CN116888052A

CN116888052A - Closure device intended to be secured to the neck of a container

Info

Publication number: CN116888052A
Application number: CN202280014639.8A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 弗朗西斯科·哈维尔·贝罗亚加尔恰
Original assignee: Betapack SA
Current assignee: Betapack SA
Priority date: 2021-01-12
Filing date: 2022-01-10
Publication date: 2023-10-13
Also published as: CO2023009200A2; WO2022152649A1; MX2023008277A; BR112023013941A2; CA3204791A1; US20240317467A1; EP4026782A1; AU2022208303A1; JP2024505817A

Abstract

The invention relates to a closing device comprising: -a lower ring (9) having a first portion (16) and a second portion (17) hinged with respect to each other such that the second portion (17) pivots with respect to the first portion (16), -a plug (1); -and a hinge means connecting the plug (1) to the second portion (17) of the lower ring (9), the second portion (17) of the lower ring (9) comprising an inner face with at least one recess (32).

Description

Closure device intended to be secured to the neck of a container

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a closure device equipped with a cap and allowing said cap to remain attached to the neck of a container, thereby avoiding loss of the cap in the natural environment.

Background

Document ES1232089U discloses a closure device comprising a lower ring intended to be axially fixed on the neck of a container, a cap comprising a thread intended to engage with a complementary thread formed on the neck of the container, and a hinge connecting the cap to the lower ring. The lower ring comprises attachment means intended to keep the lower ring on the neck of the container. The section of the lower ring connected to the cover by the hinge means is free of attachment means allowing said section to pivot between a lowered position and a raised position, in particular in order to allow the cover to be unscrewed. Furthermore, the cover comprises gripping means intended to cooperate with complementary gripping means formed in the lower ring and thus allow the cover to remain in the flipped open position.

The closure device is not entirely satisfactory. In particular, although there are no attachment means in the section of the lower ring connected to the lid by the hinge means, the lid operations required to allow the section of the lower ring connected to the lid to pivot to the raised position are not easily performed when the lid is moved from the flipped open position to the closed position.

Disclosure of Invention

One idea behind the present invention is to propose a closure device that allows the cap to remain attached to the neck of the container, which is reliable and easy to produce and use.

According to one embodiment, the present invention provides a closure device intended to be secured to a neck of a container, the neck comprising an aperture, a neck ring and an attachment flange, the closure device comprising:

a lower ring axially fixed to the neck and rotatable on the neck about said axis X, said lower ring comprising a first section comprising attachment elements protruding radially towards the inside of the lower ring and intended to be positioned under the attachment flange so as to axially retain the lower ring on the neck of the container, and a second section hinged to each other such that the second section pivots with respect to the first section between a lowered position, in which the second section is positioned under the attachment flange, and a raised position, in which the second section is positioned at least partially over the attachment flange,

a cap comprising an upper wall and an outer peripheral skirt having a helical thread intended to cooperate with the helical thread of the neck so as to allow the cap to move between a closed position and a release position in which the helical thread of the cap is no longer engaged with the helical thread of the neck;

-a hinge connecting the cap to the second section of the lower ring and configured to allow the cap to pivot between a release position and a flip open position in which the cap is remote from the aperture of the neck;

the second section of the lower ring includes an inner face having at least one recess.

Thus, due to the presence of such a recess, the thickness of the lower ring is locally reduced and the second section makes it easier for the second section to pass either side of the attachment flange, in particular when the lid is moved from the flipped open position to the closed position.

According to other advantageous embodiments, such a closing device may have one or more of the following features.

According to one embodiment, the second section is free of attachment elements.

According to one embodiment, the attachment element is a protrusion protruding radially towards the inside.

According to one embodiment, the second section extends over an angle range between 90 ° and 180 °.

According to one embodiment, the inner face of the second section comprises two recesses extending from the central region of the second section as far as each of the two ends of the second section, respectively.

According to one embodiment, the central region of the second section is free of recesses. This allows the second section to maintain a sufficient stiffness in the area of the fixture in order to ensure a reliable operation of the fixture.

According to one embodiment, the at least one recess extends from the lower edge of the second section as far as an upper part of the second section, which upper part is intended to be positioned facing the attachment flange when the second section is in the lowered position.

According to one embodiment, each recess extends over an angular range of more than 30 °, advantageously more than 45 °, and for example about 60 °.

According to one embodiment, the first section comprises a front region and two attachment regions, the front region being diametrically opposed to the second section, the attachment elements being positioned in the two attachment regions, and the two attachment regions being positioned one on each side of the front region between the front region and the second section.

According to one embodiment, the front region of the first section is free of attachment elements.

According to one embodiment, the attachment elements are positioned in only two attachment areas.

According to one embodiment, the front region of the first section extends over an angle range between 40 ° and 150 °, and preferably between 90 ° and 150 °.

According to one embodiment, each of the two attachment areas extends over an angle range of 10 ° and 90 °.

According to one embodiment, the height of the front region of the first section is smaller than the height of the two attachment regions of the first section and smaller than the height of the second section, and the front region of the first section is able and intended to become caught between the neck ring and the attachment flange when the second section is moved between the lowered position and the release position, so as to allow the lower ring to move radially. Thus, due to the presence of the notch formed at the upper edge of the front region of the lower ring to form an additional radial gap between the lower ring and the neck, a portion of the second section may more easily pass either side of the attachment flange. This also makes the closure easier to use, especially when the lid needs to be moved from the flipped open position to the closed position, because the following tension forces are small: tension applied to the lower ring to allow the second section to move between the lowered position and the raised position.

According to one embodiment, the present invention also provides an assembly comprising the above-described closure device and a container comprising a neck comprising an aperture, a neck ring and an attachment flange positioned axially between the neck ring and the attachment flange, the attachment elements of the two attachment areas of the lower ring being positioned below the attachment flange so as to axially retain the lower ring on the neck of the container.

According to one embodiment, the height of the front region of the first section is smaller than the spacing between the neck ring and the attachment flange.

According to one embodiment, the hinge device comprises two flaps connecting the peripheral skirt and the second section, the closure device further comprising a securing device configured to secure the lid when the lid is in the flipped open position, the securing device comprising: a projection axially protruding from the outer peripheral skirt between the two flaps of the hinge device, and comprising a cylindrical portion protruding radially towards the outside; and a protruding portion protruding axially from the second section of the lower ring between the two flaps of the hinge device;

the pillars and protruding portions are configured such that: the protruding portion is clamped between the post and the attachment flange when the cover is in the flipped open position and the second section of the lower ring is in the lowered position. Thanks to this arrangement, the securing means ensure a firm securing of the cover at a large angle in the flipped open position of the cover. Furthermore, the proposed arrangement makes it possible to limit the radial dimension of the cylindrical portion, compared to a fixing device comprising a cylindrical portion configured to rest against the neck of the container. This is particularly advantageous because the cylindrical portion of excessive radial dimension is liable to impair the reliability and yield of the filling operation during which the closure device is transported in particular on the conveyor before being fitted on the container.

According to one embodiment, e1> L-e2, wherein:

l is the length of the flap in the initial state of the lid in the closed position;

e1 is the radial distance between the contact area of the cylindrical portion intended to be in contact with the protruding portion when the cover is in the flipped open position and the intersection between a straight line passing through the upper end of the sheet and the plane of symmetry (P) of the sheet with respect to each other; and

e2 is the radial distance between the contact area of the protruding portion intended to be in contact with the pillar when the cover is in the flipped open position and the intersection between a straight line passing through the lower end of the flap and the plane of symmetry (P).

According to one embodiment, e1> L-e2+e3+e4, wherein:

e3 is the radial gap between the lower ring and the neck in a direction radial to the axis X and inscribed in the symmetry plane P; and

e4 is the radial clearance between the protruding portion and the attachment flange.

According to one embodiment, e1=l-e2+e3+e4+Δ, where Δ is comprised between 0.05mm and 2 mm.

According to one embodiment, the protruding portion protrudes beyond the lower limit of the outer peripheral skirt.

According to one embodiment, the sheet and the fixing means are configured such that: in the pivoting movement of the cover between the release position and the flip open position, the sheet is subjected to a tension which increases up to an intermediate unstable position and then decreases from said intermediate unstable position towards the flip open position.

According to one embodiment, the closure device is formed as a single piece by moulding.

According to one embodiment, the lower ring is connected to the outer peripheral skirt by frangible bridges.

According to one embodiment, the lid is opened by an angle of more than 120 ° when the lid is in the flipped open position and the second section of the lower ring is simultaneously in the lowered position.

According to one embodiment, the peripheral skirt comprises a notch portion and the resilient flap meets the peripheral skirt in the notch portion. This arrangement makes it possible to produce a resilient sheet of sufficient length while limiting the size of the gap formed between the cover and the lower ring and susceptible to dust ingress.

Drawings

The invention will be better understood and other objects, details, features and advantages thereof will become more apparent in the following description of several specific embodiments thereof, given by way of non-limiting illustration only with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 is a three-quarter rear perspective view of a closure device mounted on the neck of a container.

Fig. 2 is a view in cross-section of the neck of a container intended to receive the closure device of fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a side view of the closure mounted on the neck of a container and depicts the cap of the closure in a release position in which the cap is no longer engaged with the neck of the container.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the closure mounted on the neck of a container and depicts the cap of the closure in a flipped open position in which the cap is distal from the aperture in the neck.

Fig. 5 is a view of a cross-section of a closure mounted on a neck of a container and depicting the cap of the closure in a flipped open position in which the cap is remote from an aperture in the neck.

Fig. 6 is a view of a cross section of the lower ring of the closure device in a plane orthogonal to the axis X.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the closure device from below, illustrating the inner face of the second section of the lower ring.

Fig. 8 is a front view of the closure device.

Fig. 9 is a side view of the closure device.

Fig. 10 is an enlarged view of fig. 1, illustrating the closure device in detail.

Fig. 11 is a schematic view of a cross section of the cap and the columnar portion.

Fig. 12 is a schematic view of a cross section of the lower ring and the protruding portion.

Detailed Description

In the description and in the figures, the axis X corresponds to the rotation axis of the closure cap 1 when the closure cap 1 is screwed onto the neck 2 of the container. Conventionally, the "radial" orientation is oriented orthogonal to axis X, and the axial orientation is oriented parallel to axis X. The terms "outer" and "inner" are used to define the relative position of one element with respect to another element with reference to an axis X; thus, the element closer to the axis X is called the inner element, compared to the outer element located radially at the outer periphery.

The terms "upper" and "lower" are used to define the relative position of one element with respect to another element with reference to the following positions: in said position, the orifice 3 of the neck 2 is oriented upwards and the cap 1 is in a closed position on the neck 2 of the container, the element intended to be positioned lower being called lower and the element intended to be positioned higher being called upper. The terms "front" and "rear" are used to define the relative position of one element with respect to another along a diameter perpendicular to the axis X.

The following components are described below with reference to fig. 1 to 12: the assembly comprises the closure device depicted in figures 1 to 5 and a container equipped with a neck 2.

As is evident from fig. 2, the neck 2 of the container has an upper end in which an orifice 3 is formed, which orifice 3 is used for pouring out the content of the container. The neck 2 of the container has a radially outwardly projecting neck ring 4 and an attachment flange 5 which also projects radially outwardly and is positioned axially between the neck ring 4 and the aperture 3. A cylindrical portion is formed axially between the neck ring 4 and the orifice 3. Furthermore, the neck 2 comprises a helical thread 6 positioned axially between the attachment flange 5 and the aperture 3, the helical thread 6 being formed by a series of helical ribs protruding radially outwards from the outer surface of the neck 2. The helical thread 6 is intended to cooperate with a complementary helical thread 7, as is evident from fig. 4, the helical thread 7 being formed by a series of helical ribs formed in the cap 1 of the closure device.

According to one embodiment, the helical thread 6 formed in the neck 2 and the helical thread 7 formed in the cap 1 are interrupted threads. In other words, adjacent helical ribs are separated by the following spaces: this space acts as a vent when the cap 1 is still engaged on the neck 2 and in particular allows the gases present inside the container to escape.

The closure device includes: a lower ring 9, the lower ring 9 being retained on the neck 2 of the container; a cover 1, the cover 1 being intended to cover the aperture 3 of the container so as to plug the aperture 3; and a hinge device 10, as is evident from fig. 1, the hinge device 10 connecting the cover 1 to the lower ring 9. The cap 1 is movable between a closed position, depicted in fig. 1, and a release position, depicted in fig. 3, and in the release position the cap 1 is no longer engaged with the neck 2. The cap 1 is also capable of being flipped from a release position towards a flipped open position as depicted in fig. 4 and 5, in which the cap 1 is remote from the aperture 3 of the neck 2, such that the cap 1 does not obstruct the pouring out of the content of the container. The closure device further comprises a securing means designed to secure the lid 1 in the flipped open position.

As is evident from fig. 1, the cap 1 comprises an upper wall 13, the upper wall 13 being intended to be positioned substantially orthogonal to the axis X when said cap 1 is in the closed position, facing the aperture 3 of the neck 2. The cap 1 further comprises an outer peripheral skirt 14, which outer peripheral skirt 14 is intended to surround the neck 2 of the container when the cap 1 is in the closed position. An outer peripheral skirt 14 extends downwardly from the outer periphery of the upper wall 13, perpendicular to the upper wall 13. The helical thread 7 is formed on the inner face of the outer peripheral skirt 14.

As is evident from fig. 4, the cap 1 comprises an inner skirt 8, the inner skirt 8 extending vertically downwards from an upper wall 13 of the cap 1 and being sized to be inserted into the aperture 3 of the neck 2. The cap 1 further comprises an annular lip 15, the annular lip 15 extending from the upper wall 13, radially between the inner skirt 8 and the outer peripheral skirt 14. The inner 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 inner skirt 8 is in contact with the inner face of the neck 2, while the annular lip 15 is in contact with the outer face of the neck 2. Thus, the inner skirt 8 and the annular lip 15 make it possible to ensure the tightness of the closure.

Advantageously, before the first opening of the container, the lower ring 9 is connected to the lid 1 via a frangible bridge 30, for example visible in fig. 7 to 9, the frangible bridge 30 being intended to break when the lid 1 is opened. These frangible bridges 30 thus constitute indicators of tampering.

The lower ring 9 is axially retained on the neck 2 of the container while still being able to rotate about the axis X with respect to the neck 2 of the container. As depicted in fig. 1, 3 and 4, the lower ring 9 has two parts hinged to each other, in particular a first section 16 and a second section 17, via which first section 16 and second section 17 the lower ring 9 is connected to the lid 1 by means of the hinge means 10.

As depicted in fig. 3, the second section 17 is pivotable upwardly relative to the first section 16 between a lowered position in which at least a majority of the second section 17 is intended to be positioned below the attachment flange 5 and a raised position in which at least a majority of the second section 17 is positioned above the attachment flange 5. This allows the cap 1 to move upwards with respect to the neck 2 of the container until the helical thread 7 of the cap 1 is disengaged from the helical thread 6 formed on the neck 2 of the container. In other words, when the lid 1 is unscrewed, the lower ring 9 is driven rotationally about the axis X, while the second section 17 of the lower ring 9 pivots with respect to the first section 16 up to the raised position, so as to allow the lid 1 to move axially upwards from the closed position to the release position shown in fig. 3. When the cover 1 is pivoted from the release position to the flip-open position, the second section 17 of the lower ring 9 is pivoted in the opposite direction with respect to the first section 16 and is then in the lowered position. Furthermore, when the cover 1 is pivoted from the flipped open position to the release position, the second section 17 is also pivoted from the lowered position to the raised position relative to the first section 16.

The lower ring 9 is axially held 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 outer surface that tapers towards the top, that is to say in a direction towards the aperture 3 of the container. The attachment flange 5 delimits a shoulder towards the bottom, that is to say in the opposite direction to the aperture 3.

As shown in fig. 6, the first section 16 of the lower ring 9 comprises attachment elements 18, the attachment elements 18 being intended to cooperate with attachment flanges 5 formed on the container in order to axially retain the lower ring 9 on the neck 2 of the container. The attachment element 18 is a protrusion protruding radially inwards from the first section 16 of the lower ring 9. Advantageously, the attachment element 18 has a radial dimension that increases from the bottom upwards, that is to say in the direction of the upper edge of the lower ring 9. When the closure is assembled on the neck 2 of the container, the attachment element 18 slides against the frustoconical surface of the attachment flange 5 and is then locked by elastic return behind the attachment flange 5.

The first section 16 of the lower ring 9 comprises a front region 19 and two attachment regions 20, as depicted in fig. 6, the front region 19 being diametrically opposite the second section 17 of the lower ring 9, the two attachment regions 20 being positioned one on each side of the front region 19 and each being positioned between said front region 19 and the second section 17 of the lower ring 9. The attachment element 18 is positioned exclusively in the two attachment areas 20, 21. Thus, since there is no attachment element 18 in the front region 19 of the first section 16, there is a radial gap between the lower ring 9 and the neck 2, which allows the lower ring 9 to move forward and backward. This makes it easier for a portion of the second section 17 to pass either side of the attachment flange 5 as the second section 17 moves between the lowered and raised positions. In other words, the following tension is small: applied to the lower ring 9 so as to allow the second section 17 to pass the tension on either side of the attachment flange 5.

Advantageously, the second section 17 extends over an angular range between 90 ° and 150 °, and for example about 120 °, the front region of the first section 16 extends over an angular range between 90 ° and 150 °, for example about 120 °, while each of the two attachment regions 20, 21 extends over an angular range between 30 ° and 90 °, for example about 60 °.

As is evident from fig. 8 and 9, the front region 19 of the first section 16 has a cutout 31 formed at the upper edge of the lower ring 9. The front region 19 thus has a height measured parallel to the axis X which is smaller than the height of the lower ring 9 outside the front region 19 and smaller than the distance between the neck ring 4 and the attachment flange 5. This makes it possible to increase the radial clearance between the lower ring 9 and the neck 2 still further, since, as illustrated in fig. 5, said cut-out 31 allows the front region 19 of the first section 16 to position itself axially between the neck ring 4 and the attachment flange 5, whereas without such a cut-out 31 the front region would abut against the attachment flange 5.

This arrangement is also advantageous in that it makes it easier to notice whether the frangible bridges 30 have been broken by the first opening of the lid 1, because once the frangible bridges 30 have been broken and thus the lower ring 9 is then connected to the lid 9 by means of the hinge means 10 only, the lower ring 9 becomes tilted forward, so that it is easier to notice that the opening has been tampered with. Furthermore, the lower ring 9 may thus have a greater height outside said front region than the spacing between the neck ring 4 and the attachment flange 5, thereby making it possible to limit the size of the gap formed between the cover 1 and the lower ring 9 and susceptible to allow dust to enter.

Furthermore, as an alternative to the cutout 31 described above or in addition to the cutout 31 described above, the second section 17 of the lower ring 9 also has specific features that make it easier for a portion of the second section 17 to pass either side of the attachment flange 5 when the second section 17 is moved between the lowered and raised positions. As depicted in fig. 6 and 7, the second section 17 of the lower ring has two recesses 32 formed in the inner face of the second section 17. The recesses 32 extend from the central region of the second section 17 as far as each of the two ends of said second section 17.

Furthermore, the recess 31 extends from the lower edge of the lower ring as far as the upper part of the second section 17 of the lower ring 9, which part is intended to face the attachment flange 5 when the second section 17 is in the lowered position. These recesses 31 aim to locally reduce the thickness of the second section 17 in order to make it easier for the second section 17 to pass either side of the attachment flange 5, while maintaining a sufficient pull-off resistance.

The central area of the second section 17 is itself free of recesses, thereby allowing the second section 17 of the lower ring 9 to maintain sufficient rigidity to allow reliable operation of the securing device described below.

In the depicted embodiment, the hinge device 10 comprises two flaps 11, 12, which connect the cover 1, and more particularly the outer peripheral skirt 14 of the cover 1, to the lower ring 9, and more particularly to the second section 17 of the lower ring 9, as is evident in fig. 1 and 4. As shown in fig. 11 and 12, the flaps 11, 12 are symmetrical to each other about a plane of symmetry P, which is perpendicular and passes through the axis X.

The flaps 11, 12 meet the outer peripheral skirt 14 in the recess portion. Also, the flaps 11, 12 advantageously meet the second section 17 of the lower ring 2 in the recess portion. In other words, the flaps 11, 12 extend substantially above the lower limit of the peripheral skirt 9 and substantially below the upper limit of the lower ring 3.

The securing means comprise a protrusion 22, clearly visible in fig. 1, the protrusion 22 being formed in the outer peripheral skirt 14 of the cap 1. The projections 22 protrude axially downwards from the outer peripheral skirt 14 of the cap 1, that is to say in the direction of the lower ring 9. A projection 22 protrudes between the two flaps 11, 12. The projection 22 includes a columnar portion 23, and the columnar portion 23 extends circumferentially between the two sheet members 11, 12 and protrudes radially outward from the projection 22.

The securing means further comprise a protruding portion 24, the protruding portion 24 protruding axially upwards from the second section 17 of the lower ring 9, that is to say towards the outer peripheral skirt 14 of the cap 1. The protruding portion 24 also protrudes between the two sheets 11, 12.

As depicted in fig. 4 and 5, the columnar portion 23 and the protruding portion 24 are arranged such that: when the cover 1 is in the flipped open position, the protruding portion 24 is sandwiched between the columnar portion 23 and the attachment flange 5. In other words, when the cover is in the flipped open position, the pillar 23 and the protruding portion 24 contact each other in an area lying in the plane of the attachment flange 5, and the protruding portion 24 also contacts the attachment flange 5.

As depicted in fig. 11 and 12, respectively, the contact area of the columnar portion 23 with the protruding portion 24 is positioned at a radial distance e1 from the intersection point between the straight line passing through the upper end portions of the sheets 11, 12 and the symmetry plane P, and the contact area of the protruding portion 24 with the columnar portion 23 is positioned at a radial distance e2 from the intersection point between the straight line passing through the lower end portions of the sheets 11, 12 and the symmetry plane P.

The dimension e1 is such that e1> L-e2, where L is the length of the flaps 11, 12 in the initial state of the lid in the closed position. This ensures that the posts 23 are in contact with the projections 24 and that the flaps 11, 12 are forced in tension when the cover 1 is in the flipped open position.

Furthermore, e1> L-e2+e3+e4, wherein e3 is the radial gap between the protruding portion 24 and the attachment flange 5, and e4 is the radial gap between the lower ring 9 and the neck 2 in the anterior/posterior direction, that is to say in a direction radial to the axis X and inscribed in the symmetry plane P. As a preferred solution, e1=l-e2+e3+e4+Δ, where Δ is comprised between 0.05mm and 2mm, and is determined such that the protruding portion 24 is in contact with the attachment flange 5 when the lid 1 is in the flipped open position.

Further, as depicted in fig. 10, when the cover 1 is in the closed position, the upper edge of the contact surface of the columnar portion 23 extends axially below the upper ends of the sheets 11, 12 by a distance d1, the upper edge of the protruding portion 24 extends axially above the lower ends of the sheets 11, 12 by a distance d2, and the upper edge of the attachment flange 5 extends axially above the lower ends of the sheets 11, 12 by a distance d3. Advantageously, the distance d1 is smaller than d2 and smaller than d3.

The kinetics of the cap 1 are as follows. On first unscrewing, the cover 1 moves away from the closed position and away from the lower ring 9 as far as the release position illustrated in fig. 3. The frangible bridge breaks during this movement. Furthermore, during this movement of unscrewing the cover 1, the lower ring 9 rotates about the axis X, and the second section 17 of the lower ring 9 pivots towards the raised position when the cover 1 moves away from the attachment flange 5.

Thereafter, the lid 1 can then be pivoted back in the direction of the flipped open position in which the outer peripheral skirt 14 extends upwardly from the upper wall 13. As the cover 1 is moved back in the direction of its flipped open position, the post 23 is supported against the projection 24 and thus causes the second section 17 of the lower ring 9 to pivot from the raised position to the lowered position.

The ability of the flaps 11, 10 to stretch in combination with the above-described features of the securing means makes it possible to form a hard point in the pivoting of the cover 1 between the release position depicted in fig. 3 and the flipped open position depicted in fig. 4, 5. In other words, the flaps 11, 12 and the fixing means are configured such that during the first portion of the movement of the cover 4 from the release position to the flip-open position, due to the pressure of the cylindrical portion 23 on the protruding portion 24, the two elastic flaps 28, 29 are subjected to a tension that increases up to an intermediate unstable position and then decreases from said intermediate unstable position towards the flip-open position. This allows the cover 1 to be secured in the flipped open position.

As depicted in fig. 5 and 6, when the second section 17 of the lower ring 9 is in the lowered position and at the same time the cover 1 is in its flipped open position, the post 23 presses against the protruding portion 24, the protruding portion 24 thus being sandwiched between said post 23 and the attachment flange 5.

The lid 1 is thus kept in its flipped open position, since due to the arrangement described above the lid 1 cannot be pivoted towards a release position in which the lid 1 faces the dispensing orifice 3 and the second section 17 of the lower ring 9 is kept in a lowered position.

Advantageously, when the lid 1 is in its flipped open position and at the same time the second section 17 of the lower ring 9 is in the lowered position, the lid 1 is opened at an angle greater than 120 °, and advantageously greater than or equal to 145 °, and for example about 180 °. The angle of opening corresponds to the angular segment of the relief: the protruding angular section is formed at the intersection between a plane parallel to the upper wall 13 of the lid 1 and a horizontal plane.

To re-close the lid 1, the user turns the lid 1 forward until the release position. During this overturning, the contact between the post 23 and the protruding portion 24 disappears, and this allows the second section 17 of the lower ring 9 to move towards the raised position.

When the second section 17 is in the raised position and at the same time the cap 1 is in the release position, said cap 1 can be screwed back onto the neck 2 of the container. During the swivel-back, the lower ring 9 rotates about the axis X and the second section 17 of the lower ring 9 pivots towards the lowered position when the cover 1 approaches the attachment flange 5.

Advantageously, the whole of the closure device is moulded in one piece from a 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 the closed position in which it can be mounted directly on the neck 2 of the container.

While the invention has been described in connection with several particular embodiments, it will be evident that the invention is in no way limited thereto and that the invention includes all technical equivalents of the means and combinations thereof, insofar as they come within the scope of the present invention.

Use of the verb "to comprise," "to comprise," or "to comprise" and its conjugations does not exclude the presence of elements or steps other than those stated in a claim.

In the claims, any reference signs placed between parentheses shall not be construed as limiting the claim.

Claims

1. A closure device intended to be fixed to a neck (2) of a container, the neck (2) comprising an aperture (3), a neck ring (4) and an attachment flange (5), the closure device comprising:

-a lower ring (9), which lower ring (9) is axially fixed to the neck (2) and rotatable on the neck (2) about the axis X, which lower ring (9) comprises a first section (16) and a second section (17), which first section (16) comprises an attachment element (18), which attachment element (18) protrudes radially towards the inside of the lower ring (9) and is intended to be positioned below the attachment flange (5) in order to hold the lower ring (9) axially on the neck (2) of the container, which first section (16) and second section (17) of the lower ring (9) are hinged to each other such that the second section (17) is pivotable relative to the first section (16) between a lowered position, in which the second section (17) is positioned below the attachment flange (5), and a raised position, in which the second section (17) is positioned at least partially above the attachment flange (5),

-a cap (1), the cap (1) comprising an upper wall (13) and an outer peripheral skirt (14), the outer peripheral skirt (14) having a helical thread (7), the helical thread (7) being intended to cooperate with a helical thread (6) of the neck (2) so as to allow the cap (1) to move between a closed position and a release position in which the helical thread (7) of the cap (1) is no longer engaged with the helical thread (6) of the neck (2);

-a hinge device connecting the cap (1) to the second section (17) of the lower ring (9) and configured to allow the cap (1) to pivot between the release position and a flipped open position in which the cap (1) is remote from the aperture (3) of the neck (2);

the second section (17) of the lower ring (9) comprises an inner face with at least one recess (32).

2. The closure device according to claim 1, wherein the inner face of the second section (17) comprises two recesses (32), the two recesses (32) extending from a central region of the second section (17) as far as each of the two ends of the second section (17), respectively.

3. A closure device according to claim 2, wherein the central region of the second section (17) is free of recesses (32).

4. A closure device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the at least one recess (32) extends from a lower edge of the second section (17) as far as an upper part of the second section (17) intended to be positioned facing the attachment flange (5) when the second section (17) is in the lowered position.

5. The closure device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the first section (16) comprises a front region (19) and two attachment regions (20), the front region (19) being diametrically opposite the second section (17), the attachment elements (18) being positioned in the two attachment regions (20), and the two attachment regions (20) being positioned with one attachment region (20) each on each side of the front region (19) between the front region (19) and the second section (17).

6. The closing device according to claim 5, wherein the height of the front region (19) of the first section (16) is smaller than the height of the two attachment regions (20) of the first section (16) and smaller than the height of the second section (17), and the front region (19) of the first section (16) is able and intended to become jammed between the neck ring (4) and the attachment flange (5) when the second section (17) is moved between the lowered position and the released position, so as to allow the lower ring (9) to move radially.

7. A closure device according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the front region (19) of the first section (16) extends over an angular range between 40 ° and 150 °.

8. Assembly comprising a closure device according to any one of claims 1 to 6 and a container comprising a neck (2), the neck (2) comprising an aperture (3), a neck ring (4) and an attachment flange (5) positioned axially between the neck ring (4) and the attachment flange (5), the attachment elements (18) of the two attachment areas (20) of the lower ring (9) being positioned below the attachment flange (5) in order to axially retain the lower ring (9) on the neck (2) of the container.

9. Assembly according to claim 8, wherein the height of the front region (19) of the first section (16) is smaller than the spacing between the neck ring (4) and the attachment flange (5).

10. Assembly according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the hinge means comprise two flaps (11, 12), the two flaps (11, 12) connecting the peripheral skirt (14) and the second section (17), the closure means further comprising fixing means configured to fix the lid (1) when the lid (1) is in the flipped open position, the fixing means comprising: a protrusion (22), the protrusion (22) protruding axially from the outer peripheral skirt (14) between the two flaps (11, 12) of the hinge device, and the protrusion (22) comprising a cylindrical portion (23) protruding radially towards the outside; and a protruding portion (24), the protruding portion (24) protruding axially from the second section (17) of the lower ring (9) between the two flaps (11, 12) of the hinge device;

-the pillar (23) and the protruding portion (24) are configured such that: the protruding portion (24) is clamped between the pillar (23) and the attachment flange (5) when the cover (1) is in the flipped open position and the second section (17) of the lower ring (9) is in the lowered position.

11. The assembly of claim 10, wherein e1> L-e2, wherein:

l is the length of the flaps (11, 12) in the initial state of the cover (1) in the closed position;

e1 is the radial distance between the contact area of the cylindrical portion (23) intended to be in contact with the protruding portion (24) when the cover (1) is in the flipped open position and the intersection between a straight line passing through the upper end of the sheet-like element (11, 12) and the plane of symmetry (P) of the sheet-like element (11, 12) with respect to each other; and

e2 is the radial distance between the contact area of the protruding portion (24) intended to be in contact with the pillar (23) when the cover (1) is in the flipped open position and the intersection point between the straight line passing through the lower end of the sheet-like element (11, 12) and the symmetry plane (P).

12. The assembly of claim 11, wherein e1> L-e2+e3+e4, wherein:

e3 is the radial clearance between the lower ring (9) and the neck (2) in a direction radial to the axis X and inscribed in the symmetry plane P; and

e4 is the radial clearance between the protruding portion (24) and the attachment flange (5).

13. The assembly of claim 12, wherein e1=l-e2+e3+e4+Δ, wherein Δ is comprised between 0.05mm and 2 mm.