Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D47/00—Closures with filling and discharging, or with discharging, devices
  • B65D47/04—Closures with discharging devices other than pumps
  • B65D47/06—Closures with discharging devices other than pumps with pouring spouts or tubes; with discharge nozzles or passages
  • B65D47/08—Closures with discharging devices other than pumps with pouring spouts or tubes; with discharge nozzles or passages having articulated or hinged closures
  • B65D47/0857—Closures with discharging devices other than pumps with pouring spouts or tubes; with discharge nozzles or passages having articulated or hinged closures made separately from the base element provided with the spout or discharge passage
  • B65D47/0861—Closures with discharging devices other than pumps with pouring spouts or tubes; with discharge nozzles or passages having articulated or hinged closures made separately from the base element provided with the spout or discharge passage and elastically biased towards both the open and the closed positions
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D50/00—Closures with means for discouraging unauthorised opening or removal thereof, with or without indicating means, e.g. child-proof closures
  • B65D50/02—Closures with means for discouraging unauthorised opening or removal thereof, with or without indicating means, e.g. child-proof closures openable or removable by the combination of plural actions
  • B65D50/04—Closures with means for discouraging unauthorised opening or removal thereof, with or without indicating means, e.g. child-proof closures openable or removable by the combination of plural actions requiring the combination of simultaneous actions, e.g. depressing and turning, lifting and turning, maintaining a part and turning another one
  • B65D50/045—Closures with means for discouraging unauthorised opening or removal thereof, with or without indicating means, e.g. child-proof closures openable or removable by the combination of plural actions requiring the combination of simultaneous actions, e.g. depressing and turning, lifting and turning, maintaining a part and turning another one where one action elastically deforms or deflects at least part of the closure, the container or an intermediate element, e.g. a ring
  • B65D50/046—Closures with means for discouraging unauthorised opening or removal thereof, with or without indicating means, e.g. child-proof closures openable or removable by the combination of plural actions requiring the combination of simultaneous actions, e.g. depressing and turning, lifting and turning, maintaining a part and turning another one where one action elastically deforms or deflects at least part of the closure, the container or an intermediate element, e.g. a ring and such deformation causes the disengagement of locking means, e.g. the release of a pawl-like element from a tooth or abutment, to allow removal of the closure by simultaneous rotation
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D2251/00—Details relating to container closures
  • B65D2251/10—Details of hinged closures
  • B65D2251/1016—Means for locking the closure in closed position
  • B65D2251/1025—Integral locking elements penetrating in an opening, e.g. a flap through a slit, a hook in an opening
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D2401/00—Tamper-indicating means
  • B65D2401/15—Tearable part of the closure
  • B65D2401/20—Frangible elements completely enclosed in closure skirt

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a device for plugging a neck of a container.
• a container In the field of liquid conditioning, it is known to equip the neck, threaded or not threaded, a container with a closure device, generally made of plastic, which comprises a cap hinged on a support between a closed position and an open position.
• This support of tubular overall shape, is itself intended to be immobilized around the neck. This kind of device is often provided to allow the user to drink directly at the neck of the container.
• a closure device comprising a support defining a first longitudinal axis, and a plug.
• the device further comprises a latching tongue extending along a second transverse axis perpendicular to the first axis.
• the cap Before the first use of this kind of closure device, that is to say before the first opening of the plug vis-à-vis the support, the cap, worn on the support, is connected to the tamper-evident band. This connection is able to be broken at the first opening of the device.
• one or more frangible bridges are interposed between the band and the cap so that the cap is driven from a closed initial position, in which it is in sealing contact with the support, to an open position, in which it is released vis-à-vis the support, causes the deformation and breakage of these bridges.
• the object of the present invention is to provide a closure device sufficiently resistant to prevent accidental or malicious opening, while being easy for the consumer to use.
• the subject of the invention is a closure device for a container neck, as defined in claim 1.
• the consumer needs only a weak force to open the cap. Indeed, once the user has pressed laterally on the cap, the latching tongue is released following the breaking of the bridges.
• the device is sufficiently robust to ensure a satisfactory degree of security due to the combination of the tamper-evident band and the attachment tab.
• it is ensured that the seal between the cap and the pourer is ensured when the bridges are not broken.
• FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a closure device according to the invention, with its cap in the closed position, reported around a container neck;
• FIG. 2 is a view similar to Figure 1, with the cap of the device in the open position;
• FIG. 3 is a section of the device according to the plane III of Figure 1;
• Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 4, illustrating the device with its cap during an opening thereof;
• FIG. 7 is a schematic section on a large scale, illustrating advantageous options for producing the circled zone VII in FIG.
• FIGS. 1 to 5 show a device 1 for capping a container 2 partially visible only in FIGS. 1 and 2.
• This container is, for example, a PET (polyethylene terephthalate) bottle containing a food liquid, such as mineral water, or whatever.
• the device 1 comprises a tubular support 4 which defines a central longitudinal axis X-X.
• This support 4 is positioned on a neck 3 of the container 2 by screwing with a helical external threading disposed on a portion of the neck.
• a lower part of the support 4 comprises regularly distributed external ribs, making it easier to grip and screw on the neck 3 of the receptacle 2.
• a spout 6, forming an upper portion of the support 4 is of substantially ovoid cross-section with its largest dimension parallel to a Y-Y axis perpendicular to the X-X axis.
• the cup of the pourer 6, shown in FIG. 4 thus has an outer profile in an ellipse whose main axis coincides with the axis YY and whose secondary axis is substantially aligned on a ZZ axis perpendicular to both the XX axis and the YY axis.
• the spout 6 includes an attachment tab 8 projecting from the elliptical body of the spout along the Y-axis.
• This tongue 8 is supported by a fin 9 which extends parallel to the X-X and Y-Y axes between the tongue 8 and an upper annular surface 41 of the support 4.
• the parts 4, 6, 8 and 9 are here constituted of the same holder, in particular by thermoforming a plastic material chosen among, inter alia, the polypropylene and polyethylene.
• the pourer 6 is provided with an opening 10 allowing the liquid of the container 2 to flow towards the outside of the container 2.
• the support 4 is also provided with two elongate ramps 12, arranged along the axis ZZ on either side of the spout 6 on the upper annular surface 41. These ramps 12 are placed so that their end 12A turned towards the spout 6 has a thickness greater than their end 12B turned towards the outside of the support 4.
• the device 1 comprises a plug 14 hinged to the support 4.
• the plug 14 In a first so-called closed position, shown in FIG. 1, the plug 14 seals the opening 10 of the pourer 6 in order to prevent the flow the liquid contained in the container 2.
• the tongue 8 is engaged in a through opening 24 made in the plug 14.
• the plug 14 In a second so-called open position, shown in Figure 2, the plug 14 has tilted about an axis Z1 -Z1 parallel to the axis ZZ and passing two hinge plates 18 connecting the plug 14 to a portion 16 fixedly secured to the support 4.
• the device 1 is also provided with a tamper-evident band 20 of annular section.
• the strip 20, carried by the support 4, is connected to the plug 14 in the closed position by at least one bridge 22 frangible.
• two sets of two bridges 22 are disposed on either side of the spout 6, in opposite manner along the Z-Z axis.
• the device 1 comprises fins 26, shown in FIG. 5, interposed between the strip 20 and the support 4.
• the fins 26 are connected to the support 4. They may be fixed by bonding to the support or directly performed by thermoforming with the support. These fins 26 are protrusions made of rigid plastic, regularly distributed over the perimeter of the support 4.
• the device 1 may be provided with a peripheral rib interposed between the strip 20 and the support 4.
• the rib may be disposed over the entire perimeter of the support 4 and made by thermoforming.
• the plug 14, the fixed part 16 and the strips 18 are made in one piece, in particular by thermoforming a plastic material selected from, inter alia, polypropylene and polyethylene.
• the user When the user wishes to proceed to the first opening of the plug 14, it exerts a pressure along the Z-Z axis.
• the pressure is represented in FIG. 6 by two arrows F.
• the bridges 22 located in a portion of the strip 20 through which the Z-Z axis passes are broken.
• the plug 14 then takes the form of a substantially ovoidal section, in particular in its portion delimiting the opening 24, as shown in FIG. 6.
• the opening ramps 12 are an aid to ovalization, especially when the user does not exert lateral pressure rigorously along the ZZ axis.
• the presence of the fins 26 and / or the aforementioned rib can guide the fall of the strip 20.
• the consumer can thus perfectly control visual way that he is the author of the first opening of the container 2.
• a second step when the lateral pressure along the axis ZZ continues to be exerted, the tongue 8 disengages from the through opening 24.
• the plug 14 can then pass into its open position by tilting around the axis Z1 -Z 1.
• the spout 6 of ovoid section along the Y-Y axis matches the shape of the mouth of the user. He is thus urged to take the spout in his mouth in this very determined direction. He is not bothered by the plug 14.
• the sealing of the opening 10 of the pourer 6 by the stopper 14 is maintained as long as the stopper has not reached, from its closed position, an intermediate position which is only accessible to the stopper 'after the total disengagement of the tongue 8 vis-à-vis the opening 24.
• the first opening of the device 1 when the user finds that the bridges 22 are not broken, it has a warranty reliable that this device has not been sabotaged, that is to say that the cap has not been previously manipulated so as to break the seal of the device to render unfit for consumption the contents of the container 2 equipped with the device 1.
• the consumer can choose to close the cap 14. The first closed position is found, with the difference that the tamper band 20 remains in the defined position following its fall.
• the upper face of the hooking tongue 8 may form, at its free end, a ramp 8A inclined upwards in FIG. 7, that is to say in direction of the opening 10, approaching the axis XX.
• an inclined ramp 141A may be provided on the lower end 141 of the plug 14, opposite the hinge blades 18 and intended to come into contact with the latching tongue 8
• This ramp 141 is arranged such that, when the plug 14 is in the closed position, the ramp is inclined in the same direction as the ramp 8A formed on the tongue 8, that is to say in the direction of the opening 10 of the spout 6, approaching the axis XX.
• the two ramps 8A and 141A can be directly made by thermoforming during the manufacture of the tongue 8 and the plug 14. The replacement of the plug 14 to its closed position is thus facilitated by the presence of these inclined ramps, that slide on one another.
• FIG. 7 illustrates another optional arrangement of the device 1, which in practice can be combined with the arrangements described just above and which consists in providing that the lower face of the hooking tab 8 forms, at its free end, a slope 8B inclined upwardly approaching the X-X axis, while the lower edge of the opening 24 defines an inclined slope 24A complementary to the slope 8B.
• the presence of these slopes 8B and 24A avoids being able to disengage from the opening 24 the tongue 8 as the plug 14 does not undergo a clear bias to be ovalized.
• the cylindrical shape of the spout 6, centered on the axis X-X may be circularly based;
• the fins 26 can be made on the tamper-evident strip 20;
• the support 4 can be fixed by "snap", that is to say by snapping a portion of its inner face with a complementary portion of the neck;
• these two elements can be molded together, either with the stopper in its closed position or with the stopper in a position away from its closed position, the plug then being moved, in particular tilted, to its closed position; and or

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Closures For Containers (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (2)

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ID=39823239

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (8)

Cited By (1)

Families Citing this family (18)

Family Cites Families (23)

• 2008
  • 2008-03-05 FR FR0851429A patent/FR2928351B1/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2009
  • 2009-03-04 EP EP09722368.9A patent/EP2252525B1/de not_active Not-in-force
  • 2009-03-04 CA CA2717185A patent/CA2717185C/fr active Active
  • 2009-03-04 WO PCT/FR2009/050346 patent/WO2009115727A2/fr not_active Ceased
  • 2009-03-04 ES ES09722368.9T patent/ES2487519T3/es active Active
  • 2009-03-04 JP JP2010549179A patent/JP5485917B2/ja not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2009-03-04 MX MX2010009695A patent/MX2010009695A/es active IP Right Grant
  • 2009-03-04 US US12/920,416 patent/US8403159B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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