Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D41/00—Caps, e.g. crown caps or crown seals, i.e. members having parts arranged for engagement with the external periphery of a neck or wall defining a pouring opening or discharge aperture; Protective cap-like covers for closure members, e.g. decorative covers of metal foil or paper
  • B65D41/02—Caps or cap-like covers without lines of weakness, tearing strips, tags, or like opening or removal devices
  • B65D41/28—Caps combined with stoppers
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D51/00—Closures not otherwise provided for
  • B65D51/002—Closures to be pierced by an extracting-device for the contents and fixed on the container by separate retaining means
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61J—CONTAINERS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR MEDICAL OR PHARMACEUTICAL PURPOSES; DEVICES OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR BRINGING PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS INTO PARTICULAR PHYSICAL OR ADMINISTERING FORMS; DEVICES FOR ADMINISTERING FOOD OR MEDICINES ORALLY; BABY COMFORTERS; DEVICES FOR RECEIVING SPITTLE
  • A61J1/00—Containers specially adapted for medical or pharmaceutical purposes
  • A61J1/14—Details; Accessories therefor
  • A61J1/1412—Containers with closing means, e.g. caps
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D41/00—Caps, e.g. crown caps or crown seals, i.e. members having parts arranged for engagement with the external periphery of a neck or wall defining a pouring opening or discharge aperture; Protective cap-like covers for closure members, e.g. decorative covers of metal foil or paper
  • B65D41/02—Caps or cap-like covers without lines of weakness, tearing strips, tags, or like opening or removal devices
  • B65D41/10—Caps or cap-like covers adapted to be secured in position by permanent deformation of the wall-engaging parts
  • B65D41/14—Caps or cap-like covers adapted to be secured in position by permanent deformation of the wall-engaging parts made of metallic foil or like thin flexible material
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D51/00—Closures not otherwise provided for
  • B65D51/24—Closures not otherwise provided for combined or co-operating with auxiliary devices for non-closing purposes
  • B65D51/241—Closures not otherwise provided for combined or co-operating with auxiliary devices for non-closing purposes provided with freeze-drying means

Definitions

• the invention relates to a closure device for a container provided with a neck, and to a container equipped with such a device.
• WO-A-2007/063218 proposes a closure device whose cap comprises a ring and a member for operating locking means of the ring on the neck of a container. It is moreover known from WO-A-2008/129144 to integrate in a closure device a deformable element for transmitting a thrust force, this deformable element being intended to fade when a thrust force has been effectively transmitted to bring an organ into a position where it actuates locking means of a cap on the neck of a container. These known containers are generally satisfactory, especially when used on bottles whose neck has a diameter of about 20 mm.
• the present invention aims to treat by proposing a closure device which, when its locking means are activated, is firmly held in position on the neck of a container, without risk of inadvertent disassembly.
• the invention relates to a closure device for a container provided with a neck, this device comprising a cap and a plastic cap, able to surround both the cap and the neck, the cap comprising a ring, adapted to surround the stopper and neck in mounted configuration and provided with locking means on the neck, and an operating member of the ring provided with first means of transmission to this ring a thrust force and second activation means means for locking the ring, this maneuvering element surrounding the ring when it activates its locking means.
• This device is characterized in that the ring is provided with a continuous outer peripheral flange, while the operating member is provided with at least one relief intended to bear against this continuous outer peripheral flange when it activates the elements. locking means.
• the cooperation of the peripheral collar, on the one hand, and the relief of the operating member, on the other hand, ensures the maintenance of the operating member in a position where it activates the means such locking means remain effective to firmly immobilize the cap on the neck of a container and thus prevent fraudulent access to the contents of the container.
• such a device may incorporate one or more of the following features, taken in any technically permissible combination:
• the relief of the operating member is formed by an edge of an opening formed through a peripheral wall of this member, the partition surrounding the ring when the operating member activates the locking means. It can be expected that this opening borders a portion of the peripheral wall which is concave from the outside.
• the locking means of the ring comprises locking tabs which extend from an edge of this ring, in the direction of the continuous outer peripheral flange.
• the diameter of a circle passing through the outer radial portions of the locking tabs has a value greater than the outer diameter of the edge from which extend these tabs.
• each locking tab is disposed in a closed contour opening which passes through the ring in a radial direction relative to a longitudinal and central axis of the ring.
• the ring and the operating member are respectively provided with first retaining means and second retaining means which cooperate together to maintain the operating member relative to the ring in a waiting position where it does not activate the locking means.
• the first retaining means of the ring are formed on deformable strips which extend in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis and central of the ring, between the continuous outer peripheral collar and an annular edge of the ring from which extend the locking means.
• the operating member comprises a plurality of reliefs intended to come simultaneously bearing against the outer continuous peripheral flange and distributed around a longitudinal and central axis of the actuating member.
• the maximum diameter of the continuous outer peripheral collar has a value greater than that of the diameter of an imaginary circle centered on the longitudinal axis and central of the maneuvering body and tangent, on the inside, with the reliefs.
• the invention also relates to a container, in particular a medicine bottle, equipped with a closure device as mentioned above.
• FIG. 1 to 5 show schematically, in axial section and in perspective for Figures 1 and 2, several steps of packaging a product in containers according to the invention
• FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of detail VI in FIG. 3,
• FIG. 7 is an axial section, in perspective and on a larger scale, of the cap of the closure devices of the containers of FIGS. 1 to 5,
• FIGS. 8 and 9 are exploded perspective views, at two different angles, of the cap of FIG. 7,
• FIG. 10 is an enlarged view of detail X in FIG. 4,
• Figure 1 1 is a section along the line XI-XI in Figure 10,
• FIG. 12 is a section similar to FIG. 11 during an intermediate step between the configurations of FIGS. 4 and 5,
• FIG. 13 is an enlarged view of detail XIII in FIG. 5, and
• FIG. 14 is a section along the line XIV-XIV in Figure 13.
• Figures 1 to 5 show different stages of packaging a product P in glass vials 1 constituting containers.
• a vial 1 is being filled with the product P, for example a drug.
• a pipette 2 is introduced into the bottle 1 through its neck 1 1 which is defined by a neck 12 having an outer collar 13.
• X1 is noted the axis of symmetry of the bottle 1.
• the device 50 comprises an elastomer plug 51 of shape adapted to be partially introduced into the neck 1 1, while resting on the face 131 of the collar 13 opposite the bottom 14 of the bottle 1. Once in place in the neck 12, the cap 51 isolates the contents of the bottle 1 from the outside.
• the device 50 also comprises a cap 52 intended to cover and isolate the cap 51 and the neck 12 in the closed configuration of the closure device 50.
• the cap 52 comprises a plastic ring 53, which has a circular inner section and whose inside diameter is sufficient to allow it to surround the collar 13.
• the cap 52 also comprises an operating member of the ring 53, consisting of a ring 54 of plastics material and which is intended to form the outer peripheral envelope of the cap 52.
• the cap 52 further comprises a cover 56 also made of plastic. This cover 56 is generally symmetrical of revolution about a central axis X56.
• 541 is the edge of the ring 54 which is oriented towards the bottle 1 in installed configuration of the cap 52 on this bottle.
• This edge 541 can be described as “lower” in that it is oriented downwards in the configuration of FIGS. 2 to 5.
• the spatial orientation of the various elements mentioned is considered in the case where a device 50 is mounted on a bottle 1 which rests on a flat surface by its bottom 14. A part is said “lower” when it is oriented downwards in this configuration and "upper” when it is facing upwards .
• the partition 542 is the top edge of the crown 54 which is opposite the edge 541. This edge is cut from four openings 543 which pass through a skirt-shaped partition 544 which constitutes the portion of the ring 54 intended to surround the ring 53 in the mounted configuration of the cap 52.
• the partition 544 comprises a cylindrical portion 5441. a circular section which extends between the edge 541 and a shoulder 5442. Between the edge 542 and the shoulder 5442, the partition 544 is provided with four zones 5443 which are concave seen from the outside and which are each bordered by a 543.
• the edge 543 of an opening 543 adjoins an area 5443.
• Each edge 5431 constitutes a relief that extends from a zone 5443 in the direction of the axis X53.
• the ring 54 also defines a central opening 545 centered on an axis X54 which constitutes an axis of symmetry for the ring 54, with the exception of its parts formed by the openings 543 and 5443 areas. 547 is the edge of the opening 545.
• the openings 543 have the same geometry and are regularly distributed around the X54 axis, with an angular distance of 90 °.
• the ring 53 is centered on an axis X53 which is aligned with the axes X54 and X56 in the assembled configuration of the cap 52, this axis then being merged with a central axis X52 of the cap 52.
• the ring 53 comprises an annular portion 531 which defines a central opening 532 through which one can access the upper surface 51 1 of the cap 51 when necessary.
• the inner surface of the cover 56 is noted 561, that is to say its surface facing the plug 51 in the mounted configuration of the device 50 on the bottle 1.
• the cover 56 is provided with two skirts 562 and 563 which are centered on the axis X56 and which extend parallel to this axis, each from the surface 561.
• the skirt 562 has an axial length, measured parallel to the axis X56, greater than that of the skirt 563.
• the cover 56 is attached to the ring 54 by bringing the surface 561 closer to the edge 542, by inserting the skirts 562 and 563 into the opening 545 and by welding the cover 56 to the ring 54, in the vicinity of the edge 542, by merging several pads 564 formed for this purpose on the surface 561 and equidistributed around the skirt 563. During this operation, the skirt 563 is brought into contact with the edge 547.
• the cover 56 is provided with a rigid central portion 565 surrounded by a peripheral portion 566, also rigid, while a deformable web 567 connects the parts 565 and 566.
• the geometry of the parts 53, 54 and 56 is chosen such that the maximum outside diameter D54 of the ring 54 has a value of less than 16.5 mm, preferably between 15.8 and 16.2 mm, more preferably equal to 16 mm.
• the cap 52 mounted on the bottle 1 does not exceed or slightly exceeds the body of the bottle 1, in a radial direction relative to the axis X1.
• the ring 53 comprises five strips 533 extending from the portion 531 to the lower edge of the ring 53 which is formed by a continuous ring 534 about the axis X53.
• Part 531 comprises a continuous flange 531 1, which extends peripherally and externally with respect to the remainder of portion 531 and which defines a second edge, or upper edge of ring 53.
• Flange 531 1 is defined between a upper surface 5312 facing away from the edge 534 and a bottom surface 5313 facing the edge 534, each of these surfaces being perpendicular to the axis X53.
• the flange 531 1 is bordered, radially on the outside, by a frustoconical surface 5314 which is convergent opposite the edge 534.
• Each band 533 is provided with an external rib 535 projecting radially outwardly relative to the axis X53 with respect to this tongue. Between each pair of two adjacent strips 533 is defined a window 536, that is to say an open area with a closed contour, putting the inner volume of the ring 53 into communication with the outside.
• a locking tab 537 extends from the ring 534 in each window 536. Given the intrinsic flexibility of the material constituting the ring 53, each tongue 537 can pivot about its base relative to the edge 534. In other words, each tongue 537 may be more or less folded towards the inside of the ring 53, depending on the forces it undergoes.
• each tongue 537 comprises a frustoconical surface 5373, centered on the axis X53 and converging towards the edge 534.
• the surface 5372 constitutes the upper outer peripheral surface of a tongue 537, while its surface 5373 constitutes a lower outer peripheral surface.
• the respective diameters of the surfaces 5372 and 5373 of a tongue are chosen such that a circular arc beak 5374 is formed at the junction between these surfaces.
• the beaks 5374 constitute the outer radial portions of the tongues 537.
• D534 denotes the outer diameter of the edge 534.
• D537 denotes the diameter of an imaginary circle C537 centered on the axis X53 and passing through the nozzles 5374. In position constrained locking tongues 537, the diameter D537 value is greater than that of the diameter D534, at least 1.5 mm. Even when the ring 54 surrounds the locking tabs 537, as envisaged above, the diameter D537 has a value greater than the diameter D534, the difference between these values being then reduced.
• the ring On the inside of the junction zone between a band 533 and the part 531, the ring
• ribs 538 intended to penetrate superficially into the plug 51 in order to immobilize this plug in the ring 53 and in the cap 52.
• the ring 54 is mounted on the ring 53, without interacting significantly with the locking tabs 537.
• the geometry of the ring 53 gives the strips 533 sufficient flexibility so that the establishment of the ring 54 around the ring 53 is easy.
• the strips 53 each extend, with respect to the axis X53, on an angular sector of angle at the aperture a less than 30 °, preferably of the order of 25 °, which gives them a good elasticity.
• the cap 52 When the cap 52 has been thus pre-assembled, it is possible to accommodate the plug 51 by inserting it inside the ring 53, until the ribs 538 penetrate superficially into the plug 51, which which ensures a maintenance position of the plug in the ring.
• the cap 51 can be placed on the neck 12 of the bottle 1, as shown in Figure 2 before the cap 52 is placed on the cap by an axial force E1.
• the cap 51 does not completely close the neck 1 1 since the plug is provided with a lateral cutout 512 which communicates with a gap 200 at a part of the upper face 131 of the neck 13.
• the bottle 1 equipped with the device 50 can then be introduced into a lyophilizer 300, within a batch of vials 1.
• three vials represent a batch that may comprise several hundred or even several thousand vials placed in the lyophilizer 300.
• the vials may be placed in this freeze-dryer on several superposed shelves.
• the water molecules present in each flask 1 are discharged to the outside, as represented by the arrows F1 in FIGS. 3 and 6, through the interstices that then remain between the cap 52 and the flange 13.
• the ring 54 is in a second holding configuration where the ribs 535 remain engaged in the groove 5461. In this configuration, the crown does not interact with the locking tabs 537.
• the application of the force E'2 has the effect of advancing the crown 54 of each cap 52 towards the bottom 14 of each of the bottles 1, as represented by the change from the configuration of FIGS. 3 and 6 to that of the Figures 4 and 10.
• the force E'2 is transmitted from the ring 54 to the ring 53 through the groove 5461 and ribs 535 which cooperate.
• the elements 535 and 5461 constitute means for transmitting the force E'2 of the ring gear 54 to the ring 53.
• the force E'2 exerted on each device 50 has the effect of bringing the tabs 537 of its ring 53, along the axis X1, between the flange 13 and the body 16 of the bottle around the neck portion 12 not provided with the flange 13.
• D531 denotes the maximum diameter of the continuous outer peripheral flange 531 1. This diameter is that of the joining edge between the surfaces 5313 and 5314.
• C543 denotes an imaginary circle centered on the axis X54 and tangent, on the inside, at the edges 5431 of the notches or openings 543.
• the zones 5443 are elastically deformed, sliding against the surface 5314, during the transition from the configuration of FIG. 12 to the configuration of FIGS. 13 and 14. Then, by elasticity, the parts of the partition 544 which constitute the zones 5443 have tendency to fall back elastically towards the axis X52, so that the edges 5431 engage below the continuous outer peripheral flange 531 1.
• the ring 54 is in its locking configuration in which it ensures, by the hooping it exerts on the tongues 537, the maintenance of these tongues in an engagement configuration with the surface 132 of the flange 13.
• the ring 54 thus constitutes an operating member of the ring 53, this operating member actuating the locking means constituted by the tabs 537.
• the elements 53, 54 and 56 are each one-piece and can be molded from polyoxymethylene (POM) or an equivalent material.
• POM polyoxymethylene

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Pharmacology & Pharmacy (AREA)
• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
• General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Public Health (AREA)
• Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
• Closures For Containers (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (2)

Family

ID=44227185

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (5)

Families Citing this family (16)

Family Cites Families (8)

• 2010
  • 2010-11-24 FR FR1059683A patent/FR2967656B1/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2011
  • 2011-11-22 CN CN201180056138.8A patent/CN103347793B/zh active Active
  • 2011-11-22 US US13/883,465 patent/US8714384B2/en active Active
  • 2011-11-22 WO PCT/EP2011/070609 patent/WO2012069436A1/fr active Application Filing
  • 2011-11-22 EP EP11784706.1A patent/EP2643231B1/de active Active

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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