FR2467147A1 - Paste tube dispenser cap - fits over tube outlet and has central hole opening under pressure from product - Google Patents

Abstract

The tube cap has a cylindrical section (2) which fits over the tube outlet. The end of the cap is flat. It has an outer circle (3) which is an extension of the outer cylinder. The central portion is divided into six segments (1) separated along the radii and joined along the curved part. The central part is made from flexible material, so that the product may be squeezed through the central hole (4) formed when the segments flex out of the way.

Description

The present invention relates to a device for automatically closing and opening the product outlet of a flexible container, of the type in which a dose of product is obtained at said outlet, by pressing on the walls of said container.

It is known that the customary use of such containers, such as tubes of pastes or creams (polishes, shaving creams, medical creams, food, etc.) is not without drawbacks. First of all, the loss of the screw caps of these tubes is frequent, which can lead, depending on the nature of the product contained in the tube, to the hardening of said product, its color variation, its oxidation, its microbial contamination, etc. .. Furthermore, the frequent use of such containers is not easy, since one often has to hold at the same time, the tube, the stopper separate from said tube and an instrument for using the product contained in the tube, while monitoring the dose of product out of the tube. A characteristic example is the use of a toothpaste in a tube, during which it is frequent to have simultaneously in hand the tube of toothpaste, the cap of the tube and a toothbrush, while ensuring that the dose of product being dispensed applies well to the brush.

It is therefore seen that the presence of such a threaded plug has drawbacks, and the present invention aims to remedy them.

To this end, according to the invention, the device for automatically closing and opening the outlet orifice of a flexible container, of the type in which the product contained in said container is expelled outwards when pressure is exerted on the walls of said container, is remarkable in that it comprises at least two flexible tabs which, when no pressure is exerted on said container, seal said orifice, but which, when pressure is exerted on said container, move away from each other, providing a gap between them, through which the product contained in said container can flow.

 I1 is advantageous that the tongues, which pass from their closed position to their open position under the action of the thrust of the product, return, when this thrust ceases, from their open position to their closed position by an automatic elastic return effect. For this, said tongues may be made of an elastic material (synthetic material) and integral by their periphery with the edge of said outlet orifice, also of an elastic material. Thus, the automatic return effect results from the elastic deformation of said tongues and / or of the periphery of said orifice.

The elastic return effect is favored by the fact that generally there is a slight shrinkage of the product towards the interior of the container when the pressure on the walls thereof ceases.

Preferably, a plurality of identical tongues are regularly distributed on the periphery of the outlet orifice.

These tabs can be secured to the container or provided on a plug capable of being removably attached, for example by screwing, onto said container.

Each tab can be flat or profiled.

The figures of the appended drawing will make it clear how the invention can be implemented.

Figure 1 is a schematic top view of a device according to the present invention.

Figure 2 is a schematic sectional view along the line
II-II of the figure.

Figures 3 and 5 are variants of Figure 2, the tabs being closed position.

Figures 4 and 6 correspond respectively to Figures 3 and 5, the tabs being in the open position.

Figure 7 is a section along line VII-VII of Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a top view of an alternative embodiment of the device according to the invention.

Figure 9 is a section along the line IR-IX of Figure 8.

Figures 10 to 13 show different embodiments of the device according to the invention.

The device shown in Figures 1 and 2 comprises six flexible tongues 1 arranged transversely to the neck 2 defining the outlet orifice of a flexible container, for example a tube.

When no pressure is exerted on the walls of the container, the tongues 1 are contiguous (see FIG. 1 and the dotted position in FIG. 2) closing said container.

Each tongue 1 is articulated by its base at the periphery 3 of the neck 2.

If pressure is exerted on the walls of the container, the product contained therein is pushed back and exerts a push in the direction of the arrow F. This push repels the tongues 1 which are then no longer contiguous and provide slots 4 between them through which the product contained in the container can pass. In this case, the tabs lift and release the product outlet.

When the pressure on the walls of the container is stopped, this causes a slight withdrawal of the product in the neck 2, enough to allow the tabs 1 to return.

closed position. In the embodiments shown in the appended figures, the tongues 1 and the neck 2 are integral with each other and made of an elastic synthetic material. Thus, the product retaining force in the closed position or in the return of the tongues in the closed position is due to the elastic deformation of the pivot line of said tongues at the periphery 3 of the neck 2.

In FIG. 2, the tongues 1 are shown as having a practically constant thickness from the periphery 3 up to the slot 4.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 3 and 4, the tongues 1 are thicker on the outside than on the inside of the neck 2. In the closed position (FIG. 3) the underside of the contiguous tongues 1 forms a conical surface 5, while the outer face of said tongues forms a flat surface 6. Thanks to the profile thus obtained, the elastic retaining and return forces are perfected.

The thicknesses of the tongues 1 towards the periphery 3 and the slots 4 are calculated so as to favor the exit and the maintenance of the product, according to its viscosity.

In the embodiment of Figures 5, 6 and 7, the tongues 1 have the same profile as those of the embodiment of Figures 3 and 4. However, in addition, each tongue has on its internal face a thickening 7, of section rounded, which further improves the setting in motion of the tongues under the thrust of the product and the return of these at the end of the thrust. These thickenings 7 are all the thicker as one moves away from the center of the neck 2 and transversely to the tongues 1, their thickness varies according to circles centered on the center line of the said tongues.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 8 and 9, it is the tongues 1 themselves which have a profile similar to that of the thickenings 7 of FIGS. 5 to 7.

As shown in FIG. 10, the tongues 1 can be crimped in a crown 8 secured to the neck 2, or else, as shown in FIG. 11, they can be secured to the neck 2 and the container 9.

Finally, as a variant, the tongues 1 can be secured or made integral with a plug 10 capable of being attached, for example, by screwing onto a container comprising a corresponding threaded neck.

Of course, the device according to the invention can be made of any natural or synthetic material capable of responding mechanically, physically and chemically to all the criteria of resistance, elasticity, reliability and asepsis. Many plastics can be used for this purpose.

Claims (8)

R E V E N D I C A T I O N S 1.- Device for automatically closing and opening the outlet orifice of a flexible container, of the type in which the product contained in said container is expelled outward when pressure is exerted on the walls of said container, characterized in that it comprises at least two flexible tabs which, when no pressure is exerted on said container, seal said orifice, but which, when pressure is exerted on said container, move apart 'from each other by providing a gap between them, through which the product contained in said container can flow. 2.- Device according to claim 1, characterized in that said tabs deviate from their closed position against the action of elastic return forces.  3.-. Device according to Claim 2, characterized in that the said elastic return forces are generated by the material constituting the said tongues and / or the outlet orifice. 4.- Device according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a plurality of identical tabs regularly distributed around the periphery of the outlet orifice. 5.-Device according to claim 1, characterized in that said tongues are made integral with the outlet orifice. 6.- Device according to claim 1, characterized in that said tongues are an integral part of the outlet orifice. 7.- Device according to claim 1, characterized in that said tongues are carried by a cap adaptable on the outlet orifice of the container. 8.- Device according to claim 1, characterized in that said tongues are profiled at least on the side of their internal face, to improve the output of the product.