EP0839735B1 - Articulated closure cap with improved connecting element - Google Patents

Abstract

A dispensing cap (3) having a body (32) made of a rigid or semirigid material, intended to be mounted on a reservoir (21) containing a product of a fluid-to-viscous consistency, is provided with an opening (4) permitting the dispensing of the product and a lid (5) of a rigid or semirigid material capable of obturating the opening (4). The lid (5) is articulated on the body (32) in the vicinity of an articulation axis (A) so as to be capable of selectively passing from an open position to a closed position, and is connected to the body (32) by a connecting element (10) having one of its ends joined to the lid (5) and its other end joined to the body (32). The connecting element (10) is disposed so as to be situated on one side of the articulation axis (A) in the open position and on the other side of the axis (A) in the closed position. The connecting element (10) is subjected to an elongation when the lid (5) passes from one to the other of its open and closed positions. The connecting element (10) is made of an elastomeric material.

Description

The present invention relates to a dispensing capsule intended to equip a reservoir containing a viscous fluid product to be dispensed, as well as to a dispensing assembly equipped with this capsule. The capsule is equipped with a closure system, which can be opened for dispensing the product, and closed for storage.

Reservoirs provided with a capsule of this kind are usually used in different fields, for the storage and distribution of liquid or viscous products, for example in the cosmetic, food, household, pharmaceutical or parapharmaceutical fields. These products can be, in particular, shampoos, antiseptics, household cleaners or dishwashing products. Thanks to the use of a dispensing capsule, on the one hand, the flow of the product during transport and storage is avoided, and on the other hand, the product is protected from dirt coming from the outside. On the other hand, a reservoir equipped with such a capsule allows the user to easily distribute the product contained in the reservoir and to dose it with precision.

To date, a large number of differently constructed distribution capsules are on the market, equipping the aforementioned consumer products. Most of them are made of mono-material and include a body connected by a hinge to an articulated cover, allowing the user to open or close the tank at will. Frequently, the hinge is a film hinge, so that the capsule and the cover form a unibody assembly.

We know, for example, from document WO-A-87/00512, a capsule molded in one piece, comprising a body, a film hinge and a cover, the hinge being provided with a device giving the operation of opening. and closing the cover a "spring effect". This capsule is able to hold the cover in two positions: a fully open position and a position close to that of closure or almost closed position. The open position allows the product to be dispensed, while the almost closed position facilitates complete closure of the tank.

In this capsule, one or other of the positions is obtained by virtue of the presence of one or two strips folded in an "L" shape, disposed near the hinge, the ends of the "L" being integral with the body of the capsule and lid respectively. When the cover passes from one of the positions to the other, the strip or strips undergo a deformation of the angle of the "L".

Another “spring effect” capsule comprising a cover articulated using a hinge and produced as a single piece, is described in document WO-A-84/04906. In this capsule, the "spring effect" is ensured thanks to the presence of two strips arranged on either side of the hinge and the ends of which are attached to the body and to the lid of the capsule respectively. When the user rotates the cover from the open position to the almost closed position, or vice versa, the straps are stretched.

Practice has shown that during use, the material constituting the capsule, generally a rigid or semi-rigid thermoplastic material such as polyethylene or polypropylene, does not resist the numerous manipulations of opening and closing the capsule. . Indeed, often the consumer encounters deformations or breaks in the hinge and / or in particular of the strap (s), preventing correct operation of the capsule. This effect is all the more frequent when the container has a large volume and when the distribution of the product contained therein is thus accompanied by a large number of manipulations of the lid.

In addition, the choice of materials which can be used for the capsules described above is relatively limited. Indeed, they comprise parts which must ensure a determined rigidity (body and cover) and parts which must be elastically deformable (hinge and strips). The choice of a too rigid material causes the hinge and / or the straps to break, following the fatigue of the material after numerous uses, or exhibits hard, incorrect and uncomfortable operation. The choice of a too flexible material leads, on the other hand, to a soft functioning, and the capsule lacks stability of shape.

Furthermore, from document EP-A-0 629 560, a capsule is articulated with a cover by means of a film hinge. This capsule has a "spring effect" bringing the cover into a single fully open position. This position is ensured by a rubber insert interposed between the body and the capsule cover. The mounting of this rubber part is such that when it is desired to close the cover, it is necessary to exert sufficient pressure to allow the locking of the cover on the capsule. Indeed, if this pressure is insufficient, the cover will automatically return to the open position under the effect of the elastic force produced by the rubber part. However, under conditions of use such as, when bathing or showering with wet hands, it is sometimes difficult to exert such pressure. Furthermore, the material used, namely rubber, does not allow the use of production techniques such as biinjection molding. Similarly, the fixing of the rubber part on the body of the capsule cannot be carried out by thermofusion, due to the physico-chemical incompatibility of the materials used. In addition, the manufacture of this capsule requires complicated tools for mounting the elastic insert, which results in a high cost price.

Also the present invention relates to a dispensing capsule avoiding all the disadvantages of the capsules of the prior art, having impeccable operation, and this for an extended lifetime. Therefore, the capsule of the invention is intended to equip, in particular, large capacity containers allowing the distribution of a large number of doses of product. In addition, this capsule can be produced at a very advantageous cost price, since it offers the possibility of using techniques such as biinjection.

Consequently, the present invention relates to a dispensing capsule comprising: - a body, intended to be mounted on a reservoir containing a product of fluid to viscous consistency, of rigid or semi-rigid material provided with an orifice allowing dispensing of the product ; a cover made of rigid or semi-rigid material capable of closing the orifice, this cover being articulated on the body by a hinge defining an axis, so as to be able to pass selectively from an open position to a closed position, and connected to the body by a connecting element one end of which is integral with the cover, the other end being integral with the body, the connecting element being arranged so as to be situated, in the open position, on a first side of the axis, and, in the closed position, to be located on a second side of the axis, opposite to the first, the connecting element undergoing an elongation when the cover passes from one position to the other, characterized in that that the connecting element consists of an elastomeric material, physico-chemically compatible with the rigid or semi-rigid material, and capable of creating, by thermofusion, a mechanical connection between the two materials.

Advantageously, the product to be dispensed, liquid, viscous or pulverulent, is capable of flowing under its own weight or else under the action of a compression of the reservoir which, in this case is a reservoir with flexible walls. The product contained in the reservoir is, for example a shampoo or a body milk, the viscosity of which is generally in the range from 50 mPa · s 5 Pa · s.

The elastic connecting element can advantageously be produced in a single step during the manufacture of the capsule, for example, by overmolding of the rigid or semi-rigid body with an appropriate elastomeric material.

Generally, the elastomeric material constituting the connecting element can be a thermoplastic elastomer, overmolded, during the manufacture of the capsule by bi-injection of the two materials. Thus, by first injecting the rigid or semi-rigid material into a mold, and then over-injecting the flexible material, this bond is created by thermofusion, between the elastomeric material and the rigid or semi-rigid material. This thermoplastic elastomer is chosen, for example, from the group of elastomers of propylene / ethylene copolymers; polyether blockamides; polyvinyls; terpolymers of ethylene, propylene and a diene (EPDM); block styrene-butadiene polymers (SBS); block styrene-ethylene-butadiene polymers (SEBS-SIS); thermoplastic polyurethanes; mixtures of polypropylene with one of the following elastomers: block styrene-ethylene-butadiene polymers (SEBS-SIS); terpolymers of ethylene, propylene and a diene (EPDM); styrene-butadiene block polymers (SBS).

Another object of the invention is constituted by a dispensing assembly comprising a product reservoir equipped with a dispensing capsule according to the invention, as described above.

In practice, the reservoir fitted to such a capsule consists of a bottle with more or less rigid walls, or else by a compressible tube. Preferably, this reservoir has a neck, on which is fixed, by screwing, snapping, welding or any other known means, the dispensing capsule.

The body of the capsule and the cover can be made, for example, of polypropylene or polyethylene. Advantageously, the cover is articulated with the capsule body by a film hinge. According to an interesting aspect of the invention, this hinge is produced, discontinuously, in two parts, so that the connecting element is disposed between the two parts of the hinge.

The connecting element is, for example, an elongated strip, the ends of which are fixed to the body and the cover respectively. Means for anchoring the ends of the strip may be provided on the body and the cover respectively to make their fixing more solid. These anchoring means are constituted, for example, by one or more bars embedded in the elastomeric connecting element, these bars being made of rigid or semi-rigid material molding with the body of the capsule.

Thus, the capsule constitutes a single piece. The body, the cover and the connecting element indeed form a unibody assembly.

During the manufacture of the capsule from two different materials, one rigid or semi-rigid and the other made of elastomer, it is possible to provide a number of arrangements described below. Thus, the body of the capsule and / or the cover can be provided with a gripping zone overmolded with a layer of elastomeric material, intended to facilitate the opening of the cover and to make its handling more pleasant.

In addition, a plugging pin may be provided on the internal face of the cover, capable of blocking the dispensing orifice, this pin being provided with an external coating of elastomeric material. This arrangement ensures a particularly tight stopper, as well as the compensation of any molding tolerances.

When the plug is hollow, advantageously, it can be filled with flexible elastomeric material. By this arrangement, the untimely flow of product residues is avoided during the opening of the capsule, which commonly occurs with a hollow pin.

The body may also include an annular seal made of flexible elastomeric material, in leaktight contact with a peripheral edge of the cover, when the latter is in the folded position.

It is also conceivable to provide one or more gripping zones of elastomeric material, produced by overmolding on the cover. and / or a part of the capsule body, facilitating the opening of the cover, and creating, if necessary, a "non-slip" effect.

The arrangements mentioned above, namely the elastic band, the coating of the spike or the orifice, the overmolding of the gripping zones and the seal can be carried out in a single manufacturing step, using the method of bi-injection, consisting in injecting, in a suitable mold, firstly, the articulated capsule with the lid of rigid material. In a second step, the connecting element, the coating of the pin or the orifice, the overmolding of the gripping zones and the seal in flexible thermoplastic material are produced.

• La figure 1 représente, une vue en coupe axiale, d'un ensemble de distribution muni d'une capsule de distribution conforme à l'invention, en position ouverte ;
• la figure 2 représente une vue de dessus de la capsule de la figure 1.

To better understand the object of the invention, a description will now be given, by way of purely illustrative and nonlimiting examples, of an embodiment of the dispensing capsule in accordance with the invention, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

• Figure 1 shows an axial sectional view of a dispensing assembly provided with a dispensing capsule according to the invention, in the open position;
• FIG. 2 represents a top view of the capsule of FIG. 1.

With reference to FIG. 1, one can see a distribution assembly designated as a whole by the reference 1, comprising a reservoir 21 having a longitudinal axis X, equipped with a distribution capsule 3 provided with a reference body 32. The tank 21 has a closed bottom 22 and, on the side opposite the bottom, a neck 2 provided with an external thread 24 for fixing the body 32 of capsule on the tank. For this purpose, the capsule body has a cylindrical internal skirt 25, provided with an internal thread complementary to the thread 24 of the neck 2. The reservoir 21 has a general circular or oval section, but this may be any, for example polygonal or asymmetrical. It is made, for example, of high density polyethylene. The capsule body, meanwhile, is made of a rigid or semi-rigid material, such as polypropylene.

The body 32 of the capsule 3 comprises a plate 34, provided at its periphery with a film hinge 8, by means of which a cover 5 is hinged, allowing the latter to pivot around an axis A constituting the hinge pin. The cover 5 has a shape of a cap provided with a peripheral edge 51 facing the tank. In the plate 34, on the side opposite to the hinge 8 and in a plane passing through the hinge and through the axis X of the reservoir 21, a distribution orifice 4 is provided. The orifice 4 is defined by a cylindrical tube 41, 42, extending on either side of the plate 34. An emerging part 41 of the tubing has a conical internal shape, widening outwards. This tubing constitutes a flow restrictor, the emerging part 41 having the function of a pouring spout.

The hinge 8 is formed in two parts 8a, 8b, separated by a recess 8c. Two bars 12, 13 oriented parallel to the axis A pass through the recess. These bars 12, 13 are embedded in a flat strip 10 of elastomeric material and constitute means for anchoring the strip. The ends of this strip are integral with the body 32 of the capsule and the cover 5 respectively, the joining of this strip 10 on the body 32 and the cover 5 being obtained by thermofusion of the respective materials during the manufacture of the capsule 3. For further strengthening the holding of the strip 10, additional anchoring points 14 may be provided on each part adjoining the ends of the strip 10.

This strip 10 is disposed slightly below the axis A of the hinge, that is to say on the side of the reservoir, so that the cover 5, in the fully open position is held in this position by the elasticity of the flexible strip 10. When the cover 5 is closed, the cover passes through a position of maximum elongation of the strip 10, beyond which the elasticity of the strip 10 brings the cover 5 back into a semi-open position . From the semi-open position, the cover 5 can be closed completely by sliding the pin 6 into the orifice 4. The flexible strip 10 is made, for example, from a mixture of polypropylene / polymer of block of styrene - ethylene - butylene - styrene.

The plate 34 is folded in the direction of the body 3, forming a covering skirt 37, the edge 38 of the lower end of which adapts to the shape of the reservoir 21.

The dispensing orifice 4 is blocked, in the folded position of the cover, by a pin 6 closing off the tubular part 41. This pin 6 is hollow and carries an external coating 72 made of flexible material. The internal diameters of the tubular part 41 and external of the covering 72 are chosen so that the pin 6 can frictionally enter, in a sealed manner, in the orifice 4, when the cover 5 is closed. Advantageously, this diameter is around 3 to 8 mm, depending on the viscosity of the product to be dispensed. Typically, this viscosity is in the range from 50 mPa · s to 5 Pa · s.

It is possible, of course, to make a reverse arrangement, that is to say to have the covering 72, of flexible material inside the orifice 4. As can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the interior 71 of the pin 6 is filled with flexible material.

As illustrated, in particular in FIG. 2, the plate 34 further comprises, at its periphery, an annular seal 11 made of flexible material. It is arranged so that the edge 51 of the cover 5 comes to bear against this seal 11, in the closed position of the capsule.

On the side opposite to the hinge 8, the skirt 37 has a depression area 95 in the form of a circular arc facilitating the gripping and opening of the cover 5. The surface 96 of this area consists of a layer of flexible material. Likewise, the cover 5 includes a gripping zone 91 in the form of a concave return 9, this zone also being made of flexible material. The use of a flexible material for the gripping areas gives the user a pleasant touch and easy handling of the capsule. By choosing a particular flexible material, for example SANTOPRENE® (mixture of polypropylene with terpolymers of ethylene, propylene and a diene (EPDM)), sold by the company AES. By using a material of this type, it is even possible to obtain a "non-slip" effect, which is advantageous when the user uses, in the shower or in the bath, a surfactant product for body cleansing.

This way of producing the capsule according to the invention by successive bi-injection of rigid or semi-rigid and elastomeric materials is very simple, making it possible to manufacture it in a single short-term molding cycle. This capsule can then be manufactured at an advantageous cost price. Its lifespan is practically unlimited.

Claims (11)

1. Dispensing cap (3) comprising:

   a) a body (32) intended to be fitted onto a container (21) containing a product of fluid-to-viscous consistency, made of rigid or semi-rigid material and provided with an orifice (4) allowing the product to be dispensed;

   b) a lid (5) made of rigid or semi-rigid material and capable of closing off the orifice (4), this lid (5) being hinged to the body (32) by a hinge (8) of axis (A) , so as to be able to pass selectively from an open position to a closed position, and being connected to the body (32) by a linking element (10), one of the ends of which is fastened to the lid (5), the other end being fastened to the body (32), the linking element (10) being placed so as to lie, in the open position, on a first side of the axis (A) and, in the closed position, to lie on a second side of the axis (A), on the opposite side from the first, the linking element (10) undergoing an elongation when the lid (5) passes from one position to the other, characterized in that the linking element (10) is made of an elastomeric material physico-chemically compatible with the rigid or semi-rigid material and capable of creating, by thermofusion, a mechanical bond between the two materials.
2. Cap according to Claim 1, characterized in that the linking element (10) is overmoulded by two-shot injection moulding.
3. Cap according to either of Claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the rigid or semi-rigid material is chosen from polypropylene and polyethylene.
4. Cap according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the elastomeric material is chosen from the group comprising: ethylene/propylene copolymer elastomers; polyether block amides; polyvinyls; ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymers (EPDM); styrene-butadiene block polymers (SBS); styrene-ethylene-butadiene block polymers (SEBS-SIS); thermoplastic polyurethanes; blends of polypropylene with one of the following elastomers: styrene-ethylene-butadiene block polymers (SEBS-SIS); ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymers (EPDM); styrene-butadiene block polymers (SBS).
5. Cap according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that anchoring means (12, 13, 14) are provided in order to reinforce the attachment of the linking element (10) to the body (32) and to the lid (5), respectively.
6. Cap according to Claim 5, characterized in that the anchoring means are formed by a small bar (12, 13) embedded in the element (10).
7. Cap according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the body (32) and/or the lid (5) are/is provided with a gripping area (9, 95) comprising a layer made of elastomeric material.
8. Cap according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lid (5) has a stud (6) intended to close off the orifice (4) and in that, in the stoppering position, a cover (72) made of elastomeric material is interposed between the stud and the orifice in order to seal between the stud (6) and the orifice (4).
9. Cap according to Claim 8, characterized in that the stud (6) is filled with elastomeric material.
10. Cap according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the body (6) includes an annular seal (11) made of elastomeric material, in leaktight contact with a peripheral edge (51) of the lid (5) when the latter is in the folded-down position.
11. Unit for dispensing a fluid product, comprising a container (21) containing a fluid product, fitted with a dispensing cap (1), characterized in that the cap is in accordance with any one of Claims 1 to 10.