MXPA01005386A - Push-pull closure comprising a double safety seal - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention concerns a push-pull closure comprising:a base (1) provided with an internal thread (6);a valve lifter (2) associated with the base (1) and mobile relatively to said base (1) between a closing position and an opening position, a cap (3) covering the valve lifter (2) before the closure is opened for a first time. The invention is characterised in that the closure comprises a tamperproof inner seal welded on the top part of the valve lifter (2) and providing evidence of first opening as well as matching sealing means before it is first opened.

Description

TRACTION CLOSURE AND COMPRESSION COMPRISING A DOUBLE SAFETY SEAL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to a technical domain of closure of type of traction and compression which makes it possible to ingest directly from the neck of the bottle. These closures conventionally consist of a base, a lift valve and a protective cap, as seen, for example, in US-A-5 813 575. The cap or the lift valve can be provided with indicators showing misuse , which complicates the molds of manufacture, the molding and assembly of the three parts. The object of the invention is to provide a closure system of the type set forth in the foregoing, comprising a perfect sealing means before opening and forming an indicator of the first opening. For this purpose, the invention relates to a tension and compression closure comprising: a base that is provided with an internal threading, a lift valve associated with the base and movable to the base between a position of closure and an opening position; - a cover that covers the lifting valve before the closure is opened for the first time, characterized in that the closure comprises an internal tamper-proof seal welded on the upper part of the lift valve. The outer side skirt of the base extends in its lower part by a band that guarantees against a forgery connected by fragile bridges to the lower edge of the skirt. Fragile bridges are separated from each other by contact zones contacting the lower edge of the outer side skirt when the closure is placed on the neck of the container. The lifting valve comprises a convex lower part extended, in its lower part, by an annular wall of which, the shape of the inner surface substantially corresponds to the outer surface of the upper part of the base. The wall of the lift valve comprises an inner flange contact, when the lift valve is in the closed position, against the surface of the flange of the base.

The inner surface of the wall is, in its upper part, in contact with the reinforcing projection of an end area of the base. Pins inside the cap or equivalent are in alignment with the bottom wall of the lift valve so as to ensure retention of the lid when it closes again. Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear more clearly in the closing of the following description of an embodiment, wherein description is made with reference to the accompanying Figure which is a longitudinal section of a closure system, according to the invention. In the following text, the terms "superior", "inferior", "above", "exterior" and "interior" shall be used unless otherwise mentioned, with reference to a point P located at the center of the closure system The closing system shown is comprised of three parts, namely a base 1, a lift valve 2 and a cover 3. The assembly is approximately revolution on axis 4, in the mode shown. 1.

The base 1 comprises an outer side skirt 5 which is provided with an internal thread 6. At the top of this outer side skirt a substantially horizontal annular wall 7 extends perpendicular to the outer side skirt 5. This annular wall 7 is bounded inwards by a substantially vertical wall 8 concentric to the outer side skirt 5. This wall 8 extends upwards over a height h8 and extends downwardly below the surface that is formed pro the wall 7, to form an inner side skirt 9 concentric to the outer side skirt 5. This inner side skirt 9 comprises, in its lower end part, an outer lateral reinforcement projection 10 forming the sealing lip. In the embodiment shown, this reinforcing projection 10 extends over a height h10 in the order of half of the vertical dimension h9 of the inner side skirt 9 or of the height h8. The outer (5) and inner (9) skirts define, on the height h9, an annular space E limited upwards by the wall 7 and open downwards.

The upper surface 11 of the wall 8, substantially horizontal, forms a contact surface for the lower edge of the skirt of the lid 3. The upper part 12 of the base 1 comprises two cylindrical areas 13, 14 of diameter descending from the bottom to the upper one, separated by a flange 15. The flange 15 defines a truncated outer annular surface 16, which makes contact against a complementary surface of the lift valve 2, when the closure is in the closed position. The second end zone 14 has, near its free edge 17, a reinforcing projection 18 for the outer side seal. The outer side skirt 5 of the base 1 extends in its lower part by a band 19 which guarantees against a forgery. This band 19, which guarantees against a forgery, is connected by bridges 20 to the lower edge 21 of the skirt 5. The bridges 20 have a smaller section in their upper part than in their lower part. These fragile bridges 20 are, in the embodiment shown, of a substantially triangular cross section.

These bridges 20 are bounded inwards by a substantially vertical surface 22 and, outwards, by a surface 23 inclined with respect to the vertical. The geometry of these bridges 20 facilitatheir preferential breaking in the vicinity of their junction zone with the band 19 which guarantees against a counterfeit, when it is first opened. The supporting surfaces 24 separate the bridges 20 fragile from each other. These support surfaces 24 form embrasures. The distance between the lower edge 21 of the skirt 5 and the supporting surface 24 is very small and much smaller than the height of the bridges 20 fragile. Accordingly, when the closure is placed on the neck of the container (not shown), the bearing surfaces 24 come into contact against the lower edge 21 of the skirt 5. In this way the premature breaking of the bridges 20 is prevented. An annular lip 25 extends the band 19 which guarantees against a counterfeit in the lower part. This lip 25 is turned inward, in a manner known per se when the closure is placed on the neck of the container.

The base 1 can be made of a plastic material such as polypropylene or polyethylene. The lid 3 will now be described. The lid 3 comprises a body formed by a transverse bottom wall 26 and a side skirt 27 which is slightly truncated, extended downwards. The maximum internal diameter D27 defined by the skirt 27 is slightly larger than the internal diameter D9 defined by the inner side panel 9 of the base 1. In one embodiment, the cover 3 comprises external grooves or recesses 28 which facilitate the fastening of the same. In another embodiment, at least part of the outer surface of the lid 3 is similar to granite. The lifting valve 2 will now be described. This lift valve 2 comprises a convex bottom wall 29 which extends, in its lower part, by an annular wall 30. The inner surface of the wall 30 is of a shape substantially corresponding to the outer surface of the zones 13 and 14 of the base 1. In particular, a flange 31, inside the wall 30, is placed in contact, when the valve elevator 2 is in the closed position, against the surface 16 of the rim 15 of the base 1.

On the other hand, the bottom edge 32 of the wall 30 does not contact against the surface 11 of the wall 8 of the base 1 when the lift valve 2 is in the closed position. Similarly, the inner surface 33 of the wall 30 is, in its upper part, in contact with the outer reinforcing projection 18 of the end zone 14 of the base 1. Accordingly, the lifting valve 2 is mounted on the upper part of base 1 so as to secure the seal in the closed or pushed position and to ensure flow in the traction or open position. In order to ensure the retention of the lid 3 when it closes again, snaps may be provided, inside the lid 3 or equivalents in alignment with the bottom wall 29 of the lift valve 2. The seal with the neck of the bottle (not shown) is secured in particular by what is termed a lip 10. made of olives". In order to reinforce the fastening of the lid 3 during the operation of the screwing in the production line, notches can be placed in the base of the lid 3 so that they are aligned with other elaborate notches in the surface of the base 1 that they serve as support for the skirt 27 of the lid 3.

Such notches make it possible to prevent the rotation of the cover 3 with respect to the base 1 when the closure is screwed in the production line. These notches therefore do not impede the rotation of the cover 3 in the direction of opening, for example counterclockwise, but provide an immobilization of this rotation in the direction of the screw, for example in the sense of clock hands . The cover 3 can be made of a translucent or semitransparent material in a way that allows the color of the lift valve to appear. This color can be associated, for example, with the contents of the container in which the closure system is placed. A series of reinforcements are manufactured, on the one hand, at the base, and on the other hand, on the cover, which prevents the mutual rotation of these two pieces. An internal seal 36 that can be peeled off, either by adhesion, heat sealing or any other equivalent process, is fixed above the detent tooth 34 and the upper face of the convex lower wall 29 of the lift valve 2. This face The upper face and the upper face of the detent tooth 34 are, before being opened for the first time, substantially in the same plane, which facilitates the placement of the removable inner seal accordingly. A plurality of peelable materials, known per se, can be used to make the removable inner seal: aluminum and polyethylene complex, multiple layers including EVOH, etc. The seal with the neck of the container is preserved when the closure is unscrewed, until the bridges 20 are broken, which join the band 19 which guarantees against a falsification to the outer side skirt 5. The seal of the closure is reinforced in particular by the retainer tooth 34 of the base 1, whose outer lateral surface defines deflectors with the corresponding orifice wall 35 in the lift valve 2. More precisely, in the embodiment shown, the hole 35 comprises from its upper edge towards its lower edge: an annular wall substantially vertical; - a first annular wall substantially horizontal; - a truncated annular wall inclined at an angle included between 10 and 20 ° with respect to the vertical; - a second annular wall substantially horizontal; - an annular wall substantially vertical.

The second substantially horizontal wall is in a plane placed above the plane that includes the first substantially horizontal wall. The detent tooth 34 presents, from its upper edge towards its lower edge: a lateral surface substantially vertical; - a first substantially horizontal lateral surface; - a truncated annular surface inclined at an angle included between 10 and 20 ° with respect to the vertical; - a second substantially horizontal lateral surface; - a joining surface and a substantially vertical surface. When the lifting valve 2 is in the closed position, the second annular wall of the hole 35 is in contact against the second substantially horizontal surface of the retaining tooth 34. Similarly, the truncated annular wall of the hole 35 is brought into contact against the truncated surface of the detent tooth 34 and the first substantially horizontal annular wall of the hole 35 is brought into contact against the first substantially horizontal surface of the retainer tooth 34.

The substantially vertical lateral surfaces of the retainer tooth 34 are substantially in contact over their entire length with the substantially vertical annular walls of the hole 35. The bridges 20 that connect the band 19 that guarantees against a counterfeit to the side skirt 5 can be break when the user wishes, for example, to refill the container. Consequently, the closure system has a double feature that guarantees against a counterfeit. First, the nature that guarantees against a counterfeit is associated with the presence of a removable inner seal 36. Secondly, the nature that guarantees against a forgery is associated with the first unscrewing of the base 1 with respect to the neck of the container.

Claims (7)

1. A closure of the type of traction and compression, comprising: a base that is provided with an internal threading; - a lifting valve associated with the base and movable in relation to the base between a closing position and an opening position; - a cover that covers the lifting valve before the closure is opened for the first time, characterized in that the closure comprises an internal seal that guarantees against a forgery welded to the upper part of the lift valve and that forms an opening indicator for first time, as well as a matching sealing means before opening for the first time.

2. The closure according to claim 1, characterized in that the outer side skirt of the base extends in its lower part, by a band that guarantees against a counterfeit joined by bridges brittle to the lower edge of the skirt.

3. The closure according to claim 2, characterized in that brittle bridges are separated from each other by support zones that are in contact against the lower edge of the outer side skirt when the closure is placed on the neck of the container.

4. The closure according to any of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the lift valve comprises a convex lower wall that extends in its lower part by an annular wall of which, the inner surface substantially corresponds to the outer surface of the part superior of the base.

5. The closure according to claim 4, characterized in that the wall 30 of the lift valve comprises an inner flange that comes into contact when the lift valve is in the closed position, against the surface of the flange of the base.

6. The closure according to any of claims 4 or 5, characterized in that the inner surface of the wall is, in its upper part, in contact with the reinforcing projection of the areas of the base.

7. The closure according to any of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the clasps within the cap or equivalents are in alignment with the lower wall of the lift valve so as to ensure retention of the cap when it is closed again.