms “proximal” and “distal” refer to a position relative to the top wall of the sealing cap. Thus, the proximal end of the inclined sealing surface is the end of the inclined sealing surface closest to the first top wall of the sealing cap, while the distal end of the cap thread is the end of the cap thread furthest from the first top wall of the sealing cap. Conventionally, in order to position the distal end of the cap thread, what is considered is the part of the cap thread configured to cooperate with the neck thread which is furthest from the first top wall, taken in a gauge plane in the middle of the inclined surface of the thread, in a manner similar to what is done in the SP400 standard to position, e.g., the start of the thread used in the “K” dimension of a bottle neck. The geometric parameters of the sealing cap, as well as the plane of gauge Po used to position the distal end of the cap thread, are shown in the appended drawings in Figure 3. In the same way, the geometric parameters of the neck thread, as well as a plane of gauge Po' used to locate positions of the neck thread along the screwing axis, are shown in the appended drawings in Figure 6.

Thanks to its structure with an inclination angle of its sealing surface and an axial length of its thread selected within the above ranges, a sealing cap according to the invention, when screwed to a neck of a bottle, efficiently seals the bottle while being securely attached across a wide variety of bottle neck sizes. It is understood that the inclined sealing surface of the sealing skirt as defined above exists independently of the screwing of the sealing cap onto a neck of a bottle. In other words, the inclined sealing surface of the sealing skirt pre-exists the screwing of the sealing cap on a neck of a bottle. In particular, even if the sealing skirt may be deformed when the sealing cap is screwed on a bottle neck, according to the invention there is an initial inclination angle of the inclined sealing surface before the sealing cap is screwed on a bottle neck. This initial inclination angle of the inclined sealing surface is designed to ensure the establishment of a sufficient and homogeneous contact pressure over the periphery at the interface between the inclined sealing surface and the corresponding surface of the bottle neck, thus ensuring a high level of sealing for different sizes of bottle necks, in particular different inner diameters of bottle necks, with one and the same sealing cap. The provision of the inclined sealing surface on a wall of the sealing skirt which surrounds a cavity, instead of a massive sealing structure, makes it possible for the sealing skirt to deform when the inclined sealing surface is pressed against the corresponding surface of the bottle, thus promoting the establishment of a homogeneous contact pressure over the periphery to improve sealing.

In practice, the cavity which is surrounded by the wall of the sealing skirt forming the inclined sealing surface may be any space allowing the sealing skirt to deform and adjust when the sealing cap is screwed on a bottle neck. In one embodiment, the cavity may be a free space delimited by the sealing skirt. In another embodiment, the cavity may include a chamber configured to receive an active material intended to control the atmosphere in the bottle equipped with the sealing cap. In the latter case, according to a first arrangement, the wall of the sealing skirt forming the inclined sealing surface may itself be a peripheral wall of the chamber for receiving the active material. According to a second arrangement, the wall of the sealing skirt forming the inclined sealing surface may be independent from a peripheral wall of the chamber for receiving the active material and be positioned externally around the peripheral wall of the chamber, with a gap between the wall of the sealing skirt and the peripheral wall of the chamber. Ensuring a high level of sealing is particularly important for a bottle intended to receive sensitive products and including an active material for the regulation of the atmosphere inside the bottle. By way of examples, the sensitive products may be food, nutraceutical products, pharmaceutical products or diagnostic products, and the active material capable of regulating the atmosphere in the device may be a humidity absorber or an oxygen scavenger. The sealing of such a bottle having a controlled atmosphere, represented by its Water Vapor Transmission Rate (WVTR), is key to reach a desired shelf life of the sensitive products stored in the bottle.

It has been observed that, when the inclination angle of the inclined sealing surface is selected to be in the range of the invention and the axial length of the cap thread is selected to be higher than or equal to 1.5 times the pitch of the cap thread, the sealing cap of the invention, when screwed onto a bottle neck at a conventional screwing torque, for example as recommended by ASTM D7709 standard, makes it possible to safely preserve sensitive products stored in the bottle, while also allowing easy handling of the sealing cap by a user to open and close the bottle manually. Advantageously, this is achieved for a wide variety of bottle neck diameters, thus providing a universal sealing cap for many different types of bottles.

In particular, the sealing cap of the invention is advantageously universal to different standard neck finishes for plastic bottles, e.g., SP400, SP410 or SP415 neck finishes, which are in use for pharmaceutical bottles worldwide. Such standard bottle neck finishes are defined, for different sizes of neck finishes, by a set of parameters comprising for example a minimum inner diameter I, an average outer diameter E, an average outer diameter T at the peak (or crest) of the thread, an average height H from “top of finish” (TOF) to bead, an average pitch P of thread, a distance K between start of thread and “top of finish” (TOF) respectively for L-style or M-style threads, a height ( a ) of each thread. It is understood that, in the context of the invention, the pitch of the cap thread is substantially equal to the pitch P of the neck thread on which it is intended to be screwed.

In order to reach a high level of sealing, an essential parameter is that a sufficient and homogeneous contact pressure over the periphery has to be maintained at the interface between the inclined sealing surface of the sealing cap and the corresponding surface of the bottle neck. It has been found that, by setting an inclination angle of the inclined sealing surface of between 7° and 25°, preferably between 10° and 20°, and an axial length of the cap thread of more than 1 .5 times the pitch of the cap thread, the surface area of the sealing interference fit is maximized and evenly distributed around the periphery of the bottle neck when the sealing cap is screwed onto the bottle neck at a conventional manual screwing torque.

More precisely, it has been observed that, for an inclination angle of the inclined sealing surface of less than 7°, the sealing skirt cannot compensate for dimensional variations in the diameter of standard bottles, whereas for an inclination angle of the inclined sealing surface of more than 25°, the length of mutual engagement of the cap thread and the neck thread obtained at a conventional manual screwing torque is not sufficient to ensure a homogeneous sealing contact over the entire periphery of the sealing skirt and the bottle neck. Within the frame of the invention, a sealing contact is said to be homogeneous around the periphery of the sealing skirt and the bottle neck, when the surface area of the sealing interference fit between the two components is substantially the same over a circumference of the two components in the assembled configuration. Over the range of values selected for the inclination angle, it has also been observed that the axial length of the cap thread has to be more than 1.5 times the pitch of the cap thread, so that the length of mutual engagement of the cap thread and the neck thread obtained at a conventional manual screwing torque is higher than or equal to 270°, thus ensuring a high and homogeneous sealing contact around the periphery of the sealing skirt and the bottle neck.

Compared to configurations where the sealing of a bottle is achieved with a sealing member positioned against the upper surface (or mouth) of the bottle neck, the establishment of a sealing interference fit between an inclined sealing surface and a side surface of the bottle neck, located on an opposite side from the neck thread, is advantageous in that it makes the sealing effective independently of the surface finish of the upper surface of the bottle neck, in particular independently of the presence of surface defects on the upper surface. According to one embodiment, in the assembled configuration of the sealing cap screwed at a targeted screwing torque on the neck of a bottle, the inclined sealing surface is pressed against the corresponding surface of the neck so that a continuous peripheral contact is formed on the inclined sealing surface. This ensures the sealing around the periphery at the interface between the sealing skirt and the bottle neck. According to one feature, in the assembled configuration, an axial extension of the continuous peripheral contact, taken parallel to the screwing axis, is higher than or equal to 0.05 mm, preferably higher than or equal to 0.1 mm. In this way, the uninterrupted peripheral sealing contact between the inclined sealing surface and the corresponding surface of the bottle neck provides sufficient resistance to the transmission of water vapor through the seal, making it possible to achieve the desired moisture barrier properties of the bottle closed by the sealing cap.

According to one feature, in the assembled configuration, an axial extension of the continuous peripheral contact, taken parallel to the screwing axis, is less than or equal to 0.6 mm. Such a limited axial extension of the continuous peripheral contact is advantageous for establishing a qualitative seal, in particular when the components in contact are non-elastomeric and relatively rigid materials, such as for example a sealing cap and a bottle both made of high-density polyethylene (HDPE), for which a limited surface of contact of annular shape is preferred. This avoids the high compressive forces that may be required to fit relatively rigid materials over an increased contact area. In addition, the limited axial extension of the continuous peripheral contact ensures a limited friction force between the inclined sealing surface and the corresponding surface of the neck, so that the sealing cap remains easy to unscrew, especially for the elderly, regardless of the material of the bottle and the presence of gliding agents in its composition. In particular, the unscrewing torque is lower than the targeted screwing torque to.

Advantageously, in the assembled configuration, the continuous peripheral contact, which has an axial extension less than or equal to 0.6 mm parallel to the screwing axis, forms a seal of a sealing line type. In practice, the axial extension of the continuous peripheral contact in the assembled configuration can be determined by X-ray tomography of the sealing cap screwed on the bottle neck at the targeted screwing torque.

According to one embodiment, in the assembled configuration of the sealing cap screwed at a targeted screwing torque on the neck of a bottle, the continuous peripheral contact is formed at a position between a proximal end and a distal end of the inclined sealing surface. According to one embodiment, the surface of the neck against which the inclined sealing surface is pressed is adjacent to the upper surface (or mouth) of the bottle neck, so that the continuous peripheral contact is formed close to the upper surface (or mouth) of the bottle neck. The free end of the bottle neck is the place most subject to deformation and therefore most suitable for forming a quality seal.

In one embodiment, the inclined sealing surface of the sealing skirt is configured to be pressed against a substantially cylindrical portion of the corresponding surface of the neck. In this case, a seal of a sealing line type is formed at the intersection between the inclined sealing surface of the sealing skirt and the cylindrical surface of the neck. In this way, a continuous peripheral contact of limited axial extension, taken parallel to the screwing axis, is formed on the inclined sealing surface.

In one embodiment, the inclined sealing surface of the sealing skirt is configured to be pressed against a bulge (in particular, a protruding portion comprising an apex) of the corresponding surface of the neck. In this case, a seal of a sealing line type is formed at the intersection between the inclined sealing surface of the sealing skirt and the bulge of the neck. In this way, a continuous peripheral contact of limited axial extension, taken parallel to the screwing axis, is formed on the inclined sealing surface.

According to one feature, an angular length of the cap thread is higher than or equal to 540°, starting from the level of the proximal end of the inclined sealing surface toward the distal end of the cap thread.

According to one embodiment, when the sealing cap is mounted on the threaded neck of a bottle, the cap thread engages with the neck thread before any contact between the inclined sealing surface and the corresponding surface of the neck. In this way, the screwing can engage without opposing resistance from the sealing skirt.

According to one embodiment, an angular length of engagement of the cap thread with the neck thread is higher than or equal to 110°, preferably higher than or equal to 160°, when the inclined sealing surface first contacts the corresponding surface of the neck.

In one embodiment, the sealing cap is configured to engage an externally threaded neck of a bottle, the cap thread being provided on an inner face of the first sidewall while the inclined sealing surface is provided on an outer face of the sealing skirt. In this embodiment, the corresponding surface of the neck against which the inclined sealing surface is pressed upon screwing is an inner surface of the neck. Advantageously, in this embodiment, an outer diameter of the sealing skirt at a distal end of the inclined sealing surface, and beyond said distal end, is less than an inner diameter of the threaded neck of the bottle on which the sealing cap is intended to be mounted. In this way, the frontmost part of the sealing skirt can serve as a prelocator, allowing the sealing skirt to be pre-positioned and pre-centered relative to the bottle neck before the inclined sealing surface first contacts the inner surface of the neck.

In another embodiment, the sealing cap is configured to engage an internally threaded neck of a bottle, the cap thread being provided on an outer face of the first sidewall while the inclined sealing surface is provided on an inner face of the sealing skirt. In this embodiment, the corresponding surface of the neck against which the inclined sealing surface is pressed upon screwing is an outer surface of the neck. Advantageously, in this embodiment, an inner diameter of the sealing skirt at a distal end of the inclined sealing surface, and beyond said distal end, is higher than an outer diameter of the threaded neck of the bottle on which the sealing cap is intended to be mounted. In this way, the frontmost part of the sealing skirt can serve as a pre-locator, allowing the sealing skirt to be pre-positioned and pre-centered relative to the bottle neck before the inclined sealing surface first contacts the outer surface of the neck. According to one embodiment, the cap thread is configured to be screwed onto the neck thread of a bottle at a targeted screwing torque and, in the assembled configuration at the targeted screwing torque, an angular length of engagement of the cap thread with the neck thread is higher than or equal to 270°. In practice, this corresponds to at least 90° of rotation of the sealing cap without meeting resistance from a mechanical stop, once a first contact has been established between the inclined sealing surface and the corresponding surface of the neck.

According to one embodiment, the cap thread is configured to be screwed onto the neck thread of a bottle at a targeted screwing torque and, starting from a first contact of the inclined sealing surface with the corresponding surface of the neck, an evolution of the screwing torque as a function of the angle of rotation of the sealing cap around the screwing axis is substantially linear for at least 90° of rotation of the sealing cap. Such a linear evolution of the screwing torque corresponds to a sealing contact progressively established between the inclined sealing surface of the sealing cap and the corresponding surface of the bottle neck.

According to one embodiment, an evolution of the screwing torque as a function of the angle of rotation of the sealing cap around the screwing axis is substantially linear from a first contact of the inclined sealing surface with the corresponding surface of the neck to the assembled configuration at the targeted screwing torque. In this case, the targeted screwing torque is reached by interference fit between the inclined sealing surface and the inner surface of the neck, the only areas of contact between the sealing cap and the bottle neck being the interference fit areas between the inclined sealing surface and the corresponding surface of the neck and the friction fit areas on the thread surfaces of the cap thread and the neck thread in mutual engagement.

In practice, the targeted screwing torque corresponds to an assembled configuration of the sealing cap on a bottle neck ensuring both ergonomics of use and a targeted level of gas tightness of the closed bottle, represented by its Water Vapor Transmission Rate (WVTR). The targeted screwing torque is advantageously selected according to the recommendations of ASTM D7709, which provides suggested ranges for manually applied screwing torques, as a function of the closure diameter. For example, for a closure diameter of 33 mm, the targeted screwing torque is advantageously selected in the range of between 1 .69 N.m and 2.82 N.m.

According to one embodiment, the cap thread is configured to be screwed onto the neck thread of a bottle at a targeted screwing torque and, in the assembled configuration at the targeted screwing torque, a gap is formed between an upper surface of the neck and a wall of the sealing cap facing the upper surface of the neck. The absence of a mechanical stop transverse to the screwing axis, as well as the provision of a clearance between the cap thread and the neck thread at each pair of interengaging peaks and valleys, ensures that the targeted screwing torque is achieved by interference fit between the inclined sealing surface and the inner surface of the neck, with possible radial deformation of the sealing skirt and/or the bottle neck when the sealing cap is screwed on the bottle neck.

According to one embodiment, an axial length of the inclined sealing surface, taken parallel to the screwing axis from the level of a proximal end of the inclined sealing surface to the level of a distal end of the inclined sealing surface, is higher than or equal to 1.5 mm, preferably higher than or equal to 2.5 mm. Such an axial length, or height, of the inclined sealing surface, combined with an inclination angle of the sealing surface and an axial length of the cap thread selected within the ranges of the invention, contributes to make the sealing cap universal to many different types of bottle necks having different diameters.

According to one embodiment, a radial distance between the cap thread and a proximal end of the inclined sealing surface is higher than or equal to 0.8 mm, preferably higher than or equal to 1 mm. In this way, it is possible to have a clearance between the cap thread and the neck thread at each pair of interengaging peaks and valleys, during the assembly of the sealing cap on a bottle neck and possibly also in the assembled configuration at a targeted screwing torque. This allows radial deformation of the sealing skirt and/or the bottle neck when the sealing cap is screwed on the bottle neck. Conventionally, the radial distance is measured from the peak of the cap thread to the proximal end of the inclined sealing surface. According to one embodiment, the inclined sealing surface of the sealing skirt is configured to deform the neck of a bottle on which the sealing cap is mounted such that, in the assembled configuration of the sealing cap on the bottle neck at a targeted screwing torque, a variation in a diameter of the bottle neck is higher than or equal to 0.5%, preferably higher than or equal to 1 %. Thus, the sealing of the bottle by means of the sealing cap is obtained from an elastic deformation of the bottle neck. The variation in the diameter of the bottle neck is evaluated by comparison between the original diameter of the neck before screwing the sealing cap onto it and the diameter of the neck in the assembled configuration at the targeted screwing torque. In the case of an externally threaded neck, the deformation of the bottle neck corresponds to an increase in its inner diameter I. In the case of an internally threaded neck, the deformation of the bottle neck corresponds to a reduction in its outer diameter E. In practice, it can be considered that a variation in the inner diameter I of a bottle neck will affect the outer diameter E of the bottle neck in a substantially identical manner, and vice versa, in particular for a blow molded bottle. Thus, any one among the inner diameter and the outer diameter of the bottle neck can be measured to assess the diameter variation, provided that the same diameter is used for both measures, before and after screwing. According to one feature, the bottle is a blow molded bottle. According to one feature, the bottle is made of high-density polyethylene (HDPE).

According to one embodiment, the sealing skirt having the inclined sealing surface is made of a thermoplastic polymer, in particular a polyolefin-based polymer. According to one feature, the sealing skirt having the inclined sealing surface is obtained by injection molding. In the case of injection molding, the fact that the inclined sealing surface is provided on a wall of the sealing skirt which surrounds a cavity, instead of being provided on a massive sealing structure, is advantageous for the shrinkage of the thermoplastic polymer. Indeed, the limited thickness of the wall of the sealing skirt makes it possible to avoid defects and shrink marks on the inclined sealing surface, which is key to ensure an efficient and homogeneous sealing. The presence of defects or shrink marks on the wall defining the inclined sealing surface would be detrimental to the quality of the seal between the sealing cap and the bottle neck. According to one feature, the sealing skirt having the inclined sealing surface is injection molded from high-density polyethylene (HDPE).

According to one embodiment, the sealing cap as a whole is an injection molded part. Advantageously, the sealing cap, including the sealing skirt defining the inclined sealing surface and the first sidewall defining the cap thread, is a single piece injection molded from a single polymer material. Hence, the sealing cap, which provides both the sealing function and the screwing function, can be manufactured in a simple manner.

According to one feature, the sealing cap as a whole is made of a thermoplastic polymer, in particular a polyolefin-based polymer. According to one feature, the sealing cap is a single piece injection molded from high-density polyethylene (HDPE).

According to one embodiment, the sealing skirt defining the inclined sealing surface is made of a thermoplastic polymer having a tensile modulus of between 1100 MPa and 1600 MPa. According to one embodiment, the sealing cap as a whole is made of a thermoplastic polymer having a tensile modulus of between 1100 MPa and 1600 MPa. Such a range of tensile modulus provides sufficient flexibility to ensure a good pressure at the sealing contact, while also offering sufficient rigidity to ensure the screwing function without risk of tearing off the sealing cap.

According to one feature of the invention, in the assembled configuration of the sealing cap on the bottle neck at a targeted screwing torque, a radial sealing interference between the sealing skirt of the sealing cap and the bottle neck is higher than or equal to 1 % of a diameter of the bottle neck. In practice, the radial sealing interference can be evaluated by measuring the difference between the original diameter of the neck before screwing the sealing cap onto it and the diameter of the neck in the assembled configuration at the targeted screwing torque. Here again, any one among the inner diameter and the outer diameter of the bottle neck can be measured to assess the diameter variation, provided that the same diameter is used for both measures, before and after screwing. According to one feature of the invention, the Water Vapor Transmission Rate (WVTR) induced by the sealing cap is less than or equal to 2 mg/bottle-day, preferably less than or equal to 1 .5 mg/bottle-day, preferably less than or equal to 1 mg/bottle-day, at 40°C and 75%RH. In the context of the invention, the Water Vapor Transmission Rate (WVTR) induced by the sealing cap is defined as the difference between, on the one hand, the Water Vapor Transmission Rate (WVTR) of the assembly comprising the bottle and the sealing cap screwed onto the neck thread at a targeted screwing torque and, on the other hand, the Water Vapor Transmission Rate (WVTR) of a same bottle (same size and same material) sealed with an aluminum foil seal. Conventionally, the WVTR values are measured according to ASTM-D7709.

According to one embodiment, the sealing cap comprises a chamber for receiving an active material. Within the meaning of the invention, an active material is a material capable of regulating the atmosphere in the confined interior space delimited by the assembly of the bottle and the sealing cap screwed onto the neck thread at a targeted screwing torque. The active material may be any type of active material. In particular, the active material may belong to a group of: humidity absorbers (or desiccants); oxygen scavengers; odor absorbers; and/or emitters of humidity or volatile olfactory organic compounds. Optionally, the active material may be capable of releasing gaseous substances such as moisture or perfume. Such properties can for example be useful for applications where sensitive products require a certain humidity level. Such products are, for example, powders, especially for generating aerosols, gelatin capsules, herbal medicine, gels and creams including cosmetics, and food products.

Examples of suitable humidity absorbers include, without limitation, silica gels, dehydrating clays, activated alumina, calcium oxide, barium oxide, natural or synthetic zeolites, molecular or similar sieves, or deliquescent salts such as magnesium sulfide, calcium chloride, aluminum chloride, lithium chloride, calcium bromide, zinc chloride or the like. Preferably, the humidity absorber is a silica gel and/or a molecular sieve. Examples of suitable oxygen collecting agents include, without limitation, metal powders having a reducing capacity, in particular iron, zinc, tin powders, metal oxides still having the ability to oxidize, in particular ferrous oxide, as well as compounds of iron such as carbides, carbonyls, hydroxides, used alone or in the presence of an activator such as hydroxides, carbonates, sulfites, thiosulfates, phosphates, organic acid salts, or hydrogen salts of alkaline metals or alkaline earth metals, activated carbon, activated alumina or activated clays. Other agents for collecting oxygen can also be chosen from specific reactive polymers such as those described for example in the patent documents US5,736,616A, WO99/48963A2, WO98/51758A1 and WO2018/149778A1 .

In one embodiment, the sealing cap comprises a chamber for an active material intended to control the atmosphere in a bottle equipped with the sealing cap, and a peripheral wall of the chamber forms the sealing skirt. In this case, the sealing cap is configured to engage an externally threaded neck of a bottle, the inclined sealing surface being provided on an outer face of the sealing skirt and configured to be pressed against an inner surface of the neck upon screwing.

In another embodiment, the sealing cap comprises a chamber for an active material intended to control the atmosphere in a bottle equipped with the sealing cap, and a peripheral wall of the chamber is externally surrounded by the sealing skirt, with a gap being defined between the peripheral wall of the chamber and the sealing skirt. In this case, the sealing cap may be configured to engage either an externally threaded neck of a bottle, with the inclined sealing surface being provided on an outer face of the sealing skirt and configured to be pressed against an inner surface of the neck upon screwing, or an internally threaded neck of a bottle, with the inclined sealing surface being provided on an inner face of the sealing skirt and configured to be pressed against an outer surface of the neck upon screwing.

Another subject of the invention is a closure comprising a sealing cap as described above.

According to one embodiment, the sealing cap is an inner cap configured to attach the closure to an externally threaded neck of a bottle and the closure further comprises an outer cap with a second top wall and a second sidewall, the sealing cap being coaxially nested in the outer cap.

According to one embodiment, the closure comprises a child-resistant engagement mechanism between the outer cap and the sealing cap, configured to drive the outer cap and the sealing cap in unison in a direction of unscrewing the cap thread relative to the neck thread, upon application on the outer cap of a rotational torque in the direction of unscrewing and at least one additional force, to remove the closure from the bottle.

According to one embodiment, the closure comprises a tamper-evident member, connected to one cap among the outer cap and the sealing cap by a frangible structure.

In one embodiment, the tamper-evident member may be a safety strip connected to one cap among the outer cap and the sealing cap by the frangible structure, the safety strip being arranged between the outer cap and the sealing cap so as to block at least one degree of freedom of relative movement of the outer cap and the sealing cap.

In another embodiment, the tamper-evident member may be a portion of the second top wall of the outer cap connected to a surrounding region of the second top wall by the frangible structure.

Advantageously, in the above embodiment, the sealing cap is coaxially nested in the outer cap with possibility of relative axial movement, so that the first and second top walls can be displaced relative to each other in the direction of the screwing axis, and the closure further comprises: at least one protruding element arranged between the first top wall and the second top wall while facing the tamper-evident member, a child-resistant engagement mechanism between the outer cap and the sealing cap, configured to drive the outer cap and the sealing cap in unison in a direction of unscrewing the cap thread relative to the neck thread, upon application on the outer cap of a rotational torque in the direction of unscrewing and an axial force in the direction of the screwing axis, to remove the closure from the bottle.

According to one feature, the at least one protruding element is configured to break the frangible structure by coming in abutting contact with the tamper-evident member upon axial displacement of the first and second top walls toward each other in the direction of the screwing axis.

According to one feature, the closure comprises at least one elastic member provided between the outer cap and the sealing cap, for biasing the first and second top walls away from each other in the direction of the screwing axis, the coupling elements of the child-resistant engagement mechanism being brought in mutual engagement against the elastic action of the at least one elastic member.

According to one embodiment, the closure comprises a mounting engagement mechanism between the outer cap and the sealing cap, configured to drive the outer cap and the sealing cap in unison in a direction of screwing the cap thread onto the neck thread, upon application on the outer cap of a rotational torque in the direction of screwing, to mount the closure on the bottle without breaking the frangible structure.

According to one feature, the coupling elements of the mounting engagement mechanism comprise a plurality of elastic elements in the shape of inclined strips and a plurality of wedge-shaped elements, wherein, when a rotational torque in the direction of screwing is applied on the outer cap, the elastic elements come into a locking arrangement with the wedge-shaped elements so that the sealing cap is rotated in unison with the outer cap in the direction of screwing.

Another subject of the invention is a bottle with a sealing cap as described above, the sealing cap being fixedly screwed onto a thread of a neck of the bottle and closing the bottle.

Another subject of the invention is a use of a bottle as described above for containing moisture-sensitive items, such as tablets or capsules containing a pharmaceutical composition; nutraceuticals; herbalism products; diagnostic products. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of several embodiments of a sealing cap, a closure and a bottle according to the invention, this description being given merely by way of example and with reference to the appended drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective top view of a sealing cap according to a first embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective bottom view of the sealing cap of Figure 1 ;

Figure 3 is a cross section at larger scale according to plane III of Figure 1 , in which the relative arrangement of a sidewall and a sealing skirt of the sealing cap is clearly visible;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a bottle with a closure according to a first embodiment of the invention, comprising the sealing cap of Figure 1 as an inner sealing cap;

Figure 5 is a perspective bottom view at larger scale of the outer cap of the closure of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a cross section at larger scale of only the neck of the bottle of Figure 4;

Figure 7 is a cross section at larger scale according to plane VII of Figure 4, in a step of mounting the closure on the neck of the bottle in which the sealing skirt of the inner sealing cap is not yet in contact with the inner surface of the bottle neck;

Figure 8 is a cross section similar to Figure 7, in a further step of mounting the closure on the neck of the bottle in which the sealing skirt of the inner sealing cap first comes in contact with the inner surface of the bottle neck;

Figure 9 is a cross section similar to Figure 7, in a final step of mounting the closure on the neck of the bottle in which the thread of the inner sealing cap is screwed on the thread of the bottle neck at a targeted screwing torque such that the bottle is sealed by the inner sealing cap of the closure, it being understood that the deformation of the parts has not been shown in this figure and the interference fit has been shown by an overlap of the sealing skirt and the bottle neck, as is conventional in technical drawing;

Figure 10 is a view at larger scale of the detail X of Figure 9;

Figure 11 is an X-ray tomographic view, in the section plane VII of Figure 4, of a bottle closed by the closure of Figure 4 with the inner sealing cap of Figure 1 , in the assembled configuration of the sealing cap screwed on the neck of the bottle at the targeted screwing torque, showing the axial extension, parallel to the screwing axis, of the continuous peripheral contact formed on the inclined sealing surface;

Figure 12 is a graph showing the evolution of the screwing torque t as a function of the radial sealing interference r between the sealing skirt of the inner sealing cap and the neck of the bottle, upon screwing the closure onto the bottle neck, for two closures including a first closure having a sealing cap within the scope of the invention (labeled as “INV” for “invention”) and a second closure having a sealing cap outside the scope of the invention (labeled as “COMP” for “comparative example”);

Figure 13 is a graph showing the evolution of the screwing torque t as a function of the angle of rotation A of the inner sealing cap around the screwing axis, for the same two closures as in Figure 12, including the first closure having a sealing cap within the scope of the invention (“INV”) and the second closure having a sealing cap outside the scope of the invention (“COMP”);

Figure 14 is a perspective bottom view similar to Figure 2 of a sealing cap according to a second embodiment of the invention;

Figure 15 is a cross section similar to Figure 8 of a closure according to a second embodiment of the invention, comprising the sealing cap of Figure 14 as an inner sealing cap; and Figure 16 is a cross section similar to Figure 9 of the closure according to the second embodiment, it being understood that the deformation of the parts has not been shown in this figure and the interference fit has been shown by an overlap of the sealing skirt and the bottle neck, as is conventional in technical drawing.

ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

In the first embodiment shown in Figure 1 to 11 , a sealing cap 4 according to the invention is used as an inner part of a child-resistant and tamper-evident closure 1 , configured to securely seal different sizes of necks of bottles. In the example shown in Figure 4, the closure 1 is mounted on a blow molded bottle 10 having an SP400 neck finish with an L style thread. The shape of the bottle 10 shown in the figures only serves as an example, it being understood that the bottle 10 can have any shape, as long as it is provided with a neck 12 which connects a body part 17 to an opening 11 and is surrounded, either externally as shown in the figures, or else internally, by a thread 14 on which the closure 1 can be screwed.

The SP400 neck finish of the bottle 10 is defined by a set of parameters as shown in Figure 6, comprising an inner diameter I, an outer diameter E, an outer diameter T at the peak (or crest) of the neck thread 14, a height H from the upper surface 15 of the neck (“top of finish”, or TOF) to a bead 16, a pitch P of the neck thread 14, a distance K between the start of the neck thread 14 and the upper surface 15 of the neck (TOF), a height ( a ) of each thread of the neck thread 14. In the example illustrated in the figures, the bottle 10 is provided with a relatively narrow neck 12. However, it is also possible to provide the bottle in the shape of a straight cylinder, the neck then being a portion of the cylinder close to its opening, which is surrounded with a thread. Likewise, it is possible to provide non-rotational geometries for the bottle 10, as long as it is provided with an annular thread, which may be a continuous thread or an interrupted thread.

The closure 1 comprises two caps which are nested inside each other. Figures 1 and 2 show the structure of the inner sealing cap 4, which comprises a sidewall 41 and a top wall 43. As clearly visible in Figure 3, the sidewall 41 of the sealing cap comprises on its inner face a cap thread 44 configured to be screwed onto the neck thread 14 of the bottle 10, around a screwing axis Xi which is also the main axis of the closure. In particular, the pitch p of the cap thread 44 is equal to the pitch P of the neck thread 14. In this way, the closure 1 can be screwed onto the bottle neck 12 by rotation in a screwing direction Ri which, in this example, is a clockwise direction.

The sealing cap 4 also comprises a sealing skirt 46 configured to establish a sealing contact with an inner surface 13 of the bottle neck 12. As visible in Figure 3, starting from the top wall 43, the sealing skirt 46 comprises a tapered portion 461 defining on its outer face an inclined sealing surface 47. The tapered portion 461 flares (or widens) from a distal end 472 of the inclined sealing surface 47 furthest from the top wall 43, towards a proximal end 470 of the inclined sealing surface 47 closest to the top wall 43. Thus, the outer diameter di of the sealing skirt 46 at the proximal end 470 is higher than the outer diameter d2 of the sealing skirt 46 at the distal end 472. Further away from the top wall 43, beyond the distal end 472, the tapered portion 461 is extended by a substantially straight portion 463, then by a thinned extension 465 at its distal end. The inclined sealing surface 47 of the sealing skirt 46 is configured to be pressed against the inner surface 13 of the neck 12 upon screwing the cap thread 44 onto the neck thread 14.

Advantageously, the outer diameter d2 of the sealing skirt 46 at the distal end 472 of the inclined sealing surface 47, and beyond said distal end 472, is less than the inner diameter I of the bottle neck 12. In this way, the part of the sealing skirt 46 which is furthest from the top wall 43 serves as a pre-locator when mounting the closure 1 on the bottle neck 12, allowing the sealing skirt 46 to be pre-positioned and pre-centered relative to the neck 12 before the inclined sealing surface 47 contacts the inner surface 13 of the neck. When the closure 1 is mounted on the bottle neck 12, the cap thread 44 engages with the neck thread 14 before contact occurs between the inclined sealing surface 47 and the inner surface 13 of the neck. In this way, the screwing can engage before the sealing skirt 46 starts to be compressed against the inner surface 13. Such an initialization of screwing in the absence of resistance from the sealing skirt 46 promotes the establishment of a homogeneous sealing contact over the entire periphery of the sealing skirt 46 and the bottle neck 12 once the inclined sealing surface 47 comes into contact with the inner surface 13 of the neck. In this embodiment, the sealing skirt 46 is configured so that an angular length of engagement of the cap thread 44 with the neck thread 14 is higher than 110° when the inclined sealing surface 47 first contacts the inner surface 13 of the neck.

The inclined sealing surface 47 makes it possible to adapt easily to dimensional variations in the thickness of the mouth of the bottle 10. The inclined sealing surface 47 is also configured to ensure a high level of gas tightness when the sealing cap 4 is screwed on standardized bottles or containers. In particular, in accordance with the invention, the inclined sealing surface 47 is designed with an inclination angle a relative to the screwing axis Xi of between 7° and 25°, preferably between 10° and 20°, and an axial length h? of the cap thread 44, taken parallel to the screwing axis Xi from the level of a proximal end 470 of the inclined sealing surface 47 to the level of a distal end 442 of the cap thread 44, of higher than or equal to 1 .5 times the pitch p of the cap thread 44. In addition, the axial length hs of the inclined sealing surface 47, also taken parallel to the screwing axis Xi from the proximal end 470 to the distal end 472 of the inclined sealing surface 47, is higher than or equal to 2.5 mm, and the radial distance e between the cap thread 44 and the proximal end 470 of the inclined sealing surface 47 is higher than or equal to 1 .3 mm.

The geometric parameters a, hi-, hs, p and e of the sealing cap 4 are clearly visible in Figure 3. As is conventionally done, for the axial length h? of the cap thread 44, the positions of the ends of the cap thread 44 are taken in a gauge plane Po in the middle of the inclined surface of the thread parallel to the screwing axis Xi. The radial distance e between the cap thread 44 and the proximal end 470 of the inclined sealing surface 47 is measured between the peak of the cap thread 44 and the proximal end 470.

The cap thread 44 is configured to be screwed onto the neck thread 14 at a targeted screwing torque to as recommended by ASTM D7709 for the given diameter of the sealing cap 4, for example to is in the range of between 1 .69 N.m and 2.82 N.m for a diameter of the sealing cap 4 and the bottle neck 12 of 33 mm. Such a range of screwing torque ensures that the closure 1 can be manually opened and closed by a user. The sealing cap 4 is configured such that, in the assembled configuration at the targeted screwing torque to, an angular length of engagement of the cap thread 44 with the neck thread 14 is higher than or equal to 270°, which corresponds to more than 90° of rotation of the sealing cap 4 after a first contact has been established between the inclined sealing surface 47 and the inner surface 13 of the bottle neck 12. Such a minimum thread engagement in the assembled configuration ensures that a sufficient and homogeneous contact pressure is maintained over the periphery at the interface between the inclined sealing surface 47 and the inner surface 13 of the bottle neck.

The structure of the outer cap 2 of the closure 1 is visible in Figures 4 and 5. The outer cap 2 comprises a sidewall 21 and a top wall 23. The sidewall 21 can be provided with suitable means to increase the grip for a user. In the example shown, a plurality of ribs are provided on the sidewall 21 , extending axially in the direction of the screwing axis Xi of the closure. The top wall 23 comprises a tamper-evident member 24, which is connected to a surrounding region 25 by a frangible structure 26. By way of a non-limiting example, in the illustrated embodiment, the frangible structure comprises four distinct frangible bridges 26 regularly distributed around the periphery of the tamper-evident member 24. In a variant, the frangible structure 26 may be formed by a material of reduced thickness fully surrounding the tamper-evident member 24. The geometry of the outer cap 2 represented in the figures only serves as an example, and other geometries are also possible.

The top wall 43 of the sealing cap 4 is provided with a protruding element 45 which, as can be seen in Figure 7, has a geometry corresponding to the geometry of the tamper-evident member 24 being part of the top wall 23 of the outer cap 2. The protruding element 45 is configured to remove the tamper-evident member 24 by breaking the frangible bridges 26 between the tamper-evident member 24 and the surrounding region 25, upon axial displacement of the outer cap 2 toward the sealing cap 4 in the direction of the screwing axis Xi. It has been observed from measurements of the Water Vapor Transmission Rate (WVTR) for different values of the geometric parameters of the sealing cap 4 and different bottle neck finish sizes that, when the inclination angle a is selected in the range of between 7° and 25°, preferably between 10° and 20°, and the axial length hr of the cap thread is selected to be higher than or equal to 1 .5 times the pitch p of the cap thread, the sealing cap 4 can be screwed across a wide variety of typical bottle neck finish sizes while ensuring a high level of gas tightness.

On the contrary, when the inclination angle a is less than 7°, the sealing skirt 46 cannot compensate for dimensional variations in the inner diameter of the neck of standard bottles, which are typically of the order of ±0.7 mm to cover a wide range of blow molded bottles, in particular injection blow molded bottles. When the inclination angle a is higher than 25°, WVTR values increase rapidly, even when the axial length h? of the cap thread is equal to or higher than 1.5 times the pitch p of the cap thread. On the other hand, when the axial length h? of the cap thread is less than 1 .5 times the pitch p of the cap thread, the length of mutual engagement of the cap thread and the neck thread obtained for conventional manual screwing torques is not sufficient to ensure a homogeneous sealing contact over the entire periphery of the sealing skirt and the bottle neck, so that WVTR values also increase rapidly.

In this first embodiment, the sealing skirt 46 also defines a chamber 49 for receiving an active material 19 capable of regulating the atmosphere in the bottle 10, in particular a desiccant and/or an oxygen scavenger. As shown in Figure 7, the chamber 49 is closed by a gas-permeable cover 18, which retains the active material 19 inside the chamber. In the represented example, the gas-permeable cover 18 is a cardboard held at its periphery by the thinner extension 465 of the sealing skirt 46 which has been crimped. As visible in Figure 2, axial ribs 40 are provided in the inner surface of the sealing skirt 46 in order to improve the support of the cardboard 18 once the chamber 49 has been filled with an active material 19. In one embodiment, the gas-permeable cover 18 may be a porous membrane secured to the distal end of the sealing skirt 46, e.g., by heat-sealing, ultrasonic welding, overmolding, etc. In a variant, the sealing cap 4 may be provided with a suitable attachment structure for holding a prefabricated canister containing an active material.

The sidewall 21 of the outer cap 2 comprises a radially inwardly extending bead 22 which, in the mounted state of the outer cap 2 on the sealing cap 4, forms a positive lock with a radially outwardly extending flange 42 provided on the sidewall 41 of the sealing cap 4. The inner bead 22 and the outer flange 42 cooperate in a such a way as to firmly hold the outer cap 2 on the sealing cap 4, so that it can no longer be removed from the sealing cap 4. As can be seen in the bottom view of Figure 5, the outer cap 2 also comprises several coupling elements formed integrally on that side of the top wall 23 which, in the mounted state, faces the top wall 43 of the sealing cap 4. The coupling elements of the outer cap 2 include, regularly distributed on the surrounding region 25, a plurality of elastic members 52, in the shape of inclined strips, and a plurality of peripheral driving ribs 72. Advantageously, each elastic member 52 has a geometry as described in WO2017220729A1 , with a basis extending substantially perpendicularly from the first top wall 23, followed by a transitional portion in which the elastic member 52 changes its direction into an angular position. A reinforcing rib, not represented in the figures, may also be provided next to the basis in a width direction of the elastic member 52, to increase the robustness and stiffness of the elastic member.

The sealing cap 4 comprises corresponding coupling elements on the upper side of the top wall 43, around the protruding element 45, including a plurality of wedge- shaped elements 54 with beveled inclined surface and a plurality of peripheral serrations 74. Each wedge-shaped element 54 is configured to cooperate with an elastic member 52 of the outer cap, thus forming a first engagement mechanism, whereas each peripheral serration 74 is configured to cooperate with a peripheral driving rib 72 of the outer cap, thus forming a second engagement mechanism. The elastic members 52 are configured to bias the outer cap 2 and the sealing cap 4 away from each other in the direction of the screwing axis Xi , in such a way that the driving ribs 72 of the outer cap 2 are initially not engaged with the serrations 74 of the sealing cap 4. When the outer cap 2 is axially displaced toward the sealing cap 4 against the action of the elastic members 52, each driving rib 72 is received in the interspace between two successive serrations 74, more precisely between an edge 74a of a first serration 74 in the direction of screwing Ri and an edge 74b of a second serration 74 in the direction of unscrewing R2. By way of a non-limiting example, in this embodiment, the first engagement mechanism comprises five elastic members 52 on the outer cap 2 configured to cooperate with five wedge-shaped elements 54 of the sealing cap 4, and the second engagement mechanism comprises ten driving ribs 72 on the outer cap 2 configured to cooperate with ten serrations 74 of the sealing cap 4.

In operation, the outer cap 2 and the sealing cap 4 nested therein can be rotated together to mount the closure 1 on the bottle neck 12. The clockwise rotation direction R1 for screwing the cap thread 44 onto the neck thread 14 brings each elastic member 52 in engagement with a higher edge 54a of a corresponding wedge-shaped element 54, even without any axial force being applied in the direction of the screwing axis Xi. The higher edge 54a provides an abutment for the corresponding elastic member 52, so that the sealing cap is rotated in unison with the outer cap in the direction of screwing R1. This locking interaction between the elastic members 52 and the wedge-shaped elements 54 without any axial force is possible only when closing the closure 1 on the bottle 10 by rotation in the direction of screwing R1.

Upon screwing the cap thread 44 onto the neck thread 14 by rotating the outer cap 2 in the direction of screwing R1, a sealing contact is progressively established between the inclined sealing surface 47 and the inner surface 13 of the bottle neck 12. The radial distance e between the cap thread 44 and the proximal end 470 of the inclined sealing surface 47 is selected so that there is a clearance between the cap thread 44 and the neck thread 14 at each pair of interengaging peaks and valleys during the assembly of the sealing cap 4 on the bottle neck 12. The clearance advantageously exists at the start of screwing, and preferably at least for the first 90° of screwing. This allows radial deformation of the bottle neck 12 under the pressure of the inclined sealing surface 47 progressively compressed against the inner surface 13 of the neck.

As shown in the view at larger scale of Figure 10, in the assembled configuration at the targeted screwing torque to and thanks to the selected inclination angle a of the sealing surface 47 and axial length h? of the cap thread, a sealing interference fit sufficient to ensure a high level of gas tightness is established between the sealing skirt 46 and the bottle neck 12, corresponding to a radial sealing interference r and an axial sealing interference z. In particular, for the parameters of the sealing cap 4 selected within the ranges of the invention, the radial sealing interference r in the assembled configuration is higher than or equal to 1 % of the inner diameter I of the bottle neck 12, which may be approximated as 1 % of the outer diameter di of the sealing skirt 46 at the proximal end 470 of the sealing surface 47.

It is understood that the deformation of the parts is not shown in Figures 9 and 10, where the interference fit is represented by an overlap of the sealing skirt 46 and the bottle neck 12, the sealing cap 4 and the bottle neck 12 being represented in their state before assembly, as is conventional in technical drawing. In other words, Figures 9 and 10 do not consider the elastic deformation which occurs when the sealing cap 4 is screwed on the bottle neck 12.

On the contrary, Figure 11 is an X-ray tomographic view showing the deformation of the parts and the actual axial extension d of the continuous peripheral contact formed on the inclined sealing surface 47, which is less than the axial sealing interference z as shown in Figure 10. In the example of Figure 11 , the bottle neck 12 includes a bulge 130 adjacent to the upper surface 15 of the bottle neck. The inclined sealing surface 47 of the sealing skirt 46 is pressed against the bulge 130 of the inner surface 13 so that continuous peripheral contact of limited axial extension d, taken parallel to the screwing axis Xi , is present over the periphery. In this example, the axial extension d of the continuous peripheral contact is of the order of 0.45 mm. Such a limited axial extension d of the continuous peripheral contact provides sufficient resistance to the transmission of water vapor through the seal so as to achieve desired moisture barrier properties of the bottle closed by the sealing cap, while also ensuring that a high contact pressure is established in a well- defined annular sealing zone of limited surface area, as a result of the elastic deformation of the sealing skirt 46 and/or the bottle neck 12.

Advantageously, in the assembled configuration at the targeted screwing torque to, a gap G is formed between the upper surface 15 of the bottle neck 12 and the portion of the top wall 43 of the sealing cap 4 which faces the upper surface 15 of the bottle neck. In addition, at least at the start of screwing, there is a clearance between the cap thread 44 and the neck thread 14 at each pair of interengaging peaks and valleys. In this way, the targeted screwing torque to is reached by interference fit between the inclined sealing surface 47 and the inner surface 13 of the bottle neck, with a radial deformation of the bottle neck 12. The clearance between the cap thread 44 and the neck thread 14 at each pair of interengaging peaks and valleys may optionally still be present in the assembled configuration at the targeted screwing torque to, or alternatively radial contact may be established between the threads in the assembled configuration.

When a user rotates the outer cap 2 in a counterclockwise direction R2 for unscrewing the cap thread 44 relative to the neck thread 14, in an attempt to open the closure 1 without applying an axial force on the outer cap 2 in the direction of the screwing axis Xi , the elastic members 52 slip over the beveled inclined surfaces of the wedge-shaped elements 54. As a result, the rotation of the outer cap 2 does not lead to a corresponding rotation of the sealing cap 4. Of course, the same construction and functionalities can be provided in case that the rotational directions R1 and R2 for closing and opening the bottle 10 should be reversed. By way of a non-limiting example, in the illustrated embodiment, the height hi of the higher edge 54a of each wedge-shaped element 54 is of the order of 1 mm, whereas the height of the lower edge 54b of each wedge-shaped element 54 is substantially zero.

An opening of the closure 1 requires that the driving ribs 72 of the outer cap 2 are brought in engagement with the edges 74b of the serrations 74 of the sealing cap 4. This is only possible after the outer cap 2 has been axially displaced toward the sealing cap 4, against the action of the elastic members 52 biasing the outer and sealing caps away from each other in the direction of the screwing axis Xi. When an axial pushing force F is applied onto the top surface of the top wall 23 in the direction of the screwing axis Xi, as shown in Figure 9, each driving rib 72 is received in the interspace between two successive serrations 74 and, upon rotation of the outer cap 2 in the counterclockwise direction of unscrewing R2, can interact with the neighboring serration edge 74b, so that the sealing cap 4 is also rotated in the same direction of unscrewing R2. Then, when the axial pushing force F on the outer cap 2 is released, the elastic members 52 exert a biasing force toward disengagement of the driving ribs 72 and serrations 74, so that the elastic members 52 can return to their relaxed position and displace the outer cap 2 away from the sealing cap 4 in the direction of the screwing axis Xi.

The gas tightness of blow molded bottles closed by a closure 1 having the structure of the first embodiment of the invention, comprising the outer cap 2 and the sealing cap 4, was determined by measurements of the Water Vapor Transmission Rate (WVTR) according to ASTM-D7709. To evaluate the effect of the geometric parameters of the sealing cap 4 on the resulting gas tightness, the WVTR values were obtained for different values of the inclination angle a of the sealing surface 47 and the axial length h? of the cap thread 44.

Example 1

In this example, two sets of child-resistant and tamper-evident closures 1 i and I2, comprising a respective sealing cap 4i or 42, were assembled on a same model of blow molded bottle 10 having an SP400 neck finish of size 33 mm with an L-style thread (“L33-SP400” neck finish according to the format used in the SP400 standard).

In a first test, the bottles 10 with L33-SP400 neck finish, on which each set of closures 1 i and I2 were assembled, had a volume of 45 mL, an overflow capacity of 53.6 ±3.0 mL, an empty weight of 7.7 ±0.5 g, an average wall thickness of 0.9 mm (with a minimum wall thickness of 0.5 mm), a neck inner diameter I in the range of 25.8 to 25.9 mm, with a maximum ovality of 0.3 mm. In a second test, the bottles 10 with L33-SP400 neck finish, on which each set of closures 1 i and I2 were assembled, had a volume of 60 mL, an overflow capacity of 68.0 ±3.0 mL, an empty weight of 9.2 ±0.5 g, an average wall thickness of 0.9 mm (with a minimum wall thickness of 0.3 mm), a neck inner diameter I in the range of 25.6 to 25.8 mm, with a maximum ovality of 0.3 mm.

Both for the 45 mL bottles and the 60 mL bottles, the bottle was injection blow molded from High Density Polyethylene (Marlex® HHM 5502BN HDPE available from Chevron Phillips, with a density of 0.955 g/cm³ and a flexural modulus of 1370 MPa). In accordance with the SP400-33mm standard, the bottle neck had a height H from the upper surface 15 of the neck (“top of finish”, or TOF) to the bead 16 of 10.24 mm and was provided with an L-style thread with one full turn, having a pitch P of 4.24 mm and starting at 1 .2 mm from the upper surface 15 of the neck (TOF), with a distance K between the start of the neck thread and the upper surface 15 of the neck (TOF) of 3.23 mm and a height ( a ) of each thread of 2.39 mm.

Each sealing cap 4i and 42 was a single piece injection molded from High Density Polyethylene (Purell GC7260 HDPE available from Lyondell Basell, with a density of 0.960 g/cm³ and a tensile modulus of 1350 MPa), having the structure described above in the first embodiment of the invention. The sidewall 41 of each sealing cap 4i and 42 was provided on its inner face with a right-hand cap thread 44 compliant with the SP400-33mm standard, requiring a minimum of one full turn of full depth thread on the bottle neck. For each sealing cap 4i and 42, the helix angle of the cap thread was 2°31 ’, corresponding to a pitch p of the cap thread of 4.24 mm.

Each sealing cap 4i and 42 was mounted in an outer cap 2 having the structure described above in the first embodiment of the invention, the outer cap being injection molded from Polypropylene (Purell HP671T PP available from Lyondell Basell, with a density of 0.90 g/cm³ and a tensile modulus of 1900 MPa). Each sealing cap 4i and 42 was assembled with an outer cap 2 in the manner shown in Figures 7 to 9, so as to form the two-component closures 1 i or I2. The geometric parameters of the sealing caps 4i and 42 are given in the table below. The sealing cap 4i is within the scope of the invention, whereas the sealing cap 42 is outside the scope of the invention.

For each closure 1 i and I2 comprising a respective sealing cap 4i or 42, the cap thread 44 was screwed on the neck thread of the bottle 10 until a targeted screwing torque to of 2.4 N.m was reached.

Figure 12 shows the evolution of the screwing torque t as a function of the radial sealing interference r between the sealing skirt of the sealing cap and the neck of the bottle, for two closures 11 and 12 comprising a respective sealing cap 4i or 42. It can be seen from Figure 12 that the screwing torque t to be applied is substantially proportional to the radial sealing inference r, independently of the inclination angle a of the sealing surface 47. This tends to show that an adjustment of the inclination angle a of the sealing surface 47 alone is not sufficient to obtain good sealing properties, and that other geometric parameters of the sealing cap 4 have to be adjusted in combination with the inclination angle a, in particular the axial length h? of the cap thread 44. Figure 13 shows the evolution of the screwing torque t as a function of the angle of rotation A of the sealing cap around the screwing axis, for two closures 1 i and I2 comprising a respective sealing cap 4i or 42. By convention, in the graph of Figure 13, an angle A of 0° corresponds to the position in which the inclined sealing surface 47 of the sealing skirt first contacts the inner surface 13 of the bottle neck. Starting from this position, the screwing torque t increases as the pressure generated at the interface between the sealing skirt 46 and the inner surface 13 of the bottle neck increases.

As shown in Figure 13, the targeted screwing torque to of 2.4 N.m was reached for an angle of rotation A of the order of 100° for the closure 11 comprising the sealing cap 4i within the scope of the invention, having an inclination angle a of the sealing surface of 11.5° and an axial length h? of the cap thread equal to 1.75 times the pitch p. The targeted screwing torque to of 2.4 N.m was reached for an angle of rotation A of the order of 35° for the closure 12 comprising the sealing cap 42 outside the scope of the invention, having an inclination angle a of the sealing surface of 35° and an axial length h? of the cap thread equal to 1 .45 times the pitch p.

It can also be seen in Figure 13 that for both closures 1 i and I2, starting from the first contact between the inclined sealing surface 47 and the inner surface 13, the evolution of the screwing torque t as a function of the angle of rotation A is substantially linear. In particular, for the closure 1 i comprising the sealing cap 4i within the scope of the invention, the evolution of the screwing torque t as a function of the angle of rotation A is substantially linear for at least 90° of rotation of the sealing cap after the first contact between the inclined sealing surface 47 and the inner surface 13.

WVTR values were measured according to ASTM-D7709, at 40°C and 75%RH, for the bottles 10 described above, equipped either with the closure 1 i comprising the sealing cap 4i within the scope of the invention, or with the closure I2 comprising the sealing cap 42 outside the scope of the invention. In each case, the cap thread 44 was screwed onto the neck thread 14 of the bottle at the targeted screwing torque to of 2.4 N.m. The VWTR measurements are given in the table below.

As can be seen from the above table, the WVTR measured for the closure 1 i was less than 3.5 times the WTR measured for the closure I2. The closure 1 i, comprising a sealing cap 4i whose values of the inclination angle a and the axial length h? fall within the ranges of the invention, provided good sealing properties. On the contrary, despite a similar radial sealing interference r at the targeted screwing torque to of 2.4 N.m, as shown in the graph of Figure 12, the closure I2 comprising a sealing cap 42 outside the scope of the invention failed to establish a good sealing of the bottle.

It has been observed that, in the case of the closure 12, because of the high value of the inclination angle a of the sealing cap 42, the length of mutual engagement of the cap thread 44 with the neck thread 14, obtained at the targeted screwing torque to of 2.4 N.m, was not sufficient to ensure a homogeneous sealing contact over the entire periphery of the sealing skirt 46 and the bottle neck 12. Then, the sealing pressure was unevenly distributed around the periphery of the bottle neck. In particular, in the assembled configuration at the targeted screwing torque to, it was found that the angular length of engagement of the cap thread 44 with the neck thread 14 was less than 270°, which did not allow sufficient vertical pressure to be applied to the seal, so that the closure I2 was raised on the side where the cap thread 44 was not sufficiently engaged with the neck thread 14.

Hence, according to the invention, to obtain good sealing properties, it is taught not only to select values for the inclination angle a, but also to select a minimum value for the axial length h? of the cap thread 44, which must be greater than 1.5 times the pitch p of the cap thread, so that the length of the mutual engagement of the cap thread 44 with the neck thread 14 obtained at a conventional manual screwing torque to is greater than or equal to 270°, thus ensuring a high and homogeneous sealing contact on the periphery of the sealing skirt and of the neck of the bottle.

The Water Vapor Transmission Rate (WVTR) induced by the closure 1 i comprising the sealing cap 4i was also determined. In the context of the invention, the WVTR induced by the closure 11 comprising the sealing cap 4i is defined as the difference between, on the one hand, the WVTR of the assembly comprising a bottle 10 and the closure 11 comprising the sealing cap 4i screwed onto the neck thread 14 at the targeted screwing torque to of 2.4 N.m and, on the other hand, the WVTR of the same bottle 10 (same size and same material) sealed with an aluminum foil seal, the WVTR values being measured according to ASTM-D7709.

Accordingly, WVTR values were measured according to ASTM-D7709, at 40°C and 75%RH, for 60 mL blow molded bottles as described above, which had been sealed by induction sealing with an aluminum foil seal. The resulting average WVTR measured for the bottles sealed with an aluminum foil seal was 1.18 mg/bottle-day (Minimum: 1.15; Maximum: 1.23; Standard Deviation: 0.025).

The values of the WVTR induced by the closure 1 i comprising the sealing cap 4i were then obtained by subtracting 1.18 mg/bottle-day from the WVTR values disclosed in the table above, for the 60 mL bottles closed by the closure 1 i comprising the sealing cap 4i. The values of the WVTR induced by the closure 1 i comprising the sealing cap 4i are given in the table below.

It can be seen from the above table that the Water Vapor Transmission Rate (WVTR) induced by the closure 1 i comprising the sealing cap 4i is less than 1 mg/bottle-day, at 40°C and 75%RH.

Example 2

In order to evaluate an upper limit of the range for the inclination angle a allowing to obtain good sealing properties, another set of child-resistant and tamper-evident closures I3 was prepared, each comprising a sealing cap 4s with the geometric parameters given in the table below. Each closure I3 differs from the closure 1 i of Example 1 only in the geometric parameters of the sealing cap 4s as disclosed below, it being understood that all other features of the closure I3 are identical to those of the closure 11.

In Example 2, a set of closures I3 and a set of closures I2 as described in Example 1 were assembled on a same model of blow molded bottle 10 having an SP400 neck finish of size 33 mm with an L-style thread (“L33-SP400” neck finish according to the format used in the SP400 standard). Each bottle 10 had a volume of 90 mL, an overflow capacity of 53.6 ±3.0 mL, an empty weight of 7.7 ±0.5 g, an average wall thickness of 0.9 mm (with a minimum wall thickness of 0.5 mm), an overflow capacity of 99.0 ±4.0 mL, an empty weight of 10.5 ±0.5 g, an average wall thickness of 0.9 mm (with a minimum wall thickness of 0.3 mm), a neck inner diameter I in the range of 26.3 to 26.9 mm, with a maximum ovality of 0.3 mm. Each bottle 10 was injection blow molded from High Density Polyethylene (Petrothene LR734045 HDPE available from Lyondell Basell, with a density of 0.953 g/cm³ and a flexural modulus of 1210 MPa). In accordance with the SP400-33mm standard, the bottle neck had a height H from the upper surface 15 of the neck (“top of finish”, or TOF) to the bead 16 of 10.24 mm and was provided with an L-style thread with one full turn, having a pitch P of 4.24 mm and starting at 1 .2 mm from the upper surface 15 of the neck (TOF), with a distance K between the start of the neck thread and the upper surface 15 of the neck (TOF) of 3.23 mm and a height ( a ) of each thread of 2.39 mm.

WVTR values were measured according to ASTM-D7709, at 40°C and 75%RH, for the 90 mL bottles 10 described above, equipped either with the closure I3 comprising the sealing cap 4s, or with the closure I2 comprising the sealing cap 42.

In each case, the cap thread 44 was screwed onto the neck thread 14 of the bottle at the targeted screwing torque to of 2.4 N.m. The WVTR measurements are given in the table below.

As can be seen from the above table, the closure I3 comprising the sealing cap 4s having an inclination angle a of 20.3° and an axial length h? of 1 .65 p was still found to provide satisfactory sealing properties. According to the invention, the inclination angle a of the inclined sealing surface 47 is selected to be between 7° and 25°, preferably between 10° and 20°, in combination with an axial length h? of higher than or equal to 1 .5 p.

It is understood that the lower limit of the range for the inclination angle a, allowing to obtain good sealing properties, was determined based on the available space for the axial displacement z of the sealing cap 4, which is limited by the presence of a bead 16 or a shoulder on the bottle neck 12. The maximum axial translation z of the sealing cap 4 must remain less than H - K - ( a ), where H, K, ( a ) are parameters of the SP400-33mm standard. Thus, the axial displacement z, which corresponds to the axial sealing interference fit, must remain less than or equal to H - K - ( a ) = 10.24 mm - 3.45 mm - 2.39 mm = 4.40 mm. In addition, the radial sealing interference r should be higher than or equal to 1 % of the outer diameter di of the sealing skirt 46 at the proximal end 470 of the sealing surface 47 and should also allow to absorb inner diameter variations of the order of ±0.7 mm to cover a wide range of blow molded bottles, in particular injection blow molded bottles. Thus, the radial sealing interference r must be higher than or equal to 1 % di + 0.7/2 = 0.60 mm, considering a low value of di of 25 mm. The double condition of z < 4.4 mm and r > 0.60 leads to tan(a) = r / z > 0.14, i.e. a > 7°.

In the second embodiment shown in Figures 14 to 16, elements that are similar to those of the first embodiment have the same references. The closure 1 of the second embodiment differs from the first embodiment only in that the sealing skirt 46 of the sealing cap 4 is independent from a peripheral wall 48 of the chamber 49 intended to receive an active material 19. More precisely, the peripheral wall 48 of the chamber 49 is externally surrounded by the sealing skirt 46 having the inclined sealing surface 47 on its outer face, and a gap is defined between the peripheral wall 48 of the chamber and the sealing skirt 46. Otherwise, all the geometric parameters a, hi-, hs, p and e of the sealing cap 4 are substantially the same as in the first embodiment.

In all embodiments, the outer cap 2 and the sealing cap 4 are advantageously manufactured by injection molding of suitable polymer material(s), which may be one and the same polymer material for all of the outer cap and the sealing cap, or different polymer materials selected according to the intended function of each cap, or even according to the intended function of each portion of each cap. Examples of suitable polymers for both caps include polyolefin-based polymers, in particular polyethylene or polypropylene. In one embodiment, the constitutive polymer of the outer cap 2 is the same as the constitutive polymer of the sealing cap 4, e.g. high- density polyethylene (HDPE). In another embodiment, the constitutive polymer of the outer cap 2 is different from the constitutive polymer of the sealing cap 4, e.g. the outer cap may be made of polypropylene (PP) or polyoxymethylene (POM), whereas the sealing cap may be made of high-density polyethylene (HDPE). Advantageously, the sealing cap is a single piece, injection molded from a single polymer material, in particular high-density polyethylene (HDPE). Polypropylene (PP) and polyoxymethylene (POM) are polymer materials that are advantageous for the outer cap, especially as they are materials that are brittle enough to allow the rupture of the frangible structure 26, but they are also flexible materials, which is required for the elastic properties of the outer cap.

As can be seen from the above description of several embodiments and examples, the invention provides a universal sealing cap for different sizes of bottle necks. When screwed onto a bottle neck at a conventional screwing torque, a sealing cap according to the invention, or a closure comprising such a sealing cap, make it possible to safely preserve sensitive products stored in the bottle, while also allowing easy handling of the sealing cap by a user to open and close the bottle manually. A closure comprising a sealing cap according to the invention and an outer cap also makes it possible to combine the three functions of being child- resistant, tamper-evident and providing active control of the atmosphere in the bottle. Because of its high safety as being gas-tight, childproof and tamper-evident, a bottle with a closure according to the invention is advantageously used for storing tablets or capsules containing a pharmaceutical composition; nutraceuticals; herbalism products; or diagnostic products.

The invention is not limited to the examples described and shown. In particular, in one variant, the sealing skirt forming the inclined sealing surface of the sealing cap may be attached to the rest of the sealing cap, instead of being made in one piece with the rest of the sealing cap.

In another variant, the bottle neck may comprise an internal thread on its inner surface, instead of an external thread on its outer surface as shown in the figures.

In this case, the first side wall of the sealing cap extends from the first top wall while being positioned internally with respect to the sealing skirt, and the cap thread is provided on the outer face of the first side wall whereas the inclined sealing surface is provided on the inner face of the sealing skirt and configured to be pressed against the outer surface of the neck upon screwing the cap thread onto the neck thread.

Of course, many other variants can be considered, falling within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1 . Sealing cap (4) configured to engage a threaded neck (12) of a bottle (10), the sealing cap (4) comprising a first top wall (43) from which extend a first sidewall (41 ) and a sealing skirt (46), wherein: the first sidewall (41 ) comprises a cap thread (44) configured to be screwed onto the neck thread (14) around a screwing axis (Xi ), the sealing skirt (46) comprises an inclined sealing surface (47) configured to be pressed against a corresponding surface (13) of the neck (12) on an opposite side from the surface comprising the neck thread (14), upon screwing the cap thread (44) onto the neck thread (14), the inclined sealing surface (47) is formed by a wall of the sealing skirt (46) surrounding a cavity, an inclination angle (a) between the inclined sealing surface (47) and the screwing axis (Xi) is between 7° and 25°, preferably between 10° and 20°, and an axial length (hi-) of the cap thread (44), taken parallel to the screwing axis (Xi) from the level of a proximal end (470) of the inclined sealing surface to the level of a distal end (442) of the cap thread, is higher than or equal to 1 .5 times the pitch (p) of the cap thread.

2. Sealing cap according to claim 1 , wherein, in the assembled configuration of the sealing cap (4) screwed at a targeted screwing torque (to) on the neck (12) of a bottle (10), the inclined sealing surface (47) is pressed against the corresponding surface (13) of the neck so that a continuous peripheral contact is formed on the inclined sealing surface (47), wherein an axial extension (d) of the continuous peripheral contact, taken parallel to the screwing axis (Xi ), is higher than or equal to 0.05 mm, preferably higher than or equal to 0.1 mm.

3. Sealing cap according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein, in the assembled configuration of the sealing cap (4) screwed at a targeted screwing torque (to) on the neck (12) of a bottle (10), the inclined sealing surface (47) is pressed against the corresponding surface (13) of the neck so that a continuous peripheral contact is formed on the inclined sealing surface (47), wherein an axial extension (d) of the continuous peripheral contact, taken parallel to the screwing axis (Xi ), is less than or equal to 0.6 mm.

4. Sealing cap according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the inclined sealing surface (47) of the sealing skirt (46) is configured to be pressed against a substantially cylindrical portion of the corresponding surface (13) of the neck (12), or a bulge of the corresponding surface (13) of the neck (12), so that a continuous peripheral contact of limited axial extension (d), taken parallel to the screwing axis (Xi ), is formed on the inclined sealing surface (47).

5. Sealing cap according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, when the sealing cap (4) is mounted on the threaded neck (12) of a bottle (10), the cap thread (44) engages with the neck thread (14) before any contact between the inclined sealing surface (47) and the corresponding surface (13) of the neck (12), in particular an angular length of engagement of the cap thread (44) with the neck thread (14) is higher than or equal to 110°, preferably higher than or equal to 160°, when the inclined sealing surface (47) first contacts the corresponding surface (13) of the neck (12).

6. Sealing cap according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the sealing cap (4) is configured to engage an externally threaded neck (12) of a bottle (10), the cap thread (44) being provided on an inner face of the first sidewall (41 ) while the inclined sealing surface (47) is provided on an outer face of the sealing skirt (46), and the corresponding surface (13) of the neck (12) against which the inclined sealing surface (47) is pressed is an inner surface of the neck, wherein an outer diameter (d2) of the sealing skirt (46) at a distal end (472) of the inclined sealing surface (47), and beyond said distal end (472), is less than an inner diameter (I) of the threaded neck (12) of a bottle (10) on which the sealing cap (4) is intended to be mounted.

7. Sealing cap according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the cap thread (44) is configured to be screwed onto the neck thread (14) of a bottle (10) at a targeted screwing torque (to) and, in the assembled configuration at the targeted screwing torque (to), an angular length of engagement of the cap thread (44) with the neck thread (14) is higher than or equal to 270°.

8. Sealing cap according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the cap thread (44) is configured to be screwed onto the neck thread (14) of a bottle (10) at a targeted screwing torque (to) and, starting from a first contact of the inclined sealing surface (47) with the corresponding surface (13) of the neck, an evolution of the screwing torque (T) as a function of the angle of rotation of the sealing cap (4) around the screwing axis (Xi) is substantially linear for at least 90° of rotation of the sealing cap (4), preferably the evolution of the screwing torque (T) as a function of the angle of rotation of the sealing cap (4) around the screwing axis (Xi) is substantially linear from a first contact of the inclined sealing surface (47) with the corresponding surface (13) of the neck to the assembled configuration at the targeted screwing torque (to).

9. Sealing cap according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the cap thread (44) is configured to be screwed onto the neck thread (14) of a bottle (10) at a targeted screwing torque (to) and, in the assembled configuration at the targeted screwing torque (to), a gap (G) is formed between an upper surface (15) of the neck and a wall (43) of the sealing cap facing the upper surface (15) of the neck.

10. Sealing cap according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein an axial length (hs) of the inclined sealing surface (47), taken parallel to the screwing axis (Xi) from the level of a proximal end (470) of the inclined sealing surface to the level of a distal end (472) of the inclined sealing surface, is higher than or equal to 1 .5 mm, preferably higher than or equal to 2.5 mm.

11. Sealing cap according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a radial distance (e) between the cap thread (44) and a proximal end (470) of the inclined sealing surface (47) is higher than or equal to 0.8 mm, preferably higher than or equal to 1 mm.

12. Sealing cap according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the sealing skirt (46) is configured to deform the neck (12) of a bottle (10) on which the sealing cap (4) is mounted such that, in the assembled configuration at a targeted screwing torque (to), a variation in a diameter (I, E) of the neck is higher than or equal to 0.5%, preferably higher than or equal to 1 %.

13. Sealing cap according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the sealing skirt (46) having the inclined sealing surface (47) is made of a thermoplastic polymer.

14. Sealing cap according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, in the assembled configuration of the sealing cap (4) screwed at a targeted screwing torque (to) on the neck (12) of a bottle (10), a radial sealing interference (r) between the sealing skirt (46) of the sealing cap and the neck (12) is higher than or equal to 1 % of a diameter (I, E) of the neck.

15. Sealing cap according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the wall of the sealing skirt (46) forming the inclined sealing surface (47) surrounds a chamber (49) for receiving an active material (19) capable of regulating the atmosphere in a bottle (10) equipped with the sealing cap (4), in particular a humidity absorber and/or an oxygen scavenger.

16. Sealing cap according to claim 15, wherein the wall of the sealing skirt (46) forming the inclined sealing surface (47) is a peripheral wall of the chamber (49) having the inclined sealing surface (47) on its outer face.

17. Sealing cap according to claim 15, wherein the wall of the sealing skirt (46) forming the inclined sealing surface (47) externally surrounds a peripheral wall (48) of the chamber (49), with a gap between the wall of the sealing skirt (46) and the peripheral wall (48) of the chamber.

18. Closure (1 ) comprising a sealing cap (4) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the sealing cap (4) is an inner cap configured to attach the closure (1 ) to an externally threaded neck (12) of a bottle (10), wherein the closure further comprises an outer cap (2) with a second top wall (23) and a second sidewall (21 ), the sealing cap (4) being coaxially nested in the outer cap (2).

19. Bottle with a sealing cap (4) according to any one of claims 1 to 17, the sealing cap (4) being fixedly screwed onto a thread (14) of a neck (12) of the bottle (10) and closing the bottle.

20. Use of a bottle according to claim 19, for containing moisture-sensitive items, such as tablets or capsules containing a pharmaceutical composition; nutraceuticals; herbalism products; diagnostic products.