EP3621893B1 - Spacer ring for positioning between a container and a stopper and assembly of said container and stopper - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a spacer ring intended to be positioned between a receptacle, in particular a tube, in particular a flexible tube for a cosmetic product, and a cap of said tube. It also relates to an assembly formed of such a receptacle and such a ring.

Tubes provided with a cover associated with a perforating plug comprising a punch adapted to perforate said cover on the first use of the tube are known.

The cap makes it possible to preserve the product contained in the tube in a hermetic manner during its storage prior to its first use, which represents a very significant part of the overall life of the tube.

Many solutions have been presented in this regard. In particular, plugs are known comprising a punch, suitable for cutting and/or piercing the lid, said plugs being configured to be positioned on a neck of the tube, in a waiting position leaving the lid intact, and in a position of use in which the seal has been cut and/or pierced by said punch.

The passage from one position to the other is carried out, for example, by removing the spacer ring placed on the tube to hold the stopper in the standby position. During the first use, the user removes the cap and then the ring. He can then reposition the stopper which, in the absence of the ring, sinks sufficiently into the tube for the punch to pierce the lid.

To allow better protection of the product, it has already been proposed to place the caps at one end of the neck opening into the interior volume of the tube, that is to say at the end of the neck opposite to that opening towards the outside.

Such a configuration requires the production of punches having a sufficient longitudinal extension to reach the lid so as to cut during the first use and the punch must penetrate inside the neck, including in the waiting position.

Conversely, it is essential that the punch does not damage the lid as long as the stopper is in the waiting position, before the first use. The correct positioning of the spacer ring plays a key role in this regard and there is a need to improve the solutions known to date in this field.

The document WO 2015/014553 A1 describes a container closed by a cap provided with a lid perforator, the cap resting on a spacer ring comprising centering ribs of the ring on the neck of the container.

The invention proposes for this purpose a spacer ring intended to be positioned between a receptacle, in particular, a tube, in particular a flexible tube of cosmetic product, and a cap of said receptacle, said ring comprising centering ribs on a neck said receptacle, said ribs being symmetrical with respect to the median transverse plane of the ring, said ring having an internal annular extra thickness.

Thanks to the centering effect obtained by means of the ribs of the ring according to the invention, it is possible to obtain better positioning of the ring on the receptacle and, consequently, better control of the spacing between the cap and the tube cooperating with the ring. This limits the risk of unwanted drilling of a cap with which the receptacle would be provided. The internal annular extra thickness is used to maintain the ring during its demolding.

• ladite bague présente une section circulaire,
• lesdites nervures sont orientées radialement,
• lesdites nervures sont disposées symétriquement entre elles de manière à ce que la bague puisse être positionnée angulairement de façon indifférenciée sur ledit goulot,
• lesdites nervures présentent un bord interne libre présentant une portion centrale d'extension radiale interne maximum,
• ledit bord interne libre comprend au moins un épaulement au voisinage de ladite portion centrale,
• ledit bord interne libre présente au moins une extrémité longitudinale chanfreinée,
• ladite bague est monobloc,
• ladite bague est réalisée par injection, notamment en matière plastique, par exemple en polyéthylène (PE).

According to different characteristics of the invention which can be taken together or separately:

• said ring has a circular section,
• said ribs are oriented radially,
• said ribs are arranged symmetrically with each other so that the ring can be positioned angularly in an undifferentiated manner on said neck,
• said ribs have a free internal edge presenting a central portion of maximum internal radial extension,
• said free internal edge comprises at least one shoulder in the vicinity of said central portion,
• said free internal edge has at least one chamfered longitudinal end,
• said ring is one-piece,
• said ring is made by injection, in particular of plastic material, for example of polyethylene (PE).

The invention also relates to an assembly of a receptacle, in particular a tube, in particular a tube of cosmetic product, and a ring as described above. It is, for example, a flexible tube. Said receptacle comprises a neck on which said ring is centered using said ribs.

• ledit ensemble comprenant en outre un bouchon,
• ledit goulot présente une base destinée à coopérer avec un bord distal du bouchon en position fermée du bouchon,
• ladite base présente une configuration tronconique,
• ledit bord distal du bouchon présente au moins localement une configuration tronconique pour venir en contact avec ladite base du goulot en position fermée du bouchon,
• lesdites nervures sont en contact de ladite base du goulot, en particulier par la ou l'une leur extrémité longitudinale chanfreinée.,
• ledit réceptacle comprend un insert plein formant un opercule obturant une extrémité du goulot débouchant dans un volume intérieur du réceptacle,
• ledit bouchon comprend un poinçon, adapté pour découper et/ou percer l'opercule,
• ledit bouchon est adapté pour être positionné sur ledit goulot, dans une position d'attente dans laquelle le poinçon est dans le goulot en laissant l'opercule intact et dans une position d'utilisation dans laquelle l'opercule a été découpé et/ou percé par ledit poinçon,
• ledit poinçon est en forme de fût,
• ledit fût est configuré pour réaliser une découpe partielle de l'insert afin
  d'ouvrir ledit goulot de manière à ce que l'opercule reste lié à la partie non découpée de l'insert par un pont de matière, dans ladite position d'utilisation du bouchon,
• ledit bouchon est adapté pour être vissé sur ledit goulot,
• ledit bouchon est monobloc.
• ledit opercule est rapporté sur une paroi interne d'un corps dudit réceptacle.

According to different characteristics of the invention which can be taken together or separately:

• said assembly further comprising a cap,
• said neck has a base intended to cooperate with a distal edge of the stopper in the closed position of the stopper,
• said base has a frustoconical configuration,
• said distal edge of the stopper has at least locally a frustoconical configuration to come into contact with said base of the neck in the closed position of the stopper,
• said ribs are in contact with said base of the neck, in particular by the or one of their chamfered longitudinal ends.,
• said receptacle comprises a solid insert forming a lid closing off one end of the neck opening into an interior volume of the receptacle,
• said stopper comprises a punch, suitable for cutting and/or piercing the cover,
• said stopper is adapted to be positioned on said neck, in a waiting position in which the punch is in the neck leaving the lid intact and in a use position in which the lid has been cut and/or pierced by said punch,
• said punch is barrel-shaped,
• said barrel is configured to make a partial cutout of the insert in order
  to open said neck so that the cap remains linked to the uncut part of the insert by a bridge of material, in said position of use of the stopper,
• said cap is adapted to be screwed onto said neck,
• said stopper is in one piece.
• said lid is attached to an internal wall of a body of said receptacle.

In the case of an application to a tube, said tube may comprise a tube head comprising said neck, a shoulder and said insert. Said removable spacer ring is advantageously arranged resting on the shoulder.

• La figure 1 présente en vue de coupe, selon un plan diamétral, un exemple d'une partie de réceptacle, en l'occurrence une tête de tube, destiné à être utilisée avec une bague conforme à l'invention ;
• La figure 2 illustre selon un plan de coupe longitudinal un exemple de bouchon destiné à être utilisé avec une bague conforme à l'invention ;
• La figure 3 est une vue de détail d'après la figure 2 ;
• La figure 4 illustre en perspective une bague d'espacement conforme à l'invention,
• La figure 5 illustre en vue de coupe, selon un plan diamétral, la bague de la figure 4.

Other characteristics, objects and advantages of the invention will emerge from the description which follows, which is purely illustrative and not limiting, and which must be read in conjunction with the appended drawings, in which:

• The figure 1 shows in sectional view, along a diametral plane, an example of a receptacle part, in this case a tube head, intended to be used with a ring according to the invention;
• The picture 2 illustrates along a longitudinal section plane an example of a stopper intended to be used with a ring according to the invention;
• The picture 3 is a detail view according to the figure 2 ;
• The figure 4 illustrates in perspective a spacer ring according to the invention,
• The figure 5 illustrates in sectional view, according to a diametral plane, the ring of the figure 4 .

In all of the figures, the elements in common are identified by identical reference numerals.

The invention relates to an assembly comprising a receptacle, in particular a tube, in particular a tube for a cosmetic product, for example a flexible tube. By this is meant a tube whose body can be deformed, whether or not resuming its initial shape. Said assembly here also comprises a cap of the receptacle, in particular of said tube and/or of said tube head.

On the figure 1 , only a head 2 of said tube is shown. Said tube head 2 is intended to be linked to a skirt, not shown, of the tube, typically by overmolding the tube head 2 on the skirt, or for example by welding or gluing by assembling the skirt on the tube head 2 formed beforehand, in particular by injection or by injection compression, or by any other technique. In Alternatively, the invention may thus relate to an assembly comprising a tube head rather than a complete tube.

Said receptacle, in particular said tube head 2, comprises a neck 3, defining a longitudinal axis Z-Z and opening on the one hand towards the outside and on the other hand in an interior volume 4 of the receptacle. The neck 3 comprises, for example, a thread 6 on its outer periphery, adapted to allow the cap 1 to be screwed onto the neck 3.

Said receptacle, in particular said tube head 2, further comprises a solid insert 8 forming a cap closing the end of the neck 3 facing the interior volume 4. In other words, said cap closes said interior volume 4. Said insert 8 is , for example, in contact, in particular bearing against an inner wall 11 of said receptacle. The insert 8 comprises, for example, a peripheral section 10 and a central section 12, defining said lid, the diameter of which corresponds to the internal diameter of the neck 3. Said insert 8 is typically disc-shaped. Alternatively, its peripheral section 10 may be slightly tapered or comprise a flat area surrounding the neck and, around said flat area, one or more successive slightly tapered areas up to its periphery which may be formed, for example, of a folded edge 13.

Said insert 8 is preferably a multilayer insert comprising a barrier layer, for example formed of EVOH or metal, in particular aluminum, coated on each of its faces with one or more protective layers, in particular of polymerized materials.

Here, said neck 3 and said insert 4 are provided at said tube head 2. The latter may further comprise, for example, a shoulder 20, coming from said neck 3. The material of the tube head 2 surrounds at least partially said folded edge 13 of insert 8 in order to protect it, in particular to protect the metal layer of said insert 8.

As visible to figures 2 and 3 , said cap 1 is here adapted to be screwed onto said neck 3. More specifically, said cap 1 may comprise an internal thread 16 adapted to cooperate with the thread 6 of neck 3. Said cap has a longitudinal direction, corresponding to the longitudinal axis ZZ of neck 3 when cap 1 is screwed onto neck 3.

Said stopper 1 comprises a peripheral wall 15 suitable for fixing the stopper to the receptacle internally provided with said thread 16. Said peripheral wall 15 may be provided with flat faces, located externally, in order to facilitate handling of the stopper 1.

Said stopper 1 comprises a punch 14, suitable for cutting out and/or piercing the lid. Said stopper 1 is configured to be positioned on said neck 3, in a waiting position in which the punch 14 is at least partly in the neck 3, leaving the cap intact.

As illustrated in figure 4 and 5 , said assembly comprises a spacer ring 22, removable, intended to be positioned between the receptacle, in particular, the tube, in particular said tube head 2 and the cap 1 of said receptacle. More specifically, as illustrated, the ring 22 is intended to be placed in abutment on a body of the receptacle, here on the shoulder 20 of said tube head 2, around the neck 3, in the standby position. It thus maintains a spacing between the stopper 1 and the shoulder 20 when the stopper 1 is screwed onto the neck 3 while waiting for the first use. The punch 14 then extends inside the neck 3, at a non-zero distance from the insert 8, thus preserving the cover from any cutting or perforation.

According to the invention, said spacing ring 22 comprises a plurality of ribs 70 adapted to allow its centering around the neck 3. Said ring 22 is independent of said stopper 1 so that said stopper 1 can be removed from said receptacle without said ring 22 either. Said spacing ring 22 is annular, for example of circular section.

Advantageously, said ribs 70 are oriented radially. Said ribs 70 are, for example, arranged symmetrically with each other so that ring 22 can be positioned angularly in an undifferentiated manner on said neck 3. Thus, it is not necessary to orient ring 22 angularly during its mounting on the receptacle.

Said ribs 22 here have a free internal edge presenting a central portion 72 of maximum internal radial extension. Said free inner edge further comprises one or more shoulders 74 in the vicinity of said central portion 72. Said free inner edge also has one or more longitudinal ends 76 that are chamfered.

Said ribs 70 are symmetrical with respect to a median transverse plane of the ring. Thus, said central portion 72 extends on either side of said median plane, said central portion 72 being extended on either side by one of said shoulders 74, said shoulders 74 being extended in turn on either side and on the other by one of said chamfered longitudinal ends 76. Said free edge thus has a stepped configuration, the bearings being interconnected by oblique faces, in particular at 45°. Such a symmetrical configuration makes it possible to mount the ring 22 on the receptacle independently of its longitudinal orientation.

Said ring 22 is formed, for example, by injection. It comprises an internal annular extra thickness 78, serving to hold the ring during its demoulding.

Said stopper 1 is further adapted to be positioned on said neck 3, in a position of use in which the lid has been cut out and/or pierced by said punch 14..

During the first use, the user unscrews the cap 1 from the neck 3, then removes the spacer ring 22, and screws the cap 1 back onto the neck 3 until it comes into abutment against the neck 3 or against the shoulder 20. The punch 14 then made a cut or a perforation of the insert 8, and more precisely of its central section 12 forming the lid of the tube head 2.

If we refer again to the figures 2 and 3 , it can be seen that the stopper 1 comprises a so-called upper wall 17, closing the punch at one of the longitudinal ends of said punch. The wall 17 is said to be upper because in vertical use of the receptacle, stopper at the top, it will form the upper wall of the stopper. Uses according to any other orientation are however possible without departing from the scope of the invention. Said upper wall 17 connects the punch to the peripheral wall 15. Here, said upper wall 17 connects an edge, called upper, of peripheral wall 15 and an edge, called upper, of punch 14.

Said stopper 1 further comprises a sealing ring 50 at the level of a connection between the punch 14 and the peripheral wall 15. Such a configuration makes it possible to obtain a good level of sealing, in the event of closure of the receptacle after first use, by a bracing effect of the rod against the connection, favoring the compression of the rod rather than a simple deformation.

Advantageously, said upper wall 17 is concave. In this way, if the receptacle is placed upside down on a support which has slight roughness, the concave shape will allow the roughness not to be in contact with the stopper. The receptacle can therefore be placed vertically on the support because the stopper rests thereon in a flat manner, by a peripheral edge 60 of the upper wall 17. Indeed, the surface of the peripheral edge 60 being limited, the risks are reduced that 'it is in contact with the support at a place where roughness is present.

Said upper wall 17 locally has a flat bottom, in particular in line with the punch 14. Said flat bottom may have a point 62 for injection of the stopper.

The rod 50 is formed, for example, of an extra thickness of material from a base 52 of the punch 14. Said extra thickness of material here comprises a base 54 of decreasing thickness, forming an inclined ramp, an intermediate part 56 of thickness constant, forming an annular part, and a chamfered end part 58.

Advantageously, said punch 14 comprises a barrel-shaped body 30 configured to cut out and/or pierce said lid. Said barrel J has substantially the shape of a hollow cylinder. By "substantially the shape of a cylinder", it is understood, in particular, that said body may have a very slightly frustoconical shape for the purposes of demolding, that is to say with an apex angle of less than 2, or even 1 °. In other words, the punch 14 has a substantially annular cross-section, of revolution. The wall thickness of said punch 14 may be between 10 and 20% of its outside diameter. Said barrel-shaped body 30 Z may extend all along said punch 14.

Said stopper 1 is formed, for example, by injection, in particular of plastic material.

Said punch 14 is advantageously configured so that the cutout of the cover is partial, so that the portion or portions of the cover that have been cut out remain linked to the rest of the insert 8, in the position of use, thus preventing any mixing of the material forming the insert 8 with a product contained in the associated receptacle.

By way of example, considering that a complete cutout is a 360° cutout of the cover, that is to say a circular cutout made by rotation of the cap 1, a cutout is advantageously made leaving a sufficient link to ensure cohesion between the central section 12 which has been cut out, and the peripheral section 10.

Said shaft has a distal end 32 advantageously provided with cutting means such as teeth 40.

Said barrel is advantageously configured to penetrate into said interior volume 4, in the position of use, by a distance greater than the distance necessary to achieve a deformation of the insert 8 going beyond the elastic deformation capacities of said insert 8.

If we refer again to the figure 1 , it is noted that said neck 3 has a base 80 intended to cooperate with a distal edge 82 of the stopper ( figure 2 ), in the closed position of the cap 1, that is to say, after first use, when the receptacle is closed with the cap 1, the ring 22 no longer being in place. Here, the base 80 of the neck 3 is located at a junction between the neck 3 and the shoulder 20. Said base 80 has, for example, a frustoconical configuration.

Said distal edge 82 of the stopper has at least locally a frustoconical configuration to come into contact with said base of the neck in the closed position of the stopper. This is, for example, an internal extra thickness 84 . This avoids uncontrolled deformation of the cap 1 when screwing too hard on the neck 3.

Advantageously, said ribs 70 may also be in contact with said base 80 of the neck, in particular by one of its chamfered ends 76. This further improves the centering of the ring 22 on the neck 3.

Claims (13)

1. Spacer ring intended to be positioned between a container (2), in particular a tube, in particular a flexible tube for a cosmetic product, and a cap (1) of said container (2), said ring (22) comprising ribs (70) for centring on a neck (3) of said container (2), characterized in that said ribs (70) are symmetrical with respect to a transverse mid-plane of the ring, said ring exhibiting an internal annular excess thickness (78).
2. Ring according to claim 1 having a circular section.
3. Ring according to the preceding claim wherein said ribs (70) are radially oriented.
4. Ring according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said ribs (70) are symmetrically arranged with respect to each other so that the ring (22) can be angularly positioned indiscriminately on said neck.
5. Ring according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said ribs (70) have a free inner edge having a central portion (72) of maximum inner radial extension.
6. Ring according to the preceding claim wherein said free inner edge comprises at least one shoulder (74) in the vicinity of said central portion (72).
7. Ring according to any one of claims 5 or 6 wherein said free inner edge has at least one longitudinal end (76) chamfered.
8. Assembly comprising a container (2), in particular a tube, in particular a flexible tube for a cosmetic product, and a spacer ring (22) according to any one of the preceding claims, said container (2) comprising a neck (3) on which said ring (22) is centred by means of said ribs (70).
9. Assembly according to claim 8 further comprising a cap (1).
10. Assembly according to claim 9 wherein said neck (3) has a base (80) intended for cooperating with a distal edge (82) of the cap (1) in the closed position of the cap (1).
11. Assembly according to claim 10 wherein said base (80) has a frustoconical configuration.
12. Assembly according to claim 11 wherein said distal edge (82) of the cap (1) has at least locally a frustoconical configuration to contact said base (80) of the neck (3) in the closed position of the cap (1).
13. Assembly according to any one of claims 11 or 12, wherein said ribs (70) are in contact with said base (80) of the neck (3).

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