FR3096362A1 - Screw cap intended to remain attached to a container after opening the container. - Google Patents

Abstract

- Screw cap intended to remain attached to a container after opening the container. - The stopper (1) comprises a cylindrical wall (3) having an internal surface (8) comprising a thread (9) arranged to cooperate with a thread (10) arranged on a neck (11) of the container (2), a ring safety device (12) extending the cylindrical wall (3) and connected to the cylindrical wall (3) by at least one fracturable connection (14). A portion of the cylindrical wall (3) forms a tongue (15) connected to the safety ring (12) by means of a connecting element (19) arranged to allow the displacement of the cylindrical wall (3) during unscrewing the cylindrical wall (3). Figure for the abstract: Fig. 1

Description

Description Title of the invention: Screw cap intended to remain attached to a container after the container has been opened.

Technical area

The present invention relates to a screw cap intended to be mounted by screwing to close (or seal) the neck of a container and to remain attached to the container after opening (read neck.

Prior technique

[0002] For ecological reasons, in most countries, new regulations impose or will impose that the cap of a container, such as a bottle, remains attached to the container, even when the cap leaves the neck of the container open. .

We already know a friction cap intended to be attached to its container after opening the neck of the container.

These friction caps are intended to close a container while remaining linked to the neck of the container by the effect of friction (or friction) or by clipping between the cap and the neck of the container.

However, this friction cap does not have the advantages of a screw cap which makes it possible to close the neck of a container securely.

[0004] In addition, most containers are closed with a screw cap.

Therefore, to comply with the new regulations, bottling lines which are configured to mount screw caps on their containers require a sometimes complex and costly adaptation to adapt the bottling line to these friction caps.

Disclosure of Invention

The present invention aims to overcome these drawbacks by providing a screw cap intended to remain attached to the container which does not require adaptation of the assembly lines.

To this end, the invention relates to a screw cap intended to remain attached to a container after the container has been opened.

[0007] The stopper comprises: - a cylindrical wall having a longitudinal axis, a first end closed by a bottom and a second open end, the cylindrical wall having an internal surface comprising a thread arranged to cooperate with a thread arranged on a neck of the container, the cylindrical wall being configured to be alternately in a closed position in which the cylindrical wall is screwed onto the neck and an open position in which the cylindrical wall is unscrewed from the neck and the neck is opened, 2 - a safety ring extending the cylindrical wall and intended to be retained at the neck by a retaining element arranged on the container, the safety ring being connected to the second end of the cylindrical wall by at least one frangible connection, the frangible connection being arranged to fracture during a first unscrewing of the cylindrical wall.

According to the invention, a portion of the cylindrical wall forms a first tongue extending between a first end and a second end parallel to the longitudinal axis, the first end being connected to the cylindrical wall by a first hinge, the second end being connected to the safety ring by means of a connecting element, the connecting element being arranged to allow the displacement of the cylindrical wall along the longitudinal axis during unscrewing of the cylindrical wall .

[0009] Thus, thanks to the first tab and to the connecting element, the screw cap remains attached to its container after the container has been opened.

The connecting element allows the translation of the cylindrical wall during unscrewing and the first tongue makes it possible to articulate the cylindrical wall to the container.

Moreover, thanks to this cap, it is not necessary to carry out major modifications to the bottling lines intended to mount screw caps which do not remain attached to their container.

[0010] In addition, the first tab has longitudinal edges parallel to the longitudinal axis, each of the longitudinal edges being respectively connected to the cylindrical wall by a tearable line, each tearable line being arranged to tear after the first unscrewing of the cylindrical wall and a first opening in the neck of the container.

[0011] In addition, the connecting element comprises two arms, each of the arms having a first end and a second end, the arms being joined to one another by the first end and diverging symmetrically on either side. on the other side of the first tongue towards the second end, the second end being connected to the safety ring, the connecting element further comprising a second hinge connecting the second end of the first tongue to the arms.

[0012] Furthermore, the second end of the cylindrical wall comprises an edge portion having a first notch, the arms being housed in the first notch by completing the edge of the second end of the cylindrical wall at the level of the first notch, in that the frangible connection connects the safety ring, on the one hand, to the second end of the cylindrical wall and, on the other hand, to the arms, the second end of each of the arms having a portion deviating from the first notch to connect the safety ring.

[0013] Advantageously, each tearable line also connects each of the arms to the cylindrical wall.

3 100141 According to one feature, the safety ring comprises at least one support element arranged so that the safety ring facing the arms can press against the arms during a forced passage of the safety ring on the retainer for mounting the cap to the container.

[0015]According to another feature, the cap further comprises a second tongue extending the first tongue and arranged in the same plane as the first tongue, the second tongue being separated from the first tongue by the connecting element, the security having a cutout adapted to accommodate the second tongue, the second tongue being adapted to prevent the rotation of the stopper around the longitudinal axis when the cylindrical wall is in the open position, the rotation of the stopper around the longitudinal axis being prevented by the support of the second tongue caused by the tilting of the plane comprising the first tongue and the second tongue around the connecting element when the cylindrical wall is brought into the open position.

[0016] In addition, the stopper comprises an internal cylindrical stopper skirt carried by the bottom and configured to penetrate into the neck of the container when the cylindrical wall is screwed into the closed position.

[0017] In addition, the cylindrical skirt comprises a free edge having a second indentation facing the first tongue.

[0018] Advantageously, the cylindrical wall has an outer surface comprising grip reliefs.

Brief description of the drawings

The invention, with its characteristics and advantages, will emerge more clearly on reading the description made with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows a perspective top view of the cap.

W8.21 Figure 2 shows a bottom perspective view of the cap.

[0022] [fig.31 Figure 3 shows a front view of the cap.

[0023] [fig.4] Figure 4 shows an A-A section of the cap of Figure 3.

[0024] [fig.51 Figure 5 shows a side view of the plug.

[0025] [fig.61 Figure 6 shows a B-B section of the cap of Figure 5.

[0026] [fig.7] Figure 7 shows a container and the cap in the closed position.

[0027] [fig.8] Figure 8 shows a container and the cap in the open position.

Description of embodiments 100281 Figure 1 shows a view of the screw cap 1 intended to remain attached to a container 2, in particular a bottle, after the container 2 has been opened.

100291 In a non-limiting way, the stopper 1 is made of plastic material by injection molding technology.

For example, the plastic material may correspond to high density polyethylene (HDPE) or polypropylene (PP).

The cap 1 comprises a cylindrical wall 3 having a longitudinal axis 4.

The cylindrical wall 3 has the shape of a cylinder of revolution.

The longitudinal axis 4 coincides with the cylinder axis.

The cylindrical wall 3 has one end 5 closed by a bottom 6 and one end 7 open.

The cylindrical wall 3 has an internal surface 8 comprising a thread 9 arranged to cooperate with a thread 10 arranged on a neck 11 of the container 2 (FIGS. 4 and 7).

The cylindrical wall 3 is configured to be alternately in a closed position (FIG. 7) in which the cylindrical wall 3 is screwed onto the neck 11 and an open position (FIG. 8) in which the cylindrical wall 3 is unscrewed from the neck 11 and neck 11 is open.

[0032] The cap 1 further comprises a safety ring 12 extending the cylindrical wall 3.

The safety ring 12 is intended to be retained at the neck 11 by a retaining element 13 arranged on the container 2 (FIG. 4).

The retaining element 13 can be a circular projection or at least a circular projection portion arranged on the neck 11 of the container 2.

The safety ring 12 is connected to the end 7 of the cylindrical wall 3 by at least one breakable connection 14.

The fracturablc connection 14 is arranged to fracture during a first unscrewing of the cylindrical wall 3.

A portion of the cylindrical wall 3 forms a tongue 15 which extends between an end 16 and an end 17 parallel to the longitudinal axis 4.

The end 16 is connected to the cylindrical wall 3 by a hinge 18.

The hinge 18 may correspond to a thinning of the thickness of the cylindrical wall 3 which connects the tongue 15.

This thinning of the thickness allows the tongue 15 to be hinged to the cylindrical wall 3 at the level of the thinning.

The end 17 is connected to the safety ring 12 via a connecting element 19.

The connecting element 19 is arranged to allow the displacement (in translation) of the cylindrical wall 3 along the longitudinal axis 4 during unscrewing of the cylindrical wall 3.

The tongue 15 has longitudinal edges 20 parallel to the longitudinal axis 4.

Each of the longitudinal edges 20 can be connected respectively to the cylindrical wall 3 by a tear line 21.

Each tearable line 21 is arranged to tear after the first unscrewing of the cylindrical wall 3 and a first opening of the neck 11 of the container 2.

Thus, each tearable line 21 can correspond to a pre-cut line which tears when the cylindrical wall 3 is disengaged from the neck 11 of the container 2 then tilted with respect to the tongue 15, after the first unscrewing of the cylindrical wall 3.

[0037] Furthermore, the connecting element 19 may comprise two arms 22.

Each of the arms has an end 23 and an end 24.

The arms 22 are joined to each other by the end 23 and deviate symmetrically on either side of the tongue 15 towards the end 24.

End 24 is connected to safety ring 12.

[0038] Each of the arms are sized to provide flexibility allowing the cylindrical wall 3 to move in translation along the longitudinal axis 4 when unscrewing the cylindrical wall 3 until the cylindrical wall is completely unscrewed. .

The tab 15 and the connecting element 19 then retains the cylindrical wall 3 to the safety ring 12 which is retained at the neck 11 of the container 2.

Furthermore, the arms are sized to withstand a maximum tensile force sufficient to prevent tearing of the cylindrical wall 3 of the container.

Pulling force can be set according to normal use of the cap.

The maximum pulling force can be defined according to standards set for the opening of a cork 1.

In a non-limiting way, the arms 22 are sized so that the maximum tensile force is substantially equal to 35 N.

The connecting element 19 further comprises a second hinge 25 connecting the end 17 of the tongue 15 to the arms 22 (at the end 23 of each of the arms).

[0040] The second end 7 of the cylindrical wall 3 may comprise an edge portion having an indentation 26.

The arms 22 are housed in the cutout 26.

The arms 22 complete the edge of the end 7 of the cylindrical wall 3 at the level of the notch 26.

The arms 22 thus fill the space left by the notch 26.

The notch 26 may have a shape making it easier to screw the cylindrical wall 3 by avoiding a collision between the thread 9 and the neck 11 of the container 2.

For example, the spacing between the edge of the cutout 26 and the arms 22 gradually widens from the end 24 towards the end 23.

Furthermore, the breakable connection 14 can connect the safety ring 12 to the end 7 of the cylindrical wall 3.

Fractureable connection 14 also connects safety ring 12 to arms 22.

The end 7 of each of the arms 22 may have a portion 27 diverging from the notch 26 to connect the safety ring 12.

[0043] Advantageously, each tearable line 21 also connects each of the arms 22 to the cylindrical wall 3.

Thus, the tear line 21 which connects each of the longitudinal edges 20 to the cylindrical wall 3 extends to connect each of the arms 22 to the cylindrical wall 3.

The tearable line 21 between each of the arms 22 and the cylindrical wall 3 makes it possible to improve the tightness of the stopper 1 when the cylindrical wall 3 is in the closed position before the first unscrewing of the cylindrical wall 3.

[0044] The safety ring 12 may comprise at least one support element 28.

This or these support elements 28 are arranged so that the safety ring 12 facing the arms 22 can press against the arms 22 during a forced passage of the safety ring 12 on the retaining element 13 to mount the cap 1 on the container 2 on a bottling line.

Figures 3 and 6 show four support elements 28 6 distributed on the safety ring 12 facing the arms 22.

The bearing element(s) 28 may correspond to one or more projections of substantially parallelepipedic shape in one piece with the safety ring 12.

The cap may also include a tab 29 extending the tab 15 and arranged substantially in the same plane as the tab 15.

The tongue 29 is separated from the tongue 15 by the connecting element 19.

The safety ring 12 has a cutout 30 adapted to accommodate the tongue 29.

The tongue 29 is adapted to prevent the rotation of the stopper 1 around the longitudinal axis 4 when the cylindrical wall 3 is in the open position.

The rotation of the stopper 1 around the longitudinal axis 4 is prevented by the friction forces caused by the support, on the container 2, of the tab 29.

The support of the tongue 29 on the container 2 is a consequence of the tilting of the plane comprising the tongue 15 and the tongue 29 around the connecting element 19 when the cylindrical wall 3 is brought into the open position.

The cap 1 may further comprise a cylindrical skirt 31 for internal sealing carried by the bottom 6 and configured to penetrate the neck 11 of the container 2 when screwing the cylindrical wall 3 towards the closed position.

Preferably, the cylindrical skirt 31 has a longitudinal axis or cylinder axis coinciding with the longitudinal axis 4 of the cylindrical wall 3.

Between the cylindrical skirt 31 and the cylindrical wall 3, the bottom 6 of the cap 1 is arranged so that the free end of the neck 11 comes into abutment against the bottom 6 of the cap 1 when the cylindrical wall is in the closed position. .

For example, the part of the bottom 6 which is in correspondence with the cylindrical skirt 31 is externally raised to increase the external surface of the stopper 1.

The cavity delimited by the cylindrical skirt 31 and the cavity generated by the external raising of the bottom 6 adding up to form a single large cavity with a smooth wall.

A circular recess is formed between the raised part and the non-raised part of the bottom 6.

The free end of the neck 11 of the container comes into abutment against the non-raised part of the bottom 6, when the cylindrical wall is in the closed position.

[0050] This makes it possible to seal the cap I.

[0051] The end 16 connecting the tongue 15 to the cylindrical wall 3 can be at a height less than or equal to a height located at the level of the bottom 6 of the stopper 1 against which the free end of the neck 11 of the container 2 enters. in abutment, when the cylindrical wall is in the closed position.

[0052] Advantageously, the cylindrical skirt 31 comprises a free edge having a notch 32 facing the tongue 15.

This notch 32 makes it easier to disengage the cylindrical wall 3 from the neck 11 of the container 2 after it has been unscrewed.

It also facilitates the positioning of the cylindrical wall 3 on the neck 11 of the container 2 before the screwing of the cylindrical wall 3 on the neck 11.

[0053] The cylindrical wall 3 may have an outer surface comprising grip reliefs 33.

In a non-limiting way, the gripping reliefs correspond to diametrical fins regularly distributed on the outer surface of the cylindrical wall 3.

The cap can be used for any container 2 having a neck 11 screw.

The stopper 1 can also have a suitable diameter for any screw container neck 11 .

The diameter of the stopper 1 can therefore be equal to any diameter in order to be able to be used on any diameter of the screw neck 11 of a container 2.

Furthermore, the cap 1 can be used for a container 2 which can contain any type of liquid or drink.

In a non-limiting manner, the container 2 can be a container 2 which can contain a flat liquid, a gaseous liquid, a fruit juice, milk, etc.

The different parts of the stopper 1, such as the cylindrical wall 3, the bottom 6, the cylindrical skirt 31, the thread 9 can be dimensioned according to the liquid or the drink intended to be contained in the container 2.

For example, these different parts can be more or less thick.

Similarly, the thread 9 may have threads that are more or less tight and/or more or less thick.

Likewise, the threads of the thread 9 may have interruptions depending on the liquid or drink intended to be contained in the container 2.

8 [Claim I] [Claim 2] [Claim 3]

Claims (1)

CLAIMS Screw cap intended to remain attached to a container (2) after opening the container (2), the cap (I) comprising: - a cylindrical wall (3) having a longitudinal axis (4), a first end (5) closed by a bottom (6) and a second open end (7), the cylindrical wall (3) having an internal surface (8) comprising a thread (9) arranged to cooperate with a thread (10) arranged on a neck (11) of the container (2), the cylindrical wall (3) being configured to be alternately in a closed position in which the cylindrical wall (3) is screwed onto the neck (11) and an open position in which the cylindrical wall (3) is unscrewed from the neck (11) and the neck (11) is opened, - a safety ring (12) extending the cylindrical wall (3) and intended to be retained on the neck (11) by a retaining element (13) arranged on the container (2), the safety ring (12) being connected to the second end (7) of the cylindrical wall (3) by at least one breakable connection (14), the breakable connection (14) being arranged to fracture during a first unscrewing of the cylindrical wall (3), characterized in that a portion of the cylindrical wall (3) forms a first tongue (15) extending between a first end (16) and a second end (17) parallel to the longitudinal axis (4), the first end (16) being connected to the cylindrical wall (3) by a first hinge (18), the second end (17) being connected to the safety ring ( 12) via a connecting element (19), the connecting element (19) being arranged to allow movement of the cylindrical wall (3) along the longitudinal axis (4) during unscrewing of the cylindrical wall (3). Stopper according to Claim 1, characterized in that the first tab (15) also has longitudinal edges (20) parallel to the longitudinal axis (4), each of the longitudinal edges (20) being. respectively connected to the cylindrical wall (3) by a tear line (21), each tear line (21) being arranged to tear after the first unscrewing of the cylindrical wall (3) and a first opening of the neck (11) of the container (2). Cap according to any one of Claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the connecting element (19) comprises two arms (22), 9 [Claim 4] [Claim 5] [Claim 6] [Claim 7] each of arm (22) having a first end (23) and a second end (24), the arms (22) being joined to one another by the first end (23) and diverging symmetrically on either side other from the first tongue (15) towards the second end (24), the second end (24) being connected to the safety ring (12), the connecting element (19) further comprising a second hinge (25) connecting the second end (17) of the first tongue (15) to the arms (22). Stopper according to Claim 3, characterized in that the second end (7) of the cylindrical wall (3) comprises an edge portion having a first notch (26), the arms (22) being housed in the first notch (26) by completing the edge of the second end (7) of the cylindrical wall (3) at the level of the first indentation (26), in that the fractured connection (14) connects the safety ring (12), on the one hand , to the second end (7) of the cylindrical wall (3) and, on the other hand, to the arms (22), the second end (7) of each of the arms (22) having a portion (27) diverging of the first notch (26) to connect the safety ring (12). Stopper according to any one of Claims 3 or 4, characterized in that each tear-off line (21) also connects each of the arms (22) to the cylindrical wall (3). Cap according to any one of Claims 3 to 5, characterized in that the safety ring (12) comprises at least one support element (28) arranged so that the safety ring (12) facing the arms (22 ) can press against the arms (22) during a force passage of the safety ring (12) on the retaining element (13) to mount the cap (1) on the container (2). Cap according to any one of Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that it also comprises a second tongue (29) extending the first tongue (15) and arranged substantially in the same plane as the first tongue (15), the second tongue (29) being separated from the first tongue (15) by the connecting element (19), the safety ring (12) having a cutout (30) adapted to house the second tongue (29), the second tongue (29) being adapted to prevent the rotation of the stopper (1) around the longitudinal axis (4) when the cylindrical wall (3) is in the open position, the rotation of the stopper (1) around the longitudinal axis (4) being prevented [Claim 8] by the pressing of the second tongue (29) caused by the tilting of the plane comprising the first tongue (15) and the second tongue (29) around the connecting element (19 ) when the cylindrical wall (3) is brought into the open position. [Claim 9] Stopper according to any one of Claims 1 to 7, [Claim 10] characterized in that it further comprises a cylindrical skirt (31) for internal stopper carried by the bottom (6) and configured to penetrate into the neck (11) of the container (2) when screwing the cylindrical wall (3) towards the closed position. Stopper according to Claim 8, characterized in that the cylindrical skirt (31) comprises a free edge having a second notch (32) facing the first tab (15). Stopper according to any one of Claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the cylindrical wall (3) has an outer surface comprising gripping reliefs (33).