FR3046993A1 - CLOSURE DEVICE - Google Patents

Abstract

The closure device (1) according to the invention is circular central axis OO 'intended to be mounted on a vial neck, comprising an upper part (11) with at least one reversible assembly means (2) at the neck of the bottle, and an outer shell (3) at least partially covering a tamper-evident band (4) connected by breakable bridges (5) to the upper part (11) of the closure device, the assembly being integral, it is characterized in that the tamper-evident band (4) comprises an upper part (41) close to the breakable bridges (5), an intermediate thinned part (42) and a lower part (43), the thinned part (42) forming a circular zone of folding of the lower part (43) against the upper part (41).

Description

CLOSING DEVICE DESCRIPTION

TECHNICAL FIELD The invention relates to a closure device intended to be mounted on the neck of a bottle.

State of the art

It is known the production of caps or capsules intended to be mounted on the neck of a bottle, having a tamper band held by breakable bridges.

Thus, in the state of the art, US4147268 discloses a tamperproof plug for use on a standard container having a threaded neck portion and a flange below the threaded portion.

The cap consists of an upper part which has an internal thread, which part is attached by breakable bridges to a lower part consisting of a flexible tamper band in the continuity of the internal thread, this lower part being covered on its periphery by an outer shell laterally protecting the tamper-evident band. The tamper-evident band extends partially below the outer shell so that it can be easily visualized. The outer shell extends beyond the breakable bridges to protect them from falsification and separation.

The tamper-evident band has a surface that engages under the flange of the neck when the cap is screwed onto the container. This surface consists of a plurality of portions of extra thickness.

During the first screwing, the tamper-evident band deforms elastically to pass over the diameter of the flange and the surface of the tamper-evident strip bears against the lower part of the flange to secure the tamper-evident band under the collar. When unscrewing, the jumpers are broken and completely disconnect the tamper band from the rest of the plug.

In known manner, this type of plug is made by injection molding of thermoplastic materials. The disadvantage of these extra thicknesses is that they increase the forces to which the bridges are subjected when demolding plugs.

Thus, during the demolding operation, the stripping forces in force of these extra thicknesses can lead to the rupture of the bridges. The term force release means that an element of the mold has an undercut hindering the demoulding. To allow the ejection of the piece, it must deform, bend or stretch around this undercut.

In a manner also known, these caps are mounted on the necks of bottles during an automated operation on lines of traffic jams.

Because of these extra thicknesses, the tamper-evident band deforms less easily during the automated assembly of the cap on the neck of the bottle, and increases the stresses transmitted to the bridges for holding the tamper-evident band during the passage of the neck collar. , increasing their risk of rupture.

In addition, the transmission of forces to cause breakage of the bridges is via the bearing surface of these extra thicknesses against the lower wall of the neck collar. The geometry of these extra thicknesses therefore requires, in a contradictory way: - To facilitate demolding by avoiding having undercuts and thus avoid breakage of the bridges. - To ensure a good transmission of forces between the bearing surface and the lower part of the neck collar with the largest possible contact area. This contact surface is obtained by against large bodies, which will exert significant stress on the bridges during demolding.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The invention proposes to solve these disadvantages and for this purpose the invention consists of a central axis circular closure device intended to be mounted on a vial neck, comprising: a high part with at least a reversible assembly means at the neck of the bottle, - an outer shell at least partially covering a tamper-evident strip connected by breakable bridges to the remainder of the upper part of the closure device, - the assembly being monobloc, - it is characterized in that the tamper-evident band comprises an upper part close to the breakable bridges, an intermediate thinned part and a lower part, the thinned part forming a circular zone of folding of the lower part against the upper part.

The closure device in this configuration is obtained for example by plastic injection molding, performed in a single molding operation.

Advantageously, the lower part of the tamper-evident band is folded down along the thinned portion and the lower part of the tamper-evident band faces upwardly and inwardly of the closure device. This improves the support of the tamper-evident band on the lower surface of the flange of the neck of the flask; This folding operation can be performed by a movement of a tool while the closure device is still maintained at least partially in the plastic injection mold or subsequently, by an intermediate operation which is performed between the demolding phase and the mounting step on the neck of the bottle to be sealed.

According to a first variant, the reversible assembly means at the neck of the bottle consists of at least one thread, the closure device being a plug.

According to a second variant, the reversible assembly means at the neck of the bottle is at least one part to be clipped, the closure device being a capsule.

Advantageously, the tamper-evident band is continuous. The guarantee of inviolability with a tamper-evident band is better assured than if it had been made by tongues.

Advantageously, the lower part of the tamper-evident band is continuous. This has the advantage of better transmitting the unscrewing efforts than if the lower part of the tamper band had been formed by a succession of slots.

According to a third variant, the outer shell comprises a light, showing some of the bridges and the tamper band. It is thus possible to visually verify the tamper evidence.

According to a fourth variant, the outer shell is transparent, revealing the bridges and the tamper-evident band. It is thus possible to visually verify the burglary

According to a fifth variant, the breakable bridges are blades radiating from the central axis O-O 'delimited by an interstitial space between an inner wall of the outer shell and a vertical extension of an inner wall of the upper part of the tamper evident tape. This makes it harder to break the bridges.

According to a sixth variant, the inner and outer walls of the breakable bridges are tangent to the inner and outer walls of the upper part of the tamper-evident band. It is thus ensured that the bridges remain attached to the tamper-evident band during their break, and do not leave an unsightly and aggressive part for the fingers on the underside of the closure device.

Advantageously, the closure device comprises an interstitial space between an inner wall of the outer shell and a vertical extension of an inner wall of the upper part of the tamper-evident band having a narrowing zone. Indeed the mold of the upper part of the tamper-evident strip has a negative draft requiring a force release. Other advantages may still appear to those skilled in the art on reading the examples below, illustrated by the appended figures, given for illustrative purposes.

Brief description of the figures

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a closure device.

FIG. 2 represents a view from above of the closure device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 represents a sectional view along line III / III indicated in FIG. 2.

FIGS. 3a and 3b correspond to detailed views of FIG. 3 according to the loupes indicated in FIG.

Figure 4 is a sectional view of a closure device shown in Figure 1 in a plane passing through a central axis 0-0 'after folding the lower part of the tamper-evident band.

Figure 5 is a bottom view of a closure device according to a fifth embodiment where breakable bridges are blades.

FIG. 5b is a detailed sectional view of the closure device of FIG. 5.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the closure device of FIG. 5.

detailed description

To define the positioning in the space of the closure device 1 throughout the description, the top corresponds to the upper part in the sectional view of the closure device 1 FIG.

The term inner wall corresponds to a wall located on the side of the central axis 0-0 'of the closure device.

The term outer wall corresponds to the walls opposite to the inner wall.

The term monoblock means that the piece has been made in a single operation of plastic injection, and not in two or more plastic injection operations. The invention consists of a blocking device 1 monobloc. It is circular and has a central axis 0-0 '. It is intended to be mounted on the neck of a bottle (not shown here).

The circular closure device 1 of central axis 00 'comprises an upper part 11 with at least one reversible assembly means 2 at the neck of the bottle. It also comprises an outer shell 3 at least partially covering a tamper-evident band 4 connected by breakable bridges 5 to the remainder of the upper part 11 of the closure device 1.

The tamper-evident band 4 comprises an upper part 41 close to the breakable bridges 5, an intermediate thinned part 42 and a lower part 43, the thinned part 42 forming a circular zone of folding of the lower part 43 against the upper part 41.

The closure device 1 consists of a tamper band 4 and a complementary main part.

The closure device 1 comprises in its upper part 11 a reversible assembly means 2, in the form of at least one thread 2 for cooperating with a threaded portion of the neck of a bottle.

The number of threads 2 present on the closure device 1 may vary according to the choice of the pitch of the thread and the configuration of the complementary threaded portion of the bottle.

In the illustrated example, the closure device 1 is a plug, but this plugging device 1 can also for example be a capsule. The cap has a thread while the capsule has one or more lugs or clips passing by elastic deformation part of the neck of the bottle during assembly.

A tamper-evident band 4 is made according to the first variant in the low continuity of the upper part 11, on the lower part of the closure device 1.

This tamperproof band 4 is integral with the closure device 1 by means of breakable bridges 5.

Part of the tamper band 4 is covered by an outer shell 3. The lower limit covered by the outer shell 3 is identified in Figures 3, 3a, 3b, 5b by a horizontal line W-W '.

The tamper-evident band 4 has an upper portion 41 in contact with the breakable bridges 5, an intermediate thinned portion 42 and a lower portion 43, as seen on the right of FIG. 3 and in FIG. 3b. On the left of Figure 3 and Figure 3a is shown an example of spacing between the breakable bridges.

The thinned portion 42 forms a circular crimping zone making it possible to fold the lower part 43 inwards against the upper part 41 of the tamper-evident band 4 and to face their two inner walls 412 and 431.

Figure 4 illustrates the position of the tamper band 4 before mounting around a vial neck.

The neck of the bottle comprises a flange intended to cooperate with the tamper band 4 of the closure device 1.

During the assembly of the closure device on the neck of the bottle on the bottling lines, the tamper-evident band 4 deforms elastically beyond the diameter of the collar to pass over the collar of the neck of the bottle. and abut against a lower portion of the flange of the neck of the bottle to block any upward movement of the neck.

At the first opening of the bottle, the tamper-evident band 4 bears against a lower part of the flange of the neck of the flask and transmits the opening force to the tamper-evident band 4 in order to break its bridges. breakable 5 by tearing.

The tamper band 4 is detached and remains positioned under the collar.

When the closure device 1 is mounted on a vial neck, the lower portion 43 of the tamper-evident band 4 is trapped between the inner wall 412 of the upper part 41 of the tamper-evident band 4 and the neck of the vial. , not shown here.

This embodiment of the tamper-evident band 4 makes the tamper-proof function more deformable and more efficient. - More deformable because because of its fineness, tamper band 4 is more easily deformed during assembly on the automated bottling lines of the closure device 1 on the neck of the bottle, and reduces the stresses transmitted to breakable bridges 5 during the passage of the collar collar, thus limiting their risk of rupture and therefore the non-compliance of the assembly. - More efficient because the lower portion 43 of the tamper-evident band 4 is directed upwards and the center of the closure device 1. Once the closure device 1 mounted on a vial neck, the end of the band tamper evident 43 is positioned vertically without clearance between the upper portion 41 of the tamper band 4 and around the neck. This end 43 is supported on the lower horizontal face of the neck flange of the bottle. During the first unscrewing or uncapping, the tamper-evident band bears directly against the flange of the bottle, without the possibility of lateral deformation or slippage. The forces exerted to unscrew or unscap the plugging device 1 for the first time are transmitted to the tamperproof strip 4 in order to tear off the breakable bridges 5. With a system of the state of the art, it would be possible to have lateral deformation or slip of the tamper-evident band, and part of the exerted efforts would have been dissipated.

This embodiment of a tamper-evident band 4 ensures a better transmission of forces to cause breakage of the breakable bridges 5 with respect to the tamper-evident strips having extra thicknesses.

For a plug type closure device this configuration reduces the unscrewing torque required to pull the breakable bridges 5, and thus facilitate the first unscrewing by the user.

For a capsule-type closure device, this configuration reduces the uncapping force necessary to tear the breakable bridges 5, and thus facilitate the first decapping by the user.

The tamper band 4 is here circular and continuous.

This has the advantage, once the main part of the closure device 1 removed from the neck of the vial and the tamper-evident band 4, to leave it wedged under the flange of the neck of the vial and to quickly visualize that the vial has already been opened.

In a variant not described here, the tamper band 4 may be constituted by a succession of discontinuous arcs disposed on a periphery of the tamper band 4, and attached to each other by breakable bridges, not shown here.

This variant has the advantage of letting the tamper band 4 hang on the main part of the closure device 1 after unclipping or unscrewing. The arcs of the tamper-evident band 4 then act as control tabs of first opening. The user can then finish breaking the remaining bridges to remove the first opening indicator tabs, and use the main part of the closure device 1 to reseal the neck of the bottle.

The lower portion 43 of the tamperproof band 4 which is folded down here is continuous.

However, it can also be discontinuous, and have corrugations or aliasing that facilitate the folding of this portion inwardly and upwardly of the closure device 1.

The closure device 1 comprises on its lower part an outer shell 3 integral with the closure device 1, of generally circular shape about the central axis 0-0 '.

The tamper-evident band 4 is mainly under the outer shell 3, so that it is not accessible with the fingers or simply with a tool without risking damage to the jumpers. The lower limit of the tamper band 4 covered by the outer shell 3 is delimited by the horizontal line W-W 'corresponding to the bottom of the shell shown in Figure 3, 3a, 3b, 5b.

In the case where the lower portion 43 of the tamper-evident band 4 is folded down, the entire tamper-evident band 4 becomes difficult to access as can be seen in FIG. 4.

The protection of the tamper-evident band 4 by the outer shell 3 makes it possible for the tamper-proof band 4 not to be stressed during the different phases of the life of the product between its injection and its laying on the corking lines of the bottles ( production, transport, unloading, conveying in hoppers).

This outer shell 3 has lights 31, here at the number of 6. These lights 31 allow to check the integrity of the breakable bridges 5 connecting the tamper band 4 to the rest of the closure device 1. Indeed, once the device capping 1 mounted on the neck of a bottle, breakable bridges 5 are not easily visible. So the user can not simply check whether the bottle has already been opened, whereas with lights the user can check at a glance the integrity of the tamper function

It is possible to substitute the embodiment of lights 31 in the closure device 1 by the use of a transparent plastic material. In which case, the user can verify by transparency the integrity of the breakable bridges 5.

The breakable bridges 5 connect the upper part 11 of the closure device 1 to the upper part 41 of the tamper band 5.

These breakable bridges 5 break when they are subjected to tearing stress during the unscrewing or unclipping of the closure device 1 relative to the neck of a bottle on which it is mounted.

These breakable bridges 5 are made in the form of blades carried by horizontal rays from the central axis O-O 'as shown in FIGS. 5, 5b and 6.

The breakable bridges according to this embodiment are derived from the virtual extension of an inner wall 412 of the upper part of the tamper-evident band 41 and extend as far as an inner wall 311 of the outer shell 3.

The breakout force of the breakable blade members 5 can be adjusted simply.

According to this embodiment, it is sufficient to vary the height and thickness of the breakable scored blades 5 to change their resistance to pulling force.

A main part of the body of the breakable bridges 5 remains attached to the main part of the clogging device 1 and not to the broken tamper band 4.

This is achieved by positioning the minimum thickness of the blades 5 at the interface between the blades 5 and the upper part 11 of the closure device 1, the blades 5 breaking at this minimum thickness.

According to this embodiment, the majority of the body of the breakable blade forming blades 5 remaining integral with the tamper-evident band 4, the neck of the bottle has a tamper-proof band 4 non-aggressive for the lips of the user if he chooses to drink directly from the neck of the bottle.

According to another preferred embodiment, the inner walls 512 and outer 511 of the bridges are respectively tangent to the inner walls 412 and outer 411 of the upper portion 41 of the tamper-evident strip 4. The advantage of this embodiment is that it is possible to adjust the zone where the breakable bridges 5 break, and to ensure that when the breakable bridges break, the majority of the material of the brittle bridges 5 remains integral with the tamper-evident band 4.

This is obtained by positioning the minimum thickness of the breakable bridges 5 at the interface between the breakable bridges 5 and the upper part of the closure device 1, the breakable bridges 5 will break at this minimum thickness. Thus, the majority of the body of the breakable bridges 5 will remain attached to the tamper-evident band 4. Conversely, by positioning the minimum thickness of the breakable bridges 5 at the interface between the breakable bridges 5 and the tamper-evident band 4 , the breakable bridges will break at this minimum thickness. Thus the majority of the body of the breakable bridges will remain attached to the upper part of the closure device 1.

Alternatively, the breakable bridges 5 may have any intermediate shape between these two embodiments described above, to adjust the tearing force and determine which part of the tamper band 4 and the main part of the closure device 1 the majority of the material of the breakable bridges remains solid once they break. In the case where the majority of the body breakable bridges 5 are maintained on the tamper band 4, the main part of the closure device 1 remains smooth and not aggressive to the fingers once the first opening made.

In the case where the majority of the body body breakable bridges 5 are held on the main part of the closure device 1, the neck of the bottle has a non-aggressive tamper band 4 for the lips of the user if he chooses to drink directly from the neck of the bottle.

The inner wall 311 of the outer shell 3 and the vertical extension of the inner wall 412 of the upper portion 41 of the tamper band 4 laterally delimit an interstitial space 6. The boundaries of this interstitial space are illustrated here in the form of dotted in Figures 3a and 3b.

This interstitial space 6 has a narrowing zone, preferentially but optionally in the lower part of this interstitial space 6. The narrowing of this interstitial space makes it possible to produce a tamper-proof band on a closure device 1 having a protective shell 3 of the tamper-evident band, without the excessive deformation of the tamper-evident band 4 breaking off the breakable bridges 5 during demolding of the central portion of the closure device 1.

Indeed, the release of the breakable bridges 5 and gaps between the breakable bridges 5 is effected by the spacing between the inside of the peripheral shell 3 and the tamper band 4, that is to say the l interstitial space 6.

The closure device 1 whose tamper band 4 is under an outer shell 3 has a large number of advantages.

The tamperproof band 4 not being exposed, it can be designed very thin and therefore reduces the forces resulting from the unscrewing compared to competing plugs equipped with known bands

The fine tamper band 4 reduces the molding cycle time of the closure devices by limiting the extra thicknesses to be filled via the breakable bridges 5 and by reducing the cooling time of the tamper-evident strip 4. This allows an economical and economical saving. an increase in rates.

In addition, when opening by unscrewing, the consumer can not pinch the tamper band 4, so does not generate additional friction even if the cap 1 is maintained over its entire height.

The outer shell 3 increases the gripping diameter of the user, thereby increasing the feeling of comfort when he tries to break by unscrewing the breakable bridges 5. The increase in diameter of the outer shell 3 only in the lower part of the closure device 1 has the advantage of not modifying the existing assembly lines of the closure devices 1 on the bottles, the drive being done on the upper part of the closure devices 1.

The configuration of this closure device 1 also reduces the demolding forces exerted on the breakable bridges 5 during the movements of the various constituent parts of the mold, which can lead to break breakable bridges 5; this limits the scrap rate of the non-compliant plugging devices 1 having broken breakable bridges.

Claims (10)

1. Device for closing (1) circular central axis O-O 'intended to be mounted on a vial neck, comprising an upper part (11) with at least one reversible assembly means (2) at the neck of the vial , and an outer shell (3) at least partially covering a tamper-evident band (4) connected by breakable bridges (5) to the upper part (11) of the closure device, the assembly being monobloc, characterized in that the tamper-evident band (4) comprises an upper part (41) close to the breakable bridges (5), an intermediate thinned part (42) and a lower part (43), the thinned part (42) forming a circular crimping zone. the lower part (43) against the upper part (41). 2. Closing device according to claim 1, characterized in that the lower portion (43) of the tamper-evident band (4) is folded along the thinned portion (42) and the lower portion (42) of the tamper-evident band (4) is directed towards the top and the inside of the closure device (1). 3. Closing device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the reversible assembly means (2) at the neck of the bottle consists of at least one thread and in that the closure device (1) is a plug. 4. Closing device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the reversible assembly means (2) at the neck of the bottle consists of at least one part to be clipped and in that the closure device (1) is a capsule. 5. Closing device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the tamper band (4) is continuous. 6. Closing device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lower part (42) of the tamper-evident band (4) is continuous. 7. Closing device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the outer shell (3) comprises a slot (31) showing some of the breakable bridges (5) and the tamper band (4). 8. Closing device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the breakable bridges (5) are blades radiating from the central axis 0-0 ', delimited by an interstitial space between an inner wall (311) the outer shell (3) and a vertical extension of an inner wall (412) of the upper part (41) of the tamper-evident band (4). 9. Closing device according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the inner walls (512) and outer (511) breakable bridges (5) are tangent to the inner walls (412) and outer (411) of the upper part (41) of the tamper-evident band (4). 10. Closing device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises an interstitial space (6) between an inner wall (311) of the outer shell (3) and a vertical extension of an inner wall ( 412) of the upper part (41) of the tamper-evident band (4) having a narrowing zone.