WO2007014999A1

WO2007014999A1 - Sealing device, recipient provided therewith and a method for opening said device

Info

Publication number: WO2007014999A1
Application number: PCT/FR2006/001853
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jean-Luc Giraud; Fabrice Guerin
Original assignee: Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance S.A.
Priority date: 2005-08-01
Filing date: 2006-07-31
Publication date: 2007-02-08
Also published as: FR2889169A1

Abstract

The inventive device comprises a plug (4) which is hingeable between open and closed positions on a generally tubular base (3) and is fixable around the recipient neck. In order to limit an effort required for moving the plug from the closed to the open position thereof, the base and plug in the closed position delimit a free space (7) therebetween, which is used for receiving and displacing the free end of a user's finger (P) and which is defined by an supporting surface (33A) and the tilting of the finger touch ball (P1), from the base side, and by the surface (425A) for pushing the plug to the open position thereof by means of a fingernail (P2), from the plug side.

Description

CLOSURE DEVICE, CONTAINER EQUIPPED WITH SUCH A DEVICE AND METHOD FOR OPENING SUCH A DEVICE

The present invention relates to a closure device of a container, a container equipped with such a device and a corresponding opening process.

In the field of liquid conditioning, it is known to equip the threaded or non-threaded neck of a container with a plastic closure device, comprising a stopper articulated on a base or skirt, itself intended to be immobilized. around this pass. This type of device is frequently used to allow the user to drink directly from the neck of the container. An example is given in FR-A-2,827,261.

To facilitate the tilting of the cap from its closed position to an open position, it is common to provide a depression in the outer lateral face of the plug, opposite the hinge zone between the plug and its fixed base. This depression is generally overhung by a nose projecting outwardly from the upper end of the plug, that is to say the end opposite the base. Examples of such plugs are US-B-6,766,926, US-A-3, 240, 405, US-A-6,143,229 and US-B-6,880,736. The user can thus introduce the end of one of his fingers into this depression and, by exerting on the lower face of the nose a force directed upwards, swing the stopper towards its open position.

In practice, the closure device includes arrangements for holding the cap fairly firmly in the closed position, to prevent it from disengaging the base inadvertently. Therefore, the implementation movement of the plug to its open position requires overcoming this restraint, which requires the user to _. develop a significant effort at the level of depression and nose mentioned above. However, depending on the level of resistance of this restraint, the effort required to release the cap from its closed position is often too important, which makes the device impractical or impossible to open for some users, such as a child or elderly person. In particular, with the plugging devices proposed in the aforementioned US-B-6, 766, 926, US-A-3, 240, 405, US-A-6,143,229 and US-B-6, 880, 736, there are It is expected that the user uses the end of one of his fingers in the manner of a hook (see for example Figure 5 of US-A-6,143,229), that is to say that it directly plate the pulp of this finger against a nose or a similar wall of the plug, at a surface thereof directed towards the base, then it crushes the finger pulp to force the opening of the plug, which is revealed impractical, even painful for the user.

The object of the present invention is to provide an articulated cap closure device, which, while incorporating unlockable cap retaining means in the closed position, limit the manual efforts of the user to open its cap.

For this purpose, the subject of the invention is a closure device for a container provided with a neck, comprising both a generally tubular base and adapted to be secured around the neck, and a cap hinged on the base between a open position and a closed position, the base and the cap in the closed position delimiting between them, along the longitudinal axis of the base, a free space for receiving and moving the free end of a finger of a user of the device, including an inch of the user, characterized in that this free space is, along the longitudinal axis of the base, defined, on the side of the base, by a bearing surface and tilting of the finger pulp and, on the side of the cap , by a pushing surface, by the nail of the finger, the plug to its open position.

To open the cap of the device according to the invention, the user introduces the end of one of his fingers, preferably his thumb, into the free space delimited for this purpose between the base and the cap, so that the pulp of his finger rests against the bearing surface and tilting, while the nail of his finger is applied against the thrust surface. The user then uses his finger as a lever whose tilting axis is located at the pulp: considering that the longitudinal axis of the base of the device extends generally vertically with the base located below the cap , the user generates, with his finger, a driving force directed from the top to the bottom, which, by tilting the tip of the finger, at the level of its pulp resting on the base, causes the pressing, from the bottom upwards, from the nail on the pushing surface. The fingernail then causes the cap to tilt from its closed position to its open position. By leverage, the thrust exerted by the nail is increased tenfold compared to the motor force of the finger, making the opening of the plug particularly easy, even for children or the elderly. Thanks to this leverage, the plug is released from its closed position to an intermediate position, in which the retention of the plug in the closed position is overcome.

Advantageously, according to the particular shape of the container, the closure device according to the invention can be sized so that the user can clear the cap from its closed position to its open position by means of one of the fingers, in particular the thumb, of the same hand that holds the container.

Other advantageous features of this device, taken individually or in any technically possible combination, are set forth in claims 2 to 9.

The invention also relates to a container provided with a neck and equipped with a closure device as defined above.

The invention further relates to a method of opening a closure device as defined above, characterized in that it comprises successive steps according to which: a user introduces the end of one of its fingers within the free space delimited between the base and the stopper of the closure device, so that the pulp of the finger rests against the bearing surface and tilting while the fingernail is applied against the thrust surface; and

- The user drives his finger in the manner of a lever, so that, by tilting the tip of the finger at its pulp resting on the base, the fingernail pushes the cap from its closed position to his open position.

Advantageous features of this method are set forth in claims 12 and 13.

The invention will be better understood on reading the description which follows, given solely by way of example and with reference to the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a closure device according to the invention, with its cap in the closed position, attached around a neck of a container; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the device of Figure 1, with its plug in the open position; Figure 3 is a partial section of the device of Figure 1, in the plane III-III; and

- Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3, illustrating the release of the plug from its closed position to its open position.

FIGS. 1 to 4 show a device 1 for capping a container 2 partially shown only in FIG. 1. This container is, for example, a PET (polyethylene terephthalate) bottle containing a liquid food such as mineral water. .

The device 1 essentially comprises two components, advantageously manufactured individually and then assembled and immobilized to one another, namely: a generally tubular base 3 of central longitudinal axis XX, on which is articulated a plug 4 integrally formed with the base by two articulation lamellae 5 arranged symmetrically on either side of the plane of FIG. 3, one of these lamellae being visible in FIG. 2, and - a chimney 6 for outward flow of the liquid contained in the container 2, possibly directly into the mouth of a user who drinks at the neck of the container, this chimney having a generally tubular shape with a central longitudinal axis substantially coincident with the axis XX in the figures.

By deformation of the tongues 5, the plug 4 is tiltable relative to the base 3, around a geometric axis ZZ extending in a direction orthoradial to the axis XX, between a closed position of the container 2, shown in Figure 1, and an open position, shown in Figure 2, wherein the liquid contained in the container can be freely discharged to the outside of this container, through the chimney 6, without being retained by the cap. Each strip 5 thus constitutes a hinge type connection between the plug and the base.

The maximum opening angle of the plug may advantageously be greater than 180 °, in particular by means of arrangements similar to those proposed in FR-A-2,827,261 and / or in the French patent application in the name of the present Applicant. and registered under No. 04 09305.

The remainder of the description will be oriented by considering that the terms "superior" and "high", as well as, by contrast, the terms "inferior" and "low", are defined with reference to device 1 with its base 3 laid flat. on a generally horizontal surface and with its cap 4 in the closed position. The upper surfaces of the device are thus oriented upwards in FIGS. 1 and 3, while the lower surfaces are oriented downwards.

The base 3 is staggered along the axis X-X and thus comprises a lower portion 31 and an upper portion 32, both generally cylindrical with a circular base and X-X axis. The thickness of the wall constituting the base 3 is substantially constant along its length and the diameter of the lower portion 31 is strictly greater than the diameter of the upper portion 32. These portions 31 and 32 are connected by a shoulder 33 of the base, which extends in a plane substantially perpendicular to the axis XX.

The lower part 31 has interior arrangements, not visible in the figures, intended to immobilize the base 3 around a neck 21 of the container 2, by fastening to the outer face of this neck. The portion 31 is for example provided with an internal helical rib adapted to be screwed onto a complementary external thread of the neck 21. The upper portion 32 is dimensioned to receive internally a lower barrel 61 of the chimney 6, the inside diameter of the part 32 being substantially equal to the outer diameter of this drum. When the chimney is attached to the base 3 as in the figures, the drum 61 is immobilized hermetically inside the internal bore delimited by the part 32.

The plug 4 has a generally frustoconical convex shape converging upwards and having a longitudinal axis coinciding with the X-X axis when the plug is in the closed position. At its upper end, the plug is closed by a substantially flat wall 41, integral with a side wall 42 of the plug, itself connected to the base portion 32 by the lamellae 5. The plug 4 includes internal arrangements, not detailed here, intended, when the cap is in the closed position, to seal the contacts between, on the one hand, the lower end of the wall 42 and the upper end of the barrel 61 of the chimney 6 and, on the other hand, the wall 41 and a nipple 62 of the chimney, extending upwards from the drum 61 in a convergent manner.

The base 3, the plug 4 and the lamellae 5 thus form a single piece, advantageously made by molding plastic material with the plug in the closed position. At the outlet of the mold, the slats connect the plug to the base, extending from the upper edge 321 of the base portion 32 to the lower edge 421 of the side wall 42 of the plug. Optionally, the stopper and the base are also initially connected to each other by means indicating the first use of the device 1, that is to say, witnesses of the first tilting of the cap 4 to open the container 2, such control means not being shown in the figures. By way of nonlimiting examples, these means are in the form of one or more frangible bridges directly connecting the stopper to the base or in the form of a completely detachable tamper-evident band and connected in a frangible manner to the base and cork. Other forms of control means the first use are possible within the framework of the present invention, including those proposed in the French patent application supra ⁰ 04 N 09305.

Apart from the slats 5 and any aforementioned control means, the upper edge 321 of the base 3 and the lower edge 421 of the plug 4 are located facing one above the other, in a more or less contiguous manner, as shown in Figure 1.

Along its periphery, the side wall 42 has several depressions, that is to say several areas whose outer surface is concave. A first depression 422 is located, along the periphery of the plug 4, at the level of the lamellae 5. This depression 422 is sized to receive a portion of the shoulder 33 when the plug is in the open position, as shown in FIG. other depressions 423 and 424 are provided on both sides, in a substantially symmetrical manner, of the plane of FIG. 3. At each of these depressions, the inner face of the wall 42 is provided with a bulge of material which protrudes from this wall inwards, that is to say towards the axis XX when the plug 4 is closed. Only the bulge 424A associated with the depression 424 is visible in FIG. 2, it being understood that the bulge associated with the depression 423 is substantially symmetrical with the bulge 424A with respect to the Figure 2. These two bulges are provided to snap into an annular groove 63 delimited in the wall of the chimney 6 connecting the barrel 61 to the nipple 62, when the cap is in the closed position. By complementarity of shapes between these bulges and this groove, the plug 4, in the closed position, is thus retained in place, which avoids inadvertent opening, and this unlockable by an active solicitation from the user. In contrast to the lamellae 5, with respect to the axis XX, the wall 42 is provided with a nose 425 which projects outwardly from the outside face of the wall 42, in a radial direction at the axis XX when the cap 4 is closed. Following the periphery of the plug, the nose 425 extends over an angular sector substantially centered on the axis XX and having, at the top, a dozen degrees. The nose 425 is located at the lower end of the wall 42, so that its lower surface 425A constitutes a portion of the lower edge 421 of the plug. The nose 425 has a generally flat shape and extends in a plane substantially perpendicular to the axis XX when the cap 4 is closed, so that its lower surface 425A extends opposite, along the axis XX, of an associated surface 33A constituting a portion of the upper face of the shoulder 33 of the base 3, as shown in FIG. 3. In the example considered, the surfaces 425A and 33A are thus generally parallel to each other and are spaced axially from a relative spacing noted e. In practice, this spacing e has a value of between 3 and 6 mm and is preferably about 4 mm, with close functional play.

When the plug 4 is in the closed position, the surfaces 425A and 33A delimit axially between them a free space 7 sized to receive the end of a finger of the user, preferably the end of his thumb P, as shown in Figure 3. In a direction radial to the axis XX, the inner bottom of this space 7 is, essentially, closed by the base portion 32, while on the opposite side, this space is freely open to allow the introduction of the distal end of the thumb P.

The portion 426 of the outer face of the wall 42, located above the nose 425, has an outwardly curved shape, in continuity with the rest of the outer face of the wall 42 except at the depressions 422, 423 and 424. This face portion 426, which is the area of the cap facing the user when the cap is closed, provides an attractive aesthetic, without breaking with the rest of the cap. The cap 4 thus has a global cap shape whose visor corresponds to the nose 425.

The user who wishes to consume the liquid ^" contained ^" in the ^"" container ^~ 2 ^" tilts ^" the ^" plug ^" 4 ^~ around the axis ZZ from its closed position of Figures 1 and 3, to its fully open position of FIG. 2, an intermediate position of the plug being shown in FIG. 4. More specifically, to initiate the tilting of the plug, the user introduces the end of his thumb P inside the space 7, as shown in FIG. FIG. 3: the palmar surface of the thumb, that is to say its pulp Pi, is placed against the surface 33A of the shoulder 33 whereas the dorsal surface of the thumb, that is to say its nail P ₂ , is applied against the surface 425A of the nose 425. The user then uses his thumb as a wedge and pulls it in the manner of a lever, with the current part of the thumb moved from top to bottom, as indicated by the arrow Fp. The surface 33A then forms, in particular at its end 33A ₁ of larger diameter be, that is, its end connected to the base portion 31, one zone at a time supporting the pulp Pi and tilting this pulp generally around a geometric axis 33A ₂ extending in a direction substantially ortho-radial to the X-X axis. The end 33Al is advantageously curved for this purpose . The end of the thumb thus behaves like a lever tilted about the axis 33A ₂ under the effect of the driving force F _P , so that the nail P ₂ of the thumb is lifted upwards and exerts a pressure from the bottom upwards on the lower surface 425A of the nose 425, which amounts to exert on the cap 4 a thrust force Fp 'of the cap from its closed position to its open position. By leverage, the intensity of the effort F _P 'is multiplied compared to the effort F _P provided by the user. This effort Fp 'thus quickly overcomes the retention resistance of the bulges associated with the depressions 423, 424 engaged with the clipping groove 63, thus making it possible to disengage the plug vis-à-vis the chimney 6, as represented in FIG. As the space 7, at which the stopper thus begins to be tilted, is diametrically opposed to the hinge flaps 5, the corresponding lifting of the stopper has a lever arm as long as possible vis-à-vis ZZ axis.

During the tilting of the thumb P, P ₂ pushes the nail and the end cap 4 while sliding outwardly along ^"425A of the surface of the nose 425, this surface forming a ramp for the nail.

If the device 1 is equipped with means of witnessing its first use, as mentioned above, the first opening of the device is carried out in the same manner as described above, that is to say that the user uses his inch as a lever to effortlessly initiate the tilting of the plug, thereby also causing the deformation, or even the complete rupture of these control means.

Once the cap 4 is disengaged from its retaining groove 63, the user can grab it by hand, to switch it from its intermediate position in Figure 4 to its fully open position of Figure 2, as shown by the arrow F ₄ .

The user can then effectively close the cap 4, by tilting it in the opposite direction and then re-engaging the bulges carried by the depressions 423 and 424 in the groove 63.

Thus, thanks to the surfaces 425A and 33A, as well as the space 7 delimited between them, the device 1 opens easily and quickly, the effort F _p to be provided by the user being very low, or at least much less intensity than that of the effort F _P 'of unclipping the plug 4 vis-à-vis the chimney 6. In practice, the fact that these surfaces 425A and 33A are respectively delimited by the outer face of the plug and the outer face of the base is a simple solution to manufacture, including molding, to define the space 7 whose dimensioning is specifically adapted to the reception and movement lever of the end of a finger of the user . Note that the concept of "outer face" mentioned above corresponds to all the surfaces of the cap in the closed position or the base which are visible and therefore directly accessible from outside the device immobilized on the neck 21.

Various arrangements and variants of the closure device 1 described above are also possible. As examples: rather than providing the surfaces 33A and 425A substantially parallel to each other when the cap is closed, these surfaces can converge one towards the other approaching the axis XX, the minimum axial separation separating them must however be sufficient to allow the introduction and the displacement, in the manner of a lever, of the end of the finger of the user; - The surface 33A of support and tilting of the pulp Pi of the finger can be, if necessary, extended radially outwardly relative to the axis XX, by a bulge or the like; as such, this surface may be provided at a radially projecting heel from the outer face of a base less stepped than the base 33 considered in the figures, or a non-stepped base; and or

the invention is not limited to closure devices including a chimney to be hermetically sealed inside an articulated base / plug assembly, as the example described above; alternatively, all or part of the chimney 6 may be directly integral with all or part of the base 3 so that the device thus comprises a base element capable of being secured around the neck of the container and a plug of closing of this base element, articulated with respect to this basic element, this cap possibly being constituted by a separate piece to report permanently on this basic element.

Claims

1. Device (1) for capping a container (2) provided with a neck (21), comprising both a base (3) generally tubular and adapted to be secured around the neck (21), and a cap (4) articulated on the base between an open position and a closed position, the base and the cap in the closed position delimiting between them, along the longitudinal axis (XX) of the base, a free space (7) for receiving and movement of the free end of a finger of a user of the device, in particular of a thumb (P) of the user, characterized in that the free space (7) is, along the longitudinal axis of the base, defined from the base side, by a surface (33A) for support and tilting of the pulp (P ₁₎ of the finger and the side of the stopper, by a surface (425A) of thrust, by the nail (P ₂ ) of the finger, the plug to its open position.

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the space (7) is located opposite, with respect to the longitudinal axis (XX) of the base (3), the zone (5) of articulation of the plug (4) relative to the base.

3. Device according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that, when the cap (4) is in the closed position, the bearing surface and tilting (33A) and the thrust surface (425A) s' extend each transversely to the longitudinal axis (XX) of the base (3), facing one another.

4. Device according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the bearing surface and tilting

(33A) and the thrust surface (425A) are respectively delimited by the outer face of the base (3) and the outer face of the plug (4).

5. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the minimum spacing (e_) along the longitudinal axis (XX) of the base (3) between the bearing surface and tilting (33A ) and the thrust surface (425A), when the cap (4) is in the closed position, is between 3 and 6 mm, preferably about 4 mm.

6. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bearing surface and tilting (33A) is delimited by a shoulder (33) of the base (3) connecting two parts (31, 32) of the base which succeeds along the longitudinal axis (XX) of the base and which have different respective maximum transverse dimensions, the portion (32) having the smallest transverse dimension being turned towards the cap (4) in the closed position.

7. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the thrust surface (425A) is located at the axial end of the plug (4), in the closed position, facing the base (3).

8. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the plug (4) is provided with a nose (425) which is located at the axial end of the plug (4), in the closed position, facing towards the base (3) and which protrudes from the outer face of the plug in a direction generally radial to the longitudinal axis (XX) of the base (3) when the plug (4) is in the closed position, the face this nose turned towards the base (3) delimiting said thrust surface (425A).

9. Device according to claim 8, characterized in that the outer face of the plug (4) comprises, at the nose (425) along the periphery of the plug and the side of the nose opposite the space (7), a portion (426) curved outwardly.

Container (2) provided with a neck (21), characterized in that this neck is equipped with a closure device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims.

11. A method of opening a closure device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that it comprises successive steps in which: - a user introduces the end of a of his fingers inside the free space (7) defined between the base (3) and the cap (4) of the closure device, so that the pulp (Pi) of the finger rests against the bearing surface and tilting (33A) while the nail (P ₂ ) of the finger is applied against the thrust surface (425A); and

- The user drives (arrow F _P ) his finger in the manner of a lever, so that, by tilting the end of the finger at its pulp (Pi) supported on the base (3), the nail (P ₂ ) of the finger pushes (arrow Fp *) the plug (4) from its closed position to its open position.

12. The method of claim 11, characterized in that the finger used as a lever by the user is the thumb (P).

13. A method according to one of claims 11 or 12, characterized in that the finger used as a lever by the user belongs to the same hand that holds a container (2) equipped with the closure device (1).