WO2010046566A1

WO2010046566A1 - Cap with sliding stopper

Info

Publication number: WO2010046566A1
Application number: PCT/FR2009/001235
Authority: WO
Inventors: Dominique-Paul Vallee; Philippe Nusbaum
Original assignee: Bericap
Priority date: 2008-10-24
Filing date: 2009-10-22
Publication date: 2010-04-29
Also published as: FR2937624B1; FR2937624A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a cap to be secured on the neck of a container for liquids, said cap including: a spout with a means for connection to the neck and having a tubular projection (1) above it that defines a reference axis for the cap, the tubular projection having a free open end with a tubular wall (11); and a tubular stopper covering the free end of the spout on the outside thereof, the stopper being mobile in axial translation relative to the spout between a blocked position and an open position enabling the flow of liquid, the stopper (2) including a bottom (3) extending perpendicularly to the reference axis, with an inner annular elastic lip (5) interacting in the blocked position with the tubular wall (11) of the tubular projection (1) so as to form an annular seal. According to the invention, the bottom includes a plurality of holes flaring towards the outside of the cap and arranged radially outside the annular lip (5).

Description

CAP WITH SLIDING SHUTTER

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a cap to be fixed by hooking on a container neck, in particular on a bottle neck containing a liquid, particularly drinks. This type of plug allows easy closure and opening on the part of the user.

STATE OF THE PRIOR ART

This type of caps generally comprises three main elements namely a main body which is screwed on the neck of the bottle, a closure member and a protective cover. Functionally, it is for the user to be able to move from a state (open for example) to another state (closed for example) in a simple manner, by intervention of the mouth or one hand, with moreover a controlled flow of the liquid. Athletes in particular find here an interest in that they can drink while continuing their physical activity. Young children can favorably use containers equipped with such caps because their handling is very easy and the flow of liquid is controlled.

EP 1 065 150 A1 discloses a cap of the type described above wherein the main body comprises a cylindrical projection coaxial with a central opening; the cylindrical projection is covered over most of its height with a shutter element comprising two coaxial cylinders and a flow control means disposed on the axis of the stopper and provided with orifices for the passage of the liquid. The outer cylindrical wall of the projection comprises two annular protuberances which cooperate with an inner flange of the outer cylinder of the closure member; and the shutter member which is movable in translation vis-à-vis the projection, can take the two conventional positions of opening and closing for the passage of the liquid. It is easily understood that on the one hand the user must exert a certain traction to open the shutter element because it must then overcome the force exerted on the abutment of one of the protuberances, and once this force is overcome, the shutter element can slide freely until it reaches the protrusion distal to the projection which serves as a stop. limit switch for the shutter. Such a device has several disadvantages: first the user must exert a significant force at the opening; this peak early in the race is not welcome especially when we know that the main advantage and expected of this type of cap is easy opening.

We also know the application WO 2006/053845 wherein the cylindrical projection comprises an outer wall of smaller section over a portion of its height which corresponds to the stroke of the closure member. Indeed in this area an inner flange of the shutter is in contact with the outer wall of the projection. In addition this plug has both a central passage and openings arranged in a circle for the liquid. The passage section is therefore quite important so that the thrust of the liquid on the walls of the shutter, possibly associated with excessive traction of the user may dissociate the shutter vis-à-vis the main body cork; Unexpected and unexpected projection of liquid out of the bottle follows.

WO 2006/094415 shows a plug which differs from that previously described essentially by the profile of the outer wall of the projection: a coarse thread is provided according to this document, so that it is a rotation of the shutter element vis-à-vis the main body of the plug which allows to change the state of the plug. We do not meet here the main problem mentioned above, namely the unexpected and uncontrolled opening of the plug, but rather that of the difficulty in maneuvering a portion of said plug.

The prior art further comprises US Pat. No. 3,439,842 which discloses a cap provided with a tubular projection whose free end has a single central opening of variable section, as well as pins that protrude therethrough. The shutter that covers this projection presents conjugated forms complex enough to ensure either the seal or the passage of the liquid. Such an embodiment has various disadvantages: the complex shape of its elements increases the cost; furthermore, certain parts, in particular the pins, may be fragile in view of their shape, so that the seal is not guaranteed. Similarly, the complex shapes that cooperate must be particularly well adjusted to ensure a good seal, resulting in tight manufacturing tolerances that have a cost too.

Figure 1 illustrates a portion of a plug designed by the applicant which comprises a tubular projection 1 whose free end comprises an annular wall 10 which cooperates with a portion of a coaxial cylindrical shutter 2 which externally covers the projection tubular 1. The shutter 2 is movable in translation along the axis of the plug between a closed position and an open position which is that illustrated in Figure 1. In this position, the liquid can flow through a space between the free end 10 and the bottom 3 of the shutter 2, in particular through holes 4 formed in the bottom 3. However, this solution is not entirely satisfactory, particularly because of the liquid projections generated during the movement of closure of the cork in certain circumstances; before the closure of the cap, liquid tends to be retained in the space between the two elements, at the locations marked as drops in Figure 1. During closure of the cap, when the shutter 2 is close to the end 10, liquid is suddenly expelled to the outside of the cap and causes splashing; this effect says "geyser" is particularly unpleasant for the user.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention aims to overcome the drawbacks of the state of the art and in particular to provide a plug of simple design so inexpensive, whose reliability and robustness are almost perfect. It is particularly sought to avoid the "geyser" effect stated above.

To do this is proposed according to a first aspect of the invention a cap to be fixed on a container neck for liquid, comprising: - A pourer provided with a connecting means with the neck surmounted by a tubular projection defining a reference axis of the plug, the tubular projection having an open free end provided with a tubular wall,

- A tubular obturator externally covering the free end of the pourer, the shutter being movable in axial translation vis-à-vis the pourer between a closed position and an open position allowing the passage of liquid, the shutter comprising a bottom s' extending perpendicularly to the reference axis, an elastic inner annular lip which cooperates in a closed position with the tubular wall of the tubular projection to form an annular seal, the bottom being traversed by several flared holes towards the outside of the cap and arranged ( s) radially outside the annular lip.

The holes, distributed at the periphery of the shutter, allow the outlet of the liquid in the open position. The specific shape of the holes makes it possible to avoid or in any case significantly reduce the splashing during closing because the velocity of the liquid, according to Bernouilli's law, decreases as the cross-section increases, from the base of the or holes to the outside.

In addition, in comparison with a bottom provided with cylindrical wall holes, the contact surface with the liquid is larger so that the surface tension is greater, thus retaining the liquid on the surface. This creates a kind of brake fluid flow.

The holes each have a minimum area section O ₁ facing the pourer and a maximum area section Φ ₂ facing outwards, preferably satisfying:

1.40 ≤ ^ - ≤ 9 and preferably:

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the bottom wall has at least three holes, and preferably five to nine holes arranged in a circle around the reference axis.

More specifically, each of the holes has a generally frustoconical shape with a small base diameter of between 2 and 3 mm, a large diameter base between 1, 2 and 2 times the small diameter and a height between 0.5 and 1.5 mm.

[0015] Advantageously, the holes form a sharp edge on the side of the pourer. This sharp edge tends to counteract the effects of the surface tension of the liquid, facilitating its return to the container when closing the cap.

According to one embodiment, the tubular wall of the pourer has a flared zone, which on the one hand promotes the axial guidance of the shutter during closure, and on the other hand is dimensioned so as to promote the return liquid to the container during closure, thus limiting the amount of liquid trapped between pourer and shutter, and thus the untimely projections of liquid. According to one variant, this flared zone has grooves oriented parallel to the reference axis, to constitute preferred flow paths for the liquid during closure of the plug. It should be noted that this type of flared zone and grooves can also be used with a spout with cylindrical holes.

Furthermore, the free end of the tubular projection has an annular or substantially annular distal wall perpendicular to the reference axis of the plug, which in the closed position, obstructs the holes of the shutter. According to one embodiment of the invention, the tubular wall is turned radially inwards, the shutter having an annular skirt projecting inside the tubular projection from the transverse wall, the skirt annular forming the lip and having an annular protuberance turned radially outwardly, in contact with the tubular wall. According to a variant, the annular skirt has grooves oriented parallel to the reference axis, to constitute preferred flow paths of the liquid to the container during closure of the cap. This limits the amount of liquid trapped between the shutter and the pourer during closing.

It should be noted that this type of grooves can also be used with a spout with cylindrical holes. In fact, according to another embodiment of the invention, it relates to a plug whose bottom is traversed by one or more holes arranged radially outside the annular lip, the tubular wall being rotated. radially inwardly, the obturator having an annular skirt protruding inside the tubular projection from the transverse wall, the annular skirt forming the lip and having an annular protuberance turned radially outwards, in contact with the tubular wall, the annular skirt having grooves oriented parallel to the reference axis and distributed circumferentially around the reference axis. The holes of the shutter are preferably arranged each opposite one of the grooves of the annular skirt.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the tubular wall is turned radially outwards, the shutter having an annular skirt projecting from the transverse wall to the main body to surround the projection tubular, the annular skirt forming the lip and having an annular protuberance rotated radially inward in contact with the tubular wall.

Preferably, the bottom of the shutter comprises at least three holes of the same size. When the stopper is open and the user drinks, this results in several simultaneous jets of liquid, which results in oxygenation. and a higher jet speed, than what would be obtained with a single jet from a single hole having for section the sum of the sections of the holes of the shutter according to the invention.

The invention further provides a closure assembly comprising a container neck provided externally reversible connection means with a cap as described.

Without departing from the scope of the invention, the assembly may further comprise a cap removably attached to the cap.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Other features, details and advantages of the invention will emerge on reading the description which follows, with reference to the appended figures, which illustrate:

Figure 1, a partial sectional view of a cap according to the prior art already commented; Figure 2 is a sectional view of a plug according to one embodiment of the invention; and FIGS. 3A, 3B, 3C are views in partial longitudinal section of a plug according to the invention, in three different positions; - Figure 4 shows a detail in partial section of a plug according to a second embodiment of the invention.

For clarity, identical or similar elements are identified by identical reference signs throughout the figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT

As shown in Figure 2, the cap according to the invention consists of a pourer 100 to be mounted, for example by screwing or snapping on the neck of a container, a movable shutter 2 and a hood 200. The pourer 100 is provided with a tubular projection 1 defining a reference axis X of the plug and whose free distal end forms an outer annular wall 10 and an inner wall 11, connected to the outer wall 10 by a zone junction flare 110.

The shutter 2 has an outer tubular skirt 20 covering the outer annular wall 10 of the pourer and closed by a discoidal bottom 3. On the opposite side to the pourer, the shutter 2 is provided with an end flange 7 of frustoconical general shape flaring from the disc bottom towards its free end. An inner skirt 5 sealing protrudes from the bottom 3 to the pourer. The discoidal bottom 3 is further provided, according to this embodiment of the invention, with a plurality of holes 4 distributed at its periphery and passing through the bottom 3 in its portion situated radially between the outer skirt 20 and the inner skirt 5. The skirt 5 is shaped so as to come, in the closed position of Figure 2, in contact with the inner wall 11, to form an elastic seal, the opening defined by the inner wall 11 is then closed by the central portion discoidal background 3.

In the exemplary embodiment, the inner wall 11 is essentially cylindrical, with demolding angles close. Without departing from the scope of the invention, the wall 11 may have a slightly variable section and the lip 5 then has a section variation in the same direction, adapted.

According to the invention, the inner wall 40 of the holes 4 is in the form of a truncated cone, flared outwardly. The smallest section O ₁ of the holes 4 is towards the interior volume of the plug, while their largest section Φ ₂ is located on the outside. The section area report is such that:

l, 40 ≤ ^. ≤ 9

and preferably as

2 _≤ ^ _≤ 6 Φ, In any case, the taper of the holes is substantially greater than the draft angle that could be recommended only to promote the release of the shutter. In practice, the angle is preferably chosen between 30 ° and 60 °. The smallest diameter D1 of each hole being of the order of 1, 5 mm to 3 mm, the section O ₁ is of the order of 1.75 mm ² to 7 mm ² . The height H of the holes is in turn defined by the thickness of the bottom 3, and of the order of 0.4 mm to 2 mm, preferably close to 1 mm.

Without departing from the scope of the invention, the section of the holes 4 could be not circular but oval for example, with the characteristic of increasing section towards the outside of the plug. In the exemplary embodiment, five holes 4 are provided, regularly distributed along a peripheral circle of the bottom 3. Naturally, the number of holes may be smaller or greater, even or odd, and especially equal to 3, 8 or 9.

The flared shape of the holes 4 significantly reduces splashing when the shutter passes from the open position of Figure 3C to the intermediate position of Figure 3B by trapping the liquid contained between the inner skirt 5 and outer 20 of the shutter. The flared shape creates a decrease in liquid velocity from the base of the holes to the larger section end.

FIG. 2 also shows that the junction turned radially inwards between the base of the holes 4 and the inner wall of the shutter 2 has a cusp line, which forms a circular sharp edge 8 which tends to avoid the holding a drop of liquid at this spot.

It is furthermore visible in FIG. 2 and FIGS. 3A to 3C that a junction zone 110 oriented radially towards the inside of the plug is provided between the annular wall 10 and the inner tubular wall 11. This zone junction 110 has a particular profile, here a double chamfer, or double slope. This profile facilitates the return, towards the inside of the tubular projection 1 of the pourer 100, of the liquid located between the inner and outer skirts 5 of the shutter 2 to when the closure of the cap, during the transition from the open position of Figure 3C to the intermediate position of Figure 3B.

In addition, the conjugate profiles of an annular protuberance 6 provided at the outer distal end of the inner skirt 5, and the chamfered area 110 ensure good guidance and good sealing of the cap in the closed position.

According to another embodiment of the invention not shown, the tubular wall 11 may be rotated radially outwardly and the shutter then comprises an annular skirt which surrounds the wall; the annular skirt has a lip which starts from the bottom and surrounds the annular wall in the closed position, with a distal annular protrusion turned radially inwards, in contact with the tubular wall in the closed position. In the open position, the liquid passes through the tubular wall 11, then flows annularly between the tubular wall 11 and the wall of the shutter 2, before opening through the orifices 40.

According to yet another embodiment, illustrated in Figure 4, it is further possible to provide, for the end of the lip 5, a corrugated profile to further promote the "bottle return". The splines 55 have the effect of extending the flow of liquid from the space delimited by the inner and outer skirts 20 towards the inside of the protuberance 1 and towards the inside of the container, during the passage of the position of opening to the closed position, the liquid being progressively pushed by the piston movement of the shutter. Naturally, the grooves are formed so as not to penalize the sealing of the lip 5. Preferably, they are located each hole 4 is located opposite at least one groove 55.

According to another variant not shown, splines may be formed on the flared portion 110 of the junction between the inner wall 11 and the outer wall of the spout 100. These splines, extending axially, are channels also promoting the return of the liquid to the container during closure of the cap.

The present invention is also very simple implementation; the shapes of the different parts minimize their wear.

The invention further provides a closure assembly comprising in particular a container neck provided externally with a reversible connection means with a cap as described above. The neck can be threaded and cooperate in this way with the main body of said cap. Any other means of reversible connection (such as hanging flange ...) or irreversible can be provided without departing from the scope of the invention.

Furthermore, a means such as a tamperproof ring may advantageously be provided between the neck and the cap to ensure the user the lack of prior use of the cap. This ring, known in itself, can be disposed in the extension of the proximal portion of the main body of the cap, and be connected by breakable bridges regularly spaced apart and separated from each other by incisions. The ring may further be provided with a retaining protuberance which interferes with a collar provided on the neck of the container to retain the ring once detached from the main body of the cap.

In addition a protective cover may be provided to protect and cap the cap, specifically the projection of said cap. The hood can take different forms adapted to the external shape of the projection. It is reversibly connected to the plug by any means known per se which will not be further described.

Claims

1. A cap to be fixed on a liquid container neck, comprising: - a spout provided with a means of connection with the neck surmounted by a tubular projection (1) defining a reference axis (X) of the cap, the projection tubular having an open free end provided with a tubular wall (11),

a tubular obturator externally covering the free end of the pourer, the shutter being movable in axial translation with respect to the pourer between a closed position and an open position allowing the passage of the liquid, the shutter (2) comprising a bottom (3) extending perpendicularly to the reference axis, an elastic inner annular lip (5) cooperating in a closed position with the tubular wall (11) of the tubular projection (1) to form an annular seal, characterized in that the bottom is traversed by several flared holes towards the outside of the cap and arranged radially outside the annular lip (5).

2. Stopper according to claim 1, characterized in that the holes each have a minimum area section O ₁ facing the pourer and a maximum area section Φ ₂ facing outwards, verifying:

l, 4 ≤ - ^ - ≤ 9

Φ, and preferably:

Φ.

3. Stopper according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the holes (4) each have a generally frustoconical shape with a small base diameter of between 2 and 3 mm, a large base diameter between 1, 2 and 2 small diameter and a height between 0.5 and 1.5 mm.

4. Stopper according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the holes have a sharp edge (8) on the side of the spout.

5. Stopper according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the tubular wall (11) is rotated radially inwards, the shutter having an annular skirt projecting inside the tubular projection from the transverse wall, the annular skirt forming the lip (5) and having an annular protuberance (6) rotated radially outwards, in contact with the tubular wall (11).

6. Stopper according to claim 5, characterized in that the annular skirt has splines (55) oriented parallel to the reference axis and distributed circumferentially around the reference axis.

7. Stopper according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the tubular wall is rotated radially outwardly, the shutter having an annular skirt protruding from the transverse wall to the main body to surround the tubular projection, the annular skirt forming the lip (5) and having an annular protuberance (6) rotated radially inward in contact with the tubular wall (11).

8. Stopper according to the preamble of claim 1, characterized in that the bottom is traversed by one or more holes arranged radially outside the annular lip (5), the tubular wall (11) being rotated radially towards the inside, the shutter having an annular skirt projecting inside the tubular projection from the transverse wall, the annular skirt forming the lip (5) and having an annular protuberance (6) rotated radially outwardly, in contact with the tubular wall (11), the annular skirt having splines (55) oriented parallel to the reference axis and distributed circumferentially around the reference axis.

9. Stopper according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the tubular wall (11) of the pourer has a flared zone.

10. Stopper according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the flared zone (110) has grooves oriented parallel to the reference axis.

11. Stopper according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the free end of the tubular projection (1) has a wall (10) distal annular or substantially annular perpendicular to the reference axis of the plug, which in closed position obstructs the holes (4) of the shutter (2).

12. Stopper according to any one of the preceding claims characterized in that the bottom (3) of the shutter comprises at least three holes (4) of the same dimensions.

13. Stopper according to any one of claims 6 or 8, characterized in that the holes of the shutter are each disposed opposite one of the grooves (55) of the annular skirt.

14. A closure assembly comprising a container neck provided externally with reversible connection means with a cap according to any one of the preceding claims.