EP0567374B1 - Dispensing cap for liquid or pastry products - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to dispensing capsules for liquid or pasty products with which certain containers are provided in the form of tubes or vials, and comprising a cap which remains integral with the container in the open and closed positions of the capsule.

A capsule of this type has been described in patent EP-0265567 which shows a dispensing capsule for liquid or pasty products comprising a sliding element in a tubular envelope between a raised open position and a retracted closed position, by means of an operating pusher for respectively releasing or closing a flow orifice for the product contained in a container on which the capsule is mounted.

The invention aims in particular to improve such a capsule.

In particular, the invention makes it possible, according to certain embodiments, to arrange two successive sealing members, so that the capsule according to the invention can be used for particularly volatile products, such as alcohol for example.

Furthermore, according to the invention, the pressure developed in the container is only applied to a limited area of the movable part of the capsule so that the reduced force which results therefrom is insufficient to cause displacement of said movable part. , which avoids any risk of inadvertent opening of the capsule.

It is thus possible to eliminate any excessive tightening of the movable part in the envelope, which results in a great smoothness of operation.

The capsule according to the invention is particularly remarkable in that it comprises a cap which is intended to be mounted on the neck of said container and which is integral with the envelope in which is slidably mounted a piston guided axially by said envelope and by a chimney also integral with the cap, said chimney communicating at one end with the opening of the neck of the container, its other end having a reduced opening compared to that of the neck and being in communication with said flow orifice when the piston is in raised opening position while that said piston has a top and a side wall of which a part forms the operating plunger and that the casing is provided opposite a part of the plunger, with a notch allowing access to the plunger for its actuation.

Advantageously, the piston comprises a sealing skirt external to the chimney formed from the internal wall of the top of the piston and which extends inwards by pressing against the external wall of the chimney.

According to certain embodiments, the internal wall of the top of the piston comprises a sealing skirt internal to the chimney, which is coaxial with the external sealing skirt and which forms a plug for said chimney by being introduced therein. in the closed position. According to an advantageous structure, the longitudinal axis of the chimney at least in its upper part is offset with respect to the axis of the cap.

Preferably, the pusher has a tongue, a part of which slides in a duct formed between the cap and the casing.

The flow orifice according to advantageous embodiments can be delimited, for example, by a conduit which is arranged laterally in the piston and which extends, in the closed position of the piston, between the internal wall of the envelope and the external wall of the chimney, which thus forms a shutter valve.

In addition, an embodiment according to the invention is remarkable in that the cap is secured to the neck of the container and in that the notch of the envelope allowing access to the pusher, is temporarily obscured by a protective tab easily detachable, preventing any operation of said pusher without prior detachment of said tab. Thus we realize a guarantee of inviolability.

• la figure 1 est une vue en élévation d'une capsule selon l'invention,
• la figure 2 est une vue en plan de la capsule de la figure 1,
• la figure 3 est une coupe selon III-III de la figure 2, de la capsule disposée sur un récipient,
• la figure 4 est une coupe selon IV-IV de la figure 3, sans la pièce formant piston,
• les figures 5 et 6 montrent en coupe axiale un autre mode de réalisation muni de petites variantes en positions respectivement ouverte et fermée,
• la figure 7 est une vue en élévation d'une capsule selon le mode de réalisation des figures 5 et 6, en position ouverte, la languette de protection étant retirée.

The invention will be clearly understood and other particularities will appear on reading the description which follows and which refers to the appended drawings in which:

• FIG. 1 is an elevation view of a capsule according to the invention,
• FIG. 2 is a plan view of the capsule of FIG. 1,
• FIG. 3 is a section on III-III of FIG. 2, of the capsule placed on a container,
• FIG. 4 is a section on IV-IV of FIG. 3, without the part forming the piston,
• FIGS. 5 and 6 show in axial section another embodiment provided with small variants in the open and closed positions respectively,
• Figure 7 is an elevational view of a capsule according to the embodiment of Figures 5 and 6, in the open position, the protective tab being removed.

Although the drawings show two moreover very similar embodiments, similar parts and / or having the same function bear the same references for reasons of clarity.

A capsule according to the invention, of general designation 1, is intended to be fixed on a container 2 (Figures 3 and 5 to 7) consisting of a bottle, or a flexible tube, or other, depending on the nature of the product contained which can be liquid, pasty, or creamy (said product being a cosmetic, a cleaning product, etc.).

The container 2 has an opening delimited by a neck 3 on which the capsule is forcibly hung or screwed.

As shown in the drawings, the capsule 1 consists of only two parts arranged one inside the other and originating, for example, from molding of a synthetic material.

One of the parts forms a cap 4 intended for fixing to the neck 3 and which is integral with an external cylindrical casing 5 and a chimney 6 which extends opposite the neck 3 and the end of which open facing said neck 3 communicates with the opening thereof. The other end of the chimney has an opening 24 described below, the diameter of which is less than that of the opening of the neck 3.

The second part constitutes a piston 7 provided with a top 8 and a side wall 9.

The piston 7 is mounted sliding with gentle friction in the casing 5 while the internal wall of its top 8 is provided with a skirt 10 which extends inwards and which comes to bear on the external wall of the chimney 6, the piston also being guided by the casing 5 and said chimney 6.

The side wall 9 of the piston 6 comprises a portion forming a pusher 11 which is provided with transverse ribs or other roughness to facilitate its actuation and comprises a tongue 12 delimited by longitudinal slots, said tongue sliding in a conduit 13 which is formed between the cap 4 and the casing 5 and which is further delimited laterally by walls 14, 15 (FIG. 4).

To have access to the pusher 11, the casing 5 has a notch 16 more particularly visible in FIGS. 1 and 7, which extends from the upper part of the casing and which has a contour whose projection on a plane has the U-shaped.

It is understood that the pusher 11 slides with the piston 7 in the envelope 5 without projecting therefrom.

The sliding of the piston 7 is, for example, limited in the direction of lifting by the cooperation of projections 17, 18 respectively formed on the outer wall of the cap 4 and the inner wall of the tongue 12, while in the opposite direction a shoulder 19 of the pusher 11 comes to bear on the bottom of the notch 16 of the envelope 5.

The axis of the chimney 6, or at least of its end, can be offset relative to the axis of the neck 3 as in the embodiments shown.

The piston 7 is provided with an orifice 20 which is formed in its side wall 9.

The orifice 20 is delimited by a conduit 21 inclined inwards and downwards extending in the position shown in FIGS. 3 and 6 between the internal wall of the casing 5 and the external wall of the chimney 6.

Figures 1, 3 and 6 show a capsule according to the invention in the closed position which corresponds to the most retracted position of the piston 7 in the casing 5, while FIGS. 5 and 7 show a capsule in the open position.

In the embodiments shown, the conduit 21 is closed by the casing 5 and by the chimney 6 itself blocked by an internal skirt 22, coaxial with the skirt 10 which projects from the internal wall of the top 8 of the piston 7 and which is introduced into the upper opening 24 of said chimney 6. The chimney 6 thus forms a shutter valve of the guillotine type.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 5 to 7, it can also be seen that the tongue 12 is provided with two openings 23, 23 ′ leaving between them a small strip of material 25 (more particularly visible in FIG. 7).

The bar 25 is in particular intended to lock the closed position elastically (FIG. 6) by passing under a small projection 36 arranged on the internal face of the casing 5. It is understood that the unlocking is carried out by simple force passage, thanks to the elasticity of the material.

The materials are chosen to constitute just a hard point and advantageously create a small noise in passing thereby achieving an audible position signal.

Furthermore, the cap 4 comprises, opposite the chimney 6, a skirt 26 which is introduced in leaktight manner into the neck 3 of the container.

As already said, the cap 4 can be screwed onto the neck 3, the cap being tapped and the neck threaded, but it is possible to fix inseparably, the cap on the neck 3, for example by force hooking, as shown .

Whatever the method of attachment, the cap 4 can rest on a shoulder of the container 2, as shown in the figures, by an annular bearing 27 which connects said cap 4 to the envelope 5.

To obtain the opening of the capsule, it suffices to lift the piston 7 by acting on the pusher 11 so that the product contained in the container 2 can spill or arrive under pressure (by pressing, for example, on the container which can be flexible for this purpose) through the orifice 20 passing first through the opening 24 of the chimney 6 and the conduit 21, it being understood that the skirt 10 seals with the chimney 6, at least one friction ring or scraping may be provided for this purpose on one of the elements. It is understood that the lifting of the piston 7 opens the ends of the conduit 21, said ends then being located respectively above the casing 5 and the chimney 6 (Figure 5).

To return to the closed position, it suffices of course to press the piston 7 by means of the pusher 11 or by pressing directly on the top of the said piston.

It is understood that the opening 24 of the chimney 6 on the side of the orifice 20 is reduced due to the adoption of a smaller diameter than that of the neck. The reduced diameter of the end of the chimney 6 can come from a constant reduced diameter as shown, or from a tightening and / or a partial blockage according to variants not shown. The opening 24 of the chimney is closed off (in the closed position) by a limited part of the top of the piston 7 so that the surface of the latter which is subjected to the pressure prevailing in the container is particularly reduced, which avoids inadvertent opening of the capsule by undesirable sliding.

In addition, one can also see in the drawings, longitudinal guides 28 which project from the cap 4 opposite the neck 3 and which possibly cooperate with grooves or ribs such as 29 (FIG. 3) of the piston.

Instead of the ribs 28, or in addition, one can provide, as in the embodiment of FIGS. 5 to 7, an eccentric guide skirt 34, formed from the inner wall of the top 8 of the piston 7 and which extends towards the inside. The guide skirt 34 is intended to cooperate with a protuberance 35 of conjugate shape provided on the cap 4.

The guide skirt 34 is more particularly intended for the embodiment of FIGS. 5 to 7 for which the ratio of the height of the capsule to its diameter is lower than that of the other figures.

Figures 2, 3 and 5 to 7 also show that the top 8 of the piston 7 carries a recess 30 which serves both to indicate the location of the flow orifice 20 and to avoid shrinkage of the plastic after molding.

In the embodiments shown, the capsule is initially locked, the notch 16 of the envelope 5 being obscured by a protective tongue 31 (Figures 1, 3 and 6) which prevents any manipulation of the pusher 11 before destruction of said tongue 31 which is for this purpose fixed loosely to the casing 5, for example by breaking tabs.

In this way, the tongue 31 constitutes a guarantee of inviolability, the piston 7 in the closed position arriving at the level of the casing 5 and therefore offering no other means of actuation.

To facilitate pulling out of the tongue 31, the top 8 of the piston 7 can advantageously include at this location an inclined face 32.

To ensure correct angular positioning of the capsule in the assembly machine, said capsule can also be provided with locating and orientation means such as the rib 33 (FIGS. 1 and 3) formed at the edge of the bottom of the notch 16. The rib 33 also makes it possible, thanks to its location, to protect the tongue 31 against accidental tearing.

To this end, the embodiment of Figures 5 to 7 is quite original.

Figure 7 with partial cutaway, in fact shows that the inner face of the cap 4 has at least one longitudinal rib 37 (here formed opposite the pusher 11). The rib 37 is intended to cooperate with a groove 38 'provided with a notch 38' 'with a V opening, which are formed in the thickness of the neck 3 of the container 2.

In this way, the capsule is positioned by rotation on the neck 3 until the rib 37 falls into the notch 38 '', thus ensuring positioning and / or angular blocking of the capsule on the container. This is useful for a container with an oval or elliptical cross section, but even for a circular container. The attachment of the capsule is also ensured, as already said, by force with one or more appropriate ribs.

In addition to the advantages already mentioned, it is understood that the inclination of the conduit 21 in FIG. 3 allows better recovery of the product by gravity and aspiration, recovery even easier due to the reduction in length of the conduit thanks to the offset of the chimney 6 .

Soft and simple use and good sealing provided by a capsule according to the invention make it possible to envisage multiple uses, knowing that the container can be any, the envelope can also have various shapes.

It can also be noted that if the tongue 12 by forming a key in the conduit 13 prevents any rotation of the piston relative to the casing, this rotation is also prevented due to the offset and / or the asymmetry of certain elements and in particular of the fireplace.

Finally, it is clear that the embodiments described are not the only ones imaginable within the scope of the claims. The inventor has also imagined other embodiments not described more specifically, having for example an opening on the top of the piston, closable by a plug arranged on the chimney.

Claims (17)

1. Dispensing cap (1) for liquid or pasty products comprising an element sliding in a tubular housing (5) between a raised open position and a retracted closed position by means of an operating button (11) for respectively unblocking or blocking a discharge orifice (20) for the product contained in a container (2) on which the cap is fitted, characterised in that it comprises a cover (4) which is designed to be fitted on the neck (3) of said container and which is locked to the housing (5) in which is fitted slidingly a piston (7) guided axially by said housing and by a tube (6) also locked to the cover (4), said tube communicating through one end with the opening of the neck (3) of the container, its other end having an opening (24) which is reduced in relation to that of the neck and communicates with said discharge orifice (20) when the piston (7) is in the raised open position, while said piston comprises a crown (8) and a side wall (9) a portion of which forms the operating button, and the housing is provided with a notch (16) facing a portion of the button (11) and permitting access to the button for its operation.
2. Cap according to claim 1, characterised in that the piston (7) comprises a sealing skirt (10) outside the tube (6) formed from the internal wall of the crown (8) of the piston (7) and extending towards the inside, bearing against the external wall of the tube (6).
3. Cap according to one of claims 1 and 2, characterised in that the internal wall of the crown (8) of the piston (7) comprises a sealing skirt (22) inside the tube (6), which is coaxial with the outside sealing skirt (10) and forms a plug for said tube (6), being introduced into the latter in the closed position.
4. Cap according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the longitudinal axis of the tube (6), at least in its upper part, is offset in relation to the axis of the cover (4).
5. Cap according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the button (11) comprises a tab (12) a portion of which slides in a passage (13) formed between the cover and the housing.
6. Cap according to claim 5, characterised in that the sliding movement of the piston is limited by projections (18, 17) formed respectively on the internal wall of the tab (12) and in the passage (13).
7. Cap according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the tab (12) is provided with two openings (23, 23') leaving a strip (25) of material between them designed to cooperate with a projection (36) arranged on the internal face of the housing (5) so as to ensure elastic locking in the closed position.
8. Cap according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that the cover (4) is connected to the housing (5) by means of an annular support (27) bearing on the container (2) while it also comprises a skirt (26) designed to be introduced into the neck (3) of the container.
9. Cap according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterised in that the discharge orifice (20) is delimited by a passage (21) which is arranged laterally in the piston (7) and extends, in the closed position of the piston, between the internal wall of the housing (5) and the external wall of the tube (6), which thus forms a closing valve.
10. Cap according to claim 9, characterised in that said passage (21) is inclined downwards and towards the inside.
11. Cap according to one of claims 9 and 10, characterised in that the crown (8) of the piston (7) comprises a hollow (30) located above the passage (21) and designed in particular to indicate the place of discharge of the product.
12. Cap according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterised in that the cover (4) is locked to the neck (3) of the container and in that the notch (16) of the housing (5) permitting access to the button (11) is temporarily covered by an easily detachable protective tab (31), preventing any operation of said button (11) without previously detaching said tab (31).
13. Cap according to claim 12, characterised in that the crown (8) of the piston (7) comprises an inclined face (32) located above the button (11) and designed to facilitate the removal of the protective tab (31).
14. Cap according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterised in that the cover (4) is also locked to guides (28) which extend coaxially to the piston in the vicinity of the internal wall of the latter.
15. Cap according to one of claims 1 to 14, characterised in that the piston (7) exhibits at least one guiding skirt (34) formed from the internal wall of the crown (8) of said piston (7), which extends towards the inside and which is designed to cooperate with a protuberance (35) of corresponding shape provided on the cover (4).
16. Cap according to one of claims 1 to 15, characterised in that a rib forming a projection towards the outside is arranged under the notch (16) of the housing to serve in particular as a means of orientation for an assembly machine.
17. Cap according to one of claims 1 to 16, characterised in that the internal face of the cover (4) comprises at least one longitudinal rib (37) designed to cooperate with a groove (38') provided with a notch (38'') with a V-shaped opening, which are formed in the thickness of the neck (3) of the container (2) with a view to locking and/or angular positioning of the cap in relation to the container.

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