ITMI20082296A1 - CONTAINER FOR PASTOSOUS OR SEMI-FLUID PRODUCTS - Google Patents

Description

DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to a container for pasty or semifluid products, such as food pastes, toothpastes, liquids, gels, glues, silicones or medicinal creams, etc., of the type comprising a flexible metal tubular body equipped with a nozzle, threaded externally and equipped of a sealing membrane, and a relative capsule that can be screwed onto this nozzle.

It is known to produce this type of container by extruding a metal tablet, usually aluminum, to form a flexible cylindrical tube equipped with an end nozzle closed by a sealing diaphragm, or membrane, which is an integral part of the tube itself and which performs the function of constituting an important safety element to guarantee the integrity of the content and prevent any improper tampering with the product itself.

In order to facilitate the opening of such a flexible metal tube, it is known to provide the container with a capsule, usually made of plastic material, which consists of an external body, usually cylindrical or truncated cone, which has an intermediate base lid agent for the nozzle. This body of the capsule is also equipped, on one side with respect to the intermediate base, with an internal thread that is coupled to the thread of the nozzle and, on the opposite side to that of the thread, with a sharp projection intended to pierce the sealing membrane. of the metal tube.

Such a type of container is described for example in the Japanese patent application JP-A-2000-203620 (KYODO PRINTING Co. Ltd.) or in the French patent application FR-A-2558443 (LANCESSEUR).

This container is distributed to the end user with the sealing membrane intact and the capsule screwed to the nozzle of the cylindrical tube. Therefore, to open this container, the user must unscrew the capsule, rotate it so that it has the sharp protrusion in correspondence with the safety membrane, and must therefore exert a pressure on the capsule itself, sufficiently to pierce the membrane. Once the membrane has been perforated, the capsule can be screwed back onto the nozzle, now open, so as to act as a closing lid.

This type of container is not without drawbacks.

During the storage of this type of container, in fact, dust and dirt can deposit on the sharp protrusion acting as a perforator and therefore, during the opening of the nozzle, transfer into the product contained within the metal tube when the sharp protrusion penetrates into the nozzle, after piercing the membrane.

Furthermore, since the product contained in these tubes normally reaches the aforesaid safety membrane of the nozzle, the sharp protrusion, after having perforated the membrane, generally comes into contact with the product contained in the tube, thus resulting, once extracted, covered with that product. Given that this sharp protrusion, when the capsule is screwed back onto the nozzle of the tube, is exposed to the external environment, it can cause the improper transfer of the product onto the user's hands, or in any case onto improper external objects.

In order to overcome, at least in part, the aforementioned problems of the prior art, the French patent FR-A-1290640 (PERFECTUBE) teaches to realize a capsule comprising a cylindrical body of the capsule which is internally threaded and which has an upper base to be to which an annular protrusion starts inside the cylindrical body of the capsule itself in correspondence with the relative threading, bearing means for perforation of the sealing membrane with which the tubular body with which said capsule is associated is equipped.

Thus, the capsule described in the PERFECTUBE patent provides that the user, to open the relative container, completely screws the cylindrical body of the capsule onto the nozzle of the tube, in such a way as to allow the perforation of the safety membrane by the annular protrusion equipped with the aforementioned drilling means.

A similar embodiment is also described in the aforementioned Japanese patent application JP-A-2000-203620 (KYODO PRINTING Co. Ltd.).

This embodiment, while preventing dust or dirt from penetrating into the tube during the perforation of the sealing membrane, does not prevent the product contained in the tube from depositing and dirtying it on the projection provided with the aforementioned perforation means.

Furthermore, once the sealing membrane has been perforated, during the use of the container the PERFECTUBE capsule remains exposed to the external environment and, consequently, the protrusion with the perforating means can come into contact with dust or dirt which, a once the capsule is fully screwed back onto its nozzle, they can penetrate directly into the latter and therefore possibly contaminate the product contained in the flexible tube.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a container of the type indicated above which does not have the drawbacks of the prior art described above.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a container for pasty or semi-fluid products, which prevents accidental perforations of the safety membrane, and which at the same time avoids the entry of dust or dirt into the tubular body of the container.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a container of the type described above, which does not have exposed parts that can become dirty with the product contained therein.

These and other objects are achieved by the container according to the first independent claim and the subsequent dependent claims.

The resealable container for pasty or semi-fluid products, according to the present invention, comprises a flexible, or collapsible, tubular metal body equipped, at one end, with a spout having an external thread and closed by a sealing membrane, as well as a closure cap comprising an external body, preferably, but not exclusively, cylindrical or frusto-conical, provided with an internal thread which can be screwed onto the aforesaid thread of the nozzle. The outer body of the capsule also comprises an upper base from which a sleeve extends, at least in part, internally to the said outer body of the capsule in correspondence with the relative internal thread, and means for perforation of the sealing membrane also placed they internally to the external body of the capsule, in correspondence with the said internal thread, as well as an upper lid constrained, in an at least partially removable way, to the body of the capsule, the lid being placed on the opposite side to said thread with respect to the upper base of the external body of the capsule and the means of perforation by acting on the sealing membrane while screwing the capsule onto the nozzle.

According to a preferred aspect of the present invention, moreover, the capsule comprises, at its lower base, at least one removable band, placed in correspondence with part of the thread of the nozzle, when this capsule is partially screwed onto the nozzle itself.

As the expert in the field can simply infer, the container according to the present invention does not foresee that the membrane perforating means are exposed to dust or dirt before or after the opening of the metal tubular body, nor that said means of perforation are exposed to the external environment, once covered with product, after perforation of the sealing membrane.

Furthermore, if the aforementioned removable clamp is provided, the unwanted excessive screwing of the capsule body onto the metal tube mouth, which can cause accidental perforation of the sealing membrane, is prevented.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the tubular body, made from one piece with the nozzle and the relative sealing membrane, is made of aluminum, while the capsule, also made entirely from one piece, is made of plastic material. .

According to another aspect of the present invention, moreover, the capsule can be retained at the nozzle thanks to suitable means, of the type with opposing complementary parts, suitable for preventing the removal of the capsule from the tubular body, for example consisting of one or more teeth. or sectors or from an annular protrusion, integral internally with the body of the capsule, which engage in relative grooves obtained externally on the mouth.

Some embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the attached figures, in which:

Figure 1 is a three-dimensional view of a first embodiment of the present invention, in which the capsule of the container is closed by the relative lid;

figure 2 is a three-dimensional view of the container of figure 1, in which the capsule is shown with the relative lid open;

figure 3 is a partially sectional view of the capsule, and of the relative tubular metal body, of the container of figures 1 and 2, taken in front of the first opening of the container;

Figure 4 is a partially sectional view of the capsule, and of the relative tubular metal body, of the container of Figures 1 and 2, taken after the first opening of the container;

Figure 5 is a partially sectional view of a capsule, with relative tubular metal body, of another embodiment of the present invention.

With reference first to Figures 1 to 4, the resealable container for paste or semi-fluid products, according to a particular aspect of the present invention, comprises a flexible, or foldable, tubular metal body 1, preferably made of aluminum, equipped with a spout 17 having, on its external surface, a thread 18 and closed by a relative sealing membrane 19. The tubular metal body 1, which in the specific embodiment shown here is a flexible aluminum tube to contain pasty or semi-fluid products, is It is preferably made by extrusion of a metal pad and subsequent turning, in a single piece with the corresponding nozzle 17, the relative external thread 18, and the sealing membrane 19.

The container illustrated here also comprises a capsule 2, designed to close the mouth 17, consisting of an external body 3, in this case generally cylindrical or frusto-conical, bearing, on one of its internal lateral surfaces, a thread 15, shaped for screw onto the respective external thread 18 of the nozzle 17, as well as a base 9, placed above said internal thread 15.

More in detail, the particular embodiment of the capsule 2 shown here provides that the external body 3 of the capsule 2 consists of an internal cylinder 3.1 and an outermost sheath 3.2, also cylindrical and coaxial to the internal cylinder 3.1 , joined together, at a respective end, by the aforementioned upper base 9.

From the base 9, as can be seen in Figures 3 and 4, a sleeve 14 starts, that is a hollow tubular body, which at least partly extends internally to the outer body 3 of the capsule in correspondence with the thread 15, and partly extends into a dispensing mouth 10, which protrudes from the same base 9, on the opposite side with respect to the aforementioned thread 15.

The dispensing mouth 10, as for example visible in Figure 2, can have a shaped outflow hole to give the dispensed product, when this is of the pasty type, a given shape, not necessarily cylindrical with a circular section.

The sleeve 14 also has, in correspondence with its lower base, or that portion thereof located in correspondence with, or proximity to, the sealing membrane 19 of the mouth 17 when the capsule 2 is partially screwed onto the mouth 17 itself, specific means of perforation 16 of the membrane 19, consisting of a circular edge having a non-zero inclination with respect to said sealing membrane 19.

The perforation means 16 are shaped to act on the sealing membrane 19 during the screwing of the same capsule 2 onto the nozzle 17, after said capsule 2 has reached and exceeded a certain screwing angle, or a certain number of screwing turns of the capsule 2 with respect to the tube 1.

This circular edge 16, according to a particular aspect of the present invention, has dimensions, shape and physical characteristics (also of the relative material) such as to allow the effective perforation of the membrane 19, without substantially undergoing any substantial deformation.

It should be noted that any other type of perforator known in the art, provided it is placed inside the aforementioned external body 3 of the capsule 2, can also be used, without thereby departing from the scope of protection required by the subsequent claims.

Thus, such drilling means 16 can for example comprise an at least partially serrated edge of the end of the sleeve 14, or they can comprise a sharp projection placed at the side of the same sleeve 14, or they can involve only part of the end edge of this sleeve 14. last, etc.

The capsule 2 is also equipped with an upper lid 4 which, hinged 23 to the outer body 3 of the capsule 2 at its upper base 9, extends on the opposite side, with respect to said base 9, to that identified by the thread 15, and it can be moved from a closed position of the dispensing mouth 10 (figure 1) to an opening position of the same mouth 10 (figure 2).

The lid 4, of the type known as `` flip top '', is not only bound by a hinge 23, consisting of a suitable flexible laminar region of the same capsule 2, but is also shaped to be reversibly bound to the body external 3, by means of a â € œsnap fitâ € type constraint, that is a reversible snap coupling, in which a temporary elastic deformation of parts occurs as a result of the pressure, or bending, of the same induced by the user.

In the case of a â € œsnap fitâ € constraint, the upper cover 4 can have a region 12 which is arranged in the opposite position to that of the hinge 23 and which is designed to facilitate the manual operation of the same cover 4 from part of the user.

In correspondence with the region 12, moreover, the external lateral surface of the sheath 3.2 of the external body 3 of the capsule 2 can have a recess 7, in the form of an axial groove, for the fingers of the same user.

Finally, the lid 4, according to a particular form of the present invention, can have an annular protrusion 11, turned internally, which is designed to surround the aforementioned dispensing mouth 10, when the lid 4 is in the closed position. said mouth 10, and thus substantially prevent accidental leakage of the product from the same delivery mouth 10.

In an embodiment of the present invention, not shown here, the annular protrusion 11 can be provided internally with a projecting shutter, suitably shaped to fit within the opening of the dispensing spout 10 with minimum clearance and thus ensure the substantial fluidic seal of the tube 1.

Also the capsule 2, like the metal tube 1, can be completely made by molding a plastic material in a single piece.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the container illustrated here also comprises a removable safety band 5 which, preferably fixed to the lower base of the external body 3 of the capsule 2 of the capsule 2, is arranged in correspondence with part of the external thread 18 of the nozzle 17, when the capsule 2 is partially screwed onto the latter.

More particularly, in the preferred embodiment of the container shown in Figures 1 to 4, the removable band 5, substantially annular in shape, is constrained, by means of frangible bridges 13, to the lower edge (opposite the base 9) of the sheath external cylindrical 3.2 of the body 3 of the capsule 2, and is shaped in such a way as to rest on the shoulder 8, geometrically placed around the nozzle 17, although made without interruption with the latter, of the tube 1, when the capsule 2 It is partially screwed onto the latter.

The interference between the clamp 5 and the shoulder 8, as well as the bond between the clamp 5 and the external body 3 of the capsule 2, prevents inappropriate complete screwing of the same capsule 2 on the nozzle 17. The removable clamp 5 also includes a tab 6, preferably arranged in correspondence with the aforementioned axial groove 7 with which the external lateral surface of the sheath 3.2 is provided, which is shaped in such a way as to constitute an easy grip for the fingers of a user who wants to remove the clamp , breaking the jumpers 13 and removing it.

Figure 5 illustrates a further embodiment of the container for pasty or semi-fluid products, according to the invention, entirely similar to the embodiment of Figures 1 - 4, but also equipped with means for retaining the capsule 2 in coupling with tubular body 1.

Therefore, in Figure 5, the same numerical references as in Figures 1 - 4 have been used to indicate the same parts of the two embodiments.

The container of figure 5, therefore, differs from that of figures 1- 4 in that it comprises retaining means 20, 21, 22 of the capsule 2 on the nozzle 17 of the tube 1, of the type with opposing complementary parts.

Specifically, these retaining means comprise an annular or sector protrusion 20 made as one piece with the capsule 2 and internally protruding from an appendix - also annular or sectored - of which the internal cylinder 3.1 of the external body 3 of the capsule 2 is equipped at its opposite end to that of the base 9.

Said annular or sector projection 20 engages within a groove 21 obtained on the external surface of the nozzle 17, below the relative thread 18, between a tooth 22 projecting externally from the same nozzle 17 and the shoulder 8 of the tube 1.

The groove 21, and of course also the protrusion 20, have dimensions and shape such as to allow the axial sliding of the same protrusion 20 within this groove 21, during the entire screwing of the cap 2 onto the mouth 17.

The appendix of the cylinder 3.1, from which the annular or sector projection 20 is projected, is made in such a way as to present a certain elasticity, necessary to allow the insertion of the same projection 20 into the groove 21, when the capsule 2 is coupled to the tube 1.

It should be noted that, as an alternative to the embodiment described here, the retaining means can comprise one or more teeth integral with the external body 3 of the capsule 2, facing the interior of the same external body 3, and designed to engage with the relative seats obtained on the external surface of the nozzle 17, or with an annular groove obtained on the nozzle 17, acting as a housing for these teeth.

The construction and use of the container according to the present invention, with reference to the embodiments of figure 5, are as follows.

After having made, preferably in a single piece, the flexible metal tube 1 (preferably in aluminum), complete with nozzle 17 with thread 18 and sealing membrane 19, and after having made, also in one piece, the capsule 2 (preferably in plastic material), the latter is assembled on the spout 17.

In particular, first, or simultaneously with screwing, the annular projection 20 is inserted into the groove 21 by elastic deformation of the parts involved and then the capsule 2 is screwed onto the same nozzle 17, thanks to the engagement of the external thread 18 of the latter with the internal thread 15 of the internal cylinder 3.1 of the capsule 2.

The screwing operation ends before the complete screwing is reached and therefore before the means of perforation 16 of the sleeve 14 reach the membrane 19, when the removable safety clamp 5 comes to abut on the shoulder 8 of the tube 1. The container described above, suitably filled and closed at the opposite end to the nozzle 17, is in this way ready to be distributed to end users.

The latter, in order to be able to use this container, will have to grip the tongue 6 of the clamp 5, break the breakable bridges 13 and then remove the same clamp 5 to allow further screwing of the capsule 2 onto the spout 17.

Once the clamp 5 has been removed, in fact, the user must screw the capsule 2 fully onto the nozzle 17 to cause the engagement of the perforation means 16 with the sealing membrane 19 and the subsequent perforation of the latter.

The result, which involves the partial or total penetration of the sleeve 14 into the nozzle 17, is obtained when the screwing of the cap 2 onto the nozzle 17 is completed.

It should be noted that, in the event that there is total penetration of the sleeve 14 into the nozzle 17, the upper base 9 of the outer body 3 of the capsule 2 abuts against the upper edge of the nozzle 17, thus preventing the pasty product or semi-fluid can penetrate even the slightest gap between sleeve 14 and nozzle 17, and thereby reach the space existing between capsule 2, or better between its internal cylinder 3.1, and the nozzle itself 17. At this point, the Opening of the lid 4, by activating the region 12 of the latter by the user and the subsequent rotation of the same lid 4 around its hinge 23, involves the opening of the container and the possibility, for the ™ user, to dispose of the product contained in the tube 1, through the dispensing mouth 10.

The subsequent closure of the lid 4 on the dispensing spout 10, with specific rotation of the latter around the hinge 23 and â € œa snapâ € coupling with the external body 3 of the capsule 2, determines the closure of the same container.

Claims (16)

CLAIMS 1. Resealable container for pasty or semi-fluid products, of the type comprising a flexible metal tubular body (1) equipped, at one end, with a spout (17) having an external thread (18) and closed by a sealing membrane (19), as well as a closing cap (2) having an external body (3; 3.1, 3.2) equipped with an internal thread (15) which can be screwed onto said thread (18) of the nozzle (17), characterized in that said external body (3; 3.1, 3.2) of the capsule (2) is also equipped with an upper base (9) from which a sleeve (14) starts, extending at least partially internally to said capsule body (3; 3.1 , 3.2) in correspondence of the relative internal thread (15), and means of perforation (16) of the sealing membrane (19), placed inside said external body (3; 3.1, 3.2) in correspondence of said internal thread (15) , as well as an upper lid (4) bound, at least partially removable, to said external body (3; 3.1, 3.2), said lid (4) being arranged on the opposite side to said internal thread (15) with respect to the upper base (9) of the external body (3; 3.1, 3.2) of the capsule (2), and said perforation means (16) acting on said sealing membrane (19) while screwing said capsule (2) onto said mouth (17). 2. Container according to claim 1, characterized in that said capsule (2) comprises at least one removable band (5) placed in correspondence with part of the external thread (18) of said mouth (17), when said capsule (2) is It is at least partially screwed onto the latter. Container according to claim 2, wherein said flexible metal tubular body (1) has a shoulder (8) surrounding said mouth (17), said at least one removable band (5) interposing between said external body (3; 3.1, 3.2) of the capsule (2) and said shoulder (8) of the tubular body (1), when said capsule (2) is at least partially screwed to said mouth (17). 4. Container according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that said at least one removable band (5) is connected to said external body (3; 3.1, 3.2) of the capsule (2) by means of breakable bridges (13), in correspondence of the opposite end to said upper base (9) of said external body (3, 3.1, 3.2). 5. Container according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said perforation means (16) are integral with said sleeve (14). Container according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said means for perforation (16) of the sealing membrane (19) comprise a circular end edge of said sleeve (14) inclined with respect to said membrane (19). 7. Container according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said upper lid (4) is hinged (23) to said external body (3; 3.1, 3.2) of said capsule (2), in proximity to said upper base (9) of said external body (3; 3.1, 3.2). Container according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said upper lid (4) is at least partially attached to said external body (3; 3.1, 3.2) by means of a reversible snap fit (â € œsnap fitâ €). Container according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said capsule (2) is made in a single piece. Container according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said sleeve (14) extends into a cylindrical dispensing mouth (10), protruding from said upper base (9) of the external body (3; 3.1, 3.2) of the capsule (2). 11. Container according to claim 10, characterized in that said upper lid (4) comprises an annular projection (11) which surrounds said cylindrical dispensing mouth (10), when said upper lid (4) is coupled to said external body (3; 3.1, 3.2). 12. Container according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said external body (3; 3.1, 3.2) has at least one axial groove (7) on its external surface, in correspondence with a region for manual operation (12 ) with which said top cover (4) is equipped. 13. Container according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises means (20, 21, 22) for retaining said capsule (2) on said tubular body (1), of the opposing type of complementary parts. 14. Container according to claim 13, characterized in that said retaining means comprise at least one projection (20), integral internally to said external body (3; 3.1, 3.2), which engages within a relative groove (22) obtained externally on said nozzle (17). 15. Container according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said sealing membrane (19) is formed integrally with said mouth (17). 16. Container according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said tubular metal body (1) is made of aluminum and said capsule (2) is made of plastic material.