FR2738556A1 - CLOSURE OF CONTAINER - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to closures for containers equipped with a hand pump. The pump (6) is provided with an annular collar (11) engaged by an adapter (5) carrying latching arms (13) which engage under a rim (15) of the neck of the receptacle (7). A protective cap (2) is fitted onto the adapter (5), the lower part of which applies the latching arms (13) against the flange (15). The protective cap (2) is not removable, it extends substantially above the upper face of the spray head (4) and covers the latter at least partially. Main application: bottles of cosmetic or body care products.

Description

Container closure The invention relates to a container closure

  comprising: a) a hand-operated pump, on which is arranged a spray head provided with a spray nozzle, b) the spray head being manually depressed for actuation of the pump, c) an annular collar provided on the pump and attacked by an adapter which is provided with snap arms which engage under a scalloped rim carried by the neck of the container, and d) a wrap-around ring which can be fitted over the adapter to press and hold the snap arm against the rim, (e) the wrap-around ring consisting of a stationary and immovable protective cap which extends substantially beyond the upper face of the spray head and at least partially covers the same. A closure of this kind is already known by the

DE 43 38 791 Ai.

  Containers, in particular, containers for cosmetic or body care products, such as perfumes, deodorants and the like, are frequently equipped with a hand-operated pump. Among the devices that are necessary to mount and fix the pump on the container, there is, in the closure known from DE 43 38 791 supra, an adapter which surrounds the pump and fixed to the container by means of snap arms which snap on a flanged edge of the neck of the container. The adapter is in turn surrounded by an enveloping ring which, when nested, has the effect that

  the adapter can no longer separate from the neck of the container.

  Finally, it is still provided a removable protective cap, fitted on the adapter and which prevents the head

  spraying is unintentionally activated.

  The known closure, which is essentially composed of three parts, the adapter provided with the pump, the wrapping ring and the protective cap, is assembled by interlocking to form a unit before being mounted on the container, and then it is blocked on the container in its complete form, after the filling of this container. In this construction, the protective cap provides the important function of supporting, when mounting the closure, and transmitting to the adapter through the wrapping ring, the developed pressure forces that are required for the arms snap-over edge and lock. A disadvantage of the known device is that it is composed of three elements which must remain engaged by snapping and friction in an exactly defined position, maintained by force action, during the entire duration of the mounting operation, so that the closure can actually be placed on the container in a single operation and after its assembly, it reliably performs its functions among which there is also the

  sealing the seal between the pump and the container.

  For example, in the known closure, the adapter is provided with locking bosses which hold the wrapping ring in its initial position, via its snap arms, until its arms have passed the rim. detalonné by deviating radially. It is only later that the wrapping ring can be pushed down, beyond the adapter, overcoming the resistance of the locking bosses. In the already known closure, it is therefore essential to adapt exactly the three elements, adapter, ring and protective cap to each other with good precision in terms of dimensions and behavior of materials. As a result, the cost of manufacturing is relatively high. The object of the present invention is therefore to give the known closure a configuration such that it is simpler by its construction whereas, as before, it is sought to obtain a closure that can

  be mounted on the container as a monoblock unit.

  According to the invention, this problem is solved by the fact that: f) a button is mounted on the spray head in the longitudinal direction of the pump and extends through a household opening in the upper face of the protective cap; (g) the button is provided with a locking rib extending in the axial direction and the opening in the upper face of the protective cap is provided with a locking groove, so that the button can not be depressed with the spray head only in a single angular position in which the locking rib of the button is aligned with the locking groove of the

protective cap.

  According to the invention, the function of the wraparound ring is ensured by the removable and irremovable protective cap. This amounts to saying that, according to the invention, the protective cap is of such a configuration that it covers both the adapter and the spray head of the hand-operated pump, that, firstly, the pressure forces which act on the container during the establishment of the closure are absorbed by the protective cap, that, secondly, after the establishment of the closure, the latching arms of the adapter are locked on the neck of the container by the protective cap and, thirdly, thanks to the protective cap, it is not possible for the pump to be operated unintentionally. Naturally, it should be understood that the protective cap "is immovable and irremovable" that the protective cap can not move in the normal use of the container, especially when separating it from the container, as is customary in self for protective caps. However, at the time of placing the closure on the container, there is a movement of the protective cap both with respect to the

  container as compared to the adapter.

  In this way, instead of comprising three parts, the closure according to the invention consists of only two parts which are held in a defined position engaged with one another by friction. The manufacture and implementation of the closure are thus considerably simplified. In a first embodiment of the closure, the protective cap covers the spray head with the exception of a notch for passing the finger

  serving for actuating the pump.

  In a second embodiment of the closure, the upper face of the protective cap is closed except for a relatively small central opening. Through this central opening, it is possible to thread a button serving as an actuating piston, which is fixed to the spray head by a snap-fitting assembly, so that

  the pump is activated by pressing the button.

  In this embodiment, the spray head and / or the actuating piston can be shaped so that the pump can be locked to

  against involuntary operation.

  Apart from its simplicity of construction, the closure according to the invention still has the advantage of being able to take a very narrow form, thanks to the removal of the additional wrapping ring. This improves the possibilities

  to give the closing a current aesthetic.

  Various embodiments of the closure according to the invention are described below in more detail and by way of example with reference to the drawing. In this drawing, Figure 1 is a side sectional view of a first embodiment, after the establishment of the closure on a container; Figure 2 is a side sectional view of the first embodiment during placement of the closure on the container; Figure 3 is a top view of the embodiment of Figures 1 and 2; Figures 4 and 5 are side sectional views of a second embodiment of the closure equipped with an actuating piston, not locked on one and locked on the other; and Fig. 6 is a side sectional view of a third embodiment of the closure; Figure 7 shows a fourth embodiment of a container closure, partly in longitudinal section, in which the button is separated from the spray head; Fig. 8 shows the container closure according to Fig. 7 with the pump in the actuated state; and FIG. 9 is a horizontal sectional view along the

section line A-A of Figure 7.

  In Figure 1, there is shown a first embodiment of the closure by a side sectional view. The closure comprises a pump 6 which is engaged in the neck of a container 7. On the body of the pump 6, is fitted a spray head 4 provided with a spray nozzle 3. When pressing the spray head 4, the pump 6 draws liquid into the container 7 in a known manner, via a small tube (not shown) and expels it through the spray nozzle 3 in the form

of a spray.

  The body of the pump 6 has an annular collar 11 at its upper end, which is above the edge of the neck of the container 8. The annular flange 11 is retained on the upper edge of the neck of the container 7 by a substantially annular adapter 5, and, in the embodiment shown, there are provided retaining bosses 12 which retain the annular flange 11, and therefore the pump 6, in the adapter 5. On its side, the adapter 5 is retained on the receptacle 7 by snap-fastening arms 13. For this purpose, the neck of the receptacle is externally provided with a calibrated rim 15

  beyond which the latching arms 13 lock.

  The latching arms 13 are retained in the position applied against the calibrated flange 15 by the lower part of a protective cap 2, so that the adapter 5 closes the neck of the permanently sealed seal container by cooperating with the annular flange. 11 of the pump 6. The protective cap, more precisely the lower segment of this cap, which is directed towards the shoulder 16 of the container, thus serves at the same time as an enveloping ring for the adapter 5. For this purpose, the cap

  protector extends from the shoulder 16 of the container to

  above the level of the upper face of the spray head 4 and covers the latter substantially completely (in the normal position of use,

  fully encased on adapter 5, see figure 1).

  In FIG. 2, it is shown how the closure is put in place on the container 7. The closure is entirely premounted, but the protective cap 2 is fitted on the adapter 5 only over a distance such that the locking arms 13 are not covered by the lower part of the protective cap 2. The protective cap 2 and the adapter 5 are held in this position by

a friction connection.

  After filling the container 7, the closure is fitted on the container as a single block. Under the effect of a pressure exerted on the protective cap 2, the latching arms 13 of the adapter 5 lock under the compensated flange 15 of the neck of the container. In the initial position shown in Figure 2, in which the latching arms 13 are not covered by the protective cap 2 and o they can deviate to the outside, the surface pressure between the protective cap 2 and the adapter 5 is large enough that in this position it is possible to push the latching arms 13 to make it pass the detonating rim 15 without the protective cap 2 sliding on

the snap arms.

  By continuing to exert on the protective cap 2 a pressure which is now strong enough that the frictional connection between the protective cap 2 and the adapter 5 is overcome, the protective cap 2 is finally fitted over the length of the adapter 5 until reaching the shoulder 16 of the container 7. Under this effect, the latching arms 13 of the adapter 5 are pressed against the calibrated flange 15 and held in the position

  pressed by the lower part of the protective cap 2.

  The application of the latching arms 13 with pressure against the calibrated flange 15 again has the effect, thanks to the surfaces suitably inclined relative to each other, that the adapter 5 and the annular flange 11 of the body 6 of the pump are firmly applied against the upper edge of the neck, so that a good seal is obtained. The protective cap 2 and the adapter 5 are dimensioned so that the protective cap 2 is pressed sufficiently strongly on the adapter 5, by the superficial pressure developed after the complete fitting on the neck of the container, so that in the use of the container 7 or the closure, this cap does not move and in particular, it can not be torn off. In other words, the resistance of the surface pressure between the protective cap 2 and the adapter can be overcome only by the application of a sufficiently great pressure exerted during the establishment of the closure on the container while that in use, one can practically not overcome the resistance of this pressure. Relative movement between the protective cap 2 and the adapter 5 occurs only when the closure is placed on the container while, in the use position, the protective cap 2 and the adapter 5 are assembled to each other without possibility

of displacement.

  As mentioned, the protective cap 2 covers the spray head 4 more or less on all sides. So that the pump 6, or the spray head 4, can be manually actuated for the normal sampling of the liquid in the container, there is provided a button 1 fitted on the spray head 4 and which passes through an opening 19 formed in the face 2. The button 1 and the corresponding opening 19 are arranged in the extension of the longitudinal axis of the pump, so that the spray head 4 of the pump 6 can be moved in the vertical direction by means of of

button 1.

  The spray nozzle 3 extends through an aperture 10 in the form of a recessed hole in the wall

side of the protective cap 2.

  For the protection against unintentional actuation of the pump, the button 1 can be locked on the upper face of the protective cap 2. For this purpose, the button 1 is assembled to the spray head 4 by an assembly to With the interlocking assembly 14, the knob 1 can rotate freely with respect to the spray head 4. The driving of the spray head 4 in the rotation is made impossible by the guidance of the spray nozzle. spray 3 in the opening

  the side wall of the protective cap 2.

  The button 1 has on its periphery a locking rib 8 extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of the closure and, therefore, in the direction of movement of the pump 6, and which projects radially outwards. When the button is depressed, the locking rib 8 is in a locking groove 9 formed on the edge of the opening 19 formed in the upper face of the protective cap 2 to receive the button 1 (see Figures 2 and 3). When the button is not lowered, the lower end of the locking rib 8 is above the upper face of the protective cap 2, so that in this position, the knob 1 can be rotated. as indicated in FIG. 3, the rotation of the button 1, for example approximately 90 ', has the effect that the locking rib 8 is no longer above the locking groove 9 and that, consequently, , the button 1 can no longer be lowered, since the lower end of the locking rib 8 abuts against the protective cap 2 in the region of the edge of the opening 19 which receives the button 1. In this way, the button 1 and, therefore, the pump 6 too, are protected against

involuntary operation.

  To actuate the pump, it is first necessary to turn the knob 1 sufficiently for the locking rib 8 to be above the locking groove 9.

  releases the translational movement of the pump.

  The second embodiment of the closure, which is shown in Figures 4 and 5, differs from the first embodiment in that the button 1 is connected to the spray head 4 without the possibility of rotation and that the nozzle Spray 3 does not pass through the lateral opening 10 of the protective cap. In this way, when a rotation is made to the button 1, the spray head 4 accompanies the movement. Also in this embodiment, the locking rib 8 carried by the button 1, in combination with the locking groove 9 of the protective cap 2, prohibits the actuation

involuntary pump.

  To limit the rotational movement of the spray head 4 and to obtain a defined position of the spray head, in which the spray nozzle is exactly behind the opening 10, the wall of the adapter 5 is extended upwards. - above the level of the spray nozzle 3 (when the latter is not lowered, see figure 5). In the wall is cut a window 17 extending over an arc circumference of 90 ', for example, in which the spray nozzle 3 passes and which forms the lateral abutment surfaces against which the spray nozzle 3 is based in the angular positions which respectively correspond to the locked state and the unlocked state. Moreover, in the locked state, the spray nozzle 3 is supported by its lower side against the lower edge of the window 17, so that it is impossible to

operate the pump 6.

  Opposite the opening 10 of the protective cap 2, the wall of the adapter 5 is furthermore provided with a notch corresponding to the opening 10 and which receives the spray nozzle 3 in the correct angular position of the nozzle of FIG. spraying 4, so that in this angular position, the pump lock is removed and

  can press the spray head 4 down.

  In this embodiment, the locking rib 8 and the locking groove 9 can be omitted since the wall of the adapter 5 can be extended upwards in the region of the window 17 far enough so that, in the state locked, that is to say when the pump 6 is not actuated, the spray nozzle is above the upper edge of the wall or that it is

slide on this edge.

  In this embodiment, in the locked or closed state, the spray nozzle 3 is also protected against

dirt and deterioration.

  Finally, there is also shown a third embodiment of the closure in Figure 6. In this third embodiment, the spray head 4 is directly accessible. For this purpose, there is provided in the lateral position and upper in the protective cap 2 an opening in the form of a notch for passage of the

  finger 18 which provides access to the spray head 4.

  On the side with the opening 10 for passage of the spray nozzle 3, the protective cap 2 extends preferably up to the end of the spray head 4 and partially covers the latter, while the notch 18 passage the finger only interests part of the upper face of the protective cap 2 and an opening

  arranged on the side opposite the opening 10.

  In this embodiment, the spraying nozzle 3 extends here also through the opening 10 of the protective cap to prevent the rotation of the nozzle head.

spraying 4.

  Figures 7 and 8 show a fourth embodiment of the container closure, in which the button 1 is separated from the spray head 4. It can be seen that a rod 20 of the button 1 is rigidly connected at its lower end. which passes through the opening 19 of the protective cap 2, has a plate-shaped pressure plate 21 placed at a certain axial distance above the head face of the spray head 4, forming a slot 22, and fixed by a threading segment 23. This threading segment 23 protrudes radially on the rod 20 of the button 1 and cooperates with a thread profile 24 provided on the head face of the protective cap 2 to lock the button 1 or to turn it to place it in the actuating position. To simplify the representation, the thread profile of the protective cap 2 is shown only in FIG. 9. In this embodiment, the locking rib of the embodiment of FIGS. 4 and 5 is thus replaced by the thread segment 23. , which removes the constraints when the pump 6 is locked, even in the presence of an unfavorable clearance of tolerance, and establishes the slot 22 between the spray head 4 and the pressure plate 21, so that the actuation of the pump 10 is prohibited with security in

the locked position.

  Figure 9 shows a segment 24 extending over 90 ', which partially surrounds the opening 19 of the protective cap 2. This segment 24 is provided with the threaded profile 24 which corresponds to the threaded segment 23. The threaded profile 24 is constructed so that in the position shown in Figure 7, the button 1 takes a locking position in which the pressure plate is properly applied against the underside of the protective cap 2 and establish accordingly the safety gap, formed by the slot 22

  relative to the spray head.

Claims (4)

R E V E N D I C A T I 0 NS   Container closure comprising: a) a hand-operated pump (6) on which is arranged a spray head (4) provided with a spray nozzle (3), b) the spray head (4). being manually pressed for actuating the pump (6), c) an annular flange (11) provided on the pump (6) and driven by an adapter (5) which is provided with latching arms (13) which engage under a scalloped rim (15) of the neck of the container (7), and d) a wrap-around ring that can be snapped onto the adapter to press and retain the ratchet arms (13) against the rim (15) (e) the wrapping ring being constituted by a stationary and immovable protective cap, which extends substantially beyond the upper face of the spray head (4) and at least partially covers the latter, characterized in that: f) a button (1) is mounted on the spray head (4) in the longitudinal direction the pump and extends through an opening (19) in the upper face of the protective cap (2); g) the button (1) is provided with a locking rib (8) extending in the axial direction and the opening (19) in the upper face of the protective cap (2) is provided with a groove lock (9), so that the button (1) can be depressed with the spray head (3) only in a single angular position in which the locking rib (8) of the button (1) is aligned with the   locking groove (9) of the protective cap (2).   Container closure according to claim 1, characterized in that the knob (1) is rotatably mounted on the spray head (4) and in that the protective cap (2) has an opening (10) an elongated hole shape through which the spray nozzle (3) passes, so that the spray head (4) does not accompany the rotation when turn the knob (1).   Container closure according to claim 1, characterized in that the knob (1) rotates with the spray head (4) and that the wall of the adapter (5) is extended upwards and provided with a window (17) in which the spray nozzle (3) passes and which forms the abutment surfaces against which the spray nozzle (3) is respectively supported in the locked state and in the the unlocked state.   Container closure according to claim 1, characterized in that the knob (1) rotates with the spray head (4) and in that the wall of the adapter (5) is extended upwards and provided with a notch corresponding to the opening (10) of the protective cap (2) such that, in the locked state, the spray nozzle (3) slides on the upper edge of the wall of the adapter (5) and away from the notch of the protective cap by rotation and thus be protected from Dirt and deterioration.   Container closure according to claim 1, characterized in that the locking rib is in the form of a thread segment (23) and that in the locking position the pump (6) is not loaded by a constraint, even in the presence of a game of unfavorable tolerance and that there remains a slot (22) between   the spray head (4) and the pressure plate (21).