EP1127012B1 - Irreversible fixing of a cap on a container head enabling a limited rotation of said cap on said head - Google Patents

Abstract

A The invention discloses an assembly consisting of a head (1, 1', 200) and an overcap (30, 30', 30'', 300), the head having a cylindrical neck provided with a helical screw thread (21), the overcap having a cylindrical skirt (31) provided with a thread (36) matching the neck thread (21). The overcap carries an axial plate (33) radially flexible and circumferentially rigid. The neck base (10) is provided with at least an opening stop (12), and at least a closure stop (11), of lesser height. When the overcap (30) is screwed on the head for mounting the assembly, the free end of the axial plate is urged into contact with a first wall (14) of the opening stop (12) and the axial plate whereof the free end is urged by a centrifugal motion, is elastically deformed then, folds down towards the neck in a space between the opening (12) and closure (11) stops, its displacement being thereby restricted.

Description

TECHNICAL AREA

The invention relates to a system for fixing a capsule to a head. container fitted with a neck surrounding a dispensing orifice. This system allows irreversible fixation in the sense that said capsule cannot be detached from the whole without the implementation of significant voluntary efforts likely to at least partially damage the head and / or the capsule. But this fixation is not a total immobilization: once fixed, the capsule can still perform a circular or helical movement of limited amplitude relative to the axis of the neck of the head.

STATE OF THE ART

The use of such heads is known for containers called "quarter of tower or "centerlock", the partial unscrewing of which removes the top of capsule relative to that of the head and thus freeing a central orifice allowing the distribution of the product.

Thus, US patent A-5,199,605 from the applicant describes a distributor of creamy to pasty products having a rigid head fixed on a body or a skirt and a hood. The following description contains the references relating to the figures of US - A- 5,199,605. The head (1) and the cover (2) comprise complementary screwing means (9 and 19) allowing, by rotation relative, to raise or lower the hood relative to the head. The hood carries a central opening (14) and the head has an upper end in form of cylindrical neck (5) for the passage of the product as well as a shutter (3) carried by lugs (4) fixed on the internal wall of the neck. The shutter closes the central opening of the cover when this cover is in the low position.

The rotation is limited on the one hand by the end of the thread at the end of screwing and on the other hand, as regards the unscrewing, by studs (24) which have been placed on the shoulder (11) of the dispenser and cooperate with the ends (26 and 25) axial reinforcing ribs (260 and 250) of the skirt (16) of the cover. The ends (25) and (26) have a different shape. The end (25), small but rigid, abuts against a stud (24), which contributes to blocking at the end of screwing and cleaning the end of the net. The end (26) is a flexible blade circumferentially which, blocked by the top (240) of a stud (24) then suddenly released, vibrates and acts as a horn at the end of unscrewing. The means of blocking employed, in particular because of their size and the low rigidity of the whole, are only effective if the efforts involved are weak. Thanks to the audible warning, the user decreases then stops its effort when the capsule is near a stop.

PROBLEM

The realization of the previous distributor is delicate, mainly because molding of the central part of the head, namely the shutter held in place end of its legs fixed on the internal wall of the neck. The tool is complex, especially to make the arms that hold the shutter: these should be as thin as possible - to let the product - and therefore cannot be used as supply channels plastic from a central injection point. It takes in this case make a peripheral injection in several point of the wall of the neck, which not be as fine as you would like.

In addition, safety during unscrewing, despite the audible warning, remains poor. The Applicant has considered replacing the “studs - ends of grooves ”by a device such as that proposed in EP 0 633 197. Application EP 0 633 197 describes the whole of a head and a cover, the head having an open end intended to be fixed on the end open container or flexible tube. The head has a neck cylindrical and a shoulder which extends from said open end to said neck and the cylindrical neck is provided with at least one helical screw thread. The hood has a cylindrical skirt provided on its inner wall with a net complementary to that of the bottleneck. The cover carries at least one axial blade (12) radially flexible and circumferentially rigid, one end of said blade being free, the other end being fixed to the cover at a distance from the axis slightly greater than the outside radius of the neck. The base of the neck is provided with a profiled portion (14) serving as an opening stop and with a profiled portion (15) serving as a closing stop. The opening stop (14) has a first wall which gradually deviates from the cylindrical wall of said neck, so that when the cover is screwed on the head for mounting of the assembly, the free end of the axial blade (12) comes into contact with the first wall and that the axial blade, the free end of which is imposed a radial movement, elastically deforms then, after crossing the opening stop (14), is robotized towards the cylindrical wall of the neck in a space between said opening (14) and closing (15) stops. Its movement is then limited by the blocking walls of said stops.

The preamble of claim 1 is based on this state of the art.

In the case of EP 0 633 197, it was a question of having axial portions (14) and (15) as close together as possible for a good immobilization of the capsule. By moving the profiled axial portions (15) and (14) away from each other, a limited rotation of the capsule is allowed relative to the head. But these profiled axial portions are thick and tall and this increases even more the weight of plastic to be injected on the head, which is particularly penalizing in terms of production rate, especially when the head is directly molded onto the skirt or the body of the container, i.e. when the head is welded to the body or the skirt simultaneously to its own injection.

Finally, the thick and heavy head makes the tube difficult to handle, which is not not appreciated by the user of the container. The size of a anti-unscrewing attachment and limited rotation such as one or other of the the prior art is such that one cannot envisage equipping the head with other means capable of performing other functions.

It would for example be necessary to improve the stop at the end of the tightening because the flexibility the plastics of the neck and the cover means that, without control of the force at the end of the screwing, the helical flange of the thread can easily jump from one helical groove to another by moving brutally the hood compared to the head.

The tightness ensured by a system such as the "centerlock" is not excellent. In the field of cosmetic or pharmaceutical products packed in flexible tubes, it is generally necessary to use an overcap to avoid inadvertent leaks, especially when carry these tubes in a travel bag. The use of an overcap, in addition to the additional cost, increases the weight of the container a little more level of its dispensing head. Regarding air sensitive products ambient, such as cyanoacrylate adhesives, no solution using the "centerlock" principle had not been considered until now, due to the too high a risk of the glue freezing at the dispensing orifice.

The plaintiff therefore sought to develop a head + assembly lightweight, easy-to-inject, space-saving capsule in which the capsule is fixed on the head irreversibly in the axial direction and to which we can impose a limited rotation, that is to say by ensuring the locking of the capsule as much for screwing as for unscrewing in well defined positions. No only the lightness and small size of this fastening system must improve the comfort of use of the containers of the prior art but still they must allow, by the addition of elements fulfilling additional functions, to create new containers belonging to more demanding areas of use, particularly with regard to the tightness of the closure.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

For an easier understanding of the description of the invention, Figure 1 shows schematically the different fixing means. It shows in top view of a head surmounting a cylindrical wall (50) provided with these fastening means (11, 12, 15) cooperating with those (33 and 34) of the cover, the other parts of said cover not being shown.

The subject of the invention is the assembly of a container head and a cover, said head having an open end intended to be fixed on the end open container or flexible tube with a cylindrical neck (20) and a shoulder (3) extending from said open end to the base (10) of the neck, where the cylindrical neck is provided with at least one screw thread (21) helical pitch P, and where the cover has a cylindrical skirt (35) provided on its inner wall of a screwing means (36) complementary to that of the neck. The cover has a top wall (46) on which is fixed at least one axial blade (33) radially flexible and circumferentially rigid. The other end of this flexible blade is free. The blade is placed at a distance of the axis of the cover slightly greater than the external radius of the neck. The base the neck is provided with at least one opening stop (12), of position angular , and at least at least one closing stop (11), position angutary . Said opening stop has a first wall (14) which progressively deviates from the cylindrical wall of said neck, so that when the cover is screwed on the head for mounting of the assembly, the free end of the axial blade (33) comes into contact with the first wall (14) of the opening stop (12) and that the axial blade (33), whose free end is imposed a radial movement, is deformed elastically. After crossing the angular position , the flexible blade (33) folds down towards the wall of the neck in a space between the said opening and closing stops, its movement then being limited by the blocking walls (16 and 17) of the stops (11 and 12). According to the invention, the stop of closure (11) at a lower height than that of the opening stop (12), the radial movement imposed on the free end of the flexible axial blade (33) is centrifugal and the blocking walls (17 and 16) of the opening stop (12), angular position , and of the closing stop (11), of angular position , are slightly inclined with respect to the axial diametrical planes of positions respective angular  and  and cooperate with the wall (47 or 48) of the blade axial (33) which comes into contact so that the free end of the axial blade (33) is urged to move in a centripetal movement.

The axial blade (33) is radially flexible in that its free end moves elastically under the effect of a weak force in the radial direction and it is rigid circumferentially in the sense that it takes a very great effort to move this same free end in the orthoradial direction, effort such that it causes irreversible deformation, or even rupture, of said blade.

Preferably, the axial blade (33) follows the shape of a portion of a ring, with an opening angle δ and an average radius slightly greater than that of neck. Its orthogonal section is a curvilinear trapezoid, the small base and the large base are arcs of a circle, the large base being located towards inside. The small base and the large base are associated with the walls cylindrical of the blade, the other sides are associated with the thick walls (47 and 48) of said blade.

To facilitate anchoring by the stops, the blocking walls of the stops do not do not rest on axial diametrical planes, but are slightly inclined compared to these plans. Thus, with regard to the closing stop (11), angular position , the blocking wall (16) of the stopper makes an angle (π / 2-γ1) with the diametrical axial plane of angular position  and, as far as relates to the opening stop (12), angular position , the wall blocking (17) of the stop makes an angle (π / 2-γ2) with the diametrical axial plane of angular position . Regarding the blade, its thick walls (47 and 48) are not orthogonal to the cylindrical walls but each form an angle (ε1 and ε2) with the diametrical axial plane passing through the end considered to be less than the corresponding angle (π / 2-γ1) or (π / 2-γ2), so that that an anchoring occurs by the introduction of one of these thick walls in the dihedral formed by the wall of the neck and the blocking wall of the corresponding stop.

Preferably, the difference in height between said opening stops and closure is at least equal to P * (| - | -δ) / 2Π.

The fairly high opening stop is preferably a ratchet tooth having an acute γ2 angle. The closing stop can also be a tooth ratchet oriented in opposite direction with an acute angle γ1, but, if space allows, an L-shaped section anchor stop is preferred: the blocking wall of the stopper is completed by a wall circumferential which comes to trap the end of the axial blade, the latter being by flexible construction radially to pass over the stop opening during assembly screwing and risk of jumping over the closing stop in the absence of this circumferential wall. In addition, the circumferential wall increases the friction surface offered to the contact with the axial blade, which improves the brake effect announcing the proximity to the stop, improves retention of the axial blade in contact with said stopper, therefore improves the retention of the cover in the closed position.

The head and the cover are preferably made of thermoplastic material. The blade axial is advantageously molded in the extension of the skirt cylindrical cover. This skirt is provided on its internal wall with the means of additional screwing (for example one or more "nut" type threads) that of the neck which includes one or more helical threads (threads of "screw" type). The hood skirt must be rigid enough so that the threads of "nut" type do not jump over "screw" type threads. For this purpose, if space allows, the hood skirt is advantageously reinforced by axial radial ribs.

To cooperate with the closing stopper in order to block rotation of the cover, it is advantageous to mold a helical screw "screw" thread with a straight thread start on the neck and a straight nut "nut" thread on the wall internal of the capsule skirt.

If the axial blade is molded into the extension of the skirt and if space allows, the radial ribs which strengthen the skirt can also be extended, attached to the outer wall of the axial blade not to make it less flexible but in order to serve as an audible alert as in US 5,199,605: a slot separates the end of the radial axial rib from that of the axial blade. For vibrate the end of this axial rib, a stud is placed on the shoulder to the same distance from the axis as said rib end and located at an angle α, more than 10 °, about twenty degrees for example, from the stop opening (in the screwing direction) or the closing stop (in the unscrewing direction). The audible alert can indeed be installed as much for the closing only for opening. However, practice has led to the avoidance of too many sound effects for a limited rotation angle, because if they are too close together, they no longer make it possible to locate the alert correctly. So it is preferable to provide only one stop with an alert device.

Regarding the other stop, the one that is not equipped with an audible alert, a brake effect can be given near it: the user feels a slight resistance which indicates that the hood is coming to a stop soon. This effect brake is obtained by performing near the stop in the rotation area limited, a wall which moves away from the cylindrical wall of the neck. Figure 1 illustrates a spiral distance with the angle β made by the tangent axial plane to said wall with the axial plane tangent to the neck. This angle is necessarily small, since the stop must keep a height sufficient radial to maintain its blocking efficiency.

Each part of the head + cover assembly according to the invention is produced separately, preferably by injecting a thermoplastic material into a mold. The head can be welded to the open end of a container or of a tube skirt simultaneously with its shaping (overmolding). The assembly is then mounted by screwing the cover onto the head.

Due to dimensional manufacturing tolerances, the screw angle which during assembly allows the axial blade to be in the rotation zone limited - i.e. the space between the opening and closure - is not perfectly repetitive, which is a handicap for a mass production. In order to keep maximum flexibility in a production at high rate, one can realize on the head n sets of stops, the closing stop being located on the radial extension of the opening stop but less high. The rotation limited is then of (2Π / n) -δ if we put n couples (opening stop, stop of closure) on the shoulder and n axial blades on the hood. So if the axial blade, radially flexible, overlapped a stopper, it is found in a new trapping zone, offset from the previous one by (2Π / n).

In addition, the cooperation of the n blockings of the blades makes it possible to have stops lower radial height and less bulky blades. But for that the stops remain effective, their blocking wall, portion of a substantially diametral axial plane, has a sufficient extent, which requires, taking into account the necessary clearance between the internal cylindrical wall of the blade and the external cylindrical wall of the neck, a radial height minimum, taking into account the inevitable holidays of a few tenths on the molded convex parts of the stops and the blade. In practice, we aim a radial height of the stop such that the true free stop zone is still equal to the clearance between the internal cylindrical wall of the blade and the external cylindrical wall of the neck.

For various reasons, the head of the container or tube may not be made of plastic. In this case, the assembly according to the invention is present in the form of a "base + cover" assembly, the base being a intermediate piece with the elements in its upper part characteristics of the head described in the present invention and in its part lower fixing means on the non-plastic head.

MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION - EXAMPLES

In the following examples, we have chosen flexible tubes whose small dimensions favor the choice of a number n of pairs of stops opening / closing equal to 2.

In examples 1 and 2, it can be seen that the smallest space requirement and the least weight caused by these opening / closing stops and these blades hoses improve the comfort of using "Centerlock" systems.

La figure 1, nous l'avons vu, présente schématiquement les différents moyens de fixation selon l'invention en coupe par un plan orthogonal à l'axe du goulot, à la base du goulot. La lame axiale et la nervure radiale sont les seules parties représentées du capot. Cette figure est une vue de dessus représentative des dispositifs employés dans l'exemple 1 et l'exemple 3. Elle l'est également pour l'exemple 2, sous réserve d'intervertir la position du plot sonore 15 (à mettre près de la butée d'ouverture 12) et du frein β (à mettre sur la butée de fermeture 11).

La figure 2 représente une première réalisation selon l'invention (exemple 1) où la tête est munie de deux couples de butées d'ouverture/fermeture diamétralement opposés et dont la hauteur radiale a été exagérée pour faciliter la lisibilité de la figure. Cette tête est illustrée en vue de face et le capot est représenté en coupe par un plan diamétral axial passant entre les couples de butées et les plots d'alerte sonore.

La figure 3 représente en demi-coupe axiale une deuxième réalisation selon l'invention (exemple 2)

La figure 4 illustre par une coupe orthogonale les éléments à prendre en compte pour déterminer la hauteur radiale minimale d'une butée.

La figure 5 représente en perspective une troisième réalisation selon l'invention (exemple 3), une partie du capot ayant été enlevée pour visualiser le système de fixation.

Les figures 6 et 7 représentent une quatrième réalisation selon l'invention (exemple 4). La figure 6a est une vue de face de l'embase, pièce intermédiaire en matière plastique fixable sur une tête de tube métallique. La figure 7a représente en coupe axiale l'ensemble "tête de tube métallique / embase /canule" avant première utilisation. La figure 6b est une coupe orthoganale de l'embase et la figure 7b est une vue de dessus de l'embase associée à une coupe othogonale de la canule, les coupes orthogonales étant réalisées au niveau des moyens de fixation irréversible à rotation limitée de la canule sur l'embout.

Examples 3 and 4, by adding elements fulfilling additional functions, show new flexible tubes: the first, distributor of sunscreen through the deformation of an elastomeric wall, has a head which, even in the absence of an overcap, gives total security to the closure during the journey and the second is a metal tube distributing glue based on cyanoacrylate very sensitive to humidity.

FIG. 1, as we have seen, schematically presents the various fixing means according to the invention in section through a plane orthogonal to the axis of the neck, at the base of the neck. The axial blade and the radial rib are the only parts shown of the cover. This figure is a top view representative of the devices used in Example 1 and Example 3. It is also for Example 2, subject to reversing the position of the sound pad 15 (to be placed near the opening stop 12 ) and brake β (to be put on closing stop 11 ).

FIG. 2 represents a first embodiment according to the invention (example 1) where the head is provided with two pairs of diametrically opposite opening / closing stops and the radial height of which has been exaggerated to facilitate the legibility of the figure. This head is illustrated in front view and the cover is represented in section by an axial diametral plane passing between the pairs of stops and the audible warning pads.

FIG. 3 shows in axial half-section a second embodiment according to the invention (example 2)

Figure 4 illustrates by an orthogonal section the elements to be taken into account to determine the minimum radial height of a stop.

Figure 5 shows in perspective a third embodiment according to the invention (Example 3), part of the cover having been removed to view the fixing system.

Figures 6 and 7 show a fourth embodiment according to the invention (Example 4). FIG. 6a is a front view of the base, an intermediate piece of plastic material which can be fixed to a metal tube head. Figure 7a shows in axial section the whole "metal tube head / base / cannula" before first use. FIG. 6b is an orthoganal section of the base and FIG. 7b is a top view of the base associated with an othogonal section of the cannula, the orthogonal cuts being made at the level of the irreversible fixing means with limited rotation of the cannula on the nozzle.

EXAMPLE 1: "CENTERLOCK" tube (figure 1 and figure 2)

It is a set "head + capsule" having the same functionality and the same external appearance as that of the "Centerlock" tube described in US-A-5,199,605. It is intended to equip not too many product distribution tubes liquids, their viscosity corresponding to a creamy to pasty behavior. The fixing system according to the invention makes it possible to lighten the head of the tube, which improves user comfort.

• la butée d'arrêt à l'ouverture 12 est haute de 7mm; elle est en forme de dents à rochet, d'angle d'ouverture γ2=80°;
• la butée d'arrêt à la fermeture 11, haute de 2 mm, se trouve dans le prolongement radial de la butée d'arrêt à l'ouverture, avec une forme en L plus favorable à l'ancrage.

The head 1 , made of high density polyethylene, was overmolded on a flexible skirt 50, 0.4 mm thick and 35 mm in diameter. It is provided with a neck 20 of height 18 mm, of diameter 18mm, threaded in the middle part (triple thread 21 with a pitch P = 9 mm) on a height of 8mm. The thread is provided with a straight stop 49. The neck is provided at its base with 3 pairs of stop stops arranged at 120 ° from one another. For each couple,

• the opening stopper 12 is 7mm high; it is in the form of ratchet teeth, with an opening angle γ2 = 80 °;
• the closing stopper 11, 2 mm high, is located in the radial extension of the stopper when opening, with an L-shape more favorable for anchoring.

The shutter 26 , 5 mm in diameter, is held by oblique arms 27, of rectangular orthogonal section 1.5 * 3, fixed to the internal wall of the neck. The difficulties in producing such a head require having a neck wall that is at least 2 mm thick in order to obtain industrially acceptable injection conditions.

The shoulder 10, flat, is provided with three studs 15 serving for the audible warning when unscrewing, offset by 20 ° (in the direction of screwing) relative to the opening stops 12.

The cover 30 is molded separately; it is made of polypropylene. Its outer skirt 44 has a diameter of 35 mm and a thickness of 1.5 mm. It is also fitted with a 3 mm high sealing skirt 32 , with an external diameter of 14 mm: it is inserted without play inside the internal wall of the neck. The cover also has an internal skirt 31 of external diameter ≈22mm, provided with a thread 36 on its internal wall (diameter on thread ≈20), high 14mm, complementary to the thread 21 of the neck.

Two axial blades 33, 20 mm long, radially flexible and circumferentially rigid, are fixed to the base of the cover 30, attached to the internal skirt 31 over its 14 mm height and extending over 6 mm, 1 mm thick, 5 mm (opening angle: δ≈ 6.5 °). Their section is in the shape of a curvilinear trapezoid.

Two ribs 34 of the same length as the axial blades, are arranged radially (radial height: 2.5 mm, thickness 1 mm), attached to the axial blade 33 and reinforcing the internal skirt 21 over its entire height. Their free ends have an axial slot 42 2.5 mm high, freeing a circumferentially flexible end 41 , about 2 mm wide, which, by cooperating with the stud 15 placed on the shoulder 10 at about 20 ° in the direction of screwing, emits a sound vibration warning the user of the proximity of the opening stop 12 .

The product is dispensed through the central orifice 43 of the cover 30, closed by the central shutter 26 when the cover comes into abutment on the closing stop 11 and released by a descent of the shutter 26 relative to the cover 30 , when the cover comes into abutment on the opening stop 12. The axial displacement of the top wall 46 of the cover 30 provided with its central orifice 43 relative to the shutter 26 secured to the head, is due to the helical movement driven by limited rotation of the cover relative to the head.

The conical shape of the wall of the central shutter 26 makes it possible to regulate the dispensing flow rate by opening more or less the cover 30 , the rotation of which is limited to 112.5 °.

EXAMPLE 2: Cream distribution tube with central annular tents (fig. 3 and fig. 1)

Compared to the head of Example 1, the product is not dispensed through a central orifice 43 in the cover, which may or may not be closed by a central cover 26 held by arms 27 which clutter the inside of the neck. A circular central wall 37 is isolated from the rest of the top part 46 of the cover 30 ' by one of the annular slots 39 regularly distributed over a diameter 8 mm, 2 mm wide and separated by bridges of long material. In this particular case, they are six in number and do not exceed 1 mm in circumferential length.

An annular bead 38 in relief inside the cover is attached to the periphery of the circular central wall 37.

The neck is surmounted by a cylindrical appendage 22 having a top wall 23 which delimits an orifice 25 with a diameter of 4 mm. In the closed position, the annular bead 38 at the periphery of the circular central wall 37 comes to bear on the top surface 23 of the neck. The diameter of the annular bead 38 is close to 6 mm, its height is of the order of 0.5 mm.

The cover 30 ' is molded separately; it is made of polypropylene. Its outer skirt 44 is 35 mm in diameter and 1.5 mm thick. It is also provided with a sealing skirt 32 ' which straddles the cylindrical appendage 22 , whatever the position of the cover 30' relative to the head.

The cover 30 ' also has an internal skirt 31 with an external diameter ≈22mm, provided with a thread 36 (internal diameter on the thread ≈20), 14mm high, complementary to the thread 21' of the neck (single thread of pitch 3 mm).

Two axial blades 33 20 mm long, radially flexible and circumferentially rigid, are fixed to the base of the cover 30 ', attached to the internal skirt 31 on its 14 mm height and extending over 6 mm, 1 mm thick, wide 5mm (opening angle: δ≈ 6.5 °). Their section is in the shape of a curvilinear trapezoid.

Two ribs 34 of the same length as the axial blades, are arranged radially (radial height: 2.5 mm, thickness 1 mm), attached to the axial blades 33 and reinforcing the internal skirt 31 over its entire height. Their free ends have an axial slot 42 of 2.5 mm freeing a circumferentially flexible end 41 , about 2 mm wide, which, by cooperating with the stud 15 placed on the shoulder 10 at about 20 ° in the direction of screwing , emits a sound vibration warning the user of the proximity of the opening stop 12.

The product is dispensed through the annular slots 39 . The passage of the product is closed by the peripheral bead 38 which is supported on the top part 23 of the neck when the cover 30 ' is blocked by the closing stop 11. The passage is cleared when the bead 38 moves away from the part top 23 of the neck, when the cover is unscrewed and then comes into abutment on the opening stop 12.

In this example, as in the following, the overall geometries involved are identical (flexible tubes with skirt 35 mm in diameter). Two pairs of opening / closing stops arranged at 180 ° are used. The opening stop 11 is accompanied by an audible alarm device (pad 15 at 20 ° in the direction of screwing). The closing stop 12 is an L-shaped anchoring stop.

In FIG. 4, it can be seen that the radial height H of the stop, here of the order of 1 mm, is sufficient to leave a clear stop zone Z at least equal to 0.5 mm, taking account of the clearance J between the internal cylindrical wall 40 of the blade 33 and the external cylindrical wall of the neck 20 (or 20 ′ ), and fillets C1 , C2 of a few tenths of a millimeter on the convex molded parts of the stop 12 and of the blade 33.

EXAMPLE 3: Anti-leakage anti-leak sunscreen distribution tube without overcap (fig. 5 and fig.1)

This tube, illustrated in FIG. 5, has the irreversible fixing system with limited rotation according to the invention already described in the previous examples, which advantageously complements a dispensing device such as that described in FR-A-2 758 127. This device comprises, placed across the passage offered by the neck, supported by the cover 30 ", a valve constituted by a flexible wall 140 perforated by a central hole and a support structure 137.

The central hole of the flexible wall 140 is closed when the container is at rest, that is to say that the edge of the central hole of the flexible wall 140 is naturally in abutment on the support structure 137 of the valve, in intimate contact over the entire support surface and tight vis-à-vis the product.

Under the effect of the application of pressure on the flexible wall of the tube, the wall 140 is deformed, which causes the sealed contact between said wall and the support structure 137 to disappear and releases between them an opening for the product release. This gives a selective distribution of the product, which can be adjusted as a function of the pressure on the skirt of the tube.

Without pressure on the tube, the device is effectively sealed. It prevents the product to go out but also any impurity (sand, dust) to return. The product therefore remains free of pollution, which is an important advantage for the consumer.

The support structure 137 is in the form of a fixed and non-deformable pin while the flexible wall 140 surrounding the orifice is made of an elastomeric thermoplastic material.

This gives a pleasant and easy-to-use tube, soft to the touch, which can possibly be used with one hand and which "closes" automatically as soon as you put more pressure on its walls. However, the tube according to FR-A-2 758 127 is not protected from shocks or blows, especially during transport, and this lack of closing security requires the use of a sealing overcap.

The fixing system according to the invention makes it possible to dispense with the overcap.

The head is perfectly identical to the head of Example 2, with a 20 'neck surmounted by a cylindrical appendage 22, having a top wall 23 which delimits an orifice 25 with a diameter of 4 mm.

The valve (wall + support structure) is integral with the cover 30 ". The cover 30", apart from its top part supporting said valve, is identical to the cover 30 'of Example 2. Its external skirt 44 is 35 mm in diameter and is 1.5 mm thick. It is also provided with a sealing skirt (32 ′, fig. 3) which straddles the cylindrical appendage (22, fig. 3) of the neck permanently, regardless of the position of the cover 30 " relative to As in FR-A-2 758 127, the top part of the cover is provided with an elastomeric membrane 140 resting on a central stud 137.

An annular bead in relief inside the cover, similar to the bead 38 of Example 2, is attached to the underside of the central stud 137.

As in example 2, the bead (38, fig. 3) of the cover comes to bear on the top wall (23, fig. 3) of the neck, when the cover is put in the closed position. Since no product can pass, the elastomeric membrane 140 does not deform, even under the effect of untimely pressure on the skirt of the tube. The product cannot therefore exit and the 30 " cover gives perfect closing security during transport.

In the open position, the passage between the membrane 38 and the top wall 23 the neck is free and the distributor acts as described in the request for Patent FR 2,758,127.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the head of the anti-sand anti-leak tube of the example, a part of the cover having been removed in order to visualize the fixing system: a couple of stops for opening stop 12 and closing 11 , the radially flexible blade 33, a stud 15 coming into contact with the circumferentially flexible end 41 of the radial rib 34

Here, we use the audible alert function to warn the user that the tube is in the closed position. When he hears this signal, he can safely put your tube in a travel bag.

EXAMPLE 4 Tube of glue based on cyanoacrylate (fig. 6a, 6b and fig. 7a, 7b)

This tube, illustrated in FIGS. 7a and 7b, also has the irreversible fixing system with limited rotation according to the invention, adapted here by using an intermediate plastic insert 200 , illustrated in FIGS. 6a and 6b, between the cannula cover 300 and the metal tube head 51.

The tube of this example is a tube intended to condition products particularly strong adhesives, such as cyanoacrylate products. Thanks to its cannula-shaped end, it allows you to deposit in one place specifies a controlled amount of product. It is a smaller tube (skirt diameter 13.5 mm) than the previous ones. It illustrates the use of fastening system according to the invention in geometric conditions more severe dimensions. In such conditions, it is not equipped with a audible warning device.

There is nothing to prevent us from making a tube with a system identical to previous when dimensions allow (flexible tube with skirt 35mm in diameter, for application of cosmetic products (dyes of hair for example), or even ophthalmic products, etc.). In in such cases, the cannula cover will preferably have an applicator end rounded, non-traumatic.

It takes the form of a metal tube fitted with a neck, the orifice is closed by a seal which keeps the product inside the tube and protected from air before its first use.

DE 41 26 477 describes a tube for such use, made of aluminum alloy, on the head of which is fixed a plastic cannula, and delivered with a capsule with a needle long enough to allow it to introduced inside a capillary channel, perforate the seal. Such a needle therefore serves, at first use, to perforate the seal and, then, to plug the cannula orifice.

With such a tube, there is regurgitation of the product during filling, when it is necessary to reintroduce the needle into the capillary channel. It is so difficult to clean the edge of the cannula and the latter is gradually dirty with hardened glue. The fixing system according to the invention irreversible with limited rotation avoids this type of problem, its low dimensions allowing a new arrangement of the participating elements to the controlled distribution of the product.

The tube according to the invention also uses a needle, but is not equipped with a capsule since it functions like the "centerlock" of Example 1, the cover 30 taking the form of a cannula 300 and the obturator ( 26, fig.2) taking the form of a needle 226 whose length, comparable to that of the cannula, is such that, in the closed position, it slightly exceeds the top of the cannula.

There is nothing to prevent the needle being in direct extension of a plastic neck. In the present case, the packaged product is an adhesive very sensitive to humidity which can only be kept for a long time in a sealed metal tube. This is why an intermediate piece 200 is used here which must perforate the cover on first use and then anchor firmly on the metal head to finally play the role of the container head of the previous examples. We will call thereafter "base" this intermediate part with multiple functions.

The base has four parts: two central (upper and lower) and two peripherals (upper and lower).

The lower central part of the base 200 is a central duct 201, extending downwards by a tube of approximately 4 mm in diameter, the lower end of which , bevelled, makes it possible to perforate the metal cover 54, after screwing complete of the base 200 on the neck 53 of the metal tube 51. After perforation of the cover, the product packaged in the tube is intended to pass through the interior of this central duct 201.

The upper central part of the base 200 is the needle 226. This needle 226 has a height close to 18mm and a progressive shape in three parts: at the top, it is a cylindrical shutter with a diameter of about 1 mm and ≈ 1 , 5 mm high, in the middle part, supported by three regularly distributed radial ribs 204 , of thickness ≈ 0.8 mm, attached to the needle over a height close to 15 mm, in the bottom part, the central part is hollow, in extension of the central duct 201, and the bases 227 of the ribs 204 form a sort of tripod allowing the needle to rest on the peripheral wall of the central duct 201. The space between the bases 227 of the ribs offers a wide passage to the product to be dispensed, between the central duct 201 and the internal duct 302 of the cannula 300.

The upper peripheral part of the base 200 is similar to the cylindrical neck of the previous examples: at the top, the appendix 222, smooth over a height of 3 mm, has a diameter of 4.5 mm. The lower part, threaded, has a double helical thread 220 with a pitch close to 6mm over a height of 5 mm. The base 210 is provided with two pairs (opening stop 212 / closing stop 211 ), diametrically opposite. The stops at the opening 212 are 3 mm high; they are shaped like a ratchet tooth. The closing stops 211 are 1 mm high; they are also in the form of a ratchet tooth, oriented in the opposite direction to that of the stops for opening 212.

The lower peripheral part of the base 200 is a skirt 244 for screwing and anchoring on the head of the metal tube. It is provided in its upper part, on its internal wall, with a helical thread 232 complementary to the screw thread 56 of the metal tube. In its lower part, it carries, still on its internal wall, 12 ratchet teeth 231 elastically deformable in the direction of screwing and intended, by cooperation with the teeth 55, to immobilize the base on the head of the metal tube 51.

The tube 51 is a metal tube whose skirt 52 has an external diameter of 13.5 mm. The metal neck 53, 8 mm high, has a thread diameter of approximately 9 mm. It is surmounted by a cover 54 5 mm in diameter. Its outer wall is provided in the upper part with a helical thread 56 having a pitch of ≈1.3 mm, complementary to the thread 232 of the base. In the lower part, it is provided with eight ratchet teeth 55 intended to fix the base at the end of insertion by screwing, after perforation of the cover 54, by blocking the ratchet teeth 231. These teeth 231 are oriented in the opposite direction to that of teeth 55. More generally, to have a good anchoring of the base on the head, we will choose a number of teeth 231 and a number of teeth 55 such that their pgcd (greatest common divisor) is greater than or equal to 3.

The cannula 300 is provided at the bottom with an external skirt 344 threaded on its internal wall and, at the top, with gripping ribs 301 which make it possible to rotate it around the axis of the base. It has an internal conduit 302 intended to conduct the product towards the orifice 343 of distribution. In the lower part, it is a bore 332 which is threaded with a slight tightening around the cylindrical appendage 222. Above, it is the internal conduit 302 proper, whose wall 303 gradually decreases in diameter as and as the product approaches the orifice: this diameter changes from 3mm in the lower part to about 1 mm at the orifice 343.

The ribs 204 which reinforce the needle 226 have a peripheral wall 205 which conforms, leaving a clearance of a few tenths of a millimeter. the shape of the wall 303 of the internal conduit 302. Thus, after uncapping and during a pressing on the skirt 52 of the tube, the product is urged to pass through the internal conduit 201, the passage between the arms 227 which hold the needle 226, then the space between the wall 303 of the internal conduit 302 , the needle 226 and the ribs 204, finally in the fine end of the internal conduit 302 and exits through the orifice 343.

During use, the user deposits a controlled quantity of glue in a specific location. After use, it screws the cannula 300, which has the effect of bringing the end of the needle 226 into the orifice 343. In fact, thanks to the cooperation of the helical threads 336 and 220 , the limited rotation allows a axial displacement of the cover / cannula 300 relative to the needle 226, which moves the needle 226 away from or closer to the orifice 343. The needle 226 thus acts as a shutter. After closure, the needle has a length such that it protrudes slightly (at least several tenths of a millimeter) from the top of the cannula. It is noted that there was during the closure a certain aspiration of the product because the rise of the needle relative to the cannula causes outward an amount of glue less than what is contained in the capillary channel. In addition, this very small amount of glue can be easily removed since there is no overcap.

For a new use, a limited unscrewing of the cannula 300 makes it possible not only to free the orifice 343 but also to stir the glue which is located near the orifice, thanks to the relative movement of the needle 226 and the ribs 204 relative to the wall 303 of the internal conduit 302.

The end of the needle 226 is cylindrical, which allows a certain angular movement (therefore a first mixing of the glue by the ribs 204 ) before the release of the capillary channel and the exit of the glue.

The cannula 300 is produced separately and then assembled by screwing onto the base 200 . At the end of screwing on the base, the blades 333 arrive in the limited rotation zone delimited by the opening stop 212 and the closing stop 211. Here, due to the size and dimensions, the blades 333 are joined to the outer skirt 344 of the cannula. Before being screwed onto the metal tube head, the cannula 300 + base 200 assembly is therefore already equipped with irreversible fixing means in the axial direction allowing limited rotation of the cannula relative to the base.

The base 200 + cannula 300 assembly is delivered partially screwed onto the head of the metal tube 51 to the conditioner. It is only during its first use that the consumer completes the screwing: it imposes an axial movement of driving the base as well as the anchoring of the base on the tube head after perforation of the cover.

To prevent any untimely sinking of the base before the first use, it is possible to interpose between the base assembly 200 + cannula 300 and the head of the metal tube 51 a safety ring. In this case, the consumer must first unscrew the cannula, remove the ring and then screw it back in fully to uncap and fix the base.

In this example, the ring is replaced by a tamper-evident means 250 attached to the skirt 244 of the base 200. This tamper-evident means corresponds to that described in EP 0 475 354: a guarantee strip 252 is connected to the skirt 244 by breakable bridges 251 . It carries internal teeth cooperating with the ratchet teeth 55 carried by the neck 53 of the metal tube. These inner teeth are elastically tiltable in the direction of screwing so as to allow the screwing of the base without breaking the breakable bridges and then to prevent the unscrewing of the base until the bridges are broken. To facilitate the breaking of bridges 251, the number of internal teeth is preferably chosen such that this and the number of teeth 55 of the metal neck are prime to each other. Preferably, the guarantee strip 252 is not continuous: its two free ends allow it to drain laterally on the first unscrewing. Under these conditions, the user unscrews the base on less than one turn to detach the guarantee strip and then screws fully to perforate the seal.

The cannula can also be extended by a breakable seal: the area snap around the end of the needle.

ADVANTAGES OF THE PROCESS ACCORDING TO THE INVENTION

• lightened irreversible fastening and limited rotation container heads;
• container heads with irreversible fixing and space-saving rotation reduced;
• simpler and more irreversible fixing and limited rotation container heads fast to manufacture (production rate doubled compared to art prior);
• Less regurgitation of the product to be distributed when the pressure is canceled (less soiling);
• new possible functions: transport safety without overcap of the heads anti-sand; application to cannula-shaped heads; application without overcap with products sensitive to humidity or contact with air general; near the clean dispensing orifice.

Claims (24)

1. Assembly comprising a head (1, 1') and an overcap (30, 30', 30", 300), the said head having one open end (2) designed to be fixed on the open end of a container or a flexible tube provided with a cylindrical neck (20, 20') and a shoulder (3) extending from the said open end to the said neck, in which the cylindrical neck is provided with at least one helical screw thread (21) with pitch P, the overcap having a cylindrical skirt (31) provided with thread (36) on its inner wall complementary to the thread (21) on the neck (20), wherein the said overcap has at least one radially flexible and circumferentially rigid axial plate (33), one end of the said flexible plate being free, the other end being fixed to the overcap at a distance from the centreline slightly greater than the outside radius of the neck, and wherein the bottom (10) of the neck is provided with at least one opening stop (12) and at least one closure stop (11), the said opening stop being provided with a first wall (14) that gradually moves away from the cylindrical wall (26) of the said neck, such that when the overcap (30) is screwed onto the head for putting the assembly together, the free end of the axial plate (33) comes into contact with the first wall (14) and that the free end is forced to move radially and is elastically deformed and then, after passing beyond the opening stop, moves downwards towards the cylindrical wall of the neck inside a space between the said opening stop (12) and closure stop (11), its movement being limited by the blocking walls (16 and 17) of the said stops (11 and 12), characterized in that the said closure stop (11) has a height smaller than the height of the said opening stop (12), in that the radial movement of the free end of the axial plate (33) is centrifugal and in that the said blocking walls (17 and 16) of the opening stop (12) at angular position , and the closure stop (11) at angular position , are slightly inclined with axial diametric planes at angular positions  and  respectively and cooperate with the wall (47 or 48) of the axial plate (33) that comes into contact with them such that the free end of the axial plate (33) is forced to move according to a centripetal movement.
2. Assembly comprising a head (1, 1') and an overcap (30, 30', 30'', 300) according to claim 1, wherein the said axial plate (33) matches the shape of the portion of a ring and has transverse walls (47 and 48) that are not orthogonal to the cylindrical walls of the said axial plate (33).
3. Assembly comprising a head (1, 1') and an overcap (30, 30', 30'', 300) according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the axial plate (33) matches the shape of the portion of a ring with an average radius slightly greater than the average radius of the neck, the orthogonal section being a curved trapezium in which the small base and the large base are the arcs of a circle with an opening angle equal to δ, the large base being facing inwards.
4. Assembly comprising a head (1, 1') and an overcap (30, 30', 30'', 300) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the difference in height between the opening stop (12) and the closure stop (11) is equal to at least P * (|-| - δ) / 2Π.
5. Assembly comprising a head (1, 1') and an overcap (30, 30', 30'', 300) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the said opening stop (12) and closure stop (11) are ratchet teeth or L-shaped anchors.
6. Assembly comprising a head (1, 1') and an overcap (30, 30', 30'', 300) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the axial plate (33) is moulded along the extension of the skirt (31) used to screw in the overcap and in that this skirt (31) is reinforced by at least one axial rib (34) oriented radially and in contact with the said axial plate.
7. Assembly comprising a head (1, 1') and an overcap (30, 30', 30'', 300) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the neck is provided with a helical "screw" thread with a straight thread at the beginning and in that the inner wall of the skirt (31) of the cap is provided with a "nut" thread with a straight thread at the end.
8. Assembly comprising a head (1, 1') and an overcap (30, 30', 30'', 300) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that the axial rib (34) has a lower end (41) separated from the plate by a circumferentially flexible slit (42) that acts as a flexible plate providing an audible warning when it comes into contact with a pad (15) located on the shoulder at the same distance from the centreline of the neck as the lower flexible end (41) of the axial rib (34) and located at an angle α of more than 10 degrees in the screwing out direction of the closure stop (11) or in the screwing in direction of the opening stop (12).
9. Assembly comprising a head (1, 1') and an overcap (30, 30', 30'', 300) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterised in that the stop is provided with a lock, in other words a wall that moves away from the cylindrical wall of the neck in the limited rotation area.
10. Assembly comprising a head (1, 1') and an overcap (30, 30', 30'', 300) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterised in that the neck is provided with n sets of stops, the closure stop being located along the radial extension of the opening stop and in that the cover is provided with n axial plates.
11. Assembly comprising a head (1') and an overcap (30', 30") according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterised in that the neck (20') is provided with a top wall (23) that surrounds the orifice (25) and in that the said overcap has a central wall (37), an annular thickening (38) being attached on its inner surface, the said thickening bearing on the top surface (23) of the neck (20') when in the closed position.
12. Tube provided with a head and an overcap which, when partially unscrewed, separates the top of the cap from the top of the head and thus releases a central orifice (43) through which the product is distributed, characterised in that it is provided with an assembly comprising a head (1) and the overcap (30) according to any one of claims 1 to 10.
13. Tube provided with a head and an overcap which, when partially unscrewed, separates the top of the overcap from the top of the head, characterised in that it is provided with an assembly comprising a head (1') and an overcap (30', 30") according to claim 11.
14. Distribution tube for creamy or pasty products through central circular slits, characterised in that it is provided with an assembly comprising a head (1') and an overcap (30'') according to claim 11.
15. Distribution tube for creamy or pasty drip proof and sandproof products, characterised in that it is provided with an assembly comprising a head (1') and an overcap (30') according to claim 11.
16. Assembly comprising a head and a cap according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterised in that the overcap is in the shape of a hollow needle (300) and in that the head is extended by a needle (226).
17. Assembly comprising a metallic head (51), a base (200) made of plastic material and an overcap (300), characterised in that the metallic head (51) and the base (200) are provided with means (231 and 55) cooperating together to irreversibly fix the base (200) onto the metallic head (51) and in that the base (200) and the cap (300) are provided with means according to any one of claims 1 to 11, in which the base (200) acts as the head.
18. Assembly comprising a metallic head (51), a plastic base (200) and an overcap (300) according to claim 17, characterised in that the overcap is in form of a hollow needle (300) and in that the base (200) is extended by a needle (226).
19. Assembly comprising a metallic head (51), a plastic base (200) and an overcap (300) according to claim 18, characterised in that the length of the needle (226) is such that the needle (226) projects by at least several tenths of a millimetre beyond the top of the hollow needle (300), when in the closed position.
20. Assembly comprising a metallic head (51), a plastic base (200) and an overcap (300) according to claim 18, characterised in that the hollow needle (300) is extended by a breakable closer in the form of a stick.
21. Assembly comprising a metallic head (51), a plastic base (200) and an overcap (300) according to any one of claims 17 to 20, characterised in that the metallic head is provided with a neck (53) in which the orifice is closed off by a closer (54) and in that the base is provided with a central duct (201), the lower end (202) of which perforates the closer (54) of the metallic head (51) during first use.
22. Assembly comprising a metallic head (51), a plastic base (200) and an overcap (300) according to any one of claims 18 to 21, characterised in that the base (200) is provided with tamperproof means (250).
23. Assembly comprising a metallic head (51), a plastic base (200) and an overcap (300) according to any one of claims 18 to 21, characterised in that a ring is inserted between the base (200) and the metallic head (51) before the first use.
24. Metallic distribution tube, characterised in that it is fitted with the assembly comprising a metallic head (51), a plastic base (200) and an overcap (300) according to any one of claims 17 to 23.

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