EP0119145B1 - Closure device for a container having a neck and provided with a closure cap - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to the field of neck containers and their caps, provided with a tamper-evident closure element.

According to the prior art, the inviolability of plastic bottles or containers can be achieved by a tearable stopper surmounting the neck. Thus, in patent FR 2 045 875, the upper part of the neck of the container is connected by a thin collar to the skirt of the protective cap, and this collar is cut by a rotation or a depression of this protective cap, a cap distributor can then be screwed in and seal. In the case of this container, in particular relating to drugs, opening is not very easy and the existence of a separate dispenser cap is a complication. Furthermore, in European patent application EP-A-0 001 959, the threaded neck of the flexible tube is extended by a blind tube also threaded connected to the end of the neck by a weakened area of reduced diameter, and during screwing of the capsule which has complementary threads of the threads of the neck and of the blind tube which extends it, the capsule first abuts on the end of the thread of the blind tube and it suffices to force the screwing to break the weakened zone.

The subject of the invention is a device for closing a neck container which, like the device described in document EP-A-0 001 959, is provided with a cap with internal reliefs, said neck carrying a dispensing orifice. surmounted by a tamper-evident seal in one-piece plastic material with the neck, seal whose base is connected by a tear-off zone at the edge of the orifice of said neck and whose head carries external reliefs penetrating into the internal reliefs of the cap, the cooperation of the external reliefs of the cover and of the internal reliefs of the cap allowing the rupture of the cover by rotation of the cap.

• a) les reliefs intérieurs du capuchon sont des nervures longitunales portées par l'intérieur d'une couronne interne du capuchon;
• b) les reliefs extérieurs de l'opercule sont des ailettes ou des stries longitudinales disposées de manière à permettre que l'opercule s'emboîte axialement dans ladite couronne interne du capuchon, cet emboîtement permettant la rupture de l'opercule par rotation du capuchon quel que soit son sens de rotation.

According to the invention:

• a) the internal reliefs of the cap are longitudinal ribs carried by the interior of an internal crown of the cap;
• b) the external reliefs of the cover are fins or longitudinal ridges arranged so as to allow the cover to fit axially in said inner crown of the cap, this interlocking allowing the cover to break by rotation of the cover which whatever its direction of rotation.

The depressed cap generally hides the tamper-evident seal. The cap may have an outside diameter close to the diameter of the body of the container or slightly smaller than this diameter, so that it cannot descend lower than the shoulder of the container. The cooperation of the reliefs of the head of the cover and of the key of the cap is obtained in a different and simpler way than in the device described by document EP-A-0 001 959: the reliefs of the head of the cover fit axially into the internal crown with internal reliefs or "cap key", then causing the centering of the cap and preventing it from rotating relative to the cover and the container. The longitudinal reliefs of the head of the cover, the head which then constitutes the male key of the opening device or "tube key" ', and the reliefs of the "cap key" must therefore be complementary, that is to say ie nestable, but since they are preferably obtained by molding, they can have very varied shapes. In particular, the reliefs of the key of the tube are streaks and the key of the cap is constituted by a crown comprising internal ribs fitting into said streaks, either smoothly - the broken seal detaching from the cap - or force - the cover then remaining integral with the cap or more precisely trapped in the key of the cap.

Also in particular, the internal crown with internal reliefs of the cap is extended by a skirt with an inside diameter close to the outside diameter of the neck of the container, so that this skirt can be engaged on the neck when the cap is put in place for the storage and presentation of the container, so also that it can be engaged more fully on the neck once the lid broken and detached. This cap skirt is then a means of centering the cap on the neck of the container, completing the centering of this cap by fitting the "key of the tube" into the "key of the cap", and coming to relay it from the broken tamper evident seal.

According to a second embodiment of the sealed closure device according to the invention, the base of the tamper-evident seal comprises means for sealing the container after rupture of said seal. In particular, these sealed closing means include a collar and a skirt, the lower lips of which are slightly conical so as to engage in the orifice of the neck when the container is closed. The tamper-evident seal then becomes, after rupture, a sealing seal. To prevent this cover from remaining separate, which would make its use as an inconvenient and hazardous sealing means, the reliefs of the head of the cover and the reliefs of the key of the cap are preferably adjusted so that the head of the 'operculum is forced into the key of the cap and thus the lid remains secured to the cap after it breaks. The cap then carries the sealing means and, after the first opening, the sealed closure of the container is greatly facilitated.

In a third embodiment according to one of the closing devices of a neck container provided with a cap according to the invention, the neck being surmounted by a tamper-evident seal whose base is tearable and whose head comprises reliefs and hood comprising a key, the fitting of which on said reliefs allows the rupture of the cover by the rotation of the cap, the base of the tamper-evident seal also optionally comprising means for sealing the container after rupture of said cover, the neck of the container and the cap comprise complementary screwing means allowing the screwing of the cap for closing the container after rupture of the tamper-evident seal. The neck of the container then carries an external thread and the cap screwing means consists in particular of a complementary thread carried by an intermediate ring between the outer skirt and the key of the cap. Such screwing means allow for example the tightening of the sealing means possibly present at the base of the tamper-evident seal preferably remained secured to the cap after it has broken.

In a fourth embodiment of one of the closure devices of a spout container provided with a cap according to the invention, in the case where the spout carries an external thread, the skirt of the tamper-evident seal is screwed and permanently fixed on the outside thread of the neck. The necked container may for example be made of plastic or of a metalloplastic complex, of painted metal, of bare or coated glass, of porcelain or ceramic, and the fixing of the lid with an internally threaded skirt at its base can be made typically. by welding, gluing, by clip, by snap-fastening or by local deformation. The skirt of the cover has a tear-off zone directly above the edge of the orifice. The ruptured lid may comprise at its base means for sealing the container, constituted as above by a collar and by the ruptured skirt. The exterior of the part of the skirt screwed and permanently fixed to the neck may itself include an external thread complementary to a means for screwing the cap.

In a fifth embodiment of a closure device for a necked container provided with a cap comprising a tamper-evident seal surmounting the neck of the container, a seal whose head has reliefs on its periphery, and whose cap comprises a key, the fitting of which on said reliefs allows the rupture of the cover by the rotation of the cap, this device is characterized in that the base of the cover consists of a flared skirt whose end is connected by injection obliquely at the edge of the neck opening. The oblique arrangement of the circumference of the flared skirt of the base of the cover has the effect that, after rupture along the zone of weakness formed by the connection of the skirt with the edge of the orifice and possibly with some points from the inside surface of the neck, the base of the seal can be pushed into the orifice when filling with the broken seal.

When the orifice is circular, the flared skirt of the cover is an interesting sealing solution for storage, especially when the diameter of the orifice is relatively large and between 5 and 15 mm. The oblique injection precision of the flared skirt is then less critical than the injection precision of the lower lip of the cover in a direction substantially parallel to the axis of the orifice of the neck. And, once the cover is broken, the cover can be used for filling, in association or not with the cap, its base can then be pressed into the orifice, even if the outline of the broken end slightly exceeds the contour of the orifice, this thin end, for example 0.2 to 0.4 mm, being flexible like the lip of a seal. This filling thus provides a seal or a good semi-seal for intermediate storage.

When the orifice is fancy, that is to say has a sinuous outline, the end of the flared skirt of the cover is likewise connected by injection at an oblique angle to the edge of the orifice of the neck. This end of the skirt of the cover consists firstly of parts welded to the edge of the raised parts of the contour of the orifice of the neck, at the meeting of the injection cone and the edge of the orifice , and on the other hand by webs of thermoplastic material which continue the welded parts and penetrate obliquely inside the hollow parts of the outline of the orifice. The veils injected obliquely penetrate into the hollow parts of the orifice. The end points of these webs penetrating obliquely into the hollow parts are either very close to the internal wall of the neck, or often discreetly or discontinuously welded to this internal wall. The end of the flared skirt injected obliquely provides an improved semi-sealed obturation of the hollow parts of the orifice, this obturation is in fact much more complete than that obtained with a lower lip injected in a direction substantially parallel to the axis of the orifice. Such an improvement is usually obtained with injection directions making angles of 30 ° to 80 °, and preferably from 45 ° to 75 °, with the axis of the orifice. In this solution, the end of the flared skirt of the cover constitutes a zone of weakness of discontinuous resistance, its welding at the neck being ensured and having a marked mechanical resistance only on the edge of the raised parts of the contour of the neck opening, and the rupture of the cover is facilitated. After rupture, the end of the flared skirt of the cover can be pushed into the orifice, the outline of the end of the broken cover being substantially complementary to the outline of the orifice and the flexibility of the broken end allowing the seal to be inserted into the orifice, even if the two contours are disoriented relative to each other, the outside of the ruptured portion of the seal then locally protruding from the reliefs the outline of the hole. The partial bending of the end of the flared skirt during the insertion of the cover into the orifice of the neck contributes to the holding of this semi-sealed filling means which constitutes the broken cover.

When the base of the cover is thus constituted by a flared skirt, the end of which is connected to the edge of the orifice of the neck, the head of the cover which has reliefs on its periphery and the crown of the key of the cap. that fits this head usually have smaller outside diameters than the outside diameter of the neck. An intermediate crown with an internal diameter close to the external diameter of the neck of the container is then preferably present inside the cap, this intermediate crown being able to be engaged on the neck when the cap is put in place for the storage and presentation of the container, and which can then be engaged more fully on the neck once the seal has been broken and either detached, or pressed in for the semi-sealed filling.

In the case of semi-waterproof filling using the cover with a flared skirt after its rupture, the reliefs of the head of the cover and those of the key of the cap preferably fit together forcefully, so that the cover remains prisoner of the hood key once the end of her flared skirt is broken. The alignment of the cover is then fixed relative to the cap, the semi-sealed filling of the container is easily obtained by the establishment and the insertion of the cap on the neck. For this filling, the stopping position of the insertion of the cover in the key of the cap can be conditioned either by the end of the injection core of the cover, which end then abuts in the bottom of the cap, either by the length of the skirt extending the crown of the key of the cap, skirt which then abuts on the flared skirt of the cover.

The jamming of the broken seal in the key of the cap thus facilitating the filling, the quality of this semi-sealed filling is further improved by a particular structure of the cap, in which the crown of the key of the cap comprises a skirt of outside diameter. less than or approximately equal to the smallest inside diameter of the neck orifice, i.e. the diameter corresponding to the raised parts of the outline of this orifice, so that this skirt of the crown of the key of the cap penetrates in the hole following the end of the seal broken during the filling. The stop position of the cap is then adjusted either by the length of the intermediate crown, or by the length of the outer skirt of the cap, or even by the length of the intermediate crown abutting on the shoulder of the container at the base. bottleneck.

When it comprises a cover with a flared skirt, the device of the invention may also comprise, particularly in the case where the orifice of the neck is circular or else has sinuosities of shallow depth and preferably less than 1 mm, means complementary screwing of the neck of the container and the cap, allowing a screwed closure during recapping. The screwing means of the cap is then preferably a thread carried by an intermediate crown coming to engage on the neck during the positioning of the cap for the storage and the presentation of the container, and being able to engage more fully and be screwed onto the neck once the seal has been broken, so as to better ensure the closure in the semi-sealed filling of the container.

Examination of the drawings relating to six particular examples of sealing devices according to the invention, the containers being shown diagrammatically therewith with a skirt length limited according to the needs of the diagrams, before filling and closing of the lower end of the skirt by a means known to those skilled in the art such as heat sealing with crushing, will allow a better understanding of the invention and its various aspects. The same references or references are used for elements which are similar and have the same function.

FIG. 1 shows in longitudinal axial half-section a first example of a closure device according to the invention, in which the orifice of the neck is circular, the cap being in the process of being inserted.

Figure 2 shows in longitudinal axial half-section a second example of a closure device according to the invention, in which the orifice of the neck is fancy, the cap being pressed.

Figure 3 shows a top view of the outline of the fancy orifice of the neck in this second example.

FIG. 4 shows in longitudinal axial half-section the closure device of this same second example just after rupture of the cover.

Figure 5 shows in longitudinal axial half-section the same closure device, the cap being replaced after any of the openings.

FIG. 6 shows in longitudinal axial half-section a third example of a closure device according to the invention, in which the base of the tamper-evident seal includes means for sealing the container after the seal has broken and in which the neck and the cap comprise complementary screwing means making it possible to better ensure this tight closure, the cap being in the process of being inserted.

Figure 7 shows in longitudinal axial half-section the same third example of a closure device, the cap being pushed in.

Figure 8 shows in longitudinal axial half-section the same device after rupture of the cover and lifting of the cap, the cover remaining integral with the cap.

• La figure 10 représente en demi-coupe axiale longitudinale un quatrième exemple de dispositif de fermeture selon l'invention, dans lequel la jupe de l'opercule d'inviolabilité comporte, en dessous des moyens de fermeture étanche du récipient après rupture de l'opercule, une partie filetée vissée à demeure sur le goulot d'un récipient.
• La figure 11 représente en demi-coupe axiale longitudinale le même quatrième exemple de dispositif de fermeture, l'opercule étant rompu et le récipient étant refermé comme dans le cas du troisième exemple.
• La figure 12 représente en demi-coupe axiale longitudinale un cinquième exemple de dispositif de fermeture selon l'invention, dans lequel la base de l'opercule est constituée par une jupe évasée, le capuchon n'étant pas encore enfoncé sur le goulot.
• La figure 13 représente en demi-coupe axiale longitudinale le dispositif du même exemple, le capuchon étant enfoncé.
• La figure 14 représente en vue de dessous le contour de l'orifice de fantaisie du goulot dans ce même exemple de dispositif selon la présente invention.
• La figure 15 représente en demi-coupe axiale longitudinale le dispositif de fermeture de ce même exemple, juste après rupture de l'opercule.
• La figure 16 représente en demi-coupe axiale longitudinale le même dispositif, le récipient étant en début de rebouchage.
• La figure 17 représente en demi-coupe axiale longitudinale le même dispositif, le récipient étant rebouché.
• La figure 18 représente en demi-coupe axiale longitudinale un sixième exemple de dispositif de fermeture selon l'invention, dans lequel le goulot et une couronne intermédiaire du capuchon comportent des moyens de vissage complémentaires coopérant lors des rebouchages.

FIG. 9 shows the same device in longitudinal axial half-section, the container then being closed in a leaktight manner by means of the screwing means and the leaktight closing means present at the base of the cover which remains integral with the cap.

• FIG. 10 shows in longitudinal axial half-section a fourth example of a closure device according to the invention, in which the skirt of the tamper-evident seal has, below the means for sealing the container after the seal has broken , a threaded part permanently screwed onto the neck of a container.
• Figure 11 shows in longitudinal axial half-section the same fourth example of a closure device, the cover being broken and the container being closed as in the case of the third example.
• FIG. 12 shows in longitudinal axial half-section a fifth example of a closure device according to the invention, in which the base of the cover consists of a flared skirt, the cap not yet being pressed onto the neck.
• FIG. 13 shows in longitudinal axial half-section the device of the same example, the cap being pushed in.
• FIG. 14 shows a view from below of the outline of the fancy orifice of the neck in this same example of a device according to the present invention.
• FIG. 15 shows in longitudinal axial half-section the closure device of this same example, just after rupture of the cover.
• FIG. 16 shows the same device in longitudinal axial half-section, the container being at the start of filling.
• FIG. 17 shows the same device in longitudinal axial half-section, the container being capped.
• FIG. 18 shows in longitudinal axial half-section a sixth example of a closure device according to the invention, in which the neck and an intermediate crown of the cap comprise complementary screwing means cooperating during the plugging.

On the container of Figure 1, the neck (1) of the container has a circular orifice (2) on the edge of which is welded or molded the lower end (3) of the skirt of the lid (4), lower end thinned and positioned so as to adjust the breaking strength of the cover by rotation of the cap. The head of the cover (4) has reliefs (5) in the form of fins and constitutes the key to the tube (6) whose overall diameter is slightly less than the inside diameter of the crown (7) of the cap ( 8) which carries internal ribs (9) with progressive entry (10) so as to facilitate the introduction and fitting of the key of the tube (6) into the key of the cap (11) constituted by the crown (7) and by the ribs (9). The crown (7) extends beyond the key (11) and its smooth skirt (12) engages first of all on the key of the tube (6) so that this key (6) and the key of the cap (11) are automatically aligned.

The second example differs from the first example only in the presence of a fancy orifice (13) on the neck (1) (Figure 2). This fancy orifice (13) can have a variable shape, and Figure 3 gives an example. The crown of the injection points (14) (FIGS. 2 and 3) corresponds substantially to the internal vertices (15) of the sinuosities of the contour of the orifice so that the connection of the lower end (3) of the skirt of the the cover (4) has better resistance and tightness at the location of the tops (15) than between these tops where the web of thermoplastic material may be less solid and not completely waterproof. These characteristics of the connection of the end (3) of the skirt with the neck (1) at the edge of the fancy orifice (13) strongly depend on the contour adopted for this fancy orifice.

The description now made about the second example also relates to the first example. Figure 2 shows the cap pressed. The skirt (12) of the crown (7) of the cap (8) has an internal diameter close to the external diameter of the neck (1) of the container so that the neck (1) fits into this skirt (12) when the establishment of the cap (8) for the storage and presentation of the container. This centering of the cap (8) by the fitting of the neck (1) in the skirt (12) completes its centering by the initial fitting of the key of the tube (6) in the key of the cap (11). ).

The key of the cap (11) is thus held more firmly on the head of the cover constituting the key of the tube (6), which facilitates the opening of the container by rotation of the cap (8). This opening is obtained by rotating the cap in one direction or the other, for example for an angle of rotation between 30 ° and 60 °. In Figure 4, we can see the orifice (13) of the neck (1) released from the cover (4) which surmounted it and produced the inviolability as well as the tightness or semi-tightness. The cover (4) carrying the key of the tube (6) has been broken by shearing of the lower end (3) of its skirt, and this cover falls, so that subsequently the cap (8) can be pushed in. deeper on the neck (1) for closing the container (Figure 5), the descent of the skirt (12) on the neck (1) is no longer limited by the ribs (9). The tightness of this closure is imperfect and is suitable, for example, for storing pasty products or for storing the standing container while the contained product is in use.

The third example relates to an improved closing device comprising, in addition to the means described above, screwing means and sealed closing means. In Figure 6, we can see a container whose neck (1) has at its base an external thread (16) and at its upper part a preferably circular orifice (2) surmounted by a tamper-evident seal (4) whose lower skirt (3) is surmounted by a cup (17) and whose head constituting the key of the tube (6) comprises reliefs (5) in the form of fins or streaks. The cup (17) has a diameter close to the outside diameter of the neck (1) and the key of the tube (6) has a smaller diameter. The cap (8) comprises a key (11) constituted by a crown (7) and by ribs (9), a key in which the key of the tube (6) fits, the descent of the cap then being guided by the cup (17) (Figure 7). The cap (8) also comprises an intermediate crown (18) carrying at the end an internal thread (19). When the cap (8) is pushed in, the end of this intermediate ring (18) sinks onto the outside of the neck, the thread (19) being hollow and the end (20) of the ring (18) being thinned. This intermediate ring (18) is thus at this stage a means of centering the cap (8), which by holding the cap more firmly on the key of the tube (6) facilitates the opening of the container by rotation of the cap (8).

After opening (FIG. 8) thanks to the rupture of the lower lip (3) of the tamper-evident seal (4) by means of a rotation of the cap (8), the reliefs of the head of the seal or " tube key "(6) and the ribs (9) of the cap key (11) having been adjusted so that the fitting of the cover (4) is effected when the cap (8) is pushed in , the cover (4) remains trapped in the key (11) of the cap (8). The lower lip (3) of the cover (4) is on its slightly conical outer periphery, so that when the cap (8) is replaced (Figure 9) and screwed onto the neck, this lower lip (3) enters the orifice (2), the flange (17) being applied on the edge (21) of the upper end of the neck (1). The sealing means (3) and (17) thus play the role of lip seal and they are used in the closure device of the invention, whether or not there are screwing means, that the closure of the container after rupture of the tamper-evident seal is done by simple pressing or with screwing.

The fourth example relates to a closure device different from the device of the third example in that the skirt of the tamper-evident seal is threaded at its lower part and permanently screwed onto the external thread of the neck of a container, for example d 'a commercial glass container. In FIG. 10, it can be seen that the tamper-evident seal (4) comprises below the cup (17) a skirt (3) the lower part of which can be broken and which is extended by a lower skirt (22 ) internally and externally threaded. The lid was screwed thanks to the internal thread of the skirt (22) on the thread (16) of the neck (1) of the container and it is permanently fixed there. In the position shown in FIG. 10, the cap (8) is engaged until the crown (7) of the key (11) comes to abut on the cup (17) and, the key (11) being fitted in the key of the tube (6), a rotation of the cap (8) will be enough to cause the tearing of the lower part of the skirt (3), at the limit of the lower skirt (22) which constitutes a "neck". We are then brought back to the case of the third example and, in the same way, an intermediate crown (18) of the cap (8) carries means for screwing the cap onto the "over-neck" (22) and, during screwing, the skirt (3) enters the orifice (2) and the collar (17) is applied to the edge of the "over-neck" (22) as shown in FIG. 11.

The fifth example concerns a device in which the base of the cover is constituted by a flared skirt. The closure device of FIG. 12 comprises, like the devices of the preceding examples, a tamper-evident seal (4) surmounting the neck (1) of the container, seal (4) whose head constituting the key of the tube (6) comprises on its circumference reliefs (5), and a key (11) inside the cap constituted by a crown (7) and internal ribs (9), the introduction and fitting of the key of the tube (6) in the key of the cap (11) being possibly facilitated by a progressive entry (10) of the internal ribs (9) and / or by an extension of the crown (7) by a smooth skirt which engages in the first place on the key of the tube (6) by aligning the axes of the key of the tube (6) and the key of the cap (11). The base of the cover (4) of the closure device of FIG. 12 is constituted by a flared skirt (42), the end (23) of which is connected to the edge of the orifice (24) of the neck (1) . The crown (7) of the key of the cap (11), which fits the head of the cover constituting the key of the tube (6), has an outside diameter smaller than the outside diameter of the neck (1), and a crown smooth intermediate (25) fitting this neck (1) facilitates the fitting of the cap (8) during storage and during recapping.

FIG. 13 represents the same device, the cap being pressed on the neck (1) and on its cover (4). The intermediate crown (25) fits the neck (1) and the key of the cap (11) fits the key of the tube (6), the stop position of the insertion of the cap is here adjusted by the bottom stop of the skirt of the crown (7) on the flared skirt (42) of the base of the cover (4).

FIG. 14 shows the outline of a fancy orifice which may correspond in particular to the orifices of FIGS. 12, 13, 15 and 16 and which differs from the outline given by way of example in FIG. 3 in that the recesses (26) are relatively wide, which allows the webs of thermoplastic material (27) identified in Figures 13, 15, 16, to have a good extension in depth, coming very close to the inner wall of the neck (28) or even coming in places touch or weld on this wall (28). The section of the injection cone by the plane of the contour of the orifice is the injection circle or crown of the injection points (29), the plastic is welded to the raised parts in the areas such as (30) and is projected obliquely into the hollow parts (26) forming a veil (27), while near the wall (28) or up to this wall as just described.

FIG. 15 represents the container and its cap (8) after rupture of the cover (4) by rotation of the cap (8) from the position "cap pushed in" in FIG. 13. The end of the flared skirt ( 42) broken leaves possibly small fragments of plastic material (31) on the raised parts (30). The cover (4) has a force fit into the key of the cap (11), so that it remains secured to the cap (8) after it has broken.

FIG. 16 represents the same container at the start of filling. The end (32) of the flared skirt (42) comes to rest on the edge of the orifice and it begins to curl upwards. The webs (27) partially penetrate at least into the recesses (26).

FIG. 17 shows the same capped container. The skirt of the crown (7) of the key to the cap has an outside diameter approximately equal to or slightly less than the smallest inside diameter of the orifice (24) of the neck (1), and it has penetrated into the orifice (24 ) during filling, which makes it possible to restrict the volume of residual air in the container and possibly to make the filling more resistant. The stop position of the cap (8) is here adjusted by the length of its outer skirt (33) which abuts on the shoulder (34) of the container.

FIG. 18 shows a sixth example of a closure device according to the present invention, in which, as in the fifth example, there is a cover with a flared skirt (42) and a crown (7) of the key of the cap capable of s '' fit into the orifice (24) of the neck (1), but in which the intermediate ring (18) carries at its end an internal thread (19) cooperating with an external thread (16) carried by the base of the neck (1 ). These screwing means do not intervene until the cover is broken, they only cooperate when the cover is broken and the cap is pushed in during the filling. During the screwing, the ruptured end of the flared skirt (32), and in particular the sails which corresponded to the hollow parts, rubs lightly against the raised parts by bending upwards. A shortening of the raised parts can allow an end of the free screwing.

A practical numerical example, in which the reliefs (5) of the head of the cover (4) and the internal reliefs (9) of the key (11) of the cap (8) fit sufficiently "forcibly" so that the cover (4) broken by rotation of the fitted cap (8) remains trapped in this cap (8), is given below to complete the description. This practical example corresponds to FIGS. 12 and 13 as regards both this force fitting as well as the fitting of the neck (1) by an intermediate ring (25) present inside the cap (8). However, in a different manner, the orifice (24) of the neck (1) is circular and the base of the cover (4) is no longer a flared skirt (42) but a collar with an outside diameter slightly smaller than the diameter of the neck orifice, injected perpendicular to the axis of the neck (1) so that the lower edge of its periphery is welded to the open end of the orifice (24) of the neck (1), thus achieving a tight connection with local thinning easy to break. This arrangement provides a very good relative seal for the recapping of the corresponding container, which must contain, for example, a paste or food gum possibly consumed in several installments. The geometry and dimensions are as follows:

. cylindrical container made of low density polyethylene with a thickness of 0.4mm and a skirt diameter of 33mm, with a molded head of thickness 0.8 to 1.2mm, ending in a neck (1) with an outside diameter of 17mm and a height of 12mm surmounted an orifice (24) with a diameter of 11.5mm and a cover (4) comprising at its base a collar with a diameter of llmm and a thickness of 1mm surmounted by 12 ribs or fins (5) with a total height of 8mm and upper ends chamfered at 45 ° to facilitate fitting of the key (11) of the cap (8), said collar being connected by the lower edge of its periphery to the open end of the orifice (24) of the neck (1 ) with local thinning of the polyethylene to a thickness of approximately 0.3 mm;

. polypropylene cap (8) with an external diameter of 31 mm and a height of 26mm, carrying on the inside an intermediate crown (25) with an external diameter of 20mm x internal diameter of 16.8mm x height of 19mm with a chamfered end inwards to facilitate 'fitting the neck (1), and with a crown (7) of the key (11) of the cap with an outside diameter of 12mm x height 11mm carrying 12 interior ribs (9) of height 11mm with progressive entry;

. the ribs (5) carried by the cover have a diameter on the bottom of grooves of 8mm and a diameter on ribs of 10mm, they have a profile at 60 ° in cross section;

. the inner ribs (9) of the key (11) of the cap (8) have a diameter between ribs of 8.2mm and a diameter between the ribs of 10.2mm, with a profile at 60 ° in cross section.

It is noted that after rupture of the cover (4), it remains trapped in the key (11). This is probably related to the friction between the reliefs thus nested on 8 to 10mm; this can also be linked to the slight deformation noted on the ribs (5) of the cover (4) after extraction of the latter from the key (11) with pliers, this deformation being due to the rotational force relative exerted on the cover until the shear rupture of its thinned part. At the same time, an almost free or slightly forceful initial casing was obtained, casing nevertheless causing the retention of the cover (4) in the key (11) of the cap (8) after rupture of the cover (4). When filling, the ruptured flange enters the hole slightly with force and with very little play, giving good relative tightness.

Generally, in the closure device of a container with a circular cylindrical skirt fitted with its cap according to the invention, the ease of rupture of the tamper-evident seal by rotation of the cap essentially depends on the perimeter of the lip. (3), the thickness of the material in the rupture zone, the resistance to rupture of the material, the outside diameter of the skirt of the container which is held with one hand during opening and the outer diameter of the cap that is rotated with the other hand. Typically, the outer diameter of the cap and the outer diameter of the skirt of the cap can be of the same order of magnitude and between 25 and 40 mm approximately to facilitate gripping, the material of the ruptured area is a thermoplastic polymer and its thickness in the rupture zone is 0.1 to 0.3 mm, and the diameter of the lip (3), close to the diameter of the orifice (2) or the diameter of the crown of the injection points (14 ) from the fancy opening (13), varies from 2.5 to 10 mm. The opening torque is then typically between 10 N.m and 90 N.m.

When it is more particularly a fancy orifice and a cover with a flared skirt according to the present invention, the opening torque depends in particular on the number of raised portions of the outline of the neck orifice and of the width of the parts of thermoplastic material welded to these raised parts, this width being itself influenced by the opening of the injection cone or by the angle of the injection direction. The fancy orifice having an injection circle of diameter between 5 and 15mm, the number of raised parts of the outline of the orifice being between 5 and 20, the width of the welded parts varying between 0.5 and 2 , 5 mm and their thickness varying between 0.2 and 0.4 mm, the opening torque corresponding to a cap with an outside diameter of between 25 and 40 mm is then typically between 10 and 30 Nm

The container of the invention is typically made from a portion of tube made of polyfine or another thermoplastic material or a metalloplastic complex, on which is welded or overmolded the neck surmounted by the tamper-evident seal. The injection molding process is known to those skilled in the art, in particular by patent FR 1 047 737. Overmolding can also be carried out in two stages, overmolding the neck on the end of the tube portion first and then overmolding of the tamper-evident seal. The container can also be made of internally painted metal, glass or porcelain.

The cap is produced for example by molding from thermoplastic or thermosetting polymers.

The closure device of the invention applies to any type of container comprising a neck, independently of their manufacturing process, the neck being produced in advance or at the same time as the cover. In particular, the device applies to packaging produced by extrusion blow molding, by injection or by injection blow molding.

The device of the invention is used essentially in the field of food products for liquids, syrups, creams, products in a pasty state or in the form of gums, and for products in a divided state; in the field of pharmaceutical, hygienic or cosmetic products; in all previous presentations or consistencies, and in the area of chemicals and maintenance. The various embodiments of the device of the invention allow a plurality of solutions to the practical problems posed by the storage, the ease of opening and the use of these various products. The outer surfaces of the neck container and the cap can be decorated.

Claims (14)

1. Closure device for a container having a neck (1) equipped with a cap (8) with internal reliefs (9), said neck (1) bearing a distribution orifice (2) surmounted by a tamper-proof cover (4) composed of plastics material and integral with the neck (1), the base of the cover (4) being connected by a tear zone to the edge of the orifice (2) of said neck (1) and the head of the cover (4) bearing external reliefs (5) penetrating into the internal reliefs (9) of the cap (8), the cooperation of the external reliefs (5) of the cover (4) and the internal reliefs (9) of the cap (8) allowing the cover (4) to be ruptured by rotation of the cap (8), characterised in that:

a) the internal reliefs (9) of the cap (8) are longitudinal ribs borne by the interior of an internal crown (7) of the cap (8):

b) the external reliefs (5) of the cover (4) are longitudinal fins (5) or ridges arranged so as to allow the cover (4) to fit axially in said internal crown (7), said fitting allowing the cover (4) to be ruptured by rotation of the cap (8), whatever its direction of rotation.

2. A device according to claim 1, characterised in that the internal crown (7) of the cap (8) is extended by a skirt (12) having an internal diameter close to the external diameter of the neck (1) of the container, the neck (1) fitting in the skirt (12) when the cap (8) is positioned and when the container is re-stoppered.

3. A device according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterised in that the base of the tamper-proof cover (4) bears means (3, 17) for the tight closure of the container after rupture of said cover (4), said closure means comprising a collar (17) as well as a skirt (3) of which the lower lip is slightly conical so as to engage in the orifice (2) of the neck (1) during closure.

4. A device according to claim 3, characterised in that the skirt (22) of the tamper-proof cover (4) is screwed and fixed definitively on the external thread (16) of the neck (1).

5. A device according to claim 4, characterised in that the skirt (22) of the tamper-proof cover (4) and the cap (8) comprise complementary screwing means allowing the cap (8) to be screwed for closing the container after rupture of the tamper-proof cover (4).

6. A device according to claim 1, characterised in that the base of the cover (4) is constituted by an expanded skirt (42) of which the end (23) is connected by oblique injection to the edge of the orifice (24) of the neck (1), the base (42) of the cover (4) then being able to be sunk in the orifice (24) of the neck (1) after rupture of the cover (4) so as to improve re-stoppering.

7. A device according to claim 6, characterised in that the end (23) of the expanded skirt (42) of the cover (4), connected by oblique injection to the side of the orifice (24) of the neck (1), is constituted on the one hand by portions welded on the edge of the relief portions (30) of the contour of the neck orifice and in continuity, on the other hand, by webs of plastic material (27) penetrating obliquely inside the hollow portions (26) of said orifice (1) in which they are welded to the internal wall (28) of the neck (1) only in discrete or discontinuous manner, the end (23) of the expanded skirt (42) of the cover (4) thus constituting a weakness zone of discontinuous resistance and being able to be sunk into the orifice (24) of the neck (1) after rupture of the cover (4) so as to improve re-stoppering.

8. A device according to claim 6 or claim 7, characterised in that the internal crown (7) of the cap (8) comprises a skirt having an external diameter smaller than or approximately equal to the smallest internal diameter of the orifice (24) of the neck (1) so that it penetrates into the orifice (24) of the neck (1) during re-stoppering.

9. A device according to claim 1, characterised in that the base of the cover (4) is constituted by a collar having an external diameter which is slightly smaller than the diameter of the orifice (24) of the neck (1), the lower edge of the periphery of said collar being welded to the open end of said orifice (24).

10. A device according to any one of claims 1 or 6, characterised in that the interior of the cap (8) comprises an intermediate crown (18, 25) which fits the neck (1) of the container when it is being stoppered and re-stoppered.

11. A device according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterised in that the top of the cover (4) is force-fitted into the internal reliefs (9) of the internal crown (7) of the cap (8) so that the cover (4) remains locked in the cap (8) after rupture of the cover (4).

12. A device according to any one of claims 1 and 3 to 11, characterised in that the neck (1) of the container and the cap (8) comrise complementary screwing means (16, 19) enabling the cap (8) to be screwed for closing the container once the tamper-proof cover (4) has been ruptured.

13. A device according to claim 12, characterised in that the means for screwing the cap (8) is a screw thread (19) borne by an intermediate crown (18) between the external skirt and the internal crown (7) of the cap (8), said intermediate crown (18) engaging on the neck (1) when the cap (8) is positioned and being able to engage more deeply with screwing on the neck (1) once the cover (4) has been ruptured.

14. A container with a neck (1) and cap (8) according to any one of claims 1 to 13, characterised in that the container is produced from a thermoplastic polymer or from a combination of thermoplastic polymers and in that the cap (8) is produced from a thermoplastic or thermosetting polymer.

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