WO2007063225A1

WO2007063225A1 - Hinged cap with tamper-evident device

Info

Publication number: WO2007063225A1
Application number: PCT/FR2006/002626
Authority: WO
Inventors: Eric Catalogna; Guillaume Bacconnier; Eric Kerman
Original assignee: Cebal Sas
Priority date: 2005-12-01
Filing date: 2006-12-01
Publication date: 2007-06-07
Also published as: FR2894229A1; CA2629374C; FR2894229B1; CA2629374A1

Abstract

Hinged cap (220, 320, 420, 520) with a base (230) and, connected to said base by a hinge, a pivoting lid (240, 340, 440), said base having an outer skirt (231, 331), said lid having a peripheral wall (241, 341), said outer skirt having a depressed area (232) for the finger, and said pivoting top having a detachable tab (245, 345, 445, 545). The outer skirt has a tamper-evident device (234, 334, 434, 534) that takes the form of a raised or depressed part adjacent to said depressed area. This tamper-evident device is preferably a depressed finger hold and is partially covered by a projection (247, 347,447, 547) for gripping the tab.

Description

HINGED CAPSULE HAVING A DELETION WITNESS

TECHNICAL AREA

The invention relates to the field of closure capsules called "hinged capsules" or "capsules services" which are intended to be fixed on containers such as flexible tubes, bottles or tube vials. Said service capsules, provided with a pivoting cap closing a dispensing orifice, equip containers capable of storing and dispensing fluid, creamy or pasty materials, generally belonging to the cosmetic, food, household, pharmaceutical or parapharmaceutical fields. The invention relates more particularly to the capsules services to which it is desired to associate a tamper evidence or tamper-proof functionality.

STATE OF LATECHNIQUE

The service caps, equipped with a swivel cap, offer the consumer the ability to handle the container with one hand and give the assurance of not losing the cap, the latter, once detached to release the orifice of distribution, likely to be dropped and unintentionally abandoned in any location. Such capsules have found considerable development when it has been possible to mold them in one piece, which has the effect of significantly reducing their manufacturing cost. In addition, these capsules generally have a large diameter, typically identical to that of the container body (or an equivalent dimension thereof) so that they perform a "stand-up" function, that is to say that is, the container can be placed vertically, upside down, resting on said capsule held in the closed position.

The service capsules comprise a base and a pivoting cap attached to this base. The base has an upper plate with a dispensing orifice, an outer skirt - which is generally substantially The extension of the wall of the body of the container when the capsule is fixed on said container - and fasteners for cooperating with corresponding means disposed on the head of the container. The outer skirt is generally provided with a depression or hollow area, called "finger grip", whose width is close to the width of an inch and whose height is close to that of the thumb of said thumb, for a maximum efficiency of the action of the thumb, this cavity is placed diametrically opposite to the fastener connecting the cap and the base. The cap is indeed attached to the base by means of a hinge which is generally at the periphery of the upper plate of said base. Said hinge typically comprises at least one hinge - film and at least one tensioning element, stressed in tension. The tensioning element, put in tension during the pivoting of the cap, facilitates the pivoting thereof, the user having only to give a simple thumb pulse to trigger the opening or closing. The geometrical configuration of the various elements of the capsule and the composition of the materials which constitute them make that, during the first opening, the force to be applied to open the cap is generally greater than afterwards.

Capsules provided with a pivoting cap have the disadvantage of not being able to be easily provided with tamper-proof systems or even burglar-proof. A burglary witness makes it possible to determine immediately and definitely whether or not the container equipped with such a capsule has been opened a first time. A tamper evident system imposes during the first opening the destruction of an element appropriately placed on the closure to obstruct the opening of the container, in the case of traditional screwed closures, typically plugs that one can detach from the container by simple unscrewing, it is known to use a circular ring of tamper-proof type of that described in US Patent 5,115,932,

But such a tamper evident system is difficult to transpose to caps with pivoting cap. US Pat. No. 4,487,324 describes a service capsule with a circular ring of inviolability which is connected by breakable bridges to the plate of its bαse and retaining lateral lugs placed on the peripheral edge of the cap. Such a service capsule is difficult to produce by molding under satisfactory economic conditions. US-A-405885 discloses a cap with a pivoting cap having a tear-off tab diametrically opposed to the hinge, which is part of the peripheral wall of the cap and extends into the peripheral wall of the base so that it integrates into a cylindrical envelope common to the base and the cap. The tongue, which is pulled by centrifugal radial traction is retained by an axial protuberance which is attached to the base plate and which is placed in such a way that it prohibits any possibility of providing at this point of the base the hollow zone called "Finger taking" that allows to accommodate the thumb or another finger when opening the capsule. With the system described in US 6405885, the fingertip can be placed only on the cap itself, which makes it difficult handling the cap when it opens or requires the creation of a high-rise cap (increase unnecessary volume and weight of the container, unattractive effect, etc.).

Other solutions have been proposed. European patent application EP 0986501 proposes a hinged capsule which is difficult to lock in rotation and provided with a tongue attached to the cap which has, relative to the periphery of the cap, a radial recess greater than its thickness, which poses great difficulties in molding. In US Patent 5 201 540, the cap is provided with a tongue which is located in the extension of its peripheral edge and whose free end is provided with a protrusion which comes, during the first closure, snap in a hole provided on the base, the tongue being provided with a fragile zone in the circumferential extension of the peripheral edge of the cap, it is sufficient "to push the tongue at this level to tilt, a second protrusion coming s snap into a second hole in the base. The tongue, once detached, tilted and held in this oblique position, acts as a finger grip. Here the housing offered to the thumb - or to any other finger - retains the convex shape of the cylindrical wall constituting the peripheral edge of the cap, which has the effect of making the fingertip uncomfortable for the user. The international patent application WO00 / 76875 has a detachable tab located so that it partly closes the hollow housing used as a finger grip and whose end opposite the cap is connected to a guarantee strip placed in the extension of the outer skirt, This tongue can be molded in one piece either with the cap or with the guarantee strip and thus has an end connected to the strip or the cap via a fragile zone. But the other end must necessarily be welded after the introduction of the tongue, which makes the manufacture of such a capsule very uneconomical. In addition, this capsule does not show tamper evidence.

When they provide a comfortable finger grip for the thumb, the foregoing solutions are difficult to perform under satisfactory economic conditions and, vice versa, when they allow industrial production in large series under satisfactory economic conditions, they provide finger taking hurtful or little appreciated by the user. That is why, in practice, the guarantee of inviolability has been correctly ensured until now only by the use of an overpack, for example a heat-shrink film which surrounds the outer skirt of the base and the minus the periphery of the cap of the hinged capsule. However, the heat shrunk film, once removed, leaves no trace so that the container does not have a tamper evident.

It is an object of the invention to provide easy-to-use swivel cap caps which are at least tamper-evident and which, if possible, can also fulfill a tamper-proof function, DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A first object according to the invention is a hinged capsule provided with a base and a pivoting cap attached to said base by means of a hinge, said base being provided with a plate provided with a hole distribution and an outer skirt, said cap being provided with a peripheral wall, said outer skirt having a hollow area for finger engagement, typically placed so that it is diametrically opposite to the hinge and opening on the periphery of the plate so that it is recessed radially from the peripheral wall of the cap, said pivoting cap being provided with a detachable tab which, in the closed position, covers at least partially, but preferably completely, said zone hollow and which, once detached, renders said hollow zone at least partially accessible, said outer skirt is also provided with a relief, projecting or recessed, which is adjacent to the ladi the hollow zone and which is at least partially covered by said tongue. Such relief, which is easily visible, since it is located near the fingertip, and which is fully revealed only after tearing of the tongue, acts as a burglary witness. Said detachable tongue is also extended, beyond said hollow zone, by a gripping protrusion.

The hinged capsule according to the invention has the conventional characteristics of a hinged capsule: it has a base provided with an orifice and a cap pivoting about an axis substantially orthogonal to the axis of the orifice. The base is provided with a plate, an outer skirt and fastening means on the container head, typically screwing means or snap-fastening means placed on an inner skirt intended to surround the neck of said container. Advantageously, these fixing means are completed by anti-rotation means such as those described in US Pat. No. 5,046,630 or US Pat. No. 5,560,505. The outer skirt has a hollow area that acts as a finger grip, that is to say that accommodates the thumb or any other finger to give it a non-injurious support when opening the cap, this area is typically placed substantially diametrically to the hinge and opens out on the periphery of the base plate so that it is radially recessed relative to the peripheral wall of the cap, which makes it easy to grip said cap with the thumb or another finger. In front of this hollow zone, the peripheral edge of the cap may itself have a protruding wall in the form of a cap or, preferably, an oblique overhanging wall, with a fairly steep average slope, typically 60 °, by relative to the plane of the plate, the free edge of said overhanging oblique wall coinciding with the edge of the hollow zone when the cap is in the closed position on the base. In the latter case, the oblique overhanging wall completes the hollow area to form an assembly which is in the form of a hollow housing which acts as a finger grip extending on either side of the border between the peripheral wall of the cap and the outer skirt of the base.

To open the cap according to the invention during the first use of the container, the user grasps the tongue and tears, which frees the hollow area that acts as a finger grip. The tongue is connected to the peripheral wall of the cap by a thinned area or, preferably, by breakable bridges "aligned", that is to say arranged, regularly or not, along a line segment or an arc of a circle. Preferably, the tongue, intended to cover the finger catch, is connected to the peripheral edge of the cap by a thinned area or an "alignment" of breakable bridges which extends in the tangential or circumferential direction, perpendicular to the axis of the cap.

Preferably, when the peripheral edge of the cap is provided with a protruding cap-shaped wall or an overhanging oblique wall completing the hollow finger-catching zone, the tongue is attached to the end of said cap. or at the top of said wall overlooking the peripheral edge. Such a location of the fastener makes it possible to preserve the conventional complementary means of closing the cap on the base, which are generally placed in such a way that they are diametrically opposite to the hinge, one on the inner wall of the fastener. peripheral edge of the cap, typically on the inner face of the oblique wall overhang, and the other on the outer wall of a sidewalk formed on the base plate.

Said tab does not actually block the cap in its closed position, but because it covers at least partially said hollow area, it makes the opening gesture difficult. Preferably, said tongue covers completely or almost completely the hollow zone. On the one hand, it protects the hollow area from dirt, pollution, dust deposits that may occur during manufacture and storage of the container provided with said capsule. On the other hand, the absence of relief that results makes it even more difficult or, at least more voluntary, the direct grip of the tongue for its removal. In this general version of the invention, the tongue does not fulfill a true function of guarantee of inviolability but, in practical terms, the prevention of the opening is quite effective, especially since in general the force necessary for the first opening is more important than after several openings. Associated with a slightly high effort of first opening, this tongue acts like a discrete signboard: it plays the role of a virtual obstacle which prohibits more psychologically than really the unauthorized access to the contents of the container. This role is associated with a product access limitation function that is more concisely defined by the English expression: "access denied".

The function "witness offense" is filled by a particular relief, projecting or recessed, which is placed on the outer skirt of the base and which is adjacent to the hollow zone. This relief, made at the time of molding of the capsule, indicates, by its only presence on the outer skirt of the capsule and close to but outside the fingertip, that said capsule is manufactured with a tab that prohibits the unauthorized access to the contents of the container. Function "tamper evidence" may be underlined by a specific decoration made - typically by printing or by molding - on a surface of the raised or protruding relief, substantially parallel to the outer skirt of the base. This function is even better fulfilled if said relief, or at least part of the decoration on said face of said relief, is revealed only when the tongue is removed. As the fingertip must be arranged so as to ensure the minimum risk of injury to the finger, said tamper indicator, whether protruding or recessed on the outer skirt of the base, is advantageously outside the housing hollow that acts as a fingertip but close enough to it to be easily seen by the user,

In all of the preferred embodiments of the invention, the tamper indicator is a hollow housing adjacent to the hollow area which acts as a finger grip and which is partially covered by the tongue so that its presence is not completely present. revealed only after removal of said tongue. In this way, the tongue should preferably extend beyond the hollow housing and cover, at least partially, said burglar. Reference can be made to the size and / or morphology of the fingers, in particular the thumb, index and middle finger, to determine whether or not the adjacent hollow housing belongs to the hollow area intended to receive the finger for him. ensure optimum comfort when opening the cap. In practice, the outer contour of the hollow housing - which serves as a burglary witness - must form a protrusion which is clearly detached from the outer contour of the hollow zone, the latter having in principle a convex shape whose planar projection is close a circle, an ellipse or an oval. Said protrusion must be visible but relatively narrow vis-à-vis the fingers. Typically, with the common dimensions of the service capsules, the hollow tamper-proof housing advantageously has a width at most equal to 10 mm and a length at least equal to 10 mm.

Preferably, the tongue is connected to the peripheral wall of the cap by means of breakable bridges whose number and section are defined by so that after rupture, the residual part still attached to the cap is not offensive. The capsule is generally polypropylene, there is no great difficulty in obtaining such bridges. In practice, for a capsule 48 mm in diameter and a finger grip that extends for about twenty millimeters at the top of the outer skirt of the base, the tongue can be connected to the cap by means of 5 bridges. section typically between 0.1 mm ² and 0.2 mm ² .

Outside this weakened attachment zone, the tab preferably has over the rest of its periphery a free edge, which, at least locally, must allow easy grasping of said tongue.

To make it easier to grasp the tongue to break it, it can be given a smaller extent than the finger grip, so that the finger or the fingernail can fit into the residual hollow, grasp the end of the tongue and, pulling outward, impose a flexion that tends to break the bridges. Preferably, the tongue is extended beyond the hollow area used as a finger grip by adding a gripping protrusion, so that the opening of the cap is done voluntarily using a means specifically for this purpose . Like the hollow housing adjacent to the hollow area used as finger grip, this protrusion advantageously has an outer contour which is clearly different from the outer contour of the tongue. Said protrusion gripping may protrude relative to said tongue (radial offset) or preferably be in the circumferential extension of the tongue with a radial recess as small as possible, typically less than one millimeter. It is also advantageous to associate said grasping protuberance and said tamper indicator located outside the finger grip: presented in the form of a hollow recess adjacent to the hollow zone acting as a finger grip (but distinct from it ), it can be covered at least partially by the protruding grip of the tongue without impose radial recess between said protrusion and said tongue.

Said grip protrusion may be located opposite the breakable zone of the tongue. It can be extended in the axial direction with a slight recess relative to the outer skirt of the base so as to offer a finger grip. By pulling the outgrowth outwardly, it imposes on the tongue a moment characterized by a vector perpendicular to the axis of the capsule which tends to break the bridges almost simultaneously.

Preferably, said gripping protrusion is placed on the side of the tongue and extends in the orthoradial - or lateral direction the envelope of the hinged capsule is not necessarily axisymmetric -. By pulling the end of the outgrowth outwardly, a moment is imposed characterized by a vector parallel to the axis of the capsule and which tends to easily break the bridges one after the other. The unbroken bridge closest to the outgrowth is subjected to a state of stress which is reflected substantially by a high shear which tends to break it. Bridges sections and distances between different bridges can be defined to modulate the force required to pull the tongue. For example, it is possible to adapt the section of the bridge closest to the end of the gripping protrusion to the target opening limit force because, because of the short length of the lever arm, this bridge requires, in section equal, the most important breaking effort. The section of each bridge, typically between 0.05 and 0.5 mm 2, preferably between 0.1 and 0.2 mm ² , is defined so that the force required to break it is between 0.25 and 2.5 daN, preferably between 0.5 and 1.5 daN.

Advantageously, this orthoradial outgrowth covers an equally orthoradial hollow, connected to the finger grip. In this way, the protrusion gripping is in the extension of the tongue or is projecting relative to said tongue with a very small radial recess. Its grip is facilitated thanks to the hollow housing that partially covers it. As indicated above, said hollow housing can also play the role of burglary witness,

This last version is advantageously made symmetrical: a protrusion of lateral grip is placed on each side of the tongue, which allows both right-handed and left-handed to easily break the tongue. Likewise, each grasping protrusion may at least partially cover a hollow housing adjacent to said hollow area used as a finger grip.

It is also possible to place the scored bridges aligned only between said gripping protrusions and the cap, which allows to have an intact finger grip, without breaking bridges, so without any risk of injuring the fingers of the user.

In a preferred variant of the invention, the "burglary-proof" function is advantageously completed by a tamper-proof function: the hollow housing which acts as a tamper-proof and the gripping protrusion are provided with complementary means that prevent the inadvertent opening of the cap. Typically, it is a radially projecting lug which, abutting against the upper edge of the gripping protrusion, prevents inadvertent opening movement of said cap. Indeed, in the absence of pin, the user can, without much hindrance and if the surface condition of the tongue gives it a sufficient coefficient of friction, open the cap by placing his finger on the tongue and imposing a substantially axial force towards said cap. Preferably, to promote locking of the cap, the lug protrudes radially in the upper part (near the cap) of the hollow housing acting as a tamper evidence and the upper edge of the grasping protrusion is provided a notch or notch which, once the end of the pin trapped in said notch, immobilizes the cap, axially upwards and circumferentially in the both directions. As in Example 4 below, a hinged capsule made of two plastics of different colors, one for the cap, the other for the base, advantageously emphasizes the presence of the inviolability system constituted by the ergot and grasping protrusion, the latter being of different colors,

It is obviously possible to combine the variants, for example to propose a hinged cap with a symmetrical tongue covering the hollow area used as a finger grip, lateral grip projections being placed on each side of the tongue and at least partially covering two adjacent hollow housings said hollow zone and disposed on each side thereof, each hollow housing and each protrusion gripping being provided with complementary means that prevent inadvertent opening of the cap.

The preferred methods of the invention, described in the examples below, also show the particular characteristics of a hinged capsule of the prior art, not provided with tamper evidence. In this hinge capsule of the prior art, the outer surface of the outer skirt of the base and the outer surface of the peripheral wall of the cap rest substantially on a common convex envelope surface, typically cylindrical. In other words, the cap has a plate intended to cover the plate of the base and a peripheral wall which is placed generally in the axial extension of the outer skirt of the base so that said peripheral wall and said outer skirt have external surfaces which rely on a common convex envelope surface, typically a circular or elliptical cylindrical surface which itself often takes the general external shape of the body of the container,

The fact of placing the peripheral edge and the outer skirt in the extension of one another responds in particular to an aesthetic concern, the closed capsule having on its surface no abrupt roughness and offering a whole appearance This uniformity, in harmony with the body of the container, is increased in general by the fact that the outer envelope surface of the capsule is also often in the extension of the container body, For this same aesthetic purpose, the peripheral edge of the cap has, above the hollow area, an oblique overhanging wall, instead of a protruding cap.

To respect this harmony, the preferred embodiments of the invention have a tongue whose outer surface also extends substantially on the common convex envelope surface of the outer skirt of the base and the peripheral edge of the cap. Advantageously, the tongue is attached to the cap by a series of breakable bridges which connect it to the top of the oblique overhanging wall. Indeed, the tongue can not be in the direct axial extension of the open end of the peripheral edge of the cap because the latter coming into abutment against a wall of the base, it would impose, with respect to said peripheral edge, a radial stall of the tab greater than the thickness of said peripheral edge and such a radial stall would be difficult to achieve by molding. In addition, it would put the tongue projecting radially relative to the common envelope of the outer skirt and the peripheral wall. In addition to the unsightly appearance discussed above such a tab would also have the disadvantage of increasing the size of the package and increase the risk of hooking the tube heads together during many manipulations of the tube with its hinged capsule needed before it is sold for sale on dispenser shelves (storage in cartons sent to packer, removal, placing on packaging lines, etc.),

The tab remains on the capsule as it has not been detached to release the hollow area acting finger grip. Once detached from the capsule, it disappears and is no longer part of the environment of the tube. It is advantageous to use this temporary component of the hinged capsule, which is attached to the tube only before first use, so during the entire period when the tube is offered for sale. In general, the tubes provided with such capsules are placed in the "stand up" position on the shelves, that is, upside down, while the decorations are printed on the skirt of the tube so that they can be read when the tube is head up by the user. The tongue, which is attached to the tube before the first use, can serve as a well-oriented information carrier for the consumer when moving in front of the linear: can be placed for example a logo or a well-oriented brand, that is, readable when the tube is presented upside down. This logo can be made by printing on the tongue or be molded in relief during the molding of the hinged capsule.

The hinged capsule according to the invention can be made by molding one or more plastics belonging more particularly to the group comprising polyolefins with, in particular, polypropylenes (PP) homopolymers and copolymers, high density polyethylenes (HDPE) linear polyethylenes, polyethylenes and metallocene-catalyzed polypropylenes, olefinic-based elastomers, as well as thermoplastic elastomers, olefinic-based alloys, cycloolefins and finally plant-based polymers such as polyhydroxyalkanoates.

The invention also relates to containers, such as flexible tubes, provided with hinged closures which are either hinged capsules according to the invention or closures made by molding in one piece with the container, having characteristics identical to those of the hinged capsule according to the invention, a portion of the outer wall of the container acting as the outer wall of the base of the capsule. FIGURES

Figure 1 illustrates, in perspective, an example of a tube head provided with a hinged capsule of the prior art, not provided with a burglar.

Figures 2a and 2b illustrate, in perspective (2a) and in section through a diametral plane (2b), a tube head provided with a first hinged capsule according to the invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates, in perspective, a tube head provided with a second hinged capsule according to the invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates, in perspective, a tube head provided with a third hinged capsule according to the invention,

FIG. 5 illustrates, in perspective, a tube head provided with a fourth hinged capsule according to the invention.

Figure ό illustrates, in perspective, a tube head provided with a fifth hinged capsule according to the invention.

Prior Art (Figure 1)

The tube head 100 shown in Figure 1 is connected to the end of a cylindrical skirt 110 and is covered by a hinge capsule 120 "conventional", not provided with a burglar, The hinged capsule 120 comprises a base 130 and a cap 140 attached to this base via a hinge not shown here because being in a position diametrically opposed to that of the finger grip 132, the base comprises an upper plate (hidden here by the cap) provided with a dispensing orifice, an outer skirt 131 which is substantially in the extension of the skirt 110 of the tube when the capsule is attached to the tube and elements of fixαtion intended to cooperate with corresponding means disposed on the head of the container or flexible tube.

The cap 140 is in general! provided with a plate 143 which covers the upper plate of the base 130 and a peripheral wall 141. The outer skirt 131 has an outer surface which rests on a circular cylindrical surface. In the closed position, the peripheral wall 141 is in the axial extension of the outer skirt 131 of the base 130. It is slightly frustoconical but with a very small opening angle of the cone, so that, apart from the finger grip 132, this peripheral wall 141 substantially rests on the casing cylinder of the outer skirt of the base. The cylinder enveloping the outer skirt of the base thus constitutes a convex hull surface common to said peripheral wall and to said outer skirt.

The outer skirt 131 has a hollow zone 132 placed substantially diametrically to the hinge and opening on the periphery of the plate so that it is radially recessed relative to the peripheral wall 141 of the cap. Facing the upper edge 133 of the outer skirt 131 of the base, and at the level of the fingertip 132, the peripheral wall of the cap 141 has an overhanging oblique edge 142 whose geometry is defined so that it completes the hollow zone 132 and thus facilitates the taking of the finger on the cap without risk of hurting said finger.

This pure form, without cap protruding from the cap, in harmony with the body of the container was created by the applicant, associated with the trademark CEBALCAP. With its substantially cylindrical walled (outwardly or inwardly), cylindrical wall with elliptical section, frustoconical wall (apex inward or outward of the tube), it is a great success . EXAMPLES

The service capsules presented in the following examples have, once the tab removed, a general appearance similar to that of FIG.

EXAMPLE 1 (FIGS. 2a and 2b)

The hinged capsule 220 of this example is provided with a base 230 and a pivoting cap 240 provided with a detachable tab 245 whose outer surface rests substantially on the cylindrical envelope surface common to the outer skirt 231 and to the peripheral wall 241 of the cap 240. In the closed position, the tongue 245 covers the hollow zone 232 of finger grip. Once the tongue torn off, said hollow area is fully accessible. The outer skirt 231 of the base 230 is also provided with a tamper indicator which is in the form of a hollow housing 234, located next to but outside the hollow zone 232 which acts as a finger grip.

The base 230 comprises a plate 233 provided with a dispensing orifice 260, an outer skirt 231 and a fixing skirt 238. The hinged capsule 220 is fixed on the neck 215 of the container head by snapping an annular groove. 236 which is driven by axial depression around the annular bead 216 formed on the neck 215. The annular groove is formed in the inner face of the fixing skirt 238.

The hollow zone 232 which acts as a finger grip is placed substantially diametrically to the hinge and opens on the periphery of the plate 233 of the base so that it is set back radially relative to the peripheral wall 241 of the cap, which makes it easy to take said cap by a finger. In front of this hollow zone, the peripheral edge of the cap has an oblique overhanging wall 242 whose free edge coincides with the edge of the hollow zone when the cap is in the closed position on the base. The tongue 245 is connected to the peripheral edge 241 of the cap 240 by means of breakable bridges 244 disposed along an arc of a circle, the "alignment" of the bridges 244 is perpendicular to the axis of the capsule. The tongue 245 is not in the direct extension of the peripheral edge 241 of the cap: it is attached to the top of the overhanging wall 242 of the peripheral edge. Such a location of the fastener makes it possible to preserve the complementary means of closing the cap on the base, placed one on the internal face of the peripheral edge of the cap, at the level of the oblique overhanging wall 242, and the another on the outer wall of the sidewalk 237 formed on the plate 233 of the base 230.

To open the cap, the user tears the tab 245 during the first use, which releases the hollow area 232 - which acts as a fingertip - and the hollow housing 234 adjacent thereto. The function "infraction indicator" is filled by the hollow housing 234 whose presence is completely revealed when the tab is removed.

The tongue 245 has an outer surface which rests on the cylindrical envelope common to the peripheral wall 241 and to the outer skirt 231 of the base. Apart from this the zone of attachment constituted by the bridges 244, the tongue 245 has a free edge over all the rest of its periphery. It is provided on the side with a gripping protrusion 247 which does not completely cover the hollow housing 234, which facilitates its grip in order to tear said tab. The grip protrusion 247 is substantially in the circumferential extension of the tongue 245, with a very small radial recess, less than one millimeter.

EXAMPLE 2 (FIG. 3)

The hinged capsule 320 of this example is provided with a cap 340. As in the previous example, the tongue 345 has a surface exteme which is based on the cylindrical envelope common to the peripheral wall 341 of the cap 340 and the outer skirt 331 of the base 330. The tongue 345 is provided on each side with a protrusion 347 and 347 ', each of these excrescences partially covering a hollow housing 334 and 334 '. In addition to its advantageous aesthetic appearance, such a configuration allows both right-handed and left-handed to easily grasp the tongue 345 and detach it from the cap 340.

EXAMPLE 3 (FIG. 4)

The hinged capsule 420 of this example is provided with a cap 440 to which is attached a tab 445 which is in a form identical to that of the previous example, that is to say with gripping protrusions 447 placed symmetrically on each side of the tongue, each of the growths partially covering a hollow housing 434 which also serves as a burglary witness. Here, the breakable bridges 449 are placed between the gripping protuberances and the cap, which allows to have an intact fingertip, without trace of bridge break, so without risk of hurting the finger of the user .

EXAMPLE 4 (FIG. 5)

The hinged capsule 520 shown in this example is provided with a tamper indicator 534 which is completely unveiled only after detachment of the tongue 545. This hinged capsule also fulfills a complete tamper-proof function. Indeed, the hollow housing 534 which plays the role of burglar witness is provided with a lug 535 and the grip protrusion 547 is provided with a notch 548. In general the hinged cap is molded in position "cap open "and, during the first closing of the cap on the base, the protrusion of gripping 547 is brought above the lug and is trapped by said lug, thus preventing pivoting of the cap in the opposite direction . To facilitate the passage of the gripping protrusion 547 above the lug 535 and its trapping at the end of closure of the cap by springback when its upper edge has passed said lug the top wall of the latter advantageously has in the upper part a gentle slope " going down "to the headdress.

Thus, to promote locking of the cap 540, the lug 535 protrudes from the hollow housing 534 acting as a tamper evidence and the upper edge of the grasping protrusion 546 is provided with a notch 548 which trap the end of the lug axially upwards and circumferentially in both directions. The hinged capsule 520 is injection molded with two plastics of different colors, which advantageously emphasizes the presence of the lug 535 and the gripping protrusion 547.

By detaching the tongue 545, the user releases the cap 540 which can pivot in the direction of the opening,

EXAMPLE 5 (FIG. 6)

The tube of this example is equipped with a service capsule similar to that of the previous example, provided with a tongue on which a decoration is printed. It is presented in "stand up" position, as it can be found on the shelves of stores. The hinged capsule 620 is thus with the cap at the bottom. The tongue 645 is attached to the tube only before the first use and can serve as a well-oriented information carrier for the consumer when moving in front of the linear: we can put for example a 650 logo oriented so that it can be read correctly when the tube is presented upside down. Once the tube purchased, the user grasps the tongue by the grasping protrusion 647 and pulls it to release the finger grip. Once the tab detached from the capsule, all sets printed on the tube, in particular those printed on the skirt, are oriented so that they can be read correctly when the tube is upside down.

Claims

Hinge capsule (220, 320, 420, 520) provided with a base (230) and a pivoting cap (240, 340, 440) attached to said base via a hinge, said base being provided with a plate (233) provided with a dispensing orifice (260) and an outer skirt (231, 331), said cap being provided with a peripheral wall (241, 341), said external skirt having a hollow zone (232) serving as a finger grip, typically positioned substantially diametrically to the hinge and opening on the periphery of the plate so that it is radially recessed with respect to said peripheral wall of the cap, said cap pivoting being provided with a detachable tongue (245, 345, 445, 545) which, in the closed position, at least partially covers said hollow zone and which, once detached, renders said hollow zone at least partially accessible, said external skirt being also provided with a relief (234, 334, 434, 534), in its or hollow, which is adjacent to said hollow zone and which is at least partially covered by said tongue, characterized in that said tongue is extended beyond said hollow zone (232) by a gripping protrusion (247, 347 , 447, 547).

2) Capsule hinge (220, 320, 420, 520) according to claim 1 characterized in that, when said pivoting cap (240, 340, 440) is in the closed position, said tongue (245, 345, 445, 545) detachable completely or almost completely covers said hollow area (232),

3) Capsule hinge (220, 320, 420, 520) according to claim 2 characterized in that said relief is a hollow housing adjacent to said hollow zone (232) which, before the first opening, is covered at least partially by said grasping protrusion of said tongue.

4) hinge capsule (220, 320, 420, 520) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein said tongue is connected to said wall peripheral of said cap by breakable bridges (244) arranged along a contour located at the periphery of the cap and which extends in the circumferential direction, perpendicular to the axis of the cap,

5) hinged capsule (220, 320, 420, 520) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein said peripheral edge of the cap is provided with a protruding wall in the form of a cap or a wall oblique (242) overhang which completes said hollow area used as a finger grip, and wherein the tongue is attached to the end of said cap or the top of said wall overhanging the peripheral edge.

6) hinge capsule (220, 320, 420, 520) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein said gripping protrusion is substantially in the circumferential extension of the tongue with a radial recess as low as possible, typically less than one millimeter.

The hinge capsule (320) according to claim 6, wherein a lateral grip protrusion (347, 347 ') is provided on each side of the tongue.

The hinge capsule (320) according to claim 7, wherein each grasping protrusion (347, 347 ') at least partially covers a hollow housing (434, 434') adjacent to said hollow finger engaging zone,

9) hinged capsule (420) according to claim 7 or 8, wherein said tongue is connected to said cap only by bridges (449) breakable between said gripping protrusions (447) and said cap (440).

The hinged capsule (520) according to any of claims 2 to 9, wherein said hollow housing (534) serves as a witness effrαction and said gripping protrusion (547) are provided with complementary means (535, 548) which prevent the inadvertent opening of the cap, typically a pin (535) projecting radially abutting against the upper edge of the grasping protrusion (545).

The hinged capsule (520) of claim 10 wherein the upper edge of the grasping protrusion (547) is provided with a notch (548) which, once the end of the pin (535) is trapped. in said notch, immobilizes the cap (540) axially upwards and circumferentially in both directions.

The hinged capsule (620) according to any of claims 1 to 11, wherein the outer surface of said outer skirt, the outer surface of said peripheral wall and the outer surface of said tongue substantially rest on a surface. common convex envelope, typically cylindrical.

13) hinge capsule (620) according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein said tongue (645) is provided with a decor (650) legible when the tube is presented upside down.

14), a container in particular for storing and dispensing a fluid, creamy or pasty material, typically belonging to the cosmetic, food, household, pharmaceutical or parapharmaceutical fields, characterized in that it is provided with a hinged capsule according to any one of claims 1 to 13 or a hinged closure molded integrally with the container and having the same characteristics as said hinged capsule, an outer wall of the container acting as said outer skirt of said base.