WO2022152649A1

WO2022152649A1 - Closure device intended to be fixed to the neck of a container

Info

Publication number: WO2022152649A1
Application number: PCT/EP2022/050335
Authority: WO
Inventors: Francisco Javier Berroa García
Original assignee: Betapack, S.A.U.
Priority date: 2021-01-12
Filing date: 2022-01-10
Publication date: 2022-07-21
Also published as: AU2022208303A1; BR112023013941A2; CN116888052A; MX2023008277A; EP4026782A1; CA3204791A1; JP2024505817A; CO2023009200A2

Abstract

The invention relates to a closure device comprising: - a lower ring (9) having a first portion (16) and a second portion (17), which are articulated relative to each other in such a way that the second portion (17) pivots relative to the first portion (16), • a plug (1); - and an articulating device that connects the plug (1) to the second portion (17) of the lower ring (9), the second portion (17) of the lower ring (9) having an inner face which has at least one recess (32).

Description

STOPPER DEVICE INTENDED TO BE ATTACHED TO THE NECK OF A CONTAINER

DESCRIPTION

Technical area

The invention relates to a closure device which is equipped with a stopper and makes it possible to keep said stopper attached to the neck of a container, which avoids losing the stopper in nature.

Technology background

[0002] The document ES1232089U discloses a closure device which comprises a lower ring intended to be fixed axially on the neck of a container, a stopper comprising a thread intended to come into engagement on a complementary thread provided on the neck of the container and a hinge that connects the cap to the lower ring. The lower ring has hooking means designed to hold the lower ring to the neck of the container. The section of the lower ring which is connected to the cap by the hinge device is devoid of hooking means which allows said section to pivot between a lowered position and a raised position, in particular in order to allow the unscrewing of the cap . Furthermore, the cap comprises snap-fastening means intended to cooperate with complementary snap-fastening means provided in the lower ring and thus making it possible to maintain the cap in a tilted open position.

[0003] This plugging device is not completely satisfactory. In fact, despite the absence of hooking means in the section of the lower ring which is connected to the cap by the hinge, manipulations of the cap to allow the section of the lower ring which is connected to the cap to pivot towards a raised position when the cap must be moved from the open tilted position to the closed position are not easy.

Summary [0004] One idea at the basis of the invention is to provide a stopper device making it possible to keep a stopper attached to the neck of the container which is reliable, easy to produce and to use.

According to one embodiment, the invention provides a closure device intended to be fixed on a neck of a container comprising an orifice, a support collar and a fastening flange, the closure device comprising:

- a lower ring fixed axially to the neck and rotatable on the neck around said axis X, said lower ring comprising a first sector which comprises hooking elements protrude radially inwards from the lower ring and are intended to be arranged below the attachment flange so as to axially retain the lower ring on the neck of the container and a second sector, the first sector and the second sector of the lower ring being hinged to each other in such a way so that the second sector pivots relative to the first sector between a lowered position in which the second sector is arranged below the attachment flange and a raised position in which the second sector is arranged at least partly above the hanging collar,

• a plug comprising an upper wall and an outer peripheral skirt, the outer peripheral skirt having a helical thread intended to cooperate with a helical thread of the neck so as to allow the movement of the plug between a closed position and a released position in which the the helical thread of the cap no longer meshes with the helical thread of the neck;

- a hinge device which links the stopper to the second sector of the lower ring and is configured to allow the stopper to pivot between the released position and an open tilted position in which the stopper is disengaged from the orifice of the neck; the second sector of the lower ring comprising an inner face which has at least one recess.

[0006] Thus, thanks to the presence of such a recess, the thickness of the lower ring is reduced locally in the second sector, which facilitates its passage on either side of the attachment flange, in particular when the cap must be moved from the open tilted position to the closed position.

[0007] According to other advantageous embodiments, such a closure device may have one or more of the following characteristics.

[0008] According to one embodiment, the second sector has no attachment elements.

[0009] According to one embodiment, the attachment elements are protuberances which project radially inwards.

According to one embodiment, the second sector extends over an angular range of between 90 and 180°.

According to one embodiment, the internal face of the second sector comprises two recesses which extend respectively from a central zone of the second sector to one and the other of the two ends of the second sector.

[0012] According to one embodiment, the central zone of the second sector has no recess. This allows the second sector to retain sufficient rigidity in the region of the blocking device to ensure reliable operation of said blocking device.

[0013]According to one embodiment, the at least one recess develops from a lower edge of the second sector to an upper portion of the second sector intended to be positioned facing the attachment collar when the second sector is in the lowered position.

According to one embodiment, each recess extends over an angular range greater than 30, advantageously greater than 45° and for example of the order of 60°. According to one embodiment, the first sector comprises a front zone which is diametrically opposed to the second sector and two attachment zones in which the attachment elements are positioned and which are respectively located on either side of the front zone between said front zone and the second sector.

[0016] According to one embodiment, the front zone of the first sector has no attachment elements.

[0017] According to one embodiment, the attachment elements are exclusively arranged in the two attachment zones.

According to one embodiment, the front zone of the first sector extends over an angular range of between 40 and 150°, and preferably of between 90 and 150°.

[0019]According to one embodiment, each of the two attachment zones extends over an angular range of between 10 and 90°.

According to one embodiment, the front zone of the first sector has a height lower than that of the two attachment zones of the first sector and that of the second sector and being able and intended to be housed between the support collar and the attachment flange during the movement of the second sector between the lowered position and the released position so as to allow radial movement of the lower ring. Thus, thanks to the presence of a recess provided at the level of the upper edge of the front zone of the lower ring which provides an additional radial play between the lower ring and the neck, the passage of a part of the second sector on either side of the other of the attachment flange is facilitated. This also facilitates the use of the stopper device, in particular when the stopper must be moved from the open tilted position to the closed position since the tensile forces to be exerted on the lower ring to allow the second sector to move between the lowered position and the raised position are less. [0021]According to one embodiment, the invention also provides an assembly comprising an aforementioned closure device and a container comprising a neck comprising an orifice, a support collar and a fastening collar disposed axially between the support collar and the attachment collar, the attachment elements of the two attachment zones of the lower ring being arranged below the attachment collar so as to retain the lower ring axially on the neck of the container.

[0022] According to one embodiment, the height of the front zone of the first sector is less than a distance between the support collar and the attachment collar.

[0023] According to one embodiment, the hinge device comprises two slats connecting the outer peripheral skirt and the second sector, the plugging device further comprising a blocking device configured to block the plug when it is in the position tilted open, said locking device comprising a heel which projects axially, from the outer peripheral skirt, between the two strips of the articulation device and which comprises a stopper which projects radially outwards and a projecting portion which projecting axially from the second sector of the lower ring, between the two blades of the articulation device;

• the cleat and the protruding portion being configured such that, when the cap is in the open tilted position and the second sector of the lower ring is in the lowered position, the protruding portion is clamped between the cleat and the collar of hooking. Thanks to such an arrangement, the blocking device guarantees robust blocking, with a large angle, of the plug in its open tilted position. In addition, compared to a blocking device which would include a cleat which would be configured to come against the neck of the container, the proposed arrangement makes it possible to limit the radial dimension of the cleat. This is particularly advantageous insofar as a cleat having too large a radial dimension is likely to harm the reliability and the yields of bottling operations during which the closure devices are in particular transported on conveyors before being placed in place on the containers. [0024] According to one embodiment, e1 > L - e2 with:

L: the length of the slats in an initial state in which the plug is in the closed position; e1: a radial distance between a contact zone of the cleat intended to come into contact with the projecting portion when the plug is in the open tilted position and an intersection between a straight line passing through the upper ends of the slats and a plane of symmetry (P ) lamellae relative to each other; and e2: a radial distance between a contact zone of the projecting portion intended to come into contact with the cleat when the plug is in the open tilted position and an intersection between a straight line passing through the lower ends of the slats and the plane of symmetry (P).

According to one embodiment, e1 > L - e2 + e3 + e4 with: e3: a radial clearance between the lower ring and the neck in a direction radial to the axis X and inscribed in the plane of symmetry P; and e4: radial clearance between the projecting portion and the attachment flange.

According to one embodiment, e1=L-e2+e3+e4+A with A between 0.05 and 2 mm.

According to one embodiment, the protruding portion protrudes beyond a lower limit of the outer peripheral skirt.

According to one embodiment, the slats and the locking device are configured such that, during the pivoting movement of the cap between the released position and the open tilted position, the slats are subjected to a tensile force which increases to an intermediate unstable position then decreases from said intermediate unstable position towards the open tilted position.7

[0029] According to one embodiment, the closure device is molded in one piece. According to one embodiment, the lower ring is connected to the outer peripheral skirt by frangible bridges.

According to one embodiment, when the cap is in the open tilted position and the second sector of the lower ring is in the lowered position, the opening angle of the cap is greater than 120°.

[0032]According to one embodiment, the outer peripheral skirt comprises a cut-out portion and the elastic lamellae join said outer peripheral skirt in said cut-out portion. Such an arrangement makes it possible to provide elastic strips of sufficient length while limiting the dimensions of the gaps, provided between the cap and the lower ring, and capable of allowing the passage of dust.

Brief description of figures

The invention will be better understood, and other aims, details, characteristics and advantages thereof will appear more clearly during the following description of several particular embodiments of the invention, given solely by way of illustration. and non-limiting, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0034] [fig.1] Figure 1 is a rear three-quarter perspective view of a closure device mounted on the neck of a container.

[0035] [fig.2] Figure 2 is a sectional view of a container neck intended to receive the closure device of Figure 1.

[0036] [fig.3] Figure 3 is a side view of the closure device mounted on the neck of the container and showing the stopper of the closure device in a released position in which it is no longer in engagement with the neck of the container. container.

[0037] [fig.4] Figure 4 is a perspective view of the capping device mounted on the neck of the container and showing the cap of the capping device in a tilted open position in which the cap is disengaged from the orifice of the collar. [0038] [fig.5] Figure 5 is a sectional view of the stopper device mounted on the neck of the container and showing the stopper of the stopper device in a tilted open position in which the stopper is disengaged from the orifice of the collar.

[0039] [fig.6] Figure 6 is a sectional view of the lower ring of the closure device in a plane orthogonal to the X axis.

[0040] [fig.7] Figure 7 is a perspective view from below of the closure device illustrating the inner face of the second sector of the lower ring.

[0041] [fig.8] Figure 8 is a front view of the closure device.

[0042] [fig.9] Figure 9 is a side view of the closure device.

Figure 10 is an enlargement of Figure 1 illustrating in detail the locking device.

[0044] [fig.11] Figure 11 is a schematic sectional representation of the plug and the cleat.

[0045] [fig.12] Figure 12 is a schematic sectional representation of the lower ring and the projecting portion.

Description of embodiments

In the description and the figures, the axis X corresponds to the axis of rotation of the stopper 1 of the closure device when the latter is screwed onto the neck 2 of the container. By convention, the "radial" orientation is directed orthogonal to the X axis and the axial orientation is directed parallel to the X axis. The terms "external" and "internal" are used to define the relative position of a element with respect to another, with reference to the X axis, an element close to the X axis is thus qualified as internal as opposed to an external element located radially on the periphery. [0047] The terms "upper" and "lower" are used to define the relative position of one element with respect to another by reference to a position in which the orifice 3 of the neck 2 is directed upwards and the cap 1 is in the closed position on the neck 2 of the container, an element intended to be placed lower being designated by lower and an element intended to be placed higher being designated by upper. The terms "front" and "back" are used to define the relative position of one element to another along a diameter perpendicular to the X axis.

In relation to Figures 1 to 12, there is described below an assembly comprising a closure device and a container equipped with a neck 2, shown in Figures 1 to 5.

As shown in particular in Figure 2, the neck 2 of the container has an upper end in which is formed an orifice 3 for pouring the contents of the container. The neck 2 of the container comprises a support collar 4 which projects radially outwards and a fastening flange 5 which also projects radially outwards and which is arranged axially between the support collar 4 and the orifice 3. A cylindrical portion is arranged axially between the support collar 4 and the orifice 3. Furthermore, the neck 2 comprises, positioned axially between the attachment flange 5 and the orifice 3, a helical thread 6 formed of a series of helical ribs, projecting radially outwards from an outer surface of the neck 2. The helical thread 6 is intended to cooperate with a complementary helical thread 7, represented in particular in FIG. 4, formed of a series of ribs helical which are formed in the cap 1 of the capping device.

According to one embodiment, the helical thread 6 formed in the neck 2 and the helical thread 7 formed in the cap 1 are interrupted. In other words, the adjacent helical ribs are separated by a space forming a vent and allowing in particular to evacuate the gas present inside the container while the stopper 1 is still engaged on the neck 2.

The closure device comprises a lower ring 9 which is retained on the neck 2 of the container, a stopper 1 which is intended to cover the orifice 3 of the container so as to close it and a hinge device 10, shown in particular in Figure 1, connecting the cap 1 to the lower ring 9. The cap 1 is movable between a closed position, shown in Figure 1 and a position released, represented in FIG. 3, in which the stopper 1 is no longer in engagement with the neck 2. The stopper 1 is further able to be tilted from the released position to the open tilted position, represented in FIGS. and 5, in which the stopper 1 is disengaged from the orifice 3 of the neck 2 so that it does not interfere with the discharge of the contents of the container. The stopper device also comprises a locking device arranged to lock the stopper 1 in the open tilted position.

[0052] As shown in particular in Figure 1, the cap 1 comprises an upper wall 13 intended to be arranged substantially orthogonally to the axis X, opposite the orifice 3 of the neck 2 when said cap 1 is in the closed position . The cap 1 further comprises an outer peripheral skirt 14 intended to surround the neck 2 of the container when the cap 1 is in the closed position. The outer peripheral skirt 14 extends, downwards, perpendicular to the upper wall 13, from the outer periphery of said upper wall 13. The helical thread 7 is provided on the inner face of the outer peripheral skirt 14.

As shown in particular in Figure 4, the cap 1 comprises an internal skirt 8, which extends perpendicularly downwards from the upper wall 13 of the cap 1 and is dimensioned so as to be inserted inside the orifice 3 of the neck 2. The stopper 1 further comprises an annular lip 15 which extends, from the upper wall 13, radially between the inner skirt 8 and the outer peripheral skirt 14. The inner skirt 8 and the annular lip 15 are dimensioned such that, when the stopper 1 is in the closed position, on the neck 2 of the container, the internal skirt 8 is in contact against the internal face of the neck 2 while the annular lip 15 is in contact against the external face of the neck 2. Thus, the internal skirt 8 and the annular lip 15 make it possible to ensure the tightness of the closure.

Advantageously, the lower ring 9 is, before the first opening of the container, connected to the cap 1 by frangible bridges 30, visible for example in Figures 7 to 9, intended to break when opening the cap 1. These frangible bridges 30 thus constitute tamper evidence. [0055] The lower ring 9 is held axially on the neck 2 of the container while being able to rotate relative to the latter around the axis X. As shown in Figures 1, 3 and 4, the lower ring 9 comprises two parts which are hinged to each other, namely a first sector 16 and a second sector 17 by which the lower ring 9 is linked to the stopper 1 by means of the hinge device 10.

As shown in Figure 3, the second sector 17 is capable of pivoting upwards relative to the first sector 16, between a lowered position in which at least the major part of the second sector 17 is intended to be arranged in- below the attachment flange 5 and a raised position, in which at least the major part of the second sector 17 is arranged above the attachment flange 5. This allows the stopper 1 to move upwards relative at the neck 2 of the container, until the helical thread 7 of the stopper 1 disengages from the helical thread 6 provided on the neck 2 of the container. In other words, when the cap 1 is unscrewed, the lower ring 9 is rotated around the X axis while the second sector 17 of the lower ring 9 pivots relative to the first sector 16 to the position raised so as to allow an axial movement, upwards of the stopper 1, from the closed position, to the released position shown in Figure 3. When the stopper 1 is pivoted from the released position to the open tilted position, the second sector 17 of the lower ring 9 pivots in the opposite direction with respect to the first sector 16 and then returns to the lowered position. Furthermore, the second sector 17 also pivots relative to the first sector 16 from the lowered position to the raised position when the cap 1 is pivoted from the open tilted position to the released position.

The lower ring 9 is held axially on the neck 2 of the container by means of the attachment flange 5. As shown in Figure 2, the attachment flange 5 has a frustoconical outer surface tapering upwards, that is to say in the direction of the orifice 3 of the container. The attachment collar 5 delimits, downwards, that is to say in a direction opposite to the orifice 3, a shoulder. As shown in Figure 6, the first sector 16 of the lower ring 9 comprises attachment elements 18 which are intended to cooperate with the attachment collar 5 provided on the container in order to axially retain the lower ring 9 at neck 2 of the container. The hooking elements 18 are protuberances which protrude radially inwards from the first sector 16 of the lower ring 9. Advantageously, the hooking elements 18 have a radial dimension which increases, from bottom to top. , that is to say in the direction of the upper edge of the lower ring 9. When assembling the closure device on the neck 2 of the container, the attachment elements 18 slide against the frustoconical surface of the collar d attachment 5 then lock by elastic return behind the attachment collar 5.

The first sector 16 of the lower ring 9 comprises a front zone 19 which is diametrically opposed to the second sector 17 of the lower ring 9 and two attachment zones 20, shown in Figure 6, which are arranged on either side on the other side of the front zone 19 and are each arranged between the front zone 19 and the second sector 17 of the lower ring 9. The attachment elements 18 are exclusively arranged in the two attachment zones 20, 21. Thus, due to the absence of hooking elements 18 in the front zone 19 of the first sector 16, there is a radial clearance between the lower ring 9 and the neck 2 which allows the lower ring 9 to move from front to back and vice versa. This facilitates the passage of a part of the second sector 17 on either side of the attachment collar 5 during the movement of the second sector 17 between the lowered position and the raised position. In other words, the tensile forces to be exerted on the lower ring 9 to allow the second sector 17 to pass on either side of the attachment flange 5 are less.

Advantageously, the second sector 17 extends over an angular range between 90 and 150°, and for example of the order of 120°, the front zone of the first sector 16 extends over an angular range between 90 and 150°, for example of the order of 120°, while each of the two attachment zones 20, 21 extends over an angular range of between 30 and 90°, for example of the order of 60°. As shown in particular in Figures 8 and 9, the front zone 19 of the first sector 16 has a recess 31 formed at the upper edge of the lower ring 9. Thus, the front zone 19 has a height, measured parallel to axis X, which is less than that of the lower ring 9, outside the front zone 19 and which is less than the spacing between the support collar 4 and the attachment flange 5. This makes it possible to increase further the radial play between the lower ring 9 and the neck 2 since, as illustrated in FIG. 5, said recess 31 allows the front zone 19 of the first sector 16 to be positioned axially between the support collar 4 and the collar of attachment 5 whereas, in the absence of such a setback 31, the front zone would come into abutment against the attachment collar 5.

[0062] Such an arrangement is also advantageous in that it makes it easier to see whether the frangible bridges 30 have already been broken by the first opening of the stopper 1 since, once the frangible bridges 30 have been broken and that, consequently, the lower ring 9 is no longer connected to the stopper 9 except via the hinge device 10, the lower ring 9 tilts forwards, thus facilitating the observation of the breached nature of the opening . In addition, the lower ring 9 can thus have, outside the front zone, a height greater than the spacing between the support collar 4 and the attachment flange 5, which makes it possible to limit the dimensions of the interstices provided between the cap 1 and the lower ring 9 and capable of allowing the passage of dust.

[0063] Furthermore, alternatively or additionally to the recess 31 described above, the second sector 17 of the lower ring 9 also has special features making it possible to facilitate the passage of a part of the second sector 17 from one side to the other. another of the attachment collar 5 during the movement of the second sector 17 between the lowered position and the raised position. As shown in Figures 6 and 7, the second sector 17 of the lower ring has two recesses 32 which are formed in the internal face of said second sector 17. The recesses 32 extend respectively from a central zone of the second sector 17 to at one and the other of the two ends of said second sector 17. [0064] Furthermore, the recesses 31 extend from the lower edge of the lower ring to an upper portion of the second sector 17 of the lower ring 9 which is intended to face the attachment collar 5 when the second sector 17 is in the lowered position. These recesses 31 aim to locally reduce the thickness of the second sector 17 in order to facilitate its passage on either side of the attachment collar 5 while maintaining sufficient resistance to tearing.

The central zone of the second sector 17 has no recess, which allows the second sector 17 of the lower ring 9 to retain sufficient rigidity to allow reliable operation of the locking device described below.

In the embodiment shown, the hinge device 10 comprises two slats 11, 12, particularly visible in Figures 1 and 4, which connect the cap 1 and more particularly the outer peripheral skirt 14 of the cap 1 to the lower ring 9, and more particularly to the second sector 17 of the lower ring 9. The slats 11, 12 are symmetrical to each other with respect to a plane of symmetry P, represented in FIGS. 11 and 12, which is vertical and passes through the X axis.

[0067] The slats 11, 12 join the outer peripheral skirt 14 in a notched portion. Similarly, the slats 11, 12 advantageously join the second sector 17 of the lower ring 2 in a notched portion. In other words, the slats 11, 12 extend substantially above the lower limit of the outer peripheral skirt 9 and extend substantially below the upper limit of the lower ring 3.

The locking device comprises a heel 22, particularly visible in Figure 1 which is formed in the outer peripheral skirt 14 of the plug 1. The heel 22 projects axially downwards, that is to say in the direction of the lower ring 9, from the outer peripheral skirt 14 of the cap 1. The heel 22 protrudes between the two slats 11, 12. The heel 22 comprises a cleat 23 which extends circumferentially between the two slats 11, 12 and which projects radially outward from the heel 22. The locking device also comprises a projecting portion 24 which projects axially upwards, that is to say towards the outer peripheral skirt 14 of the cap 1, from the second sector 17 of the lower ring 9. The projecting portion 24 also projects between the two slats 11, 12.

As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the cleat 23 and the projecting portion 24 are arranged such that, when the cap 1 is in the open tilted position, the projecting portion 24 is sandwiched between the cleat 23 and the attachment flange 5. In other words, when the cap is in the open tilted position, the cleat 23 and the projecting portion 24 are in contact against each other in a zone located in the plane of the attachment flange 5 and the projecting portion 24 is also in contact against the attachment flange 5.

As shown respectively in Figures 11 and 12, the contact zone of the cleat 23 with the projecting portion 24 is placed at a radial distance e1 from the intersection between the line passing through the upper ends of the slats 11, 12 and the plane of symmetry P and the zone of contact of the projecting portion 24 with the cleat 23 is placed at a radial distance e2 from the intersection between the straight line passing through the lower ends of the strips 11, 12 and the plane of symmetry p.

[0072] The dimension e1 is such that e1 > L - e2, with L: the length of the slats 11, 12, in the initial state, when the stopper is in the closed position. This ensures that the cleat 23 comes into contact against the projecting portion 24 and that the slats 11, 12 are stressed in tension when the plug 1 is in the open tilted position.

[0073] In addition, e1>L - e2 + e3 + e4 with e3: the radial clearance between the projecting portion 24 and the attachment collar 5 and e4: the radial clearance between the lower ring 9 and the neck 2 according to the front/rear direction, i.e. in a direction radial to the X axis and inscribed in the plane of symmetry P. Preferably, e1 = L - e2 + e3 + e4+ A with A between 0.05 and 2 mm, and determined so that the protruding portion 24 comes into contact against the attachment flange 5 when the cap 1 is in the open tilted position. [0074] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 10, when the cap 1 is in the closed position, the upper edge of the contact surface of the catch 23 extends axially below the upper end of the slats 11, 12 by a distance d1, the upper edge of the projecting portion 24 extends axially above the lower end of the slats 11, 12 by a distance d2 and the upper edge of the attachment flange 5 s extends axially above the lower end of the slats 11, 12 by a distance d3. Advantageously, the distance d1 is less than d2 and d3.

The kinematics of stopper 1 is as follows. During the first unscrewing, the cap 1 leaves the closed position and moves away from the lower ring 9 to the released position, illustrated in figure 3. The frangible bridges break during this movement. In addition, during this movement of unscrewing the cap 1, the lower ring 9 is rotated around the axis X and the second sector 17 of the lower ring 9 pivots towards the raised position as the cap 1 moves away from the attachment collar 5.

Subsequently, the cap 1 can then be pivoted rearward towards the open tilted position in which the outer peripheral skirt 14 extends upwards from the upper wall 13. During the movement of the cap 1 backwards towards its open tilted position, the cleat 23 bears against the projecting portion 24 and thus causes the pivoting of the second sector 17 of the lower ring 9 from the raised position to the lowered position.

[0077] The stretching possibilities of the slats 11, 10 together with the aforementioned characteristics of the locking device, make it possible to create a hard point when the stopper 1 is tilted between the released position, shown in FIG. 3, and the tilted open position. , shown in Figures 4 and 5. In other words, the slats 11, 12 and the locking device are configured such that, during a first part of the movement of the plug 4 from the released position to the tilted position open, the two elastic blades 28, 29 are, due to the support of the cleat 23 on the projecting portion 24, subjected to a tensile force which increases to an intermediate unstable position then which decreases from said intermediate unstable position to the open tilted position. This makes it possible to block the cap 1 in the open tilted position.

As shown in Figures 5 and 6, when the second sector 17 of the lower ring 9 is in the lowered position and the plug 1 is in its open tilted position, the cleat 23 bears against the projecting portion 24 which is thus sandwiched between said cleat 23 and the attachment flange 5.

Thus, the cap 1 remains in its open tilted position since, due to the aforementioned arrangement, the cap 1 cannot be pivoted towards the released position in which the cap 1 is facing the orifice 3 of distribution as long as the second sector 17 of the lower ring 9 remains in the lowered position.

Advantageously, when the cap 1 is in its open tilted position and the second sector 17 of the lower ring 9 is in the lowered position, the opening angle of the cap 1 is greater than 120° and advantageously , greater than or equal to 145° and for example of the order of 180°. The opening angle corresponds to the salient angular sector which is formed at the intersection between a plane parallel to the upper wall 13 of the cap 1 and a horizontal plane.

[0081] To close the cap 1, the user tilts the cap 1 forwards to the released position. During this tilting, the contact between the cleat 23 and the projecting portion 24 disappears, which allows the movement of the second sector 17 of the lower ring 9 towards the raised position.

When the second sector 17 is in the raised position and the cap 1 is in the released position, said cap 1 can then be screwed back onto the neck 2 of the container. During screwing, the lower ring 9 is driven in rotation around the X axis and the second sector 17 of the lower ring 9 pivots towards the lowered position as the cap 1 approaches the collar of hooking 5.

[0083] Advantageously, the entire closure device is molded in a single piece of synthetic material, such as polyethylene and advantageously high density polyethylene. Advantageously, the stopper device is molded in the configuration of FIG. 1, that is to say in a closed position, a position in which it can be mounted directly on the neck 2 of the container.

Although the invention has been described in connection with several particular embodiments, it is obvious that it is in no way limited thereto and that it includes all the technical equivalents of the means described as well as their combinations if these fall within the scope of the invention.

[0085] The use of the verb "to comprise", "to understand" or "to include" and of its conjugated forms does not exclude the presence of other elements or other steps than those set out in a claim.

[0086] In the claims, any reference sign in parentheses cannot be interpreted as a limitation of the claim.

Claims

1 Closing device intended to be fixed on a neck (2) of a container comprising an orifice (3), a support collar (4) and a fastening flange (5), the closing device comprising:

- a lower ring (9) fixed axially to the neck (2) and movable in rotation on the neck (2) around said axis X, said lower ring (9) comprising a first sector (16) which comprises hooking elements ( 18) project radially towards the inside of the lower ring (9) and are intended to be arranged below the attachment collar (5) so as to retain the lower ring (9) axially on the neck (2 ) of the container and a second sector (17), the first sector (16) and the second sector (17) of the lower ring (9) being articulated to one another so that the second sector (17 ) pivots relative to the first sector (16) between a lowered position in which the second sector (17) is arranged below the attachment flange (5) and a raised position in which the second sector (17) is arranged at least partly above the attachment collar (5),

• a cap (1) comprising an upper wall (13) and an outer peripheral skirt (14), the outer peripheral skirt (14) having a helical thread (7) intended to cooperate with a helical thread (6) of the neck (2 ) so as to allow movement of the stopper (1) between a closed position and a released position in which the helical thread (7) of the stopper (1) is no longer in engagement with the helical thread (6) of the neck ( 2);

- a hinge device which links the cap (1) to the second sector (17) of the lower ring (9) and is configured to allow the cap (1) to pivot between the released position and an open tilted position in which the stopper (1) is disengaged from the orifice (3) of the neck (2); the second sector (17) of the lower ring (9) comprising an internal face which has at least one recess (32).

2.- Closing device according to claim 1, wherein the inner face of the second sector (17) has two recesses (32) which extend respectively from a central zone of the second sector (17) to one and the other of the two ends of the second sector (17).

3.- Closing device according to claim 2, wherein the central zone of the second sector (17) has no recess (32).

4.- Closing device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the at least one recess (32) develops from a lower edge of the second sector (17) to an upper portion of the second sector ( 17) intended to be positioned facing the attachment flange (5) when the second sector (17) is in the lowered position.

5.- Closing device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the first sector (16) comprises a front zone (19) which is diametrically opposed to the second sector (17) and two attachment zones (20 ) in which are positioned the attachment elements (18) and which are respectively located on either side of the front zone (19) between said front zone (19) and the second sector (17).

6.- Closing device according to claim 5, wherein the front zone (19) of the first sector (16) has a height lower than that of the two attachment zones (20) of the first sector (16) and that of the second sector (17) and being able and intended to be housed between the support collar (4) and the attachment collar (5) during the movement of the second sector (17) between the lowered position and the released position so to allow radial movement of the lower ring (9).

7.- Closing device according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the front zone (19) of the first sector (16) extends over an angular range of between 40 and 150°.

8.- Assembly comprising a closure device according to any one of claims 1 to 6 and a container comprising a neck (2) comprising an orifice (3), a support collar (4) and a fastening flange (5 ) arranged axially between the support collar (4) and the attachment flange (5), the attachment elements (18) of the two attachment zones (20) of the lower ring (9) being arranged in- below the attachment flange (5) so as to axially retain the lower ring (9) on the neck (2) of the container.

9.- Assembly according to claim 8, wherein the height of the front zone (19) of the first sector (16) is less than a distance between the support collar (4) and the attachment collar (5).

10.- Assembly according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the hinge device comprises two slats (11, 12) connecting the outer peripheral skirt (14) and the second sector (17), the plugging device further comprising a blocking device configured to block the stopper (1) when it is in the open tilted position, said blocking device comprising a heel (22) which projects axially, from the outer peripheral skirt (14), between the two slats ( 11, 12) of the hinge device and which comprises a catch (23) which projects radially outwards and a projecting portion (24) which projects axially from the second sector (17) of the lower ring (9 ), between the two slats (11, 12) of the hinge device;

• the cleat (23) and the projecting portion (24) being configured such that, when the cap (1) is in the open tilted position and the second sector (17) of the lower ring (9) is in the position lowered, the projecting portion (24) is clamped between the cleat (23) and the attachment collar (5).

11.- Assembly according to claim 10, in which e1> L - e2 with:

L: the length of the slats (11, 12) in an initial state in which the plug (1) is in the closed position; e1: a radial distance between a contact zone of the cleat (23) intended to come into contact with the projecting portion (24) when the plug (1) is in the open tilted position and an intersection between a straight line passing through upper ends slats (11, 12) and a plane of symmetry (P) of the slats (11, 12) relative to each other; and e2: a radial distance between a contact zone of the protruding portion (24) intended to come into contact with the catch (23) when the cap (1) is in the open tilted position and an intersection between a straight line passing through lower ends of the slats (11, 12) and the plane of symmetry (P). 22

12.- Assembly according to claim 11, in which e1> L - e2 + e3 + e4 with: e3: a radial clearance between the lower ring (9) and the neck (2) in a direction radial to the axis X and inscribed in the plane of symmetry P; and e4: a radial clearance between the projecting portion (24) and the attachment flange (5).

13.- Assembly according to claim 12, in which e1 = L - e2 + e3 + e4 + A with A between 0.05 and 2 mm.