ES2313381T3 - DISPENSING PLUG. - Google Patents

Abstract

A child resistant dispensing closure 1 having a smooth external surface. The closure 1 comprises a body 2 and a lid 3 , connected together by a hinge 5 . The lid 3 is held closed against the body 2 by a catch 6 . The closure 1 has a resilient ring 4 which in its deformed configuration co-operates with the catch 6 to unlock it and provides a lifting region 65 , by which a user may lift the lid 3 of the closure 1.

Description

Dispensing cap

The present invention relates to a plug dispenser, provided with a body and a lid. The body defines a dispensing hole through which the contents of a container to which the cap is attached. Cover It is attached to the body by a hinge, which allows the lid swing between a closed position, in which the lid seals the dispensing hole, and an open position, in which the hole  The dispenser is exposed and the contents of the container. In particular, the dispensing cap according to the The present invention is a child-proof dispensing cap and It includes a closure to lock the lid in its closed position. The lid can only be opened by applying two dissimilar movements simultaneously discrete by a user. It is usually considered to be difficult for a child to get this and it is unlikely that the plug will accidentally open

A child-proof cap of this general type it is disclosed in the document US-A-4790442. This patent describes the need to have two dissimilar and different movements to prevent the cap from being opened by a child. This patent is about also of the convenience of an alignment being provided between adjacent surfaces of the body and lid, to prevent the lid from being roasted easily to exert a force of opening on the lid. In the cap described in this patent, a user must first exert a radial pressure inwards in the two opposite sides of the lid on each side of the hinge, in order to expose an edge opposite the hinge, through which You can lift the lid below. This movement of squeeze also temporarily releases a closure.

The cap cover described in the document US-A-4790442 presents a plate substantially flat top with a side wall directed towards down. An arched groove extends through the top plate  opposite to the hinge and next to the side wall. Slot allows the side wall of the lid to be sunk by pressure on two diametrically opposite points, thereby moving a part of the side wall opposite the hinge. This displacement releases a closure and also provides a cantilever part in the cover with respect to the body, by which you can lift the top.

A drawback of this provision is that the top plate of the cap does not support the deformed part of the wall side. The arched groove subtends an angle of at least 180º, to allow the necessary deformation of the side wall. However, during the second stage of the opening movement, a user has to lift the lid using this unsupported section of side wall, which will be difficult and will result in a axial movement of the side wall relative to the top plate flat. Repeated movement will result in damage to the side wall not supported and may cause the closure (that this part of the lid leads) be ineffective.

Other childproof caps are known from the documents GB-A-1484517, FR-A-2591571, US-A-3603470 and WO-A-99/57031.

Another drawback of this provision is that, unlike the side walls of the lid and body, which join together to form a continuous surface, the top plate of the Side wall is separated by the arched groove. This slot can collect dirt or can be used to open the cap to lever with the use of teeth, for example, which will reduce even more the effectiveness of the plug.

The cap according to the present invention overcome these drawbacks by providing a dispensing cap provided with a cover that includes a top plate, which covers the ring both in its normal and deformed state. The ring Temporarily unlocks the lock, while defining a lifting to allow the lid to move into position open

In the cap according to the invention, the top plate of the cap has a smooth surface without cavities formed in it to trap dirt or other foreign objects and not can be easily manipulated to overcome the disposition of closing. In addition, the lifting area of the ring is supported by the top plate and when a user applies an axial force to the lifting area to lift the lid, the ring looks backed by the top plate, which makes it easier open the lid

In use, a user squeezes the ring on each side of the hinge, causing the ring to become oval, what which promotes the release of the closure, and also provides a Cantilever part with respect to the body, opposite the hinge. For open the cap, a lifting force must be applied simultaneously with the force of tightening to release the closure and Provide the cantilever part. If the force of tightening is loosened before applying the lifting force, the closure will return to fit and the flexible ring will relax and obliterate or so less will minimize the cantilever part. This will make it difficult to open the lid The two discrete dissimilar movements, applied simultaneously, they prevent the cap from being easily opened by a boy.

In one aspect, the invention provides a plug. dispenser comprising a body intended to join a container, a lid susceptible to movement with respect to the body between open and closed positions, including the cover a plate upper and side walls, a closure arranged to block the body with the lid, when the lid is in its closed position, a flexible ring that has a normal and a deformed state, in which the top plate covers the ring both in its normal state as in its deformed state, and in its deformed state the ring flexible unlocks the closure, while defining a tongue of lifting, to allow the lid to move into position open, characterized in that the flexible ring is supported inside the lid and the lid includes a plurality of windows to through which the flexible ring can be pressed to cause deformation

The windows can be provided on the wall side and / or on the adjacent top plate of the lid. A ring separate flexible is fixed inside the lid and parts of this ring protrude through the windows to allow tightening laterally the ring on each side of the hinge. When tightening, the part of the flexible ring opposite the hinge protrudes radially outward through another wall window side and thereby releases the closure and provides a part of lifting, by which you can lift and open the top.

This design can be improved by providing tabs attached to the flexible ring to protrude through the Windows. The tabs can be further improved including recessed for the fingers, to improve the ease with which You can tighten the ring laterally by a user. In addition, the area of lifting can be provided with another tongue, which protrudes from the lid as the ring deforms, to improve  the ease of lifting and opening the lid, after deforming the ring, tightening it.

This embodiment combines the advantage of a freely deformable flexible ring, which is not constrained by the cover or the side wall, while ensuring that the ring be completely surrounded by a top plate and a wall side of the lid to achieve a substantially smooth surface. It will be understood that the ring and windows can be designed to improve the continuous and smooth flow of the surface of the plug.

Next, the present will be described invention, by way of example only, with reference to the attached drawings, of which:

Figure 1 shows an isometric view (looking from above) of a cap with the lid in position open

Figure 2 shows an isometric view exploded (looking from above) of the same cap as the one shown in figure 1, with the lid open and top plate separate (not mounted yet);

Figure 3 shows a plan view of the cap shown in figures 1 and 2, with the lid in position normal closed;

Figure 4A shows a plan view of the cap shown in figure 2, with the lid in position distorted;

Figure 4B shows the same plan view as Figure 4A, with the top plate separated
withdrawal;

Figure 5 shows a side view of a alternative unit cap provided with a cover comprising a top plate with a monolithic side wall hanging from its periphery;

Figure 6 shows an isometric view (looking from above) of the same cap shown in Figure 5, with the lid in its open position;

Figure 7 shows an isometric view of the cap shown in figures 5 and 6, with the lid in position normal closed;

Figure 8 shows the same plug as the one shown in figure 7, in its closed deformed position;

Figure 9 shows an isometric view of another cap (similar to the cap shown in Figures 5 to 8), with its cap in a normal closed position and provided with elements of shield;

Figure 10 shows an isometric view of the same plug shown in figure 9 in its open position;

Figure 11 shows an isometric view of still another plug, with its lid in a normal closed position and provided with an alternative design of shield elements;

Figure 12 shows an isometric view of the cap shown in figure 11, with the lid in position open

Figure 13 shows a side view of a cap according to the invention, provided with tabs, protruding from through windows in the side wall / cap cover;

Figure 14 shows an isometric view (looking from above) of the cap shown in Figure 13, with the lid in its open position;

Figure 15 shows an exploded view of the plug shown in figures 13 and 14;

Figure 16 shows a plan view of the cap shown in figures 13 to 15 with the lid in position normal closed;

Figure 17 shows a plan view of the cap shown in figures 13 to 16 with the lid in position distorted.

In the attached description, the cap is described in relation to an "upright" orientation, where the axis main geometric plug is aligned with the vertical and the Cap body is vertically below the lid. Whenever possible, similar parts have been marked with the use of the same numerical references.

Referring to the attached figures, a dispensing cap 1 generally comprises a body 2 and a cover 3. Body 2 is adapted to be attached to a container (not represented) by means of mutually cooperating thread fillets or elastic cords, for example. Preferably, the connection between body 2 and the container is a permanent union, which prevents removing cap 2 easily from the container. Instead, body 2 has a dispensing hole 28, through which the contents of the container can be dispensed. Cap 3 is provided with an upper plate 31, of which a side wall 32 it is directed down and a shutter 38, designed to cooperate with the dispensing hole 28. A hinge 5 joins the cover 3 to the body 2, and allows the lid 3 to be swiveled between a closed position in which the shutter 38 closes the hole dispenser 28 and an open position, in which the hole dispenser 28 is not clogged and the contents can be dispensed of the container.

In this cap (see Figures 1 and 2), the top plate 31 is formed as a separate component from the rest of the cover 3, which comprises an inner central panel 33 and a wall side 32. Shutter 38 is supported on the center panel interior 38.

The side wall 32 of the cover 3 is connected to the inner central panel 33 by rigid arms 35 next to the hinge 5 and flexible curved arms 36 away from hinge 5 (see Figures 2 and 3). The number and position of the arms curved 36 are chosen to retain the side wall 32 firmly at inner center panel 33, and act to limit a movement axial undesirable as the lid is opened and closed. The flexible curved arms provide a degree of resistance to user squeeze movement necessary to deform the wall lateral 33, without totally preventing its deformation. The user waits find this limited resistance, to inform you about the degree of applied pressure force.

A separate upper plate 31 is fixed to the upper surface of the cover 3 by means of a hole joint 332 and pin 312 (as shown in Figure 2). The Union of hole 332 and pin 312 is designed to be permanent, a once mounted and it is difficult to separate the separated upper plate 31 from the inner center plate 33 of the lid 3.

In this plug, the side wall 32 provides flexible ring 4 and carries a part of the closure 6. The other part of closure 6 is supported on body 2. As shown in the Figure 1, the closure 6 comprises a tongue 61, which cooperates with a slot 62. In Figure 1, the tab supported in flexible ring 4 and the groove is defined in body 2, but These two parts of the closure 6 may be inverted. Alternatively, the closure 6 may comprise two tabs mutually cooperating instead of a tongue and a groove.

Figure 3 shows a plan view of the plug 1 in its normal closed position. As shown, in this position the separate top plate 31 covers the entire upper surface of flexible ring 4. With reference to Figures 4A and 4B, to open the cap, the user tightens the ring flexible on each side of hinge 5. When tightened, ring 4 will deforms (becomes oval) and thereby releases tongue 61 of the groove closure 62. Also, the deformed ring 4 creates a cantilever 65 in cover 3 with respect to body 2. This is used cantilever 65 to lift the cover 3, and uncoupling the shutter 38 of the dispensing hole 28. It should be noted that, when returning oval, the deformed ring 4 unlocks the lid, but does not open the lid 3. A second separate and distinct movement of Lifting by the user simultaneously with the movement of tightness

Figures 5 and 6 show an alternative plug, which has the same general structure as described above. The plug 1 comprises a body 2, for fixing to a container (not shown), and a lid 3 joined by a hinge 5. In this case also the cover 3 comprises an upper plate 31 with a side wall 32, which is directed down its periphery. The side wall 32 provides flexible ring 4, but in this cap, top plate 31 and side wall 32 are molded monolithically (as a single component). This allows a high production regime, but the monolithic nature of the plate upper 31 and side wall 32 means that the upper plate 31 inhibits deformation of ring 4 / side wall 32.

Indeed, it has been found that when sides of ring 4 / side wall 32 are tightened by a user, the ring 4 / side wall 32 has two components of deformation. A radial deformation, which is necessary for unlock closure 6 and provide lift zone 65 necessary according to the invention, and an axial deformation, which is undesirable because the side wall 32 presses against the surface adjacent to body 2 and tends to lift the lid 2. In this cap this problem has been overcome by leaving a gap 7 between the edge free of the side wall 32 and the adjacent surface of the body 2, which is sized so that deformation can be assumed axial ring 4 / side wall 32, without lifting the cover 3.

A plurality of ribs is also provided 37 between upper plate 31 and side wall 32 to allow the plug resists any upper axial load, the ribs 37 are sized and positioned to stabilize the lid 2, if it was subjected to a higher load, during transport, by example.

Referring to Figures 7 and 8, for open the cap 1, in this case also a user presses each side of the cover 2 to deform the flexible ring 4 / side wall 32. In this plug, the side wall 32 is constrained at its edge upper by upper plate 31. In this way, the movement of tightness tends to push the side wall 32 radially towards in and down (as shown in Figure 8). How has it described in relation to the previous plug the tightening movement unlocks a lock (not shown in Figures 7 and 8) and it also provides a lifting zone 65, whereby lid 3 can be lifted.

This plug can be further improved providing a shield 71, to cover the gap 7 and provide a smooth surface to cap 1 (as shown in Figures 9 and 10). Shield 71 is preferably interrupted at hinge 5 and on the opposite side of the side wall 32 (next to the closure 6), to allow space for radial movement out of the side wall 32, necessary to unlock the closure 6 between the body 2 and cover 3.

In a variant (see Figures 11 and 12), shield parts 71 may be extended to provide finger pads, which the user can use to indirectly tighten the side wall 32 of the cover 3. This provision has the advantage that the user does not notice the radial inclination into the free edge of the side wall 32 (shown in Figure 8) when the clamping pressure is applied to the cushions. In this arrangement, the shield parts 71 they can have reliefs (for example, clipped sections or flared out) in the vicinity of hinge 5, to allow unrestricted opening and closing of lid 3 on the body 2.

Referring to the plug shown in the Figures 13 to 15, the cover 3 of the plug 1 is formed in a single piece and also in this case is attached to a body 2 through a hinge 5. A plurality of windows 39 is defined in the cover 3 on the side wall 32 and / or top plate 31. A ring separate flexible is mounted inside cover 3 by a known permanent joint arrangement (for example, a hole and spike arrangement as described above and is shown in Figures 14 and 15). The permanent union between the cap 3 and flexible ring 4 is designed to allow free deformation of most of the ring 4. That is, the ring 4 is preferably attached to the cover 3 at a single point.

A pair of clamping tabs 41 may be supported on the ring, so that they protrude through the windows 39. Preferably, the clamping tabs 41 are configured to comfortably accept the user's fingers. A lifting tab 65 is also supported on ring 4, opposite hinge 5 and can protrude through a window associated 39 of the side wall 32 of the cover 3.

Referring to Figures 16 and 17, a user who wishes to access the contents of the container tighten the clamping tabs 41, thereby deforming the ring 4 and unlocks the closure 6. As shown in Figure 17, the deformation of the ring also makes protruding from the cover 3 a lifting part 65, opposite the hinge, which allows lift and thereby open the lid 3.

The examples described above are included as illustrations of the present invention only and others flexible ring designs, which are included within the scope of the claims, will be revealed for the subject matter expert, without departing from the general teachings of the invention.

Claims (5)

1. Dispensing cap (1) comprising a body (2) intended to be attached to a container, a lid (3) that can be moved relative to the body between open and closed positions, including an upper plate (31) and walls lateral (32), a closure (6) arranged to block the body (2) with the cover (3) when the cover is in its closed position, a flexible ring (4) having a normal and a deformed state, covering the upper plate (31) the ring both in its normal state and in its deformed state, and in its deformed state the flexible ring (4) unlocks the closure (6) while defining a lifting tongue (65), to allow the movement of the cover (3) to its open position, characterized in that the flexible ring (4) is supported inside the cover (3) and the cover (3) includes a plurality of windows (39) through the which can be tightened the flexible ring (4) to cause deformation. 2. Childproof cap according to claim 1, wherein at least part of the closure is supported on the flexible ring. 3. Dispensing cap according to any of the claims 1 and 2, wherein the plurality of windows (39) It is provided on the side wall (32) of the cover (3), about finger tabs are supported by the flexible ring, and the finger tabs (41) protrude through the windows, making it easier for a user to deform the flexible ring (4). 4. Dispensing cap according to claim 3, in which two tabs for opposite fingers so substantially diametral (41) are provided to allow a user tighten the flexible ring (4), thereby deforming it to unlock the lock and expose the lifting tab (65). 5. Dispensing cap according to any of the previous claims, wherein the outer surface of the Cap is adapted to be smooth and continuous.