EP0427627B1 - Plastic material, one-piece, spouted cap - Google Patents

Abstract

Plastic material, one-piece, spouted cap comprising a flap (9) connected via a tearable thin skin (membrane) (13) to the body of the cap so that when the flap (9) is opened for the first time the thin skin (membrane) (13) tears and the flap (9) pivots about an upper thin skin (membrane) (14) in order to clear a flow orifice (9a). <IMAGE>

Description

The present invention relates to a pouring capsule made in one piece of plastic material, comprising means for its permanent fixing on a neck of a bottle or flask, and means for controlled flow of the liquid contained in the bottle or vial.

One-piece screw or snap-on capsules are known, removably attached to a bottle or flask neck. The flow to the liquid contained in the bottle or the bottle takes place after removal of the cap, which does not allow a controlled and metered flow.

There are also known one-piece capsules fixed permanently by snap-fastening and comprising a central stud which is initially closed and must be cut using a knife to allow the liquid contained in the bottle or the bottle to flow. These capsules, used in particular for vinegar, liquid dish detergent, etc., allow a regulated flow and a watering almost to the drip, but are not resealable.

We also know, especially for oil, vinegar, syrups, etc., many versions of pouring caps with regulated and metered flow. These caps, made up of a pourer and a stopper capsule, can be closed, but the capsule is lost. In addition, the cost price of these two-piece pouring caps is relatively high.

Document GB-A-670 650 discloses a one-piece pouring capsule comprising a body with means for permanent fixing on a neck of a bottle or flask, and with means for regulated flow of the liquid contained in the bottle or the bottle, and a frangible cover closing an orifice for the direct flow of the liquid in a direction substantially parallel to the axis of the capsule and the bottle or the bottle. Under the effect of a pressure exerted downwards on the cover, the latter can be pierced to clear the flow orifice.

Document EP-A-0 224 593 relates to a pouring capsule made in one piece of plastic material for boxes for packaging liquid. This capsule comprises a body with means for its permanent fixing in a hole in the box, and with means for draining the liquid contained in the box, a shutter closing the liquid outlet orifice and connected on all its periphery to the body of the capsule by a thin veil, and an external actuating member disposed on the flap so that during the first actuation of said member, the veil is torn around the entire periphery of the flap, except opposite of the actuating member where the web forms a pivot axis for the shutter. The orifice released by the flap is also such that it allows direct flow of the liquid in a direction substantially parallel to the axis of the capsule.

The subject of the present invention is a pouring capsule which, while being produced in one piece, at a reduced cost price, either of the tamper-evident type before the first opening, allows a regulated flow, either resealable and does not include any lost items.

The invention also relates to a one-piece capsule designed so as to prevent inadvertent opening as much as possible.

Finally, the subject of the invention is a one-piece capsule allowing dosing of the flow of the liquid, up to the drip.

The pouring cap as claimed, made in one piece of plastic material, comprises a body with means for its permanent fixing on a neck of a bottle or bottle and with means for regulated flow of the liquid contained in the bottle or the bottle. It further comprises a flap which, until the first use, occupies a substantially vertical position, that is to say parallel to the axis of the capsule and of the bottle or flask and is connected on all its periphery to the body of the capsule by a thin veil by closing the liquid flow orifice. It further comprises an external actuating member disposed on the flap so that during the first actuation of said member, the veil is torn around the entire periphery of the flap, except along the upper edge where the veil forms an axis of pivoting for the flap which thus releases the orifice for the flow of the liquid in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axis of the capsule.

Preferably, the flap is disposed at the bottom of a radial recess provided in an upper part of the capsule. This avoids untimely operation of the shutter.

For the same purpose, it is advantageous for the shutter actuation member to be constituted by a tab projecting from the shutter without substantially breaking up said recess when the shutter is closed.

According to a preferred embodiment, the shutter actuating member is constituted by a tab projecting horizontally in radial airection outwards on the formed shutter, so as to be substantially coincident with the upper wall of the capsule, the location of said niche.

It is also advantageous to provide an externally stiffening spacer between the actuating tab and the flap.

To further improve the dosing possibility liquid flow, it is advantageous that the flap has a shape substantially in isosceles triangle, the base of the triangle corresponding to the horizontal upper pivot hinge of the flap.

• la figure 1 est une vue de face d'une capsule conforme à l'invention, avant la première ouverture;
• la figure 2 est une coupe suivant II-II de la figure 1;
• la figure 3 est une vue de face de la capsule de la figure 1, après ouverture du volet;
• la figure 4 est une coupe suivant IV-IV de la figure 3.

Referring to the appended schematic drawings, there will be described below in more detail an illustrative and nonlimiting embodiment of a capsule according to the invention; on the drawings:

• Figure 1 is a front view of a capsule according to the invention, before the first opening;
• Figure 2 is a section along II-II of Figure 1;
• Figure 3 is a front view of the capsule of Figure 1, after opening the shutter;
• FIG. 4 is a section on IV-IV of FIG. 3.

The one-piece plastic capsule, as illustrated by the drawings, is a capsule intended to be fixed permanently by snap-fastening on a neck of a bottle or a bottle not shown. The capsule comprises for this purpose an outer skirt 1 of generally cylindrical shape, and an inner skirt 2 also of generally cylindrical shape, connected to each other by radial ribs 3 and a connecting part 4 raised over the major part of the circumference of the capsule, except on a reduced angular zone on which the two skirts 1 e 2 are connected to each other by a low connecting part 5.

The outer skirt 1 has an inner bead 6 allowing the capsule to be fixed by snap-fastening to a neck of a bottle or flask, externally comprising a groove receiving said bead 6.

The inner skirt 2 is intended to cooperate with the inner face of the neck, in order to ensure the sealing of the capsule on the neck, and internally comprises, in a manner known per se, a series of tongues 7 inclined downward, the function of which is to regulate the flow of the liquid contained in the bottle or the bottle.

The capsule is closed by an end wall 8 which is in the same plane as the upper connecting part 4 between the two skirts 1 and 2.

In order to allow the flow, through the capsule, of the liquid contained inside the bottle or flask on which the capsule 8 is permanently fixed by snap-fastening, the capsule comprises, in the region of the connecting part 5 low, a flap 9 allowing, by its actuation, to clear a flow opening.

The flap 9 which is made in one piece with the remaining part of the capsule produced as a whole in plastic material by molding, in particular by injection molding, is arranged at the bottom of a radial recess 10 provided in the outer skirt 1 , in the area of the lower connecting part 5 which constitutes the lower delimitation of this niche 10. The two side walls of the niche are referenced 11 in the drawings.

As shown in Figures 1 and 3, the flap 9 occupies only part of the vertical bottom 12 of the niche 10, namely a triangular part of the bottom 12 of rectangular shape. The flap 9 in the form of an isosceles triangle is connected by a thin veil 13 in the form of a V to the remaining part of the bottom 12 and by a thin veil 14 to the end wall 8, along the base of the isosceles triangle of the flap 9. It should be noted that the veil 13 is arranged in a vertical plane, while the veil 14 connecting the upper horizontal edge of the flap to the end wall 8 also horizontal, is arranged in a horizontal plane.

An actuating tab 15 is connected to the upper end of the flap 9, the tab 15 extending radially outward on the flap 9, substantially in the same plane as the end wall 8, its free end is practically coinciding with the contour of the upper connecting part 4 of the capsule which determines the upper external contour of the capsule. In other words, the actuating tab 15 practically does not project beyond the outer contour of the capsule.

A stiffening rib 16 is also provided between the flap 9 and the lever 15, in the middle of the width of the flap 9 and the lever 15.

The capsule, as a whole, is molded in one piece with the flap 9 closed, that is to say connected to the remaining part of the bottom 12 of the niche 10 by the web 13. This closed position of the flap 9 is shown in Figures 1 and 2. The presence of the veil 13 intact is a guarantee of inviolability, that is to say, shows the buyer or the user, that the capsule has not yet been opened .

To open the capsule, the user exerts an upward force on the tab 15, which causes the web 13 to tear and the flap 9 / tab 15 assembly to pivot upwards around the web 14 forming a pivot axis . The flap 9 thus releases an orifice 9a of triangular shape through which the liquid contained in the bottle or the bottle can be poured in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axis of the capsule and the bottle. In other words, during pouring, the jet of liquid is broken by the end wall 8 of the capsule and undergoes a deflection of 90 ° by flowing through the orifice 9a released by the flap 9. It results that the regulation of the flow which is already produced by the tongues 9 is further improved considerably.

In addition, by the triangular shape of the orifice 9a released by the flap 9, it is possible to distribute the liquid at an adjustable rate going up to drip.

After distribution, the flap 9 is returned to the position according to FIGS. 1 and 2. At the end of this reclosing movement, the parts of the veil 13 remaining, after tearing of the latter, on the flap 9 and on the remaining part of the bottom 12, provide a slight "clipping", thanks to which the shutter is kept closed. Of course, after such a reclosure, the flap 9 does not seal the capsule.

Following resealing, it is possible to redistribute liquid, without actuating the flap, by simply exerting pressure on the bottle (or the bottle) if the latter (or the latter) is made of a flexible material.

It should be noted that the embodiment described above and illustrated by the appended drawings, has been given only by way of an indicative and non-limiting example and that numerous modifications and variants are possible in the context of the invention defined by the claims.

Thus, the flap 9 could have a shape other than a triangular shape.

Claims (7)

1. Plastics material one-piece spouted cap comprising a body with means (1, 2, 6) for fixing it permanently to a bottle neck and means for allowing controlled pouring of a liquid contained in the bottle, characterised in that a flap (9) occupies a substantially vertical position until the cap is first used, i.e. a position parallel to the axis of the cap and the bottle, and is joined all around its perimeter to the body of the cap by a thin web (13, 14) to close off the orifice (9a) from which the liquid is poured, and an external actuator member (15) is disposed on the flap (9) so that on the first actuation of said member the web (13) is torn around all the perimeter of the flap except along the upper edge where the web (14) forms a pivot axis for the flap (9) which thus uncovers the orifice (9a) for pouring the liquid in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axis of the cap.
2. Cap according to claim 1 characterised in that the flap (9) is on the back of a radial niche (10) in a part extending the cap above said fixing means.
3. Cap according to claim 2 characterised in that said actuator member (15) comprises a lug (13) projecting from the flap (9) without significantly projecting from said niche.
4. Cap according to claim 3 characterised in that the lug (15) projects horizontally radially outwards from the flap (9) and is substantially coincident with the contour of the cap at the location of said niche.
5. Cap according to claim 3 or claim 4 characterised in that an external stiffener spacer (16) is provided between the flap (9) and the actuator lug (15).
6. Cap according to any one of the preceding claims characterised in that the flap (9) is substantially isosceles triangle shaped, the base of said triangle corresponding to the pivot axis of the flap.
7. Cap according to claim 6 characterised in that the tearable web (13) is disposed in a vertical plane and the web (14) constituting the pivot axis of the flap is disposed in a horizontal plane.

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