CLOSURE DEVICE INTENDED TO BE FIXED TO THE NECK OF A CONTAINER

Abstract

The invention relates to a closure device comprising:a lower ring (9) having a first portion (16) and a second portion (17), which are articulated relative to each other in such a way that the second portion (17) pivots relative to the first portion (16), a plug (1); and an articulating device that connects the plug (1) to the second portion (17) of the lower ring (9), the second portion (17) of the lower ring (9) having an inner face which has at least one recess (32).

Claims

1. A closure device intended to be fixed to a neck of a container comprising an orifice, a neck ring and an attachment flange, the closure device comprising: a lower ring fixed axially to the neck and able to rotate on the neck about said axis X, said lower ring comprising a first sector which comprises attachment elements which project radially towards the inside of the lower ring and are intended to be positioned beneath the attachment flange so as to hold the lower ring axially on the neck of the container, and a second sector, the first sector and the second sector of the lower ring being articulated to one another so that the second sector pivots with respect to the first sector between a lowered position in which the second sector is positioned beneath the attachment flange and a raised position in which the second sector is positioned at least partially above the attachment flange, a cap comprising an upper wall and an external peripheral skirt, the external peripheral skirt having a helical screw thread intended to collaborate with a helical screw thread of the neck so as to allow the cap to be moved between a closed position and a released position in which the helical screw thread of the cap is no longer in engagement with the helical screw thread of the neck; an articulation device which connects the cap to the second sector of the lower ring and is configured to allow the cap to pivot between the released position and a flipped open position in which the cap is clear of the orifice of the neck; the second sector of the lower ring comprising an internal face which exhibits at least one recess; characterized in that the internal face of the second sector comprises two recesses which extend respectively from a central zone of the second sector as far as each of the two ends of the second sector.

2. The closure device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the central zone of the second sector has no recess.

3. The closure device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one recess extends from a lower edge of the second sector as far as an upper portion of the second sector which portion is intended to be positioned facing the attachment flange when the second sector is in the lowered position.

4. The closure device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first sector comprises a front zone which is diametrically opposite the second sector, and two attachment zones in which the attachment elements are positioned and which are situated respectively one on each side of the front zone, between said front zone and the second sector.

5. The closure device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the front zone of the first sector has a height smaller than that of the two attachment zones of the first sector and than that of the second sector and being able and intended to become lodged between the neck ring and the attachment flange as the second sector moves between the lowered position and the released position so as to allow the lower ring to move radially.

6. The closure device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the front zone of the first sector extends over an angular range of between 4? and 150?.

7. An assembly comprising a closure device as claimed in claim 1 and a container comprising a neck comprising an orifice, a neck ring and an attachment flange positioned axially between the neck ring and the attachment flange, the attachment elements of the two attachment zones of the lower ring being positioned beneath the attachment flange so as to hold the lower ring axially on the neck of the container.

8. The assembly as claimed in claim 7, wherein the height of the front zone of the first sector is less than a separation between the neck ring and the attachment flange.

9. The assembly as claimed in claim 7, wherein the articulation device comprises two leaves connecting the external peripheral skirt and the second sector, the closure device further comprising an immobilizing device configured to immobilize the cap when it is in the flipped open position, said immobilizing device comprising a spur which projects axially, from the external peripheral skirt, between the two leaves of the articulation device and which comprises a stud which projects radially toward the outside and a projecting portion which projects axially from the second sector of the lower ring between the two leaves of the articulation device; the stud and the projecting portion being configured in such a way that when the cap is in the flipped open position and the second sector of the lower ring is in the lowered position, the projecting portion is clamped between the stud and the attachment flange.

10. The assembly as claimed in claim 9, wherein e1>L?e2, where: L is the length of the leaves in an initial state in which the cap is in the closed position; e1 is a radial distance between a contact zone of the stud which zone is intended to come into contact with the projecting portion when the cap is in the flipped open position, and an intersection between a straight line passing through upper ends of the leaves and a plane of symmetry of the leaves with respect to one another; and e2 is a radial distance between a contact zone of the projecting portion which zone is intended to come into contact with the stud when the cap is in the flipped open position, and an intersection between a straight line passing through lower ends of the leaves and the plane of symmetry.

11. The assembly as claimed in claim 10, wherein e1>L?e2+e3+e4, where: e3 is a radial clearance between the lower ring and the neck in a direction radial to the axis X and inscribed within the plane of symmetry P; and e4 is a radial clearance between the projecting portion and the attachment flange.

12. The assembly as claimed in claim 11, wherein e1=L?e2+e3+e4+? where ? is comprised between 0.05 and 2 mm.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0043] The invention will be better understood, and further aims, details, features and advantages of the invention will become more clearly apparent from the following description of several particular embodiments of the invention, which are given solely by way of non-limiting illustration, with reference to the appended drawings.

[0044] FIG. 1 is a three-quarters rear perspective view of a closure device mounted on the neck of a container.

[0045] FIG. 2 is a view in cross section of a neck of a container intended to receive the closure device of FIG. 1.

[0046] FIG. 3 is a side view of the closure device mounted on the neck of the container, and depicting the cap of the closure device in a released position in which it is no longer engaged with the neck of the container.

[0047] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the closure device mounted on the neck of the container, and depicting the cap of the closure device in a flipped open position in which the cap is clear of the orifice in the neck.

[0048] FIG. 5 is a view in cross section of the closure device mounted on the neck of the container, and depicting the cap of the closure device in a flipped open position in which the cap is clear of the orifice in the neck.

[0049] FIG. 6 is a view in cross section of the lower ring of the closure device in a plane orthogonal to the axis X.

[0050] FIG. 7 is a perspective view, from beneath, of the closure device illustrating the internal face of the second sector of the lower ring.

[0051] FIG. 8 is a front view of the closure device.

[0052] FIG. 9 is a side view of the closure device.

[0053] FIG. 10 is an enlargement of FIG. 1, illustrating the closure device in detail.

[0054] FIG. 11 is a schematic depiction, in cross section, of the cap and of the stud.

[0055] FIG. 12 is a schematic depiction, in cross section, of the lower ring and of the projecting portion.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0056] In the description and the figures, the axis X corresponds to the axis of rotation of the cap 1 of the closure device when it is screwed on the neck 2 of the container. By convention, the radial orientation is directed orthogonally to the axis X and the axial orientation is directed parallel to the axis X. The terms external and internal are used to define the relative position of one element in relation to another, with reference to the axis X; an element close to the axis X is thus qualified as internal, by contrast to an external element which is located radially on the periphery.

[0057] The terms upper and lower are used to define the relative position of one element in relation to another with reference to a position in which the orifice 3 of the neck 2 is directed upward and the cap 1 is in the closed position on the neck 2 of the container, an element intended to be positioned lower down being referred to as lower and an element intended to be positioned higher up being referred to as upper. The terms front and rear are used to define the relative position of one element in relation to another along a diameter perpendicular to the axis X.

[0058] An assembly comprising a closure device and a container equipped with a neck 2, depicted in FIGS. 1 to 5, is described hereinbelow with reference to FIGS. 1 to 12.

[0059] As shown notably in FIG. 2, the neck 2 of the container has an upper end in which there is formed an orifice 3 for pouring out the contents of the container. The neck 2 of the container has a neck ring 4 which projects radially outward and an attachment flange 5, which also projects radially outward and is positioned axially between the neck ring 4 and the orifice 3. A cylindrical portion is formed axially between the neck ring 4 and the orifice 3. Moreover, the neck 2 comprises, positioned axially between the attachment flange 5 and the orifice 3, a helical screw thread 6 formed of a series of helicoidal ribs projecting radially outward from an external surface of the neck 2. The helical screw thread 6 is intended to collaborate with a complementary helical screw thread 7, depicted notably in FIG. 4, formed of a series of helicoidal ribs which are formed in the cap 1 of the closure device.

[0060] According to one embodiment, the helical screw thread 6 formed in the neck 2 and the helical screw thread 7 formed in the cap 1 are interrupted threads. In other words, the adjacent helicoidal ribs are separated by a space that acts as a vent and notably allows gas present inside the container to be discharged while the cap 1 is still engaged on the neck 2.

[0061] The closure device comprises a lower ring 9 which is held on the neck 2 of the container, a cap 1 which is intended to cover the orifice 3 of the container so as to plug same, and an articulation device 10, notably depicted in FIG. 1, connecting the cap 1 to the lower ring 9. The cap 1 is able to move between a closed position, depicted in FIG. 1, and a released position, depicted in FIG. 3 and in which the cap 1 is no longer in engagement with the neck 2. The cap 1 is further able to be flipped from the released position toward the flipped open position, depicted in FIGS. 4 and 5, in which the cap 1 is clear of the orifice 3 of the neck 2 so that it does not impede the pouring-out of the contents of the container. The closure device also comprises an immobilizing device designed to immobilize the cap 1 in the flipped open position.

[0062] As shown notably in FIG. 1, the cap 1 comprises an upper wall 13 intended to be positioned substantially orthogonally to the axis X, facing the orifice 3 of the neck 2 when said cap 1 is in a closed position. The cap 1 further comprises an external peripheral skirt 14 intended to surround the neck 2 of the container when the cap 1 is in the closed position. The external peripheral skirt 14 extends downward, perpendicularly to the upper wall 13, from the external periphery of said upper wall 13. The helical screw thread 7 is formed on the internal face of the external peripheral skirt 14.

[0063] As shown notably in FIG. 4, the cap 1 comprises an internal skirt 8 which extends perpendicularly downward from the upper wall 13 of the cap 1 and is dimensioned so as to be inserted into the orifice 3 of the neck 2. The cap 1 furthermore comprises an annular lip 15 which extends, from the upper wall 13, radially between the internal skirt 8 and the external peripheral skirt 14. The internal skirt 8 and the annular lip 15 are dimensioned such that, when the cap 1 is in the closed position on the neck 2 of the container, the internal skirt 8 is in contact with the internal face of the neck 2 while the annular lip 15 is in contact with the external face of the neck 2. As a result, the internal skirt 8 and the annular lip 15 make it possible to ensure the leaktightness of the closure.

[0064] Advantageously, before the container is opened for the first time, the lower ring 9 is connected to the cap 1 via frangible bridges 30, visible for example in FIGS. 7 to 9, which are intended to break when the cap 1 is opened. These frangible bridges 30 thus constitute indicators of tampering.

[0065] The lower ring 9 is held axially on the neck 3 of the container 2 while still being able to rotate in relation thereto about the axis X. As depicted in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4, the lower ring 9 has two parts which are articulated to one another, specifically a first sector 16 and a second sector 17 via which the lower ring 9 is connected to the cap 1 by means of the articulation device 10.

[0066] As depicted in FIG. 3, the second sector 17 is able to pivot upward in relation to the first sector 16 between a lowered position, in which at least the majority of the second sector 17 is intended to be positioned beneath the attachment flange 5, and a raised position, in which at least the majority of the second sector 17 is positioned above the attachment flange 5. This allows the cap 1 to move upward in relation to the neck 2 of the container until the helical screw thread 7 of the cap 1 disengages from the helical screw thread 6 formed on the neck 2 of the container. In other words, when the cap 1 is unscrewed, the lower ring 9 is driven in rotation about the axis X while the second sector 17 of the lower ring 9 pivots in relation to the first sector 16 as far as the raised position so as to allow an upward axial movement of the cap 1 from the closed position to a released position shown in FIG. 3. When the cap 1 is pivoted from the released position to the flipped open position, the second sector 17 of the lower ring 9 pivots in the opposite direction in relation to the first sector 16 and is then in the lowered position. Furthermore, the second sector 17 also pivots in relation to the first sector 16 from the lowered position to the raised position when the cap 1 is pivoted from the flipped open position to the released position.

[0067] The lower ring 9 is held axially on the neck 2 of the container by means of the attachment flange 5. As shown in FIG. 2, the attachment flange 5 has a frustoconical external surface which tapers toward the top, that is to say in the direction toward the orifice 3 of the container. The attachment flange 5 delimits toward the bottom, that is to say in an opposite direction to the orifice 3, a shoulder.

[0068] As shown in FIG. 6, the first sector 16 of the lower ring 9 comprises attachment elements 18 which are intended to collaborate with the attachment flange 5 formed on the container in order to hold the lower ring 9 axially on the neck 2 of the container. The attachment elements 18 are protuberances which project radially inward from the first sector 16 of the lower ring 9. Advantageously, the attachment elements 18 have a radial dimension which increases from the bottom upward, which is to say in the direction of the upper edge of the lower ring 9. When the closure device is being assembled on the neck 2 of the container, the attachment elements 18 slide against the frustoconical surface of the attachment flange 5 and then lock by elastic return behind the attachment flange 5.

[0069] The first sector 16 of the lower ring 9 comprises a front zone 19 which is diametrically opposite the second sector 17 of the lower ring 9, and two attachment zones 20, depicted in FIG. 6, which are situated respectively one on each side of the front zone 19 and are each positioned between said front zone 19 and the second sector 17 of the lower ring 9. The attachment elements 18 are positioned exclusively in the two attachment zones 20, 21. Thus, because of the absence of attachment elements 18 in the front zone 19 of the first sector 16, there is a radial clearance between the lower ring 9 and the neck 2 that allows the lower ring 9 to move forward and rearward. That makes it easier for part of the second sector 17 to pass on either side of the attachment flange 5 as the second sector 17 moves between the lowered position and the raised position. In other words, the tensile forces to be applied to the lower ring 9 in order to allow the second sector 17 to pass on either side of the attachment flange 5 are lower.

[0070] Advantageously, the second sector 17 extends over an angular range of between 9? and 150?, and for example of the order of 120?, the front zone of the first sector 16 extends over an angular range of between 9? and 150?, for example of the order of 120?, while each of the two attachment zones 20, 21 extends over an angular range of between 3? and 90?, for example of the order of 60?.

[0071] As depicted notably in FIGS. 8 and 9, the front zone 19 of the first sector 16 has a cutout 31 formed at the upper edge of the lower ring 9. Thus, the front zone 19 has a height, measured parallel to the axis X, which is less than that of the lower ring 9, outside of the front zone 19, and which is less than the separation between the net ring 4 and the attachment flange 5. That makes it possible to increase still further the radial clearance between the lower ring 9 and the neck 2 because, as illustrated in FIG. 5, said cutout 31 allows the front zone 19 of the first sector 16 to position itself axially between the neck ring 4 and the attachment flange 5 whereas, without such a cutout 31, the front zone would come into abutment against the attachment flange 5.

[0072] Such an arrangement is also advantageous in that it makes it easier to notice whether the frangible bridges 30 have already been broken by the first opening of the cap 1 since, as soon as the frangible bridges 30 have been broken and, therefore, the lower ring 9 is then connected to the cap 9 only by means of the articulation device 10, the lower ring 9 becomes inclined forward, making it easier to notice that the opening has been tampered with. Furthermore, the lower ring 9 may thus have, outside of said front zone, a height greater than the separation between the neck ring 4 and the attachment flange 5, thereby making it possible to limit the dimensions of the gaps formed between the cap 1 and the lower ring 9 and liable to allow the ingress of dust.

[0073] Moreover, as an alternative or in addition to the cutout 31 described hereinabove, the second sector 17 of the lower ring 9 also has specific features that make it easier for part of the second sector 17 to pass on either side of the attachment flange 5 as the second sector 17 moves between the lowered position and the raised position. As depicted in FIGS. 6 and 7, the second sector 17 of the lower ring has two recesses 32 which are formed in the internal face of said second sector 17. The recesses 32 extend respectively from a central zone of the second sector 17 as far as each of the two ends of said second sector 17.

[0074] Furthermore, the recesses 31 extend from the lower edge of the lower ring as far as an upper portion of the second sector 17 of the lower ring 9 which portion is intended to face the attachment flange 5 when the second sector 17 is in the lowered position. These recesses 31 are aimed at locally reducing the thickness of the second sector 17 so as to make it easier for it to pass on either side of the attachment flange 5 while at the same time maintaining sufficient pull-off resistance.

[0075] The central zone of the second sector 17 is itself without recesses, thereby allowing the second sector 17 of the lower ring 9 to maintain sufficient stiffness to allow reliable operation of the immobilizing device described hereinafter.

[0076] In the embodiment depicted, the articulation device 10 comprises two leaves 11, 12, notably visible in FIGS. 1 and 4, which connect the cap 1, and more particularly the external peripheral skirt 14 of the cap 1, to the lower ring 9 and more particularly to the second sector 17 of the lower ring 9. The leaves 11, 12 are symmetrical with one another about a plane of symmetry P, indicated in FIGS. 11 and 12, which is vertical and passes through the axis X.

[0077] The leaves 11, 12 meet the external peripheral skirt 14 in a notched portion. Likewise, the leaves 11, 12 advantageously meet the second sector 17 of the lower ring 2 in a notched portion. In other words, the leaves 11, 12 extend substantially above the lower limit of the external peripheral skirt 9 and extend substantially below the upper limit of the lower ring 3.

[0078] The immobilizing device comprises a spur 22, notably visible in FIG. 1, which is formed in the external peripheral skirt 14 of the cap 1. The spur 22 projects axially downward, which is to say in the direction of the lower ring 9, from the external peripheral skirt 14 of the cap 1. The spur 22 projects between the two leaves 11, 12. The spur 22 comprises a stud 23 which extends circumferentially between the two leaves 11, 12 and which projects radially outward from the spur 22.

[0079] The immobilizing device also comprises a projecting portion 24 which projects axially upward, which is to say toward the external peripheral skirt 14 of the cap 1, from the second sector 17 of the lower ring 9. The projecting portion 24 also projects between the two leaves 11, 12.

[0080] As depicted in FIGS. 4 and 5, the stud 23 and the projecting portion 24 are arranged in such a way that when the cap 1 is in the flipped open position, the projecting portion 24 is sandwiched between the stud 23 and the attachment flange 5. In other words, when the cap is in the flipped open position, the stud 23 and the projecting portion 24 are in contact with one another in a zone situated in the plane of the attachment flange 5 and the projecting portion 24 is also in contact with the attachment flange 5.

[0081] As depicted in FIGS. 11 and 12 respectively, the zone of contact of the stud 23 with the projecting portion 24 is positioned at a radial distance e1 from the intersection between the straight line passing through the upper ends of the leaves 11, 12 and the plane of symmetry P and the zone of contact of the projecting portion 24 with the stud 23 is positioned at a radial distance e2 from the intersection between the straight line passing through the lower ends of the leaves 11, 12 and the plane of symmetry P.

[0082] The dimension e1 is such that e1>L?e2, where L is the length of the leaves 11, 12 in the initial state when the cap is in the closed position. This ensures that the stud 23 comes into contact with the projecting portion 24 and that the leaves 11, 12 are stressed in tension when the cap 1 is in the flipped open position.

[0083] Furthermore, e1>L?e2+e3+e4, where e3 is the radial clearance between the projecting portion 24 and the attachment flange 5 and e4 is the radial clearance between the lower ring 9 and the neck 2 in the front/rear direction, which is to say in a direction radial to the axis X and inscribed in the plane of symmetry P. As a preference, e1=L?e2+e3+e4+? where ? is comprised between 0.05 and 2 mm, and determined in such a way that the projecting portion 24 comes into contact with the attachment flange 5 when the cap 1 is in the flipped open position.

[0084] Moreover, as depicted in FIG. 10, when the cap 1 is in the closed position, the upper edge of the contact surface of the stud 23 extends axially below the upper end of the leaves 11, 12 by a distance d1, the upper edge of the projecting portion 24 extends axially above the lower end of the leaves 11, 12 by a distance d2, and the upper edge of the attachment flange 5 extends axially above the lower end of the leaves 11, 12 by a distance d3. Advantageously, the distance d1 is less than d2 and than d3.

[0085] The dynamics of the cap 1 are as follows. Upon first unscrewing, the cap 1 leaves the closed position and moves away from the lower ring 9 as far as the released position illustrated in FIG. 3. The frangible bridges break during this movement. Furthermore, during this movement of unscrewing the cap 1, the lower ring 9 is made to rotate about the axis X and the second sector 17 of the lower ring 9 pivots towards the raised position as the cap 1 moves away from the attachment flange 5.

[0086] Thereafter, the cap 1 can then be pivoted backward in the direction of the flipped open position in which the external peripheral skirt 14 extends upward from the upper wall 13. As the cap 1 moves rearward in the direction of its flipped open position, the stud 23 comes to bear against the projecting portion 24 and thus causes the second sector 17 of the lower ring 9 to pivot from the raised position to the lowered position. The ability of the leaves 11, 10 to stretch, combined with the aforementioned features of the immobilizing device, make it possible to create a hard point in the pivoting of the cap 1 between the released position depicted in FIG. 3 and the flipped open position depicted in FIGS. 4 and 5. In other words, the leaves 11, 12 and the immobilizing device are configured so that during a first part of the movement of the cap 4 from the released position to the flipped open position, the two elastic leaves 28, 29 are, because of the pressure of the stud 23 on the projecting portion 24, subjected to a tensile force that increases as far as an intermediate unstable position and then decreases from said intermediate unstable position toward the flipped open position. This allows the cap 1 to be immobilized in the flipped open position.

[0087] As depicted in FIGS. 5 and 6, when the second sector 17 of the lower ring 9 is in the lowered position and the cap 1 is at the same time in its flipped open position, the stud 23 is pressing against the projecting portion 24 which is thus sandwiched between said stud 23 and the attachment flange 5.

[0088] As a result, the cap 1 stays in its flipped open position since, because of the aforementioned arrangement, the cap 1 cannot be pivoted toward the released position in which the cap 1 faces the dispensing orifice 3 while the second sector 17 of the lower ring 9 remains in the lowered position.

[0089] Advantageously, when the cap 1 is in its flipped open position and the second sector 17 of the lower ring 9 is, at the same time, in the lowered position, the angle through which the cap 1 is opened is greater than 120? and advantageously greater than or equal to 145? and for example of the order of 180?. The angle of opening corresponds to the salient angular sector formed at the intersection between a plane parallel to the upper wall 13 of the cap 1 and a horizontal plane.

[0090] In order to reclose the cap 1, the user flips the cap 1 forward as far as the released position. During this flipping, the contact between the studs 23 and the projecting portion 24 disappears, and this allows the second sector 17 of the lower ring 9 to move toward the raised position.

[0091] When the second sector 17 is in the raised position and, at the same time, the cap 1 is in the released position, said cap 1 can then be screwed back onto the neck 2 of the container. During the screwing back on, the lower ring 9 is made to rotate about the axis X and the second sector 17 of the lower ring 9 pivots towards the lowered position as the cap 1 approaches the attachment flange 5.

[0092] Advantageously, the entirety of the closure device is molded in one piece from synthetic material, such as polyethylene, and advantageously from high-density polyethylene. Advantageously, the closure device is molded in the configuration of FIG. 1, that is to say in a closed position, in which it can be mounted directly on the neck 2 of the container.

[0093] Although the invention has been described in connection with several particular embodiments, it is obvious that it is in no way limited thereto and that it comprises all technical equivalents of the means described and combinations thereof where these fall within the scope of the invention.

[0094] The use of the verb have, comprise or include and their conjugated forms does not exclude the presence of elements or steps other than those stated in a claim.

[0095] In the claims, any reference sign between parentheses should not be interpreted as limiting the claim.