EP0749391A1

EP0749391A1 - Container with a neck provided with a dispensing closure having a partially unscrewable cap

Info

Publication number: EP0749391A1
Application number: EP95940336A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Agnes Goncalves
Original assignee: Jagu Bernard Representant La Axia Cap Ste
Current assignee: Jagu Bernard Representant La Axia Cap Ste
Priority date: 1995-01-10
Filing date: 1995-11-20
Publication date: 1996-12-27
Anticipated expiration: 2015-11-20
Also published as: CN1143351A; ES2126955T3; BR9507039A; DE69507287D1; US5715977A; EP0749391B1; WO1996021601A1; DE69507287T2; JPH09508881A; ATE175642T1; CA2184407A1

Abstract

A receiver, i.e., a container, has a ring provided with a distribution capsule. The capsule includes a cap provided with at least one distribution orifice which is mounted to be screwed and unscrewed between at least two positions, by at least one thread provided on the ring. The capsule also includes a reducer which is integral or attached to the ring and provided with a blocking tip so as to block at will the orifice of the cap as a function of its position on the ring. The ring of the container includes two parallel screwing threads adapted to cooperate each with a spur provided in the cap. The ring also includes helical ramps for assembly of the cap on the ring. The winding direction of the helical ramps alternates every quarter turn such that the helical ramps form two points and two recesses. Each recess is extended by a longitudinal groove which extends at least toward one of the threads and which is capable of receiving one of the spurs of the cap during assembly of the cap on the ring.

Description

MOUTH CONTAINER HAVING A DISPENSING CLOSURE WITH A PARTIALLY SCREWABLE HOOD

The invention relates to a ring container provided with a dispensing cap with partially unscrewable cap, the container containing a product to be dispensed and more particularly a liquid or pasty product.

The dispensing capsules advantageously replace the simple plugs to be unscrewed, the said capsules remaining adjacent to the container, while the opening and closing are carried out by a particular operation of the capsule.

This is how, for example, a capsule is produced, comprising, on the one hand, a cap provided with at least one dispensing orifice which is mounted screwable and unscrewable between at least two positions, by means of at least one thread provided on the ring, and on the other hand, a reduction gear integral with or attached to the ring and provided with a closure end piece, so as to close the orifice of the cap as desired from its position on the ring.

Generally, the orifice of the cap is central, as for example in the device described in the document FR-A-1 545591. There are also known systems of this type with several flow rates or with variable flow rate, the flow rate being determined by the position of the cap relative to the ring and therefore to the shutter.

In all cases, it is necessary to mount the cap on the ring so that the latter can then take at least two positions without separating from the container.

For this purpose, it is necessary to bring the pins or the like, which is provided with the cap, into the operating threads while then preventing said pins from being able to escape inadvertently from said threads.

For that, that it is a question of filling the container provided with its ring before disposing the capsule there, or of filling the container by the bottom, the container being already equipped or not with its capsule, or of welding a ring on a container, said ring being provided with its capsule, it will always be necessary to mount the capsule on the ring. This assembly operation may, as the case may be, be carried out by the manufacturer or the conditioner. Until now, delicate tracking and positioning systems were necessary for the cap to be in the correct angular position relative to the ring.

This is why the inventor has imagined a container of the aforementioned type, the design of which allows in particular a particularly simplified assembly.

To this end, the container according to the invention is remarkable in that the ring of the container has two parallel screw threads, limited and intended to cooperate each with a lug provided in the cap and in that the ring also includes ramps helical assembly of the cap whose winding directions are alternated every quarter of a turn so that said ramps form between them two points and respectively two diametrically opposite recesses, each recess being extended by a longitudinal groove which extends towards at least one of the threads and which is intended to receive one of the lugs of the cap during the assembly of the latter on the ring.

Advantageously, each longitudinal groove opens into the corresponding thread by means of a rib which is force-fitted through the corresponding lug of the cap during assembly, said rib serving as a non-return stopper and as a preference. , the longitudinal grooves open at least at the starting ends of the threads, so that during assembly, the cap takes a closed position. According to an entirely advantageous embodiment, the threads extend symmetrically each over a little more than half a turn so that each thread originates in a longitudinal groove and ends in the other longitudinal groove. , the starting end of the thread being separated from the final end of the other thread by a rib serving as non-return stop, which can be force-fitted by the corresponding lug of the cap, at the time of assembly , but also if you want to obtain a closure by exerting pressure on the cap.

It is then understood that the capsule can advantageously be closed as desired, by screwing or by simple pressure exerted on the cap.

In addition, a rotation of half a turn allows to find a symmetrical position, which is advantageous for example for a capu¬ chon and a container of non-circular section.

Preferably, the rib which separates the threads has an increasing thickness towards the base of the ring so as to facilitate

05 ter in this direction the passage in force and on the contrary improve the non-return retention and the final end of each thread is closed relative to the corresponding longitudinal groove, by a rib which is force-fitted by the corresponding lug of the cap during assembly, said rib serving as a non-return stop.

10 According to one embodiment, each lug is in the form of a small rib with a width at most equal to that of the longitudinal groove in which it engages in assembly and preferably, each rib forming a lug has a slope on the horizontal substantially corresponding to that of the threads. "It can also be provided that the rib forming the lug has in its middle part, a notch intended to cooperate with a small projection made in the corresponding thread opposite the longitudinal groove in order to ensure position marking and / or locking. A particular embodiment is remarkable in that the cap has at least one longitudinal rib on its internal wall, intended to cooperate with at least one projection provided on the helical assembly ramps in order to ensure locking and / or a sound marking on closing and opening and advantageously, the cap has only one longitudinal rib slightly offset towards one of the lugs relative to a plane perpendicular to the plane passing through said lugs, while the ramps d 'assembly are provided with two projections arranged at the points formed by said ramps 3 ^ According to embodiments, the cap pr ment feel a tubular coaxial élé¬ its orifice, intended to come to slide sealingly on or in a chimney provided on the reducer.

In order to ensure protection even when the cap is in the open position, the hole in the cap is fitted with a seal fitted

^• "a slot and a housing for the closure piece so that the latter, in the closed position, sealingly seals the slot of said seal by coming to be disposed in its housing, while that in the open position, the seal serves as a valve allowing the evacuation of the product through its slot, while preventing in direction inver¬ se possible entry of impurities.

According to yet another embodiment, the container can be equipped with a tamper-evident system comprising a strip detachably fixed to the base of the cap and provided with locking means intended to cooperate with conjugated means arranged on the ring of the container. as soon as the cap is assembled on said ring so that said cap cannot rotate relative to the ring until said strip is removed. For example in this case, the means for blocking the strip on the cap also constitute the means for fixing the strip on the cap and are present in the form of at least two tabs detachably connected to the cap, while that the combined means of the ring are formed of at least two notches formed in a base of the ring, in the same angular position as the tongues in the closed position, in order to receive the latter during the assembly of the cap on the ring and in particular, the tongues are arranged diametrically opposite, in the same axial plane as that of the lugs, while the notches are also formed in diametrically opposite directions, in the same axial plane as the longitudinal grooves .

One of the advantages of the structures of the cap and of the ring specified above, consists in ease of assembly. This is why the invention of course also relates to a method of assembling the cap on the ring of a container according to the invention, which is remarkable in that it consists, whatever the initial position of the cap. relative to the ring, to cause said cap to rotate in relation to the ring while exerting an axial pressure thereon until the lugs of the cap reach the starting ends of the threads after being guided on the helical ramps then in the longitudinal grooves.

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 shows in elevation the ring of a container according to the invention,

FIG. 2 is a partial section on II-II of FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 shows in half-section and half-elevation a reduc¬ tor for container according to the invention,

FIG. 4 is a partial top view of the reducer of FIG. 3,

FIG. 5 is an axial section of a cap according to the invention,

FIG. 6 is a top view of FIG. 5,

- Figure 7 shows two axial half-sections of the container ring fitted with its reducer and a cap, respectively on the left side in the closed position and on the right side in the open position.

FIG. 8 is a half-section along VIII-VIII of FIG. 7,

FIG. 9 is a partial perspective view of part of the cap and of the ring at its notch,

- Figure 10 corresponds to Figure 7 according to another embodiment of which the orifice of the cap is provided with a seal.

FIGS. 11 and 12 show respectively in half-section and in top view, the seal of the embodiment of FIG. 10.

The drawings represent a container 1 fitted with a ring 2 (Figures 1, 7, 8 and 10).

The embodiments of Figures 1 to 9 on the one hand, and 10 on the other hand, being very close, similar elements voluntarily bear the same references. On the ring 2, is fixed a reducer 3 (Figures 3, 4 and 7) or

3 '(Figure 10).

The reduction gear 3 of FIGS. 3, 4 and 7 is fixed by clipping onto the ring 2, as will be explained below, while the reduction gear 3 'of FIG. 10 is in one piece with said ring 2. The reduction gear 3, 3 'form with a cap 4 (Figures 5, 6, 7,

8 and 10), a dispensing capsule.

The reduction gear 3, 3 ′ has passage openings such as 5 (FIGS. 3 and 4) for the product contained in the container 1 and a closing end piece 6. The closing end piece 6 is provided for closing at will. a central orifice 7 provided in the cap 4.

In the embodiment of Figures 1 to 9, the reci¬ pient is, for example, in the form of a bottle, the reduc¬ tor 3 is fixed to the ring 2 by means of a groove 8 (Figures 3 and 7) which comes to cover the edge of the ring 2 in order to hang onto it by cooperation of an inner rib 9 which the shutter is provided with (Figures 3 and 7), with an outer rib 10 (Figures 1 and 7) fitted on the ring 2.

In this embodiment, one can for example fill said bottle and then only position the reducer, then the capu¬ chon, as will be said below.

By cons, in the embodiment of Figures 10 to 12, the reducer 3 'is integral, or in one piece, with the ring 2. It may be, for example, to equip a tube whose filling is carried out from the bottom.

It is also clear that the ring 2, the reducer 3, 3 'and the cap 4 can be pre-assembled, the ring then being fixed on a container.

In order to seal or open the orifice 7 of the cap 4, the latter is mounted screwable and unscrewable on the ring 2 by cooperation of two threads 11a, 11b (FIGS. 1, 7, 8 and 10) formed in parallel on the ring 2 on about a little more than one U-turn each and two lugs 12a, 12b provided diametrically opposite from the inner wall of the cap 4 (Figures 5 to 7 and 10). In the embodiment shown, the threads 11a, 11b are arranged symmetrically so that the start of one of the threads is plumb with the final end of the other thread, as shown in the drawings.

The pins 12a, 12b are in the form of oblique ribs whose slope corresponds to that of the threads 11a, 11b with which they are intended to cooperate. Thus, after mounting the cap 4 on the ring 2, said cap can take a closed position in which the end piece 6 of the reducer 3, 3 'closes the orifice 7 of the cap, as shown in the left parts of Figures 7 and 10, and an open position as shown on the straight parts of said figures, although the orifice 7 of the embodiment of FIG. 10 is provided, as will be explained below, with a seal.

The closed and open positions correspond to the extreme positions of the pins 12a, 12b, which are then found respecti¬ vely at the start and at the end of the corresponding threads 11a, 11b. It is clear that it suffices to unscrew or screw the capu¬ chon to obtain an opening or a closure respectively. However, for said closure and quite exceptionally for a screw cap, it is also possible to exert a simple pressure on the cap, as will be explained below. As the drawings also show, in order to ensure good sealing on closing, the central orifice 7 of the cap 4 comprises, in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 9, a small annulai¬ re skirt 13 (FIGS. 5 to 7) which extends inwards and whose internal diameter corresponds to the external diameter of the endpiece 6. It is understood that the skirt 13 provides a seal to the fermetu¬ re. However, one may also wish to protect the device in the open position, in particular for a tube of cream (solar for example). This is why the embodiment of Figures 10 to 12 includes a seal 24 fixed in the orifice 7 of the cap 4 and provided with a housing 24 * (Figure 11) and a central slot 24 "(Figure 12). In the closed position, the end piece 6 is placed in the housing 24 'and sealingly seals the slot 24 ". The seal 24 can also serve as a valve or flap in the open position (right part of FIG. 10) by allowing, by pressure, the product to pass through the slot 24 "while said seal 24 prevents possible entry Likewise, a tubular element 14 extends coaxially to the orifice 7 and / or to the skirt 13 so as to slide in leaktight manner over a chimney 15 (FIGS. 7 and 10) (or according to a variant , in a chimney) provided on the reducer 3, 3 '.

For assembling the cap 4 on the ring 2, the invention provides completely original means.

In fact, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 10, the ring 2 of the container has access and helical mounting ramps such as 16a, 16b.

The helical ramps, only two of which, 16a, 16b, are only visible in the drawings, are in fact four in number, while their winding direction is alternated from one to the other every quarter of a turn.

There are therefore finally two pairs of ramps, the ramps of each pair being similar to each other and diametrically opposite, while the two ramps of a pair have a winding direction opposite to that of the ramps of the other pair.

In this way, said ramps form two points 17a, 17b (Figures 1 and 10) and two diametrically opposite recesses, only one of which is visible in said figures (the other therefore being diametrically opposite).

Each recess is extended by a longitudinal groove such as the groove 18 visible in the drawings. In each longitudinal groove 18, are plumb with each other, the final end of a thread (11a, 11b) and the starting end of the other thread (respectively 11b, lia)

As further shown in the drawings, the final end of a thread (11a, 11b) and the starting end of the other thread (11b, 11a) are separated from each other in the longitudinal grooves 18 by a rib 19 , while the final ends are separated from the longitudinal grooves by another rib 19 '(Figures 1, 2, 7, 10).

As shown in Figure 2, the rib 19 has at in addition to an increasing thickness as it approaches the base of the ring 2.

At the start of each thread, under the rib 19 is provided a small projection 20. In addition, the pins 12a, 12b of the cap 4, which are as already said in the form of ribs, are each provided with a central notch 21a, 21b intended to cooperate with the aforementioned projections 20 and as will be explained below. In addition here, said lugs have a width similar to that of the longitudinal grooves 18.

As still shown in FIG. 1, the points 17a, 17b formed by the ramps 16a, 16b, are provided with two thin projections 22a, 22b (FIG. 1), designed to cooperate with a longitudinal rib 23 arranged on the internal wall of the cap 4 (Figures 5, and 6) and which is provided a little closer to one of the lugs (here the lug 12a) than the other, relative to the plane PI perpendicular to the plane P2 passing through said lugs (figure 6).

In order to ensure inviolability (and only if desired), that is to say a ban on use without this being visible, the cap 4 can be provided at its base with a band 25 detachable (Figures 5 to 9), making almost a full turn, as shown in Figure 6.

This strip 25 projects downwards and is fixed here to the cap 4 by two pairs of tabs 25'a, 25'b, forming U and secured to said cap 4, as shown in the drawings, by self-breaking tabs.

The pairs of tongues 25'a and 25'b are diametrically opposite and arranged here in the same axial plane P2 (FIG. 6) as the pins 12a, 12b. The ring 2 comprises in its base (FIGS. 1, 7 and 9), two notches 26a, 26b diametrically opposite and arranged in the same axial plane as the grooves 18.

Given the positioning of the tongues 25'a, 25'b and the notches 26a, 26b, said tongues can be received in the notches during the assembly of the cap, as will be explained below. The angular positioning of the tabs and the notches could also be other than that indicated above, at the provided that the tabs and the notches align at the time of assembly, that is to say still in the angular closed position.

After this description of the embodiments shown, we understand the method of assembling the cap 4 on the ring 2. In fact, it suffices, in an assembly and / or packaging line, to drive the cap 4 in rotation in any direction and whatever its initial angular position, while exerting a certain pressure on it.

Ultimately, a simple pressure may possibly suffice, the shape of the ramps alone ensuring the rotation.

Thus, the pins 12a, 12b of the cap slide on the helical ramps 16a, 16b to come to the end of their travel in the longitudinal grooves 18.

The pins 12a, 12b then forcefully pass the ribs 19 'and 19 which will serve as a non-return stop to thus end at the start of the threads 11a, 11b.

It is understood that the cap is positioned in the closed position.

In addition, the notches 21a, 21b of the lugs 12a, 12b overlap the small protrusions 20, thus ensuring a locking position when closing at the end of assembly.

Finally, it is also understood that during this assembly, the pairs of tongues 25'a, 25'b of the cap come into the respective notches 26a, 26b of the ring (see in particular Figures 8 and 9) thus blocking the cap in the closed position, this inviola¬ bility being obtained by the very fact of the original design of the means used and the particular assembly of the cap on the ring.

The use is then simple. In fact, after having torn off the strip 25 by grasping it by its open part, the cap 4 can be actuated in rotation and it suffices to unscrew, or respective¬ ly screw said cap 4, to open or respectively close the capsule by moving the closing end piece 6 which departs from the skirt 13, or from the seal 24, and therefore from the orifice 7 of the cap, or respectively is introduced into said skirt or into the housing 24 ' of said joint. It is also understood that upon closing, the longitudinal rib 23 of the cap forcibly passes one of the projections 22a, 22b of the ring (according to its initial position after mounting), which ensures a lock and / or a sound marking on opening and closing.

If it is entirely conceivable to provide threads (11a, 11b) over a little less than half a turn, the ribs 19 and 19 'being combined and the final and starting ends of each thread not being plumb with the respectively starting and final ends of the other thread, the embodiment représen¬ tee whose screwing and unscrewing are carried out on a half-turn, has very important advantages. In addition to the fact of a diametrically opposite repositioning of the cap between the open and closed positions, which may be advantageous for non-circular external shapes, it is understood that in the open position, pressure on the cap ensures the forceful passage of the ribs 19 and 19 ′ as for assembly and thus rapid closure of the capsule (same result as screwing).

The shape of the ribs and in particular of the rib 19 (see FIG. 2) being chosen to constitute a non-return stop while facilitating movement in the other direction. It is clear however that the invention relates to other embodiments in which the orifice 7 of the cap may not be central and / or unique and it could even be a capsule with several flow rates or with variable flow rate .

Claims

1) container (1) with ring (2) provided with a distributri¬ capsule, said capsule comprising on the one hand, a cap (4) provided with at least one orifice (7) of distribution which is mounted screwable and unscrewed between at least two positions, by means of at least one thread provided on the ring, and on the other hand, an integral reduction gear (3 ') or attached (3) on the ring and provided with a tip closing (6) so as to close at will the orifice (7) of the cap (4) as a function of its position on the ring, characterized in that the ring (2) of the container has two threads (11a, 11b) parallel screwing, limited and intended to cooperate each with a lug (12a, 12b) provided in the cap and in that the ring further comprises helical ramps (16a, 16b) for assembling the cap including the directions of winding - Lately are alternated every quarter of a turn so that the ramps form two points between them (17a, 17b) and respectively two recesses diametrically opposite, each recess being extended by a longitudinal groove (18) which extends towards at least one of the threads (11a, 11b) and which is intended to receive one of the lugs (12a, 12b) of the cap at during the assembly of it on the ring.

2) A container according to claim 1, characterized in that each longitudinal groove (18) opens into the corresponding thread (lia, 11b) by means of a rib (19) which is forced through the lug (12a, 12b) corresponding to the cap during assembly, said rib (19) serving as a non-return stop.

3) Container according to one of claims 1 and 2, caractéri¬ se in that the longitudinal grooves (18) open at least at the starting ends of the threads (lia, 11b), so that at assembly, the cap (4) takes a closed position.

4) A container according to all of claims 1 to 3, charac¬ terized in that the threads (11a, 11b) each extend symmetrically over a little more than half a turn so that each thread ( 11a, 11b) starts in a longitudinal groove (18) and ends in the other longitudinal groove (18), the starting end of the thread (11a, 11b) being separated from the final end of the other thread (11b, 11a) by a rib (19) serving as a non-return stop, O 96/21601 PCIYFR95 / 01526

13

which can be force-fitted by the corresponding lug (12a, 12b) of the cap, at the time of assembly, but also if one wishes to obtain a closure by exerting pressure on the cap.

5) A container according to claim 4, characterized in that the rib (19) which separates the threads (11a, 11b) has an increasing thickness towards the base of the ring (2) so as to facilitate in this direction the force entry and on the contrary improve the non-return retention

6) Container according to one of claims 4 and 5, characterized in that the final end of each thread (11a, 11b) is closed relative to the corresponding longitudinal groove (18), by a rib (19 ' ) which is forced through the lug (12a, 12b) corresponding to the cap during assembly, said rib (19 ') serving as a non-return stop. 7) Container according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that each lug (12a, 12b) is in the form of a small rib with a width at most equal to that of the longitudinal groove (18) in which it undertakes to assemble.

8) A container according to claim 7, characterized in that each rib forming a lug (12a, 12b) has a slope on the horizontal corresponding substantially to that of the threads.

9) Container according to one of claims 7 and 8, caractéri¬ se in that each rib forming a lug (12a, 12b) has in its middle part, a notch (21a, 21b) intended to cooperate with a small projection ( 20) formed in the corresponding thread (11a, 11b) opposite the longitudinal groove (18) in order to ensure position marking and / or locking.

10) Container according to one of claims 1 to 9, caractéri¬ se in that the cap (4) has at least one longitudinal rib (23) on its inner wall, intended to cooperate with at least one projection (22a , 22b) provided on the helical assembly ramps in order to ensure locking and / or audible marking on closing and opening.

11) Container according to claim 10, characterized in that the cap (4) has only one longitudinal rib (23) slightly offset towards one of the lugs (12a, 12b) relative to a plane (PI) perpendicular at the plane (P2) passing through said pins, while the assembly ramps (11a, 11b) are provided with two projections (22a, 22b) arranged at the points (17a, 17b) formed by said ramps.

12) A container according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the cap (4) has a tubular element (14) coaxial with its orifice (7), intended to slide in leaktight fashion on or in a chimney (15) provided on the reducer (3.3 ').

13) Container according to one of claims 1 to 12, caractéri¬ se in that the orifice (7) of the cap (4) is equipped with a seal (24) provided with a slot (24 ') and d 'a housing (24 ") for the obturating end piece (6) so that the latter, in the closed position, seals the slot (24') of said seal by coming into place in its housing (25 "), while in the open position, the seal (24) serves as a valve allowing the evacuation of the product through its slot, while preventing in the opposite direction the possible entry of impurities.

14) Container according to one of claims 1 to 13, caractéri¬ se in that it is equipped with a tamper-evident system comprising a strip (25) detachably attached to the base of the cap and pour¬ view of locking means intended to cooperate with conjugated means arranged on the ring (2) of the container as soon as the cap is assembled on said ring so that said cap cannot rotate relative to the ring as long as said strip (25) n is not withdrawn.

15) A container according to claim 14, characterized in that the strip locking means (25) on the cap also constitute the means for fixing the strip on the cap and are present in the form of at least two tabs (25'a, 25'b) detachably connected to the cap, while the combined means of the ring are formed from at least two notches (26a, 26b) formed in a base of the ring, in the same position angular as the tabs in the closed position, in order to receive the latter during the assembly of the cap on the ring.

16) A container according to claim 15, characterized in that the tongues (25'a, 25'b) are arranged diametrically opposite, in the same axial plane (P2) as that of the lugs (12a, 12b), while the notches are also formed diametrically opposite, in the same axial plane as the longitudinal grooves (18).

17) Method of assembling the cap on the ring of a container pient according to one of claims 1 to 16, characterized in that it consists, whatever the initial position of the cap (4) relative to the ring (2), to rotate said cap relative to the ring while exerting an axial pressure thereon until the pins (12a, 12b) of the cap (4) reach the starting ends of the threads (11a, 11b) after having been guided on the helical ramps ( 16a, 16b) then in the longitudinal grooves (18).