EP4389634A1 - Divisible locking cap for a container with a neck - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a locking cap (100) for a neck container comprising: - an outer body (30), defined by an upper face and a cylindrical wall, and including a breakable strip (35) extending from the face upper to a free end of the cylindrical wall, - a capsule (40), arranged on the upper face and secured to the breakable strip (35), - a cage (20), locked in the external body (30), having a generally cylindrical shape, and comprising a plurality of bridges connecting neighboring branches, and a flexible member (27), one end of which is integral with a bridge and another, free end, is oriented upwards, said flexible member (27) being adjacent to a fragile point of said bridge. The cap (100) is remarkable in that the flexible member (27) of the cage (20) is integral with the breakable strip (35) of the external body (30).

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a cap for a container with a neck, intended to block a stopper in the neck of said container. The invention relates in particular to a locking cap adapted to bottles, for example for a pharmaceutical product, requiring the total removal of the cap then of the cap, for the extraction or reconstitution of the product.

TECHNOLOGICAL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

We know the document EP2814752 which offers a cap locking device on a neck container, completely removable. This device includes an external ring shaped to cover the cap and surround the upper flange of the neck of the container. It also includes an internal ring in the form of a ring, capable of being secured in the external ring and provided with lower internal notches intended to rest under said collar to attach to the container. Such a cap makes it possible to lock a cap in the neck of the container and thus keep the container hermetically closed.

These locking devices are usually used to store pharmaceutical products in vial-type containers. Some products are withdrawn using a syringe, pushed through the elastomer cap, after removal of a protective capsule in the upper part of the locking device. Other products require the bottle to be completely opened to be extracted or reconstituted.

Addressing this last scenario, the aforementioned document provides a frangible zone, at the level of the external ring of the locking device, capable of being broken to authorize the opening of said ring and its withdrawal in relation to the flange of the bottle. The internal ring is provided with a deformable and breakable bridge, capable of being broken to allow the removal of said ring, thus allowing access to the cap and its removal from the neck of the container. A disadvantage of this solution comes from the lack of repeatability and ergonomics of the opening, linked to the difficulty of pulling repeatedly on the internal ring until the deformable and breakable trigger guard breaks.

The document EP3763635 addresses this problem at least in part by implementing a locking cap provided with an external body having a breakable part and a cage configured to fit and lock axially in the external body, and also adapted to surround the flange of the container neck in a locked position of the cap. The cage comprises a breakable zone and a flexible opening tab, adjacent to said breakable zone; the application of a tensile force on the tab makes it possible to cause, in a reproducible manner, breakage at the breakable zone.

However, it sometimes proves difficult to grip and hold a thin opening tab firmly, particularly when wearing gloves (which is typically the case for personnel opening the bottle with a view to use of the product contained in said bottle). There therefore remains a need to simplify and make more ergonomic the complete opening of the locking cap of a bottle for a pharmaceutical product.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The present invention proposes a solution aimed at remedying all or part of the disadvantages of the state of the art. The invention relates to a locking cap allowing ergonomic, secure and repeatable removal of said cap, so as to allow extraction of the elastomer cap and access to the contents of the container.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

• un corps externe, défini par une face supérieure et une paroi cylindrique centrée sur un axe principal, le corps externe présentant une bande sécable s'étendant de la face supérieure jusqu'à une extrémité libre de la paroi cylindrique,
• une capsule, disposée sur la face supérieure et solidaire de la bande sécable,
• une cage verrouillée dans le corps externe, et destinée à entourer une collerette du col du récipient dans une position de verrouillage de la coiffe ; la cage comportant un anneau supérieur, contre lequel le bouchon est destiné à prendre appui lorsqu'il est disposé dans la cage, une pluralité de branches reliées à l'anneau supérieur et définissant avec celui-ci une forme générale cylindrique de la cage, une pluralité de ponts, chacun reliant deux branches voisines entre elles, et un membre flexible, dont une extrémité est solidaire d'un pont et une autre extrémité, libre, est orientée vers l'anneau supérieur, ledit membre flexible étant adjacent à un point fragile dudit pont.

The invention relates to a locking cap for a container with a neck, intended to lock a stopper in the neck of the container and comprising:

• an external body, defined by an upper face and a cylindrical wall centered on a main axis, the external body having a breakable strip extending from the upper face to a free end of the cylindrical wall,
• a capsule, placed on the upper face and secured to the breakable strip,
• a cage locked in the external body, and intended to surround a flange of the neck of the container in a locking position of the cap; the cage comprising an upper ring, against which the plug is intended to bear when it is placed in the cage, a plurality of branches connected to the upper ring and defining with it a general cylindrical shape of the cage, a plurality of bridges, each connecting two neighboring branches together, and a flexible member, one end of which is secured to a bridge and another free end is oriented towards the upper ring, said flexible member being adjacent to a fragile point of said bridge.

The locking cap is remarkable in that the flexible member of the cage is secured to the breakable strip of the external body.

• le point fragile correspond à une encoche ou à une fente aménagée sur le pont supportant le membre flexible ;
• la capsule est solidaire de la bande sécable au niveau d'une première zone de fixation,
• le membre flexible est solidaire de la bande sécable au niveau d'une deuxième zone de fixation,
• la première et/ou la deuxième zone(s) de fixation est(sont) formé(s) par des moyens de retenue mécanique disposés sur chaque élément à solidariser et coopérant entre eux,
• la première et/ou la deuxième zone(s) de fixation implique(nt) une adhésion chimique entre les matériaux des éléments à solidariser,
• les moyens de retenue mécanique comprennent un rebord, un épaulement ou un système de queue d'aronde,
• la deuxième zone de fixation est localisée, en hauteur selon l'axe principal, entre la face supérieure du corps externe et une mi-hauteur de la paroi cylindrique du corps externe,
• le corps externe est élaboré à partir d'un premier matériau et d'un deuxième matériau, le premier matériau formant la bande sécable et le deuxième matériau formant le reste du corps externe, et la capsule est élaborée à partir du premier matériau,
• la capsule est formée en polypropylène,
• le corps externe est formée en un ou plusieurs matériau(x) choisi(s) parmi le polypropylène et le poly-téréphtalate de butylène,
• la cage est formée en polycarbonate.

According to other advantageous and non-limiting characteristics of the invention, taken alone or in any technically feasible combination:

• the fragile point corresponds to a notch or a slot made on the bridge supporting the flexible member;
• the capsule is secured to the breakable strip at the level of a first fixing zone,
• the flexible member is secured to the breakable strip at the level of a second fixing zone,
• the first and/or the second fixing zone(s) is(are) formed by mechanical retaining means arranged on each element to be joined and cooperating with each other,
• the first and/or second fixing zone(s) involve(s) chemical adhesion between the materials of the elements to be joined,
• the mechanical retaining means include a rim, a shoulder or a dovetail system,
• the second fixing zone is located, in height along the main axis, between the upper face of the external body and halfway up the cylindrical wall of the external body,
• the external body is produced from a first material and a second material, the first material forming the breakable strip and the second material forming the rest of the external body, and the capsule is produced from the first material,
• the capsule is made of polypropylene,
• the external body is formed from one or more material(s) chosen from polypropylene and polybutylene terephthalate,
• the cage is made of polycarbonate.

• la capsule et le corps externe, et
• le corps externe et la cage.

The invention also relates to a method of manufacturing a locking cap such as above, comprising at least one overmolding step for molding and securing together:

• the capsule and the external body, and
• the external body and the cage.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

• [Fig. 1a]
• [Fig. 1b] Les figures 1a et 1b présentent des vues en coupe, d'un récipient à col avec respectivement : (a) un bouchon partiellement enfoncé dans le col et une coiffe de verrouillage conforme à la présente invention, en position de maintien intermédiaire, et (b) un bouchon enfoncé dans le col et une coiffe de verrouillage conforme à la présente invention, en position de verrouillage ;
• [Fig. 2a]
• [Fig. 2b] Les figures 2a et 2b présentent respectivement (a) une vue « éclatée » des éléments d'une coiffe de verrouillage conforme à la présente invention, et (b) une vue en coupe d'une coiffe de verrouillage conforme à l'invention avec ses éléments solidarisés (capsule, corps externe et cage) ;
• [Fig. 3a]
• [Fig. 3b] Les figures 3a, 3b présentent des vues en perspective de cages d'une coiffe de verrouillage conforme à la présente invention ;
• [Fig. 4a]
• [Fig. 4b]
• [Fig. 4c]
• [Fig. 4d]
• [Fig. 4e] Les figures 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d et 4e présentent les étapes du processus de séparation entre une coiffe de verrouillage conforme à la présente invention et le récipient sur lequel elle est verrouillée.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge from the detailed description of the invention which follows with reference to the appended figures in which:

• [ Fig. 1a ]
• [ Fig. 1b ] THE figures 1a and 1b present sectional views of a neck container with respectively: (a) a cap partially pressed into the neck and a locking cap according to the present invention, in an intermediate holding position, and (b) a cap pushed into the neck the collar and a locking cap according to the present invention, in the locking position;
• [ Fig. 2a ]
• [ Fig. 2b ] THE figures 2a and 2b respectively present (a) an “exploded” view of the elements of a locking cap according to the present invention, and (b) a sectional view of a locking cap according to the invention with its secured elements (capsule, external body and cage);
• [ Fig. 3a ]
• [ Fig. 3b ] THE figures 3a, 3b present perspective views of cages of a locking cap according to the present invention;
• [ Fig. 4a ]
• [ Fig. 4b ]
• [ Fig. 4c ]
• [ Fig. 4d ]
• [ Fig. 4th ] THE figures 4a, 4b, 4c , 4d and 4e present the steps of the separation process between a locking cap according to the present invention and the container on which it is locked.

In the descriptive part, the same references in the figures may be used for elements of the same type.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a locking cap 100 for a container 200 with a neck, intended to block a plug 10 in the neck 201 of said container 200. The container 200 can in particular adopt the shape of a bottle, having a neck 201 of circular opening, ending in a collar 202 flared relative to the outer perimeter of the neck 201 ( figure 1a ). In the field of pharmaceutical applications, there are standards in terms of internal diameter of neck 201 of container 200: 13mm and 20mm are examples.

The cap 10 has a circular section and a T shape with a head 11 and a foot 12, the head 11 being of greater diameter than the foot 12. Thus, when the foot 12 of the cap 10 is completely inserted into the neck 201, the head 11 blocks against collar 202.

Note that when the contents of the bottle are intended to be freeze-dried, the cap 10 has an opening in its foot 12, to allow the passage of evaporative flows as long as the foot 12 of the cap 10 is not completely inserted into the neck 202.

The locking cap 100, when associated with the cap 10, is capable of adopting two positions on the container 200: a first position, called intermediate holding position in which the cap 10 is partially pressed into the neck 201 ( figure 1a ). It is in this position that the container 200 can be subjected to a freeze-drying step, because the partial depression of the cap 10 allows the evaporative flows to pass through the opening provided in the foot 12 of said cap.

The cap 100 associated with the cap 10 can also adopt a second position, called locking, in which the cap 10 is completely depressed, and locked in the neck 201 by the cap 100 ( figure 1b ). In this position, the cap 10 hermetically closes the container 200, the foot 12 being completely surrounded by the neck 201 of the container 200.

The locking cap 100 comprises a capsule 40, an external body 30 and a cage 20 ( figure 2a, figure 2b ). The external body 30 is configured to completely surround the cage 20, so as to prevent any access to said cage 20 from the outside, when the cap 100 locks the cap 10 on the container 200.

The external body 30 has a generally cylindrical shape; it is defined by an upper face 30a and a cylindrical wall 30b centered on a main axis z. The free end of the cylindrical wall 30b defines an opening, adapted to accommodate the cage 20, and the cap 10 before positioning the cap 100 on the neck of the container 200.

The external body 30 has a breakable strip 35, visible on the figure 4b and the figure 4c . The breakable strip 35 extends from the upper face 30a to the free end of the cylindrical wall 30b. It can for example consist of a radial portion of the upper face 30a, continuing on a portion of the cylindrical wall 30b, said portions being delimited by a double groove at which the thickness of the external body 30 is reduced.

Capsule 40 ( figure 2a ) is arranged on the upper face 30a of the external body 30 and secured to the breakable strip 35 at a first fixing zone F1 ( figure 1a, figure 1b , figure 2b ).

To achieve this fixing, the elements to be joined, which are the capsule 40 and the external body 30, may include mechanical retaining means capable of cooperating to form the first fixing zone F1. The mechanical retaining means may in particular consist of a rim or shoulder, a dovetail system, etc. ( figure 2b ). For example, the capsule 40 may include a tenon intended to pass through an orifice present on the upper face 30a of the external body 30, and in particular in the portion belonging to the breakable strip 35. The attachment between the capsule 40 and the external body 30 can be done by bolting. It can also be obtained by forming the capsule 40 and the external body 30 by an overmolding technique.

The first fixing zone F1 may involve chemical adhesion between the materials of the elements to be joined. For example, the capsule 40 and the external body 30 can be formed by an overmolding technique, from identical or different plastic materials, but capable of adhering to each other.

These two options for joining (mechanically and chemically) the capsule 40 and the external body 30 can of course be implemented jointly to form the first fixing zone F1.

The cage 20 of the locking cap 100 comprises an upper ring 21 and a plurality of branches 22 connected to the upper ring 21 and defining therewith a generally cylindrical shape of the cage 20, the central axis of which is the main axis z ( figure 3a, figure 3b ). When the cage 20 is locked inside the external body 30, the upper ring 21 is pressed against an internal surface of the upper face 30a. The cap 10 is intended to rest against the other side of the upper ring 21, as is visible on the figure 1a And there figure 1b . The locking of the cage 20 in the body 30 is done for example, by cooperation of lugs 221 in a complementary groove 301 provided in the internal wall of the body 30 ( figure 2a, figure 2b ).

The cage 20 also comprises a plurality of bridges 25,26, each connecting two neighboring branches 22 to each other. In the examples illustrated on the figures 3a and 3b , the cage has six branches 22 and six bridges 25, but a different number could of course be implemented.

Note that two types of bridges 25,26 are preferentially present around the perimeter of the cage 20: first bridges 25 are positioned at or reach an intermediate altitude between the upper ring 21 and the end of the branches 22; second bridges 26 connect the ends of neighboring branches 22 and are positioned at or reach an altitude lower than the aforementioned intermediate altitude ( figure 3a, figure 3b ). There is preferably an alternation of first and second bridges (25,26) around the perimeter of the cage 20. Advantageously, the first bridges 25 occupy between 20% and 40% of the perimeter of the cage 20, for example 30 %; and the second bridges 26 occupy between 40% and 70% of said perimeter, for example 60%. The remaining perimeter to reach 100% is occupied by 22 branches.

According to an embodiment particularly suited to the implementation of freeze-drying steps, each first bridge 25 is designed to provide an open space 251 between it and the collar 202, when the cap 100 is in its intermediate holding position ( figure 3b ). The cage 20 thus has open spaces 251, distributed around the perimeter of the cage 20, allowing effective evacuation of evaporative flows during freeze-drying stages.

The first bridges 25 can alternatively be devoid of the open space 251 (therefore be full up to the free end of the branches 22) or provided with a much more restricted space, not effective for evacuation of gas flow but useful, for example for mechanical reasons or part design or even gripping reasons.

Preferably, the cage 20 comprises a plurality of first tongues 23, each being supported by a first bridge 25. Each first tongue 23 is flexible and inclined relative to the branches 22 towards the inside of the cage 20, at an angle between 20° and 60°, advantageously around 45°, in the direction of the upper ring 21. These first tabs 23 are intended to block the plug 10 inside the cage 20, against the upper ring 21, when the plug 10 is associated with the cap 100. The first tabs 23 flex to allow the head 11 of the plug 10 to pass when the latter is introduced into the cage 20, and come to block under the head 11, to prevent the plug 10 from extract from said cage 20.

Thanks to these first tabs 23, the cap 10 remains firmly attached to the cap 100 and no accidental separation between cap 10 and cap 100 can take place, in particular, when the cap 100 is in its intermediate holding position on the container 200.

The cage 20 advantageously comprises a plurality of second tongues 24, each supported by a second bridge 26. Each second tongue 24 is flexible and inclined relative to the branches 22 towards the inside of the cage 20, at an angle between 20° and 60°, advantageously around 30°, in the direction of the upper ring 21. These second tongues 24 are intended to remain above the collar 202, slightly raised or in contact with it, when the cap 100 is in the intermediate holding position ( figure 1a ). In this intermediate holding position, the second bridges 26 and the branches 22 are intended to surround at least partly the collar 202. This configuration allows a more stable and secure mechanical holding of the cap 10 - cap 100 assembly, during potential freeze-drying steps.

Furthermore, the second tongues 24 are intended to rest under the flange 202 of the neck 201 of the container 200, when the cap 100 is in the locking position ( figures 1b ). Indeed, when switching to the locked position, the cap 10 - cap 100 assembly will descend into/around the neck 201 of the container 200, so as to completely push the foot 12 of the cap 10 into the neck 201, until that its head 11 rests on the flange 202. When pushed in, the second tabs 24 flex and recede to allow the flange 202 to pass, and become blocked under the latter, thus locking the cap 10 on the container 200. Note that, in the locking position, the first tabs 23 disappear because they are supported against the peripheral edge of the collar 202. They therefore do not remain under the head 11 of the cap 10 and allow it to take support on the collar 202. The first bridges 25 then surround the peripheral edge of the collar 202.

The cage 20 comprises at least one flexible member 27, one end of which is integral with a bridge 25,26 and another end, free, is oriented towards the upper ring 21. The flexible member 27 is able to flex towards the exterior of the cage 20. In the examples illustrated, it is integral with a second bridge 26 but this configuration is not limiting; it is entirely possible that the flexible member 27 is supported by a first bridge 25. The flexible member 27 is also adjacent to a fragile point 28 arranged in the bridge 25,26 supporting said member 27. The fragile point 28 can correspond to a notch ( figure 3a ) or a partial or total split ( figure 3b ), arranged on said bridge 25,26. This fragile point 28 constitutes a preferred breaking point when a force is applied to said bridge 25,26, in particular via the flexible member 27.

According to the present invention, the flexible member 27 of the cage 20 is secured to the breakable strip 35 of the external body 30 at the level of a second fixing zone F2 ( figure 2b ).

To carry out this fixing, the elements to be joined, which are the flexible member 27 and the external body 30, may include mechanical retaining means capable of cooperating to form the second fixing zone F2. For example, the mechanical retaining means may consist of a rim, a shoulder 271 (arranged on the flexible member 27 to cooperate with a complementary hollow in the external body 30) or even a dovetail system, obtained by forming the flexible member 27 and the external body 30 by an overmolding technique.

As stated with reference to the first fixing zone F1, the second fixing zone F2 may involve chemical adhesion between the materials of the elements to be joined. For example, the flexible member 27 and the external body 30 can be formed by an overmolding technique, from identical or different plastic materials, but capable of adhering to each other.

These two options for joining (mechanically and chemically) the flexible member 27 and the external body 30 can of course be implemented jointly to form the second fixing zone F2.

Advantageously, the second fixing zone F2 is located, at altitude along the main axis z, between the upper face 30a of the external body 30 and half-height of the cylindrical wall 30b of the external body 30, which brings the advantages of a lever arm during the process of total removal of the locking cap 100. Of course, the second fixing zone F2 could alternatively be located at any altitude between the bridge 25,26 supporting the flexible member 27 and the upper ring 21.

The locking cap 100 according to the present invention is completely removable and therefore allows the removal of the cap 10 with a view to completely opening the container 200.

In practice, when one wishes to access the contents of the container 200, one raises one edge of the capsule 40 to grasp it and exert a tearing force. Advantageously, as illustrated in particular on the figure 2b and the figure 4a , a local gripping zone 43 is defined by the mutual shape of the capsule 40 and the body 30 in a peripheral part of the cap 100. This force is transmitted from the capsule 40 to the breakable strip 35, these two elements being integral ( figure 4b ). The tearing force, if it is sufficient, will induce a rupture between the breakable strip 35 and the rest of the external body 30 (for example, at the level of the double groove of reduced thickness) over the entire extent of the breakable strip 35 ( figure 4c ). The external body 30 is then open, the breakable strip 25 being completely separated from the rest of said body 30. Thus, the rest of the body 30 can easily be separated from the other elements of the locking cap 100 (capsule 40, breakable strip 35 and cage 20) and container 200.

Advantageously, a hinge or flexible articulation zone 32 can be arranged in the cylindrical wall 30b of the body 30, in a region diametrically opposite to the cylindrical wall portion 30b corresponding to the breakable strip 35; this facilitates the separation into two parts of the external body 30 and consequently its separation from the container 200.

The capsule 40 and the breakable strip 35 for their part, remain integral with the flexible member 27 of the cage 20, at the level of the second fixing point F2 ( figure 4d ). The continued application of a force to the capsule 40 - breakable strip 35 - flexible member 27 assembly, oriented towards the outside of the cage 20, transmits a tearing stress at the level of the fragile point 28 of the bridge 25 ,26 supporting the flexible member 27. If the fragile point 28 is a notch or partial slot, the applied force causes the breakage 28' of the bridge 25,26 in the extension of said partial notch or slot, and the deformation of the broken bridge 26' towards the outside of the cage 20. If the fragile point 28 is a total slot, the applied force induces the deformation of the bridge 26' and its movement towards the outside of the cage 20.

In all cases, the cage 20 can then be easily separated from the neck 201 of the container 200, leaving free access to the cap 10 ( figure 4e ), which can, in turn, be removed to access the pharmaceutical product.

Thanks to the characteristics of the locking cap 100 according to the invention, it is easy to remove it from the container 200 when it is necessary to open the cap 10 to access the pharmaceutical product. Gripping the capsule 40 is simple and ergonomic, and the fact that this capsule 40 is not only secured to the breakable strip 35 of the external body 30 but also to the flexible member 27 of the cage 20, facilitates the successive separation of the body 30 and of the cage 20. Holding the capsule 40, then potentially the capsule 40 and the breakable strip 35, is practical and well suited to operators wearing gloves, because the gripping surface is relatively large, compared to a flexible member 27 taken in isolation. The application of force and its reproducibility are facilitated by this ergonomic grip.

The different elements forming the cap 100 according to the present invention (cage 20, external body 30, capsule 40) are preferably made by molding plastic materials compatible with the targeted medical applications and other sterilization constraints.

As mentioned previously, these three elements can advantageously be manufactured during one or more overmolding steps, to mold them and secure them directly together at the level of the first F1 and second F2 fixing zones. For example, the capsule 40 can be overmolded on the external body 30; then the body 30 - capsule 40 assembly can be overmolded on the cage 20. Of course, the overmolding steps could also be carried out in another order, by any process known from the state of the art.

The cage 20, the external body 30 and the capsule 32 may be formed from materials such as polycarbonate (PC), polypropylene (PP) or poly-butylene terephthalate (PBT). Advantageously, the capsule 40 could be formed from flexible plastic materials such as, for example, polypropylene (PP), to make it easier to grip. We can also choose to make the external body 30 in two different materials: a first material to form the breakable strip 35, said first material can also be chosen to form the capsule 40; and a second material to form the rest of the external body 30, possibly more rigid. For example, the first material may be polypropylene, and the second material may be polybutylene terephthalate.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the modes of implementation and examples described, and alternative embodiments can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the claims.

Claims (11)

Locking cap (100) for a container (200) with a neck, intended to lock a plug (10) in the neck (201) of the container (200) and comprising: - an external body (30), defined by an upper face (30a) and a cylindrical wall (30b) centered on a main axis (z), the external body (30) having a breakable strip (35) extending from the upper face (30a) up to a free end of the cylindrical wall (30b), - a capsule (40), placed on the upper face (30a) and secured to the breakable strip (35), - a cage (20) locked in the external body (30), and intended to surround a flange (202) of the neck (201) of the container (200) in a locking position of the cap (100); the cage (20) comprising an upper ring (21), against which the plug (10) is intended to bear when it is placed in the cage (20), a plurality of branches (22) connected to the upper ring (21) and defining therewith a general cylindrical shape of the cage (20), a plurality of bridges (25,26), each connecting two neighboring branches (22) to each other, and a flexible member (27), of which one end is secured to a bridge (25,26) and another end, free, is oriented towards the upper ring (21), said flexible member (27) being adjacent to a fragile point (28) of said bridge (25 ,26); the locking cap (100) being characterized in that the flexible member (27) of the cage (20) is integral with the breakable strip (35) of the external body (30). Locking cap (100) according to the preceding claim, in which the fragile point (28) corresponds to a notch or a slot provided on the bridge (25,26) supporting the flexible member (27). Locking cap (100) according to one of the preceding claims, in which: - the capsule (40) is secured to the breakable strip (35) at a first fixing zone (F1), - the flexible member (27) is secured to the breakable strip (35) at a second fixing zone (F2), and - the first (F1) and/or the second (F2) fixing zone(s) is(are) formed by mechanical retaining means arranged on each element to be joined and cooperating with each other. Locking cap (100) according to one of the preceding claims, in which: - the capsule (40) is secured to the breakable strip (35) at a first fixing zone (F1), - the flexible member (27) is secured to the breakable strip (35) at a second fixing zone (F2), and - the first (F1) and/or the second (F2) fixing zone(s) involve(s) chemical adhesion between the materials of the elements to be joined. Locking cap (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the mechanical retaining means comprise a rim, a shoulder or a dovetail system. Locking cap (100) according to one of claims 3 to 5, in which the second fixing zone (F2) is located, in height along the main axis (z), between the upper face (30a) of the external body (30) and half-height of the cylindrical wall (30b) of the external body (30). Locking cap (100) according to one of the preceding claims, in which: - the external body (30) is made from a first material and a second material, the first material forming the breakable strip (35) and the second material forming the rest of the external body (30), - the capsule (40) is made from the first material. Locking cap (100) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the capsule (40) is formed from polypropylene. Locking cap (100) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the external body (30) is formed of one or more material(s) chosen from polypropylene and polybutylene terephthalate. Locking cap (100) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the cage (20) is formed from polycarbonate. Method of manufacturing a locking cap (100) according to one of the preceding claims, comprising at least one overmolding step for molding and securing together: - the capsule (40) and the external body (30), and - the external body (30) and the cage (20).

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