FR2541654A1 - CONTAINER PROVIDED WITH A SCREW CAP - Google Patents

Abstract

THE INVENTION CONCERNS A CONTAINER 1 HAVING A THREADED NECK 5 ON WHICH A SCREWED CAP 2 CAN BE MOUNTED WHICH INCLUDES AN EXTERNAL CAP 3 IN WHICH IS MOUNTED AN INTERNAL SKIRT 4 WHICH IS COUPLED TO THE CAP BY RIBS AND GROOVES 11, 15 OF WAY TO BE IN SOLIDARITY. THE CAP INCLUDES A STOPPER 12 WHICH COOPERATES WITH A STOPPER 17 SHAPED ON THE CONTAINER TO ORIENT THE CAP IN A DETERMINED POSITION IN RELATION TO THE CONTAINER IN THE CLOSED POSITION, AND THE SKIRT INCLUDES A SEALING ELEMENT 17 WHICH FORMED A SEAL VAPOR-TIGHT WITH THE COLLAR 5 OF THE CONTAINER ON AN ANGLE OF AT LEAST 45 OF ROTATION OF THE SKIRT IN RELATION TO THE CONTAINER. THE INVENTION ALSO AIMS A PROCESS FOR MOUNTING THE CAP ON THE CONTAINER.

Description

The present invention relates to a container, and, more

  particularly, to a perfume bottle or the like,

  which has a screw cap (expression which, in the pre-

  feels context, should be considered to cover any dis-

  positive screw closure) and is as seen from the outside, the container body and the cap both have

a non-circular outline.

  It is generally accepted that when a reci-

  pient whose body has, seen in plan, a non-circular shape, is provided with a screw cap which also, seen in plan, a non-circular shape, the cap should always, when completely closed, be aligned with the container or have

  any other desired orientation from the reci-

  even after multiple removal of the cap from the

  container and replacing the cap on the container.

  Such containers, which are more particularly

  designed to contain liquids, are almost invariably

  provided with an annular sealing ring or a sealing member

  similarity but, because the manufacturing tolerances

  cation are such that an exact conformity between the thread of the container and that of the cap cannot usually be obtained, it frequently happens that the cap does not occupy

  not its desired orientation relative to the container when

  that it is in a completely closed position.

  tion is not satisfactory, both from an aesthetic point of view

  as regards packaging and transport, given that a cap mounted obliquely on the container may have projecting edges which constitute an obstacle opposing the production of a compact packaging and that it may result in the cap not being completely closed, which could eventually cause liquid to spill or evaporate during transport or storage

before the sale.

  The object of the invention is to produce a container and a

  plug which both saw in plan, an uncircular form

  circular and which do not have the aforementioned drawbacks

  while still providing alignment or orientation

  precise position of the cap relative to the container when

  the plug is screwed into the fully closed position.

  French patent 78 20257 has already proposed a device for positioning a cap on a bottle, the cap being constituted by a rigid body inside which a relatively flexible skirt is mounted, the skirt having an internal thread arranged for screwing onto the external neck of the bottle, the neck of the bottle having at least one vertical radial surface which forms a stop against which

  abuts a stop member formed on the lower part

  smaller than the internal surface of the rigid part of the cap

  when the bottle is closed An essential characteristic

  tial of the cap described in this patent resides in that the external part of the body can 'be moved in rotation

  relative to the inner skirt to allow the capu-

  chon to be finally correctly positioned on the bou-

  teille This rotation is facilitated by the relative nature-

  flexible material of the skirt is made so that the action of the organs by means of which the two elements of the cap are coupled to each other, such as for example, external ribs formed on the skirt and internal grooves formed on the body part,

  can be overcome and the two elements of the cap moved

  cés relative to each other thanks to the deformation of the

flexible skirt.

  When constructing a screw cap for a container in which the externally ribbed inner skirt of the cap is made of a relatively flexible material, for example,

  made of polyethylene, and the internally grooved outer part

  is made of a relatively rigid material, for example,

  polystyrene, it is obvious that wear on the surfaces

  and grooved can occur so that when

  try to remove the cap after tightening it on the container

  the outer part can rotate around the skirt

  interior without the interior skirt being unscrewed from the

  container This poses obvious problems to the user

  when trying to remove the cap from the Cepen- container

  Dant, the applicant has now discovered that, when the inner and outer elements of the cap are both made of relatively rigid materials, which may be the same material or different materials, so that a relative rotation between the elements of the

  cork is not possible, we get a safer cork

  satisfactory which can be screwed onto a container and unscrewed

  of this container repeatedly without presenting this pro-

  problem of wear between the elements of the cap while ensuring

  thanks to the presence of an appropriate stopper, that

  the desired orientation of the cap on the container can

  days be obtained when the container is closed and closed

tightly.

  According to the invention, there is provided a container having, at its upper end a threaded neck designed to receive

  a threaded plug which includes an inner skirt and a ca-

  outer puchon axially coupled with the inner skirt, the container containing a stop designed so that a stop member, provided on the cap, can come to bear against

  it so as to orient the plug in the closed position

  mée relative to the container, characterized in that the ca-

  puchon is coupled with the inner skirt so as to

  be united in rotation; and in that the internal skirt

  is provided with sealing means for sealing the neck of the

  container and forms with it a vapor tight seal on a relative angle of rotation of the skirt and the container

at least 450.

  The container has a part, such as a neck, file-

  tee to which the cap can be screwed An example of such a container is a perfume bottle or the like which has a neck portion which is externally threaded

  to be able to receive a screw cap.

  The container also has a stop designed to come into contact with the stopper when the stopper is oriented relative to the container in the desired position and

  that the container is blocked This stop formed on the

  container may have an axially or approximately axially oriented surface designed to cooperate with the stopper or it may, according to a variant, have a surface

  oriented radially or roughly radially against the

  which the plug can come into contact Preferably, the stop is located below the thread of the neck of the container. The inner skirt of the cap is internally threaded and is designed to be screwable on the part, as

  that the neck of the container which has a corresponding thread

  in a suitable way to make a tight seal

  vapors to prevent flow or evaporation

the contents of the container.

  A feature of the inner skirt is that a vapor tight seal is obtained when screwing

  the inner skirt on the container in the direction of iron-

  when the rotation of the inner skirt reaches an angle of rotation which is at least 450 from the position

  o the cap is correctly oriented in relation to the container

  Usually a tight seal can be obtained.

  held at a relative angle of rotation between the skirt and the container of at least 600 and, preferably at least 90,

  with respect to this correct orientation position.

  To obtain a suitable vapor tight seal,

  can equip the skirt with an insert or a part

  laterally flexible or flexible whose deformation establishes a tight contact with a part of the container, such as

  the top or inside of the container neck.

  The vapor tight adaptation of the skirt

  inside against the container in the above manner

  writes to a position before the inner skirt is fully tightened on the threaded part of the container is desirable to allow final adjustment of the cap after the outer cap has been mounted on the skirt

  interior so as to allow obtaining the orientation-

  correct position of the cap with respect to the container in the position where the cap comes into contact with the stop of the container. The inner skirt is also provided externally with means for receiving the external cap and coupling it therein in a non-rotatable manner. Preferably, these external coupling means comprise ribs and / or grooves oriented axially carried by the external surface of the internal skirt. , the outer surface of the inner skirt is also preferably tapered

  so that its cross section decreases slightly

  gressively upwards near its upper end The outside diameter of the upper end

  of the skirt may be slightly less than the internal diameter

  corresponding laugh of the outer cap to facilitate the fitting of the outer cap on the inner skirt

  during assembly The preferred frusto-conical external surface

  the inner skirt also provides

  plus s Ir coupling of the inner skirt and the cap ex-

  to ensure that the two elements of the plug cannot be easily separated in service, for example,

  if the container is lifted by grasping it by the cap

  outside and also to ensure that the relative rotation of the two elements after assembly will no longer be possible. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention,

  the frustoconical external surface of the skirt shrinks

  curling from its base to its apex at an angle to

  vertically which is slightly greater than the angle of co-

  nicity of the inner wall of the outer cap For example, the angles of conicity of the walls of the skirt

  inner and outer cap can be respective-

  ment of 0 015 and 00 109, the lower edge of the inner skirt can form a stop having a radial surface designed to come into

  contact with the stopper of the container which preferably presents

  rence, a corresponding radial surface pressing against

  which the inner skirt can be screwed in order to orient

  b properly the cap on the container.

  The outer cap of the cap is fitted internally

  means for coupling it to the inner skirt.

  Preferably, these internal coupling means comprise

  take ribs and / or grooves carried by the internal axial surface of the outer cap, which can be

  itself slightly flared to provide a rounded surface

  conical which facilitates coupling with the inner skirt.

  The outer cap may be provided with a sealing member.

  rêt designed to come into contact with the stop of the container, which can have an axial surface against which the stop member of the outer cap can come to bear following the screwing of the cap, as means alter

  natives to correctly orient the cap on the container

  pient. The invention also relates to a method for

  mount a sealing device, or plug, on a container

  pient of the type described above which includes the steps of screwing the inner skirt on the threaded neck of the container so as to achieve a vapor tight seal;

  to mount the outer cap on the inner skirt in a way

  lesson in coupling ribs and / or grooves together

  of the inner skirt and the outer cap

  laughing so that the outer cap cannot be rotated relative to the inner skirt; and, if necessary, screw the sealing device assembled more completely on the threaded neck of the container so

  bringing the stop member into contact with the stop.

  Other characteristics of the invention will appear

  on reading the description which follows and examining

  of the accompanying drawings in which: FIG. 1 is an elevational view, with partial section, of the screw cap of the invention used in combination with a perfume bottle, this screw keeping the elements of the cap separated from one of the other and the bottle; Fig 2 is an elevational view, partly in section, of the screw cap and the bottle shown in Fig 1 but showing the suitable cap on the bottle; Fig 3 is also an elevational view, partly in section of a screw cap x mounted on a bottle similar to that shown in Fig 1 and 2 but having a

  another embodiment of the stop member and the bu-

  tee used for orientationi of the cap on the bottle; FIG. 4 is an elevational view, partly in section, of the part of the inner skirt of a screw cap similar to that shown in FIG. 3 mounted on a bottle, the

  inner skirt with different means for obtaining

rer the bottle tightly.

  In the embodiment shown in Fig i and

  2, a bottle i is provided with a closure device or stopper

  chon 2 in two parts which is composed of an external cap

  laughing 3 and an inner skirt 4 The bottle I whose body, seen in plan, has a non-circular shape, has a neck portion 5 externally threaded designed to receive the stopper 2 A centering ring 6 is formed below of the thread of the neck 5 and, on one side of the neck, it is formed, on

  the neck of the single stopper bottle 7 which includes an over-

  face oriented axially or roughly axially designed

  to come into contact with the plug 2.

  The outer cap 3 of the plug 2 has a wall

  side 8 which also, in plan view, has an uncircular shape

  ring, and an annular inner side wall 9 which extends downward from an upper wall 10 The inner surface of the inner side wall 9 carries alternating vertical ribs and grooves 11 The edge

  lower of the inner side wall 9 door, of a cable

tee, a stop member 12.

  The inner skirt 4 includes an annular side wall

  area 13 which has an internal thread 14 and which comprises

  externally carries axially oriented alternating ribs and grooves 15 The upper wall 16 of the internal skirt 4 carries a deformable annular sealing collar 17 designed to penetrate into the neck 5 of the bottle 1 when the cap is screwed in place, the material and the dimensions of the sealing collar 17 being such that a vapor-tight seal is obtained over the whole of an angle of approximately 600 of relative rotation of the skirt

and the bottle.

  When the bottle 1 and the cap 2 are assembled, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the bottle is first of all filled with perfume, toilet water or the like and the inner skirt 4 is screwed onto the threaded neck 5 of the bottle until the sealing collar 17 forms a seal

  vapor tight with the bottle, point at which the glue

  annular sealing ring has penetrated into the neck of the

  con thus achieving a vapor tight seal at a relative angle of rotation of about 60 relative to a maximum clamping position The flexibility and dimensions of this flange 17 are such that the flange establishes a vapor tight seal with the flask before the

  inner skirt 4 is completely tight when drying

quence of final orientation.

  Then place the outer cap 3 on the inner skirt

  lower 4 so that the stop member comes to bear against

the stop formed on the bottle.

  After repeated use by the user who, each time unscrews the cap from the bottle and then puts it back

  place on the bottle, a slight wear or deformation of the par-

  threaded ties, which could result in a seemingly

  relatively poorly secured, has no influence on the vapor tightness function of the cap due to the

  capacity of the sealing ring 17

  the contents of the bottle in a vapor tight manner from a relative angle of rotation of the skirt and the bottle of at least 450 relative to the completely

closed and correctly oriented.

  The fact that the outer cap cannot rotate relative to the inner skirt after assembly of the cap ensures that the outer cap does not itself rotate with respect to the inner skirt when the cap is unscrewed, thereby always ensuring that the inner skirt establishes a vapor tight seal with the bottle when the cap is replaced on the bottle after dispensing part of the

contents of the bottle.

  The construction of the bottle 1 shown in Fig 3 is similar to that shown in Fig 1 and 2 from which it differs only in that the single stop 7 is replaced by an annular stop 18 which has a sur-

horizontal annular face 19.

  The plug 2 of Fig 3 is roughly similar to that shown in Fig 1 and 2 from which it differs only

  by the fact that the outer cap 3 does not have an or-

  stop gane and that the lower edge 20 of the internal skirt

  it serves as a stop which comes into contact with the

radial surface 19.

  When assembling the bottle and the cap of the type

  shown in Fig 3, first screw the inner skirt

  4 on the neck 5 of the bottle until the bottom edge

  laughing 20 of the inner skirt 4 comes into contact with the

radial surface 19 of stop 18.

  Then place the outer cap 3 on the skirt

  4, as previously described, in confi-

  desired guration compared to the bottle without it being born

  stop performing any other orientation.

  In the embodiment shown in Fig 4, the construction of the inner skirt 4 is similar to

  that shown in Figs 1, 2 and 3 from which it does not differ

  because the fact that the sealing ring annu-

  area 17 coming from material is replaced by a seal

  added sheath 21 provided with an annular flange 22 in one

  relatively flexible material compared to the relative material

  rigidly in which the inner skirt is made

  The attached seal 21 is mounted with a bold fitting inside the interior skirt 4 and the annular flange 22 is designed to establish a vapor tight seal with the open neck 5 of the bottle 1 when the interior skirt 4 (or the assembled stopper 2) is screwed onto the neck of the bottle, the seal being obtained at a relative angle of rotation of the skirt and the bottle of at least 450 relative to the fully closed and correctly oriented position. The container and the cap according to the invention can be used to store liquids, in particular volatile liquids, gels or powdered products of all kinds, but they are particularly advantageous for use in cosmetics, toiletries. and other household products Examples of these products are perfumes, eau de toilette, talc, shower gels, foaming bath products, shampoos, make-up products, filtering sun creams,

  tanning creams and dishwashing liquids

saddle.

Claims (9)

  1 A container (1) having, at its upper end, a threaded neck (5) designed to receive a threaded plug (2) which comprises an inner skirt (4) and an outer cap (3) axially coupled with the inner skirt, the container containing a stop (7; 18) designed so that a stop member (12; 20> provided on the cap can come to bear   against it so as to orient the plug in the posi-   tion closed with respect to the container, characterized in that the cap (3) is coupled with the inner skirt (4> so as to be integral therewith in rotation; and in that the inner skirt is provided with sealing means (17 ; 22) to close the neck (5) of the container and form with it a vapor tight seal over a relative angle of rotation   skirt and container of at least 45.   2 A set of container and cap according to the claim   cation 1, characterized in that the outer cap (3) has internal ribs or grooves (11) designed   to mate with the inner skirt (4).   3 A set of container and cap according to the claim   cation 1, characterized in that the inner skirt (4) comprises   carries external ribs or grooves (15) designed to   mate with the outer cap (3).   4 A set of container and cap according to one of   Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the means of-   sealing (17) are an integral part of the inner skirt (4) A container and cap assembly according to one of   Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the means of-   sealing (22) consist of an insert (21) designed to be mounted with a bold adjustment inside of the inner skirt (4).   6 A set of container and cap according to one of   previous claims, characterized in that the stop   (7; 18) is carried by the container (1) below the file- tage of the neck (5) of the container.   7 A set of container and cap according to one of   previous claims, characterized in that the stop   (7) has an axially or approximately axially oriented face, designed to come into contact with the member stop (12).   8 A set of container and cap according to one of   Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the stop (18)   has a surface (19) oriented radially or slightly   close radially designed to come into contact with the stop gane (20).   9 A set of container and cap according to one of   previous claims, characterized in that the organ   stop (12) is carried by the inner skirt (4).   A set of container and cap according to one   claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the member   stop (20) is carried by the outer cap (3).   11 A method for mounting a screw cap (2)   on a container (1) of the type defined in one of the resales   dications 3 to 10, characterized in that it consists: (i) in   screw the inner skirt (4) onto the threaded neck (5) of the   container so as to produce a vapor-tight seal;   (ii) to mount the outer cap (3) on the inner skirt   so as to couple the ribs and the corresponding grooves (11, 15) of the inner skirt and the outer cap together so that the outer cap does not   cannot be moved in rotation relative to the internal skirt   superior; and (iii), if necessary, screwing the closure device assembled more completely on the threaded neck of the container so as to bring the stop member (12; 20) into contact with the stop (7; 18).