EP2718197A1

EP2718197A1 - Stopping device and container comprising such a device

Info

Publication number: EP2718197A1
Application number: EP12729059.1A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Antoine Aneas
Original assignee: Biocorp Recherche et Developpement
Current assignee: Biocorp Production SA
Priority date: 2011-06-06
Filing date: 2012-06-05
Publication date: 2014-04-16
Anticipated expiration: 2032-06-05
Also published as: JP6001654B2; FR2975976A1; CA2837865A1; US20140076896A1; AU2012266518B2; BR112013030970A2; FR2975976B1; AU2012266518A1; ES2534281T3; CA2837865C; US8893907B2; RU2013157172A; CN103717505A; PL2718197T3; CN103717505B; JP2014520043A; WO2012168230A1; RU2597561C2; EP2718197B1; PT2718197E

Abstract

The invention relates to a stopping device (20) for a container (1), comprising a circular stopper (21) for closing the neck of the container and a cap (24) consisting of a synthetic material, that can cover both the neck and the stopper positioned in the neck. Said cap comprises a cover (26) and a ring (25) that is suitable for surrounding the stopper (21) and the neck when mounted and provided with means (253, 255) for locking onto the neck. The ring (25) has a minimum inner diameter (d251) that must be larger than the maximum diameter (D21) of the stopper (21), and the ring and the cover are produced as a single component and connected by breakable bridges (27) distributed over a circumference of the ring with an inner diameter that is larger than, or equal to, the maximum diameter of the stopper. The locking means comprise first locking tabs (253) formed on the inside of the ring (25), facing windows (252) that are radially open towards the outside, and second locking tabs (255) facing a closed part (254). Each second tab (255) is formed between two first tabs, facing a strip of material (254) separating windows (252).

Description

Clogging device and container equipped with such a device

The invention relates to a closure device for a container, this device comprising a circular-shaped plug for closing the neck of the container, and a cap. The invention also relates to a container, for example a medicine bottle, equipped with such a closure device.

In the field of drug containers, it is known to use a glass vial to preserve an active ingredient in the form of lyophilisate, powder or liquid solution. Such a bottle must be sealed in order to maintain its contents in a satisfactory state of preservation, until its date of use. To seal such a bottle, it is known to use a closure device which comprises a cylindrical elastomeric plug designed to close the neck of the bottle. The purpose of this cap is to ensure the most complete seal possible to gases, liquids and bacteria. It is known to associate such a cap with a metal cap operculum. The opening of the container takes place by tearing the metal cap by pulling on the lid. This can be problematic in that the metal capsule, usually aluminum, may break, which requires the need to remove the hand where a risk of cutting and, in most cases, recourse to a small disassembly tool.

It is known from WO-A 94/04424 to use a plastic cap which is intended to be immobilized around the cap to isolate it from the outside. The multipartite structure of this known device makes it expensive. In addition, the capsule limits access to the cap that can not be removed, except to destroy the capsule, which is not the normal operation of this device.

It is also known from FR-A-2 281 286 to provide a plastic cap with breakable bridges connecting lower and upper parts of the capsule. The internal diameter of the cap is equal to that of a rubber stopper intended to be inserted into a neck of a container, which may induce jamming of the cap. In addition, the lower part of the capsule must be expanded radially to be immobilized on the neck, which is imprecise and unreliable.

It is these drawbacks that the invention intends to remedy more particularly by proposing a new closure device which is particularly simple and intuitive to implement and which allows, among other things, a total withdrawal of the plug for easy access to the contents. of a container. To this end, the invention relates to a closure device for a container, the closure device comprising a circular shaped plug designed to seal the neck of the container and a cap of synthetic material capable of covering both the neck and the cap in place in this collar, this cap comprising a ring adapted to surround the cap and the neck in mounted configuration and which is provided with locking means on the neck, and a cover. The ring and the cover are made in a single piece and connected by breakable bridges. This closure device is characterized in that the ring has a minimum internal diameter strictly greater than the maximum diameter of the plug, in that the circumference of the ring on which the breakable bridges are distributed has an internal diameter of value strictly greater than the maximum diameter. of the stopper and in that the locking means of the ring on the neck comprise first locking tabs formed on the inside of the ring facing radially open windows on the outside of the ring, as well as second legs of locking formed on the inside of the ring facing a closed portion of the ring, while each second locking tab is formed, on the circumference of the ring, between two first locking tabs, facing a band of material that separates windows facing which are formed the first locking tabs.

Thanks to the invention, when it is in place on the neck of a container, the cap protects, particularly by its cover, the cap against external aggression, especially against any risk of inadvertent withdrawal. When it is necessary to access the contents of the container, it is sufficient to break the bridges to access the cap, which can be easily removed since the cap does not interfere with access to its periphery, once the lid separated from the ring. This rupture of the bridges being irreversible, it is easily detectable and signals any potential intervention on the contents of the container. Furthermore, the structure of the locking means ensures a reliable and durable immobilization of the cap on the neck of a container, while being compatible with the connection of the lid with the ring by the breakable bridges.

According to advantageous but non-mandatory aspects of the invention, such a closure device may incorporate one or more of the following features taken in any technically permissible combination:

The ratio of the value of the minimum internal diameter of the ring to the value of the maximum diameter of the plug is between 1.01 and 1.05, preferably between 1.02 and 1.04, while the internal diameter of the circumference of the bridges is equal to the minimum internal diameter of the ring. - The value of the inner diameter of the circumference of the bridges is greater than or equal to the value of the minimum internal diameter of the ring.

- Each bridge has a preferred break zone that is closer to the attachment area of the bridge on the ring that the attachment area of the bridge on the lid.

- Each bridge is trapezoidal with its smallest base at an edge of a skirt of the ring.

- Each bridge is configured to be broken by a shear force resulting from the rotation around a central axis of the device, the cover relative to the ring or by a tensile force during a tilting of the cover by compared to the ring.

- Once in place on the neck of the container, the ring is unmountable, unless destroy at least in part.

- The locking means are formed in two separate angular sectors of the ring.

- The disjointed angular sectors are aligned, each in a direction parallel to a central axis of the device, with a window formed in an end wall of the lid, along a radial inner surface of an outer skirt of the lid.

- The ring is provided with an identification mark. In this case, the identification mark is preferably affixed to an outer radial surface of the ring between the two disjointed angular sectors in which the locking means are formed. The identification mark is located away from open windows.

- When the ring and the cap are in place on the neck of the container in a configuration where the cap closes the neck and where the ring surrounds the neck and the cap, the surface of the cap opposite the neck extends beyond a surface of the neck opposite the bottom of the container, over a distance greater than the distance in which the ring extends beyond the aforementioned surface of the neck. In other words, the plug exceeds more than the ring above the neck, which facilitates access to the cap when it is removed, while the ring remains in place around the neck.

The invention also relates to a container, in particular a medicine bottle, which is equipped with a closure device as mentioned above.

In such a container, it can be provided that the minimum internal diameter of the ring has a value strictly greater than that of the maximum diameter of the neck of the container.

The invention will be better understood and other advantages thereof will appear more clearly on reading the following description of an embodiment of a capping device and a container in accordance with its principle, given solely by way of example and with reference to the appended drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a medication bottle according to the invention equipped with a closure device according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is an axial section on a larger scale of the device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an axial section on a larger scale but according to another sectional plane, of the closure device used with the container of FIGS. 1 and 2, in an exploded configuration,

FIGS. 4 to 9 represent several successive stages of use of the bottle of FIGS. 1 to 3,

FIG. 10 is a view on a larger scale of the bottle in the configuration of FIG. 7, the lid being represented in an inverted configuration;

FIG. 11 is a view on a larger scale of detail XI in FIG. 10,

FIGS. 12 and 13 are perspective views, at two different angles, of the cap, of the closure device of the invention before separation of its ring and cover, and

- Figure 14 is a section along the line XIV-XIV in Figure 2.

The bottle 1 shown in the figures is made of glass and comprises a neck 1 1 which is defined by a neck 12 having an outer collar 13. X1 is the axis of symmetry of the bottle 1 which is also a central axis of the neck 12 and flange 13. Note 14 the bottom of the bottle 1 which is opposite the neck 1 1. 132 and 134 are respectively noted the surfaces of the flange 13 which are oriented opposite the bottom 14 and towards the bottom. In other words, the surfaces 132 and 134 respectively constitute the lower and upper surfaces of the flange 13 when the bottle 1 rests by its bottom 14 on a flat and horizontal surface.

When it is necessary to fill the bottle 1, a pipette 200 is introduced into it, through its neck 1 1, as shown in FIG. 4. When a predetermined quantity of product has been introduced into the bottle 1, the pipette 200 is removed and a closure device 20 is placed on the neck 12. The device 20 comprises an elastomeric stopper 21 of shape adapted to be partially introduced into the neck 1 1, while resting on the face 132 of the 13. The stopper 21 is in one piece and comprises a disk-shaped plate 21 1 intended to rest on the surface 132 as well as a hollow rod 212 intended to penetrate into the neck 11. Once in place on the neck 12, the cap 21 isolates the contents of the bottle 1 from the outside. X21 is a central axis of symmetry of the plug 21 and D21 the diameter of the plate 21 1 which is the maximum diameter of the plug 21. In mounted configuration of the cap 21 on the bottle 1, the axes X1 and X21 are merged.

The device 20 also comprises a cap 24 intended to cover and isolate the cap 21 and the neck 12 in the closed configuration of the closure device.

The cap 24 comprises a ring 25 and a cover 26 which are molded together and form a single piece as a cap 24. In other words, a continuity of material exists between the elements 25 and 26, within the cap 24 .

The ring 25 is provided with two sets of three locking teeth under the surface 134 of the collar 13.

An external peripheral skirt of the ring 25 is noted. This skirt is pierced by two sets of two windows 252 which pass therethrough radially between the inner radial surface 251 A and the outer radial surface 251 B of the skirt 251. In front of each window 252, a deformable tab 253 is formed on the inside of the ring 25, that is to say on the side of the surface 251 A. Each lug 253 defines a blocking surface 253A intended to come into contact with each other. bearing against the surface 134 when the cap 24 is in place around the neck 12 of the bottle 1.

254 is a strip of material belonging to the skirt 25 and disposed between two adjacent windows 252. On the inside, that is to say on the surface side 251 A, each strip 254 is provided with a locking tab 255 whose upper surface 255A constitutes a blocking surface against the surface 134 of the flange 13 in mounted configuration of the cap 24 around the neck 12.

The difference between the tabs 253 and the tabs 255 is that the tabs 253 can pivot more easily, that is to say under the effect of a lower intensity effort, than the tab 255 relative to the skirt 251. Indeed, as they are located at the windows 252, the tabs 253 are connected to the skirt 251 only at their lower edge 253B which is opposite the surface 253 and which is turned towards the lower edge 251 C of the skirt 251, which is opposed to the cover 26. On the other hand, each tab 255 is secured to the adjacent band 254 over the greater part of its height, so that it is less likely to deform under the effect of a force exerted on its upper surface 255A.

X24 is the central axis of the cap 24, this axis being superimposed with the axes X1 and X21 in the mounted configuration of the device 20 on the vial 1.

As is more particularly apparent from FIG. 12, the teeth 253 and 255 are formed on two angular sectors of apex angle α of the order of 90 ° with respect to the axis X24. These two angular sectors in which are provided the tabs 253 and 255 are opposite and separated by angular sectors of angle at the vertex β where the skirt 251 is solid, its external radial surface 251 B being in a section of cylinder with a right generator and section in an arc.

The tabs 253 and 255 constitute locking means of the cap 24 on the neck 12 of the bottle 1. The geometry of the skirt 251 and its lugs 253 and 255 is compatible with an implementation of the cap 24 on the neck 12, after introduction of the cap 21, by a thrust force aligned on the axes X1, X21 and X24 then merged and directed to the bottom 14 of the bottle 1. During this installation, the tabs 253 and 255 are deformed progressively, elastically, during their passage at the level of the flange 13.

The lid 26 comprises an outer skirt 261 whose outer radial surface 261 B is notched, which facilitates the transmission of a torque between the fingers of a user and the lid. The flutes formed on the surface 261B are denoted by 261 C. The central axis of the cover 26 which coincides with the axis X24 when the parts 25 and 26 of the cap are integral, is denoted X26. The cover 26 is provided with an end wall 262 perpendicular to the axis X26 and which is connected to the skirt 261 on two bridges.

261 D which each extend over an angular sector of apex angle γ strictly less than 180 ° with respect to the axis X26, preferably of the order of 90 °. Thus, two curvilinear windows 263 are formed along the inner radial surface 261 A of the skirt 261, between this skirt and the wall 262, outside the angular sectors of apex angle γ.

The windows 263 are each aligned, in a direction parallel to the X24 and X26 axes, with a set of lock tabs 253-254. In other words, the windows 263 are facing angle sectors at the apex angle a. This allows the surfaces 253A and 255A to be molded by means of one or more pins passing through the windows 263.

Apart from its areas of junction with the skirt 261, the wall 262 is circular and centered on the axis X26. On the side of the ring 25, the wall 262 is extended by an annular skirt 264 concentric with the skirt 261 and which is intended to press the plate 21 1 of the cap 21 against the surface 132 of the collar 13 when the device 20 is in place on the neck 12 of the bottle 1.

The elements 25 and 26 of the cap 24 are connected by breakable bridges 27 which create a continuity of material between these elements 25 and 26 and which are trapezoidal, with their smaller base 271 at the upper edge 251 D of the skirt 251, that is to say the edge of this skirt facing the cover 26. D251 is the internal diameter of the skirt 251. This diameter constitutes the minimum internal diameter of the ring 25. As is apparent from FIG. 3, this diameter is strictly greater than the maximum diameter D ₂ i of the plug 21. Thus, the skirt 251 does not interfere with the stopper 21 when the cap 24 is placed on the bottle 1.

The bridges 27 are eight in number and evenly distributed on the edge 251 D, so that they are on a circumference of the ring 25 whose internal diameter d27 is greater than or equal to the diameter d251. In the example shown in the figures, the diameters d27 and d251 are equal.

In practice, the ratio d251 / D21 can be between 1.01 and 1.05, preferably between 1.02 and 1.04.

In addition, the value of the diameter d251 is chosen strictly greater than the outer diameter D13 of the flange 13 which is the maximum diameter of the neck 12. This allows a mounting of the ring 25 on the neck 12 without radial expansion of the skirt 251. In practice, the ratio d251 / D 13 is chosen between 1, 005 and 1, 01, preferably equal to 1, 0075.

The dimensions of the bridges 27, in particular their section at their respective small bases 271, are chosen so that it is possible to break these bridges at these small bases by means of a driving torque of the cover 26. around the axis X1, this torque inducing itself a rotation of the cover 26 represented by the arrow R in FIG.

The bridges can also be broken by a tensile force when a user tilts the cover 26 relative to the ring 25, about an orthoradial axis with respect to the axis X24.

At the level of each bridge 27 and radially on the outside thereof, the cover 26 is provided with a rib 266 which extends towards the ring 25 from the skirt 261. These ribs 266 allow to transmit to the ring 25 an axial thrust force directed towards the bottom 14 and applied to the lid 26, during assembly of the cap 24 on the bottle 1. Indeed, in this case, the bridges 27 are deformed elastically, to the point that the ribs 266 bear on the edge 251 D.

When the bridges 27 are broken, it is possible to separate the cover 26 of the ring 25, as represented by the arrows F7 and F10 in FIGS. 7 and 10. As the diameter d27 is strictly greater than the diameter D21, the portion of the bridges 27 which remains possibly on the ring 25 does not interfere with the access to the cap 21, nor its withdrawal. Given the location of the small bases 271, which constitute preferred breaking zones of the bridges 27, in contact with the edge 251 D, the bridges remain, essentially on the lid 26, so that the upper edge 251 D of the skirt 251 is free and the trace of the small bases 271 on this edge does not interfere with the subsequent handling of the cap 21.

The manipulation of the lid 26 does not move the ring 24 relative to the bottle 1 because it is firmly held in position on the neck 12 thanks to the locking tabs 253 and 255. Indeed, the support force of the plate 21 1 on the surface 132 exerted by the skirt 264 has the effect of putting in tension the closure device 20 on either side of the flange 13, along the axis X1. In other words, the plate 21 1 of the cap 21 and the surfaces 253A and 255A of the locking tabs 25 exert a compressive force on the flange 13 which is more rigid than the closure device 20, which has the effect of tension the constituent parts of this device. This induces a firm support of the surfaces 253A and 255A of the tabs 253 and 255 against the surface 134, which limits the risk of rotation of the ring 25 under the effect of the torque exerted by a user on the cover 26 during removal.

As is more particularly apparent from FIGS. 2 and 10, when the cover 21 is in place on the neck 12, its upper surface 213, that is to say the surface of the plate 21 1 opposite the rod 212, exceeds beyond the surface 132 on a height H1 measured parallel to the axis X1. Furthermore, the edge 251 D also extends above the surface 132 on a height H2 whose value is less than the height H1. This results in a height shift ΔΗ along the axis X1 between the surfaces 213 and 251 D, this height shift facilitating access to the plug 21 1 by one side of the ring 25 when it is necessary to remove the plug from the configuration of Figures 7 and 10.

Once this cap removed in the direction of arrow F8 in Figure 8, the device is in the configuration of Figure 9 where the ring 25 does not interfere with access to the contents of the bottle 1, while remaining in place on the Col 12.

According to one aspect of the invention shown only in FIGS. 12 and 13, an identification mark M is affixed to the surface 251 B. Such a mark can be obtained by engraving, or by printing, for example using the DATA MATRIX format. . The positioning of the mark M on the ring 25 induces that this mark remains accessible, for reading by a suitable device, including after removal of the cover 26, that is to say during the entire life of the bottle 1 .

This is to be compared with the fact that the ring 25 is designed to remain in place on the bottle 1 indefinitely after its mounting. In other words, the ring 24 is unmountable from the bottle 1, except to be destroyed in part, in particular by cutting its tabs 253 and 255, its strips 254 or skirt 251. In practice, the mark M is formed on a portion of the surface 251 B situated in an angular sector of angle at the apex β, that is to say at a distance from the windows 252.

Alternatively, the mark may be replaced by a particular pigmentation of the cap 24, each color corresponding to a type of product present in a bottle. The identification of the contents of the bottle is facilitated since the thus colored ring remains on the bottle, even after removal of the lid 26.

The material used to mold the cap 24 may be a polyoxymethylene or a polypropylene and it is chosen to induce a clean break at the level of the small bases 271 of the bridges 27.

According to a variant not shown of the invention, the preferred breaking zones of the bridges 27 may be provided not in contact with the edge 251 D but at a short axial distance therefrom. In practice, the axial distance between these preferred breaking zones and the edge 251 D is less than the axial distance between these preferred breaking zones and the attachment zones of the bridges 27 on the skirt 261. This relationship is also verified in the case shown in the figures since, in this case, the axial distance between the small bases 271 and the edge 251 D is zero, therefore less than the axial height of the bridges.

Claims

1 .- Closing device for a container (1), the closure device comprising a plug (21) of circular shape intended to seal the neck (12) of the container and a cap (24) of synthetic material capable of covering at the both the neck and the plug in place in this neck, the cap comprising a ring (25), able to surround the cap and the neck in mounted configuration and provided with means (253, 255) for locking on the neck, as well as a cover (26), while the ring and the cover are made in one single piece and connected by breakable bridges (27) distributed over a circumference of the ring characterized in that

the ring (25) has a minimum internal diameter (d251) strictly greater than the maximum diameter (D21) of the plug (21),

- The circumference of the ring (25) on which are distributed breakable bridges has an internal diameter (d27) of a value strictly greater than the maximum diameter of the plug, - the locking means of the ring comprise:

first locking tabs (253) formed on the inside of the ring (25) facing windows (252) open radially on the outside of the ring,

second locking tabs (255) formed on the inside of the ring facing a closed part (254) of the ring and

each second locking tab (255) is formed, on the circumference of the ring, between two first locking tabs (253), opposite a strip (254) of material separating windows (252) facing which are arranged the first locking tabs.

2.- Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the ratio (d251 / D21) of the value of the minimum internal diameter (d251) of the ring (25) to the value of the maximum diameter (D21) of the plug (21) is between 1, 01 and 1, 05, preferably between 1, 02 and 1, 04, while the internal diameter (d27) of the circumference of the bridges (27) is equal to the minimum internal diameter (d251) of the ring .

3.- Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the value of the inner diameter (d27) of the circumference of the bridges (27) is greater than or equal to the value of the minimum internal diameter (d251) of the ring ( 25).

4.- Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each bridge (27) has a preferred breaking zone (271) closer to the zone attachment (251 D) of the bridge on the ring (25) than the attachment area of the bridge on the cover (26).

5. - Device according to claim 4, characterized in that each bridge (27) is trapezoidal, with its smaller base (271) at an edge (251 D) of a skirt (251) of the ring (25)

6. - Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each bridge (27) is configured to be broken by a shear force resulting from the rotation (R) about a central axis (X24, X26) of the device, the cover (26) relative to the ring (25) or by a tensile force during a tilting of the cover relative to the ring.

7. - Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that once in place on the neck of a container, the ring (25) is unmountable, unless destroying at least in part.

8. - Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the locking means are formed in two angular sectors (a) disjoint ring (25).

9. - Device according to claim 8, characterized in that the disjointed angular sectors are aligned, each in a direction parallel to a central axis (X24, X26) of the device, with a window (263) formed in an end wall. (262) of the cover (26) along an inner radial surface (251A) of an outer skirt (261) of the cover.

10. - Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the ring (25) is provided with an identification mark (M).

1 1. - Device according to claim 8 and claim 10, characterized in that the identification mark (M) is affixed to an outer radial surface (251 A) of the ring, between the two disjointed angular sectors (a).

12. - Device according to claim 10 or 1 1, characterized in that the identification mark (M) is located at a distance from the windows (252) open radially on the outside of the ring (25).

13.- Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that when the ring (25) and the cap (21) are in place on the neck of the container in a configuration where the plug closes the neck (12) and where the ring surrounds the neck and the plug, the surface (213) of the cap opposite the neck extends beyond a surface (132) of the neck opposite the bottom (14) of the container (1), over a distance ( H1) greater than the distance (H2) in which the ring extends beyond the surface of the neck.

14. - Container (1), in particular medication bottle, equipped with a closure device (20) according to one of the preceding claims.

15. - Container according to claim 14, characterized in that the minimum internal diameter (d251) of the ring (25) has a value strictly greater than that of the maximum diameter (D13) of the neck (12) of the container.