Packaging device provided with a magnetic closure system

Abstract

A packaging device has a principle body with a receptacle having interior space and a neck and orifice, and an expulsion device fixed to the neck, the expulsion device having an upper portion and a lower portion of the expulsion device, the upper and lower portions being separated from one another by a shoulder, the shoulder bearing on the end of the neck, a cap designed to be positioned above the receptacle in a stable closed position, the cap having a housing for receiving an end of the upper portion, and a magnetic closure system having a first magnetic device borne by the cap and a second magnetic device borne by the principle body, the second magnetic device is located around the upper portion and above the shoulder, and, in the stable closed position, the first magnetic device is located around the upper portion and above the second magnetic device.

Claims

1. Device for packaging a product comprising: a principle body including a receptacle (1) comprising an interior space (6) configured to contain the product and a neck (7) projecting from an upper wall of the receptacle (1) wherein the neck has an orifice (8) which defines a receptacle axis passing through a center of the orifice, and an expulsion device (3) fixed to the neck (7), said expulsion device (3) comprising an upper portion (9) and a lower portion (10) of the expulsion device (3), the upper and lower portions being separated from one another by a shoulder (11), the shoulder (11) bearing on an end of the neck (7), the lower portion (10) being located inside the orifice (8) of the neck (7), a cap (2) configured to be positioned above the receptacle (1) in a stable closed position, the cap (2) having a housing (12) for receiving an end of the upper portion (9) of the expulsion device (3), the cap (2) comprising a peripheral part (14) defining a lateral wall of the housing (12) and an upper part (13) connected to a first end of the peripheral part (14) and defining a back wall of the housing (12), and a magnetic closure system comprising a first magnetic means (4) borne by the cap (2) and a second magnetic means (5) borne by the principle body, such that the first magnetic means (4) and the second magnetic means (5) are positioned by magnetic cohesion relative to one another in the stable closed position of the cap (2), the cap (2) in the stable closed position being retained on the principle body by the magnetic closure system, wherein the second magnetic means (5) is located around the upper portion (9) of the expulsion device (3) and above the shoulder (11), and wherein, in the stable closed position, the first magnetic means (4) is located around the upper portion (9) of the expulsion device (3) and above the shoulder (11), the first magnetic means and the second magnetic means being attracted to one another axially relative to the axis of the receptacle in the stable closed position, the first magnetic means (4) being located at a second end of the peripheral part (14) of the cap (2) opposite the first end, the second end being configured in order to be located above the second magnetic means (5) in the stable closed position.

2. Device according to claim 1, wherein the expulsion device (3) comprises a pump (16) and the upper portion (9) comprises an actuation plunger (17), the actuation plunger (17) being configured in order to be located in the housing (12) in the stable closed position.

3. Device according to claim 1, wherein the cap (2) comprises a peripheral skirt (15) fixed to the second end of the peripheral part (14), the peripheral skirt (15) being configured in order to surround the neck (7) in the stable closed position.

4. Device according to claim 1, wherein the first magnetic means (4) is a monopolar magnet, a bipolar magnet, a quadripolar magnet, a magnet having more than four pairs of poles, a charged polarized material, a charged non-polarized material or a metallic element.

5. Device according to claim 1, wherein the second magnetic means (5) is a monopolar magnet, a bipolar magnet, a quadripolar magnet, a magnet having more than four pairs of poles, a charged polarized material, a charged non-polarized material or a metallic element.

6. Device according to claim 1, wherein the first magnetic means (4) is assembled together with the cap (2) by overmoulding, adhesive bonding or mechanical assembly.

7. Device according to claim 1, wherein the first magnetic means (4) and the second magnetic means (5) are bipolar, the first magnetic means (4) having at least two opposite magnetic poles S1, N1 on its face turned towards the second magnetic means (5), the facing face of which has complementary magnetic poles N2, S2, the stable closed position then being a single position and thereby making it possible to orient the cap (2) relative to the receptacle (1) as a function of the placing of the poles of the first and second magnetic means.

8. Device according to claim 1, wherein the first magnetic means (4) and the second magnetic means (5) are quadripolar, the first magnetic means (4) having at least four magnetic poles S1, N1, S1′, N1′ on the face of the first magnetic means (4) turned towards the second magnetic means (5), the facing face of the second magnetic means (5) has four complementary magnetic poles N2, S2, N2′, S2′, the device then having two stable closed positions, thereby making it possible to orient the cap (2) in two different ways relative to the receptacle (1) as a function of the placing of the poles of the first and second magnetic means.

9. Device according to claim 1, wherein the device comprises a pump cover (18) surrounding the neck (7) and the expulsion device (3), the pump cover extending from the upper wall of the receptacle (1) to at least the upper portion (9) of the expulsion device (3) in such a manner as to at least partially cover the second magnetic means (5).

10. Device according to claim 1, wherein the cap (2) has a circular cylindrical internal surface fitting slideably, in the stable closed position, on the upper portion (9) which is of circular cylindrical form.

11. Device according to claim 1, wherein the expulsion device (3) is fixed to the neck (7) by crimping, screwing or snap-fitting.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

(1) The invention will be better understood and further objects, details, features and advantages thereof will become more clearly apparent in the course of the following description of a plurality of particular embodiments of the invention, which are given solely by way of illustration and are non-limiting, with reference to the appended drawings.

(2) FIG. 1 is a partial view in axial section of a packaging device according to the invention in a first embodiment.

(3) FIG. 2 is a partial view in perspective of a packaging device according to the invention in the first embodiment.

(4) FIG. 3 is a partial view in axial section of a packaging device according to the invention in a second embodiment.

(5) FIG. 4 is a partial expanded view of a packaging device according to the invention in a third embodiment.

(6) FIG. 5 is a partial view in axial section of a packaging device according to the invention in the third embodiment.

(7) FIG. 6 is a view in axial section of an expulsion device, according to the invention in one embodiment, for snap-fitting.

(8) FIG. 7 is a view in axial section of an expulsion device, according to the invention in one embodiment, for screwing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

(9) By convention, the terms “upper”, “lower”, “above” and “below” are used to define a relative position of one element or of one part of an element relative to another in a direction seen from the receptacle towards the cap.

(10) FIGS. 1 and 2 represent a packaging device according to a first embodiment.

(11) The packaging device for a product comprises a principal body including a receptacle 1 and an expulsion device 3 and also comprises a cap 2 and a magnetic closure system 4, 5.

(12) The receptacle 1 is composed of walls surrounding an interior space 6 designed to contain the product and a neck 7 projecting from an upper wall of the receptacle 1. The neck 7 is provided with an orifice 8 that makes it possible for the product to be injected or expelled from the interior space 6 of the receptacle 1.

(13) The expulsion device 3 comprises an upper portion 9 and a lower portion 10, the lower 10 and upper 9 portions being separated from one another by a shoulder 11. The shoulder 11 bears on the end of the neck 7 and is fixed to the neck 7 with the aid of a fixing element 20. The lower portion 10 is located inside the orifice 8 of the neck 7. The lower portion 10 comprises a pump 16 that makes it possible, with the aid of a tube (not shown), to convey the product contained in the receptacle 1 towards the exterior of the receptacle 1. The upper portion 9 comprises an actuation plunger 17 that makes it possible to actuate the pump 16 when the actuation plunger 17 is actuated.

(14) The cap 2 is designed to be positioned above the receptacle 1 in a stable closed position. The cap 2 comprises a housing 12 that makes it possible to receive, in particular, the actuation button 17 of the expulsion device 3. The cap 2 also comprises a peripheral part 14 defining a lateral wall of the housing 12 and an upper part 13 connected to a first end of the peripheral part 14 and defining a back wall of the housing 12.

(15) The magnetic closure system is composed of a first magnetic means 4 and of a second magnetic means 5.

(16) The second magnetic means 5 is borne by the principal body and is located around the upper portion 9 of the expulsion device 3. As presented in FIG. 1, the second magnetic means 5 is of annular form and is positioned just above the shoulder 11 in such a manner as to occupy minimal space. Furthermore, the radial dimension in cross section is approximately equal to the radial dimension in cross section of the shoulder 11, thereby avoiding any superfluous bulk for the second magnetic means 5.

(17) The principal body comprises a pump cover 18 with a radial dimension that is slightly greater than the radial dimension of the neck 7 and of the shoulder 11. The pump cover 18 is designed to surround the neck 7 and the expulsion device 3 and also to cover the second magnetic means 5. A part of the pump cover 18 is thus positioned above the second magnetic means 5. The second magnetic means 5 is therefore held in the space formed between the pump cover 18 and the expulsion device 3, which enables it to be easily fixed, to not be visible to the user and to not be damaged upon use of the packaging device. The pump cover 18 is fixed to the neck 7 of the receptacle 1 or to the expulsion device 3, for example by snap-fitting, crimping or screwing. In the stable closed position of the cap 2 on the receptacle 1, the pump cover acts as gap between the first magnetic means and the second magnetic means, as may be seen in FIG. 1.

(18) In another embodiment, the second magnetic means 5 is located inside the upper portion 9 of the expulsion device 3, above the shoulder 11 of the expulsion device 3. A pump cover 18 is then not necessary for covering and concealing the second magnetic means 5.

(19) In another embodiment, which is not shown, the pump cover 18 and the second magnetic means 5 form one and the same element made from charged polarized or non-polarized material, which makes it possible to optimize manufacture of the device by limiting the number of pieces.

(20) The first magnetic means 4 is borne by the cap 2. The first magnetic means 4 and the second magnetic means 5 are positioned by magnetic cohesion relative to one another in a stable closed position, which makes it possible to place the actuation plunger 17 inside the housing 12 of the cap 2, as may be seen, for example, in FIGS. 1, 3 and 5. The magnetic cohesion is thus exerted in the direction of the axis of the receptacle, and then termed axial magnetic cohesion.

(21) In the first embodiment, illustrated in FIG. 1, or in the second embodiment, illustrated in FIG. 3, the first magnetic means 4 is kept on the cap 2 with the aid of an insert 19. The insert 19 is fixed inside the cap 2 on the back wall of the housing 12 and on the peripheral wall of the housing 12. The insert 19 comprises an insert housing. The first magnetic means 4 is positioned inside the insert housing before the insert is fixed to the cap 2. The first magnetic means 4 is thus fixed to the cap 2 in a robust manner and is, moreover, protected by the insert 19.

(22) The first magnetic means 4 is positioned around the housing 12 of the cap 2 and is located close to a second end of the peripheral part 14 of the cap 2. The first magnetic means 4 has an exterior radial dimension in cross section that is equal or substantially equal to the exterior radial dimension in cross section of the second magnetic means 5. Furthermore, the first magnetic means 4 has an interior radial dimension in cross section equal or substantially equal to the interior radial dimension in cross section of the second magnetic means 5. In the case of a first magnetic means 4 and of a second magnetic means 5 of annular form, the interior radial dimension in cross section and the exterior radial dimension in cross section correspond to the exterior diameter and to the interior diameter, respectively.

(23) It is also possible for the second magnetic means 5 to have an exterior radial dimension in cross section that is greater than the exterior radial dimension in cross section of the first magnetic means 4, but in that case, in order for the magnetic attraction to be optimal, the interior radial dimension in cross section of the second magnetic means 5 must be smaller than or equal to the interior radial dimension in cross section of the first magnetic means 4.

(24) In the stable closed position of the cap 2 on the principal body, the first magnetic means 4 is located around the upper portion 9 of the expulsion device 3 and above the shoulder 11 in such a manner as to be placed concentrically relative to the second magnetic means 5 and just above the second magnetic means 5.

(25) In the first embodiment, which can be seen in FIG. 1, and in the second embodiment, which can be seen in FIG. 2, the gap between the first magnetic means 4 and the second magnetic means 5 is embodied by a part of the pump cover 18 and a part of the insert 19.

(26) FIG. 3 represents a second embodiment of the packaging device. In the second embodiment, only the design of the cap 2 is different as compared with the first embodiment.

(27) Indeed, in the second embodiment, the cap 2 comprises a peripheral skirt 15. A first end of the peripheral skirt 15 is fixed to the second end of the peripheral part 14 in such a manner as to form a continuation of the peripheral part 14. In the stable closed position, the peripheral skirt 15 surrounds the neck 7 and the pump cover 18. A second end of the peripheral skirt 15 is thus located close to the upper wall of the receptacle 1 in the stable closed position, making it possible to completely protect the expulsion device 3 and the pump cover 18.

(28) FIGS. 4 and 5 represent a third embodiment of the packaging device. In the third embodiment, only the fixing of the first magnetic means 4 to the cap 2 is different as compared with the second embodiment.

(29) In the third embodiment, the cap 2 has no insert 19 for fixing the first magnetic means 4, as was the case in the first and second embodiment. Indeed, the first magnetic means 4 is, in this case, overmoulded inside the cap 2 in such a manner that the overmoulding makes it possible for the first magnetic means 4 to be fixed to the cap 2 without the use of an exterior element such as the insert 19. The first magnetic means 4 is fixed in the cap at the same location as for the first and second embodiments, namely around the housing 12 of the cap 2 and close to a second end of the peripheral part 14 of the cap 2.

(30) In another embodiment, which is not shown, the cap 2 and the first magnetic means 4 form one and the same element made from charged polarized or non-polarized material, which makes it possible to optimize manufacture of the device by limiting the number of pieces.

(31) In FIGS. 1 to 5, the expulsion device 3 is equipped with a fixing element 20 on the lower portion 10 of the expulsion device 3, making it possible to crimp the expulsion device 3 on the neck 7 of the receptacle 1. When the expulsion device 3 is positioned on the receptacle 1, namely with the lower portion 10 inside the orifice 8 of the neck 7 and the shoulder 11 bearing on the end of the neck 7, the fixing element 20 is deformed in a plastic manner such as to clasp the neck 7, which has the effect of immobilizing the expulsion device in position. The expulsion device 3 is then termed an expulsion device 3 for crimping. This method of fixing by crimping has the advantage of durably fixing the expulsion device 3 on the receptacle 1, but the disadvantage of this is that it cannot be removed. However, there are other fixing methods.

(32) FIG. 6 represents a “snap-fitting” expulsion device 3. The expulsion device 3 is, in this case, provided with elastically deformable elements 21 on the lower portion 10 of the expulsion device 3, making it possible to snap-fit the expulsion device 3 on the neck 7 of the receptacle 1. In order to be able to position the expulsion device 3 on the receptacle 1, it is necessary for the elastically deformable elements 21 to be deformed in order to be placed around the neck 7. With deformation remaining in the elastic domain of the elements 21, the elements 21 exert a force continuously right around the neck in order to resume their position, which makes it possible to hold the expulsion device 3 in position on the neck 7. This fixing method has the advantage of being easily dismantlable, but has the disadvantage of fixing the expulsion device 3 less durably.

(33) FIG. 7 represents a “screw-on” expulsion device 3. The expulsion device 3 is, in this case, provided with an inside thread 22 on the lower portion 10 of the expulsion device 3, making it possible to screw the expulsion device 3 onto a complementary thread of the neck 7. In order to be able to position the expulsion device 3 on the receptacle 1, it is necessary to place the inside thread 22 at the level of the thread of the neck 7 and then to effect a screwing action until the shoulder 11 of the expulsion device 3 comes to bear on the end of the neck 7. This fixing method has the advantage of being a good compromise between the durability of fixing and the ease of removal, but has the disadvantage of being more difficult to manufacture with, also, effort on the neck 7 of the receptacle 1.

(34) When equipped with a magnetic closure system comprising at least one bipolar or quadripolar magnet, the packaging device allows the relative positioning of the cap 2 with respect to the receptacle 1. The relative positioning of the cap 2 with respect to the receptacle 1 is, in particular, described in publication EP1095870 A1. Indeed, for example, it is possible to position a face of the cap or an ornamental element of the cap 2 relative to a face of the principal body or of an ornamental element of the principal body by judicious choice of the placement of the poles of the first and second magnetic means in the cap 2 and the principal body.

(35) By way of example, the first magnetic means 4 and the second magnetic means 5 are bipolar annular magnets of the same size.

(36) Of course, the number of poles of the magnets on each magnet may be changed without departing from the scope of the invention. Furthermore, the magnets may be replaced by charged polarized material, for example.

(37) By way of example, the magnets may be made from neodymium-iron-boron.

(38) Although the invention has been described in connection with a plurality of particular embodiments, it is quite obvious that it is in no way limited thereto and that it comprises all technical equivalents of the means described and also combinations thereof if these fall within the scope of the invention.

(39) The use of the verb “comprise” or “include”, and conjugated forms thereof, does not exclude the presence of elements or of steps other than those stated in a claim.

(40) In the claims, any reference sign between parentheses should not be interpreted as a limitation of the claim.