WO2003002422A1

WO2003002422A1 - Automatically deployable end cap and container fitted with said cap

Info

Publication number: WO2003002422A1
Application number: PCT/FR2002/002161
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jean-Paul Cerveny
Original assignee: Nestle Waters Management & Technology (Societe Anonyme)
Priority date: 2001-06-27
Filing date: 2002-06-21
Publication date: 2003-01-09
Also published as: FR2826638A1; FR2826638B1

Abstract

The invention relates to a cap for a container provided with a neck for distributing liquids or pasty products, especially for a bottle of mineral water, in addition to a container fitted with said cap. The cap is characterized in that the connection between the means of distribution (2) and the base (1) is carried out by means of a device (4) which is elastically deformable and which tends to automatically shift the means of distribution (2) from a retracted position inside the base (1) to a deployed position enabling the liquid or pasty product contained in the container to be distributed. The invention is especially suitable for use in the manufacture of caps for containers, especially for food containers such as mineral water bottles.

Description

Automatically deployable end cap and container provided with such a cap

The present invention relates to a cap for a container with a neck or neck intended for the distribution of liquids or pasty products, in particular for a bottle of mineral water, as well as the container provided with such a cap. The cap of the present invention can in particular be used to cap bottles made of synthetic materials commonly called plastics (for example PET) intended to contain all kinds of food liquids or not, more or less fluid, such as, for example, mineral water, fruit juice, milk drinks, etc. but also sauces or condiments (ketchup, mustard, vinaigrette ...) or non-food liquids (cleaning products, detergents ...).

There are already on the market closed containers, all kinds of screw caps or hoods. Screw caps which allow direct distribution of the contents of the container directly from the neck generally require the use of both hands of the user and a relatively large physical opening effort.

In addition, the existing cap caps, which have the advantage of requiring, in theory, only the use of one hand, remain in practice difficult and complicated to open, therefore also not very easy to use, in especially for children or the elderly. In addition, some hooded caps do not allow the user to directly drink from the bottle, which also decreases the interest.

In the category of hooded caps, there are known, for example, bottle caps essentially consisting of a support piece or base intended to be fixed by interlocking with elastic deformation on said bottle, of a nozzle or of a dispensing cannula. liquid connected to said base and a cover cooperating with said base to ensure the opening and closing of said container. We have also recently seen the appearance of so-called plugs

"Sport" fitted to bottles of mineral water. Such caps essentially consist of a base screwed onto the neck of the bottle, of a rigid nozzle for distributing the liquid mounted on said base, the opening of said tip can be released by pulling said tip towards you. The latter is produced in the form of a prominent part which can be covered with a removable protective element such as a thermoformed film, a rigid cap, etc., when the bottle is not in use.

Such known end plugging devices in turn have a certain number of drawbacks.

In fact, the end caps currently fitted to the various bottles and similar containers sold again require the simultaneous use of both hands of the consumer and are not easy to use, since they require several stages of manipulation and / or physical effort. relatively large.

Besides the fact that the prominent tips are more exposed to shocks, dirt, etc. and therefore more fragile, the presence of any removable protective parts, which are detached from the cap when it is opened, entails a non-negligible risk that the latter will be degraded or lost and that the nozzle for dispensing the liquid contained in said container is no longer protected.

In addition, such removable parts are generally relatively small in size and can therefore represent a risk of suffocation in the event of swallowing, in particular by a child.

The present invention aims to overcome the drawbacks of known plugs and aims to provide a plug with a tip that can be opened and / or closed with little effort and manipulation by one hand of the consumer, the opening of which does not cause not the formation of removable parts and which provides effective protection of the nozzle at the same time as a perfect seal vis-à-vis the liquid contained in the blocked container.

Such a stopper according to the present invention is a stopper for a neck or neck container intended for the distribution of liquids or pasty products, in particular for a bottle of mineral water, essentially consisting of a base intended to be fixed on said container. , a means of distributing the liquid or pasty product connected to said base and a cover cooperating with said base to ensure the opening and closing of said container, characterized in that the connection between the means of distribution and the base is produced by means of an elastically deformable device tending to bring automatically the distribution means from a retracted position inside the base to a deployed position allowing the distribution of the liquid or pasty product contained in said container.

The present invention also relates to a neck or neck container intended for the distribution of liquids or pasty products, in particular mineral water, characterized in that it comprises a stopper according to the invention.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear from the description which follows, given by way of example and with reference to the appended drawings in which: FIG. the is a schematic side elevation view in section of a first embodiment of the plug according to the invention in the closed state; fig. lb is a schematic side elevation view in section of the first embodiment of FIG. 1a of the plug according to the invention in several superimposed states (open -semi-open-closed); fig. 2 is a schematic side elevation view in section of a second embodiment of the plug according to the invention in the closed state, the open state being simply suggested; fig. 3 is a schematic top view of the second embodiment of FIG. 2 of the plug according to the invention in closed state; fig. 4a is a schematic three-dimensional perspective view of an embodiment of the plug according to the invention in the open state; fig. 4b is a schematic three-dimensional front view of the plug of FIG. 4a in the closed state; fig. 5a is a schematic three-dimensional perspective view of another embodiment of the plug according to the invention in the open state and, FIG. 5b is a schematic three-dimensional front view of the plug of FIG. 5a in the closed state.

First of all, reference is made to FIG. 1a which shows a schematic view in side elevation and in section of a first embodiment of the plug according to the invention in the closed state. In the embodiment described and shown, the cap for a neck or neck container intended for the distribution of liquids or pasty products, in particular for bottles of mineral water is essentially consisting of a base 1 intended to be fixed on said container, of a means 2 for distributing the liquid or pasty product connected to said base 1 and of a cover 3 cooperating with said base 1 to ensure opening and closing of said container, characterized in that the connection between the dispensing means 2 and the base 1 is produced by means of an elastically deformable device 4 tending to automatically bring the dispensing means 2 from a retracted position to the inside of the base 1 in a deployed position allowing the distribution of the liquid or of the pasty product contained in said container. According to a first characteristic, the elastically deformable device 4 is made of a resilient material, said device 4 thus passing, under the effect of the opening of said cover 3 or of part of said cover 3, from a position retracted to the inside the base 1 in a deployed position allowing the distribution of the liquid or pasty product contained in said container.

Thus, a single operation is sufficient to directly access the liquid or product contained in the container and dispense the latter. The operation of opening the cover 3 can be carried out with one hand, for example, by grasping the container in the palm and releasing the cover 3 or part of the latter by the action of the thumb of the same hand. Figure lb illustrates the cap of Figure la in several superimposed states (open-semi-open - closed).

For closing, the index returns the cover 3 or hinged cover 3 'on the distribution means 2 until the closing "click". The constitution of the cover 3 and the opening and closing means will be detailed later.

Advantageously, the distribution means 2 and the elastically deformable device 4 are both made of a resilient material, preferably in one piece. This measure makes it possible to produce the assembly formed by these two elements in one piece.

Of course, the material or materials used for the production of the stopper and more particularly that or those used for the production of the distribution means 2 and for the elastically deformable device 4 must be chemically and physically compatible with the nature of the liquid or pasty content of the container thus capped. In addition, if the container blocked by the stopper according to the invention is intended to contain a product liquid or pasty food, it will also be necessary to make sure that the aforementioned materials are indeed of food quality and that the corked product marketed meets well the applicable hygiene standards.

According to another characteristic, the resilient material is an elastomer, in particular rubber. By elastomer is meant any natural or synthetic polymer or copolymer having properties similar to those of rubber.

By way of nonlimiting illustrative example, the dispensing means 2 can be in the form of a cannula, the dispensing end of which, possibly in direct contact with the mouth of the consumer, can be produced as a nozzle in the form of mushroom as shown schematically in Figures la, lb, 2, 4a and 5a.

Also advantageously, the distribution means 2 is produced in the form of a teat. As can be seen in FIGS. 1a, 1b, 2a and 2b, the plug according to the invention is further characterized in that the base 1 is produced in the form of a part consisting of a first internal cylindrical part 5 intended to be fixed on the neck or neck 6 of the container and communicating with a second external part 7 in the form of a bowl connected to the cover 3.

The base 1 can be made in a molded part, for example by injection, and will preferably be made of plastic.

The base 1 makes it possible to fix the stopper on the container and at the same time supplies the lower part of the body of the stopper, which is surmounted by the cover 3. The upper part of the stopper can also comprise a portion of material or wall 3 ' 'bearing on the base 1 to produce a kind of internal dome 17 on which the cover 3 or a hinged cover 3 can rest. These different parts can be made from the same synthetic material or from several materials with physico-chemical properties specially chosen for their functions.

Likewise, the aesthetic appearance of the plug can be reinforced by choosing a first color, for example blue, for the base 1 and a second different color, for example green, for the portion of material or wall 3 ", cover 3 and hinged cover 3 '. According to a variant, the base 1 or lower part of the plug can be produced, for example by injection / molding, in one piece with the internal dome 17 and / or the cover 3 and / or the articulated cover 3 '.

The base 1 also makes it possible to house all or part of the distribution means 2 as well as the device 4 which is elastically deformable when the cap is closed. As illustrated in FIGS. 1a, 1b and 2, the elastically deformable device 4 can be produced in the form of a membrane of resilient material making it possible to connect directly or indirectly and in a sealed manner, the base of said distribution means 2 with the neck or the neck 6 of the butcher's container. In a first variant, not shown, the end of the elastically deformable device 4, which is not provided with the distribution means 2, is fixed to the internal part of the base 1.

According to a second particularly advantageous variant, the stopper according to the invention is characterized in that the 5 ′ end of the first cylindrical internal part 5 located near the outlet of the neck or neck 6 of the container is produced in the form of an annular shoulder 8 leaving, when the base 1 is fixed, an annular space 9 between said shoulder 8 and the end of the neck or neck 6 of the container, the annular space 9 making it possible to secure the elastically deformable device 4 with said neck or neck 6 of said container. This variant embodiment is shown diagrammatically, in section, in FIGS. 1a, 1b and 2 in which the pinching of the device 4 for elastic deformation between the neck or neck 6 of the container and the abovementioned annular shoulder 8 can be clearly seen. According to another characteristic, the end 5 "of the first cylindrical internal part 5 remote from the outlet of the neck or neck 6 of the container is provided with a safety ring 10. As shown, for example, in the figure la or lb , this ring is engaged on a projecting annular flange located under the thread of the neck of the container 6. It ensures that the cap has never been unscrewed from said neck 6.

The stopper according to the invention can be fixed to the neck 6 of the container by any usual means. Preferably, said cap is screwed onto the neck 6 of the container.

In the latter case, provision may be made for the first cylindrical internal part 5 to be produced in the form of a cylindrical part provided with an internal thread 11 intended for screwing onto the thread of the neck or threaded neck 6 of the container. In this way, the cap according to the present invention can be mounted on any container provided with a standard thread.

As explained above, the stopper according to the present invention is further characterized in that the second external part 7 made in the form of a bowl has an upper peripheral edge 12 serving as a bearing surface and junction with the cover 3 of the stopper.

Furthermore, the second external part 7 has a first opening and closing means 13 intended to cooperate by engagement by elastic deformation with a corresponding second means 14 located on the cover 3 or part of the cover 3.

In FIGS. 1a, 1b and 2, the stopper shown is characterized in that the second external part 7 has a push button provided with a first hook intended to cooperate with a corresponding second hook situated on the cover 3 or part of the cover 3. Thus, it suffices to press, for example using the thumb, on said push button so that the two aforementioned hooks detach which causes, under the action of the elastically deformable device 4, the automatic exit of the means dispenser 2 of the cap.

In fact and as can be clearly seen in FIGS. 1a, 1b and 2, the elastically deformable device 4 is in a compressed state when the dispensing means 2 is retracted into the body of the cap, its dispensing end being retained by the cover. 3 or part of this cover 3 (hinged cover 3 ') itself blocked by the opening and closing means 13, 14. The potential energy thus stored by the elastically deformable device 4 is released when the link between the first opening and closing means 13 and the second opening and closing means 14 is broken, for example by temporarily deforming the latter so as to dissociate them mechanically. The elastically deformable device 4 then finds a relaxed position (suggested in dotted lines) causing at the same time the upward vertical movement of the distribution means 2 which is propelled towards the user so as to be fully operational. The dimensions of the elastically deformable device 4, for example of an elastically deformable membrane, are such that the dispensing means 2 is easily accessible to the user, for example for taking in the mouth. When an internal dome 17 is provided in the upper part of the plug, the size of the elastically deformable device 4 is calculated in such a way so that the distribution means 2 can come completely or almost completely from the central opening 18 provided for the passage of said distribution means 2.

According to another variant, the stopper according to the invention is characterized in that the second external part 7 has a push button provided with a recess intended to cooperate with a corresponding lug located on the cover 3 or part of the cover 3. generally any device of the male-female type or the like can be adapted to the present plug in order to guarantee reliable and easily unlockable retention of the cover 3 or of a part of the latter.

In accordance with the present invention, the plug is also characterized in that the cover 3 or a part of the cover 3 is connected to the second external part 7 by at least one hinge 15.

In a particularly simple and economical embodiment not shown, the cover 3 is made in a single element.

However, it is also possible that the cover 3 is made of at least two elements, an articulated cover 3 'retaining the distribution means 2 in the retracted position and at least a portion of material or wall 3 "connected to the base 1 guiding the vertical movement of the dispensing means 2 during the opening and closing of the cap.

Such an embodiment is illustrated in Figures 1 to 5 attached. As already mentioned, at least a portion of material or wall 3 "connected to the base 1 can be produced in the form of an internal dome 17 substantially matching the internal surface of the articulated cover 3 ', said internal dome 17 having a central opening 18 for the passage of the distribution means 2 during the opening and closing of the plug.

In a particularly advantageous manner, the internal dome 17 has on its external surface at the level of the central opening 18 an annular receiving structure concentric 19 with said central opening 18 intended to receive a corresponding portion of the distributing end of the distribution means 2 The sealing of the plug and its retention in the cover 3 or the hinged cover 3 ′ are thus improved.

The concentric annular receiving structure 19 can, for example, be produced in the form of a gutter (FIG. 1a and 1b), a shoulder (FIG. 2) or a similar structure to accommodate the lower edge of the means ( or nozzle) for distribution 2. As shown diagrammatically in FIGS. 1a, 2a, 4a and 5a, the stopper according to the invention is also characterized in that the portion of the cover 3 or of the articulated cover 3 'which is in contact with the dispensing end of the dispensing means 2 is provided with at least one sealing element 16 cooperating with said end so as to guarantee the tightness of the closed container.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the portion of the cover 3 or of the articulated cover 3 ′ which is in contact with the dispensing end of the dispensing means 2 has a surface portion matching the shape of said end so as to guarantee sealing of the closed container.

As can be seen in the aforementioned figures, the central orifice of the dispensing means 2 or of the end piece is closed by the boss provided as a sealing element 16 on the inside of the cover 3 or of the hinged cover 3 ' when the latter is folded down and the cap is completely closed.

As shown in FIGS. 1a, 1b, 4a and 4b, respectively 2a, 2b, 3, 5a and 5b, the stopper is further characterized in that it has a spherical or substantially spherical exterior shape, respectively, an oval exterior shape or substantially oval.

Thanks to their rounded angles, such ergonomic shapes facilitate the handling of containers thus blocked (grip, transport ...) and minimize the risk of injury, especially in children. According to another advantageous characteristic, the cap according to the present invention is further characterized in that it further comprises at least one tamper-evident device 20 at the level of a means participating in the locking of the cover 3 in the closed position.

Such a device is shown by way of nonlimiting example in FIG. 1b. During the first opening of the cap, the tamper-evident device 20, here produced in the form of a bridge connecting the push button to the first cylindrical internal part 5, breaks, signaling by a reduced mechanical resistance during an opening later that the container has already been opened. Finally, the present invention also relates to a neck or neck container intended for the distribution of liquids or pasty products, in particular mineral water, characterized in that it comprises a plug according to the invention.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiments described and shown in the accompanying drawings. Modifications remain possible, in particular from the point of view of the constitution of the various elements or by substitution of technical equivalents, without thereby departing from the scope of protection of the invention.

Claims

1. Cap for a necked container or neck intended for the distribution of liquids or pasty products, in particular for a bottle of mineral water, essentially consisting of a base (1) intended to be fixed on said container, by means dispenser (2) of liquid or pasty product connected to said base (1) and a cover (3) cooperating with said base (1) to ensure the opening and closing of said container, characterized in that the connection between the distribution means (2) and the base (1) is produced by means of an elastically deformable device (4) tending to automatically bring the distribution means (2) from a retracted position inside the base (1) in a deployed position allowing the distribution of the liquid or the pasty product contained in said container and in that the cover (3) is made of at least two elements, an articulated cover (3 ') retaining the means distribution (2) in pos ition retracted and at least a portion of material or wall (3 ") connected to the base (1) guiding the vertical movement of the dispensing means (2) during the opening and closing of the cap.

2. Cap according to claim 1, characterized in that the elastically deformable device (4) is made of a resilient material, said device (4) thus passing under the effect of the opening of said cover (3) or a part of said cover (3), from a retracted position inside the base (1) to a deployed position allowing the distribution of the liquid or pasty product contained in said container.

3. Cap according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the distribution means (2) and the device (4) elastically deformable are both made of a resilient material, preferably in one piece.

4. Cap according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the resilient material is an elastomer, in particular rubber.

5. Stopper according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the dispensing means (2) is produced in the form of a teat.

6. Cap according to claim 1 to 5, characterized in that the base (1) is produced in the form of a part consisting of a first cylindrical internal part (5) intended to be fixed to the neck or the neck (6) of the container and communicating with a second external part (7) in the form of a bowl connected to the cover (3).

7. Stopper according to claim 6, characterized in that the end (5 ') of the first cylindrical internal part (5) located near the outlet of the neck or neck (6) of the container is produced in the form of an annular shoulder (8) leaving, when the base (1) is fixed, an annular space (9) between said shoulder (8) and the end of the neck or neck (6) of the container, the annular space (9 ) making it possible to secure the elastically deformable device (4) with said neck or neck (6) of said container.

8. Stopper according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the end (5 ") of the first cylindrical internal part (5) distant from the outlet of the neck or neck (6) of the container is provided with a ring of security (10).

9. Plug according to any one of claims 6 to 8, characterized in that the first cylindrical internal part (5) is produced in the form of a cylindrical part provided with an internal thread (11) intended for screwing on the neck thread or neck (6) threaded container.

10. Cap according to any one of claims 6 to 9, characterized in that the second external part (7) made in the form of a bowl has an upper peripheral edge (12) serving as a bearing surface and junction with the cover ( 3) the plug.

11. Plug according to any one of claims 6 to 10, characterized in that the second external part (7) has a first opening and closing means (13) intended to cooperate by engagement by elastic deformation with a second means corresponding (14) located on the cover (3) or part of the cover (3).

12. Plug according to claim 11, characterized in that the second external part (7) has a push button provided with a first hook intended to cooperate with a corresponding second hook located on the cover (3) or part of the cover ( 3).

13. Plug according to claim 11, characterized in that the second external part (7) has a push button provided with a recess intended to cooperate with a corresponding lug located on the cover (3) or part of the cover (3) .

14. Stopper according to any one of claims 6 to 13, characterized in that the cover (3) or part of the cover (3) is connected to the second part (7) external by at least one hinge (15).

15. Stopper according to any one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that the cover (3) is made in a single element.

16. Plug according to any one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that at least a portion of material or wall (3 ") connected to the base (1) is produced in the form of an internal dome (17) substantially matching the internal surface of the hinged cover (3 ′), said internal dome (17) having a central opening (18) for the passage of the dispensing means (2) during the opening and closing of the plug .

17. Plug according to claim 16, characterized in that the internal dome (17) has on its external surface at the central opening (18) an annular receiving structure concentric (19) to said central opening (18) intended receiving a corresponding portion of the dispensing end of the dispensing means (2).

18. Cap according to any one of claims 1 to 17, characterized in that the portion of the cover (3) or of the articulated cover (3 ') which is in contact with the dispensing end of the dispensing means (2) is provided with at least one sealing element (16) cooperating with said end so as to guarantee the tightness of the closed container.

19. Cap according to claim 18, characterized in that the portion of the cover (3) or of the articulated cover (3 ') which is in contact with the dispensing end of the dispensing means (2) has a surface portion conforming to the shape of said end so as to guarantee the tightness of the closed container.

20. Stopper according to any one of claims 1 to 19, characterized in that it has a spherical or substantially spherical external shape.

21. Stopper according to any one of claims 1 to 20, characterized in that it has an oval or substantially oval external shape.

22. Stopper according to any one of claims 1 to 21, characterized in that it further comprises at least one tamper-evident device (20) at the level of a means participating in the locking of the cover (3) in closed position.

23. A neck or neck container intended for the distribution of liquids or pasty products, in particular mineral water, characterized in that it comprises a stopper according to any one of claims l to 22.