ES2711184T3 - Container and stopper that must be fixed by snap-fastening on its neck - Google Patents

Abstract

Assembly formed by the combination - of a plug (1) comprising - a cylindrical body (10) with a given axis (XX '), which includes an inner wall (110) and which supports a crimping means consisting of a retention projection (101), - a bottom (11) arranged on an axially upper side of the cylindrical body and supporting integrated closing elements (12) that can be opened or closed independently, - and a container provided with a neck (2 ) topped by a mouthpiece (23) comprising male threads (22) having an upper bearing surface (220) and an inviolability collar (21) that includes a lower retention face (210) suitable to retain the protrusion of retention (101) after snapping of said retention projection (101) on said inviolability collar, characterized in that the inner wall (100) of the cylindrical body comprises an annular projection (104, 107) different from the retention projection (101 ) that extends radially towards the interior of the cylindrical body (10) and located at a distance (b) from the interior wall (110) of the bottom (11) of the plug that is strictly greater than a distance (b ') between the surface upper support (220) of the threads (22) and an upper edge (230) of the mouth (23) of the neck (2), so that the annular projection comes to abut on the upper support surface (220) of the male threads (22) when the stopper is fixed by snapping on the neck (2) of the container, making it an obstacle to the sinking of the stopper on the neck and that the upper edge of the mouthpiece (230) of the neck (2) of the container it is not in contact with the inner wall (110) of the bottom (11) of the plug (1).

Description

DESCRIPTION

Container and stopper that must be fixed by seaming on your neck

The present invention relates to the field of packaging.

It relates more particularly to a plastic cap intended to equip a container neck. The cap comprises a cylindrical body that supports an integrated closure element that can be opened or closed independently of the position of the body of the cap on the neck of the bottle.

The body of the cap is fixed by snap-fastening on a container neck, such as, for example, a plastic bottle. For this purpose, an annular retaining projection is provided which extends radially from the inner wall of the cap body to become snapped onto the neck of the container.

This mode of fixation makes it possible to prevent the disengagement of the cap and the neck of the container after the latter has been filled with a food drink, in order to limit its reuse and to prevent the development of germs in the parts of the cap that are difficult to clean.

The closure element is adapted for the intended use of the container and may be formed, for example, by a push / pull type shutter that circulates along a given axis or by a hinged cover pivoting about an axis. In the latter case, the bottom of the cap may comprise a tear-away web that allows the contents of the container to be isolated until its final use.

A cap comprising these features is described by way of example in the United States publication US 5680965. However, the use of this type of cap is limited to container necks that do not include male threads.

The large-scale production of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles intended for the food industry has led to the standardization of the shape of necks. These plug collars include a male thread comprising one or more threads, as well as an annular inviolability collar located axially below the threads.

The European publication EP 1077883, which discloses the characteristics of the preamble of the attached claim 1, proposes an improvement of the cap described in the publication of the United States US 5680965 and which allows the fixation of said cap on a bottle neck of standard type that Includes male threads.

The internal wall of the body of the plug has no female thread. The position of the retention protrusion is adjusted to allow the engagement of said retention protrusion with the lower retention face of the inviolability collar. It is provided in said publication that, in this position, the upper edge of the neck of the container comes into contact with the inner wall of the bottom of the stopper, in order to prevent any axial movement of the latter. The fixing of the plug on the neck of the container is effected by forcefully introducing the plug on the neck in an axial direction until the catch of the retaining projection under the inviolability collar is fixed.

However, this fixing mode can present some drawbacks. In fact, due to the pressure exerted by the upper edge of the neck of the container on the wall of the bottom of the stopper, a more or less permanent deformation of the bottom wall is observed which, beyond the undesirable aesthetic effects, is susceptible of degrading the tear-open veil and, modifying the position of the internal lack of tightness, of altering the tight connection between the skirt and the inner wall of the embouchure.

The purpose of the invention is to provide an original solution to the problem raised above.

The cap according to the invention is of the type to be fixed by snap-fastening on a container neck that includes one or more male threads.

The invention is constituted by the set formed by the combination:

• a stopper comprising

A cylindrical body with a given axis, including an inner wall and supporting a snap-fastening means constituted by a retaining projection,

A bottom arranged on an axially superior side of the cylindrical body according to any one of the preceding claims and in which the snap-fastening means are constituted by a retaining projection and which support integrated closing elements that can be opened or closed independently , And of a container provided with a neck topped by a mouthpiece comprising male threads having a top bearing surface and an inviolability collar including a lower retaining face suitable for retaining the retaining projection after snapping said retention on said collar of inviolability,

The invention is characterized in that the inner wall of the cylindrical body comprises an annular projection distinct from the retention protrusion which extends radially towards the interior of the cylindrical body and situated at a distance from the inner wall of the cap bottom which is strictly greater than a distance between the upper bearing surface of the threads and an upper edge of the neck embouchure, so that the annular shoulder comes to abut on the upper bearing surface of the male threads when the cap is fixed by snap-fastening on the neck of the container, making it difficult for the cap to collapse on the neck and for the upper edge of the mouth of the neck of the container not to be in contact with the inner wall of the bottom of the cap.

The cylindrical body is dimensioned according to the neck of the container, so that it sinks above the neck crowning their male threads. This arrangement has as a result that the forces exerted in the axial direction on the plug during the seaming operation are exerted exclusively on the wall of the body of the plug and leave said bottom free of any tension.

The invention also comprises the following characteristics considered in isolation or in combination with each other,

- The annular projection circulates continuously over the entire circumference of the cylindrical body.

- The inner wall of the cylindrical body does not include female threads.

- The retention protrusion is arranged in the vicinity of a lower edge of the cylindrical body.

A distance between the annular projection and the retaining projection is substantially equal to a distance between the upper bearing surface of the male threads and the lower retaining face of the inviolability collar. - An inner diameter of the annular projection is less than an outer diameter of the male threads of the neck and superior to an outer diameter of a neck embouchure.

- The annular projection is the result of a change in thickness of the wall of the cylindrical body.

- The annular projection is a lower face of an inner collar of the cylindrical body, said inner collar comprising an upper wall different from the inner wall of the bottom of the cap.

- The neck comprises a support neck that includes a top support face and wherein a distance between the upper support face of the support neck and the lower retention face of the inviolability collar is substantially equal to a distance between the face of the upper support of the retention protrusion and a lower edge of the cap body, so that, when the cap is fixed by snap-fastening on the neck of the container, the lower edge of the cap body is in contact with the upper support face of the cap. support neck.

- The plug is made by injection molding a plastic material based on a material chosen from high density polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene terephthalate, polyvinylidene chloride or a mixture of these components .

The invention will be better understood with the reading of the description that will follow, given only by way of example and made with reference to the drawings in which:

- Figure 1 is a view in axial section of a plug according to the invention.

- Figure 2 is a profile view of a container neck of standard type.

- Figure 3 is an axial sectional view of the cap according to the invention fixed on the standard container neck. - Figure 4 is an axial sectional view, analogous to that of Figure 1, of a first variant embodiment of the invention.

- Figure 5 is a view in axial section, analogous to that of Figure 1, of a second variant embodiment of the invention.

The plug 1 shown in FIG. 1 comprises a cylinder body 10, which has a revolution symbol around the axis XX '. By convention, it will be considered that the XX 'direction defines an orientation that goes from bottom to top.

On the upper axial end of the cylindrical body 10 the bottom 11 of the plug is arranged. The bottom supports closure elements 12, formed in this particular case, by a cover articulated around an axis 120. In order to preserve the integrity of the contents of the container until its final use, a tear-away web 14 extends over the part bottom center 11. A ring 140 allows to extract the tear-away web 14 and release a passage for the flow of the liquid contained in the container. The bottom 11 also supports an inner skirt 13 of cylindrical shape which makes it possible to ensure a good seal between the cap and the neck of the container.

The inner wall 100 of the cylindrical body 10 is devoid of female thread and has a substantially smooth surface. In the vicinity of the lower edge 108 of the cylindrical body 10, a retaining projection 101 extending radially from the inner wall 100 to the central part of the cylindrical body 10 of the plug is arranged. This retaining projection 101 comprises an upper support face 102. The retaining projection 101 forms the snap-fastening means intended to keep the cap fixed on the neck of the container.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the internal wall of the cylindrical body does not have a female thread. The screwing of the plug on the neck is, therefore, useless, from the moment in which the plug can be snapped onto the neck.

While remaining within the scope of the invention, the inner wall of the cylindrical body could, however, include female threads (not shown) suitable for engaging the male threads of the neck. In this configuration, the plug is screwed onto the neck before latching in.

In a variant of this embodiment, the female threads have a profile in axial section in the form of a ramp to allow, by elastic deformation of the plug or at least of the female threads, the sinking of the plug without rotation on the neck.

In the upper part of the wall 100 of the cylindrical body, said wall 100 has an upper part 103 that forms a step with respect to the lower part of the wall. At the level of this staggering the wall has a thickness ei greater than the thickness e2 of the lower part of the wall of the cylindrical body. The staggering forms an annular projection 104, of internal diameter Oi extending radially from the wall 100 towards the inside of the cylindrical body 10 of the cap. This annular projection 104 circulates continuously over the entire circumference of the wall 100. The annular projection 104 extends in a plane substantially perpendicular to the axis XX '.

In the example illustrated in FIG. 1, the upper part 103 of thickness e1 extends axially to the wall 110 of the bottom 11 of the cap. This arrangement makes it possible to simplify manufacturing operations by suppressing all areas in counter-pullers.

Figure 2 illustrates a container neck 2 of standard type of axle XX '. This container neck comprises at least one male thread 22. The number of threads represented in the example which serves as support for the present description is equal to three, which constitutes a very usually extended embodiment. However, this number is not limiting. Each thread includes on its axially upper part a supporting surface 220. The mouth 23 of the neck is delimited by an upper edge 230.

The neck of standard type as shown in figure 2, also includes a collar of inviolability 21, which extends radially towards the outside of the neck and originally intended to cooperate with a removable inviolability sleeve located on a screw cap ( not represented) and that includes, for this fact, some female threads. The inviolability collar supports a lower retention face 210.

The neck 2 includes, finally, in its lower part, a bearing neck 24, which has an upper support face 240.

Figure 3 illustrates the case in which the plug 1 is fixed by snap-fastening on the neck 2 of the container. The closing element 12 is represented in an open position.

The cap 2 is inserted over the neck in the axial direction XX 'until the retaining projection 101 enters into engagement with the tamper-evident collar 21. In this position, the upper support face 102 of the retaining projection 101 is in contact with the lower retaining face 210 of the tamper-evident collar 21 and the axial position of the annular shoulder 104 is adjusted to also come into contact with the upper bearing surface 220 of the threads 22. The plug 1, which is then fixed by seaming on the neck 2, is deprived of movement according to the two directions of the axis XX '.

When the neck comprises three threads, which is the most widespread case, the annular shoulder 104 rests on the upper bearing surfaces 220 of each of the threads 22 at three points evenly distributed angularly on the periphery of the neck 2 of the container .

The inner sealing skirt 12, whose outer diameter corresponds substantially to the inner diameter of the neck of the container, penetrates strongly into the interior of the mouth 23 and ensures a tight contact with the inner surface of said mouth 23.

It is noted that the upper edge 230 of the mouth 23 is not in contact with the inner wall 110 of the bottom 11 of the plug 1.

In this way, the set of axial stresses generated by the retaining forces of the plug on the neck is supported by the body 10. And the bottom of the plug 11, does not experience any undesirable deformation capable of modifying the position of the inner skirt of sealing 13 or of altering the tear-away web 14.

The above arrangements result in the distance a (see Figure 1) between the annular shoulder 104 and the upper bearing face 102 of the retaining projection 101 being substantially equal to the distance a 'between the upper bearing surface 220 of the threads 22 and the lower retaining face 210 of the inviolability collar 21. An adjustment of these dimensions may, however, be necessary to take into account the conical aspect of the shape of the threads 22 on which the annular shoulder 104 rests.

Also, the distance b 'measured between the upper bearing surface 220 of the threads 22 and the upper edge 230 of the mouth 23 of the neck of the container is strictly less than the distance b measured between the annular shoulder 104 and the inner wall 110 of the 11 plug background.

Finally, the value of the inner diameter of the annular collar Oi must be between the outer diameter O2 of the threads 22 and the outer diameter O3 of the mouth of the neck of the container.

The values of the a 'and b' dimensions are defined by the standards in use in the profession. Thus, for a typical consumer product such as a 3-thread PET bottle neck, with a diameter of 38 mm, the value of the dimension a ', substantially equal to the value of the dimension a, is 8.9 mm and the value of the level b ', strictly lower than the value of the level b, is 1.9 mm. The value of the Oi diameter is between 36 mm / - 0.15 mm and 38 mm / - 0.15 mm.

Figure 4 illustrates a first variant embodiment of the invention, in which the cap differs from the cap illustrated in figure 1 in that the annular projection is formed by the lower face 107 of an inner collar 105. This inner collar includes a wall 106 different from the inner wall 110 of the bottom 11 of the cap. This embodiment can be interesting when, playing with the axial thickness of the inner collar 105, the axial elasticity of said inner collar 105 is adjusted in order to confer a certain flexibility to the fixing of the cap on the neck by seaming and making the seam less sensitive to tolerance deviations.

Figure 5 illustrates a second variant embodiment of the invention in which, in order to improve the overall tightness of the plug, the lower edge 108 of the body 10 of the plug comes into contact with the upper support face 240 of the support neck 24. For this effect, the distance c separating the upper support face 102 from the retaining projection 101 and the lower edge 108 of the cylindrical body 10 of the cap is substantially equal to the value c 'of the distance between the lower retaining face 210 of the collar inviolability 21 and the upper support face 240 of the support neck 24.

In the case of the neck of the 3-thread PET bottle mentioned above, this distance is substantially equal to 4.5 mm.

The realization of a plug as described above is done by injection molding a thermoplastic material such as, by way of non-limiting example, Polyethylene (PE), High density polyethylene (HDPE), Polypropylene (PP), Polychloride of vinyl (PVC), Polyethylene terephthalate (PET), Polyvinylidene Chloride (PVDC) or a mixture of these components.

NOMENCLATURE

1. Plug.

10 Cylindrical body.

100 Inside wall of the cylindrical body.

101 Retention protrusion.

102 Top support face of the retention flange.

103 Upper part of the wall 100 of the cylindrical body.

104 Highlight ring.

105 Collarm interior.

106 Top wall of the inner collar.

107 Lower wall of the inner collar.

108 Lower edge of the cylindrical body of the cap.

11 Fund of the cap.

110 Bottom wall of the cap bottom.

12 Integrated closure elements.

13 Interior sealing skirt.

14 Tear-open veil.

140 Removable tear veil ring.

2 Container neck.

21 Collarm of inviolability.

210 Lower retention face of the tamper-resistant collar.

22 Threads.

220 Top surface of the threads.

23 Embouchure of the neck of the container.

230 Upper edge of the neck embouchure

container.

24 Gollete of support.

240 Upper support face of the support neck

Claims (10)

1. Set formed by the combination - of a plug (1) comprising ◦ a cylindrical body (10) of given axis (XX '), including an inner wall (110) and supporting a snap-fastening means constituted by a retention protrusion (101), ◦ a bottom (11) arranged on an axially upper side of the cylindrical body and supporting integrated closing elements (12) that can be opened or closed independently, - and a container provided with a neck (2) topped by a mouthpiece (23) comprising male threads (22) having an upper support surface (220) and an inviolability collar (21) including a face of lower retainer (210) suitable for retaining the retention protrusion (101) after snapping said retention protrusion (101) onto said inviolability collar, characterized in that the inner wall (100) of the cylindrical body comprises an annular projection (104, 107) distinct from the retaining projection (101) that extends radially inwardly of the cylindrical body (10) and located at a distance (b) of the inner wall (110) of the bottom (11) of the cap that is strictly greater than a distance (b ') between the upper bearing surface (220) of the threads (22) and an upper edge (230) of the mouthpiece (23) of the neck (2), so that the annular shoulder comes to abut on the upper support surface (220) of the male threads (22) when the cap is fixed by snap-fastening on the neck (2) of the container , obstructing the collapse of the cap on the neck and the upper edge of the mouth (230) of the neck (2) of the container is not in contact with the inner wall (110) of the bottom (11) of the cap (1). Assembly according to claim 1, in which the annular projection (104, 107) circulates continuously over the entire circumference of the cylindrical body (10). Assembly according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the inner wall (100) of the cylindrical body does not include female threads. Assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 3, in which the retaining projection (101) is disposed in the vicinity of a lower edge (108) of the cylindrical body (10). Assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a distance (a) between the annular shoulder (104, 107) and the retention protrusion (101) is substantially equal to a distance (a ') between the upper support surface (220) of the male threads (22) and the lower retaining face (210) of the inviolability collar (21). Assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein an inner diameter (O- ⁱ ) of the annular shoulder (104) is smaller than an outer diameter (O ² ) of the male threads (22) of the neck ( 2) and greater than an outer diameter (O ³ ) of a mouth (23) of the neck (2). Assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the annular shoulder (104) is the result of a change in thickness (e1) of the wall of the cylindrical body (10). Assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the annular projection is a lower face (107) of an inner collar (105) of the cylindrical body (10), said inner collar (105) including an upper wall. (106) other than the inner wall (110) of the bottom (11) of the plug (1). The assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the neck (2) comprises a support neck (24) including an upper support face (240) and in which a distance (c ') between the upper support face (240) of the bearing neck (24) and the lower retaining face (210) of the inviolability collar (21) is substantially equal to a distance (c) between the upper bearing face (102) of the retaining protrusion (101) and a lower edge (108) of the body (10) of the cap (1), so that, when the cap (1) is fixed by snap-fastening on the neck (2) of the container, the lower edge (108) of the body (10) of the plug (1) is in contact with the upper bearing face (240) of the bearing neck (24). Assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein said cap (1) is made by injection molding a plastic material based on a material chosen from High Density Polyethylene (HDPE), Polypropylene ( PP), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyvinylidene chloride (PVDC) or a mixture of these components.