FR2890050A1 - Closure for e.g. flexible tube with cream, has stopping part closing orifice and actuating part spaced from base in stopping device`s closed position, where stopping part is pivoted around hinge to release orifice in device`s open position - Google Patents

Abstract

The closure (1) has a stopping device (17) with an actuating part (18) including an end (20) connected to the closure using articulation units and another end associated to a stopping part (27) by a hinge (31), where the device is movable between open and closed positions. The stopping part closes an orifice (14) and the actuating part is spaced from a base (10) of a cavity (7) when the device is in the closed position. The actuating part is housed in the cavity and the stopping part is pivoted around the hinge to release the orifice when the device is in the open position. An independent claim is also included for an assembly comprising a container equipped with an opening and a closure.

Description

2890050 1

  The present invention relates to a plastic cap having an orifice and an integrated closure device of this orifice, and an assembly comprising a container and such a cap.

  The stopper according to the invention is more particularly intended to equip containers containing pasty products such as toiletries (shampoo, shower gel, etc.) or cosmetic products (creams, etc.), without these applications being limiting. .

  Various plugs are already known used in particular in the aforementioned fields. These plugs generally comprise a body mounted on a container provided with an opening, this body comprising, on the one hand, an end wall provided with an orifice placed facing the opening of the container and, on the other hand, a lateral skirt. . Also provided is a closure device for the orifice of the body, which can be moved between a closed position, where the orifice is closed, and an open position, where the orifice is cleared and allows the flow of the product out of the container.

  Among the known closure devices, mention may be made of: the cover parts associated with the body of the cap pivotally by a hinge; - Type devices (push pull in which a sliding element is moved axially around a chimney surrounding the orifice - Devices consisting of a disk tilting around a diametral axis under the effect of the finger pressure of a user - the shutters pivoting around a flexible zone and in which is integrated a flow channel.

  These various devices are not entirely satisfactory, because they all have at least one of the following disadvantages: - difficulty in operating the opening device because it does not have sufficient grip for the fingers, but often only for a nail, and because the opening is possible only by applying a relatively large force. This problem is even more critical in the case where the user has wet fingers (especially in the shower), so slippery; - need to accompany the opening movement on a large race, which may exceed 90; - obligation for the user to operate the opening device 35 by placing his fingers at the outlet orifice, where increased risks of sliding and possible problems of hygiene, or even contamination of the contents of the container; - Obtaining a flow opening too low, not allowing a high output rate of the product.

  The present invention aims to overcome the drawbacks mentioned above, by providing a cap having a shutter device easy to operate, both at the opening and closing.

  For this purpose, the invention relates to a plastic cap, comprising: a tubular body which, intended to be mounted on a container on the side of the opening thereof, comprises a lateral skirt having an axis, and an end is closed by an end wall provided with an orifice arranged to be placed facing the opening of the container; an integrated shutter device of said orifice.

  According to a general definition of the invention: the body comprises on the one hand a generally parallelepiped shaped cavity formed in the end wall towards the inside of the stopper, at a distance from the orifice, said cavity having a bottom and two lateral faces substantially parallel to each other, and on the other hand an abutment disposed between the cavity and the orifice, projecting from the bottom of the cavity, substantially transversely to the lateral faces of the cavity; and the closure device comprises, on the one hand, a sealing portion capable of closing off the orifice and, on the other hand, an actuating portion disposed opposite the cavity and having a first end connected to the body of the plug substantially. perpendicularly to the lateral faces of the cavity by means of articulation, and a second end associated with the closing portion by a hinge substantially perpendicular to the lateral faces, said hinge being located at a distance from the stop, on the side of the cavity; the closure device being movable between: a closed position, in which the actuating portion is located at a distance from the bottom of the cavity and the closing portion closes the orifice; and an open position, in which the actuating part has moved relative to the body thanks to the articulation means on the one hand towards the bottom of the cavity and, on the other hand, substantially parallel to the lateral faces of the cavity in the direction of the distance from the stop, is substantially housed in the cavity, and wherein the closing portion, which has pivoted relative to the actuating portion about the hinge in cooperation with the stop, is substantially perpendicular to the bottom of the cavity, the orifice being cleared.

  Thus, by a simple pulse of the finger on the actuating portion, a user causes the pivoting of the sealing portion and, consequently, the release of the orifice.

  The actuating part being made of a rigid material and not having large dimensions, it can not undergo significant deformation when the closure device passes from the closed position to the open position. It is therefore the recoil movement with respect to the abutment, made possible by the articulation means, which allows this displacement and thus the clearance of the orifice.

  According to one possible embodiment, the cavity partially opens into the lateral skirt and the articulation means of the actuating part on the body of the plug are located at a distance from the end wall.

  The actuating portion may present in the form of an L-shaped lug comprising a first portion connected to the hinge means and disposed substantially perpendicularly to the lateral faces and to the bottom of the cavity when the closure device is in the closed position, and a second portion substantially perpendicular to the first portion. The hinge means are recessed, towards the inside of the plug, with respect to the end wall.

  Advantageously, the position of the abutment, as well as the dimensions and materials constituting the articulation means and the component parts of the closure device are arranged to allow, in the open position, a wedging of the closure part against the abutment by tensioning the articulation means. In this way, the shutter device can be held in the open position stably without any particular action on the part of the user.

  In addition, when in the closed position, the closure device may be substantially in the continuity of the end wall and the side skirt of the cap. Thus, the plug has a regular apparent contour, devoid of parts very indented or which would exceed significantly. Of course, the closure device could nevertheless be slightly recessed or slightly protruding from the body of the cap.

  The articulation means of the actuating part on the body of the cap may comprise at least one strip of flexible material, and / or at least one strip of rigid material whose first end is connected by a first flexible zone to the body of the plug and whose second end is connected by a second flexible zone to the actuating portion, said flexible zones being substantially parallel to each other and orthogonal to the side faces of the cavity.

  According to a first embodiment, the lateral skirt has a curved shape in the vicinity of the hinge means, and the hinge means comprise two strips substantially parallel to the axis of the plug, when the closure device is in the closed position said strips being spaced from each other orthogonally to the side faces of the cavity.

  According to a second embodiment, the side skirt has a substantially planar shape in the vicinity of the hinge means, and the hinge means comprise a substantially rectilinear strip orthogonal to the side faces of the cavity.

  For example, the shutter portion comprises a flap whose thickness is less than or substantially equal to the height of the hinge means, between the body of the cap and the actuating portion.

  According to one possible embodiment, the cap comprises a bar protruding from the bottom of the cavity and whose face facing the cavity forms the abutment. Alternatively, the cap comprises a shoulder having a face perpendicular to the axis of the plug in which the orifice is formed, and a face parallel to the axis of the plug, facing the cavity, forming the stop.

  The invention also relates to an assembly comprising on the one hand a container provided with an opening and on the other hand a plug as previously described.

  Several possible embodiments of the invention are now described by way of nonlimiting examples, with reference to the appended figures: FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the plug according to the invention; invention, the shutter device being in the closed position; Figures 2 and 3 are perspective views of the cap of Figure 1, the closure device being in the open position; Figure 4 is a perspective view of the plug of Figure 1, the closure device being spaced from the plug; Figure 5 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the plug according to the invention, the closure device being spaced from the plug; Figure 6 is an axial sectional view of the cap of Figure 5, mounted on a container, the closure device being in the closed position; and Figures 7 and 8 are views in axial section of the cap of Figure 5, the closure device being respectively in the intermediate open position and in the open position.

  Figures 1 to 4 show a plug 1 of axis 2, having an end wall 3, substantially planar and disc-shaped, which projects a lateral skirt 4, here substantially cylindrical.

  The cap 1 is mounted on a container 5, here a flexible tube containing for example a pasty product of the cream type. Fixing the cap 1 on the container 5 is obtained by any known means (screwing, latching, etc.). The container 5 has a neck 6 whose axis is substantially coincident with the axis 2 of the plug 1, in the mounted state (see Figure 6).

  The plug 1 comprises a cavity 7 formed from the end wall 3 to the container 5. In the embodiment shown, the cavity 7 is bounded by two lateral faces 8 perpendicular to the end wall 3 and parallel to each other, one face before 9 perpendicular to the lateral faces 8, and a bottom 10. Alternatively, the front face 9 could be curved, for example curved towards the cavity 7. The cavity 7 has no rear face, but opens into the side skirt 4 by interrupting it locally. In the vicinity of this local interruption of the side skirt 4, the cavity 7 may comprise a zone 11 recessed towards the container 5 relative to the bottom 10, thus forming a step. The cavity 7 thus extends from the lateral skirt 4 about half the diameter of the plug 1, while being substantially laterally centered with respect to the transverse wall 3. The width of the cavity 7, that is to say say the distance between the side faces 8, is of the order of 2 to 3 cm (width of about one inch).

  In addition, the side faces 8 extend beyond the front face 9 to a generally perpendicular end face 12 audites side faces 8. The end face 12 is here slightly curved. A wall 13 substantially parallel to the end wall 3 connects the end face 12 to the front face 9. The wall 13 is set back towards the container 5 with respect to the end wall 3. In the production of the 1 to 4, the wall 13 is located axially between the end wall 3 and the bottom 10 of the cavity 7.

  In the wall 13 is provided is an orifice 14 of axis 15, allowing the flow of the contents out of the container 5. The orifice 14 is of smaller dimensions than those of the neck 6, and its axis 15 is substantially parallel to the 2 axis of the plug 1, while being offset with respect thereto.

  Sealing means between the cap 1 and the container 5 are provided. As illustrated in FIG. 6, these means may consist of an inner skirt 16 extending under the orifice 14 towards the container 5, and intended to cooperate with the inner face of the neck 6.

  Moreover, the stopper 1 comprises an integrated shutter device 17, connected to the lateral skirt 4, which, in the closed position, makes it possible to close the orifice 14, and which can be moved to an open position in which the orifice 14 is clear. The body of the plug 1 (end wall 3 and side skirt 4) and the closure device 17 are made in one piece by molding a plastic material. The closure device 17 is described in its closed position (FIG. 1).

  The closure device 17 comprises on the one hand an actuating portion 18 in the form of an L-shaped tab. The actuating part 18 comprises a first portion 19 disposed in the localized interruption of the skirt. 4 lateral formed by the cavity 7, and form with the side skirt 4 a substantially continuous and cylindrical surface. A first end 20 of the first portion 19, substantially orthogonal to the axis 2, is connected to the lateral skirt 4 by two strips 21, oriented substantially parallel to the axis 2 and spaced apart from each other along the said first end 20. The strips 21 have a relatively small thickness, which makes them flexible. The area between the two strips 21 may be connected to the side skirt 4 or not. Alternatively, the two strips 21 could be replaced by another type of connection, for example a thin film. The second end 22 of the first portion 19 is located substantially in the plane of the end wall 3 of the plug 1.

  The actuating portion 18 further comprises a second portion 23 extending from the second end 22 of the first portion 19, facing the cavity 7, substantially parallel to the end wall 3 and extending therefrom . The lateral edges 24 of the second portion 23 (oriented substantially perpendicularly to the first portion 19) are each located near a lateral face 8 of the cavity 7. The second portion 23 extends to a line forming the second end 25 of the actuating portion 18, substantially parallel to the second end 22 of the first portion 19. The second end 25 is located at a distance from the front face 9, the side of the cavity 7. Finally, an impression 26 is arranged in the second portion 23, to receive the finger of a user.

  The closure device 17 further comprises a closure portion 27 formed of a flap extending from the second end 25 of the actuating portion 18, substantially parallel to the end wall 3. The thickness e of the flap is here substantially equal to the distance between the end of the front face 9 opposite the bottom 10 of the cavity 7 and the end wall 3. The closing portion 27 extends to its end free 28, located near the end face 12 and having a complementary shape thereof. The lateral edges 29 of the closure portion 27 extending in extension of the lateral edges 24 of the second portion 23 of the actuating portion 18. The sealing portion 27 further comprises a pin 30 projecting towards the inside the plug 1, and intended to cooperate with sealing with the orifice 14, in the closed position.

  The closure portion 27 is connected to the actuating portion 18 by a hinge 31 formed of a very narrow thin film extending parallel to the second end 25 of the actuating portion 18.

  Consequently, in the closed position, the closure device 17 fills the recesses formed in the end wall 3 and the lateral skirt 4, the plug 1 thus having a substantially cylindrical apparent shape limited by a generally flat transverse wall. Alternatively, the closure device 17 may not fit exactly in the continuity of the body of the plug 1, but be disposed in slight recess or slight protrusion.

  The material used and the thickness selected cause the actuating portion 18 and the sealing portion 27 to be rigid and substantially indeformable (as part of normal use by a person).

  A second embodiment of the plug 1 according to the invention is shown in Figure 5. The plug 1 of Figure 5 generally has the same characteristics as those described above, with the following differences.

  The plug 1 has a parallelepipedal shape, the end wall 3 being substantially square and the side skirt 4 having four flat faces.

  The first portion 19 of the actuating portion 18 has a first substantially straight end 20 connected to the lateral skirt 4 by hinge means consisting of a rigid central strip 32, a first flexible zone 33 arranged with a side of the rigid strip 32 and connected to the side skirt 4, and a second flexible zone 34 disposed on the opposite side of the rigid strip 32 and connected to the first end 20. These various elements (rigid strip 32 and flexible zones 33 , 34) are substantially linear and oriented parallel to the first end 20. They are made of the same material, the central strip 32 being thicker, which gives it its rigidity.

  The wall 13 is situated substantially at the same axial level as the bottom 10 of the cavity 7. A bar 35 projecting from the bottom 9 towards the end wall 3, between the orifice 14 and the cavity 7, is thus defined. existing between the free end of the bar 35 and the end wall 3.

  Moreover, the orifice 14 is surrounded by a chimney 36 extending towards the end wall 3, and the closing portion 27 has, in place of the pin 30, a sealing skirt 37 intended to to cooperate with the outer face of the chimney 36, in the closed position.

  In addition, at least one rib 38 (here two in number) protrudes from the closing portion 27 towards the inside of the plug 1, in the closed position. In the closed position of the closure device 17, the ribs 38 rest on the bar 35, the thickness e of the flap being adapted so that said flap is situated substantially in the same plane as the end wall 3. In the open position of the shutter device 17, the ribs 38 cooperate with the front face 9 of the cavity 7. They thus make it possible to tension the articulation means of the closure device 17 on the body of the stopper 1 and, consequently, ensure a blocking of the shutter portion 27 in the open position. Compared with the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 4, the ribs make it possible to obtain this blocking with a reduced thickness e, thus saving material.

  In addition, the actuating portion 18 could comprise means provided on the inner face of the actuating portion 18 (lugs, curved shape, etc.) which, intended to cooperate by sliding with a guide ramp formed in the cavity 7, would facilitate the passage of the closure device 17 from the closed position to the open position (as will be seen later), limiting the friction surface. The guide ramp could in particular be constituted by the shoulder between the cavity 7 and the zone 11.

  Finally, for aesthetic reasons, the free end 28 of the sealing portion 27 is not curved but substantially linear.

  The operation of the closure device according to the invention is now described with reference to FIGS. 6 to 8. These figures represent the plug of FIG. 5, but, of course, the operation is similar in the case of the plug of FIGS. 1 to 4.

  In the closed position of the closure device 17 (FIG. 6), the closure portion 27 rests on the bar 35 (or the wall 13 in the case of the first embodiment), the orifice 14 being closed by means of the skirt 37 (or pin 30). The second portion 23 of the actuating portion 18 is located substantially in the same plane as the sealing portion 27 and is held in this position, in particular because of the cooperation between the sealing skirt 37 (or pin 30). and the orifice 14, and the tension exerted by the articulation means.

  When a user wishes to dump the contents out of the container 5, he presses the actuating part 18 with the finger, at the footprint 26. As a result, the actuating part 18 is pushed forward in the cavity 7, the second end 25 approaching the bottom 10 and the front face 9 (Figure 7). During this depression, the actuating portion is driven by a pivoting movement with respect to the rigid band 32, around the second flexible zone 34 of the articulation means, while the rigid band 32 is itself With this double pivoting, the actuating portion 18 is moved perpendicular to the front wall 9 and away from it. This recoil movement of the actuating portion 18 is necessary to allow the opening of the closure device 17, since the actuating portion 18 is not deformable. In the case of the first embodiment, there is no double pivoting, but the flexibility of the strips 21 makes it possible to obtain the same recessing and retreating movement of the actuating part 18.

  The depression of the actuating portion 18 in the cavity 7 leads to the pivoting of the closure portion 27 around the hinge 31, by the support exerted by the bar 35 (or the edge between the front wall 9 and the wall 13). The front face 9 thus forms a stop. This pivoting is made possible because the hinge 31 is located at a distance dl sufficient from the front face 9, on the side of the cavity 7. As the actuating portion 18 sinks into the cavity 7 , the second end 25 approaches the front face 9, the closing portion 27 slides along the front face 9 by tilting more and more with respect to the end wall 3 of the plug 1, and the articulation means (band 32 and flexible zones 33, 34) are close to a plane orthogonal to the axis 2 of the plug 1.

  In the open position of the closure device 17 (FIG. 8), the actuating portion 18 is substantially housed in the cavity 7, the second portion 23 being in abutment against the bottom 10, which has stopped the depressing movement. The actuating portion 18 has moved back by a distance d2, less than or equal to the height of the hinge means (that is to say their axial dimension considered when the closure device 17 is in the closed position). The closing part 27 is substantially parallel to the front face 9, and in contact therewith, the orifice 14 being thus released and allowing the dispensing of the product contained in the container 5.

  Advantageously, the thickness e of the closing portion 27 (FIGS. 1 to 4) or the thickness e increased by the thickness of the ribs 38 (FIG. 5), the distance d1 between the hinge 31 and the front face 9, the distance d2 of recoil of the actuating portion 18 and the height of the hinge means are provided so that, in the open position, the closing portion 27 is held in abutment against the front face 9, by the tension of the means hinge. For this purpose, it is possible in particular to provide that d1 is less than d2.

  To close the closure device 17, it suffices for the user to exert a thrust on the sealing portion 27 in the direction of the orifice 14. By a reverse movement of that previously described, the various parts of the device of FIG. shutter 17 then return to the position of Figure 6.

  Thus, the invention provides a decisive improvement to the prior art, by providing a closure device that can be very easily opened by a simple pulse exerted with the finger, leading to a large clearance of the outlet orifice and a holding in the open position without user action.

  It goes without saying that the invention is not limited to the embodiments described above as examples but that it encompasses all variants. In particular, the closure device could have larger dimensions, the end wall of the plug then being very small or non-existent.

Claims (18)

  1. Plastic cap, comprising: - a tubular body which, intended to be mounted on a container (5) on the side of the opening thereof, comprises a lateral skirt (4) of axis (2) having one end is closed by an end wall (3) provided with an orifice (14) arranged to be placed facing the opening of the container (5); - a shutter device (17) integrated said orifice (14); characterized in that the body comprises on the one hand a cavity (7) of generally parallelepipedal shape, formed in the end wall (3) towards the inside of the plug (1), at a distance from the orifice (14). ), said cavity (7) having a bottom (10) and two lateral faces (8) substantially parallel to each other, and secondly a stop (9) disposed between the cavity (7) and the orifice (14), projecting from the bottom (10) of the cavity (7), substantially transversely to the lateral faces (8) of the cavity (7); and in that the closure device (17) comprises on the one hand a closing part (27) able to close the orifice (14) and on the other hand an actuating part (18) arranged in view of the cavity (7) and having a first end (20) connected to the body of the plug (1) substantially perpendicular to the lateral faces (8) of the cavity (7) by hinge means (21, 32, 33, 34), and a second end (25) associated with the closing portion (27) by a hinge (31) substantially perpendicular to the lateral faces (8), said hinge (31) being located at a distance (dl) from the stop (9), the side of the cavity (7), the closure device (17) being movable between: - a closed position, wherein the actuating portion (18) is located at a distance from the bottom (10) of the cavity (7) and the closing part (27) closes the orifice (14); and an open position, in which the actuating part (18) has moved relative to the body thanks to the articulation means on the one hand towards the bottom (10) of the cavity (7) and on the other hand substantially parallel to the lateral faces (8) of the cavity (7) in the direction of the distance from the stop (9), is substantially housed in the cavity (7), and in which the sealing portion (27) ), having pivoted relative to the actuating part (18) around the hinge (31) by cooperation with the abutment (9), is substantially perpendicular to the bottom (10) of the cavity (7), the orifice (18) 14) being cleared.   2. Stopper according to claim 1, characterized in that the cavity (7) partially opens into the side skirt (4) and in that the hinge means (21, 32, 33, 34) of the part of actuation (18) on the body of the plug (1) are located at a distance from the end wall (3).   3. Stopper according to claim 2, characterized in that the actuating portion (18) is in the form of an L-shaped tab having a first portion (19) connected to the hinge means (21, 32, 33). , 34) and disposed substantially perpendicular to the side faces (8) and the bottom (10) of the cavity (7) when the closure device (17) is in the closed position, and a second portion (23) substantially perpendicular to the first portion (19).   4. Stopper according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the position of the stop (9), and the dimensions and materials constituting the articulation means of the actuating portion (18) on the body the plug (1) and the parts making up the closure device (17) are arranged to allow, in the open position, a wedging of the closing part (27) against the stop (9) by tensioning the means hinge.   5. Stopper according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, when in the closed position, the closure device (17) is substantially in the continuity of the end wall (3). and the side skirt (4) of the cap (1).   6. Stopper according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the articulation means of the actuating portion (18) on the body of the plug (1) comprise at least one strip of flexible material (21). .   7. Stopper according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the articulation means of the actuating portion (18) on the body of the plug (1) comprise at least one strip of rigid material (32) whose first end is connected by a first flexible zone (33) to the body of the plug (1) and whose second end is connected by a second flexible zone (34) to the actuating part (18), said flexible zones ( 33, 34) being substantially parallel to each other and orthogonal to the side faces (8) of the cavity (7).   8. Stopper according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that, in the vicinity of the hinge means of the actuating portion (18) on the body of the plug (1), the side skirt (4) has a curved shape, and in that said hinge means comprise two strips (21) substantially parallel to the axis (2) of the plug (1), when the closure device (17) is in the closed position, said strips (21) being spaced from each other orthogonally to the side faces (8) of the cavity (7).   9. Stopper according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that, in the vicinity of the articulation means of the actuating portion (18) on the body of the plug (1), the side skirt (4) has a substantially flat shape, and in that said hinge means comprise a strip (32) substantially rectilinear and orthogonal to the side faces (8) of the cavity (7).   10. Stopper according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the closing portion (27) comprises a flap whose thickness (e) is less than or substantially equal to the height of the hinge means, between the body of the plug (1) and the actuating portion (18).   11. Stopper according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that it comprises a bar (35) projecting from the bottom (10) of the cavity (7) and whose face facing the cavity (7) forms the stop (9).   12. Stopper according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that it comprises a shoulder having a face (13) perpendicular to the axis (2) of the plug (1) in which is formed the orifice (14). ), and a face parallel to the axis (2) of the plug (1), facing the cavity (7), forming the stop (9).   13. Stopper according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the closure portion (27) comprises a flap which projects a pin (30) adapted to cooperate with sealing with the orifice (14) in the end wall (3) in the closed position of the closure device (17).   14. Stopper according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the orifice (14) formed in the end wall (3) is surrounded by a chimney (36) and in that the part of shutter (27) comprises a shutter from which protrudes a sealing skirt (37) capable of cooperating with said chimney (36) in the closed position of the shutter device (17).   15. Stopper according to one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that the actuating portion (18) has an imprint (26) for receiving the finger of a user.   16. Stopper according to one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that the closing portion (27) comprises at least one rib (38) projecting towards the inside of the stopper (1), in the closed position of the closure device. shutter (17), said rib (38) being intended to cooperate with the stop (9) to allow blocking of the shutter portion (27) in the open position.   17. Stopper according to one of claims 1 to 16, characterized in that the actuating portion (18) has on its inner face means which, for sliding engagement with a guide ramp formed in the cavity (7). ), facilitate the passage of the closure device (17) from the closed position to the open position.   18. An assembly comprising on the one hand a container (5) provided with an opening and on the other hand a plug (1) according to any one of the preceding claims.