WO2020259954A1

WO2020259954A1 - Dispensing head provided with at least one orifice disposed between two skirts

Info

Publication number: WO2020259954A1
Application number: PCT/EP2020/064998
Authority: WO
Inventors: Maxim STIMPFLING
Original assignee: L'oreal
Priority date: 2019-06-26
Filing date: 2020-05-29
Publication date: 2020-12-30
Also published as: FR3097845A1

Abstract

The subject of the invention is a closing system (1) for a container (30), of longitudinal axis (X),having a threaded neck (11), a dispensing cap (20), having at least one dispensing orifice (23), a mechanism for locking the dispensing cap (20) in position in the use position, the dispensing orifice (23) being disposed in the transverse wall of the cap (20) between a first internal skirt (22) and a second internal skirt (24).

Description

DISPENSING HEAD PROVIDED WITH AT LEAST ONE ORIFICE DISPOSED

BETWEEN TWO SKIRTS

[0001] The present invention relates to a dispensing head having a cap screwed onto a neck. The

invention relates more particularly, but not exclusively, to closing systems intended for packaging and dispensing haircare compositions, in particular care or hygiene compositions.

[0002] Certain, in particular liquid, cosmetic composition compositions, are provided in containers provided with a dispensing head provided with orifices.

[0003] FR2619084 describes a container having a lid mounted in a rotatable manner on a container neck. The lid is provided with a spout and comprises a sleeve cooperating in a sealed manner with the internal wall of the neck. The neck is provided with a lateral orifice that opens into a chamber situated between the lid and the neck. In the use position, the chamber is in simultaneous communication with the interior and the exterior of the container.

[0004] FR2711970 describes a container provided with a neck bearing a rotary top that has an

opening/closing flap part situated inside the neck of the container in order to allow or prevent liquid from passing through the neck, the neck and the top having a shoulder for immobilizing the top and preventing the passage of the liquid. Stop teeth on the exterior surface part of the neck and on the top cooperate so as to immobilize the top.

[0005] DE3514132 describes a closing system for a container having a lateral outlet. Sealing is realized by a lid having an external screwing skirt provided with a ring and an internal skirt. The neck of the container is in close contact between the external screwing skirt and the internal skirt in the closing position. After the lid has been unscrewed, the internal skirt is spaced apart from the neck of the container in order to allow the composition to pass through. When the lid is screwed back on, the ring may be deformed, and this may impair the sealing. EP1015339 describes a closing system having a top stop for preventing the lid from being completely unscrewed. Sealing is realized, outside the neck, by means of an internal ring that is disposed on an external screwing skirt of the lid and comes into contact with an external ring disposed on the exterior surface of the neck of the container. Sealing is realized, inside the neck, by means of an internal skirt of the lid that comes into contact with an interior surface of the neck. Flowever, the sealing of the system is not optimal on account of the positioning of the internal and external rings on rigid regions, namely the neck and the screwing skirt. In addition, the production of a ring, on the exterior of a neck, is complicated to control during extrusion blow molding of the container.

Presentation of the invention

[0006] There is a need to benefit from a closing system that allows precise pre-positioning of a

dispensing cap on the neck, while being easy to use by the consumer for improved metering, and in particular making it possible to bring the cap into its use configuration by a simple hand action, without excessive effort, the system also needing to have improved sealing.

Summary of the invention [0007] The invention aims to meet this need and its subject is a closing system for a container, of longitudinal axis X, having:

[0008] a threaded neck, and

[0009] a dispensing cap, having at least one dispensing orifice, screwed onto the neck between a use configuration corresponding to the cap being screwed partially onto the neck and a standby configuration corresponding to the cap being screwed completely onto the neck, the cap comprising a body having a tubular screwing skirt that bears a thread on its radially interior surface, the body having, in its upper part, a transverse wall, which defines the dispensing orifice for discharging the composition,

[0010] a mechanism for locking the dispensing cap in position in the use position, having at least one stop borne by the cap and at least one complementary stop on the external peripheral surface of the neck, the stop and the complementary stop cooperating in the use position to prevent the cap from being completely unscrewed,

[0011] the dispensing orifice is disposed in the transverse wall of the cap between a first internal skirt and a second internal skirt, the first internal skirt and the second internal skirt being separate from the screwing skirt, in the standby configuration, the neck is engaged between the first internal skirt and the second internal skirt so as to obstruct the dispensing orifice, and in the use configuration, the first internal skirt is away from the neck of the container and defines with the second internal skirt a passage for allowing the composition to pass from the interior of the container to the exterior of the system by passing through the dispensing orifice.

[0012] The sealing of the system according to the invention is greatly improved compared with that of prior art systems because the skirt for screwing the cap onto the neck that ensures sealing is separate from the first internal skirt and the second internal skirt, which slide on each side of the neck of the container. As a result, the jet or droplets of composition at the outlet of the system are better defined, for a better look and greater efficacy of the product.

[0013] The system is safe and leaks of compositions are avoided. The axis of the dispensing orifice can be oriented depending on the requirements and the nature of the composition. Since the orifice opens onto the external face of the transverse wall of the cap, the use hand actions are simple and intuitive, making it possible to put the system into its use configuration or standby configuration.

[0014] A further subject of the invention is a packaging and dispensing device having a closing system according to the invention, as defined above, and an associated container, in particular a container to which the closing system is fastened.

[0015] The container may be filled with a cosmetic composition, in particular a haircare composition.

[0016] A further subject of the invention is a method for assembling a closing system according to the invention, wherein the cap is screwed onto the neck in the standby configuration by a fitting machine.

[0017] A further subject of the invention is the use of a packaging and dispensing device according to the invention, wherein the cap is unscrewed from its standby configuration to its use configuration and then the composition present in the container is dispensed through the dispensing orifice. Advantageously, the cap is screwed from its use configuration to its standby configuration.

[0018] Preferred embodiments

[0019] The system according to the invention may comprise one or more of the following features, taken separately or in any technically possible combinations:

[0020] The first internal skirt and the second internal skirt define between one another, on the

transverse wall of the cap, a circular ring having the dispensing orifice(s). The definition of the orifice is precise.

[0021] The height of the first internal skirt is strictly less than the height of the second internal skirt, measured along the longitudinal axis X. The movement of the cap about the longitudinal axis X is easier and leaks are avoided better.

[0022] The cap comprises an additional enclosing skirt. The enclosing skirt and screwing skirt are

separated for better sealing.

[0023] Complete screwing is effected through less than a complete turn from the use configuration, in particular through less than half a turn. The force to be applied by the user is minimized.

[0024] The first internal skirt and the second internal skirt delimit a groove between one another, the neck extending into said groove in the standby position.

[0025] A plane extending along the longitudinal axis X over a maximum height equal to the height of the thread is a parting line for the molding of the threaded neck. It is easier to manufacture the system.

Brief description of the drawings

[0026] The invention may be understood better from reading the following detailed description of nonlimiting implementation examples thereof and from examining the appended drawing, in which:

Description of the embodiments

Detailed description

[0038] A closing system 1 according to the invention is illustrated in figures 1 to 11, having a base part

10 of the container 30 having a neck 11 of longitudinal axis X, and a closing cap 20 mounted on the neck 11.

[0039] The base part 10 may be made of thermoplastic material, for example a polyolefin, in particular polyethylene.

[0040] The neck 11 is produced with a thread 13 that has multiple helical thread segments, which are identical to one another in rotation about the axis X. There can be for example two of these thread segments, as in the example illustrated. [0041] Two consecutive portions 13a and 13b of the thread 13 define a helical groove 19 between one another, in which a corresponding thread 27 of the closing cap 20 engages, as can be seen in figure 6 or 7, making it possible to screw the cap 20 onto the neck 11 in order to obtain sealing on the outside of the cap 20.

[0042] The cap 20 has a body 21 having a tubular skirt 26 that bears the thread 27 on its radially

interior surface.

[0043] The body 21 has, in its upper part, a transverse wall 29 extending for example perpendicularly to the axis X, which defines a dispensing orifice 23 for the release of the composition contained in the container for example. The transverse wall 29 could have another shape, for example have a concave or convex portion, without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0044] The cap 20 is preferably molded in one piece from thermoplastic material, preferably a

polyolefin. The cap 20 is preferably molded from a different material than the base part 10, for example from polypropylene.

[0045] According to the invention, the locking mechanism 29 has at least one stop 98 on the cap 20, visible in figure 6, and a complementary stop 100 on the neck 11, visible in figure 3 and 4, the or each stop 98 being able to cooperate with the complementary stop 100 in the use position.

[0046] The locking mechanism 29 also advantageously has a sticking point or a stud 104 that forms an additional stop on the screwing skirt 26, visible in figure 8, and that is able to emit an audible click when it is passed over by the complementary stop 100.

[0047] Each stop 98 has a discrete tab that protrudes from the external peripheral surface 56 of the screwing skirt 26 and forms an inclined ramp, as illustrated in figures 3 and 4, making it easier for the complementary stop 100 to slide.

[0048] The complementary stop 100 protrudes radially upstream of the thread 13 at a distance from the axis X. The complementary stop 100 has an upstream surface 101 in the form of a bevel for facilitating snap-fastening.

[0049] In order to position the cap 20 in the use configuration from the standby configuration, the cap

20 is unscrewed until an audible click is optionally emitted followed by the locking of the rotation of the cap 20 by the complementary stop 100 as long as the unscrewing torque remains below a given limit defined to be much greater than an unscrewing force usually applied by a user.

[0050] As shown in figure 3, the stop 98 deforms during mounting (screwing) at the factory when it passes over the complementary stop 100. By contrast, it cannot pass over the complementary stop 100 upon unscrewing by the user (figure 4), thereby ensuring safety of the system.

[0051] The thickness e of the stop 100 measured perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis X is preferably less than 5 mm, and is advantageously between 2 and 4 mm.

[0052] In the example shown, the closing system has 11 dispensing orifices 23 regularly spaced apart angularly about the longitudinal axis X between a first internal skirt 22 and a second internal skirt 24. The dispensing orifices 23 have a cross section perpendicularly to the axis X of annular contour, as illustrated in figures 8 and 9. [0053] The expression "annular cross section" should be understood within the meaning of the present invention as meaning any cross section that follows a closed contour, whether this contour is circular, elliptical, polygonal or some other shape.

[0054] In the standby position (figure 1), the lateral walls of the neck 11 are in close contact between the first internal skirt 22 and the second internal skirt 24, each skirt being situated on either side of the neck 11, and the transverse wall 51 of the neck 11 obstructs the outlet orifice 23 of the cap on being brought into coincidence with the outlet orifice 23.

[0055] In the use position (figure 2), the neck 11 is away from the orifice 23 and the first internal skirt

22 delimits with the second internal skirt 24 and the transverse wall 51 a passage 25 for the release of the composition toward the dispensing orifice 23 along the path of the arrow shown in figure 2. The transverse wall 52 can be provided with a bevel 52 to facilitate sliding between the neck 11 and the first internal skirt 22.

[0056] In the example shown, the transverse wall 51 is flat and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis X, but this does not have to be the case. For example, it could be at least partially concave or convex.

[0057] In order to pass from the standby position to the use position, the user unscrews the cap 20 in the counterclockwise direction, causing the first internal skirt 22 and the second internal skirt 24 to slide upward along the neck 11 of the container, in order to open up the dispensing orifice 23.

[0058] In order to pass from the use position to the standby position, the user screws the cap 20 in the clockwise direction, causing the first internal skirt 22 and the second internal skirt 24 to slide downward along the neck 11 into the groove 19 forming an annular recess, in order to obstruct the dispensing orifice 23.

[0059] The cap shown in the figures has an enclosing skirt 28 with nonslip ridges 29 that make it easier to handle the cap 20.

[0060] During manufacture, the closing system 1 is positioned in a standby configuration by screwing the cap 20 onto the neck 11 until rotation is locked. The cap 20 can be installed with the aid of an automatic fitting machine.

[0061] Of course, the invention is not limited to the examples that have just been described, and

numerous modifications can be made to the closing system and to the container equipped therewith without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0062] For example, the stop(s) can be provided on the cap rather than on the neck. It is advantageous, however, to provide the stop(s) on the neck when the material from which the latter is made is more rigid than that of the cap, since this facilitates the deterioration of the stop(s) during screwing and thus reduces the force to be applied in order to reach the fully screwed configuration.

[0063] It is possible to modify the number of stops, and to realize the stops in some other way. [0064] The composition dispensed does not have to be a cosmetic composition, being for example a cosmetic composition that is not a haircare composition, a nutritional composition or a beverage, or any other fluid composition.

[0065] If necessary, the cap can be produced with a dispensing cannula or a more complex dispensing means, such as a flap valve or a pump for example.

Claims

[Claim 1] A closing system (1) for a container (30), of longitudinal axis (X), having: a threaded neck (11), and

a dispensing cap (20), having at least one dispensing orifice (23), screwed onto the neck (11) between a use configuration corresponding to the cap (20) being screwed partially onto the neck (11) and a standby configuration corresponding to the cap being screwed completely onto the neck (11), the cap (20) comprising a body (21) having a tubular screwing skirt (26) that bears a thread (27) on its radially interior surface, the body (21) having, in its upper part, a transverse wall (29), which defines the dispensing orifice (24) for discharging the composition,

a mechanism for locking the dispensing cap (20) in position in the use position, having at least one stop (98) borne by the cap (20) and at least one complementary stop (100) on the external peripheral surface (40) of the neck (11), the stop (98) and the complementary stop (100) cooperating in the use position to prevent the cap (20) from being completely unscrewed, characterized in that the dispensing orifice

(23) is disposed in the transverse wall of the cap (20) between a first internal skirt (22) and a second internal skirt (24), the first internal skirt (22) and the second internal skirt (24) being separate from the screwing skirt (26), in the standby configuration, the neck (11) is engaged between the first internal skirt (22) and the second internal skirt (24) so as to obstruct the dispensing orifice (23), and in the use configuration, the first internal skirt (22) is away from the neck (11) of the container and defines with the second internal skirt (24) a passage (25) for allowing the composition to pass from the interior of the container (30) to the exterior of the system (1) by passing through the dispensing orifice (23).

[Claim 2] The system as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the first internal skirt (22) and the second internal skirt (24) delimit between one another, on the transverse wall of the cap (20), a circular ring having the dispensing orifice (23).

[Claim 3] The system as claimed in either of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the height of the first internal skirt (22) is strictly less than the height of the second internal skirt

(24), measured along the longitudinal axis (X).

[Claim 4] The system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cap (20) comprises an additional enclosing skirt (28).

[Claim 5] The system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that complete screwing is effected through less than a complete turn from the use configuration, in particular through less than half a turn.

[Claim 6] The system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first internal skirt (22) and the second internal skirt (24) delimit a groove (19) between one another, the neck (11) extending into said groove (19) in the standby position. [Claim 7] The system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a plane extending along the longitudinal axis (X) over a maximum height equal to the height of the thread is a parting line for the molding of the threaded neck (11).

[Claim 8] A packaging and dispensing device having a closing system (1) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims and an associated container, in particular a container to which the closing system is fastened.

[Claim 9] The device as claimed in claim 8, the container being filled with a cosmetic

composition, in particular a haircare composition.

[Claim 10] A method for assembling a closing system (1) as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the cap (20) is screwed onto the neck (11) in the standby configuration by a fitting machine.

[Claim 11] The use of a packaging and dispensing device as claimed in either of claims 8 and 9, wherein the cap (20) is unscrewed from its standby configuration to its use configuration and then the composition present in the container is dispensed through the dispensing orifice (24).

[Claim 12] The use as claimed in claim 11, wherein the cap (20) is screwed from its use

configuration to its standby configuration.