EP2771251A1

EP2771251A1 - Closure cap for a product container, in particular a cosmetic product container

Info

Publication number: EP2771251A1
Application number: EP12794389.2A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Marc Chevalier
Original assignee: LVMH Recherche GIE
Current assignee: LVMH Recherche GIE
Priority date: 2011-10-27
Filing date: 2012-10-26
Publication date: 2014-09-03
Anticipated expiration: 2032-10-26
Also published as: US20140299600A1; KR20140084055A; KR101998679B1; BR112014009645A2; WO2013061003A1; JP6151261B2; JP2014534131A; CN104024120A; CN104024120B; US9914566B2; EP2771251B1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a closure capsule (1) comprising a base (2) for fitting on an opening (500) of a container (5), having an upper surface (20) provided with a dispensing orifice (200); a cover (3) comprising a device for closing off said dispensing orifice (200), said cover (3) being able to move with respect to the base (2) between a closed position and an open position in which said closing-off device (4) frees said dispensing orifice (200), said closing-off device comprising a rolling element (4) arranged so as to rotate in the cover (3) and designed to close off the dispensing orifice (200) when the cover is in the closed position and to roll on the upper surface (20) of the base when said cover (3) is moved between its open and closed positions.

Description

CLOSURE CAPSULE FOR A PRODUCT CONTAINER, IN PARTICULAR

OF COSMETIC PRODUCT

The present invention relates to a closure cap for a more or less viscous liquid product container, in particular a cosmetic product such as a liquid product for the body, the face and / or the hair.

More particularly, the invention relates to a closure cap for a product container comprising:

a base defining a central axis adapted to be fixed at an opening of a container and having an upper surface provided with a product dispensing orifice;

a cover comprising a device for closing said dispensing orifice and mobile with respect to the base between a closed position in which said closure device closes the dispensing orifice and an open position in which said dispensing device shutter releases said dispensing orifice to allow the outlet of the product contained in the container.

The document FR2872491 describes an example of such a closure cap in which the cover is conventionally connected to the base by means of a film hinge, or a material bridge, so as to be able to pivot between a closed position in which cover covers the upper surface of the base provided with a product dispensing orifice and an open position in which it is spaced from the base and disengages the product dispensing orifice.

In this document, when the lid is in the closed position relative to the base, the sealing of the product dispensing orifice is provided by a hollow stud provided projecting at the surface. interior of the cover intended to be placed facing the upper surface of the base, and penetrating inside said orifice. In this position, the product contained in the container is brought into contact with the hollow stud and fill the internal space defined therein. Thus, when the lid is pivoted relative to the base towards its open position, the inner face of the lid is visible and reveals the sealing pad filled with product, which affects the perception of the capsule by the user, especially in terms of cleanliness.

Furthermore, when the lid is in the open position, the upper surface of the base forms a product gripping surface intended to be swept by a user, for example by means of one of her fingers, to be equipped with product leaving the container. Thus, and in particular after several uses of the container equipped with such a closure cap, product residues can accumulate on the upper surface of the base. When the lid is returned to the closed position relative to the base, these residues may adhere to and contaminate the interior surface of the lid which is visible to the user when the lid is in the open position, which contributes to the perception of cleanliness of the capsule.

Finally, in the capsule according to this document FR2872491, the sealing forces existing between the hollow stud and the product dispensing orifice oppose the forces required for opening and closing the lid. Indeed, when it is desired to pass the cover from its closed position to its open position, the user, printing a pivoting movement to the cover relative to the base, must overcome the frictional forces between the walls of the hollow stud and the dispensing orifice for extracting said pad from said orifice and freely continuing the opening movement of the capsule. In the same way, when the lid is returned to its closed position, the user pivots the lid freely relative to the base and, the hollow stud penetrating inside the dispensing orifice, the user must then overcome the aforementioned frictional forces to close the capsule.

It follows an impression of opening and closing movements jerky or jerkily unpleasant for the user, product projections remaining on the upper face of the base and / or on the inside of the cover risking by elsewhere to intervene during these jolts.

This is why the sealing forces necessary for the reliable sealing of the dispensing orifice adversely affect the comfort and / or the ease of opening and closing the capsule with such a design.

In addition, the dimensioning of the hollow stud and the dispensing orifice must be adapted so that the force required for the opening / closing of the capsule is small enough that the manipulation of the capsule is easy, while being sufficiently high to limit the risk of accidental opening of the capsule, and that the sealing force is sufficiently high to prevent product leakage through the dispensing orifice in the closed position of the lid. Thus, in the case of a stud and an orifice of circular complementary sections, the diameter of said pad and said orifice must be greater than a minimum value, for example of the order of 4 mm. Flow through an orifice having such a minimum diameter may give the impression of imprecise or "coarse" dispensing of the product through the orifice. The present invention is intended to overcome these disadvantages.

For this purpose, according to the invention, a closure cap for a product container of the aforementioned type is characterized in that the closure device comprises a rolling element arranged in rotation inside a housing provided in the cover and adapted to close the product dispensing orifice when the lid is in the closed position and to roll on the upper surface of the base when the lid is moved between its open and closed positions.

Thanks to these arrangements, the main contact between the lid and the base when opening / closing the capsule is a rolling contact, which gives a certain comfort of use to the opening / closing of the capsule according to the invention.

Furthermore, since the rolling element is intended to roll on the upper surface of the base, the movement of the cover relative to the base is substantially parallel to the plane defined by this upper surface. Thus, the force required to open the capsule is oriented in a direction substantially perpendicular to the central axis of the base, and to the axis of the product dispensing orifice, and the effort of sealing of the capsule according to the invention, carried by the axis defined by the orifice, does not oppose this opening force. In other words, in the capsule according to the invention, the sealing performance does not penalize the comfort of opening / closing.

Finally, in the closure cap according to the invention, the elements likely to come into contact with the product or product residues, such as the underside of the lid and the rolling element of the closure device, are not directly visible to the user when the lid is in position opening, which improves the overall perception of quality and cleanliness of the capsule.

Furthermore, the race of the cover between its open and closed positions can advantageously be defined so that these elements that may have come into contact with the product or product residues remain almost completely opposite the upper face. from the base and are not exposed and visible to the user when the cover is in the open position.

In preferred embodiments of the invention, one or more of the following may also be used:

the bottom of the housing of the lid has a product discharge opening opening inside an internal space of said cover. Thus, the product having come into contact and having adhered to the rolling element when it was in the closed position of the orifice can be evacuated inside the internal space of the lid under the effect of the rolling element rolling when the lid is moved between its open and closed positions so as to avoid fouling of said rolling element that can penalize the comfort of opening / closing of the capsule.

- The closure device comprises an elastic element adapted so that the rolling member exerts an elastic force on the upper surface of the base. The elastic force generated by this elastic element makes it possible to increase the sealing force existing between the rolling element and the dispensing orifice when the lid is in the closed position, and to keep this rolling element in contact with the upper surface of the base when said lid is in and is moved between its open and closed positions.

the elastic element is a coating elastic material provided at least on the surface of the rolling element in contact with the upper surface of the base, or the rolling element made entirely of this elastic material and / or an elastic member arranged between the bottom of the housing and the element rolling

- The rolling element generally has the shape of a ball or cylinder, the dispensing orifice of the base having a seat whose facing surface is of complementary shape;

the product dispensing orifice is off-center with respect to the central axis of the base. This off-centering is adapted so that the orifice is located in a substantially central zone of the product gripping surface defined by the upper surface portion of the base exposed or uncovered when the lid is in the open position;

- In the closed position, the cover covers substantially the entire upper surface of the base, the side walls of said cover and said base being substantially flush with at least the major part of the periphery of the capsule. In this way, it improves the visual appearance and aesthetics of the capsule, the latter having a smooth periphery when the lid is in the closed position.

In a first embodiment of the invention, the cover is movable relative to the base in a substantially radial guide direction of the cover relative to the central axis of the base between its open and closed positions by means of a guiding device.

In preferred embodiments of the invention according to this first variant, one or more of the following provisions may also be used:

the guiding device comprises a system for slideway extending in the guide direction and formed of at least one rail provided at one of the cover and the base and adapted to cooperate with at least one complementary groove provided at the other of the cover and from the base;

- The slide system comprises at least two rails provided projecting at a lower surface of the cover facing the upper surface of the base and provided with latching lugs adapted to cooperate with abutment surfaces defined at the level of respective guide grooves provided at the base for retaining said rails within said grooves;

the ratchet tabs of the rails cooperate with abutment surfaces of the grooves to retain said rails within said grooves in a direction substantially perpendicular to the guide direction;

the latching tabs of the rails cooperate with abutment surfaces of the grooves to retain said rails within said grooves substantially in the guide direction when the lid is in the open position relative to the base;

- The guiding device further comprises a device limiting the tilting of the cover relative to the base, said device comprising at least two opposite snap lugs provided projecting at one of the cover and the base and adapted for cooperate with each of the edges of a groove provided at the other of the lid and the base;

- The upper surface of the base is curved. In this way, at least one of the opening and closing movements of the cover may be assisted by the curvature of the upper face of the base.

According to an advantageous arrangement, the closure cap according to the first variant embodiment of the invention further comprises a noise generation device adapted to indicate the arrival in the closed position and / or the opening of the cover relative to the base, said device being formed by at least one elastic tab provided at the level of one of the cover and the base and adapted to cross at least one rigid lug provided at the other of the cover and the base when the cover arrives in the closed position and / or opening relative to the base . Thus, this noise generating device being distinct from the closure device of the dispensing orifice, there is a possibility of calibrating and adjusting the sound of opening and / or closing of the capsule independently of the means implemented to seal its dispensing orifice. Moreover, with such provisions, the arrival in the closed position of the cover may be signaled by a noise different from that indicating the arrival in the open position, for example by differently dimensioning the associated tabs.

According to another advantageous arrangement, the closure cap according to the first embodiment of the invention further comprises a device for defining stable positions adapted to stabilize the cover with respect to the base when it is in the closed position and / or opening, said device being formed by the rolling element of the cover cooperating with the product dispensing orifice of the base to stabilize said cover relative to said base when it is in the closed position, and cooperating with an additional imprint provided at the upper surface of the base for stabilizing said cover relative to said base when in the open position.

In a preferred embodiment of the first embodiment of the invention, at least one sliding pad is provided at one of the cover and of the base, said pad being adapted to slide on the other of the cover and the base when said cover is moved between its open and closed positions. The main contact between the lid and the base during the opening and closing movements of the capsule is then provided by the rolling element which rolls on the base and by this or these pads. Thus, by appropriate positioning and sizing of the sliding glides, it is possible to precisely adjust the force required for the opening / closing of the capsule and thus to define a level of comfort of use desired for this purpose. this.

In a second variant embodiment of the invention, the lid is rotatable relative to the base around a pivot axis by means of a hinge device.

In preferred embodiments of the invention according to this second variant, one or more of the following provisions may also be used:

- The hinge device comprises a sleeve secured to one of the base and the lid and rotatably mounted about the pivot axis on a pivot integral with the other of the base and the lid;

the articulation device comprises at least one resilient tab integral with one of the base and the cover, the said resilient tab being adapted to exert an elastic force along the axis of pivoting on the other of the base and the cover; on at least a portion of the cover stroke between its open and closed positions. Advantageously, said at least one elastic tab is adapted to exert an elastic force along the axis of pivoting over the entire race of the cover between its open and closed positions. Such an arrangement makes it possible to ensure catch-up assembly sets according to the pivot axis existing between the pivot and the sleeve when the cover is mounted on the base.

the at least one elastic lug comprises an indexing abutment of the lid in at least one position chosen from the open position, the closed position or an intermediate position between the open position and the closed position, the other base and cover comprising a cam profile having at least one seat adapted to stabilize the cover relative to the base in the selected position. This indexing system formed of the elastic tab and cam profile also provides assistance in opening and / or closing the capsule, thus making it particularly ergonomic handling;

the upper surface of the base is beveled and / or curved. In this way, at least one of the opening and closing movements of the cover may be assisted by the inclination and / or the curvature of the upper face of the base.

According to an advantageous arrangement of this second embodiment of the invention, the articulation device further comprises a noise generating device adapted to indicate the arrival of the cover in at least one position chosen from the open position, the closed position or an intermediate position between the open position and the closed position, said device being formed by at least one elastic lug provided at one of the cover and the base and adapted to pass at least one rigid lug provided at the other of the lid and the base when the lid reaches the chosen position relative to the base. Thus, this noise generating device being distinct from the closure device of the dispensing orifice, there is a possibility of calibrating and adjusting the sound of opening and / or closing of the capsule independently of the means used to seal its dispensing orifice. Moreover, with such provisions, the arrival in the closed position of the cover may be signaled by a noise different from that indicating the arrival in the open position, for example by differently dimensioning the associated tabs.

Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of one of its embodiments, given by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

On the drawings:

- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the capsule according to the first embodiment of the invention, the lid being in the closed position relative to the base;

FIG. 1a is a sectional view of the capsule illustrated in FIG. 1 along a median plane of the capsule defined by the axis Ia-Ia and comprising the central axis of the base and the axis of the orifice of FIG. distribution;

FIG. 1b is a sectional view of the capsule illustrated in FIG. 1 along a plane orthogonal to the section plane of FIG. 1a defined by the axis Ib-Ib and including the axis of the dispensing orifice;

- Figure 2 is a view similar to that of Figure 1, the lid being in the open position relative to the base;

FIG. 2a is a sectional view of the capsule illustrated in FIG. 2 along a median plane of the capsule defined by the axis IIa-IIa and comprising the central axis of the base and the axis of the orifice of FIG. distribution;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view from below of the capsule according to the first embodiment, intended in particular to illustrate the sliding pads; - Figure 4 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the capsule according to the first embodiment of the invention, the lid being in the closed position relative to the base;

FIG. 4a is a sectional view of the capsule illustrated in FIG. 4 along a median plane of the capsule defined by the axis IVa-IVa and comprising the central axis of the base and the axis of the orifice of FIG. distribution;

- Figure 4b is a sectional view of the capsule illustrated in Figure 4 in a plane orthogonal to the sectional plane of Figure 4a defined by the axis IVb-IVb and including the axis of the dispensing orifice;

- Figure 5 is a view similar to that of Figure 4, the lid being in the open position relative to the base;

FIG. 5a is a sectional view of the capsule illustrated in FIG. 5a according to a median plane of the capsule defined by the axis Va-Va and comprising the central axis of the base and the axis of the orifice of FIG. distribution;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view from below of the capsule according to the second embodiment, intended in particular to illustrate the sliding pads and the device for generating noise;

FIG. 6a is a cross-sectional detail of FIG. 6 for illustrating the cooperation of the ratchet tabs of the rails with the abutment surfaces of the grooves for retaining said rails within said grooves in the guiding direction when the lid is in the open position;

- Figure 7 is a perspective view of the capsule according to the second embodiment of the invention, the lid being in the closed position relative to the base;

FIG. 7a is a sectional view of the capsule illustrated in FIG. 7 along a median plane of the capsule defined by the axis VIIa-VIIa and comprising the central axis of the base and the axis of the dispensing orifice;

- Figure 8 is a view similar to that of Figure 7, the cover being in an intermediate position relative to the base;

- Figure 9 is a view similar to that of Figure 7, the lid being in the open position relative to the base;

FIG. 9a is a sectional view of the capsule illustrated in FIG. 9 along a median plane of the capsule defined by the axis IXa-IXa and comprising the central axis of the base and the axis of the orifice of FIG. distribution;

- Figure 10 is a perspective view from below of the capsule according to the second embodiment of the invention including to illustrate the rolling element;

- Figure 11 is a perspective view to illustrate the elements of the hinge device provided at the base in the capsule according to the second embodiment of the invention;

- Figure 12 is a perspective view to illustrate the elements of the hinge device provided at the lid in the capsule according to the second embodiment of the invention;

FIGS. 13a to 13g are intended to illustrate different embodiments of the rolling element that can be implemented in one or the other embodiment of the invention.

In the different figures, the same references designate identical or similar elements.

Figure 1 illustrates a first embodiment of the container closure cap according to a first embodiment of the invention.

In the various embodiments illustrated, and as visible in FIG. 1, the capsule of closure 1 comprises a base 2 intended to be fixed at the opening of a container of liquid product more or less viscous, especially cosmetic product such as a liquid product for the body, face and / or hair and on which a cover 3 is movably mounted between a closed position and an open position. In this FIG. 1, the cover 3, shown in the closed position, is provided with a removable and transparent cover 32, behind which a label 320 for personalization and / or identification of the visible capsule can be arranged. a user through said transparent cover. Alternatively, this cover may be opaque and have on its outer face a personalization marking and / or identification.

In these embodiments, the cover 3 is dimensioned and arranged on the base 2 so that in the closed position, as shown for example in Figure 1, it covers substantially the entire upper surface 20 of the base, the side walls 21, 31 respectively of said base and said cover being substantially flush over most of the periphery of the capsule.

The base 2 and the lid 3 of the capsule 1 shown here also have notches 23, 33 forming a substantially continuous surface when the lid 3 is in the closed position, and intended to indicate to the user an actuating zone on which it will have to exert an effort to pass the lid 3 from its closed position to its open position.

Moreover, the notch 33 formed in the lid 3 makes it possible to have a larger product gripping surface when the lid 3 is in the closed position of the base 2.

Figure 2 illustrates the capsule according to the first embodiment of the first embodiment of the invention when the lid 3 is in the open position relative to the base 2, in which it reveals a portion of the upper surface 20 of the base 2 defining a surface product gripping device having, in a substantially central zone, the product dispensing orifice 200.

FIG. 1a shows a vertical sectional view along the median plane defined by the axis Ia-Ia of FIG. 1. In this figure, it can be seen in particular that the base 2 of the capsule 1 is snap-fastened on the neck 50. of the container 5 by the cooperation of latching tabs 22 provided on the base and an annular bead 52 formed on the neck 50 of the container 5. Alternatively, the base 2 may be fixed at the neck 50 of the container 5 by any other suitable means, such as a screw fastening system, a bayonet system, etc.

When the base 2 is fixed on the container 5, a sealing skirt 24 of the base 2 is inserted inside a sealing skirt 54 complementary to the container 5, and the product dispensing orifice 200 is placed in communication with the opening 500 of the container, forming a passage reducer for the product contained in the container 5. The base 2 further comprises an outer skirt formed by the side wall 21 and intended to mask the neck 50 of the container 5 .

As can be seen in particular in this figure 1a, the axis of the dispensing orifice 200 is off-center with respect to the central axis X of the base 2. This off-centering makes it possible to position the product dispensing orifice 200 in a zone substantially central of a product storage / gripping zone defined by the portion of the upper surface 20 of the base 2 discovered when the lid 3 is in the open position.

Indeed, thanks to these provisions the user can temporarily store the dose of product that has just been extracted from the container without having to immediately transfer it to a support, usually the fingers in the case of a cosmetic product. This also has the advantage of allowing the user to take in this dose a quantity of product better adapted to the intended use such as for example to facilitate the application envisaged by small successive keys.

In the first embodiment of the first embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figures 1, la, lb, 2, 2a and 3, the upper surface 20 of the base 2 is substantially flat and the opening / closing movement of the capsule is effected by a translation along a rectilinear path of the lid 3 with respect to the base 2.

In the closed position, as illustrated in FIGS. 1, 1a and 1b, the cover 3 covers the upper surface 20 of the base 2, and the closure device closes the dispensing orifice 200. The closure device is formed by a rolling element 4 arranged in rotation inside a housing 300 of the cover, and which is here in the form of a cylindrical sleeve 40 made of a rigid material and provided with a coating of elastic material 400 provided for said rolling member 4 exerts an elastic force on the upper surface 20 of the base 2.

In the embodiments illustrated in particular in Figures la, lb, 2a, 4, 4a, 4b, 5, 5a, 6, 7a, 8, 9a and the housing 300 of the cover has two grooves 301 opening at the surface. bottom 30 of the cover 3 and intended to receive two diametrically opposite portions of axis or pins 401 of the rolling element 4 fixed, for example by clipping, inside said grooves 301 so that the rolling element 4 is retained and can freely rotate inside the dwelling 300.

As illustrated respectively in Figures 13a to 13d, the rolling element 4 may be in the form of a ball 4 integrally made of elastic material and clipped into the housing 300 of the lid, or in the form of a ball or a cylindrical sleeve 40 curved or not, made of rigid material, provided with diametrically opposite portions of axis or pins 401, and coated with a layer of elastic material 400.

As illustrated in FIGS. 13e to 13g, the rolling element 4 may also be in the form of a ball or a cylindrical sleeve 40 ', curved or not, made of rigid material, coated with a layer of elastic material 400 and provided with a hole 41 provided for the passage of a rigid axis 401 ', around which the ball or the sleeve 40 is free to rotate, this axis 401' being intended to be fixedly received in rotation at the inside grooves 301 of housing 300 of lid 3.

According to the invention, this rolling element 4 is arranged inside the housing 300 of the cover 3 so as to roll on the upper surface 20 of the base 2 when the cover 3 is moved between its open and closed positions. The element made of elastic material 400 makes it possible for the rolling element 4 to be resiliently biased permanently against the upper surface 20 of the base when the cover 3 is mounted thereon.

By modifying the composition and / or the level of elastic biasing of the elastic element 400 when the lid 3 is mounted on the base 2, it is possible to fine-adjust the sealing forces and the forces required for the opening and closing of the capsule, and define a compromise allowing both to ensure good sealing of the product dispensing orifice 200 by the rolling element 4 when the lid 3 is in the closed position of the base 2, and to ensure a comfort of opening / closing the capsule 1 optimal for the user.

Moreover, when the lid 3 is in the closed position of the base 2, the rolling element 4 cooperates with a seat 201 of the dispensing orifice 200 whose facing surface is of complementary shape to ensure the seal of said When an elastic portion is provided, the elastic biasing it exerts makes it possible to increase the sealing force between said rolling element 4 and said seat 201.

As can be seen in particular in FIG. 1a, the bottom of the housing 300 is provided with an orifice 302 intended for evacuation inside an internal space 34 of the lid 3 of the product which may have adhered to the surface. outside of the rolling element 4 when the lid 3 is in the closed position and the rolling element 4 seals the orifice 200, or when the lid 3 is moved between its open and closed positions and that the rolling element 4 rolls on the product gripping surface. This evacuation occurs in particular when the cover 3 and moved relative to the base 2 and the rolling element 4 rolls on the upper surface 20 of the base.

Still in relation with this figure 1a, the cooperation of the rolling element 4 and the dispensing orifice 200 also makes it possible to define a stable position of the lid 3 in the closed position relative to the base 2. An impression 29, or recess, of complementary shape to that of the rolling element 4, is further formed on the upper surface of the base and is intended to cooperate with the rolling element 4 to define a stable position of the cover 3 in the open position compared to the base 2.

Referring now to FIG. 1b, which shows a sectional view along the median plane defined by the axis Ib-Ib of Figure la, guiding the cover 3 relative to the base between its open and closed positions is here achieved by means of two rails 35, 36 provided at the bottom face 30 of the cover 3 and provided with latching tabs 350, 360, said rails 35, 36 being inserted inside two complementary grooves 25, 26 formed in the upper surface 20 of the base 2, and said latching tabs 350, 360 cooperating with abutment surfaces 250, 260 defined at the grooves 25, 26 to retain the cover 3 relative to the base 2 in the direction of the central axis X.

In this embodiment, the grooves 25, 26 are formed in the base 2 through the upper surface 20 thereof, the rails 35, 36 of the lid 3 being snapped into said grooves 25, 26 in a groove. mounting direction of the cover 3 on the base 2 extending substantially parallel to the central axis X.

In FIG. 1b, it can be seen that the abutment surfaces 250, 260 of the grooves 25, 26 of the base are provided at the level of protrusions, whose internal lateral surfaces make it possible to guide the displacement of the rails 35, 36 inside. grooves 25, 26.

In this embodiment, the opening and closing stroke of the lid 3 relative to the base 2 is defined by the length of the grooves 25, 26 to which the length of the rails 35, 36 is subtracted in the guide direction. When the lid 3 is in the closed position, the faces of the proximal ends of the rails 35, 36 in the radial direction abut against the faces of the proximal ends of the grooves 25, 26, and when the lid 3 is in position d opening, the faces of the distal ends of the rails 35, 36 in the radial direction abut against the faces of the distal ends of the grooves 25, 26.

As appears in particular in FIGS. 2, the guiding of the lid 3 relative to the base 2 provided by the guiding device can be completed by a device limiting the tilting of the lid 3 relative to the base 2 comprising two latching lugs 270, 271 adjacent and oriented in opposed directions, provided projecting at the upper surface 20 of the base 2 and intended to be snapped into a central groove 37 provided at the lower face 30 of the lid 3. Once the lid 3 placed on the base 2, these tabs 270, 271 bear against the opposite lateral flanges of the groove 37. These lugs 270, 271 are provided at a peripheral sector of the upper surface 20 of the base 2 by relative to the central axis X, so as to limit the tilting of the lid 3 relative to the base 2 when said lid 3 is in the open position.

Furthermore, the capsule according to the invention is provided with a noise generation device provided to indicate the arrival in the open position and / or closure of the lid 3 with respect to the base 2.

Thus, and as visible in particular in Figures 1, 2 and 3, in the first embodiment of the first embodiment of the invention, the closure cap is equipped with a device for generating a noise indicating the arrival in the closed position of the lid 3 relative to the base 2. This device is formed of a rigid tab 38 provided substantially vertically above one of the edges of the central groove 37 formed in the lid 3, and located in a position peripheral to the central axis X, said tab 38 being intended to cooperate with the latching lug 270 of the tilt limiting device which is in contact with the same edge of the groove 37, here the one more outside in the radial direction. So when the lid 3 goes from its open position illustrated in Figure 2, in its closed position illustrated in Figure 1, the outer latching lug 270 comes into contact with the tab 38, bent to cross said tab 38, and emits a noise when its expansion and its return in contact with the edge of the groove 37 on which it was supported, thus indicating the arrival in the closed position of the lid 3 relative to the base 2.

Referring to Figure 3, the cover 3 may be provided with sliding pads 39 for sliding on the upper surface 20 of the base 2 when the cover 3 is moved between its open and closed positions. The implementation of such pads 39 allows to define a main contact between the cover 3 and the base 2 provided by the rolling element 4 moving on the upper surface 20 of the base 2, and by these pads 39 sliding on said surface 20. Thus, the contact surface during the displacement of the rolling element 4 on the upper surface 20 of the base 2 opposing only a small resistance in the opening / closing direction of the capsule, it is possible to play on the positioning and / or dimensioning of these pads 39 to control the frictional forces occurring during the displacement of the cover 3 relative to the base 2, and adjust precisely the effort required for this movement.

In a particularly advantageous manner, by influencing the sizing and positioning of the cover guide system 3 with respect to the base 2, the opening / closing stroke of the capsule can be chosen so that the elements capable of The product 200 or residues of said product remaining on the product gripping surface, namely the underside 31 of the cover and the outer surface of the rolling element 4, remain almost completely in contact with the product. next of the upper face 20 of the base 2 and are not exposed and visible by the user when the lid 3 is in the open position.

More specifically, and as visible in particular in Figure 3, when the lid is in the open position, the rolling element 4 is not visible from the outside, and the portion of the lower surface 31 of the lid 3. overlapping the corresponding product storage / gripping surface when said lid 3 is in the closed position is almost not apparent to a user, with the exception of small "corner" areas located on either side of the pads sliding 39.

In a second embodiment of the first embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figures 4, 4a, 4b, 5, 5a, and 6, the upper surface 20 of the base 2 is curved and the opening / closing movement. of the capsule is effected by a translation along a curved path of the lid 3 with respect to the base 2.

Advantageously, the curvature of the upper face

20 of base 2 offers assistance at the opening.

Again, in this embodiment, when the cover 3 is in the closed position of the base 2, the cover 3 is sized and arranged on the base 2 so that in the closed position, as illustrated in FIG. Figure 4, it covers substantially the entire upper surface 20 of the base, the side walls 21, 31 of said cover and said base being substantially flush over most of the periphery of the capsule.

An impression 33 'is provided on the lateral surface 31 of the lid 3 to indicate to the user the zone on which it must act to cause the opening of the capsule 1.

In this embodiment, and as illustrated in particular in FIGS. 4b, 6 and 6a, the system of A slideway for guiding the lid 3 relative to the base in its opening and closing movements is formed by two rails 35 ', 36' provided with latching tabs 350 ', 360' which are inserted in the direction of rotation. guiding within two complementary grooves 25 ', 26' formed in the base, the abutment surfaces of these latching tabs 350 ', 360' abutting abutment surfaces 250 ', 260' provided at the grooves 25 ', 26' when the cover 3 arrives in the open position relative to the base 2.

With reference to FIG. 6, the noise generating device indicating the arrival in the open and / or closed position of the lid 3 implemented in this embodiment is formed by an elastic tab 28 provided in a zone peripheral of the base 2 and intended to cooperate with two rigid tabs 38 'extending projecting from the lower surface 31 of the cover 3 to generate, when it is brought to cross said rigid tabs 38', a noise signaling the arrival in the closed position of the lid 3 with respect to the base 2, as well as the arrival in the open position of the lid 3 with respect to the base 2.

A second embodiment of the capsule according to the invention will now be described in relation to FIGS. 7, 7a, 8, 9, 9a, 10, 11 and 12. In this description, only the elements differing from the first variant realization will be explained.

In the exemplary embodiment of this second variant embodiment of the invention illustrated here, the base 2 and the lid 3 of the capsule 1 respectively have a pattern 23 '' and a tongue 33 '' forming a substantially continuous surface when the cover 3 is in the closed position, and intended to indicate to the user an operating zone on which he must exert an effort to pass the lid 3 from its closed position to its open position.

FIG. 7a represents a vertical sectional view along the axis VIIa-VIIa of FIG. 7. In this figure, it can be seen in particular that the base 2 of the capsule according to this second variant embodiment is fixed on the neck 50 of the container. In a manner similar to that described in relation to the first embodiment.

As also visible in particular in this figure 7a, the axis of the dispensing orifice 200 is off-center with respect to the central axis X of the base 2.

Furthermore, in the illustrated embodiment of the second embodiment of the invention, the upper surface 20 of the base 2 is tapered, that is to say that the normal to this upper surface 20 forms an angle not zero with the central axis of the base 2. Furthermore, the upper surface 20 of the base is curved.

Advantageously, and as is the case in the illustrated embodiment, the inclination and curvature of the upper surface of the base provides assistance in closing the capsule.

In the illustrated embodiment of the second embodiment of the invention, the cover 3 is rotatable about a pivot axis P with respect to the base 2 between a closed position, illustrated for example in FIG. 7, and a closed position, illustrated for example in Figure 9, these extreme positions being angularly offset by an angle of 180 °.

Thus, with reference to FIGS. 7 to 9, when the cover 3 is moved relative to the base of its closed position illustrated in FIG. 7 towards its closed position illustrated in FIG. 9, the rolling element 4 rolls on the upper surface 20 of the base 2 until reaching an edge of this upper surface 20 as illustrated in Figure 8. When the opening movement of the cover 3 is continued, the rolling element 4 is no longer in contact with the upper surface 20 of the base 2 and is retained within the housing 300 of the cover 3 by any appropriate means (here by clipping the pins 401 inside the grooves 301).

Alternatively, the opening and closing positions of the cover 3 relative to the base 2 could be shifted by an angle less than 180 ° around the pivot axis P. Thus, these positions could be defined in such a way that that the rolling element 4 remains in contact with the upper surface 20 of the base 2 over the entire race of the cover between its open and closed positions.

In general, the angular offset around the pivot axis P between the open and closed positions of the lid 3 with respect to the base 2 must be sufficient so that, in the open position, the lid 3 releases the the product dispensing orifice 200 of the base so as to allow the flow of said product through said orifice 200.

The element made of elastic material 400 makes it possible here to ensure that the rolling element 4 is elastically biased against the upper surface 20 of the base when it is in contact with the latter.

The operation of the hinge device by means of which the cover 3 is rotatably mounted around the pivot axis P with respect to the base 2 in this second embodiment will now be described in relation with FIGS. 7a, 9a. , 11 and 12.

As can be seen for example in FIG. 7a, the upper surface 20 of the base 2 has a cavity 28 '' opening at said upper surface 20 and at the bottom of which there is provided a pivot 25 '' defining the pivot axis P of the cover 3 with respect to the base 2 and intended to cooperate with a sleeve 35 '' projecting from the lower surface 30 of said cover 3 for guiding the opening movement by rotation of the capsule 1.

When the lid 3 is put in place on the base

2, the sleeve 35 '' integral with the lid 3 is inserted inside the cavity 28 '' of the base 2 until latching lugs 250 '' provided at the free end of the pivot 25 '' integral with the base cooperate snap-fit with the edge of an annular flange 350 '' formed in the sleeve 35 '' to retain said cover 3 relative to said base 2.

Advantageously, the hinge device comprises at least one elastic tab 26 '', here two diametrically opposed elastic tabs integral with the base 2 and adapted to exert an elastic force along the pivot axis P on the lid 3 when the latter it is mounted on the base 2. Such an arrangement makes it possible to make up the assembly clearances along the pivot axis P existing between the pivot 25 '' and the sleeve 35 '' when the cover 3 is mounted on the base 2.

As can be seen in particular in FIG. 11, the elastic tabs 26 '' are formed in the bottom of the cavity 28 '' of the base 2 and extend in a certain angular range in the peripheral direction of the cavity 28 ", away from the bottom of said cavity 28 '' in the direction of the pivot axis P.

Furthermore, in addition to their play-catching function, these resilient tabs 26 '' are intended to cooperate with a cam profile 36 '' provided at the free end of the sleeve 35 '' to assist opening and closing movements. closing of the capsule and define stable positions of the cover 3 relative to the base 2. Thus, in the embodiment illustrated for example in Figures 11 and 12, the two tabs 26 '' present each at their free end an indexing stop 260 '' adapted to cooperate with two diametrically opposed seats 360 '' formed on the cam profile 36 '' to stabilize the cover 3 relative to the base 2 in its open positions and closing.

Alternatively, it could be provided that the sleeve has only one seat 360 '' intended to cooperate with the indexing stop 260 '' of a single elastic tab 26 '' to stabilize the lid 3 in the open position relative to the base 2, the stabilization in the closed position of the lid relative to the base 2 being provided by the cooperation of the rolling element 4 provided in the cover 3 and the seat 201 provided at the dispensing orifice of product 200.

Alternatively, one could predict that the sleeve

35 '' has a plurality of seats 360 '' intended to cooperate with one or more resilient tabs 26 '' to define a plurality of stable positions of the lid 3 with respect to the base 2.

So, in the configuration shown in the figure

7 or 7a, the cover 3 is in the closed position relative to the base 2 and the indexing stops 260 '' of the elastic tabs 26 '' provided in the bottom of the cavity 28 '' of the base 2 cooperate with the seats 360 '' of the cam profile 36 '' formed at the axial end of the sleeve 35 '' of the lid 3. As indicated above, in this position the resilient tabs 26 '' can already be elastically biased according to the pivot axis P, here by bending, so that they exert a force to compensate for possible gaps existing between the latching lugs 250 '' of the pivot 25 '' and the annular flange 350 '' of the 35 '' sleeve.

Starting from this configuration, when the cover 3 is pivoted about the pivot axis P relative to the base 2 by a user, the stops 260 '' index out of their respective seats 360 '' and slide on the cam profile 36 '' of the sleeve 35 '' by progressively causing additional bending of the elastic tabs 26 '', until reaching the respective peaks 361 '' of the cam profile 36 ''.

When the opening movement of the capsule is continued, the indexing stops 260 '' cross the peaks 361 '' of the cam profile 36 '' and slide on it causing the progressive relaxation of the elastic tabs 26 '', until come to cooperate again with the seats 360 '' of the cam profile 36 '' to stabilize the cover 3 in the open position relative to the base 2.

In this position illustrated for example in Figure 9a, the indexing stops 260 '' of the elastic tabs 26 '' cooperate with the seat 360 '' diametrically opposite to that with which they cooperated when the lid 3 was in the closed position compared to the base 2.

Thus, such a hinge device makes it possible to define stable positions for the cover 3 relative to the base when the indexing stops 260 '' of the flexible tabs 26 '' cooperate with the seats 360 '' of the cam profile 36 '', the flexing of said elastic tabs 26 '' when the indexing stops 260 '' are caused to traverse the cam profile 36 '' generating resistance to rotation of the lid 3 relative to the base 2. In this way the risks of unintentional or unintentional opening of the capsule are reduced when the lid 3 is in the closed position relative to the base 2. Moreover, such an arrangement makes it possible to keep the lid 3 stable when it is in position. opening position relative to the base 2, thus allowing the gripping of the product by limiting the risk of unwanted closure of the capsule.

Moreover, such an articulation device allows to assist the opening and closing of the lid 3 relative to the base 2 by the relaxation of the elastic tabs 26 '' since the indexing stops 260 '' have crossed the vertices 361 '' of the cam profile 36 ''.

In the illustrated embodiment, the hinge device makes it possible to define two stable positions of the cover 3 with respect to the base 2, namely a closed position illustrated for example in FIG. 7a, and an open position illustrated by FIG. example in Figure 9a, these two positions being angularly offset about the pivot axis P by an angle of 180 °. However, without departing from the scope of the present invention, it is possible to imagine that this articulation device makes it possible to define, in addition to these two stable positions of opening and closing, one or more intermediate positions, offset for example by 90.degree. at these opening and closing positions.

Furthermore, the capsule according to the second embodiment of the invention is provided with a noise generating device provided to indicate the arrival of the cover 3 in at least one selected position from the open position, the position of closing or an intermediate position between the open position and the closed position, relative to the base 2.

More specifically, and as visible in particular in FIGS. 11 and 12, the hinge device of the cover 3 on the base 2 comprises this noise generating device which is here in the form of two flexible tabs 27 '' provided in FIG. bottom of the cavity 28 '' of the base 2 and two pairs of rigid tabs 37 '' formed at the sleeve 35 '' of the cover 3. The position of the various resilient and rigid tabs of the noise generating device illustrated here is chosen to allow to indicate, signal with a sound the arrival of the cover 3 in the closed position by compared to the base 2, and the arrival of the lid 3 in the open position relative to the base 2. It could however be imagined without departing from the scope of the present invention, that the noise generating device is adapted to indicate the arrival of the lid 3 in the different stable positions defined by the hinge device.

This noise generating device also makes it possible to indicate by a sound the output of the lid 3 outside its open and closed positions relative to the base 2, whatever the pivoting direction of said lid 3 with respect to the base 2 around the pivot axis P. Indeed, as shown in Figure 12, the rigid tabs 37 '' provided at the sleeve 35 '' of the cover 3 are arranged in pairs, the rigid tabs 37 '' of each pair of legs being spaced so as to accommodate between them the flexible tabs 27 '' provided at the bottom of the cavity 28 '' of the base 2 when the lid 3 is in the open position relative at the base 2 and when the cover 3 is in the closed position relative to the base 2. Thus, starting from the configuration illustrated in Figure 7a, wherein the cover 3 is shown in the closed position relative to the base 2 and wherein the flexibl legs 27 '' of the base 2 is housed between the respective pairs of rigid tabs 37 '"of the sleeve 35'', when the lid 3 is pivoted relative to the base 2 by rotation about the pivot axis P, said flexible tabs 27 '' emerge from the housings formed by respective pairs of rigid tabs 37 '' by crossing one or the other of the rigid tabs 37 '' of each of the pairs of rigid tabs 37 '' in the direction of pivoting , thus causing the emission of a noise indicating the exit of the lid outside its closed position. When this pivoting movement of the lid 3 is continued around the pivot axis P, and said lid 3 comes close to its open position relative to the base 2, one of the rigid tabs 37 '' of each pairs of rigid tabs 37 '' of the sleeve comes into contact with a respective flexible tab 27 '' of the base 2 and passed therethrough so as to generate a noise indicating the arrival in the open position of the lid 3 by relative to the base 2, the flexible tabs 27 '' of the base 2 then being received between the respective pairs of rigid tabs 37 '' of the sleeve 35 '' of the lid 3.

Claims

1. Closure capsule (1) for a more or less viscous liquid product container comprising:

a base (2) defining a central axis (X), adapted to be fixed at an opening (500) of a container (5) and having an upper surface (20) provided with a dispensing orifice; product (200);

- a cover (3) comprising a device for closing said dispensing orifice (200) and movable relative to the base (2) between a closed position in which said closure device closes the dispensing orifice (200) and an open position in which said closure device (4) disengages said dispensing orifice (200) to allow the product contained in the container (5) to exit;

characterized in that said closure device comprises a rolling element (4) arranged in rotation inside a housing (300) provided in the cover (3) and adapted to close the product dispensing orifice (200). ) when the cover (3) is in the closed position and to roll on the upper surface (20) of the base when said cover (3) is moved between its open and closed positions.

2. Capsule according to claim 1, characterized in that the bottom of the housing (300) of the lid (3) has a hole (302) for discharging product opening inside an internal space (34) of said cover (3).

3. Capsule according to any one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the closure device comprises a resilient element (400) adapted for the rolling element (4) exerts an elastic force on the upper surface (20). ) of the base (2).

4. Capsule according to claim 3, characterized in that the elastic element is a coating of elastic material (400) provided at least on the surface of the rolling element (4) in contact with the upper surface (20) of the base (2), or the rolling element (4) entirely made of this elastic material and / or an elastic member arranged between the bottom of the housing (300) and the rolling element (40).

5. Capsule according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the rolling element (4) has generally the shape of a ball or a cylinder, the dispensing orifice (200) of the base having a seat (201) whose facing surface is of complementary shape.

6. Capsule according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the product dispensing orifice (200) is off-center with respect to the central axis (X) of the base (2).

7. Capsule according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the lid

(3) is movable relative to the base (2) in a substantially radial guiding direction of the cover (3) relative to the central axis X of the base (2) between its open and closed positions by means of a guiding device.

8. Capsule according to claim 7, characterized in that the guiding device comprises a sliding system extending in the guide direction and formed of at least one rail (35, 36, 35 ', 36') provided for in one of the lid (3) and the base (2) and adapted to cooperate with at least one complementary groove (25, 26, 25 ', 26') provided at the other of the lid (3) and the base (2).

9. Capsule according to claim 8, characterized in that the slide system comprises at least two rails (35, 36, 35 ', 36') projecting at a lower surface (30) of the cover (3) opposite the upper surface (20) of the base (2) and provided with legs latching means (350, 360, 350 ', 360') adapted to cooperate with abutment surfaces (250, 260, 250 ', 260') defined at respective guide grooves (25, 26, 25 ', 26' ) provided at the base (2) for retaining said rails (35, 36, 35 ', 36') within said grooves (25, 26, 25 ', 26').

10. Capsule according to claim 9, characterized in that the latching lugs (350, 360) of the rails (35, 36) cooperate with abutment surfaces (250, 260) grooves (25, 26) for retaining said rails (35, 36) within said grooves (25, 26) in a direction substantially perpendicular to the guide direction.

11. Capsule according to any one of claims 9 or 10, characterized in that the latching lugs (350 ', 360') of the rails (35 ', 36') cooperate with abutment surfaces (250 ', 260 ') grooves (25', 26 ') for retaining said rails (35', 36 ') within said grooves (25', 26 ') substantially in the guide direction when the cover (3) is in position. opening position relative to the base (2).

12. Capsule according to any one of claims 7 to 11, characterized in that the guide device further comprises a device limiting the tilting of the lid (3) relative to the base (2), said device comprising at least two ratchet lugs (270, 271) provided at one of the projections (3) and the base (2) and adapted to cooperate with each of the edges of a groove (37) provided at the level of the other of the lid (3) and the base (2).

13. Capsule according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that it comprises in addition, a noise generation device adapted to indicate the arrival in the closed position and / or the opening of the cover (3) with respect to the base (2), said device being formed by at least one elastic tab (270 , 28) provided at one of the cover (3) and the base (2) and adapted to cross at least one rigid lug (38, 38 ') provided at the other of the cover (3) and of the base (2) when the lid (3) arrives in the closed and / or opening position relative to the base (2).

14. Capsule according to any one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that it further comprises a stable positions defining device adapted to stabilize the cover (3) relative to the base (2) when it is in the closed position and / or opening, said device being formed by the rolling element (4) of the lid (3) cooperating with the product dispensing orifice (200) of the base (2) to stabilize said cover (3) with respect to said base (2) when in the closed position, and cooperating with a complementary recess (29) provided at the upper surface (20) of the base (2) for stabilizing said cover (3) with respect to said base

(2) when in the open position.

15. Capsule according to any one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that at least one sliding pad (39) is provided at one of the lid (3) and the base (2), said pad being adapted to slide on the other of the lid (3) and the base (2) when said lid (3) is moved between its open and closed positions.

16. Capsule according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the lid

(3) is rotatable relative to the base (2) about a pivot axis (P), preferably substantially parallel to the central axis X, by means of a hinge device.

17. Capsule according to claim 16, characterized in that the articulation device comprises a sleeve (26 '') integral with one of the base (2) and the cover (3) and rotatably mounted around the pivot axis (P) on a pivot (25 '') integral with the other of the base (2) and the cover (3).

18. Capsule according to any one of claims 16 and 17, characterized in that the articulation device comprises at least one elastic tab (26 '') integral with one of the base (2) and the cover (3). ), said at least one elastic tab (26 '') being adapted to exert an elastic force along the axis of pivoting (P) on the other of the base (2) and the cover (3) on at least a part the stroke of the cover (3) between its open and closed positions.

19. Capsule according to claim 18, characterized in that said at least one elastic tab (26 '') comprises an indexing stop (260 '') of the cover (3) in at least one position selected from the position of opening, the closed position or an intermediate position between the open position and the closed position, the other of the base (2) and the cover (3) comprising a cam profile (36 '') having at least a seat (360 '') adapted to stabilize the cover (3) relative to the base (2) in the chosen position.

20. Capsule according to any one of claims 16 to 19, characterized in that the articulation device further comprises a noise generating device adapted to indicate the arrival of the cover (3) in at least one position selected from the open position, the closed position or an intermediate position between the open position and the closing position, said device being formed by at least one elastic lug (27 '') provided at one of the lid (3) and the base (2) and adapted to cross at least one rigid lug (37 '') provided at the other of the lid (3) and the base (2) when the lid (3) arrives in the chosen position relative to the base (2).