WO2000046577A1

WO2000046577A1 - Device for measuring liquid contained in a container with a neck and for making said container tamperproof

Info

Publication number: WO2000046577A1
Application number: PCT/FR2000/000244
Authority: WO
Inventors: Gabriel Bouzaglo
Original assignee: 3 D Developpement
Priority date: 1999-02-02
Filing date: 2000-02-02
Publication date: 2000-08-10
Also published as: FR2789054A1; FR2789054B3

Abstract

The invention concerns a device (1) comprising a body (5) at least partly tubular, radially mobile means (15, 60) for locking the device (1) in the neck (3), and a driving member (7) for moving said locking means (15, 60). The invention is characterised in that said device comprises actuating means (11, 81) permanently disengaged from the driving member (7), said driving member (7) having a short axial length with respect to that of the device (1); and the device (1) comprises locking means (14, 33, 26, 90, 91) for maintaining the driving member (7) in the position wherein it retains said locking means (15, 60) in a radially external position.

Description

DEVICE FOR DOSING A LIQUID CONTAINED IN A NECK CONTAINER AND INVIOLABILITY OF THIS CONTAINER

The present invention relates to a device for dosing a liquid contained in a neck container, in particular a bottle, and for the inviolability of this container.

It is in some cases necessary to simultaneously ensure the dosage of a liquid product contained in a neck container and the inviolability of this container. These two functions combined make it possible to prevent a continuous, unmetered flow of the product, and the second function makes it possible to prohibit or make it very difficult to introduce a foreign product into the container.

This need exists in particular for alcoholic products or for liquid medicines such as syrups.

A known device of this type comprises a body made of two tubular parts which can be engaged one inside the other. The outer part is intended to be engaged without play in the neck of the container and comprises longitudinal slots at its “distal” end, that is to say at its end located most deeply in the neck after the positioning of the device. These slots delimit parts which can be deformed radially, between a radially internal position which does not prevent the introduction of said part into the neck and a radially external position which prevents any withdrawal of the device from this neck. The inner part is shaped to be engaged inside the outer part and to move, at the end of engagement, said deformable parts towards their radially external position.

This device is not entirely satisfactory, the inner part being accessible from the outside of the neck, and can therefore be easily removed.

Other devices can also be removed as long as the container is heated so as to soften their constituent synthetic material.

The present invention aims to remedy this essential problem, by providing a device allowing perfect inviolability of the container while retaining a simple and inexpensive structure to manufacture, as well as easy and rapid installation on the neck of the container. The device according to the invention comprises, in a manner known per se,

- A body at least partly tubular, intended to be engaged in the neck of the container, this body comprising a “distal” part, that is to say located most deeply in the neck after the device has been placed on this bottleneck;

means for immobilizing the device in the neck, shaped so as to be able to be moved between a radially internal position, in which they do not prevent the introduction of the device into the neck, and a radially external position, in which they obstacle to any withdrawal of the device from the neck; and

- A movement member, shaped to move said immobilization means from their radially internal position to their radially external position. According to the invention:

- The device comprises actuation means which are not permanently integral with the displacement member, these actuation means coming to actuate this displacement member when the device is placed on the container so that it displaces said means immobilization to their radially external position and / or locks these means in this position;

- Said displacement member has a short axial length relative to that of the device; and

- The device comprises locking means suitable for holding the displacement member in the position in which it maintains said immobilization means in their radially external position.

Thus, the displacement member is not integral with actuating means, such as an interior piece according to the prior art, accessible from outside the device and the removal of which would have the effect of allowing the device to be unlocked; the short axial length of the displacement member and the positioning of said locking means at the distal end of the device allow these locking means not to be accessible, or very difficult, from outside the container.

The invention thus allows perfect inviolability of the container. Preferably, the locking means are of the snap type.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the body of the device comprises two tubular parts capable of being engaged one inside the other, the interior part and the displacement member comprising means for mounting this member of displacement on the distal end of this interior part, the aforementioned locking means allowing the locking of said interior part with respect to the exterior part. Said inner part allows easy positioning of the displacement member when it is engaged in said outer part, and constitutes said actuating means.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the displacement member itself comprises locking means cooperating with complementary locking means arranged in the body of the device, and said actuation means are constituted by a tool allowing the coming into engagement of these locking means.

To allow dosing, the device according to the invention comprises: - a body at least partially tubular, dimensioned so as to be able to be immobilized in the neck of the container to be fitted and delimiting a conduit allowing the flow of the liquid contained in the container;

- Two surfaces arranged transversely to said body, which each delimit a liquid passage orifice and which each form a seat; and

- A shutter member, movable by gravity between these surfaces and coming to cooperate with one or the other of said surfaces depending on whether the bottle is vertical, neck upwards, or whether it is inclined in order to effect a pouring; this shutter member defines at least one passage for the liquid, the cross section of which is very much smaller than that of the duct delimited by the body, so that this passage allows only a restricted flow of the liquid and this liquid exerts, during of the inclination of the container, a pressure against this shutter member; and

- Means for guiding the shutter member in the body, which axially hold this shutter member relative to this body and which generate friction when the shutter member moves in the body, in order to brake the shutter member during this movement.

Said displacement member can itself define at least one of said seat surfaces. For a good understanding, the invention is again described below with reference to the appended schematic drawing representing, by way of nonlimiting examples, three possible embodiments of the device which it concerns.

Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view according to a first embodiment, two of its component parts being seen in longitudinal section passing through their axis; Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view, while it is placed in the neck of a bottle and it is not yet locked therein, this bottle being vertical, neck up ; Figure 3 is a partial view similar to Figure 2, after locking; Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 2, after locking, the bottle being overturned; Figure 5 is a perspective view of an assembly that comprises the device according to a second embodiment; Figure 6 is a perspective view of this device, during assembly; Figure 7 is a longitudinal sectional view; Figure 8 is a longitudinal sectional view after installation on a neck; Figure 9 is a partial view, in longitudinal section and on an enlarged scale; Figure 10 is a view similar to Figure 8, the bottle being inverted; Figure 1 1 is a view similar to Figure 9, the bottle being overturned; Figure 12 is a side view, exploded and in longitudinal section, of the device according to a third embodiment, and Figure 13 is a view of this device in longitudinal section, after its engagement in the neck of a bottle. For simplicity, the elements which are found in these embodiments, or which are similar from one embodiment to another, are designated by the same reference numerals.

FIGS. 1 to 4 represent, from different angles, a device 1 for metering a liquid contained in a bottle 2 with a neck 3, and for the inviolability of this bottle 2.

This device 1 comprises a tubular body 5, a shutter member 6 and a displacement member 7.

The body 5 comprises two tubular parts 10, 1 1 capable of being engaged one in the other, which each have a main central portion 10a, 1 1a, a proximal end portion 10b, 1 1b and a distal end portion 10c, 1 1 tsp.

The external part 10 has an outside diameter such that it can be engaged without play in the neck 3. The portion 10b has a collar 12 projecting outwards, intended to come to rest on the end edge of the neck 3, and two flexible lips 13 ensuring the tightness of the device 1 relative to the neck 3.

The portion 10c comprises a flange 14, an annular part 15 connected to the rest of the part 10 by a thinned part 16 forming a film hinge and a flexible lip 17 connected to said annular part 15 by a thinned part 18 forming a film hinge .

The flange 14 projects from the internal face of the part 10 and is shaped to allow a snap-fastening beyond it, that is to say comprises a conical upper face and an annular lower face oriented perpendicular to the axis of this room 10.

The part 15 has a greater thickness than the rest of the part 10 and projects partially inside the duct 20 delimited by this part 10, having, at its upper internal zone, a conical wall 21.

The part 1 1 comprises, at its portion 1 1 a, two helical grooves 25 arranged from its internal face. These grooves 25 are identical to each other but offset by half a step with respect to each other. The portion 1 1b has a reduced diameter with respect to the portion 1 1a, and therefore with respect to the portion 10b, and is connected to this portion 1 1 a by a wall 26. The wall 26 is rounded and internally defines a concave surface 27 in the form of a portion of a sphere. This portion 1 1b also comprises a series of transverse strips 28 extending through the opening which it delimits. The portion 1 1 c has a socket 30 in which the member 7 can be received. Two diametrically opposite notches 32, delimited radially by a wall having a profile suitable for snap-fastening, are arranged in the wall which laterally delimits this socket 30 , from the internal face of this wall. This portion 1 1 c further comprises a shoulder 33 on its outer face, adapted to cooperate with the underside of the flange 14 to allow locking of the part 1 1 in the part 10, as shown in FIG. 3.

The shutter member 6 has two main faces 35 in the form of a spherical cap. It comprises two diametrically opposite lugs 36, each of which can be engaged and which can slide in one of the grooves 25. The member 6 also includes bosses 37 projecting from its peripheral wall, located at an angular distance from the lugs 36. These bosses 37 have a height such that they come in the immediate vicinity of the wall of the part 1 1 when the lugs 36 are engaged in the grooves 25. They thus make it possible to ensure the anti-tip stability of the member 6 in this part 1 1.

The displacement member 7 has the shape of a pellet and comprises a central hole 40 opening, on one of its axial ends, into the bottom of a concave surface 41 in the form of a portion of a sphere. Its other axial end has a conical wall 42 defining a shoulder 43, this wall 42 being able to cooperate with the wall 21 to cause the part 15 to pivot towards a radially external position, as shown in FIG. 3, and the shoulder 43 is adapted to cooperate with the corresponding end face of the part 1 1.

The member 7 also includes two diametrically opposite lugs 44 capable of cooperating with said profiled walls delimiting the notches 32.

The surfaces 27 and 41 have shapes which correspond to those of the faces 35 of the member 6, and thus constitute seats therefor in order to form valves. In practice, the pins 36 are engaged in the grooves 25, then the member 7 is put in place in the socket 30 and is retained therein by snap-fastening of the pins 44 on the profiled walls delimiting the notches 32. This assembly can be engaged in the part 10 until the member 7 comes to bear against the conical face of the flange 14, as shown in FIG. 2.

The device 1 thus assembled can be engaged in the neck 3.

Once the flange 12 is in abutment against the end edge of the neck 3, the part 1 1 is pressed in the direction of the bottom of the bottle 2, which causes the member 7 to pass beyond the flange 14 then to wear against the wall 21.

The member 7 causes the deformation of the part 15, which pivots around the film hinge 16 to a radially external position shown in FIG. 3, and presses the lip 17 against the flared wall of the bottle 2 located at the base of neck 3.

The member 7 is then held by engagement of the shoulder 33 beyond the flange 14.

When the bottle 2 is vertical (FIGS. 2 and 3), the member 6 rests against the surface 41. The valve is thus closed and prevents, or considerably obstructs, any introduction of liquids or a foreign body inside the bottle 2.

When the latter is inclined to make a payment, the member 6 releases the entry of the device 1 at a precise moment, when the force exerted by the pressure of the liquid against it exceeds the braking force resulting from the friction created by the displacement of the pins 36 in the grooves 25. The movement of the member 6 takes place at a substantially constant speed, until this member 6 comes into contact with the surface 27 (FIG. 4) and thus interrupts the flow of the liquid.

The annular space 48 delimited by the portions 10b and 11b allows the drop of liquid located on the end of the device 1 to be recovered at the end of pouring. This drop therefore does not flow on the wall of the container 2. The blades 28 prohibit any attempt to manipulate the member 6. In the second embodiment shown in Figures 5 to 1 1, the body 5 comprises a single piece, the main portion of which is constituted by two slightly flexible bands 50 and whose proximal end portions 50b and distal 50c are tubular. The shutter member 6 comprises a part 51 in the form of a screw and an annular part 52 connected to this part 51.

The large lateral recesses delimited by the bands 50 allow this body 5, said annular part 52 and the displacement member 7 to be molded simultaneously, this part 52 and this member 7 being connected to said strips 50 by bridges of material 55, 56, likely to be broken by manual action.

In the same way as before, the proximal portion

50b comprises a support flange 12 and two sealing ribs 13, as well as a network of walls 28 constituting means of inviolability. In this case, this network includes circular and radial walls which delimit a central hole 57.

The distal portion 50c comprises a plurality of longitudinal slots, which delimit radially deformable parts 60 which can be moved radially outwards by means of the member 7, and a flange 14 for locking this member 7 in a position in which it maintains these parts 60 in a radially external position.

The part 51 in the form of a screw has a rod part 61 in which are arranged two helical ribs 62, of the same shape but offset by half a step with respect to each other.

Part 63 of this part 51 corresponding to the "head" of the "screw" has a side face 64 of conical shape.

On the side opposite to this part 63, the rod 61 comprises a flange 65, delimiting an upper shoulder, an annular projection 66 and a hole arranged axially in the rod 61. Thanks to this hole, the rod 61 has a flexibility such that it can be slightly deformed radially inward to allow the engagement of the projection 66 through the hole of the part 52, until this part 52 clicks. behind this projection 66, the part 52 resting against the flange 65. The part 52 has a conical distal face 70. The displacement member 7 comprises, for its part, a central orifice in which the part 51 is engaged and can slide. Two pins 72 protrude radially inward from this orifice and each engage one of the ribs 62. The member 7 also includes a conical surface 73 on the distal side and a cylindrical surface 74 on the proximal side, which are able to cooperate respectively with the corresponding faces 64 and 70, in order to constitute valves.

In practice, the part 51 is engaged in the orifice of the member 7 and in the hole in the part 52 until this part 52 clicks between the flange 65 and the projection 66, then a pin 80 is forcibly engaged , using an elongated tool 81, in the hole of the part 61, passing through the hole 57. This pin 80 makes it possible to stiffen the proximal end of the rod 61 so as to lock the part 52 on the Exhibit 51. The assembly thus formed is engaged in the neck 3 until the flange 12 is supported on the end of this neck. The bands 50 are slightly deformed and allow a certain setting of the device 1 in rotation. The tool 81 is then pressed in the direction of the bottom of the bottle 2, in order to cause the bridges to break 55 then, when the part 52 comes to bear against the displacement member 7, the bridges 56 to break. Said pressure is maintained until the member 7 is locked beyond the flange 14 and thus maintains the teeth 60 in a radially external position.

Figures 1 1 and 12 show a device 1 in which the proximal end 10b of the part 10 has a series of radial slots delimiting between them a plurality of flexible tabs 90, on the inner faces of which are provided shoulders 91.

These legs 90 are movable between a radially external position, shown in FIG. 12, and a radially internal position, appearing in FIG. 13, in which the shoulders 91 come to cooperate with a shoulder formed by the wall 26, in order to axially hold the part. 1 1 compared to part 10.

The part 1 1 comprises an internal cross 92 allowing the flow of the liquid contained in the bottle but preventing the passage of the shutter member 6, constituted in this case by a ball. The member 7 is in the form of a cup and receives the ball 6 in its cavity 94, this ball being engaged in force beyond pins 95 which hold it in position in this cavity 94.

In practice, an axial pressure can be exerted on the portion 1 1 b, which allows, simultaneously or consecutively, to fold the tabs 90 into their radially internal position and to bring the side wall 96 of the member 7 extending between the walls 42 and 43 opposite the part 15, to place and / or maintain the flange 17 in the locked position. The device according to this third embodiment has the advantage of being generally easier to produce and to remove from the mold than the device according to the first embodiment.

Claims

1 - Device (1) for metering a liquid contained in a container (2) with a neck (3), in particular a bottle, and for inviolability of this container, comprising: - a body (5) at least in part tubular, intended to be engaged in the neck (3) of the container (2), this body (5) comprising a "distal" part (10c, 50c), that is to say located most deeply in the neck after installation of the device on this neck;

- Means (15, 60) for immobilizing the device (1) in the neck (3), shaped to be able to be moved between a radially internal position, in which they do not prevent the introduction of the device into the neck , and a radially external position, in which they prevent any withdrawal of the device (1) from the neck (3); and - a displacement member (7), configured to move said immobilization means (15, 60) from their radially internal position to their radially external position; device (1) characterized:

- In that it comprises actuating means (1 1, 81) not permanently integral with the displacement member (7), these actuating means (1 1, 81) coming to actuate this displacement member (7) during the positioning of the device (1) on the container (2) so that it displaces said immobilization means (15, 60) towards their radially external position and / or locks these means (15, 60 ) in this position;

- in that said displacement member (7) has a short axial length relative to that of the device (1); and

- in that the device (1) comprises locking means (14, 33, 26, 90, 91) suitable for holding the movement member (7) in the position in which it maintains said immobilization means (15 , 60) in their radially external position.

2 - Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the locking means (14, 33) are of the snap type.

3 - Device according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that its body (5) comprises two tubular parts (10,

1 1) capable of being engaged one inside the other, the interior part (1 1) and the displacement member (7) comprising means (32, 44) for mounting this displacement member (7) on the distal end of this interior part (1 1), the locking means (14, 33 ) above allowing the locking of said inner part (1 1) relative to the outer part (10).

4 - Device according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the displacement member (7) itself comprises locking means cooperating with complementary locking means (14) arranged in the body (5) of the device (1), and in that said actuating means are constituted by a tool (81) allowing the engagement of these locking means.

5 - Device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that it comprises:

- a body (5) at least partly tubular, dimensioned to be able to be immobilized in the neck (3) of the container (2) to be fitted and delimiting a conduit (20) allowing the liquid contained in the container (2) to flow ;

- two surfaces (27, 41; 73, 74) arranged transversely relative to said body (5), which each delimit an orifice for the passage of the liquid and which each form a seat; and

- a shutter member (6), movable by gravity between these surfaces (27, 41; 73, 74) and coming to cooperate with one or the other of said surfaces depending on whether the container (2) is vertical, neck upwards , or that he is inclined to make a payment; this shutter member (6) delimits at least one passage for the liquid contained in the container (2), the section of which is very much smaller than that of the conduit (20) delimited by the body (5), so that this passage allows only a restricted flow of the liquid and this liquid exerts, during the tilting of the container, a pressure against this shutter member (6); and - means (25, 62) for guiding the shutter member (6) in the body (5), which axially hold this shutter member (6) relative to this body (5) and which generate friction during movement of the shutter member (6) in the body (5), in order to brake the shutter member (6) during this movement. 6 - Device according to claim 5, characterized in that the displacement member (7) defines at least one of said surfaces (73, 74) forming a seat.