ES2211632T3 - CLOSURE OF SPRING ACTION WITH ELASTIC SEAL. - Google Patents

Abstract

Resealable closure comprising a flexible arched panel (2) that forms part of the wall of a container or lid for it, the area of the flexible arched panel being greater than the area of the wall of the container or lid defined by an action line hinge, so that the flexible arched panel (2) can be forced to pass from a convex to a concave shape and vice versa, with a spring action on the center that makes the flexible arched panel (2) pass through of the wall area of the container or lid defined by the hinge (7), the flexible arched panel (2) being concave inwardly to at least partially close an opening of the container or lid when it is in a first position, and being convex outward to form a supply opening in the second position, characterized in that the container or lid has a seal (9) comprising an elastic gel composition adhered thereto, which seals the a Bertura when the flexible arched panel is in the first position.

Description

Seal spring closure with seal elastic.

Field and background of the invention

The present invention relates to improvements of the spring action closures.

Spring closures are widely used in containers for liquids and creams, such as containers for Cosmetics and household cleaning products. But not they are necessarily more effective than other types of closures, such such as screw fasteners for example, consumers like and, therefore, have had considerable commercial success.

Figures 1a to 1c show an example of a spring action closure, which is described in more detail in the UK patent application GB 2,269,811. A part of the wall at the supply end of the container is flexible and It is defined by a thin section that acts as a hinge. Is hinge also defines an opening through which it must pass a flexible panel The area of the opening is slightly smaller than The flexible panel area. The flexible panel can be either in a convex position, open position (not shown) or in a concave position, closed (shown). Pressing on the flexible panel when in the convex and open position, it deforms to pass through a smaller opening, so that its curvature is reversed and penetrates into a concave opening of the container, closing it this way.

However, in practice, the closures of Spring of this type generally fail to seal only by the action described above. A flexible panel made of plastics may fail to seal the corners of the opening (see Figures 1a and 1b), since the distribution of forces on the panel flexible, it is not normal to the closing surfaces, except in the center of the panel. In addition, although the opening must be molded To take the natural shape of the flexible panel, the sealing will not be consistent due to variations in material properties of the closure, such as hardness at different temperatures, or hysteresis and sliding in the materials used in its building.

Therefore, a force is provided insufficient to maintain a seal by means of the flexible panel in the closed position. Although this may be suitable for products pulverized or granulated, this is not the case for liquids. In particularly when said containers are subjected to pressures internal increases, for example due to an increase in temperature, leaks may occur. Clearly, a closure does not properly closed in these circumstances and its use is limited particularly when required for long storage term.

Brief Description of the Invention

In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, a resealable closure comprises a curved flexible panel which is part of the wall of a container or lid thereof, the arcuate area of the flexible panel being greater than the area of the wall of the container or lid, defined by the line of action of the hinge, so that the flexible arched panel can be forced to move from a convex to a concave shape and vice versa with a spring action on the center when the panel is made flexible arching pass through the vessel wall area or lid defined by the hinge, the flexible arched panel being concave inward to close at least partially a opening of the container or lid when it is in a first position and being convex out to form an opening of supply in the second position, where the container or lid It has a seal comprising an elastic seal attached to it which seals the opening when the flexible arched panel is in the first position.

In the present invention, the problem of filtration in the conventional spring closures described previously, it is overcome by providing an elastic seal between the opening and flexible panel which deforms when closed to create a liquid tight seal. In particular, the opening in the hinge region of the closure is closed by the elastic flow of the sealant material, exerting very little force of closing, if any.

The seal can be molded by co-injection in a portion of the perimeter of the opening, or instead or in addition, over the perimeter portion of the flexible panel. As an alternative, the seal can be an initially separate component that is subsequently assembled with the closure during manufacturing.

Preferably, the elastic seal material it has an elongation of at least 100%, preferably of at least 200%, and more preferably of at least 1000%, a compression setting at 70 ° C of less than 30%, preferably less than 20%, and even more preferably less than 10%, a cone penetration (ASTM D217 for greases) of 10 to 40 mm, an initial softening point greater than 100 ° C, and a relaxation of effort greater than 500 seconds.

Although the elastic seal can be a foam closed cell, silicone or polyurethane rubber, preferably It is an elastic gel composition.

It is helpful that the elastic gel composition present a low compression setting, as this makes it possible for the seal quickly returns to essentially the same form, when The compression force of the flexible panel is eliminated. It is desirable that the elastic gel composition is sticky, so that it takes the form and adhere lightly to the surfaces that fit together. This makes it possible for the closure to survive the increases. pressure transients. Preferably, the seal has the capacity of releasing adhesive from the surfaces that fit without breaking. It must also be soft enough to accommodate some foreign material that contaminates the surface of the seal, without the loss of it.

A material particularly suitable for use As a sealant, it is an extended liquid polymer composition. From Preferably, the polymer of the liquid polymer composition Extended is a block copolymer. More preferably, the polymer of the extended liquid polymer composition is a block copolymer with hard blocks and soft blocks. Plus preferably, the polymer of the liquid polymer composition extended is a block copolymer of styrene-diene. Even more preferably, the polymer of the extended liquid polymer composition is a copolymer of blocks of poly (styrene-butadiene-styrene) (SBS), a block copolymer of poly (styrene-isoprene-styrene) (SIS), a block copolymer of poly (styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene) (SEBS), a block copolymer of poly (styrene-ethylene-propylene-styrene) (SEPS), or a block copolymer of poly (styrene-ethylene-propylene) (SEP).

Other suitable elastic gels include biogels, for example gels derived from plants and animals. The Examples of these include polysaccharides, for example cellulose from hydroxypropyl, cellulose derivatives; or protein gels, such such as gelatin, collagen derivatives and latex rubber.

In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention, the combination of a container and a resealable closure according to the first aspect of the present invention.

A package comprising the combination of container and resealable closure in accordance with this invention, has the ability to contain a liquid under pressure, and in in particular, a liquid containing dissolved gas. Therefore, The present invention can be used to store and supply carbonated drinks.

In a preferred example, the container is a tube flexible that can contain a paste or cream.

In another example, the container has a tongue adapted to or integral with the flexible panel, to help the resealable closure operation.

Brief description of the drawings

The examples of the present invention are will describe in detail now, referring to the drawings that accompany it, in which:

Figure 1a shows a known example of a Spring action closure in the closed position, and figures 1b and 1c are partial cross sections of the closure and its film hinge showing poor sealing resulting from An opening in the corners.

Figure 2a shows the same closure as the Figures 1a to 1c, with a closure according to the present invention, and Figure 2b shows the same closure in the open position.

Figures 3 and 4 show the panel closure flexible as an integral part of the container, in its positions, closed and open.

Figure 5 shows an integral design alternative based on a type of flexible tube of the container.

Figures 6a, 6b and 7 show examples of closures that detect evidence of violation thereof.

Figures 8a to 8f show a type closure of flexible panel in which the flexible section of the panel is a initially separated part.

Figures 9a to 9d show a closure with a integral seal to seal between a container and the body of the closing.

Figures 10a and 10b show an attached cover to a container by means of a spring-loaded lace in cooperation.

Figure 11 shows a flexible panel closure Soldier to a vessel.

Figures 12a to 15c show a tongue attached to the flexible panel to aid in the closing operation resealable

Detailed description of the invention

Figure 1a is a cylindrical closure for attach to a container, comprising a body 1 with a panel flexible 2 attached to the cylindrical wall, and an end wall 4 against which flexible panel 2 closes, that is, panel flexible arch 2 cooperates with a substantially coincident cut 5 on the end wall 4. One or more edges 3 attached to, or integral with flexible panel 2, ensure flexible panel 2 in the longitudinal direction while maintaining flexibility in the radial plane; which results in a closing action Complete and that can be repeated.

Figure 1b is a partial cross section through the outer end 4 of the closure of Figure 1a, which shows how flexible panel 2 closes against the cut 5 on the end wall 4.

Unfortunately, the closure in some circumstances does not offer proper sealing, particularly in the corners

The reason that this simple closure is not always provide a good seal, it can be seen in figure 1c. When the flexible panel 2 is closed, the film hinge 7 is too rigid to allow them to completely fit the flexible panel 2 and cut 5, resulting in remaining an opening 8. Another cause of this problem is that all the force on the flexible panel 2 in the area of the film hinge 7, it produced according to arrow F, and the maximum closing force is realized in the center of the flexible panel 2 according to the arrow G. Therefore, there is almost no force available to close the opening 8 against the film hinge resistance 7.

An example of the following is illustrated in Figures 2a and 2b The present invention. In the present invention, the opening 8 is sealed by applying a seal 9 to cut 5. May not it is desirable or possible for the seal 9 to bond with the film of hinge 7, particularly if the seal 9 is going to be molded by co-injection on cut 5, where due to certain materials sealers, molding temperatures would melt the hinge of film 7. In this case, a small opening 10 may remain between the seal 9 and the film hinge 7. This is not harmful because the sealant material will flow to seal the small opening 10. If the application so requires, the sealant material It can be molded into flexible panel 2.

When flexible panel 2 is closed against the cut 5, as illustrated in figure 2a, seal 9 is what soft enough to flow elastically within openings 8 and 10, thereby forming a seal between the adjacent surfaces of the cut 5, the flexible panel 2, and the film hinge 7. Although the closing force of the flexible panel 2 is virtually zero in the area of the film hinge 7, the sealant material flows elastically into openings 8 and 10, and will exert a small pressure against the adjacent surface, compensating for the lack of closing force in this area.

The applicant has discovered that a material sealant consisting of a liquid polymer composition extended, it is particularly effective in this application, since acts almost like a hydraulic fluid, so that the pressure exerted in the center of the flexible panel 2 is transmitted laterally until the pressure on the entire seal 9 is almost uniform. Figures 3 and 4 show containers that have a Flexible panel closure, in closed and open positions. In the Figure 3, the flexible panel 2 is adhered to the upper wall 11 with a film hinge 7, and closes against the cut 5 in the side wall 12. This adaptation is preferred for liquids to serve, such as fruit juice or milk, because the air it can enter the container via the open part Z, while the liquid is served by the bottom K. This prevents "bubbling" caused by the air that passes through the liquid and inside the bowl An edge 13 extending from the cut 5 it helps the liquid be served in a controlled way, and also it can serve to provide a convenient opening, from the which one can drink the liquid. In addition, the edge can be the rest of the device that shows evidence of violation after removing the removable strips described later with reference to the Figures 6a and 6b. In Figure 4, flexible panel 2 is adhered to the side wall 12 of a container by means of a hinge of film 7, and closes against the cut 5 in the end wall 4 of the container. This adaptation is suitable for more liquids viscous, powders and granules.

Figure 5 shows a type of flexible tube of container, frequently used for creams and pastes. The tube flexible 14 has a flexible panel closure 2 attached to the wall at the end 4, with a film hinge 7 that closes against the cut 15 on the side wall 16. A seal 9, as described previously, it is adhered to flexible panel 2 or cut 15. Of preference, the side wall 16, the cut 15, the hinge of film 7 and flexible panel 2 are integrally molded with the flexible tube 14. Flexible panel 2 can be heat sealed or joined otherwise to court 15, to produce evidence of violation, as will be described later. The advantage of this design is that the type Flexible tube container can be filled from one end open, and heat sealed, molded or sealed in this way, to retain the content, to provide a cost container acceptable. Another advantage of this modality is that the tube can be keep vertical over the closing end without filtration of the content.

A common requirement for closures is that they must present evidence of violation, that is, a unambiguous evidence that the closure has been opened. The figures 6a and 6b, are longitudinal and partial cross sections of the type of flexible panel closure, and illustrate an applicable principle to all the examples described here. The body 1 has a wall of the end 4 and a flexible panel 2, shown in an open position. During manufacturing, the seal 9 is molded, either on the face of sealing of the cut 5, or preferably on the flexible panel 2, when flexible panel 2 is in the open position. The flexible panel 2, has a strip 17 attached by means of a core thin 18, and cut 5 has a flange 19, also with a rib 17 adhered by a thin soul 18. Flexible panel 2 then it is closed as illustrated in figure 6b, and the strips 17 are joined by means of a heat seal or linked from another way. Thin souls must be adjacent. Seal 9 is compressed to seal the opening, and a seal is provided additional by means of linked strips 17. When you want open the closure for the first time, the linked strips 17 are broken to along the thin soul line, which allows to open the flexible panel 2. Seal 9 then works as it is described above.

Figure 7 shows an improvement, which can be adapted to all types of flexible panel above for you close The lid 20 has a flexible panel 2, and attached to it by frangible means at approximately right angles, is a removable strip 21, which has a finger grip 22. This construction prevents flexible panel 2 from flexing until that the removable strip 21 has been removed.

An alternative procedure to manufacture a Flexible panel closure is shown in Figures 8a to 8f, in where the flexible panel is an initially separated component. Referring to Figure 8a, the body 1 has a wall of the end 4, and a panel 22 between the wall of end 4 and body 1. The panel 22 is perforated by an opening 23, and the wall 24 of the body 1 is detached to form a groove 25 around the panel 22. Slot 25 extends to form a bag 26 between the wall 24 and panel 12. A hole 27 is formed through the wall 24 inside the bag 26. The flexible panel 2 has a retaining fastener 28 with a hole 29, and is adhered to the flexible panel 2 for at least one frangible connection 30. The hole 29 has a suitable size to engage with a projection frangible 31 of the upper surface of the end wall 4. A fastener 32 is designed to fit inside hole 27 of the wall 24 of the body 1. A seal 9 is adhered to the perimeter of the flexible panel 2. A view of the other side of flexible panel 2 shows seal 9. To build the seal, flexible panel 2 is inserted into groove 25, until stop 32 engages in hole 27. The lower cut of the stop 32 ensures that the panel 2, cannot be removed once it has been assembled. So he hole 29 is driven over frangible projection 31, and again, the lower cut of the frangible projection avoids the opening without breaking said overhang.

Figures 8b and 8c are cross sections which show the flexible panel in the open and closed positions, respectively, and the way the seal 9 seals against the panel 22. Figure 8d shows a rear view of the flexible panel two.

Figure 8e shows an assembled closure, and the Figure 8f shows the appearance after removing the bra from retention 28 of flexible panel 2. This breaks the frangible projection to leave a small piece 31a, thus providing a evidence that the closure has been opened. The shape of the seal 9 must follow the one in opening 13, so that the product is not accumulate in bag 26. Again, it is quite possible to mold or otherwise adhere the seal 9 to the face of the panel 12, surrounding the opening 13.

Figures 9a to 9d and figures 10a and 10b show a closure of the flexible panel type, where the element of seal for the movable panel is continuous between the body of the closure and its associated container.

Figure 9a shows a cover 20 comprising a side wall 1 and an end wall 4, and flexible panel 2 adhered by a film hinge 7 to the end wall 4. The flexible panel 2 is illustrated in the open position for reasons of clarity Figure 9b is a view of the inside of the lid 20. A seal 9 is molded inside or otherwise adhered within a groove 33 on the inner face of the end wall 4, and continues on the face inside the flexible panel 2. Therefore, the Seal 9 may resemble an "O" ring (or a seal of similar section) fixed to the bottom wall 4 of the cover 20, and free to move with flexible panel 2. There is a cut 34 in the side wall 1, separated from flexible panel 2 and seal 9 when Panel 2 is closed. Referring to Figure 9c, the container 35 or the body of a lid (for example a threaded lid)  It has an edge 36 and a cut 37, the shape of which is suitable for seal against seal 9 attached to flexible panel 2 when It is in the closed position. When lid 20 is assembled to container 35, as illustrated in Figure 9d, panel 2 presses the seal 9 inside the cut 37 of the container 35.

In figure 10a, the lid 20 and the container 35 they have a cooperative spring adjustment 38. The lid 20 is pushed to container 35 so that edge 36 of container 35 it is compressed as a seal within the seal 9 located in the slot 33, and is held in that position by spring adjustment 38. Seal 9, which continues on the flexible panel cooperates with this mode with and sealed against the cut 37 in the wall of the container 35 when flexible panel 2 is in the closed position.

Figure 11 shows a similar type of closure, the seal 9 being attached to the container instead of the flexible panel 2. In this adaptation, the connection between the lid 20 and the container 35 is performed by means of ultrasonic welding in 39, or by a Adhesive or sealant.

Alternatively, a ring can be incorporated of plastic seal loaded with metal, which melts through the application of radiofrequency energy to join and seal the two parts

For some applications such as closures to be used to dispense drinks, or those that are used to supply irritating or dangerous chemicals, it is preferred that hands of the user do not contact the product at supply. Figures 12a, 12b and 12c show a closure that has a tongue 40 attached by hinge 41 to flexible panel 2. Such and as shown in figures 12a and 12b, when panel 2 is in the closed position, the tongue 40 provides a security additional to prevent accidental opening cooperating with the edge 42 of the closure body 1. When the tongue 40 is separated from the edge 42, it serves as a fastener that can hold the user to open flexible panel 2, as illustrated in the Figure 12c

Figures 13a and 13b show a flexible panel 2 with a fixed tongue 43 with which the user can push the flexible panel or pull it to open or close the container.

A simpler way to keep the hands of the Free user of the product being supplied, is to extend the front of the flexible panel 2 to form a tongue 44 by means from which the panel can be operated, as illustrated in the figure 14.

Figures 15a, 15b and 15c show the way in that the flexible panel can be remotely operated by adhering a palette 45 to edge 46, which in turn is adhered to the flexible panel 2. Paddle 45 moves over fulcrum 47, so that when the user presses paddle 45 according to arrow S, a force is exerted on panel 2 in the direction opposite to the arrow S caused Let the panel open. To close panel 2, the user pushes over the edge 46.

In all modalities shown in the figures  12 to 15, it is convenient to have one or more edges that run longitudinally along the flexible panel, which ensures a sufficient rigidity to the panel to transmit the opening force or Close without buckling.

Claims (22)

1. Resealable closure comprising a flexible arched panel (2) that is part of the wall of a container or lid for it, the area of the flexible arched panel being greater than the area of the wall of the container or lid defined by a line hinge action, so that the flexible arched panel (2) can be forced to pass from a convex to a concave shape and vice versa, with a spring action on the center that makes the flexible arched panel (2) pass through the area of the wall of the container or lid defined by the hinge (7), the flexible arcuate panel (2) being concave inwardly to at least partially close an opening of the container or lid when it is in a first position, and being convex outward to form a supply opening in the second position, characterized in that the container or lid has a seal (9) comprising an elastic gel composition adhered thereto, which seals the to opening when the flexible arched panel is in the first position. 2. Resealable closure according to claim 1, wherein the elastic gel composition has an elongation of by at least 100%, preferably at least 200%, and more preferably at least 1000%, a compression adjustment to 70 ° C less than 30%, preferably less than 20%, and even more preferably less than 10%, a cone penetration (ASTM D217 for greases) from 10 to 40 mm, a higher initial softening point of 100ºC, and a relaxation of effort greater than 500 seconds. 3. Resealable closure according to claim 1 or 2, in which the gel composition comprises a copolymer of blocks that has hard blocks and relatively blocks elastomeric extended with an oil in a preferred ratio of 5 parts of oil per 1 part of copolymer. 4. Resealable closure according to any of the previous claims, wherein the gel composition is a extended liquid polymer composition. 5. Resealable closure according to claim 4, wherein the polymer of the extended liquid polymer composition It is a block copolymer. 6. Resealable closure according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the polymer of the liquid polymer composition extended is a block copolymer that has hard blocks and soft blocks 7. Resealable closure according to any of the claims 4 to 6, wherein the polymer of the composition of Extended liquid polymer is a block copolymer of styrene-diene. 8. Resealable closure according to any of the claims 4 to 7, wherein the polymer of the composition of Extended liquid polymer is a block copolymer of poly (styrene-butadiene-styrene) (SBS), a block copolymer of poly (styrene-isoprene-styrene) (SIS), a block copolymer of poly (styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene) (SEBS), a block copolymer of poly (styrene-ethylene-propylene-styrene) (SEPS), or a block copolymer of poly (styrene-ethylene-propylene) (SEP). 9. Resealable closure according to any of the claims 4 to 8, wherein the charge liquid of the Extended liquid polymer composition is a paraffinic oil or naphthenic 10. Resealable closure according to any of the claims 4 to 9, wherein the liquid polymer composition Extended comprises between 80% and 90% of charge liquid and between 10% and 20% polymer. 11. Resealable closure according to any of the previous claims, which has a tongue (40) attached to or integral with the flexible panel (2) to assist in the operation of the resealable closure. 12. Resealable closure according to claim 11, where the tongue (40) is adhered to the flexible panel (2) by middle of a fulcrum (47). 13. Resealable closure according to any of the previous claims, further comprising a seal that shows an obvious violation (17, 18; 21, 22). 14. Resealable closure according to claim 13, in which the evident violation seal comprises a portion of extension formed in the flexible panel (17, 18). 15. Resealable closure according to any of the previous claims, which is manufactured as a part bowl integral. 16. Resealable closure according to any of the previous claims, wherein the hinge (7) is a part Integral resealable closure. 17. Resealable closure according to any of the previous claims, wherein the flexible panel (2, Figures 8a-8f) is manufactured as a component initially separated that can be fixed to the container or lid. 18. Resealable closure comprising a flexible arcuate panel (2) that is part of the wall of a container or lid for it, the area of the flexible arcuate panel being greater than the area of the wall of the container or lid defined by a line hinge action, so that the flexible arched panel (2) can be forced to pass from a convex to a concave shape and vice versa, with a spring action on the center that makes the flexible arched panel (2) pass through the wall area of the container or lid defined by the hinge (7), the flexible arcuate panel (2) being concave inwardly to at least partially close an opening in the container or lid when it is in a first position , and being convex outward to form a supply opening in the second position, characterized in that the container or lid has an elastic seal (9) adhered thereto that deforms to create a tight seal to liquids when the flexible arched panel (2) is in the first position. 19. The combination of a container and a closure resealable according to any of the preceding claims, in where the flexible panel seal is continuous by a seal that performs a seal between the body of the closure and the container. 20. The combination of a tube container flexible that has a resealable closure according to any of the claims 1 to 18. 21. The combination of a container with a closure resealable according to any of claims 1 to 18, which Contains a liquid under pressure. 22. A container according to claim 21, in which the liquid contains a dissolved gas.