EP0348324B1 - Opening/closing device with holding means for a pliable plastic sachet - Google Patents

Abstract

Opening/closing device intended to be used in combination with a pliable sachet (18) especially for the packaging of liquid, of the type comprising a shut-off and pouring assembly consisting of a cylindrical shank (1) and of a plug interacting with the said shank and equipped with means for cutting and perforating the wall of the said sachet by screwing or pressure, to allow it to be opened, characterised in that the shank (1) has a means (4) extending radially relative to the latter and allowing it to be grasped by the user at the moment when the said wall is pierced. <IMAGE>

Description

The subject of the present invention is an opening-closing device intended to be used in combination with a flexible bag, in particular for packaging liquids, of the type comprising a closure and pouring assembly constituted by a cylindrical barrel and by a plug cooperating with said barrel and provided with means for cutting and perforating the wall of said bag by screwing or pressure to allow opening.

Devices of this type are known per se.

For example, they were the subject of patent US-A-4,440,316 as well as of the patent application in France FR-A-2,600,974 in the name of the applicant.

The flexible bags concerned have, for example, been the subject, but not limited to, of the patent application in France FR-A-2 554 785 also in the name of the applicant.

For sachets provided with an opening-closing device of the type described above, it is necessary to hold the upper horn of the sachet with one hand during the screwing of the cap, screwing which causes the perforation of the film forming the wall of the sachet in this location.

This solution is quite impractical for most consumers.

Furthermore, there is a risk, in the event of improper handling, that the teeth of the stopper will pierce the opposite wall, which will render the sachet unusable after a first use.

Furthermore, document WO-A-8 000 556 is known which shows a flexible sachet in a rigid container equipped with a pouring-sealing assembly allowing the perforation of the flexible sachet and preventing the perforation of its opposite wall. However, this assembly is attached to the container, which complicates the implementation and increases the cost.

The object of the present invention is to remedy all the aforementioned drawbacks by proposing a device in which there is a rigid or semi-rigid gripping means during the perforation and prohibiting the perforation of the wall opposite to said perforation, means to be simple and inexpensive.

In accordance with the invention, this result is obtained with an opening-closing device intended to be used in combination with a flexible bag, in particular for packaging liquid of the type comprising a closure and pouring assembly constituted by a barrel. cylindrical and by a plug cooperating with said barrel and provided with means for cutting and perforating the wall of said sachet by screwing or pressure to allow opening thereof characterized in that the barrel comprises means extending radially relative to that and allowing gripping by the user when drilling said wall, said means having come integrally with the barrel and consisting of a tongue.

As a variant, said means will consist of two triangular tabs, preferably symmetrical.

We can provide that, in the case of a double tongue, these are flexible enough or each provided with a weakening line to allow the folding of their ends towards the rear of the barrel, at the same time as the gripping. , so as to limit the travel of the plug teeth.

• la figure 1A est une vue en coupe longitudinale d'un dispositif conforme à l'invention,
• la figure 1B est une vue de dessus du dispositif de la figure 1A,
• la figure 1C illustre le fonctionnement dudit dispositif, avec une variante de préhension 1D,
• les figures 2A et 2B sont des variantes des figures précédentes,
• la figure 3A est une vue partielle en coupe longitudinale d'un autre mode de mise en oeuvre avec limitation de la pénétration du bouchon,
• la figure 3B est une vue de dessus du dispositif de la figure 3A,
• la figure 3C illustre le fonctionnement dudit mode de mise en oeuvre,
• la figure 4A est une vue en coupe longitudinale d'un dispositif conforme à l'invention dans lequel le moyen de préhension est la bague d'inviolabilité,
• la figure 4B est une vue de dessus du dispositif de la figure 4A,
• la figure 4C illustre le fonctionnement dudit mode de mise en oeuvre.

The invention will be better understood using the description below made with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

• FIG. 1A is a view in longitudinal section of a device according to the invention,
• FIG. 1B is a top view of the device of FIG. 1A,
• FIG. 1C illustrates the operation of said device, with a variant of gripping 1D,
• FIGS. 2A and 2B are variants of the previous figures,
• FIG. 3A is a partial view in longitudinal section of another embodiment with limitation of the penetration of the plug,
• FIG. 3B is a top view of the device of FIG. 3A,
• FIG. 3C illustrates the operation of said mode of implementation,
• FIG. 4A is a view in longitudinal section of a device according to the invention in which the gripping means is the tamper-evident ring,
• FIG. 4B is a top view of the device of FIG. 4A,
• FIG. 4C illustrates the operation of said mode of implementation.

FIG. 1A shows a device composed of a barrel (1) provided with a thread (2) adapted on a bag of which a wall (3) has been shown which must be torn by a plug coming to be screwed on the barrel (1) and provided with cutting teeth.

For gripping the sachet, which is flexible, a tongue (4) of generally triangular shape with rounded corners is used as means, as shown more clearly in FIG. 1B. Thus the user holds the tongue (4) with one hand and gives the cap a rotational movement with his other hand, which leads to the perforation of the wall (3), therefore the opening of the flexible bag and the possibility of 'pour the contents.

A boss (5) can be provided on the tip of the tongue which will help the user to grasp it.

In the variant of FIGS. 2A and 2B, the structure is identical but double, that is to say that there are two symmetrical tongues (6,7) of structure similar to the previous one.

In this structure, the tongues can be taken between the fingers with one hand and folded back. They then also guarantee, in addition to gripping, that there is no perforation of the opposite wall, which will be explained for the following variant.

FIGS. 3A, 3B and 3C have in fact shown a variant in which each lateral wing (8), two in number, consists of trapezoidal sectors (9, 10) whose small bases (9 ', 10') are arranged towards the upper horn (17) of the bag (18) shown in Figure 3C.

The sectors are linked together by lines of least resistance (11,12). The line (12) will allow a real articulation of the sector (10) on the sector (9) and the line (11) between the sector (9) and the base itself.

Advantageously, the sector (10) will be striated or grooved to facilitate gripping.

Lines (11) and (12) are also involved in the production of the product.

In addition, the line (11) is used to fold the horn before use.

In this way, the user can grasp the sectors between the fingers, as shown in FIG. 3C, which both grips and limits the penetration of the teeth of the stopper, thus avoiding the perforation of the opposite wall of the sachet.

FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate an embodiment in which the barrel (1) came integrally with a tamper-evident ring (13) comprising a gripping tab (14), said ring being connected to said barrel by a flexible bridge (15).

The operation is as follows. To open the bag and perforate it, the user unscrews the cap. Then he releases the tamper-evident ring by taking it by the tongue (14) passing his finger through the orifice (16) of said ring, he can have a gripping point which allows him to screw the cap on the barrel to pierce the wall of the film.

Claims (8)

1. Opening and closing device intended to be used in combination with a flexible sachet (18), particularly for the packaging of liquid, of the type comprising a sealing and pouring assembly formed by a cylindrical handle (1) and by a stopper co-operating with said handle and provided with means for cutting and perforating the wall of said sachet by screwing or pressure in order to permit the opening thereof, characterised in that the handle (1) comprises a means extending radially relative to the latter and permitting the user to grip at the time when said wall is pierced, said means being integrally formed with the handle and comprising a small tongue (4,6,7,8,14,15).
2. Device according to the preceding claim, characterised in that said small tongue (4) has a general triangular configuration with rounded corners.
3. Device according to claim 2, characterised in that the device comprises two symmetrical small tongues (6,7).
4. Device according to any of claims 2 and 3, characterised in that the device comprises two symmetrical small tongues (6,7).
5. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that it comprises two lateral wings (8) formed of trapezoidal portions (9,10), the small bases (9',10') of which are disposed towards the upper horn (17) of the sachet (18).
6. Device according to claim 5, characterised in that said portions are connected to each other and to the collar of the handle by lines of least resistance (11,12).
7. Device according to any of claims 5 and 6, characterised in that the portions (10) are grooved or channelled.
8. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that the handle (1) is integrally formed with an indestructible ring (13) comprising a small gripping tongue (14), said ring being connected to said handle by a flexible trigger-guard (15).

Images