EP2839823B1 - Device for closing a container holder and device for receiving a container comprising such a container holder and such a closing device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a device for closing a container holder. This invention also relates to a device for receiving a container, this device then comprising such a container holder.

This invention relates to the field of manufacturing devices designed to receive a container for containing a liquid food, and can adopt the shape of a bottle, a bottle, a bottle or other.

We already know such devices for receiving a container, these devices adopting, usually, the form of a sleeve, isothermal or not, within which is positioned said container. Such a device may also comprise a main closure system, adopting the shape of a lid or the like, and capable of being folded over said sleeve, to close the device.

An example of such a device of the prior art is disclosed in the publication US 2007 / 221,693 A1 , which can be considered as the state of the art closest to the object of the invention.

Regarding said container, it contains a portion intended to be placed in the mouth by a consumer, this for the consumption of liquid food contained in this container. This container also comprises a closure element of this part, this closure element adopting the shape of a cap (especially for a container adopting the shape of a bottle or a gourd) or a stopper (especially for a container in the shape of a bottle). When the receiving device is closed and the container is positioned inside this device, it is necessary to leave this closure element on the container, this to ensure the tightness and hygiene of the container.

When a person wants to use the container to drink himself or a child to drink, he must remove the closure element which, not being attached to the container, may fall, get dirty and / or be lost.

These defects make the device of the prior art unsuitable for certain applications, including the autonomy of a child, the protection and hygiene of the closure device containers when they are dissociated from their containers.

In addition and although some container holders have a main closure system, they do not guarantee the tightness of the container (bottle, gourd or bottle) inside the container (bottle / bottle / bottle) if such a container does not have its own closure device.

The present invention is intended to overcome the disadvantages of devices of the state of the art.

In particular, the object of the present invention is to provide a solution for protection, hygiene and sealing for the part of containers put in the mouth when they are not used.

• au moins un moyen pour protéger et refermer de manière étanche la partie du contenant destinée à être mise en bouche ;
• au moins un moyen pour recouvrir au moins partiellement le porte-contenant ;
• des moyens pour attacher ce dispositif au porte-contenant.

To this end, the invention relates to a device for closing a container holder, such a container holder being designed to receive internally a container which is intended to contain a liquid food and which has a portion intended to be put in mouth for the consumption of this liquid food. This closure device is characterized in that it comprises:

• at least one means for sealingly protecting and sealing the part of the container intended to be put into the mouth;
• at least one means for at least partially covering the container holder;
• means for attaching this device to the container holder.

Another feature of this device consists in that it comprises a part, on the one hand, comprising the means or means for covering the container holder and, on the other hand, receiving the means for attaching the closure device to the carrier container.

The means or means for protecting and closing are, then, constituted either by a part that includes this part, or by an additional element equipping such a part, which are intended to be oriented towards the part of the container to be put in the mouth, and which are made of a material compatible with food safety.

According to an additional characteristic, the means for attaching comprise at least one means for fastening the closure device to the container holder in a mobile manner, or even a means for fastening the closure device to the container holder in a fixed manner.

This invention also relates to a device for receiving a container, intended to contain a liquid food, and having a portion intended to be placed in the mouth for the consumption of this liquid food, this receiving device comprising, on the one hand , a container holder adapted to receive internally such a container and, secondly, a closure device of this container holder. This receiving device is characterized in that the closure device has the characteristics mentioned above.

An additional feature is that this receiving device comprises, on the one hand, a device for retaining and holding the container inside the container holder and, on the other hand, means for holding the device holding and holding against the container holder. In addition, on the one hand, at least the means for attaching the closure device to the container holder and, on the other hand, the means for holding the retaining and holding device against the container holder are then designed so that these holding means require a greater force to detach the retainer and retainer than the force required to detach the closure device.

Thus, the invention relates to a device for closing a container holder, this device comprising, in particular, at least one means for sealingly protecting and sealing the portion of the container intended to be put in the mouth.

Advantageously, such a means allows the closing device according to the invention to ensure, by itself, the closing of the container holder and at the same time the closure of the container (bottle, gourd, bottle or other) itself .

This closure device replaces the closure element (cap, in particular container in the form of a bottle or a gourd, or cap, in particular of container in the form of a bottle), dissociated from the container, and the state of the art. By replacing such a closure element of the state of the art, it avoids the aforementioned disadvantages (fall, dirty, loss) of these closure elements.

In addition and advantageously, the closure element according to the invention allows the hygienic, waterproof and protective closure of both the container and the container holder.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description relating to embodiments which are given by way of indicative and non-limiting examples.

• la figure 1 est une vue schématisée et en perspective du dispositif de réception d'un porte-contenant conforme à l'invention, ceci en position d'ouverture de ce dispositif de réception ;
• la figure 2 est une vue similaire à la figure 1, et correspond au dispositif de réception illustré figure 1, ceci en position de fermeture de ce dispositif de réception ;
• la figure 3 est une vue similaire aux figures précédentes, et correspond au dispositif de réception illustré figures 1 et 2, ceci en position de fermeture de ce dispositif de réception et dans laquelle les moyens pour protéger et refermer ainsi que la partie du contenant destinée à être mise en bouche, figurant à l'intérieur du dispositif de fermeture, ont été illustrés en pointillés ;
• la figure 4 est une vue similaire à la figure 3 et illustre un autre mode de réalisation des moyens pour protéger et refermer.

The understanding of this description will be facilitated by reference to the appended drawings in which:

• the figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of the receiving device of a container holder according to the invention, this in the open position of the receiving device;
• the figure 2 is a view similar to the figure 1 , and corresponds to the illustrated receiving device figure 1 this in the closed position of this receiving device;
• the figure 3 is a view similar to the previous figures, and corresponds to the illustrated receiving device figures 1 and 2 this in the closed position of this receiving device and in which the means for protecting and closing as well as the part of the container intended to be placed in the mouth, appearing inside the closure device, have been illustrated in dashed lines;
• the figure 4 is a view similar to the figure 3 and illustrates another embodiment of the means for protecting and reclosing.

The present invention relates to the field of manufacturing devices designed to receive a container intended for contain a liquid food, and can adopt the form of a bottle, a gourd, a bottle or other.

In fact, such a container C comprises a container for containing the liquid food, and a portion P, surmounting this container, and intended to be placed in the mouth by a consumer, this for the consumption of this liquid food.

Such part P may consist of a neck made of material with said container, in particular in the case of a container C consisting of a bottle or the like. Such part P may also be constituted by a tip (particularly in the case of a container C consisting of a bottle) secured to the container, in particular by being releasably screwed on the container. However, and as can be seen in the appended figures, such a part P may also be constituted by a teat (in particular in the case of a container C constituted by a bottle). Such nipple is attached to said container and is immobilized thereon removably, in particular by screwing a flange through which the nipple and that includes such a container C.

The invention relates to a device 1 for receiving such a container C.

Such a receiving device 1 comprises a container holder 2 designed to internally receive such a container C. Such a container holder 2 adopts, usually, the shape of a sleeve 20, inside which is engaged and positioned said container C, and having side flanks 21 delimited by an outer side wall 22. Such a container holder 2 also comprises, and in the upper part, an opening 23 intended to be traversed by a portion of the container C comprising the portion P of the container C intended to be put in the mouth.

This receiving device 1 may, again, comprise a device for retaining and holding 3 the container C inside said container holder 2. In fact, this retaining and holding device 3 is positioned over said containing C as well as over said container holder 2, more particularly by coming to cover at least partially the lateral flanks 21 of this container holder 2.

Such a retaining and holding device 3 is in the form of a flexible or rigid piece 30, more particularly a piece of cloth, silicone, food compatible plastic or any other suitable material.

This retaining and holding device 3 comprises an orifice 31 intended to be traversed by a portion of the container C comprising the portion P of this container C intended to be placed in the mouth. When this retaining and holding device 3 is positioned over the container C, respectively over the container holder 2, this orifice 31 is located in the vertical extension of the place of flow of the liquid food, respectively in the vertical extension of the opening 23 of the container holder 2.

Said orifice 31 is bordered by an edge 32 of material compatible with food safety. It is, more particularly, through this edge 32 that the retaining and holding device 3 bears against the container C, more particularly against the portion of the container C comprising the portion P of this container C intended to be put into operation. mouth, this for the retention and maintenance of this container C inside the container holder 2.

The receiving device 1 also comprises holding means (4; 4 ') of the retaining and holding device 3 against the container holder 2.

In this regard, it will be observed that these holding means (4; 4 ') are located at two points (A; B) diametrically opposite and located on a horizontal and median line of the retaining and holding device 3. This line is positioned above the container C when the holding and holding device 3 is positioned over the container holder 2.

In fact and on the side A, these holding means 4 are designed to connect the retaining and holding device 3 to the container holder 2, depending on the case in a mobile manner (more particularly in a removable manner) or in a fixed manner.

On the B side, these holding means 4 'are designed to reattach the retaining and holding device 3 to the container holder 2, again and according to the case, in a movable manner (more particularly removably) or in a fixed manner.

When these holding means (4; 4 ') attach the retaining and holding device 3 to the container holder 2 in a fixed manner, this retaining and holding device 3 can be an integral part of the container holder 2 and / or equip original sheath 20 of the container holder 2 and / or be attached to the container holder 2 by ancillary means (including sewing).

When these holding means (4; 4 ') attach the retaining and holding device 3 to the container holder 2 in a mobile manner, this retaining and holding device 3 is of removable and / or floating type.

It will be observed that these holding means (4; 4 ') may be constituted by a snap button, a velvet-hook system (scratch), an adhesive (in particular repositionable), a fastening system or the like, more particularly when such holding means (4; 4 ') provides movable attachment. Such means (4; 4 ') may be constituted by a seam or the like when it affixes a fixed attachment.

Such a retaining and holding device 3 advantageously makes it possible to hold and hold the container C inside its container holder 2, when a consumer (in particular a child) handles this container holder 2 and / or or drinks the liquid food contained in the container C, even when the container holder 2 adopts an inclined position and is open.

The characteristics of such a retaining and holding device 3 have been described in the patent application in France FR1300692 .

This receiving device 1 also comprises a closure device 5 for this container holder 2.

The invention also relates, and more particularly, to such a closure device 5 of such a container holder 2.

• au moins un moyen pour protéger et refermer 6 de manière étanche la partie P du contenant C destinée à être mise en bouche ;
• au moins un moyen pour recouvrir 7 au moins partiellement le porte-contenant 2;
• des moyens pour attacher (8 ; 8') ce dispositif 5 au porte-contenant 2.

According to the invention, this closure device 5 comprises:

• at least one means for sealing and sealing the portion P of the container C intended to be put in the mouth;
• at least one means for at least partially covering the container holder 2;
• means for attaching (8; 8 ') this device 5 to the container holder 2.

Another characteristic of this closure device 5 consists in that it comprises a part 9, on the one hand, comprising the means or means 7 for covering the container holder 2 and, on the other hand, receiving the means for attaching (8; 8 ') the closure device 5 to the container holder 2.

Such a part 9 can be made of a rigid material (and thus adopt the shape of a shell or the like) or flexible. In fact, such a part 9 can, then, be made of fabric, silicone, food compatible plastic or any other suitable material.

According to a first type of embodiment illustrated figure 1 , the means or means for protecting and closing 6 are constituted by a portion 60, that includes this piece 9 (more particularly made of material with this piece 9 and / or incorporated in this piece 9), which is intended to be oriented in the direction of the portion P of the container C intended to be put into the mouth (more particularly when the closing device 5 closes the receiving device 1 of a container holder 2), and which is made of a material compatible with food safety.

In fact and as visible in the appended figures, said part 9 has an internal side, intended to be oriented in the direction of the portion P of the container C intended to be placed in the mouth (more particularly when the device of closing 5 closes the receiving device 1 of a container holder 2), and comprising the portion 60 of this piece 9 constituting such a means for protecting and closing 6.

In fact, this portion 60, constituting such a means for protecting and closing 6, has an edge (more particularly a surface) compatible with food safety.

It will be observed that this portion 60 is intended to be positioned in the extension of the portion P of the container intended to be put into the mouth, this when the closing device 5 closes the receiving device 1 of a container holder 2.

According to another type of embodiment illustrated figures 3 and 4 , the means or means for protecting and closing 6 are constituted by an element 61 fitted to said part 9 intended to be oriented in the direction of the part P of the container C intended to be placed in the mouth (more particularly when the closure device 5 closes the receiving device 1 of a container holder 2), which is made of a material compatible with food safety.

Such an element 61 is added to said piece 9 and can then be attached to this piece 9 and / or be fixed on the piece 9, in particular by gluing, sewing or other.

In fact, this part 9 has, on the one hand and as mentioned above, an inner side intended to be oriented in the direction of the portion P of the container C intended to be placed in the mouth and, on the other hand, an outer side, oriented in a direction opposite to this inner side.

In this regard, it will be observed that said element 61 can, then and as the case may be, be attached to the inner side ( figure 3 ) or on the outside of this part 9.

According to another characteristic, said element 61 can extend from the internal side of the part 9, this towards the part P of the container C intended to be placed in the mouth and / or internally to the closure device 5 as visible figure 3 .

However and as visible figure 4 this element 61 can also extend from the outer side of the part 9, in a direction opposite to that of the part P of the container C intended to be placed in the mouth and / or outside the closure device 5 .

In this regard, it will be observed that, when the element 61 extends from the outer side of the part 9 and outside the closing device 5, this part 9 has an opening intended to be traversed by the part P of the container C intended to to be put in mouth.

In any event, the element 61 has an edge (more particularly a surface), intended to be oriented towards the portion P of the container C intended to be placed in the mouth, and made of a material compatible with the safety food.

In addition and as shown in the appended figures, said element 61 is intended to be positioned in the extension of the portion P of the container C intended to be put into the mouth, more particularly when the closure device 5 closes the device of receiving 1 of a container holder 2.

According to another characteristic, this element 61 is preferably made of a rigid material.

With regard to the means or means for at least partially covering the container holder 2, the latter 7 take the form of a flap extending laterally relative to the means for protecting and sealing the part P in a sealed manner. container C intended to be put in the mouth.

In fact, such a flap extends from the means to protect and close 6 and / or on both sides of this or these means to protect and close 6.

As can be seen in the appended figures, it is, more particularly, said part 9 which comprises, then, this or these means for covering at least partially the container holder 2, these means 7 constituting, then and preferably, part of this piece 9.

With regard to the means for attaching (8; 8 '), these (8; 8') equip the means or means for covering at least partially the container holder 2, more particularly the internal side, intended to be oriented towards this container holder 2, such means for covering at least partially this container holder 2.

According to another characteristic, the means for attaching (8; 8 ') comprise at least one means 8' for attaching the closing device 5 to the container holder 2, this in a mobile manner. Such a means 8 'then makes it possible to attach at least a portion of the device 5 to the container holder C, this in a removable and / or reversible manner.

However and according to another feature, these means for attaching (8; 8 ') may also include means 8 for attaching the closure device 5 to the container holder 2, this in a fixed manner. Such a means 8 then makes it possible to attach at least part of the device 5 to the container holder C, this in a perennial and / or non-removable manner, or even to design such a closure device 5 integrated with such a door -containing 2.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated in the appended figures, the closure device 5 comprises, on the one hand, a means 8 'for attaching the closure device 5 to the container holder 2, this in a mobile manner and, on the other hand, a means 8 for attaching the closure device 5 to the container holder 2, this in a fixed manner. In fact, the means 8 'for movably attaching an end of the closing device 5 while the means 8 for fixedly attaching team another end of the closure device 5, opposite the end of this device 5 equipped means 8 'for movably attaching.

In this regard, it will be observed that these means for attaching (8; 8 ') are located at two points (A', B ') diametrically opposite and situated on a horizontal and median line of the closure device 5. This line is positioned at above the container C, respectively above the container holder 2, this when the closing device 5 is positioned above this container C, respectively over the container holder 2.

In fact and B 'side, these means for attaching 8' are designed to attach the closure device 5 to the container holder 2, this movably, particularly removably. On this side B ', said closure device 5 is, then, floating type.

On the A 'side, these fastening means 8 are designed to attach the closure device 5 to the container holder 2, as appropriate in a movable manner (more particularly in a removable manner and for a closure device 5 capable of being manufactured and marketed independently of the container carrier 2) or in a fixed manner.

When these means for fastening 8 attach the closure device 5 to the container holder 2 in a fixed manner, this closure device 5 may form an integral part of the container holder 2 and / or equip the sheath 20 of this container holder 2 and / or be attached to this container holder 2 by ancillary means (including sewing).

When these means for attaching 8 attach the closure device 5 to the container holder 2 in a mobile manner, this closure device 5 is of removable type.

It will be observed that these means for attaching (8; 8 ') may be constituted by at least a portion of a snap fastener, a velvet-hook system (scratch), an adhesive (in particular a repositionable adhesive), a fastening system hooking or the like, more particularly when such a means for attaching (8; 8 ') secures a mobile attachment. Such means (8; 8 ') may be constituted by a seam or the like when it affixes a fixed attachment.

As mentioned above, the invention also relates to a device 1 for receiving a container C intended to contain a liquid food and having a part P intended to be put in the mouth for consumption of this liquid food.

According to the invention, this receiving device 1 has the characteristics described above. In particular, this receiving device 1 comprises, on the one hand, a container holder 2 designed to internally receive a container C and, on the other hand, a closure device 5 of this container holder 2, this closure device 5 having the characteristics described above.

According to another characteristic, in this receiving device 1, on the one hand, the above-mentioned container holder 2 comprises the sleeve 20 designed to internally receive the container C and, on the other hand, the means or means for covering 7 at least partially this container holder 2, which comprises the closure device 5, at least partially cover said sleeve 20, more particularly said lateral flanks 21 that includes this sleeve 20 (this in the closed position of the receiving device).

Yet another feature consists in that the container holder 2 comprises said opening 23, on the one hand, intended to be traversed by the portion of the container C comprising the portion P of the container intended to be put in the mouth and other on the other side of which are positioned the means or means for sealingly protecting and sealing this portion P of the container C intended to be placed in the mouth, in the closed position of the receiving device 1 by the closing device 5.

Another characteristic of this receiving device 1 is that its container holder 2 (more particularly the sleeve 20) comprises complementary means (10; 10 ') for attaching the closure device 5 to this container holder 2, these complementary means (10; 10 ') being adapted to cooperate with the fastening means (8; 8') provided by this closure device 5.

In particular, these complementary means (10; 10 ') for attaching comprise at least one complementary means 10' for attaching the closure device 5 to the container holder 2 removably, or even a complementary means 10 for fasten the closure device 5 to the container holder 2 in a fixed manner.

In fact, such additional means for attaching (10; 10 ') comprise at least a portion of a snap button, a velvet-hook system (scratch), an adhesive (in particular repositionable), a system fastening device or the like other than the part of such a snap, such a velvet-hook system (scratch), such an adhesive (including repositionable), such a fastening system or the like and that comprise the means for attaching (8; 8 ') that the closing device 5 comprises.

As mentioned above, the receiving device 1 comprises, on the one hand, a device for retaining and holding 3 the container C inside the container holder 2 and, on the other hand, holding means (4; 4 ') of this retaining and holding device 3 against the container holder 2. In addition and as mentioned above, this receiving device 1 comprises means for attaching (8; 8') the closure device 5 to the container holder 2 (even, again, complementary means 10, 10 'for attaching the closure device 5 to the container holder 2)

Also and according to another characteristic of the invention, on the one hand, at least the means for attaching (8; 8 ') the closure device 5 to the container holder 2 (even, still, the complementary means 10; 10' to attach this closure device 5 to the container holder 2) and, on the other hand, the holding means (4; 4 ') of the retaining and holding device 3 against the container holder 2 are designed such that these holding means (4; 4 ') require a greater force (more particularly a pulling force) to detach the retaining and holding device 3 (relative to the container holder 2) than the force necessary to detach the device from closure 5 (relative to the container holder 2).

This feature advantageously allows a consumer (especially a child) to open the receiving device 1 and drink the liquid contained in the container C while maintaining the container C inside the container holder 2, regardless of the position of this container holder 2.

In any event, this closure device 5 is positioned over the retaining and holding device 3, in the closed position of the container holder 2 and, therefore, of the receiving device 1.

Finally, the invention relates to a device for storing a liquid food comprising, on the one hand, a container C intended to contain a liquid food and having a portion P intended to be put in the mouth for consumption of this liquid food, on the other hand, a receiving device 1 of such a container C, this receiving device 1 having the characteristics described above.

Claims (11)

1. Closing device (5) for a container-carrier (2), such a container-carrier (2) being designed to internally hold a container (C) intended to contain a liquid food, and which includes a part (P) intended to be placed in the mouth for the consumption of this liquid food, characterised by the fact that the closing device (5) comprises:

   - at least one means (6) of protecting, and keeping watertight, the part (P) of the container (C) designed to be placed in the mouth ;

   - at least one means (7) of covering, at least partially, the container-carrier (2);

   - means (8 ; 8') of attaching this device (5) to the container-carrier (2).
2. Closing device (5), according to claim 1, characterised by the fact that the device (5) includes a piece (9), which, firstly, holds the means (7) to cover the container-carrier (2) and which, secondly, receives the means (8 ; 8') to attach the closing device (5) to the container-carrier (2) while the means (6) of protection or closure is/are constituted by a part (60), which contains this piece (9), which is designed to be directed towards the part (P) of container (C) which is intended to be placed in the mouth, and which is manufactured using a material that is compliant with food safety.
3. Closure device (5) according to claim 1, characterised by the fact that the device (5) includes a piece (9), which, firstly, includes the means (7) to cover the container-carrier (2) and which, secondly, receives the means (8 ; 8') to attach the closure device (5) to the container-carrier (2) while the means (6) for protection and closure is/are made up of a component (61) which equips this piece (9), designed to be directed towards the part (P) of the container intended to be placed in the mouth, and which is manufactured using material which is compatible with food safety.
4. Closing device (5) according to any of the previous claims, characterised by the fact that the means (7) to cover, at least partially, the container-carrier (2) take(s) the shape of a flap extending laterally from the means (6) for the protection and water-tight closure of the part (P) of the container (C) designed to be placed in the mouth.
5. Closing device (5) according to any of the previous claims, characterised by the fact that the means (8 ; 8') of attachment equip the means (7) to cover, at least partially, the container-carrier (2), more specifically the internal side, intended to be directed towards this container carrier (2), in such a way (7) as to cover, at least partially, the container-carrier (2).
6. Closing device (5) according to any of the previous claims, characterised by the fact that the means (8 ; 8') of attachment include at least one means (8') of attaching the closure device (5) to the container-carrier (2) in a mobile manner, or a further means (8) of attaching this closure device (5) to the container-carrier (2) securely.
7. Receiving device (1) for a container (C) intended for liquid food, including a part (P) designed to be placed in the mouth for the consumption of this liquid food, the receiver device (1) including, on the one hand, a container-carrier (2) designed to internally receive such a container (C) and, on the other hand, a means of closure (5) for this container-carrier (2), characterised by the fact that the closure device is (5) in compliance with any of the previous claims.
8. Receiving device (1) according to claim 7, characterised by the fact that, firstly, the container-carrier (2) includes a cover (20) designed to internally receive the container (C) and that, secondly, the means (7) of covering, at least partially, the container-carrier (2) which includes the closing device (5) covering, at least partially, said cover (20), and more specifically, the lateral sidewalls (21) of this cover (20).
9. Receiving device (1) according to any of claims 7 or 8, characterised by the fact that the container-carrier (2) includes an opening (31), firstly, intended to be traversed by a part of the container (C) including part (P) of container (C) intended to be placed in the mouth, and, secondly, in relation to which, the means (6) is/are positioned to protect and close, in a water-tight manner, this part (P) of the container (C) intended to be placed in the mouth.
10. Receiving device (1) according to any one of claims 7 to 9, characterised by the fact that the container-carrier (2) includes additional means (10 ; 10') to attach closure device (5) to container-carrier (2), these additional means (10 ; 10') being designed to work with the means (8 ; 8') of attachment which includes this closing device (5).
11. Receiving device (1) according to any of claims 7 to 10, characterised by the fact that the receiving device (1) includes, firstly, a device (3) to retain and to secure the container (C) inside the container carrier (2) and, secondly, securing means (4 ; 4') for this retaining and securing device (3) against the container-carrier (2) and for which, firstly, at least the means (8 ; 8') to attach the closure device (5) to the container-carrier (2) and, secondly, the securing means (4 ; 4') of the retaining and securing device (3) against the container-carrier (2) are designed in order for these securing means (4 ; 4') to require a greater degree of strength to detach the retaining and securing device (3) than the degree of strength necessary to detach the closing device (5).

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