WO2012080766A1

WO2012080766A1 - Assembly for obturating a container

Info

Publication number: WO2012080766A1
Application number: PCT/IB2010/003282
Authority: WO
Inventors: Israel Komet
Original assignee: Elocap Ltd
Priority date: 2010-12-13
Filing date: 2010-12-13
Publication date: 2012-06-21

Abstract

An assembly (1) for obturating a container comprising a neck (2) including a threaded tubular portion (3) and a base (5) integral with the threaded portion (3) having an opening. The obturation assembly further comprises a cap (6) laid out so as to close the opening (13), and a stopper (7) including a threaded skirt (8) and a bottom wall (9). The cap (6) has at least one attachment ramp (15) including an attachment area. The bottom wall (9) has at least one retaining ramp (22) including a retaining area. Each attachment area and each retaining area are laid out so as to co-operate in order to attach the cap (6) to the stopper (7) and to displace the cap (6) upon unscrewing the stopper (7) between a first position in which the cap (6) closes the opening (13) and is at a distance from the bottom wall (9), and a second position in which the cap; (6) clears the opening (13) and is brought closer to the bottom wall (9).

Description

Assembly for obturating a container

The present invention relates to an assembly for obturating a container.

Upon conditioning a liquid in a container, such as a cardboard "brick" or a bottle, it is necessary to close this container. This closure or obturation, whether the contents are a food liquid, a domestic liquid or other liquid, should, by its air tightness, guarantee good maintenance over time of the contents while allowing the container to be opened easily. This guarantee and ease of opening may be obtained by using a container obturation assembly.

Such an assembly for food liquid containers generally assumes the form of a tubular threaded neck with a circular section having a base intended to be fixed on the container, and a threaded stopper, the threading of which mates the threading of the neck, a cap being arranged at the bottom of the neck in order to guarantee airtight closure of the container as well as its tamper-proof resistance. The cap should therefore be removed before any use of the contents.

In order to facilitate removal of the cap, provision of mating attachment means - on the cap and on the stopper are known, laid out so as to allow attachment of the cap on the stopper. Thus, with these attachment means, such as those described in document EP 1334041 , the cap may be removed simultaneously with the unscrewing of the stopper during the first opening of the container, the cap remaining attached to the stopper.

Nevertheless, if such attachment means generally allow removal of the cap during the first unscrewing of the stopper, in order to carry out the unscrewing, significant forces have to be applied for both unscrewing the stopper and removing the cap. Such forces sometimes cause decoupling of the attachment means which leave the cap in place while then preventing any pouring of the contents of the container.

The present invention aims at finding a remedy to this drawback.

One of the objects of the invention is therefore to provide an obturation assembly allowing removal of the cap simultaneously with the unscrewing of the stopper in an optimized application of forces on the cap in order to ensure clearing of the opening of the container by the cap.

For this purpose, the invention relates to an assembly for obturating a container comprising:

- a neck comprising an exteriorly threaded tubular portion, with a circular section, delimiting a fluid distribution conduit, and a base integral with the threaded portion and delimiting an opening defining access to the fluid dispensing conduit, the base being intended to be mounted on the wall of a container,

- a cap laid out so as to close the opening of the base,

- a stopper including an interiorly threaded tubular skirt, the threading of which is laid out so as to co-operate with the threading of the neck and a bottom wall obturating one of the ends of the skirt,

the cap having at least one attachment ramp including an attachment area, and the bottom wall of the stopper having at least one retaining ramp including a retaining area, each attachment area and each retaining area being laid out so as to co-operate in order to attach the cap to the stopper, and to displace the cap upon unscrewing of the stopper between a first position in which the cap closes the opening of the base and is at a distance from the bottom wall of the stopper, and a second position in which the cap clears the opening of the base and is brought closer to the bottom wall of the stopper.

By making ramps on the cap and on the stopper, respectively including an attachment area and a retaining area laid out in order to bring the cap closer to the bottom wall during the unscrewing of the stopper, it is possible to exert significant forces on the cap upon opening the stopper. Indeed, the cap is driven both by the movement of the stopper and by its movement bringing it closer to the bottom wall of the stopper, with which clearing of the opening of the base may be guaranteed.

Advantageously, the cap is bound to the base through frangible areas.

Such frangible areas allow optimized detachment of the cap from the base thereby facilitating removal of the cap upon unscrewing the stopper.

Preferentially, each attachment ramp extends from the cap towards the bottom wall of the stopper, each attachment ramp having at the end opposite to the cap, a return forming the attachment area.

Such a return of the attachment ramp allows optimized attachment on the stopper, this attachment may be achieved over the whole length of the return. Advantageously, each retaining ramp extends from the bottom wall of the stopper towards the cap, each retaining ramp having at the end opposite to the bottom wall of the stopper a return forming the retaining area.

Such a return of each retaining ramp allows co-operation with the return of the attachment ramp in order to retain the cap to the stopper during its unscrewing. Advantageously, each attachment ramp has a base integral with the cap, the base of each attachment ramp extending along a circular portion, the centre of which coincides with the axis of the threaded portion of the neck, and each retaining ramp having a base integral with the bottom wall of the stopper, the base of each retaining ramp extending along a circular portion, the centre of which coincides with the axis of the threaded skirt of the stopper.

Preferentially, the cap has two symmetrical attachment ramps with respect to the axis of the threaded portion of the neck, and the bottom wall of the stopper has two symmetrical retaining ramps with respect to the axis of the threaded skirt of the stopper.

The fact that the cap has two symmetrical attachment ramps combined with the fact that the stopper has two symmetrical retaining ramps allows removal of the balanced and symmetrical cap thereby limiting the risks of a cap still being partly attached to the base.

Advantageously, each attachment ramp has a tilted slope from the bottom wall of the stopper towards the cap in the direction of unscrewing of the stopper and each retaining ramp has a tilted slope from the bottom wall of the stopper towards the cap in the direction of unscrewing of the stopper.

Such tilts of each attachment ramp and of each retaining ramp enable displacement of the cap towards the bottom wall during the unscrewing of the stopper.

Advantageously, each attachment ramp and each retaining ramp comprise a blocking means laid out for blocking in position the cap in the second position. Such blocking means allow blocking of the cap on the stopper after unscrewing the stopper thereby avoiding any risk of the cap falling into the container upon screwing the stopper back on again.

Preferentially, each attachment ramp has a rib, each retaining ramp having a rib laid out so as to co-operate with the rib of an attachment ramp so as to form the blocking means with the rib of the corresponding attachment rib.

Such ribs give the possibility of providing means for blocking the cap on the stopper, with a simple and robust design.

Advantageously, the obturation assembly is intended to be fastened onto the container by a welding operation preferably by ultrasound.

Such a welding operation for a container made in cardboard coated with synthetic material such as polyethylene allows robust and low cost fastening of the obturating assembly onto the container. Anyhow, the invention will be better understood by means of the description which follows, with reference to the appended schematic drawing illustrating as a non-limiting example, an embodiment of this assembly for obturating a container.

Fig. 1 is a sectional view of a container obturation assembly;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the neck and of the cap;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view thereof;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the stopper;

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view thereof.

Fig. 1 illustrates a container obturation assembly 1 (not illustrated) intended to equip a wall (not illustrated) of a container, such as a cardboard container coated with synthetic material.

Such an obturation assembly 1 includes:

- a neck 2 comprising a threaded portion 3, delimiting a fluid dispensing conduit 4 and a base 5,

- a cap 6 bound to the base 5.

- a stopper 7 including a threaded skirt 8 and a bottom wall 9 obturating one of the ends 10 of the threaded skirt 8.

The threaded portion 3 has a general tubular shape with a circular section. The threaded portion 3 comprises an internal wall 11 delimiting the distribution conduit 4 and an external wall 12 having the threading. The threaded portion 3 is integral with the base 5.

The base 5 is planar with a general circular shape and has an opening 13 defining an access to the fluid distribution conduit 4. The base 5 is intended to be mounted on the wall of a container at a flow orifice (not illustrated) made in the latter. The opening 13 is in communication with this orifice. The mounting of the base 5 on the wall is achieved during a welding operation with ultrasound. The cap 6 is laid out so as to close the opening 13, the cap 6 is bound to the base 5 by frangible areas 14.

The cap 6 as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3 has two attachment ramps 15. Each attachment ramp 15 extends from a base 16 integral with the cap 6 in the direction of the bottom wall 9. The base 16 of each attachment ramp 15 extends along a quarter circle, the centre of which coincides with the axis of the threaded portion 3.

Each attachment ramp 15 has a tilted slope from the bottom wall 9 towards the cap 6 in the direction of the unscrewing of the stopper 7. Each attachment ramp 15 has at its end opposite to the cap a return 17 in the direction of the axis of the threaded portion 3 providing it with a generally C-shaped section. The return 17 of each attachment ramp 15 forms an attachment area of each attachment ramp 15.

Each attachment ramp 15 has a rib, not shown.

The threaded skirt 8 of the stopper 7 has a general tubular shape of circular section. The threaded skirt 8 comprises an internal wall 18 in the direction of the axis of the threaded skirt 8 and an external wall 18 opposite to the internal wall 18. The internal wall 18 has a threading which mates the threading of the threaded portion 3. The external wall 19 has ribs 20 parallel to each other and parallel to the axis of the threaded skirt 8.

The external wall 19 has attachment points 21 on the base 5 in order to form a hard point partly hindering the opening of the stopper 7.

The bottom wall 9 as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4, has two retaining ramps 22. Each retaining ramp 22 extends from a base 23 integral with the bottom wall 9 in the direction of the cap 6. The base 23 of each retaining ramp 22 extends along a quarter circle, the centre of which coincides with the axis of the threaded skirt 8.

Each retaining ramp 22 has a tilted slope from the bottom wall 9 towards the cap 6 in the direction of unscrewing of the stopper 7.

Each retaining ramp 22 has at its end opposite to the bottom wall 9 a return 24 in the direction of the internal wall 17 of the threaded skirt 8 providing it with a generally C-shaped section. The return 24 of each retaining ramp 22 forms a retaining area of each retaining ramp 22.

The retaining ramps 22 have a rib, not shown, laid out so as to co-operate with the rib of an attachment ramp 15 in order to block the cap 6 in position on the stopper 7 when the cap 6 is brought closer to the bottom wall 9. The ribs of the attachment ramps 15 and of the retaining ramps 22 form means for blocking the cap 6 on the stopper 7.

During use, the obturation assembly 1 is fastened, by the base 5 of the neck 2 on the wall of the container, the opening 13 being in communication with the flow orifice of the wall of the container. The stopper 7 is screwed onto the neck 2 and the cap 6 closes the opening 13.

During first unscrewing of the stopper 7, the retaining ramps 22 are displaced with the stopper 7 relatively to the neck 2 and have a simultaneous rotational and translational movement. During this movement, the return 24 of each retaining ramp 22 is engaged with the return 1 7 of the corresponding attachment ramp 15.

The movement of rotation of the retaining ramps 22, in combination with the complementary tilt of each retaining ramp 22 and of each attachment ramp 15, displaces the cap 6 towards the bottom wall 9 of the stopper 7. The result of this movement, added to the displacement of the stopper 7 relatively to the neck 2, is breakage of the frangible areas 14. The cap 6 is then displaced towards the bottom wall 9 of the stopper 7 and clears the opening 13 of the base 5. The cap 6, when it arrives in a position brought closer to the bottom wall 9 of the stopper 7, is blocked in position by the ribs of the attachment ramps 22 and of the retaining ramps 15.

The stopper 7 and the cap 6 which is attached to it, are withdrawn from the neck 2 in order to clear the dispensing conduit 4. The contents may then be poured out for immediate or subsequent consumption.

After pouring a portion of the contents, the neck 2 may be closed so that the non-poured contents are better kept.

As a matter of course, the invention is not limited to the only embodiment of this container obturation assembly, described above as an example, on the contrary, it encompasses all the alternative embodiments. Notably it is in this way that the obturation assembly may be fastened onto the container by means other than welding with ultrasound, if the container is made in material other than cardboard coated with synthetic material.

Claims

1. An assembly (10 for obturating a container comprising :

a neck (2) comprising an exteriorly threaded tubular portion (3) with a circular section, delimiting a fluid dispensing conduit (4), and a base (5) integral with the threaded portion (3) and delimiting an opening (13) defining an access to the fluid dispensing conduit (4), the base (5) being intended to be mounted on a wall of a container,

a cap (6) laid out in order to close the opening (13) of the base (5).

- a stopper (7) including an interiorly threaded tubular skirt (8), the threading of which is laid out so as to co-operate with the threading of the neck and a bottom wall (9) obturating one of the ends (10) of the threaded skirt (8), the obturation assembly (1 ) being characterized in that the cap (6) has at least one attachment ramp (15) including an attachment area, and in that the bottom wall (9) of the stopper (7) has at least one retaining ramp (22) including a retaining area, each attachment area and each retaining area being laid out so as to co-operate in order to attach the cap (6) to the stopper (7) and to displace the cap (6) upon unscrewing the stopper (7) between a first position in which the cap (6) closes the opening (13) of the base (5) and is at a distance from the bottom wall (9) and the stopper (7), and a second position in which the cap (6) clears the opening (13) of the base (5) and is brought closer to the bottom wall (9) of the stopper (7).

2. The obturation assembly (1 ) according to claim 1 , characterized in that the cap (6) is bound to the base (5) of the neck (2) through frangible areas (14).

3. The obturation assembly (1 ) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that each attachment ramp (15) extends from the cap (6) towards the bottom wall (9) of the stopper (7), each attachment ramp (22) having at the end opposite to the cap (6) a return (17) forming the attachment area.

4. The obturation assembly (1 ) according to claim 3, characterized in that each retaining ramp (22) extends from the bottom wall (9) of the stopper (7) towards the cap (6), each retaining ramp (22) having at the end opposite to the bottom wall (9) of the stopper (7) a return (24) forming the retaining area.

5. The obturation assembly (1 ) according to any of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that each attachment ramp (15) has a base (16) integral with the cap (6), the base (16) of each attachment ramp (15) extending along a circular portion, the centre of which coincides with the axis of the threaded portion (3) of the neck (2), and in that each retaining ramp (22) has a base (23) integral with the bottom wall (9) of the stopper (7), the base (23) of each retaining ramp (22) extending along a circular portion, the centre of which coincides with the axis of the threaded skirt (8) of the stopper (7).

6. The obturation assembly (1 ) according to claim 5, characterized in that the cap (6) has two symmetrical attachment ramps (15) with respect to the axis of the threaded portion (3) of the neck (2), and in that the bottom wall (9) of the stopper (7) has two symmetrical retaining ramps (22) with respect to the axis of the threaded skirt (8) of the stopper (7).

7. The obturation assembly (1 ) according to claims 6, characterized in that each attachment ramp (15) has a tilted slope from the bottom wall (9) of the stopper (7) towards the cap (6) in the direction of unscrewing of the stopper (7) and in that each retaining ramp (22) has a tilted slope from the bottom wall (9) of the stopper (7) towards the cap (6) in the direction of unscrewing of the stopper (7).

8. The obturation assembly (1) according to any of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that each attachment ramp (15) and each retaining ramp (22) comprise blocking means laid out for blocking in position the cap (6) in the second position.

9. The obturation assembly (1 ) according to claim 8, characterized in that each attachment ramp (15) has a rib, each retaining ramp (22) having a rib laid out so as to co-operate with the rib of an attachment ramp (15) so as to form the blocking means with the rib of the corresponding attachment ramp.

10. The obturation assembly (1 ) according to any of claims 1 to 9 characterized in that the obturation assembly (1 ) is intended to be fastened on the container by a welding operation preferably with ultrasound.