EP1704099A1

EP1704099A1 - Device for the leak-tight sealing of packaging containers for sensitive products

Info

Publication number: EP1704099A1
Application number: EP04816440A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Didier Lancesseur; Stéphane RAULT; Sébastien Brogly
Original assignee: Airsec SAS
Current assignee: Airsec SAS
Priority date: 2003-12-19
Filing date: 2004-12-20
Publication date: 2006-09-27
Anticipated expiration: 2024-12-20
Also published as: US8365932B2; EP1704099B1; WO2005061343A1; FR2863968A1; ATE440785T1; FR2863968B1; EP2119637A1; US20070272646A1; DE602004022867D1; WO2005061343B1

Abstract

Device for sealing the opening of tubular containers for packaging products sensitive to atmospheric pollutants comprises a cap (1), a mounting ring (2) for attachment to the container, two hinges (6, 7) connecting the cap to the mounting ring, a spring (9), and an antitamper system. The cap has an outer wall that fits into the container's opening and a concentric inner wall forming a cavity for containing an air treatment agent. Device for sealing the opening of tubular containers for packaging products sensitive to atmospheric pollutants comprises a cap (1), a mounting ring (2) for attachment to the container, two hinges (6, 7) connecting the cap to the mounting ring, a spring (9) that assists opening and closing of the cap and controlling the angle at which it is opened, and an antitamper system in the form of peripheral microwelds and/or a tear-off strip between the cap and the mounting ring. The cap has an outer wall that fits into the container's opening and a concentric inner wall forming a cavity for containing an air treatment agent.

Description

DEVICE FOR SEALING SEALING PACKAGING CONTAINERS FOR SENSITIVE PRODUCTS

Field of the invention

The invention relates to a device for sealing off the orifice of containers and the treatment for purifying the ambient air therein by means of opening-closing cycles, these containers being intended to package sensitive products. to gaseous pollutants found in this ambient air.

The invention relates more particularly to a device for sealing off the access port of containers and for purifying the ambient air therein by means of opening and closing cycles, these containers being intended for the packaging of products sensitive to gaseous pollutants. This sealed obturation and purification treatment device is composed, according to a new combination of means known or not:

- a sealing means for closing the access opening to the containers, a means for mounting the closing device on the access opening for the containers, - a connection means between the means shutter and the device mounting means, - at least one tamper-proofing means, - a mechanical assistance means controlling the amplitude of the opening angle and helping to opening and closing of the closure means. The sealing shutter and purification treatment device being made of thermoplastic materials by the means of plastics, in one piece.

Subsequently and throughout the description of the subject of the invention:

• the gaseous pollutants which may be present in the ambient air in the sealed containers for packaging sensitive products can be, for example, water vapor, oxygen (0 ₂ ), ammonia ( NH ₃ ), alcohols, aldehydes, ketones, sulfur dioxide (S0), hydrofluoric acid (H ₂ S), mercaptans, alkenes including in particular ethylene, alkynes, carbon dioxide carbon (C0 ₂ ), carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen dioxide (N0 ₂ ), alkanes including in particular methane (CH ₄ ), halogens including in particular fluorine, bacteria suspended in l ambient air and others.

• The products sensitive to gaseous pollutants present in the ambient air can be defined as being: materials in the solid state, appearing in forms as diverse as pulverulent, granular, compressed, in particular for effervescent products, sugar-coated or agglomerated, and drunk objects which may appear in various forms, in particular oblong.

Thus and according to this definition: materials sensitive to pollutants as mentioned above to be packaged in a sealed container. are in general, medicinal products, in particular effervescent ones, which it is desirable to protect so that their reactive efficacy does not change by: reaction with at least one of the polluting agents, and / or for: their physical integrity being preserved over time and that is avoided, for example, a change in their mechanical cohesion.

- Objects sensitive to pollutants, to be packaged in a sealed container are in particular oblong in shape, have a substantially polygonal, circular, elliptical, elongated section and are consumable. Such objects are in particular tongues, test strips or rigid strips used for example for diagnostic or control purposes in the medical field, dressings, food products such as chewing gum, toothpicks, sticks or other.

For obvious reasons, in particular for hygiene, but also in order to avoid any degradation and thus to improve the shelf life of the products, sensitive to the pollutants present in the ambient air, these are placed in containers with l 'shelter from physico-chemical attacks resulting from the level of concentration of gaseous pollutants, but may also be protected from light, in particular UV rays or even protected from damage by mechanical effect such as shocks.

State of the art

The establishment of the state of the art reveals the existence of caps to close containers whose essential function is to be desiccant: these particular containers are intended to receive and contain products sensitive to ambient humidity, products which must be protected by creating the driest internal ambient atmosphere possible, to prevent them from regaining moisture, because: such resumption humidity by adsorption could in particular react with said products by reducing their reactivity, causing their mechanical brittleness upon impact, their disintegration or their disintegration in the container.

Products which are particularly sensitive to ambient humidity are numerous and may more precisely be, for example, test drug materials which are in powdered forms or in more elaborate forms such as granules, tablets, lozenges, objects of oblong shape such as strips for tests or others, including those more specifically which have a particular sensitivity to humidity.

These desiccant and waterproof containers of the state of the art for the storage of products sensitive to ambient humidity are of tubular shape or of another shape and, provided with an orifice, are closed by a stopper made integral or not of the tubular part by means of an attachment means such as a narrow flexible strip made of a polymer material identical to that of the container and the stopper.

These desiccant and waterproof containers are provided with internal desiccant means which are either a coating or an insert produced by means of a desiccant thermoplastic polymer composition, placed inside the containers on the internal surface of the bottom of the tube and / or on the internal surface of the side wall of the tube, or else a granular desiccant material placed in a special housing on the internal surface of the stopper.

All these means desiccants are located ^separately or simultaneously to increase the effectiveness of their dehydrating action by a mass effect.

These closed containers are formed: ^• A tubular casing provided with a bottom at one end, the other end being open to allow the filling of said casing,

"and a closure means which can be a removable plug fitting into the open end of the tubular casing, or a cover cap also fitting into the open end, but connected to the casing tubular by a flexible connection such as a narrow flexible polymer strip acting as a hinge.

All these containers and their removable or linked closure means are made of thermoplastic polymer compositions according to techniques well known in the plastics industry.

Means for closing the containers and the desiccant containers closed by these means, for packaging materials and / or objects sensitive to ambient humidity, are described in the prior art and are essentially distinguished from one another by their architecture, in particular by the desiccant means used in said containers and by the architecture of the means for closing the container.

According to a first type of closure means for desiccant containers from the state of the art, this first type of closure is a plug-cover of the male type connected to the tubular part of the envelope of the desiccant container by means mechanical composed of a ring encircling. forces said tubular casing and a flexible and narrow connecting strip between the cap-cover and the ring, the desiccant container being formed by a tubular casing open at one of its ends to give access to the receptacle zone. A document (US P 4,934,556) describes such a closure means and a desiccant container, closed by this means, the closed assembly forming the container consisting of: "a closure means comprising, a cap-type cover male, of a ring for the forced mounting of said cap-cover on the tubular envelope of the container, of a tamper-evident indicator, to be torn, connecting the mounting ring to the external periphery of the cap-cover and of a flexible strip acting as a narrow hinge connecting the cap-cover and said ring, the sealing means being made of a thermoplastic polymer material, which may be different from that of the tubular casing. "of a tubular envelope of thermoplastic polymer material, provided with a bottom at one of its ends and open at the other end, serving as a receptacle for the materials to be packaged, on which is mounted the means of obturation by the 'intermediate of the ring.

The plug-cover of the male type is formed by a bottom and a descending peripheral skirt called external which delimit a cylindrical cavity inside which is a housing containing a pulverulent desiccant, in direct contact with the gaseous medium internal to be dehydrated.

The closure means comprising the cap-cover, the strength mounting ring, the tamper-evident seal and a single flexible and narrow connecting strip connecting the cap-cover to the ring constitutes an assembly made of thermoplastic polymer material, independent of the tubular envelope forming the receptacle of the desiccant container. This type of desiccant cap-lid intended to close a tubular envelope used for packaging moisture-sensitive products presents uncertainties as to its ability to ensure rapid and complete drying of said products during the opening / closing of said packaging container. . This state of affairs seems:

"be the consequence of an insufficient seal between the plug-cover of the male type and the tubular envelope, the architecture of said plug-cover not appearing to be sufficiently adapted to a search for the seal of the container when can occur external-internal exchanges of gaseous volumes charged with humidity which it is important to dehydrate quickly,

¹ also be, at least in part, the consequence of the flexible connection means between the cap-cover and the ring forcibly encircling the envelope, this means which is a narrow flexible strip of polymer material acting as a hinge not allowing a adequate positioning at the time of closing of the envelope by absence of its guide prior to said closing.

In addition, this type of cap-lid requires two-way manipulation of the closed container, both for its opening and its closure.

According to another type of means for sealing desiccant containers from the state of the art, this other type of closure is a plug-cover of the female type, secured to the envelope of the desiccant container by means consisting of a flexible and narrow connecting strip, the tubular casing, the cap-cover and the connecting means being produced by injection with the same thermoplastic polymer material. A document (EP 1 352 844) describes such a type of means for closing the desiccant containers, the closed assembly forming the container consisting of: • a tubular envelope of thermoplastic polymer material provided with a bottom at one of its ends and open at the other end,

¹ of a plug-cover, of the female type, free of a descending internal skirt, which covers in the closed position, the wall of the open end of the envelope of the container, the sealing being capable of being ensured by contact the internal surface of the bottom of the lid of the cap-lid with the periphery of the open end of the tubular casing, said cap-lid, being provided on its internal surface with an perforated cavity capable of receiving a desiccant in tablet form and connected to the envelope by means of a link made of a flexible and narrow strip of polymer, the envelope, the cover and the link between the cover and the envelope being a single piece, produced in a single plastics processing operation, by injection-molding for example,

"a desiccant insert formed of a thermoplastic polymer material loaded with desiccant materials, this insert can simultaneously cover the bottom and the internal wall of said enveϋrσppe.

• The cap-cover devoid of a descending peripheral internal skirt, cannot establish a surface-to-surface type seal with the internal surface of the open end of the tubular casing, the seal can only and apparently only be obtained by contact with the surface internal of the bottom of the cap-cover and the periphery of the open end of the envelope.

"The cap-cover is not particularly suitable for creating a seal between the interior and the exterior of the container, by its very architecture, but also by its flexible connection means with the envelope, means which does not make it possible to position the cover at the time of its closure because of this great flexibility and therefore, the absence of sufficient mechanical rigidity both longitudinally and laterally, necessary for guiding the cover-cap at the time of its closure .

"requires two-handed handling of the closed container for both opening and closing.

Another document (GB 2 224 309) describes a hinged closure device, that is to say a cap for thermoplastic containers and more particularly for containers having a very narrow, coaxial distribution orifice, intended for the distribution of liquid. The stopper comprises on the internal surface of its upper end a tubular peripheral wall having a section adapted to that of the narrow dispensing orifice to be closed, and allowing, when the stopper is in the closed position, to simultaneously seal the plug.

Said device consists of two parts, the first part being a snap-on cover, pivoting on two hinges constituted by two flexible bands, defining a first axis of rotation, the second part being a base to be fixed on the mouth of a container to be closed, and a flexible and elastic link, ensuring the connection between these two members and allowing the plug to occupy two rest positions, one closed and the other open, located on each side of an intermediate position during movement.

Said flexible link, having a recall function, is in the form of an "S" and is connected on one side to the stopper at a precise point and on the other, to the external surface of the base at another precise point, and this, in a semi-rigid elastic manner. The connection between the ends of the flexible link, on the one hand on the plug and on the other hand on the external surface of the base, is characterized by an absence of hinges, due to the continuity of the thickness of the wall.

However, this device has certain drawbacks which can result from a form of embrittlement of the material constituting the flexible link. In fact, the "S" shape taken by the flexible link when the device changes from a closed position to an open position contributes to creating two opposing forces with respect to an inflection point which is situated substantially in the middle of the flexible link. , this inflection point delimiting downstream a convex blade zone and upstream a blade zone which remains concave.

Thus, the inversion of slope due to the deformation in "S" creates, during the closing, an acceleration of the movement taking effect on the convex part of the blade, ie between the cover and the point of inflection , to restore the stable initial concave state of the entire la_ .ame.

This type of flexible link ensuring the return function therefore undergoes deformation by inversion of slope over its entire length, this total and constant mechanical mobilization of the material coήs ^' titutive of the flexible link giving it brittleness. Thus it appears that none of the desiccant caps-lids of the state of the art has sufficient means to condition in the best conditions products sensitive to relative humidity, and / or other gaseous pollutants, in appropriate containers, and to allow these containers to develop characteristics as remarkable as, those of rapidly absorbing moisture and / or gaseous pollutants in particular those mentioned previously present in a container after an opening / closing cycle even quick, those of being able with one hand to easily manipulate said cap-lids and to hold the container closed, and - those also of being able to mechanically assist the opening / closing of the cap-lid.

Objectives of the invention

Many objectives are therefore assigned to the sealed closure device according to the invention of containers for conditioning and treating the purification of the ambient air therein by eliminating gaseous pollutants present, so that it can best eliminate the aforementioned drawbacks and that it provides adapted and improved solutions compared to the various means implemented in the shutter devices described in the prior art.

Among the most important objectives assigned to the closure device, according to the invention, of packaging containers for products sensitive to gaseous pollutants, are retained the means, which combined together, ensure: • easy opening / closing of the sealing shutter and processing device by precise mechanical guidance of the shutter means so that the shutter is done precisely without manual guidance, according to an excellent positioning,

• mechanically assisted opening / closing of the sealing shutter and processing device to accelerate the opening and closing of the shutter means and to limit the amplitude of the opening angle at the end of the stroke in order to place the closure means in a position favorable to its closing with only the use of a finger of the hand holding the container,

• a complete seal established between the orifice to be closed and the sealing means,

• at least one means of inviolability of the container before the first opening,

• a kinetics of treatment of gaseous pollutants and, in particular, of water vapor present in the container, greater than that found in the state of the art, that is to say having a greater capacity for eliminate the internal pollution which is created when the container is opened and closed, to prevent the packaged products sensitive to gaseous pollutants from adsorbing and / or reacting in part with said agents and an ability to maintain at a level low and relatively constant the rate of gaseous pollutants internal to the container, outside the opening / closing cycles, to best protect the packaged products, sensitive to these pollutants.

Summary of the invention All the objectives set out above can be achieved by the device for sealing airtight containers and for purifying treatment of the ambient air therein intended for packaging products, whether or not shaped, sensitive to gaseous pollutants.

According to the invention, the device for the sealed obturation and for the purification treatment of the ambient air therein of containers for packaging products sensitive to ambient pollutants, with amplitude of the controlled opening angle, and with mechanical opening and closing assistance, made of thermoplastic polymer materials, device to be installed on the tubular casing of the access orifice of said containers, which comprises: means for sealing the access orifice of the container, having on its internal face means for conditioning ambient air treatment agent (s), means for mounting the sealing means on the tubular casing of the access orifice, a connecting means between the sealing means and the mounting means, a tamper-evident means with first opening, placed between the sealing means and the mounting means,

is characterized in that it comprises

a) as a means of closing the orifice of the tubular envelope of the container, a plug-cover, of the male type consisting of an upper end wall on which is mounted a first coaxial peripheral wall establishing a tight contact with the internal surface of the tubular envelope of the access port of the container, and a second wall, internal to the first, constituting the means for conditioning ambient air treatment agents,

b) as a means of mounting the closure means, a mounting ring mounted on the tubular casing of the access orifice, the internal face of which is provided with a fixing means with respect to the external face of the envelope,

c) as a means of connection, between the mounting means and the sealing means, two separate hinges spaced from one another,

d) as a means of inviolability at first opening, a peripheral series of micro-points of connection or a peripheral strip to be torn off, or the combination of these two means placed between the sealing means and the mounting means.

e) a means of mechanical assistance in opening and closing and of controlling the amplitude of the opening angle of the shutter means, placed in the space between the two hinges and linked simultaneously to the plug cover by a film hinge and to the device fixing ring on the envelope by another film hinge, said mechanical assistance means having the cross-sectional appearance of a square.

Detailed description of the invention

The various objectives assigned to the subject of the invention arise from the shortcomings manifested during the use of desiccant containers of the state of the art conditioning products sensitive to ambient humidity, and closed by lids-caps provided of film hinges. Among these shortcomings present in the containers and their closure device from the state of the art, it is possible to recall the latent problems observed, which are:

- the impossibility of carrying out with one hand the gripping of the container and the command to open / close the cap-cover, and in particular, to eliminate one of the tamper-evident indicators on first opening,

- the absence of mechanical assistance facilitating the opening and closing of the cover cap, and the control of the amplitude of the opening angle of the cover cap, at the end of the race, the absence of guidance precise of the cap-lid, by the use as a means of connection between container and cap-lid, of a flexible hinge which does not allow an adequate positioning of said cap-lid when the closure of the container occurs,

the more or less rapid ability to treat gaseous pollutants present in the air, ambient prevailing inside the container, during container opening / closing cycles and

- the effectiveness of the sealing means in terms of sealing between the long frequency opening / closing cycles to prevent gas / gas exchanges between the inside and the outside of the closed container which could - cause an evolution the relative humidity rate and the rate of other gaseous pollutants prevailing inside the container.

All these latent problems find solutions in the obturation and treatment device according to the invention thanks to a new combination of known or unknown means. According to the invention, the obturation and purification treatment means created for the container is of the male type, as recommended by the state of the art, but is very different from the state of the art by the fact that its new architecture provides it with a peripheral zone of intimate contact with the internal surface of the tubular envelope constituting the orifice of the container to be closed, this intimate peripheral contact zone, of surface-to-surface type, forming an effective barrier for obtaining and maintaining the internal tightness of the container.

To do this, the sealing means chosen is of the cap-lid type, comprising an upper end wall constituting the ceiling of the cap-lid having a section adapted to that of the tubular envelope which it must close. This upper end wall is provided with two walls, one said external and the other said internal, which are peripheral and tubular, concentric and coaxial with the tubular envelope.

The first wall, called external, peripheral and tubular wall, creates an intimate peripheral contact zone for obtaining sealing, of surface-to-surface type, by the establishment of a sealing barrier between the internal face of the tubular casing of the access orifice and the external face of said first wall, called external wall, of the cap-cover.

The cross-sectional shape of this first wall, called the external wall, reveals a peripheral bulge, oriented towards the outside, and intended to be in contact with the internal wall of the tubular envelope of the orifice of the container.

When the closure means or cover cap is in the closed position, the peripheral bulge of the first wall, called the external wall, comes into force contact with the internal surface of the tubular envelope of the orifice, undergoing preferentially a certain deformation or crushing effect which causes an increase in the contact surface of the peripheral bulge with the internal surface of the tubular envelope of the container orifice so that the surface to surface contact which is tangential approach can become intimate and immediate upon closure by an increase in the contact surface which results from sliding and crushing from one wall to the other, reinforcing the seal between the closure device and the container.

Consequently, an effective seal is established between the interior and the exterior of the container closed by the closure means according to the invention.

The second wall, called internal, peripheral and preferably tubular wall, constitutes a suitable housing for receiving one or more purification treatment agents, the particular position of this housing being decisive for increasing the kinetics of treatment of gaseous pollutants and in particular the water vapour.

This suitable housing, preferably of the tubular type, is located on the internal face of the sealing means or cap-cover, and is closed by a means of closure which is not impermeable to gaseous pollutants to ensure their rapid elimination from the container in which are conditioned. sensitive products to protect.

So that the container closed by the sealing and treatment means according to the invention is very effectively desiccant, in the particular case of water vapor treatment, the choice of X 'desiccant is also decisive. According to the invention, the desiccant agent used in the container closed by the sealing and treatment means, is chosen from the group consisting of silica gels, the molecular sieves being in powdered form or deposited. on a powdery support.

So that the container closed by the sealing and treatment means according to the invention is also very effective with regard to gaseous pollutants other than water vapor, known treatment agents suitable for each pollutant , are implemented in the appropriate housing created on the internal bottom of the sealing and treatment means:

- either in admixture with the desiccant,

- Either separately from the desiccant by creating in this appropriate housing open cells sectorizing said housing, allowing to receive separately several treatment agents or mixtures of treatment agents compatible with each other.

To facilitate the opening and closing operation of the cover cap, the flat lower edge of the external peripheral wall can be extended by a gripping visor.

A safe opening system with regard to children in order to make it difficult or impossible for them to open the cover cap can be installed in line with the visor. This device which can be for example a flexible blade forming an integral part of the mounting means is placed below the visor so that the protrusion of the visor allowing to exert a vertical thrust to assume its opening is faired by this flexible blade. Therefore access to the visor can only be done after having exerted pressure on this blade in order to cause deformation and free access to said visor. By such a means, the protection of the child is ensured by the necessary realization of two complementary gestures, and to be exercised simultaneously, the first gesture being a horizontal pressure on the flexible blade, the second being a vertical pushing action from bottom to high on the exposed visor, thanks to the maintenance of pressure on the flexible blade.

Once it has been opened at least once, to keep the cover cap in the closed position, the internal face of the external wall of the cover cap substantially in line with the gripping visor and the external face of the external wall of the tubular casing of the access orifice - of the container are provided with a latching means, requiring mechanical effort both to complete the closure of the plug-cover with reinforced sealing and to ensure its opening.

According to the invention, the means for mounting the closure means or cap-cover, is formed by a fixing ring which is mounted on the tubular casing of the access opening to the container to be closed, this ring: - having a dimensioning adapted to that of the tubular envelope, - being provided on its internal face, intended to be in contact with the external surface of the envelope of a snap-in or raised latching means, with respect to the external face of the envelope, on which the means allowing the latching of the ring is opposite, that is to say in relief or in hollow. - In the case where it is not provided on its internal surface with a latching means, being strictly adjusted to the dimensions of the envelope and implanted by force on the envelope, or even fixed by a bonding means. According to a variant of the invention, the external peripheral surface of the tubular casing of the access opening to the container to be closed comprises two projecting peripheral flanges, separated from each other by creating a groove having a section a substantially rectangular shape, such that: • the thickness of the tubular envelope inside the groove is not modified, and that • the fixing ring comes to be forced into said groove.

According to another variant of the invention, a peripheral groove, which can have a substantially rectangular, hemispherical or hemielliptic shape in section, is hollowed out in the thickness of the wall of the tubular envelope of the container so that: the thickness of the tubular envelope inside the groove is modified, and is less than that of the tubular envelope and that • the fixing ring is forced to be mounted in said groove.

According to another variant of the invention, the internal surface of the fixing ring has latching means which, when said fixing ring is force-fitted into the groove of the tubular envelope of the container, itself equipped with complementary latching means, are fitted into the corresponding latching means in order to block any rotation or translation of the plug relative to the container.

Said latching means present on the internal surface of the fixing ring and on the internal surface of the groove of the container can be of various types such as grooves, grooves or the like. According to the invention, a relatively rigid hinge-type connecting means is present between the sealing means (or cap-cover) and the mounting means (a fixing ring) on the tubular casing of the orifice. access to the container.

The hinge-type connecting means, according to the invention, is formed by two film hinges spaced from each other, and giving rigidity to the connection between the cap-cover and the fixing ring, due of their spacing.

Each film hinge is formed of two parts connected together by a polymer film playing the role of an axis of rotation allowing the opening / closing cycles of the shutter means, one of the parts being integrated by means of obturation, the other part being integrated with the mounting means.

The two parts of each of the two hinges integrated into the shutter means and into the mounting means constitute brackets for fixing the two film hinges to the shutter means and the mounting means.

These two types of film hinge ensure the best functioning when closing (as well as when opening) the installation of the cap-cover on the envelope of the orifice to be closed by the use of a single finger of the hand holding the container, thanks to perfect mechanical guidance of said cover cap, requiring, to complete the closure, only a vertical pressure from top to bottom, which causes the latching of the cover cap. It should be specified that, according to the state of the art, the removable plugs or the plugs-covers linked by a single film hinge to the tubular envelope, require, for their closing or opening, the use of two hands. These two film hinges spaced from each other constitute a precision hinge for closing the desiccant cap-lid since, thanks to the rigidity which they create by their spacing, they guide the desiccant cap-lid up to its complete closure along a perfect trajectory, leading to the latching of the cover cap by simple vertical pressure.

According to the invention, the means of inviolability or even witness of inviolability, is formed: either of micro-links connecting the lower peripheral surface of the cap-cover to the upper peripheral surface of the fixing ring, these micro-links being micro-points of connection, independent of each other but forming a peripheral ring gear of connection between the desiccant closure means and the means of mounting on the tubular envelope of the orifice of the container, micro-points which are broken during the first opening by the application of a breaking force exerted on the visor in the bottom-up direction, that is to say of a tamper-evident ring to be torn off connecting the lower peripheral surface of the cap-cover to the surface peripheral device superior to the fixing ring,

- Either of the two aforementioned means of inviolability, forming a new combination., of means of inviolability.

According to the invention, a mechanical spring-effect means for assisting with the opening or closing of the sealing and treatment shutter means is placed in the space situated between the two film hinges mentioned above. This mechanical means has the appearance in section of a square whose angle is of the order of 90 °. This mechanical spring effect means for assisting with the opening and closing of the sealing and processing means also controls the amplitude of the opening angle of the sealing means, so that, as soon as that it is at the end of its opening stroke, the closure means is easily driven in the closing direction by a finger of the same hand holding the container provided with the device according to the invention.

The mechanical spring effect means is simultaneously linked to the cap-cover by a film hinge and to the fixing ring of the device according to the invention by another film hinge.

The preferential amplitude of the opening angle controlled by the mechanical spring effect is at most 160 ° and generally between 90 ° and 160 ° by distinction with regard to the opening angle of a cap-lid of the state of the art which is around 180 ° and often beyond this value.

The mechanical spring effect has the cross-sectional appearance of a square which is • tensioned. During the opening and closing of the container, the mechanical means in the form of a square undergoes a slight deformation at the points of attachment of said mechanical means, that is to say at the level of the cap-cover and at the level of the fixing ring of the device: the angular deformation of the mechanical square means is the same on each side of the square and is of the order of at most 15 ° on each side and preferably the order of maximum 9 ° on each side.

The observed deformation of the angle formed by the square between its closed position and its open position is then between 0 and at most 30 ° and preferably between 0 and at most 18 °.

Thus, this mechanical assistance means for opening or closing the shutter means of particular shape is characterized by its great flexibility of operation and allows closing of said closure means smoothly, without violent jerking, as well as precise and controlled guiding of the cap-lid during closing.

The sealed and treatment device according to the invention for the sealed closure of containers intended for the packaging of products sensitive to ambient humidity, consisting of a sealed closure and treatment means, a mounting means shutter means on the orifice to be closed, a means of connecting the shutter means and the mounting means, at least one tamper-evident means and a means of mechanical aid to the opening and closing of the shutter means and control of the opening angle of the shutter means, is made in one piece by methods of plastics processing adapted to its realization by means of materials which are polymers and / or thermoplastic copolymers such as, for example, polyethylenes (PE), polypropylenes (PP), ethylene / propylene copolymers and their mixtures, polyamides (PA), polystyrenes (PS), copolymers of acrylonitrile- butadiene-styrene (ABS), copoly mothers of styrene-acrylonitrile (SAN), polyvinylchlorides (PVC), polycarbonates (PC), poly methyl ethacrylate (P A), polyethylene terephthalates (PET), used alone or as a mixture according to their compatibility.

To these polymers and / or copolymers can be associated for the production of the device and according to the desired mechanical characteristics, at least one thermoplastic elastomer of natural or synthetic origin. The elastomer (s) used can be preferably chosen from the group consisting of elastomers of the natural rubber or synthetic rubber type, in particular rubbers based on olefins, such as, for example, isobutylene / isoprene polymers, ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA), ethylene propylene (EPR), ethylene-propylene-diene (EPDM), ethylene-acrylic esters (EMA-EEA), fluorinated polymers, diolefin rubbers, such as, for example, polybutadienes, butadiene-styrene copolymers (SBR), rubbers with base of condensation products such as, for example, polyester and polyurethane thermoplastic rubbers, silicones, styrene rubbers, styrene-butadiene-styrene (SBS) and styrene-isoprene-styrene (SIS) and others.

According to the invention, the sealing and treatment sealing device and the packaging container to be closed can be made with polymer materials of the same composition or with polymer materials of different compositions.

The invention will be better understood thanks to the numerical description of the figures mentioned below, these figures having only one nonlimiting illustrative nature of a particular device of the invention.

• Figure 1 is a perspective view of the sealed closure device and treatment, in the open position.

• Figure 2 is a perspective level view of the profile of the sealed closure device and treatment in the closed position, before first opening, highlighting the tamper-evident means.

• Figure 3 is a perspective view from below of the sealed closure device and treatment in the closed position comprising a safe opening system with regard to children. • Figure 4 is a perspective bottom view oriented on the front part of the sealed closure and treatment device.

• Figure 5 is a level view of the front part of the device ^' sealed sealing and treatment. • Figure 6 is a perspective bottom view oriented on the rear part of the sealed closure and treatment device.

• Figure 7 is a level view of the rear part of the sealed closure and treatment device.

• Figure 8 is a diametrical sectional view in the hinge-visor direction of the cap-cover.

• Figure 9 is a perspective view of the sealed closure and treatment device according to the invention in the open position at 120 ° mounted on a container with a tubular envelope.

• Figure 10 is a side perspective view of the sealed closure device in the open position.

• Figure 11 is a sectional view of the attachment detail of the ring to the container according to a variant of the invention. • Figure 12 is a sectional view of the attachment detail of the ring to the container according to another variant of the invention.

According to Figures 1 to 10, the sealed closure device and treatment for containers consists of a closure means (1) which is a cap-cover, a mounting means (2) of the means closure (1), on the access orifice (4) of the container (5) which is a mounting ring and a connecting means (3) between the closure means (1) and the mounting means (2), this connecting means, being constituted by film hinges (6) and (7), finally a means of inviolability. (8) with first opening and a mechanical aid means _ 9) in the opening and closing of the cover cap (1), also ensuring the control of the opening angle of said cover cap. The closure means (1) which is of the plug-cover type comprises an upper end wall (10) constituting its ceiling, provided with two peripheral and tubular, concentric and coaxial walls, one of which is called the external wall (11 ), the other internal wall (12). The outer wall (11), peripheral and tubular, creates an intimate peripheral sealing contact zone, of surface to surface type, by the establishment of a sealing barrier between the internal face (13) of the envelope. tubular access port and the outer face of said outer wall (11).

The cross-sectional shape of this first wall (11) reveals a peripheral bulge (14), oriented towards the outside, and intended to be in contact with the internal face (13) of the tubular envelope of the orifice of the container.

When the cover cap (1) is placed in the closed position, the peripheral bulge (14) of the first wall (11) comes into force contact with the internal face (13) of the tubular envelope of the orifice, in undergoing a certain deformation and crushing effect which causes an increase in the contact surface of the peripheral bulge (14) with the internal face (13) of the tubular envelope, the surface-to-surface contact becoming total, intimate and immediate to closing by sliding and crushing the wall (11) on the wall (13) creating a complete seal.

The second wall, called internal wall (12), peripheral and preferably tubular, constitutes a suitable housing (15) for receiving a treatment agent for gaseous pollutants, in particular a desiccant, the particular position of this housing being decisive for increasing the kinetics of elimination of said gaseous pollutants. This suitable housing (15), is located on the internal face of the cap-cover, and is closed by a non-gas-tight closure means to ensure the rapid treatment of the ambient gaseous atmosphere and the elimination of pollutants in the atmosphere. with regard to sensitive products packed in the container. To facilitate the opening and closing operation of the cover cap (1), the lower flat edge of the external peripheral wall can be extended by a gripping visor (17).

A safe opening system with regard to children, with a view to making it difficult or even impossible for them to open the cap-cover, can be installed in line with the visor (17). This device is a flexible blade (23) forming an integral part of the mounting means and being in the form of a protrusion establishing a vacuum between it and the mounting means. This flexible blade is placed below the visor by following its profile in such a way that the protrusion of the visor making it possible to exert a vertical thrust to assume its opening is faired by this flexible blade in the absence of stress. Therefore access to the visor can only be done after having exerted pressure on this blade in order to cause deformation and free access to said visor. By such a means, the protection of the child is ensured by the necessary realization of two complementary gestures, and to be exercised simultaneously, the first gesture being a horizontal pressure on the flexible blade, the second being a vertical pushing action from bottom to high on the exposed visor, thanks to the maintenance of pressure on the flexible blade.

The mounting means (2) of the cover cap (1) is formed by a fixing ring (2) which is mounted on the tubular casing of the access port to the container to be closed, this ring: - having a dimensioning adapted to that of the tubular casing, - being provided on its internal face, intended to be in contact with the external surface of the casing with a means of ^* snap-in relief (18), with respect to of the external face of the envelope, on which the means allowing the latching of the ring is opposite, that is to say hollow. According to a variant of the invention shown in FIG. 11, the external peripheral surface of the tubular casing (24) of the orifice (4) for access to the container to be closed comprises two projecting peripheral flanges (26) and ( 27), separated from each other by creating a groove (25), having in section a substantially rectangular shape, so that: • the thickness of the tubular envelope inside the groove n ' is not modified, and that • the fixing ring (2) is forced to be mounted in said groove (25).

According to another variant of the invention shown in FIG. 12, a peripheral groove (25), which can have in section a substantially rectangular, hemispherical or hemielliptic shape, is made hollow in the thickness of the wall of the tubular envelope (25) of the container so that: • the thickness of the tubular envelope inside the groove is modified, and is less than that of the tubular envelope and that • the fixing ring (2) comes to be forced into said groove (25).

The relatively rigid hinge-type connecting means (3) is present between the sealing means (1) and the mounting means (2) on the tubular casing of the access opening to the container (4).

This hinge-type connecting means (3), according to the invention, is formed by two film hinges (6) and (7) spaced from each other, and giving rigidity to the connection between the plug. - cover (1) and the fixing ring (2).

Each film hinge (6) and (7) is formed of two parts linked together by a polymer film playing the role of an axis of rotation (19) and (20) allowing the cycles opening / closing of the shutter means, one of the parts being integrated into the shutter means (1), the other part being integrated into the mounting means (2).

The two parts of each of the two hinges (6) and (7) integrated into the shutter means (1) and into the mounting means (2) constitute brackets for fixing the two film hinges to the shutter means and the mounting means.

These two types of film hinge (6) and (7) ensure the best functioning when closing (as well as when opening) the installation of the cap-cover (1) on the orifice (4). of the envelope to be closed by the use of a single finger of the hand holding the container, thanks to perfect mechanical guidance of said cap-cover, requiring, in order to complete the closure, only vertical pressure from the top towards the bottom, which causes the cover cap to snap into place.

The tamper-evident means (8) or even tamper-evident witness, is formed of micro-links connecting the lower peripheral surface of the cap-cover (1) to the upper peripheral surface of the fixing ring (2), these micro- links being micro-points of connection, independent of each other, forming a peripheral ring gear of connection between the desiccant sealing means and the means of mounting on the tubular envelope of the container orifice, - crown which is broken during the first opening ~ -by lifting the cover cap by means of the visor (17).

The mechanical spring effect means (9) for assisting with the opening or closing of the desiccant closure means (1) is placed in the space between the two film hinges (6) and (7) and looks like a square. This mechanical means (9) with spring effect also controls the amplitude of the opening angle of the shutter means (1) which is in this case at 120 °, so that, from its position of limit switch at 120 °, the closure means is easily driven in the closing direction by a finger of the hand holding the container provided with the closure device.

The mechanical spring-effect means (9) is simultaneously linked to the cap-cover (1) by a film hinge (21) and to the fixing ring (2) of the device according to the invention by another film hinge (22 ).

Claims

claims

1. Device for tightly sealing and purifying treatment of the ambient air therein, of packaging containers for products sensitive to ambient pollutants, with amplitude of the controlled opening angle, and with mechanical assistance opening and closing, made of thermoplastic polymer materials, said device being to be installed on the tubular envelope of the access orifice of said containers, comprising:

- a sealing means (1) for sealing the access opening of the container, having on its internal face means for conditioning an ambient air treatment agent, mounting means (2) sealing means on the tubular casing of the access orifice,

- a connecting means (3) between the sealing means and the mounting means,

- a means of inviolability at first opening (8), placed between the sealing means (1) and the mounting means (2) characterized in that it comprises:

a) as a means of closing the orifice of the tubular envelope of the container, a plug-cover (1), of the male type consisting of an upper end wall on which is mounted a first peripheral wall (11 ) coaxial establishing a tight contact with the internal surface of the tubular envelope of the access orifice (4) of the container (5), and a second wall (12) internal to the first, constituting the means for conditioning the agents ambient air treatment, b) as a means of mounting the closure means, a mounting ring (2) mounted on the tubular casing of the access orifice (4), the internal face of which is provided with a means of attachment to the regard to the outer face of the envelope,

c) as connecting means (3), between the mounting means (2) and the sealing means (1), two hinges (6 and 7) distinct and spaced from one another,

d) as a means of inviolability at first opening (8), a peripheral series of micro-points of connection or a peripheral strip to be torn off, or the combination of these two means, placed between the sealing means and the mounting means .

e) a mechanical assistance means (9) for opening and closing and controlling the amplitude of the opening angle of the shutter means (1), placed in the space between the two hinges (6) and (7), and linked simultaneously to the cover cap (1) by a film hinge (21) and to the fixing ring (2) of the device on the casing (24) by another film hinge (22), said mechanical assistance means having the sectional appearance of a square.

2. Device according to claim 1 characterized in that the first wall (11) coaxial peripheral of the closure means (1) establishing tight contact with the internal surface of the tubular casing (24) of the orifice (4) of the container (5) has, in section, a peripheral bulge (14) developing on its external face.

3. Device according to claim 2 characterized in that the external peripheral bulge (14) of the first wall (11) undergoes a deformation in contact with the internal wall of the tubular envelope (24) of the orifice (4) for increase the contact surface between these two walls and reinforce the seal.

4. Device according to claim 1 characterized in that the conditioning means (12) of ambient air treatment agents, placed on the internal face of the cap-cover (1) is preferably of tubular type.

5. Device according to claim 4 characterized in that the conditioning means (12) of ambient air treatment agents is provided with open cells each intended to receive a treatment agent or a mixture of agents treatment .

6. Device according to at least one of claims 1, 4 or 5 characterized in that the conditioning means (12) of the ambient air treatment agents contains treatment agents capable of eliminating the gaseous pollutants, in particular water vapor, oxygen (0 ₂ ), ammonia (NH ₃ ), alcohols, aldehydes, ketones, sulfur dioxide (S0 ₂ ), hydrogen sulfide (H ₂ S), mercaptans, alkenes including in particular ethylene, alkynes, carbon dioxide (C0 ₂ ), carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen dioxide (N0 ₂ ), alkanes including in particular methane (CH ₄ ), halogens including in particular fluorine, bacteria present in the ambient air.

7. Device according to claim (6), characterized in that when the polluting agent is water vapor, the treatment agent is chosen from the group consisting of silica gels, molecular sieves, occurring in powder form, or deposited on a powder support.

8. Device according to at least one of claims 1 to 7 characterized in that the cap-cover (1) is provided with a gripping visor (17).

9. Device according to at least one of claims 1 to 8 characterized in that the cap-cover (1) is provided with a safe opening system (23) with regard to children.

10. Device according to claim 9 characterized in that the security system is installed in line with the visor (17).

11. Device according to claims 9 or 10 characterized in that the safe opening system (23) is a flexible blade for fairing the visor forming an integral part of the mounting means (2).

12. Device according to at least one of claims 1 to 11 characterized in that the internal face of the external wall of the cap-cover (1) and the external face of the external wall of the tubular casing (24) of the 'access port (4) of the container (5) are provided with a latching means.

13. Device according to at least one of claims 1 to 12 characterized in that the mounting means (2) of the cover cap (1) is a fixing ring (2) mounted on the tubular casing (24) of the access orifice (4), provided on its internal face with a latching means with respect to the external face of the tubular casing (24), on which is also a latching means.

14. Device according to at least one of claims 1 to 13 characterized in that the mounting means (2) is forcibly mounted on the tubular casing (24).

15. Device according to at least one of claims 1 to 12 characterized in that the mounting means (2) is mounted by bonding to the tubular casing (24).

16. Device according to at least one of claims 1 to 12 characterized in that the external peripheral surface of the tubular casing (24) of the orifice for access to the container to be closed comprises two projecting peripheral flanges (26) and (27), separated from each other by creating a groove (25) having in section a substantially rectangular shape, the thickness of the tubular envelope inside the groove not being modified, and the fixing ring (2) coming to be forced into said groove (25).

17. Device according to at least one of claims 1 to 12 characterized in that a peripheral groove (25), which may have in section a substantially rectangular, hemispherical or hemielliptic shape, is made hollow in the thickness of the wall of the tubular envelope of the container (24), the thickness of the tubular envelope inside the groove being modified, and being less than that of the tubular envelope and the fixing ring coming to be forced into said throat.

18. Device according to at least one of claims 16 to 17 characterized in that the internal surface of the fixing ring has snap-on means which, when said fixing ring is force-fitted in the groove of the container , itself fitted with complementary latching means, are fitted into the corresponding latching means in order to block any rotation or translation of the plug relative to the container.

19. Device according to claim 18 characterized in that said latching means present on the internal surface of the fixing ring and on the internal surface of the groove of the container are grooves or grooves.

20. Device according to at least one of claims 1 to 19 characterized in that the two hinges (6) and (7) of the connecting means (3) are film hinges.

21. Device according to claim 20 characterized in that each film hinge (6) or (7) is formed by two parts forming brackets connected together by a polymer film playing the role of an axis of rotation allowing the cycles of opening / closing of the shutter means, one of the parts being integrated into the shutter means, the other part being integrated into the mounting means.

22. Device according to at least one of claims 1 to 21 characterized in that the amplitude of the opening angle controlled by the mechanical assistance means (9) is at most 160 ° and pre erentially included between 90 ° and 160 °.

23. Device according to at least one of claims 1 to 22 characterized in that the angular deformation of the mechanical assistance means in the form of a square between its closed position and its open position is between 0 and at most 30 ° and preferably between 0 and maximum 18 °.

24. Device according to at least one of claims 1 to 23 characterized in that it is produced by means of thermoplastic polymer compositions from the group consisting of polyethylenes (PE), polypropylenes (PP), ethylene copolymers / propylene and their mixtures, polyamides (PA), polystyrenes (PS), copolymers of acrylonitrile-butadiene- styrene (ABS), styrene-acrylonitrile copolymers (SAN), polyvinylchlorures (PVC), polycarbonate (PC), the polymethylmethacrylate ^(PMMA), polyethylene terephthalates (PET), set only work or mixed.

25. Device according to claim 24 characterized in that, with the thermoplastic compositions, are associated with at least one elastomer of natural or synthetic origin, the elastomer or elastomers used being able to be preferentially chosen from the group consisting of elastomers of rubber type natural, synthetic rubber, in particular mono olefin rubbers, which are the polymers of isobutylene / isoprene, ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA), ethylene-propylene (EPR), ethylene-propylene-diene (EPDM), acrylic esters (EMA-EEA), fluorinated polymers, diolefin rubbers, which are polybutadienes, butadiene-styrene copolymers (SBR), rubbers based on condensation products, such as polyester and polyurethane thermoplastic rubbers, silicones, styrene rubbers, styrene-butadiene-styrene (SBS) and styrene-isoprene-styrene (SIS).

26. Device according to at least one of claims 1 to 25 characterized in that it is produced in a single piece according to the methods of plastics processing.

27. Application of the device according to claims 1 to 26 for sealing airtight and purifying treatment of ambient air, containers for packaging products sensitive to gaseous pollutants.