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
  • B65D47/20—Closures with discharging devices other than pumps comprising hand-operated members for controlling discharge
  • B65D47/24—Closures with discharging devices other than pumps comprising hand-operated members for controlling discharge with poppet valves or lift valves, i.e. valves opening or closing a passageway by a relative motion substantially perpendicular to the plane of the seat
  • B65D47/241—Closures with discharging devices other than pumps comprising hand-operated members for controlling discharge with poppet valves or lift valves, i.e. valves opening or closing a passageway by a relative motion substantially perpendicular to the plane of the seat the valve being opened or closed by actuating a cap-like element
  • B65D47/243—Closures with discharging devices other than pumps comprising hand-operated members for controlling discharge with poppet valves or lift valves, i.e. valves opening or closing a passageway by a relative motion substantially perpendicular to the plane of the seat the valve being opened or closed by actuating a cap-like element moving linearly, i.e. without rotational motion

Definitions

• the invention relates to a cap to be fixed on a container neck, in particular on a bottle neck containing a liquid, particularly drinks.
• This type of plug allows easy closure and opening on the part of the user.
• This type of plug generally comprises three main elements namely a pourer which is screwed on the neck of the bottle, a shutter member movable in translation and an optional protective cover. It is for the user to be able to move from a state (open for example) to another state (closed for example) in a simple way, by intervention of the mouth or one hand, with a further flow controlled liquid. Athletes in particular find here an interest in that they can drink while continuing their physical activity. Young children can favorably use containers equipped with such caps because their handling is very easy and the flow of liquid is controlled.
• EP 1 065 150 A1 discloses a cap of the type described above wherein the pourer comprises a coaxial cylindrical projection having a central opening; the cylindrical projection is covered over most of its height with a shutter element comprising two coaxial cylinders and a flow control means disposed on the axis of the stopper and provided with orifices for the passage of the liquid.
• the outer cylindrical wall of the projection comprises two annular protuberances which cooperate with an inner flange of the outer cylinder of the closure member; and the shutter member, which is movable in translation vis-à-vis the projection, can take the two conventional positions of opening and closing for the passage of the liquid.
• the cylindrical projection comprises an outer wall of smaller section over a portion of its height which corresponds to the stroke of the closure member. Indeed in this area an inner flange of the shutter is in contact with the outer wall of the projection.
• this plug has both a central passage and openings arranged in a circle for the liquid. The passage section is therefore quite important so that the thrust of the liquid on the walls of the shutter, possibly associated with excessive traction of the user may dissociate the shutter vis-à-vis the pourer of the cap; Unexpected and unexpected projection of liquid out of the bottle follows.
• WO 2006/094415 shows a plug which differs from that previously described essentially by the profile of the outer wall of the projection: a coarse thread is provided according to this document, so that it is a rotation of the shutter element vis-à-vis the plug pourer that allows to change the state of the plug.
• a coarse thread is provided according to this document, so that it is a rotation of the shutter element vis-à-vis the plug pourer that allows to change the state of the plug.
• curves are obtained according to FIG. 1C which show the variations of the axial forces as a function of the position of the shutter during its axial stroke relative to the annular projection 1. More precisely, three curves are represented in FIG. 1C: the curve marked A relates to the axial tensile stress (or resultant friction) of an elastic annular skirt (not shown) on a tubular wall (not shown) of the tubular projection 1. This effort is first constant (catch-up game), then decreasing to zero when there is more contact between this skirt and said tubular wall.
• the curve marked B is relative to the resultant axial friction between the outer wall of the tubular projection 1 and the inner wall of the shutter 2.
• curve C which is the "sum" of curves A and B, has a specific profile, with a sharp increase in the first phase of opening followed by an equally abrupt decrease; a stabilization phase is then observed over most of the race which ends with an increase followed by a fall in the axial force.
• this known concept is not satisfactory in particular because a large traction force is required at the beginning of the opening; in addition, there is not a uniform distribution of the tractive force throughout the axial stroke of the shutter 2 along the tubular projection 1; in fact, the user must first exercise a significant effort at the beginning of the opening, so that once the point of the race corresponding to the maximum of force is passed, the shutter is precipitated to the open position, which is not satisfactory and requires a strengthening of the opening limit stop.
• a cap to be fixed on a liquid container neck comprising:
• a pourer provided with a means of connection with the neck surmounted by a tubular projection defining a reference axis of the stopper, the tubular projection having an outer guide wall and a tubular wall delimiting a mouth to empty the container, and
• a tubular obturator externally covering the mouth of the pourer, the shutter comprising:
• an outer guide skirt cooperating with the outer guide wall to guide the shutter in axial translation vis-à-vis the pourer between a closed position and an open position allowing the passage of liquid
• the outer wall of the tubular projection and the guide skirt of the shutter are shaped so as to sliding relative to each other so that in a first opening phase from the closed position to an intermediate position between the closed position and the open position the guide skirt slides on the outer wall with an axial friction resultant not exceeding a predetermined maximum value F1, and that in a subsequent opening phase, the elastic annular skirt no longer in contact with the tubular wall, the axial resultant friction between the outer wall and the
• the guide skirt increases continuously up to a maximum value F 2 such that 10 N ⁇ F 2-F1 ⁇ 20 N.
• the shutter travels at least 50%, and preferably at least 60% of the stroke between the closed position and the open position.
• the shutter travels less than 20%, and preferably less than 15% of the stroke between the closed position and the open position.
• the subsequent opening phase constitutes the major part of the opening race.
• the force F2 which also corresponds to the maximum force to be printed at the shutter, remains less than 30 N, and preferably less than 25N, and preferably less than 20 N.
• the opening can be obtained with one hand or with the mouth without difficulty.
• the force F1 is also advantageous for the force F1 to be less than the maximum of the resultant of the sealing frictional forces between the elastic annular sealing skirt and the tubular wall of the tubular projection. It is also advantageous if the maximum of the resultant of the sealing frictional forces between the elastic annular sealing skirt and the tubular wall of the tubular projection is less than 15N, and more preferably less than 10N. In all cases, it is advantageous for the value of the force F1 to be less than 15 N, and more advantageously less than 10 N.
• the outer wall of the tubular projection comprises a zone having an increasing section away from the base, and cooperating with the guide skirt in the subsequent opening phase.
• the region of increasing section preferably extends over at least 50%, and preferably at least 60% of the translational travel of the shutter between the closed position and the open position.
• the outer wall of the tubular projection further comprises a circumferential snap groove located near its distal end, which cooperates with a flange of the shutter to form an opening stop. This snap gives the user a feeling of end of race
• the circumferential groove has a height measured along the axis of the plug of the order of 0, 4 mm.
• the tubular wall of the pourer is rotated radially inwardly, the sealing skirt penetrating in the closed position in the mouth of the pourer, in radial elastic contact with the tubular wall.
• the hole or holes being located radially outside the sealing skirt.
• This embodiment is particularly suitable for a distribution of the holes on a circle located radially outside the skirt. This gives a "shower" type flow.
• the sealing skirt may then have at its distal end an annular protuberance turned radially outwards and intended to reinforce the seal against the inner wall of the tubular projection.
• the invention is however also applicable to a plug whose pourer has a tubular wall rotated radially outwardly, the sealing skirt cap this tubular wall, with a radially protruding sealing bead if appropriate inwardly in contact with the tubular wall.
• the hole or holes through the bottom of the shutter will be located radially inside the skirt.
• tubular projection advantageously has a distal wall which, in the closed position, obstructs the hole or holes of the shutter.
• FIG. 1A and 1B a sectional view of a cap according to a known embodiment, with a shutter in two different positions, already commented;
• FIG. 1C shows several curves giving different tensile forces on the shutter as a function of the position of the shutter relative to the tubular projection, for a plug according to FIGS. 1A and 1B;
• FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment of a plug according to the invention, in a closed position;
• Figure 3 illustrates an embodiment of a plug according to the invention, in the open position;
• - Figures 4A to 4C are sectional views of a cap according to one embodiment of the invention, with the shutter in three different positions;
• FIG. 5 illustrates several curves giving different tensile forces applied to the shutter, as a function of the position of the shutter relative to the tubular projection, for a plug according to the invention.
• FIG. 2 one can see in longitudinal section the main elements of a plug according to the invention, in the closed state.
• the pourer 100 of the plug is fixed for example by screwing its lower portion 110 on the neck of the container containing the liquid to be dispensed. Any other reversible connection means can be envisaged without departing from the scope of the invention.
• the pourer 100 is surmounted by a tubular projection 1 of specific shape which will be described in more detail below; a tubular shutter 2 is disposed coaxially with the tubular projection 1 vis-à-vis which it is movable in axial translation.
• the shutter 2 comprises, in known manner, an internal collar 15.
• the shutter 2 comprises a circular bottom 3 provided with holes 4 arranged in a circle; the holes 4 are arranged vis-à-vis a distal wall of the tubular projection; in the closed position of the plug there is annular or substantially annular contact between these two elements, which contributes to the closure of the plug.
• the shutter 2 comprises an annular elastic sealing skirt 5 integral with the bottom 3, which projects internally and which cooperates with an inner tubular wall 11 of the projection 1.
• the skirt 5 is elastic and present at its distal end an annular protuberance 6 (or olive) for reinforcing, in the closed position, the sealing vis-à-vis the inner cylindrical wall of the protrusion 1.
• the skirt 5 associated with the tubular wall 11 reinforce in addition, the axial guide of the shutter 2. They have substantially the same height measured along the axis of the plug.
• the outer wall 12 of the tubular projection 1 has a specific profile; FIG. 3, which illustrates the plug in the open position, more legibly shows this profile: starting from the base of the wall 12, the latter is first of all cylindrical with a constant section, then it has a profile of variable section including a zone 13 of increasing section. This area is followed by a groove circumferential 14 serving as a snap for the shutter as will be explained in more detail below.
• a flange 15 provided on the inner wall of the shutter 2 is in permanent radial contact with the wall 12 of the projection 1.
• Figures 4A, 4B and 4C show the positions of the shutter 2 and the projection 1 respectively in the closed position, opening start and in the open position.
• the flange 15 In the closed position, the flange 15 is housed so as to have a very limited radial contact with the outer wall 12 of the tubular projection since the latter has a kind of groove vis-à-vis; at the beginning of opening ( Figure 4B), the flange 15 is in contact with the beginning of the zone 13 of increasing section of the tubular projection 1; then the flange 15 is guided along the zone 13, until it arrives (FIG. 4C) in contact with a circumferential ratchet flange 14 formed near the distal end of the tubular projection 1.
• Figure 5 comprises three curves: the curve A relates to axial force due to the friction of the elastic annular skirt 5 against the tubular wall 11; this curve is identical to the curve A of FIG. 1C.
• the curve B relates to the frictional force between the guide skirt 20 and the outer wall 12 of the tubular projection 1.
• the curve C is the resultant ( or sum) of the two aforementioned efforts.
• the curve B increases continuously between the beginning of the race and an ordinate point.
• F1 which corresponds to a maximum local value of effort in this phase of the race.
• the increase here is of the order of a few Newtons, for example from 2 to 4 N.
• the curve B decreases between the abscissa points A and B, here a few Newtons, indicating a decrease of the effort up to a value F1 ', here about 5N.
• the curve B at the beginning of the race near the abscissa point O, lies below the curve A, which reflects lower friction forces at the outer guide surfaces than at the sealing.
• the tests carried out according to the invention have made it possible to measure a maximum force F1 of the order of 7 N and a force F2 of about 20 N for a total stroke of about 4 mm, comprising about 0.4 mm between points O and B (first phase of the race) and 0, 4 mm between points C and D (final phase of the race).
• the duration of the opening during these tests is of the order of a few seconds.
• the opening energy which is measured by the surface area of the curve C, is generally lower.
• the race of the shutter 2 is limited between the snap which has just been described and, for the closed position, by the axial contact of the bottom 3 with the distal end of the tubular projection 1.
• the shape and arrangements just described also allow the presence of a first tamper ring 50 located in the lower part of the pourer 1 which it is connected, before the first use, by regularly scored bridges spaced apart and separated by incisions.
• a cover 55 visible in section in Figure 2, covering the shutter 2 and provided internally with clipping means cooperating with a groove of the tubular projection 1.
• a second tamper evident ring 60 located in the lower part of the cover 55 to which it is bonded, before the first use, by breakable bridges regularly spaced apart and separated by incisions.

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

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

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Family Cites Families (2)

• 2008
  • 2008-10-24 FR FR0805940A patent/FR2937623B1/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2009
  • 2009-10-22 WO PCT/FR2009/001237 patent/WO2010046568A1/fr not_active Ceased
  • 2009-10-22 EP EP09755934A patent/EP2361199B1/de active Active
• 2011
  • 2011-06-08 ZA ZA2011/04273A patent/ZA201104273B/en unknown

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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