EP4238888A1

EP4238888A1 - Closing system for a container and container equipped with such a closing system

Info

Publication number: EP4238888A1
Application number: EP22160020.8A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Israel Komet
Original assignee: Svalinn Cap Systems Ag
Current assignee: Svalinn Cap Systems Ag
Priority date: 2022-03-03
Filing date: 2022-03-03
Publication date: 2023-09-06
Also published as: JP2023129372A

Abstract

The closing system (4) for a container includes a spout (8) and a cap (6) attached to the spout with a hinge, screwed on the spout and switchable between a closed position, in which a central axis (X6) of the cap is coincident with a central axis (X8) of the spout, and an open position, in which an opening angle (α) is comprised between 90° and 150°. The cap is equipped with a locking tab (28), and the spout is equipped with a retaining protrusion (24) which is provided on an outer side (8A) of the spout. The locking tab has a rib (30) that extends radially from the locking tab outwards. When the cap is in the closed position, the locking tab is not in contact with the retaining protrusion (24), and when the cap is in the open position, the rib is in abutment against the retaining protrusion and prevents the cap from closing.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention concerns a closing system for a container. It also concerns a container equipped with such a closing system.

BACKGROUND ART

It is known to manufacture containers, such as cardboard milk containers having a closing system comprising a cap and a spout, the cap being removable from the spout. A new European directive of June 2019 imposes to have a cap that is unmovable from the container.
In order to do this, FR 2 785 264 describes a closure comprising a cap attached to a ring with a hinge. The ring being mounted on the neck of a container, it is impossible for the user to easily separate the cap from the container and to throw it away. This ring is movable in rotation with regard to the neck in order to be able to screw and unscrew the cap from the neck. The ring is equipped with a hinge to discard the cap from the neck and use the container to pour the liquid that is inside.
The cap also comprises a tongue, connected to the hinge. During tilting of the cap, the tongue bears against the neck of the container, and when the cap is fully opened, the tongue holds the cap open.
However, with this tongue, the operation of the cap is not satisfactory. Depending on how the tongue is dimensioned, the cap is either too hard to open, due to the tongue bearing against the neck of the container during tilting of the cap, or it does not hold open properly, which can lead to unintentional closure of the cap.
There is therefore a need for a closing system that is more practical for the user, that is easier to operate and that holds the cap open in a more reliable way.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect, the invention relates to a closing system for a container, the closing system including a spout and a cap, the cap being attached to the spout with a hinge and screwed on the spout, the cap being switchable around a hinge axis between a closed position, in which a central axis of the cap is coincident with a central axis of the spout, and an open position, in which an opening angle measured between the central axis of the cap and the central axis of the spout is comprised between 90° and 150°, preferably equal to 120°, wherein the cap is equipped with a locking tab. According to the invention, the spout is equipped with a retaining protrusion which is provided on an outer side of the spout, the locking tab has a rib that extends radially from the locking tab outwards from the central axis of the cap. When the cap is in the closed position, the locking tab is not in contact with the retaining protrusion, and when the cap is in the open position, the rib is in abutment against the retaining protrusion and prevents the cap from closing.
An advantage of the invention is that the abutment of the rib against the retaining protrusion enables securely maintaining the cap in the open position, while allowing easy opening of the cap.
According to advantageous aspects of the invention, the invention may comprise one or more of the following features, considered alone or according to all possible combinations:

The retaining protrusion defines an upper face which is facing away from a base of the spout, and, when the cap is in the open position, the rib is in abutment against the upper face.
The retaining protrusion is located, along the central axis of the spout, between a base of the spout and threads of the spout.
The retaining protrusion is an external retaining collar that extends around the spout in a direction circumferential to the central axis of the spout.
The locking tab comprises at least two parallel ribs located one next to the other along a height of the locking tab.
The closing system comprises a support ring by which the cap is attached to the spout, the hinge connecting the cap to the support ring, and, when the cap is in the closed position, the locking tab extends downwardly from the cap towards the support ring.
The hinge comprises two spaced apart leaves, each leaf connecting the cap to the support ring, and the locking tab is located between the two leaves, in a direction circumferential to the central axis of the cap.
A thickness of each leaf is comprised between 0.20 mm and 0.40 mm, preferably equal to 0.30 mm, measured radially to the central axis of the cap when the cap is in the closed position, and each leaf comprises a reinforcing strip, located on a circumferential extremity of the leaf and having a thickness comprised between 0.10 mm and 0.20 mm, preferably equal to 0.15 mm, measured radially to the central axis of the cap when the cap is in the closed position.
The locking tab has a thickness comprised between 0.6 mm and 1.0 mm, preferably equal to 0,8 mm, measured radially to the central axis of the cap, and the rib has a thickness comprised between 0.3 mm and 0.7 mm, preferably equal to 0.5 mm, measured radially to the central axis of the cap.
The locking tab has a rectangular shape having a height comprised between 1.5 mm and 2.5 mm, preferably equal to 2.0 mm, measured along the central axis of the cap, and a width comprised between 2.0 mm and 3.0 mm, preferably equal to 2.5 mm, measured orthoradially to the central axis of the cap.
The cap is made of a first material, wherein the spout is made of a second material and a tensile modulus of the first material is strictly higher than a tensile modulus of the second material.
The cap is made of a material having a tensile modulus at 23°C between 1200 MPa and 1800 MPa, preferably equal to 1500 MPa, according to the ISO 527 standard, and/or wherein the spout is made of a material having a tensile modulus at 23°C between 150 MPa and 300 MPa, preferably equal to 200 MPa, according to the ISO 527 standard.
The cap is made of high-density polyethylene.
The spout is made of low-density polyethylene.

According to another aspect, the invention also relates to a container comprising a carton and a closing system, the closing system being fixed on the carton. According to the invention, the closing system is as described here above.
This container induces the same advantages as the closing system mentioned here above.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be better understood and other advantages thereof will appear more clearly upon reading the following description of an exemplary carton and an exemplary closing system according to the invention, provided solely as an example and made in reference to the appended drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a part of a carton according to one embodiment of the invention, equipped with a closing system according to one embodiment of the invention in a closed configuration;
Figure 2 is a perspective view of the closing system of Figure 1, in a closed configuration;
Figure 3 is a rear view of the closing system of Figures 1 and 2, in the direction of arrow A3 on figure 2;.
Figure 4 is a sectional view into the plane IV-IV of Figure 3;
Figure 5 is a perspective view of the closing system of Figures 1 to 4 in an open configuration.
Figure 6 is a sectional view according to the plane VI of Figure 5.
Figure 7 is an enlarged view of detail VII of Figure 6.

DETAILED DESCRITPION OF SOME EMBODIMENTS

On Figure 1 there is illustrated an exemplary container 2 including a cardboard box 3, named "carton", partly represented, and a closing system 4 for closing the carton 3. The container 2 is designed to receive a liquid, preferably a food liquid, such as milk, water, orange juice, cream, soup, etc. Traditionally, the carton 3 has a main portion with a parallelepiped shape surmounted by a head with the shape of a gable roof, the closing system being placed on one side of this roof. Hereafter, one considers the carton 3 standing on a non-represented horizontal surface. The closing system 4 is mounted on an inclined wall 3A of the gable roof.
According to an alternative approach, the container 2 includes a bottle instead of a cardboard box. For convenience, such a bottle is also referred to as a "carton".
The closing system 4 comprises a cap 6 and a spout 8. The cap 6 is screwed to the spout 8 and the spout 8 is fixed on the carton 3. The cap 6 defines three inner threads 10, partly visible on figures 4, 5 and 6 and located on an inner side 6A of the cap. The spout 8 defines three outer threads 12, partly visible on figures 4, 5 and 6, located on an outer side 8A of the spout and designed to cooperate with the inner threads in order to screw or unscrew the cap 6 on/from the spout 8. Screwing and unscrewing of the cap 6 with respect to the spout 8 occurs by a rotational movement of the cap 6 around a central axis X8 of the spout.
The spout 8 is equipped with a base 13, which has a generally annular shape. The spout 8 is fixed to the carton 3 through the base 13, for example by ultrasonic welding the base to the carton.
The closing system 4 also comprises a support ring 14 by which the cap 6 is attached on the spout 8. The support ring 14 is integral, that is made in one piece, with the cap 6. The support ring 14 is mounted around the spout and is only movable in rotation around the axis X8 relative to the spout 8. Thus, the cap 6 cannot be detached from the spout 8 and thrown away, for example in the nature.
In practice, an internal skirt 14A of the support ring 14 is in abutment against an outer collar 15 of the spout 8 and prevents the support ring from being removed from the spout. Alternatively, instead of a continuous skirt 14A, one can use several distinct flaps in abutment against the outer collar 15 to prevent the support ring from being removed from the spout.
The closing system 4 also comprises a hinge 16. The hinge 16 is integral, that is made in one piece, with the cap 6. The hinge 16 connects the cap 6 to the support ring 14 so that the cap 6 can be switched around a hinge axis A16 of the hinge 16 once the cap 6 has been unscrewed from the spout 8. The hinge axis A16 is orthoradial with respect to the central axis X8.
Advantageously, a groove 17 is formed in the hinge 16, extending along the hinge axis A16 so as to materialize the hinge axis 16 and facilitate the bending of the hinge.
The hinge 16 has a butterfly shape. In other words, the hinge comprises two spaced apart leaves 18, each leaf 18 connecting the cap 6 to the support ring 14. The hinge 16 forms a gap 20 between the two leaves.
The groove 17 is formed in both leaves 18.
The cap 6 is switchable around the hinge axis A16 between a closed position, in which a central axis X6 of the cap is coincident with the central axis X8 of the spout, and an open position, in which an opening angle α measured between the central spout axis and the central cap axis is comprised between 90° and 150°, preferably equal to 120°.
Preferentially, each leaf 18 has an isosceles trapezoidal form, with a short side 18A and a long side 18B. The short sides 18A of the two leaves 18 are facing each other and are distant from each other. Along the axis A16, the gap 20 is defined between the two short sides 18A of the two leaves.
Each leaf 18 has a thickness E18 comprised between 0.20 mm and 0.40 mm, preferably equal to 0.30 mm, measured radially to the central axis X6 of the cap 6 when the cap is in the closed position.
Preferentially, each leaf 18 comprises a reinforcing strip 22, located along its long side 18B and increasing the thickness of the leaf. In other words, the reinforcing strip 22 of a leaf 18 is located on a circumferential extremity of the leaf. The thickness E22 of a reinforcing strip 22 is comprised between 0.10 mm and 0.20 mm, preferably equal to 0.15 mm, measured radially to the central cap axis when the cap is in the closed position, thus locally increasing the thickness E18' of the corresponding leaf 18, at the level of the reinforcing strip 22, to a value comprised between 0.30 mm and 0.60 mm, preferably equal to 0.45 mm.
The hinge 16 is linked to the support ring 14 by a flexible arm 23, so that, when the cap 6 is unscrewed from the spout 8, the hinge 16 and the cap 6 can move away from the support ring 14 along the axis X8, to a limited extend. The flexible arm 23 comprises two extremities 23A connected to the support ring 14 and the hinge 16 is connected to a middle portion 23B of the flexible arm. The length of the flexible arm 23 allows it to be flexible and allows the hinge 16 and the cap 6 to be moved away from the support ring 14.
The hinge 16 is located within an angular sector AS defined around the central axis X6 of the cap, this angular sector having an apex angle θ comprised between 45° and 75°, preferably equal to 60°. In other words, along the entire circumference of the cap 6, the cap is linked to the hinge 16 over a perimeter covered by the angular sector AS.
As visible on Figures 4 to 7, the spout 8 is equipped with a retaining protrusion 24, provided on the outer side 8A of the spout. In the exemplary closing system, the retaining protrusion 24 is an external retaining collar, extending circumferentially around the outer side 8A of the spout 8. Advantageously, the external retaining collar 24 is located, along the central axis X8 of the spout 8, between the base 13 and the outer threads 12
The external retaining collar 24 defines an upper face 24A, which is facing away from the base 13 of the spout 8. In other words, when the central axis X8 of the spout is vertical and when the base 13 is below the external retaining collar 24, then the upper face 24A is facing upwards.
The upper face 24A is essentially frustroconical, and is preferably slightly inclined, so that it comes closer to the base 13 in a centrifugal direction with respect to the central axis X8. In other words, an inclination angle β formed between the central axis X8 of the spout 8 and a normal line to the upper face 24A is comprised between 5° and 15°, preferably equal to 10°.
Alternatively, the upper surface 24A is substantially flat. In such a case, an angle β defined as above is lower than 1°.
The external retaining collar 24 also defines a lower face 24B, which is curved so as to connect the spout 8 to the upper face 24A. The lower face 24B has, for example, an arc-shaped cross-section.
The maximum thickness E24 of the external retaining collar 24, measured radially from the central axis X8 of the spout 8, is comprised between 0.5 mm and 1.5 mm, preferably equal to 1 mm.
In any case, the external diameter D24 of the external retaining collar 24 is smaller than or equal to the external diameter D12 of the outer threads 12.
As a part of the spout 8, the external retaining collar 24 is integral with the spout.
The cap 6 is equipped with a locking tab 28, located in the gap 20 formed between the two leaves 18 of the hinge 16. In particular, the locking tab 28 is located within the same angular sector AS as the hinge. In other words, in a direction circumferential to the central axis X6 of the cap, the locking tab is located at the same position as the hinge.
When the cap is in the closed position, the locking tab extends downwardly, that is from the cap towards the support ring 14 and towards the middle portion 23B of the flexible arm 23. The locking tab 28 is located at a distance from the support ring 14 and the flexible arm 23. Thus, as visible on Figures 3 and 4, the gap 20 extends between the locking tab and the flexible arm. When the cap 6 is in the closed position, the height H20 of the gap 20, measured between the locking tab 28 and the flexible arm 23 along the central axis X6 of the cap, is comprised between 0.4 mm and 1.2 mm, preferably equal to 0.8 mm.
Along the central axis X6 of the cap 6, when the cap is in the closed position, the locking tab 28 is aligned with the hinge 16, and more specifically with the groove 17 of the hinge.
As a part of the cap 6, the locking tab 28 is integral with the cap, thus also integral with the support ring 14 and the hinge 16.
Advantageously, the locking tab 28 has a rectangular shape with a height H28, measured along the central axis X6 of the cap 6, comprised between 1.5 mm and 2.5 mm, preferably equal to 2.0 mm. A width W28 of the locking tab 28, measured orthoradially from the central axis X6 of the cap 6, is comprised between 2.0 mm and 3.0 mm, preferably equal to 2.5 mm. The locking tab 28 has a thickness E28, measured radially to the central axis X6 of the cap 6, comprised between 0.6 mm and 1.0 mm, preferably equal to 0.8 mm.
The locking tab 28 defines an inside face 28A, facing the spout 8 and the external retaining collar 24 when the cap is in the closed position, an outside face 28B, oriented away from the spout 8, and an extremity face 28C, oriented downwardly, that is facing the arm 23 and the support ring 14, when the cap is in the closed position. An edge formed between the inside face 28A and the extremity face 28C is noted 28D.
The locking tab 28 comprises a rib 30, located on the outside face 28B, that extends radially from the locking tab outwards from the central axis X6 of the cap 6. Preferentially, the rib 30 is located next to the extremity face 28C of the locking tab 28, that is, along the central axis X6 of the cap, as close as possible to the support ring 14. The rib extends, on the outside face 28B, along the entire width of the locking tab.
The rib 30 has a height H30, measured parallel to the central axis X6 of the cap 6 comprised between 0.2 mm and 0.6 mm, preferably equal to 0.4 mm.
The rib 30 has a thickness E30, measured radially to the central cap axis comprised between 0.3 mm and 0.7 mm, preferably equal to 0.5 mm. The thickness E30 locally increases the overall thickness E28' of the locking tab 28, at the level of the rib 30, to a value comprised between 0.9 mm and 1.7 mm, preferably equal to 1.3 mm.
Advantageously, the closing system 4 is equipped with tamper evident bridges 34 between an edge of the cap 6 and the support ring 14, and with tamper evident bridges 36 between the arm 23 and the support ring 14. These tamper evident bridges are broken when the cap 6 is unscrewed from the spout 8 for the first time, therefore providing clear evidence that the container 2 has been opened. The tamper evident bridges 34 and 36 also improves the closure strength of the container before the first opening, therefore diminishing the risks of accidental opening during transportation.
Advantageously, the cap 6 is made of a material having a tensile modulus between 1200 MPa and 1800 MPa, preferably equal to 1500 MPa, and the spout 8 is made of a material having a tensile modulus between 150 MPa and 300 MPa, preferably equal to 200 MPa, the tensile moduli being measured at 23°C according to the ISO 527 standard, as publicly available in 2019. The tensile modulus is also known as the modulus of elasticity under tension. In any case, the tensile modulus of the material of the cap 6 is strictly higher than the tensile modulus of the material of the spout 8 material.
Preferentially, the cap 6 is made of high-density polyethylene and the spout 8 is made of low-density polyethylene. In such a case, the ring 14 and the hinge 16 are also made of high-density polyethylene, being integral with the cap 6.
Generally speaking, a low-density polyethylene or LDPE has a density in the range of 0.925 and a high-density polyethylene or HDPE has a density in the range of 0.950.
Advantageously, the carton 3 is made in a sandwich material comprising several layers, at least one of which is made of the same material as the spout 8, for example low-density polyethylene, which facilitates the fixation of the base 13 to the carton when the base is welded to the carton.
As visible on Figure 4, when the cap 6 is in the closed position, the locking tab 28 is located at a distance from the external retaining collar 24, that is, the locking tab is not in contact with the external retaining collar.
During the opening process of the cap 6 by the user, that is during the switching of the cap 6 around the hinge axis A16, after having unscrewed the cap from the spout, the locking tab 28 pivots around the hinge axis A16. In a first step of the opening process, this pivoting movement brings the edge 28D of the locking tab closer to the external retaining collar 24, until the edge makes contact with the lower face 24B. In a second step of the opening process, as the cap is further pivoted, the edge 28D and then the extremity face 28C of the locking tab slide against the lower face 24B, until the rib 30 contacts the external retaining collar 24. Then, in a third step of the opening process, the rib 30 slides against the lower face 24B of the external retaining collar 24, until it reaches a first tipping point P24, where the rib tilts over the external retaining collar 24 so that the rib comes in abutment against the upper face 24A of the external retaining collar, or, in other words, so that the rib is hooked onto the external retaining collar. Crossing the first tipping point P24 requires a force to be applied by the user, and generates a distinctive clicking noise, easy to identify by the user.
The force applied by the user during the second and the third steps of the opening process and for crossing the tipping point P24 causes a local elastic deformation of the spout 8, thus bringing the portion of the external retaining collar 24 in contact with the locking tab 28 closer to the central axis X8 of the spout. This elastic deformation is caused by the fact that the spout material has a lower tensile modulus than the cap material, in other words, by the fact that the spout material is much softer than the cap material. This deformation facilitates the opening of the cap 6. The opening of the cap is further facilitated by a displacement of the cap 6, which tends to move slightly away from the spout 8 at the point of contact between the locking tab 28 and the external retaining collar 24, due to the ease of bending of the hinge 16. Due to the elastic deformation of the spout and the displacement of the cap, the force required to open the cap remains low, so the user can easily open the cap, even with one hand or with a disability.
After crossing the first tipping point P24, the cap 6 is held in the open position in a stable manner. In other words, the cap 6 cannot return to the closed position due to a spring back effect of the hinge or by gravity. Indeed, the rib 30 in abutment against the upper face 24A of the external retaining collar 24 locks the cap in the open position by preventing the cap to be switched towards the closed position around the hinge axis A16. The open position is visible on Figures 5, 6 and 7.
After reaching the open position, the cap 6 can be further switched around the hinge axis A16 by the user, so that the opening angle of the cap is greater than the angle α, but once the further switching force is released by the user, the cap returns to the open position shown in Figures 5 to 7, due to an elastic return of the hinge 16.
To close the cap 6, the user must apply a force to switch the cap around the hinge axis A16, thus forcing the rib 30 to slide against the upper face 24A of the external retaining collar 24, until the rib reaches a second tipping point P'24, where the rib is at the radial extremity of the upper face 24A. Then, the rib 30 and the locking tab 28 easily slides against the lower face 24B of the external retaining collar 24, until loosing contact with the spout and reaching the closed position. The inclination angle β of the upper face 24A facilitates the sliding of the rib during this closing process, therefore lowering the force required to reach the second tipping point. Closing the cap 6 also leads to a local elastic deformation of the spout 8, at the point of contact between the locking tab 28 and the external retaining collar 24, and to a slight displacement of the cap 6, thus reducing the force required to close the cap.
On figure 7, the first and second tipping points P24 and P'24 are represented as two different points. However, in a non-represented variant, these two points may be superposed.
It is understood that neither the opening nor the closing of the cap 6 involves any significant deformation of the locking tab 28, which is rigid. This concerns also the rib 30, which is integral with the locking tab 28.
Thanks to the gap 20 separating the locking tab 28 from the flexible arm 23, the locking tab 28 and its rib 30 remain at a distance from the flexible arm 23 and the support ring 14 at all times during the opening and the closing of the cap 6, thus preventing any blockage of the cap.
The reinforcing strips 22 on the leaves 18 are particularly useful in preventing damage to the hinge 16 when the cap 6 is displaced during the opening and closing processes of the cap. Indeed, they allow the thickness of the leaves 18, and thus their strength, to be increased in a particularly precise and controlled manner, without hindering the ability of the hinge to be deformed during the opening and closing processes.
The distinctive clicking noise produced by crossing the first tipping point P24 is particularly useful, as it materializes the opening of the cap, and produces a satisfying sound signal to the user.
Thanks to the cooperation between the rib 30 and the external retaining collar 24, the cap 6 is easy to open and close by a user, while being securely maintained in the open position, thus avoiding any accidental closure.
During opening or closing of the cap 6, only a portion of the external retaining collar 24 cooperates with the locking tab 28. It is nevertheless advantageous that the external retaining collar 24 extends over the complete circumference of the spout 8, since the angular position of the cap 6 relative to the spout is not controlled.
However, in a variant of the invention, the retaining protrusion 24 extends only around a portion of the spout, for example around 50%, 30%, or 15%, of the circumference of the spout. The retaining protrusion is therefore a partial retaining collar. The retaining protrusion is then located at the level of the locking tab 28 in a direction circumferential to the central axis X8 of the spout 8. Such a variant is particularly suitable when the angular position of the cap relative to the spout is controlled, for example by protrusions placed on the cap and on the spout, which limit a rotational relative movement between the cap and the spout.
According to a non-represented aspect of the invention, the cap 6 comprises a different number of inner threads 62, for example one or six. In this case, the spout 8 comprises a corresponding number of outer threads 82.
According to a non-represented aspect of the invention, the locking tab 28 comprises multiple ribs 30, for example, two ribs 30. The ribs 30 are parallels to each other and located one above the other along the central axis X6 of the cap 6, at a distance from each other. Having multiple ribs 30 allows for a better hold of the cap 6 in the open position, the external retaining collar 24 being maintained between two consecutive ribs. Furthermore, having multiple ribs 30 also allows multiple stable open positions, each stable open position having a distinctive opening angle α. It is understood that, in an example with two ribs 30, in a first open position, the retaining collar 24 is maintained between the two ribs, and in a second open position, the retaining collar is in abutment against the rib located the furthest from the extremity face 28C of the locking tab 28 and is not in contact with the rib located the closest from the extremity face 28C.
The features of the embodiment and variants considered in this description can be combined to generate new embodiments of the invention, in the framework of the appended set of claims.

Claims

Closing system (4) for a container (2), the closing system including a spout (8) and a cap (6), the cap being attached to the spout with a hinge (16) and screwed on the spout, the cap being switchable around a hinge axis (A16) between a closed position, in which a central axis (X6) of the cap is coincident with a central axis (X8) of the spout, and an open position, in which an opening angle (α) measured between the central axis of the cap and the central axis of the spout is comprised between 90° and 150°, preferably equal to 120°, wherein the cap (6) is equipped with a locking tab (28), characterized in that:
- the spout (8) is equipped with a retaining protrusion (24) which is provided on an outer side (8A) of the spout,

- the locking tab (28) has a rib (30) that extends radially from the locking tab (28) outwards from the central axis (X6) of the cap (6),

- when the cap (6) is in the closed position, the locking tab (28) is not in contact with the retaining protrusion (24), and

- when the cap (6) is in the open position, the rib (30) is in abutment against the retaining protrusion (24) and prevents the cap from closing.
The closing system (4) of claim 1, wherein the retaining protrusion (24) defines an upper face (24A) which is facing away from a base (13) of the spout (8), and wherein, when the cap (6) is in the open position, the rib (30) is in abutment against the upper face (24A).
The closing system (4) of one of the previous claims, wherein the retaining protrusion (24) is located, along the central axis (X8) of the spout (8), between a base (13) of the spout (8) and threads (12) of the spout.
The closing system (4) of one of the previous claims, wherein the retaining protrusion (24) is an external retaining collar that extends around the spout (8) in a direction circumferential to the central axis (X8) of the spout.
The closing system (4) of one of the previous claims, wherein the locking tab (28) comprises at least two parallel ribs (30) located one next to the other along a height (H28) of the locking tab.
The closing system (4) of one of the previous claims, wherein the closing system (4) comprises a support ring (14) by which the cap (6) is attached to the spout (8), the hinge (16) connecting the cap to the support ring, and wherein, when the cap is in the closed position, the locking tab (28) extends downwardly from the cap (6) towards the support ring (14).
The closing system (4) of claim 6, wherein the hinge (16) comprises two spaced apart leaves (18), each leaf (18) connecting the cap (6) to the support ring (14), and wherein the locking tab (28) is located between the two leaves, in a direction circumferential to the central axis (X6) of the cap.
The closing system (4) of claim 7, wherein a thickness (E18) of each leaf (18) is comprised between 0.20 mm and 0.40 mm, preferably equal to 0.30 mm, measured radially to the central axis (X6) of the cap (6) when the cap is in the closed position, and wherein each leaf comprises a reinforcing strip (22), located on a circumferential extremity of the leaf and having a thickness (E22) comprised between 0.10 mm and 0.20 mm, preferably equal to 0.15 mm, measured radially to the central axis of the cap when the cap is in the closed position.
The closing system (4) of one of the previous claims, wherein the locking tab (28) has a thickness (E28) comprised between 0.6 mm and 1.0 mm, preferably equal to 0,8 mm, measured radially to the central axis (X6) of the cap (6), and wherein the rib (30) has a thickness (E30) comprised between 0.3 mm and 0.7 mm, preferably equal to 0.5 mm, measured radially to the central axis of the cap.
The closing system (4) of one of the previous claims, wherein the locking tab (28) has a rectangular shape having a height (H28) comprised between 1.5 mm and 2.5 mm, preferably equal to 2.0 mm, measured along the central axis (X6) of the cap (6), and a width (W28) comprised between 2.0 mm and 3.0 mm, preferably equal to 2.5 mm, measured orthoradially to the central axis of the cap.
The closing system (4) of one of the previous claims, wherein the cap (6) is made of a first material, wherein the spout (8) is made of a second material and wherein a tensile modulus of the first material is strictly higher than a tensile modulus of the second material.
The closing system (4) of one of the previous claims, wherein the cap (6) is made of a material having a tensile modulus at 23°C between 1200 MPa and 1800 MPa, preferably equal to 1500 MPa, according to the ISO 527 standard, and/or wherein the spout (8) is made of a material having a tensile modulus at 23°C between 150 MPa and 300 MPa, preferably equal to 200 MPa, according to the ISO 527 standard.
The closing system (4) of claim 12, wherein the cap (6) is made of high-density polyethylene.
The closing system (4) of claim 12, wherein the spout (8) is made of low-density polyethylene
A container (2) comprising a carton (3) and a closing system (4), the closing system being fixed on the carton, characterized in that the closing system (4) is according to one of the previous claims.