U.S. patent application number 10/467088 was filed with the patent office on 2004-05-20 for closure device, neck compatible with said device and container comprising such a neck closed by said device.
Invention is credited to Miege, Sylvie Ch, Odet, Philippe.
Application Number | 20040094501 10/467088 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 8860903 |
Filed Date | 2004-05-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040094501 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Miege, Sylvie Ch ; et
al. |
May 20, 2004 |
Closure device, neck compatible with said device and container
comprising such a neck closed by said device
Abstract
The invention concerns a device comprising a closure cap (11),
including a base (12) and a skirt (13) with an internal thread (14)
adapted to co-operate with an external thread (4) of the neck (2)
to be closed, and a tamperproof ring (16), linked by frangible
means (17) to the skirt (13) and provided with notches (19)
designed to co-operate with complementary notches (6) provided on
the neck (2). The notches (19) of the ring (16) are oriented
towards the base (12) of said closure cap (11), while the notches
(6) of the neck (2) are oriented opposite to its outlet (2a).
Inventors: |
Miege, Sylvie Ch;
(Villeurbanne, FR) ; Odet, Philippe; (Saint
Georges De Reneins, FR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Ralph A Dowell
Dowell & Dowell
Suite 309
1215 Jefferson Davis Highway
Arlington
VA
22202
US
|
Family ID: |
8860903 |
Appl. No.: |
10/467088 |
Filed: |
August 5, 2003 |
PCT Filed: |
March 7, 2002 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/FR02/00830 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
215/252 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 41/3447
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
215/252 |
International
Class: |
B65D 041/34 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 8, 2001 |
FR |
01/03187 |
Claims
1. Device for closing a container with threaded neck, said device
comprising: a cap, including a bottom and an internally threaded
skirt adapted to cooperate with an external threading of said neck,
and a tamperproof ring linked by frangible means to said skirt and
equipped with notches provided to cooperate with complementary
notches provided on said neck, characterized in that said notches
(20) of said ring (16) are oriented in the direction of said bottom
(12) of said cap (11).
2. Closure device according to claim 1, characterized in that said
notches (20) are formed on an annular surface (19b) of an internal
projection (19) of said tamperproof ring (16).
3. Closure device according to claim 2, characterized in that said
annular surface (19b) extends in a plane (P.sub.19) substantially
perpendicular to a central axis (X.sub.10) of said device.
4. Closure device according to one of claims 2 or 3, characterized
in that said annular surface (19b) is substantially parallel to
said bottom (12) of said cap (11).
5. Device according to one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that
said projection (19) is provided with a substantially truncated
surface (19a) convergent in the direction of said bottom (12) of
said cap (11).
6. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized
in that said notches (10) are inclined, each notch having a first
face (20a) oriented towards said annular skirt (13) and a second
face (20b) inclined with respect to said first face.
7. Threaded neck of container adapted to be closed by a device
according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it
comprises notches (6) oriented opposite the opening (2a) of said
neck (2) with respect to an external radial flange (5) of said
neck.
8. Neck according to claim 7, characterized in that said notches
(6) are formed on an annular surface (5b) of said flange (5)
extending in a plane (P.sub.5) substantially perpendicular to a
central axis (X.sub.2) of said neck (2).
9. Neck according to one of claims 7 or 8, characterized in that
said flange (5) is provided with a truncated surface (5a)
convergent in the direction of the opening (2a) of said neck
(2).
10. Neck according to one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that
said notches (6) are inclined, each notch having a first face (6a)
parallel to a central axis (X.sub.2) of said neck (2) and a second
face (6b) inclined with respect said first face.
11. Container (1) comprising a neck (2) according to one of claims
7 to 10, closed by a device (10) according to one of claims 1 to 6.
Description
[0001] The invention relates to a device for closing a container
with threaded neck, to a threaded neck able to be closed by such a
device and to a container comprising such a neck closed by such a
device.
[0002] In the domain of packaging of liquids, it is known to equip
the threaded neck of a bottle with a closure device comprising a
cap associated with a tamperproof ring mounted on the neck so that
it cannot be removed therefrom. In this way, unscrewing of the cap
necessarily results in a rupture of the connection between the cap
and this ring. It is known, for example from EP-A-0 330 964, to
equip such a tamperproof ring with notches oriented towards the
centre of the neck and intended to cooperate with corresponding
notches provided on the outer radial surface of the neck. The
closure device is placed in position by screwing the cap, the
notches of the tamperproof ring then coming opposite the notches
provided on the neck, this ring having to expand radially at the
end of screwing in order to pass over a retaining flange of the
ring in order to position the notches which are opposite one
another. The couple necessary for screwing the cap is relatively
high since the notches rub on one another. In addition, it happens
that the notches provided respectively on the tamperproof ring and
on the neck remain in abutment "apex on apex", which induces a
radial expansion of the ring which may result in a plastic
deformation thereof. This is very inaesthetic. In addition, the
notches provided on the threaded neck project radially towards the
outside and may be damaged, for example during manipulations prior
to filling a bottle, which reduces the efficiency of the
tamperproof ring.
[0003] It is a more particular object of the invention to overcome
these drawbacks by proposing a novel closure device in which the
screwing couple of the cap is less than in the state of the art
while, once in place, the tamperproof ring is retained in sure
manner on the neck of the container.
[0004] In this spirit, the invention relates to a device for
closing a container with threaded neck which comprises a cap,
including a bottom and an internally threaded skirt adapted to
cooperate with an external threading of the neck, and a tamperproof
ring linked by frangible means to this skirt and equipped with
notches provided to cooperate with complementary notches provided
on the neck. This device is characterized in that the notches of
the ring are oriented in the direction of the bottom of the
cap.
[0005] Thanks to the orientation of the notches of the tamperproof
ring, they do not have to slide on corresponding notches of the
neck during screwing of the cap since they are not oriented
radially towards the central axis of this device but towards the
bottom of the cap, i.e. substantially towards the opening of the
neck of the container to be equipped. Taking into account their
orientation, these notches tend to come into mesh with the
corresponding notches provided on the neck when an effort tending
to unscrew the cap is exerted, since the cap, which moves in the
direction of the opening of the neck, tends to pull the sealing
ring in the direction of this opening. In other words, in the event
of unscrewing, the effort of mesh of the notches of the cap on the
notches of the neck becomes gradually greater until the frangible
means provided on the cap break. In addition, even if the operation
of screwing the cap results in an "apex on apex" abutment of the
notches of the tamperproof ring and of the notches of the neck, no
radial deformation of the tamperproof ring occurs, with the result
that the aesthetics and functionality of this ring are not affected
thereby. Taking into account the mode of mesh of the notches
provided respectively on the tamperproof ring and on the neck, the
former can be provided with heights of teeth much less than in the
devices of the state of the art, a saving of material thus being
able to be made.
[0006] According to advantageous but non-obligatory aspects of the
invention, the device incorporates one or more of the following
characteristics:
[0007] The notches are formed on an annular surface of an internal
projection of the tamperproof ring. This annular surface
advantageously extends in a plane, substantially perpendicular to a
central axis of the device. In particular, this annular surface may
be substantially parallel to the bottom of the cap.
[0008] The projection is provided with a substantially truncated
surface convergent in the direction of the bottom of the cap. This
surface may cooperate with a corresponding surface of the neck to
constitute a ramp for radial expansion of the tamperproof ring when
the device is positioned on the neck of a container.
[0009] The notches are inclined, each notch having a first face
oriented towards the annular skirt of the cap and a second face
inclined with respect to this first face. The inclined nature of
the notches allows a movement of these notches with respect to the
corresponding notches provided on the neck in a sense of screwing
of the device, but opposes a movement in a sense of unscrewing.
[0010] The invention also relates to a threaded neck of a container
which may be closed with a device such as described hereinabove and
which is characterized in that it comprises notches oriented
opposite the opening of the neck with respect to an outer radial
flange thereof.
[0011] Such a neck may be easily moulded and the orientation of the
notches that it comprises allows them to be operational as soon as
a traction is exerted on a closure device in a sense of opening of
the container, these notches not tending to expand a tamperproof
ring radially.
[0012] According to advantageous but non-obligatory aspects of the
invention, this neck incorporates one or more of the following
characteristics:
[0013] The notches are formed on an annular surface of the flange
extending in a plane substantially perpendicular to a central axis
of the neck.
[0014] The flange is provided with a truncated surface convergent
in the direction of the opening of the neck, this surface forming a
ramp for radial expansion of a tamperproof ring during positioning
of a closure device.
[0015] The notches are inclined, each notch having a first face
parallel to a central axis of the neck and a second face inclined
with respect to this first face.
[0016] Finally, the invention relates to a container comprising a
neck as described hereinabove closed by a device as described
hereinabove.
[0017] The invention will be more readily understood and other
advantages thereof will appear more clearly in the light of the
following description of a form of embodiment of a container
provided with a neck in accordance with the invention closed thanks
to a device in accordance with the invention, given solely by way
of example and made with reference to the accompanying drawings, in
which:
[0018] FIG. 1 is an axial section of a closure device and of the
part forming the neck of a container in accordance with the
invention, before the device is mounted on the neck.
[0019] FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 when the device is being
mounted on the neck.
[0020] FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 when the device is
mounted on the neck, and
[0021] FIG. 4 is a partial section along line IV-IV in FIG. 3.
[0022] The container 1 shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 is a bottle of which
the neck 2 is made in one piece with the principal part 3 of the
bottle 1. The neck 2 is provided with an external thread 4.
[0023] X.sub.2 denotes a central axis of the neck 2, this axis
being an axis of symmetry of revolution of the neck 2, apart from
the fact that the thread 4 is inclined. 2a denotes the opening of
the neck 2, i.e. the disc-shaped surface constituting the boundary
between the internal volume of the neck 2 and the outside of the
container 1.
[0024] The neck 2 is provided with an external flange 5 defined
between a substantially truncated surface 5a convergent in the
direction of the opening 2a and an annular surface 5b substantially
perpendicular to axis X.sub.2. P.sub.5 denotes the geometrical
plane of the surface 5b. This plane is perpendicular to axis
X.sub.2.
[0025] According to the invention, the surface 5b is provided with
notches 6 which extend in the direction of a lower flange 7 and the
principal part 3 of the body 2. The notches 6 are thus opposite the
opening 2a with respect to the flange 5.
[0026] The closure device 10 provided to be mounted on the neck 2
is centred on a axis X.sub.10.
[0027] The device 10 comprises a cap 11 of which the bottom 12
extends in a cylindrical skirt 13 provided with an internal thread
14 adapted to cooperate with the thread 4.
[0028] The bottom 12 is also provided with a second skirt 15
intended to come into abutment against the internal cylindrical
surface 2b of the neck in the vicinity of the opening 2a. The skirt
15 is equipped with an outer bead 15a intended to improve the seal
of the abutment of the skirt 15 against the surface 2b.
[0029] The device 10 also comprises a tamperproof ring 16 connected
to the cap 11 by frangible or breakable zones 17 defined between
openings 18 made between the ring 16 and the cap 11.
[0030] The shape of the openings depends on a choice of design and
is not limited to that shown. According to a variant of the
invention (not shown), the openings 18 may extend in the direction
of the bottom 12 of the cap 11.
[0031] The ring 16 is equipped with an inner ring 19 defined
between a truncated surface 19a convergent in the direction of the
bottom 12 and an annular surface 19b substantially perpendicular to
the axis X.sub.10. P.sub.19 denotes the geometrical plane of the
surface 19b. This plane is substantially perpendicular to axis
X.sub.10 and parallel to the bottom 12 of the cap 11.
[0032] In accordance with the invention, the surface 19b is
provided with notches 20 which extend in the direction of the neck
12 and of which the geometry is such that they can cooperate with
the notches 6 provided on the neck 2.
[0033] As is visible in FIG. 2, when the device 10 is screwed on
the neck 2, the threads 4 and 14 cooperate and the surface 19a
comes into contact with the surface 5a, these surfaces sliding
against each other, which has the effect of radially expanding the
ring 16, as represented by arrows F.sub.1, in FIG. 2.
[0034] Screwing continues until the surface 19b passes beyond the
surface 5b in the direction of arrow F.sub.2 in FIG. 2, which
brings the ring 16 into the configuration of FIGS. 3 and 4 where
the notches 10 are opposite the notches 6.
[0035] In particular, while the device 10 is being positioned on
the neck 2, the notches 19 are not stressed radially, this avoiding
a risk of rupture or of plastic deformation of the ring 16. In
addition, the radial expansion of this ring during this movement is
progressive and uniformly distributed about axes X.sub.2 and
X.sub.10 as it results from the slide of the surface 19a on the
surface 5a.
[0036] In this configuration, if it is attempted to unscrew the cap
11, the beginning of the movement of the cap has the effect of
displacing the ring 16, which is still fast with this cap, in the
direction of the opening 2a, with the result that the notches 20
come into mesh with the notches 6 and the ring 16 is firmly
immobilized with respect to the neck 2. If the movement of
unscrewing is continued, the zones 17 are broken and the cap 11 is
separated from the ring 16, which a subsequent user of the
container 1 can immediately notice.
[0037] As is more particularly visible in FIG. 4, the notches 20
and 6 are inclined. More precisely, the notches 6 each have a face
6a substantially parallel to the axis X.sub.2 and a face 6b
inclined with respect to the face 6a. In the same way, the notches
20 have a face 20a substantially parallel to the axis X.sub.10,
i.e. oriented in the direction of the skirt 13, and a face 10b
inclined with respect to this face 10a. Taking into account the
inclined geometry of the notches 6 and 20, the latter are
compatible with a movement of screwing of the device 10 on the neck
2, this resulting in a displacement in the direction of arrow
F.sub.3 in FIG. 4, but oppose a movement of unscrewing as
represented by arrow F.sub.4, the surfaces 10a in that case coming
into abutment against the surfaces 6a.
[0038] Taking into account the mode of interaction between the
notches 6 and 20, the latter may have relatively small heights. In
practice, the height h.sub.6 of the notches 6 may be included
between 0.3 and 0.5 mm, in the same way as the height h.sub.20 of
the notches 20.
[0039] The invention has been represented with a neck 2 and a
closure device 10 both provided with notches over the whole
periphery of the flange 5 and of the ring 19. However, it is
possible to provide notches over only a part of one or of these two
projecting members.
[0040] In particular, it is possible to provide only four notches 6
on the neck 2, two notches being made at the level of the plan of
join between the two halves of this neck, while two other notches
are provided in a plane substantially perpendicular to this plan of
join.
[0041] The notches 6 are provided so that they can be demoulded by
the so-called "shell" principle.
[0042] The neck 2 may be in one piece with the principal part 3 of
the container 1 or connected thereon.
* * * * *