U.S. patent application number 14/355012 was filed with the patent office on 2014-09-25 for closing element for containers.
The applicant listed for this patent is GIFLOR S.R.L.. Invention is credited to Giuseppe Fracasso.
Application Number | 20140284347 14/355012 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 45044674 |
Filed Date | 2014-09-25 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140284347 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Fracasso; Giuseppe |
September 25, 2014 |
CLOSING ELEMENT FOR CONTAINERS
Abstract
The present invention is a closing device (1; 71; 91; 101) for a
container (50; 51), comprising: a main body (2; 72; 92) suited to
be connected to the container (50; 51) and comprising an opening
(4) for the passage of a product flowing out of the container (50;
51); a cover (12; 82) comprising closing means (23) of the opening
(4) and suited to be arranged in a closed position with respect to
the main body (2; 72; 92), in which the closing means (23)
intercept the opening (4), and suited to be arranged in an open
position, in which the closing means (23) do not intercept the
opening (4). In said closed position, at least one portion of the
cover (12; 82) does not face said main body (2; 72; 92).
Inventors: |
Fracasso; Giuseppe;
(Caldogno, IT) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
GIFLOR S.R.L. |
Grumolo delle Abbadesse (VI) |
|
IT |
|
|
Family ID: |
45044674 |
Appl. No.: |
14/355012 |
Filed: |
September 19, 2012 |
PCT Filed: |
September 19, 2012 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/IB2012/001895 |
371 Date: |
April 29, 2014 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
220/831 ;
220/834; 220/837 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 47/0838 20130101;
B65D 43/162 20130101; B65D 43/22 20130101; B65D 43/24 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
220/831 ;
220/834; 220/837 |
International
Class: |
B65D 43/16 20060101
B65D043/16; B65D 43/24 20060101 B65D043/24; B65D 43/22 20060101
B65D043/22 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 4, 2011 |
IT |
VI2011A000294 |
Claims
1. Closing device (1; 71; 91; 101) for a container (50; 51),
comprising: a main body (2; 72; 92) suited to be connected to said
container (50; 51) and comprising an opening (4) for the passage of
a product flowing out of said container (50; 51); a cover (12; 82)
comprising means (23) for closing said opening (4) and suited to be
arranged in a closed position with respect to said main body (2;
72; 92), in which said closing means (23) intercept said opening
(4), and suited to be arranged in an open position, in which said
closing means (23) do not intercept said opening (4); characterized
in that in said closed position at least one portion of said cover
(12; 82) does not face said main body (2; 72; 92).
2. Device (1; 71; 91; 101) according to claim 1, characterized in
that said opening (4) is located in at least one surface (3; 73) of
said main body (2; 72; 92) suited to face said cover (12; 82) when
said cover (12; 82) is in said closed position.
3. Device (1; 71; 91; 101) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized
in that said main body (2; 72; 92) comprises connection means (6)
suited to allow said device (1; 71; 91; 101) to be coupled with
said container (50; 51).
4. Device (1; 71; 91; 101) according to any of the preceding
claims, characterized in that said main body (2; 72; 92) and said
cover (12; 82) are integral with each other.
5. Device according to any of the claims from 1 to 3, characterized
in that said main body and said cover are constituted by two
separate elements assembled together in order to allow said cover
to be moved with respect to said main body.
6. Device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized
in that it comprises hinge means (17) between said main body (2;
72; 92) and said cover (12; 82).
7. Device (1; 71; 91; 101) according to any of the preceding
claims, characterized in that it is obtained by moulding a plastic
material.
8. Device (1; 71; 91; 101) according to any of the preceding
claims, characterized in that said main body (2; 72; 92) comprises
a collar (14) suited to be arranged so that it bears against the
upper surface of said container (50; 51).
9. Device (1; 71; 91; 101) according to any of the preceding
claims, characterized in that said cover (12; 82) has at its
periphery a side surface (13) suited to be arranged so that it
bears against the upper end of said container (50; 51).
10. Device (1; 71; 91; 101) according to any of the preceding
claims, characterized in that in said closed position at least one
portion of said cover (12; 82) faces directly a head surface (50a)
of said container (50; 51) when said device (1; 71; 91; 101) is
connected to said container (50; 51).
11. Device (1; 71; 91; 101) according to any of the preceding
claims, characterized in that said cover (12; 82) comprises holding
means (13a) suited to make it easier to move said cover (12; 82)
with respect to said main body (2; 72; 92).
12. Closing device (1; 71; 91; 101) for a container (50; 51),
comprising: a main body (2; 72; 92) suited to be connected to a
head surface (50a) of said container (50; 51) and comprising an
opening (4) for the passage of a product flowing out of said
container (50; 51); a cover (12; 82) comprising means (23) for
closing said opening (4) and suited to be arranged in a closed
position with respect to said main body (2; 72; 92), in which said
closing means (23) intercept said opening (4), and suited to be
arranged in an open position, in which said closing means (23) do
not intercept said opening (4); characterized in that in said
closed position at least one portion of said cover (12; 82) is
suited to face directly said head surface (50a) of said container
(50; 51) when said device (1; 71; 91; 101) is connected to said
container (50; 51).
13. Assembly comprising a container (50; 51) and a closing device
(1; 71; 91; 101) associated with said container (50; 51),
characterized in that said closing device (1; 71; 91; 101) is a
closing device (1; 71; 91; 101) carried out according to any of the
preceding claims.
14. Assembly according to claim 13, characterized in that in said
closed position at least one portion of said cover (12; 82) faces
directly a head surface (50a) of said container (50; 51).
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention concerns the field of container
production. In particular, the present invention concerns the
manufacturing of caps suited to be used to close containers such as
bottles or tubes.
DESCRIPTION OF THE STATE OF THE ART
[0002] Various types of caps are known, which are applied to
bottles or tubes such as containers for shampoos, bath foams,
toothpastes and similar products.
[0003] According to the known technique, the caps for said
containers are made of plastic and consist of two parts: a main
body suited to be connected to the container and a second moving
part in the shape of a cover. The two parts are advantageously
connected by means of an articulated joint. Typically, the two
parts define a single body obtained by moulding.
[0004] The main body of the cap is associated with the terminal
portion of the container and is provided with a dispensing hole
that is closed and/or opened by operating the cover.
[0005] The main body of the cap is usually applied by means of
pressure or by screwing it onto a terminal portion of the
container, where the hole for dispensing the product is
located.
[0006] According to the known technique, the peripheral surface of
the main body of the cap advantageously has a shape that matches
the shape of the terminal portion of the container with which it is
associated. In particular, the main body is typically provided with
a collar that adheres to the periphery of the terminal portion of
the container, substantially defining an extension of the typically
tubular shape of the container.
[0007] The peripheral surface of the cover, in turn, has a shape
that matches the shape of the peripheral surface of the main body
and thus the shape of the terminal portion of the container.
Therefore, in the closed position of the cover on the main body,
the cover defines a further extension of the shape of the
container.
[0008] In said closed position, therefore, the cover completely
faces the surface defined by the main body.
[0009] The solution provided according to the state of the art,
however, poses some drawbacks.
[0010] A drawback of the known technique is represented by the
quantity of material used to make the two parts that make up the
cap.
[0011] This negatively affects the cost of the raw material used
for making the cap.
[0012] Another drawback of the known technique lies in that for
containers having different shapes it is necessary to make specific
caps in which the two parts have a shape that matches the shape of
the terminal portion of the container with which they are
associated.
[0013] The main object of the present invention is thus to solve or
at least partially overcome the above mentioned problems that
characterize the solutions known in the state of the art.
[0014] In particular, it is one object of the present invention to
propose a cap that makes it possible to reduce the amount of raw
material used and therefore its production costs.
[0015] It is another object of the present invention to reduce the
design and manufacturing costs of the caps compared to the known
art.
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
[0016] According to a first aspect of the present invention, the
subject of the same is a closing device for a container,
comprising: [0017] a main body suited to be connected to said
container and comprising an opening for the passage of a product
flowing out of said container; [0018] a cover comprising means for
closing said opening and suited to be arranged in a closed position
with respect to said main body, in which said closing means
intercept said opening, and suited to be arranged in an open
position, in which said closing means do not intercept said
opening, wherein in said closed position at least one portion of
said cover does not face said main body.
[0019] The opening is properly located in at least one surface of
the main body suited to face the cover when the latter is in the
closed position.
[0020] The main body preferably comprises connection means suited
to allow the device to be coupled with the container.
[0021] In a preferred embodiment of the invention the main body and
the cover are made so that they are integral with each other.
[0022] According to another embodiment of the invention the main
body and the cover are constituted by two separate elements that
are assembled together in order to allow the cover to be moved with
respect to the main body.
[0023] The closing device preferably comprises hinge means between
the main body and the cover.
[0024] Advantageously, the closing device is obtained by moulding a
plastic material.
[0025] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the
main body comprises a collar suited to bear against the upper
surface of the container.
[0026] The cover is preferably provided at its periphery with a
side surface suited to be arranged so that it bears against the
upper end of the container.
[0027] Advantageously, in the closed position at least one portion
of the cover faces directly a head surface of the container when
the device is connected to the container.
[0028] The cover properly comprises holding means suited to make it
easier to move the cover with respect to the main body.
[0029] According to another aspect of the present invention, the
subject of the same is a closing device for a container,
comprising: [0030] a main body suited to be connected to a head
surface of said container and comprising an opening for the passage
of a product flowing out of said container; [0031] a cover
comprising means for closing said opening and suited to be arranged
in a closed position with respect to said main body, in which said
closing means intercept said opening, and suited to be arranged in
an open position, in which said closing means do not intercept said
opening, wherein in said closed position at least one portion of
said cover faces directly said head surface of said container when
said device is connected to said container.
[0032] According to a further aspect of the present invention, the
subject of the same is an assembly comprising a container and a
closing device associated with said container, in which the closing
device is of the type described above.
[0033] Advantageously, in the closed position at least one portion
of the cover faces directly a head surface of the container.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0034] Further advantages, objects and characteristics, as well as
further embodiments of the present invention are defined in the
claims and will be illustrated in the following description, with
reference to the enclosed drawings; in the drawings, corresponding
or equivalent characteristics and/or components of the present
invention are identified by the same reference numbers. In
particular:
[0035] FIG. 1 shows an axonometric view of a container provided
with a cap according to a first embodiment of the invention;
[0036] FIG. 2 shows the container shown in FIG. 1 with the cap in
open configuration;
[0037] FIG. 3 shows an axonometric view of the cap shown in FIG.
1;
[0038] FIG. 4 shows a view from below of the cap shown in FIG.
3;
[0039] FIG. 5 shows the cap shown in FIG. 3 in open
configuration;
[0040] FIG. 6 shows a view from below of the cap shown in FIG.
5;
[0041] FIG. 7 shows an axonometric view of a container provided
with a cap according to a different embodiment of the
invention;
[0042] FIG. 8 shows a view from below of the cap shown in FIG.
7;
[0043] FIG. 9 shows an axonometric view of a further variant
embodiment of the cap of the invention;
[0044] FIG. 10 shows an axonometric view of another variant
embodiment of the cap of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
[0045] Although the present invention is described below with
reference to its embodiments illustrated in the drawings, the
present invention is not limited to the embodiments described below
and illustrated in the drawings.
[0046] On the contrary, the embodiments described and illustrated
in the drawings clarify some aspects of the present invention, the
scope of which is defined in the claims.
[0047] The present invention has shown to be particularly
advantageous when applied to closing devices for containers suited
to contain fluid products, for example bath products like shampoos,
bath foams, toothpastes or cosmetic products like cosmetic creams
and the like. More preferably, the present invention has shown to
be particularly advantageous when applied to closing devices made
of plastic and obtained using moulding techniques. It should
however be noted that the present invention is not limited to such
usage. On the contrary, the present invention can be usefully
applied in all cases requiring the use of closing devices for
containers suited to contain a fluid product that is easy to
dispense, for example deodorizers, hair removal creams, or
containers for pharmaceutical or veterinary products, or containers
for cooking ingredients like mayonnaise, sauces, or even containers
for bonding substances and the like.
[0048] With reference to Figures from 1 to 6, here below is the
description of a first embodiment of a closing device 1,
hereinafter simply referred to as "cap", manufactured according to
the present invention; in the figures similar or equivalent
characteristics and/or component parts are identified by the same
reference numbers.
[0049] In FIG. 1 the closing device 1 according to the embodiment
proposed by the present invention is shown when applied to a
container 50 and in its closed configuration.
[0050] In FIG. 2 the same closing device 1 is shown in its open
configuration. The container 50 shown in the figures is a container
of the tube-shaped type suited to contain fluids consisting, for
example, of toothpaste, bath foam, a cosmetic cream, etc.
[0051] The container 50 is preferably made of a plastic material
and its cross section has a substantially elliptical shape.
[0052] The plastic materials suited to be used for this purpose are
polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PELLD, PELD, PEMD, PEHD) and
other materials known as ABL, PBL, PCR, soft touch resin.
[0053] At the upper end of the container 50 there is a head surface
50a that is provided with an opening, not visible in the figures,
intended to dispense the product. The size and shape of the
dispensing opening can be different from time to time, according to
the size of the container and/or to the type of product to be
dispensed.
[0054] The closing device 1 is advantageously applied to the
container 50 through a snap-in connection, as will be described in
greater detail below.
[0055] According to variant embodiments of the invention, however,
the cap may be associated with the container in a different way,
for example via a screwing operation or through equivalent
connection means.
[0056] For this purpose, the upper end of the container 50 is
provided with corresponding connection means suited to allow the
coupling of the cap 1 and not shown in the figures. Typically, the
upper end of the container is provided with a portion of neck that
projects from the head surface 50a in order to allow the coupling
of the cap.
[0057] The cap 1, better visible in FIG. 5, comprises a main body
2, or base portion, suited to be connected to the container 50.
[0058] The main body 2 comprises at the top a main surface 3
provided with a dispensing hole 4 suited to be in communication
with the corresponding dispensing opening of the container 50.
[0059] More particularly, the dispensing hole 4 is located on an
annular portion 3a of the surface, belonging to a plane that is
slightly offset and raised with respect to the plane defined by the
main surface 3. Said annular portion 3a of the surface has
furthermore a different shape that is not coaxial with the main
surface 3.
[0060] In variant embodiments of the invention, however, the main
body may comprise at its top different surfaces arranged on two or
more offset planes. Furthermore, said surfaces may come in any type
of shape, coaxial or not. Again, and even more simply, according to
the invention there may be a single upper surface provided with
said dispensing opening.
[0061] A collar 14, suited to bear against the head surface 50a of
the container 50, advantageously develops on the periphery of the
main surface 3.
[0062] In its lower portion 2a that faces the container 50, the
main body 2 comprises means 6 for connection to the container 50,
as shown in FIG. 6. The connection means 6 comprise two projecting
cylindrical portions 7, 8, suited to define an annular area that
accommodates a cylindrical neck projecting from the container 50.
At the level of the external cylindrical portion 7 there are two
projecting edges 9a, 9b suited to be snapped in corresponding seats
obtained in the neck of the container 50.
[0063] In variant embodiments of the invention the connection means
can be of a different type, for example one or more projecting
edges may be provided on the neck of the cap and corresponding
seats can be created in the cap. Again, it is possible to provide a
portion of nut screw on the lower portion of the main body of the
cap, said portion of nut screw being suited to be engaged in a
threaded portion provided on the cylindrical neck of the
container.
[0064] The cap 1 also comprises a moving element 12, or cover,
suited to intercept the dispensing hole 4 of the main body 2.
[0065] For this purpose, the cover 12 is provided with a reference
element 23 suited to be fitted in the dispensing hole 4 of the main
body 2.
[0066] The cover 12 can be moved, in the case at hand rotated, so
that it comes to be in a configuration in which the dispensing hole
4 is closed, that is, the cap 1 is closed, as shown for example in
FIG. 1, or in a configuration in which the dispensing hole 4 is
open, that is, the cap 1 is open, as shown for example in FIG.
2.
[0067] For this purpose, the main body 2 and the cover 17 are
joined in a hinge area 17.
[0068] The cover 12 has a shape that substantially matches the
shape of the container 50, in the case at hand an elliptical
shape.
[0069] The cover 12 is provided at its periphery with a side
surface 13 comprising an edge 13a suited to be arranged so that it
bears against the upper end of the container 50 to cover its head
surface 50a. A slightly recessed area 13b is defined on the side
surface 13 and is suited to favour the engagement for the rotation
of the cover 12.
[0070] In the first embodiment of the invention illustrated herein,
the side surface 13 and the corresponding edge 13a have a
substantially elliptical shape.
[0071] The side surface 13 of the cover 12 substantially adheres to
the upper end of the container 50, definitively and advantageously
creating an extension of the container 50.
[0072] Thanks to the above, the unit made up of the container 50
and the cap 1 has a compact structure.
[0073] The parts making up the cap 1, meaning the main body 2, the
cover 12 and the hinge area 17, are advantageously produced in a
single body, by means of a plastic moulding operation.
[0074] The plastic materials suited to be used for this purpose are
preferably polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PELLD, PELD, PEMD,
PEHD).
[0075] In variant embodiments of the invention, however, the main
body and the cover may be produced separately and assembled
successively in order to be able to be mutually moved with respect
to each other, for example through hinge connection means that
allow the cover to be moved with a rotary movement, as described
herein.
[0076] According to the present invention, the surface 3 of the
main body 2 has a reduced extension with respect to the cover
12.
[0077] In other words, considering the cap 1 in the closed position
as shown for example in FIG. 4, a portion of the cover 12 does not
face the main body 2. This portion is better identified by the
hatched area indicated by Z in FIG. 5.
[0078] Furthermore, always in said closed position according to the
present invention, a portion of the cover 12, corresponding to said
hatched area Z, directly faces the head surface 50a of the
container 50.
[0079] The presence of such main body 2 with reduced extension
compared to the cover 12 makes it possible to produce a cap 1 using
a limited quantity of material.
[0080] Production costs are consequently reduced.
[0081] The reduced extension of the main body 2, furthermore, does
not affect the compactness of the assembly made up of the container
50 and the cap 1, said compactness being guaranteed by the matching
shaped of the cover 12 and the container 50.
[0082] Another variant embodiment of the invention is described
with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8.
[0083] According to said variant embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7,
the cap 71 is applied to a tubular container 51 whose upper part
has a substantially circular cross section.
[0084] Said variant differs from the embodiment previously
described with reference to Figures from 1 to 6 due to the
different shape of the cover 82 that has a substantially circular
instead of elliptical shape, so that it can adapt to the
corresponding circular shape of the upper part of the container 51
to which it adheres in the closed position.
[0085] Also the shape of the main body 72 is slightly different
from the one previously described.
[0086] Advantageously, the surface 73 of the main body 72 also in
this case has a reduced extension compared to the cover 82, as
shown in FIG. 8.
[0087] FIG. 9 shows another variant embodiment of the cap 91 of the
invention. Said variant differs from the embodiment described above
with reference to
[0088] FIGS. 7 and 8 due to the different shape of the main body 92
that is substantially square.
[0089] FIG. 10 shows a further variant embodiment of the cap 101 of
the invention.
[0090] In said variant the main body 2 is the same as described
with reference to the first embodiment shown in Figures from 1 to
6, while the cover 82 has a substantially circular shape, as
illustrated with reference to the second embodiment of FIGS. 7 and
8.
[0091] The cap 101 of FIG. 10, therefore, can advantageously be
applied to a container 51 of the type shown in FIG. 7.
[0092] The comparison between the cap 1 of the first embodiment and
the cap 101 of the present embodiment shows that they can be
produced using a main body 2 having the same shape.
[0093] This makes it possible to further reduce production costs in
the cases where caps for containers having different shapes are to
be produced.
[0094] In fact, it will be sufficient to modify only the
construction of the cover, while the main body can be the same for
all the types of cap. This can be advantageously used if the
production of the cap involves the production of the main body
separately from the cover.
[0095] The above thus shows that the closing device that is the
subject of the invention makes it possible to achieve the set
objects, and in particular makes it possible to reduce production
material and costs compared to the devices of the known art. While
the present invention has been described with reference to the
particular embodiments shown in the figures, it should be noted
that the present invention is not limited to the specific
embodiments illustrated and described herein; on the contrary,
further variants of the embodiments described herein fall within
the scope of the present invention, which is defined in the
claims.
* * * * *