EP1162155A2 - Closure cap with spring-effect hinge and packaging unit provided with such a cap - Google Patents

Abstract

The closure for a cosmetic container comprises a base (2) with a skirt (12, 13) with ribs (14, 15) which cooperate with ribs on the neck of the container. A flap (20) fits over an outlet (6) for cosmetic and frees this when the container is tipped. A cap (3) is mounted on the base by a section (31, 32) which acts as a spring. The flap is molded with the base and is made from the same material as that of the section which acts as a spring.

Description

The present invention relates to a capsule intended to equip a container used commonly used for the packaging of certain products, in particular cosmetics (shampoos, after shampoos, etc.) or care products (body milks, moisturizers, sunscreens, etc.).

Typically, such products are packaged in walled containers deformable, in particular in polypropylene or polyethylene, and surmounted by a neck with a free edge defining an opening. On this opening is mounted a capsule, comprising a body slammed on the neck of the container. A wall transverse of the body is crossed by an outlet, in communication with the container. The capsule also includes a hinged lid on the body via a so-called "spring effect" joint. The cover includes a portion, in particular in the form of a suitable pin, in the closed position of the cover, to come in engagement with the exit orifice of the capsule to close it so waterproof.

A spring effect joint designates a joint allowing the passage of the cover from a first position, called "closing" to a second position called "maximum opening", by pivoting around an axis (defined for example by a film hinge), the transition from the first position to the second, and / or conversely, accompanied by the passage through an intermediate position, of unstable equilibrium in which the elastic deformation (bending, compression, stretching, etc.) of at least part of the capsule, in particular of a connection connecting the body of the capsule to the cover, passes through a maximum value. The crossing of this unstable equilibrium position, at the opening and / or at the closure results from an elastic restoring force generated by the element (s) deformed elastically, in particular by the connecting element connecting the body to cover.

As described in US-A-4 386 714, the connecting element can be under shape of a kneepad, consisting of an elbow whose opening is maximum in passing through said intermediate position. Another type of effect joint spring, in which the connecting element consists of a deforming strip in elongation, is described in patent EP 0 147 423. Yet another type articulation with spring effect is described in patent EP 0 56 469. In this patent, the connecting elements deform little or not. It’s the capsule body, and / or the cover which deforms passing through the unstable equilibrium position.

Such joints make it possible to produce the capsule in a single part, in particular obtained by molding. Obtaining a satisfactory spring effect requires the use of relatively rigid materials such as certain polypropylenes. In the absence of such rigidity, the capsule is soft and deemed unsatisfactory.

In such capsules, it is known to arrange in the delimited outlet orifice by the body, a valve, configured so as to move apart under the pressure of the product inside the container, to authorize the distribution of the product, and to return to its closed position when the pressure stops. Such a valve allows prevent (at least during a normal container overturning period) the liquid in the container will flow by gravity. In addition, it allows better control the distribution of the product, in response to the deformation of the walls of the container. In addition, such a valve must close sufficiently to prevent entry of liquid (especially water) into the container, from outside. However, such a valve may allow air to enter the interior of the container, especially after each distribution, to compensate for the volume of product distributed.

Such a valve must be sufficiently flexible and flexible to allow a easy product distribution. The material must also withstand multiple bends in one direction and in the other, with each distribution of the product. In Indeed, the joint connecting the valve to the body must not break after some uses. She must also keep her ability to return elastically in the closed position after each use, and this throughout the Product life. The material flexibility requirements are even larger when the valve must, returning to its closed position, allow an air intake inside the container. Indeed, the valve is subjected to deflections also repeated, but at a maximum angle which may be more important.

Based on these observations, in particular as regards the diametrically properties opposites that must present the materials forming on the one hand the joint to spring effect, and on the other hand the selective closing valve, the specialists of Until now, such capsules have always turned to the same solutions.

A first solution consists in molding the capsule equipped with a joint at spring effect by means of a rigid material, in particular polypropylene, and make the closing valve of the outlet orifice, in an elastomeric material. Although satisfactory from the operating point of view, such capsules have the disadvantage of being expensive to produce due to the use of two separate materials. Indeed, molding is more complicated to carry out. In in addition, with certain elastomeric materials, the problem of the compatibility of the elastomer with the product packaged in the container.

According to a second solution, described in particular in the certificate request FR 2 558 140, the closing valve is made of an identical material to the material forming the capsule body, and is molded in one piece with this last. The material used is of relatively low rigidity, so that meet the requirements for proper operation of the valve. The cover is made, meanwhile, separate from the body of the capsule, and is mounted tightly or screwed onto the container. In other words, the articulation function spring effect is deleted. In the same way as for the solution above, this solution is not satisfactory from the point of view of cost. In in addition, the cover, not hinged on the body of the capsule, can be lost if do not take care to replace it immediately after each use. Finally, the snap-fastening of such a capsule, produced in relatively low stiffness material, can be problematic for strength that he authorizes.

According to a third solution, it has been proposed to produce the capsule in a single piece, with a cover hinged to a body by means of an effect hinge spring. The capsule is made of a rigid material meeting the requirements required for the proper functioning of the joint. However, no valve is disposed in the outlet. With this solution, except to size the outlet appropriately depending on the viscosity of the product, this the latter flows quickly due to its weight when the bottle is kept upside down. Liquid, especially water, can enter the container from the outside, when the cover is not folded over the body. In addition, the distribution is difficult to control.

It is therefore one of the objects of the invention to produce a capsule of the type mentioned above, and resolving, in whole or in part, the drawbacks discussed in reference to conventional capsules.

It is in particular an object of the invention to produce a capsule in one single piece, easy to use and economical to make.

It is yet another object of the invention to produce a capsule equipped a spring effect articulation, exhibiting a satisfactory "spring effect", and allowing a controlled distribution of the product, by means of a valve operating satisfactorily throughout the life of the product.

It is yet another object of the invention to produce a capsule comprising a spring effect articulation, and equipped with a selective closing valve, opening in response to the pressure inside the container, and allowing a air intake inside the container, especially after each dispensing.

Still other objects will appear in the detailed description which follows.

According to the invention, these objects are achieved by producing a capsule intended for equip a container, said capsule comprising a) a body comprising means capable of mounting the capsule on the container, said body being crossed by an outlet; b) a shut-off valve mounted in said orifice outlet, and able to flex in response to pressure exerted by the product at the interior of the container so as to clear the outlet for the distribution of the product, and to return to its initial position when the pressure ceases ; and c) a cover mounted on the body by means of an effect articulation spring, and intended to removably cover said outlet orifice, for sealing the container, the valve being obtained by molding with the body, from a material identical to that forming the effect joint spring.

For the purposes of the present application, a spring effect articulation means a articulation allowing the passage of the cover from a first position, called "de closing "to a second position called" maximum opening ", pivoting around an axis (defined for example by a film hinge), the passage of the first position to the second, and / or vice versa, accompanied by the passage by a intermediate position, of unstable equilibrium, in which the elastic deformation (flexion, compression, stretching, etc.) of at least part of the capsule, in particular a connecting element connecting the body of the capsule to the cover, goes through a maximum value. Crossing this position of equilibrium unstable, upon opening and / or closing, results from an elastic restoring force generated by the elastically deformed element (s), in particular by the connecting element connecting the body to the cover.

For example, the joint comprises a connecting element in the form of a strip of material connecting the body of the capsule to the cover. On either side of the connecting strip are arranged two film hinges defining an axis of articulation. In the closed position of the capsule, the connecting strip is located side of the hinge pin. In the open position of the capsule, the connecting strip is on the other side of the hinge pin. Going from the open position to the closed position, and vice versa, the connecting strip passes through a position intermediate of maximum elongation in which it intersects the axis of articulation.

As another example, the connecting strip can, as described in the patent US-A-4,386,714, to be produced in the form of a kneepad.

Thus, and in spite of the ideas and prejudices prevailing in the world of specialists capsules of the aforementioned type, the Applicant discovered that in a capsule of the type described above, the "spring effect articulation" and "flap" functions could be satisfactorily secured using the same material. Manufacturing costs are thereby reduced sensitive. The functionality is optimal.

Preferably, the valve is configured so that, returning to said position initial, it allows an air intake inside the container so as to compensate for the volume of product distributed. So after each distribution, in resuming its initial position, the valve can go slightly beyond its position closing, so as to let air pass in the direction of the container. AT pressure balance it returns to its closed position of the outlet. This re-entering movement of the closing valve is however not necessary, in function in particular of the greater or lesser space existing between the edge device of the valve and the edge delimiting the outlet orifice.

For example, the distance between the peripheral edge of the valve and the edge interior delimiting the outlet is of the order of 0.2 mm. With such space, for a shampoo, except to leave the bottle upside down for a period relatively long, the product does not flow under the effect of its weight.

The capsule is preferably obtained by molding a polypropylene, homopolymer or copolymer.

Preferably, the closing valve is connected to the body of the capsule by the minus a hinge material bridge. More preferably still, the valve of closure is connected to the body of the capsule by two bridges of material arranged at non-zero distance from each other.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the outlet orifice is formed at the bottom of a recess delimited by the body, said recess, on the side of the valve, opposite to that adjacent to the hinge bridge (s) having a profile which, in moving away from the outlet orifice, converges, preferably gradually, in direction of an axis of the latter. Such a profile ensures flow substantially vertical to the orifice, of the product dispensed.

On the wall of the cover intended to come opposite the wall of the capsule in which is formed the outlet, means, in particular in the form of a pin, can be expected to come into engagement with the recess in which is formed the outlet orifice, so as to perfect the tightness to the closure, overall.

Advantageously, the mounting means are means able to cooperate with corresponding means of the container so as to allow the attachment of the capsule to the container by snap-fastening or by screwing. Snap-fastening is however a preferred solution.

According to the present invention, an assembly is also produced for the packaging and distribution of a product, in particular a cosmetic product, comprising a container containing the product, said container having an edge free delimiting an opening equipped with a capsule according to the invention.

Preferably, the container has walls capable of deforming in response to a pressure exerted perpendicular to their surface and to resume their shape initial when the pressure stops. Such a container can be made in polypropylene or polyethylene.

Such an assembly is particularly suitable for packaging and distribution of a cosmetic product, in particular a shampoo, a conditioner, a styling gel, a milk, or a care product.

• la figure 1 décrit un ensemble de conditionnement et de distribution équipé d'une capsule selon l'invention ;
• la figure 2 illustre une vue en coupe d'une capsule selon un mode de réalisation de la présente invention ;
• la figure 3 représente une vue de détail du clapet de fermeture de la capsule illustrée à la figure 2 ; et
• la figure 4 représente une vue partielle d'une capsule présentant une variante par rapport au mode de réalisation des figures 2 et 3.

The invention consists, apart from the arrangements set out above, of a certain number of other arrangements which will be explained below, with reference to nonlimiting exemplary embodiments, described with reference to the appended figures, among which:

• FIG. 1 describes a packaging and distribution assembly equipped with a capsule according to the invention;
• FIG. 2 illustrates a sectional view of a capsule according to an embodiment of the present invention;
• 3 shows a detailed view of the closure valve of the capsule illustrated in Figure 2; and
• FIG. 4 represents a partial view of a capsule presenting a variant with respect to the embodiment of FIGS. 2 and 3.

In FIG. 1, the assembly 100 on which the capsule 1 according to the invention is mounted, consists of a bottle 101, for example, of polyethylene or polypropylene. The bottle 101 has a body 102 closed by a bottom 103. The body 102 is elongated cross section and is formed by two large faces 104, 105, "elastically" deformable under the effect of pressure perpendicular to the long sides of the bottle.

A capsule 1 is slammed onto the neck of the bottle. Capsule 1 has a body 2 on which a cover 3 is hinged, via a hinge or hinge spring effect 30. The body 2 of the capsule 1 has a transverse wall 4 in which is formed a recess 5 at the bottom of which is formed an orifice outlet 6. On its face intended to come opposite the transverse wall 4, the cover 3 carries a pin 7 capable of sealingly engaging in the recess 5 so as to ensure a good seal upon closing.

According to a preferred embodiment, such a capsule is obtained from one-piece molding, made of a homopolymer polypropylene having a module bending of 1450 MPa (measured with tests the conditions of which are given in ISO 178 standard, at 2 mm / min). This capsule will be described more detailed with reference to the figures which follow.

As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the body 2 of the capsule comprises a covering skirt 8 of oblong cross section. Skirt 8 is opened in one end and closed at the other end by a transverse wall 4.

The transverse wall 4 forms a recessed part 9, oriented perpendicularly to the major axis of the capsule 1, and intended to receive the cover 3 in position closed of the latter. In the recessed portion 9 of the wall 4, is formed a recess 5 at the bottom of which is an orifice 6 for the outlet of the product. The product outlet orifice 6 is arranged along an axis X distinct from the axis Y of the capsule, which coincides with the axis of the container 101 intended to receive the capsule 1.

A sealing skirt 11 carried by the transverse wall 4, is formed all around of the recess 5, and centered on the Y axis of the capsule. This sealing skirt is intended to fit tightly inside the neck of the container 101.

Between the covering skirt 8 and the sealing skirt 11, two portions are arranged skirt 12, 13, each carrying, in the vicinity of their free end, a bead 14, 15, able to cooperate by snap-fastening with a corresponding bead formed on the outer surface of the neck of the container 101.

A valve 20 is disposed in the outlet orifice 6, and connected to an edge delimiting said orifice by two bridges of material 21, 22, arranged so as to form a hinge, to allow the valve 20 to pivot in response to pressure from the product contained in the container 101. The valve 20 is dimensioned so that that, in the closed position, there remains an annular passage 23 between the edge device of the valve 20 and the edge delimiting the outlet orifice 6, so as to authorize a return of air inside the container 101.

As a specific example, the outlet orifice 6 has a diameter of 4 mm. The valve closure 20 has a diameter of 3.6 mm, and connected to the edge delimiting the orifice outlet 6 by two material bridges 21, 22, each 0.5 mm wide and 0.25 mm thick. The thickness of the closing valve 20 is 0.7 mm. The two material bridges 21, 22 are separated by an angular distance about 25 °. All these parameters are of course adjusted according to the material used, product to be distributed and comfort sought after distribution, including the inertia of the system.

Thus, when the pressures are balanced, the valve 20 is in the closed position. shown in solid lines. In this position, the degree of closure is sufficient for one hand, when the container is turned upside down, at least for a relatively short time, prevent the product contained in the container to drain due to its weight, and on the other hand prevent any untimely entry of liquid, especially water, inside the container. In however, the annular passage 23 formed around the valve 20 allows recovery of air inside the container 101.

To distribute a dose of product, the user presses on the deformable walls 104, 105 of the container 101 so as to pressurize the product. The product under pressure causes the valve 20 to flex in the opposite direction to the container 101 so as to release the outlet orifice 6, and to allow the outlet of the product. The valve 20 is then in the position shown in broken lines. By releasing the pressure exerted on the walls of the container 101, the valve 20 returns to its closed position, letting through the container 101, via the annular passage 23, a volume of air corresponding to the volume of product distributed.

The body 2 of the capsule 1 is connected to a cover 3 via an effect articulation spring 30 of the toggle type. Such a joint 30 comprises an element of connection in the form of an elbow 31 connected on the one hand to the body 2 of the capsule and on the other hand to the cover 3. On either side of the elbow 31 are formed two film hinges 32, 34 defining a pivot axis of the cover 3 by relative to the body 2. When the cover 3 is opened and closed, the elbow 31 passes through an intermediate position in which its opening is maximum. After crossing this unstable equilibrium position, he recalls resiliently the cover, either in the closed position or in the maximum opening. The functioning of such joints is well known, and therefore, does not require any additional detailed description.

On the inner face of the cover 3 is formed a pin 7 which, in the closed position of the cover is capable of coming into engagement inside the recess 5 of so as to perfect the seal upon closing.

Figure 4 illustrates a variant of Figures 2 and 3. According to this variant, the shape cylindrical of the recess 5 at the bottom of which the outlet orifice 6 is formed, is replaced by a particular profile capable of promoting the flow, vertically of the outlet orifice 6, for the product flowing through the latter. To this end, side of the valve 20, opposite to that adjacent to the hinge bridge (s) 21, 22, the recess 5 has a profile 40 which, moving away from the orifice of outlet 6, gradually converges towards the X axis of the latter.

In the foregoing detailed description, reference has been made to modes of preferred embodiments of the invention. Obviously there may be variations made without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed below.

Claims (10)

Capsule (1) intended to equip a container (101), said capsule comprising a) a body (2) comprising means (12-15) capable of mounting the capsule on the container, said body (2) being traversed by an outlet orifice (6); b) a closing valve (20) mounted in said outlet orifice, and capable of bending in response to a pressure exerted by the product inside the container so as to release the outlet orifice for the distribution of the product, and return to its original position when the pressure stops; and c) a cover (3) mounted on the body by a spring-effect articulation (30), and intended to removably cover said outlet orifice, to ensure the sealed closure of the container, the valve (20) being obtained from molding with the body (2), from a material identical to that forming the spring-effect joint (30). Capsule (1) according to claim 1 characterized in that the valve (20) is configured so that, returning to said initial position, it allows air to enter the interior of the container (101) so as to compensate the volume of product distributed. Capsule (1) according to claim 1 or 2 characterized in that it is obtained by molding of a polypropylene. Capsule (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3 characterized in that the closing valve (20) is connected to the body (2) of the capsule by at least one bridge of material (21, 22) forming a hinge. Capsule (1) according to the preceding claim characterized in that the closing valve (20) is connected to the body (2) of the capsule by two bridges of material (21, 22) arranged at non-zero distance one of the other. Capsule (1) according to claim 4 or 5 characterized in that the outlet orifice (6) is formed at the bottom of a recess (5) delimited by the body (2), said recess (5), on the side of the valve (20), opposite to that adjacent to the hinge bridge (s) (21, 22) having a profile (40) which, moving away from the outlet orifice (6), is inclined in direction of an axis (X) of the latter. Capsule (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the mounting means (12-15) are able to cooperate with corresponding means of the container (101) so as to allow the attachment of the capsule ( 1) on the container (101), in particular by snap-fastening or by screwing. Set (100) for packaging and distributing a product, in particular cosmetic, comprising a container (101) containing the product, said product container (101) having a free edge delimiting an opening equipped with a capsule (1) according to any one of the preceding claims. Assembly (100) according to claim 8 characterized in that the container (101) is with walls (104, 105) capable of deforming in response to a pressure exerted perpendicular to their surface, and of resuming their initial shape when the pressure ceases . Use of a set (100) according to claims 8 or 9 for the packaging and distribution of a cosmetic product, in particular a product hair, or a care product.

Images