Hinged closure device with first-opening indicator

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

0001The invention relates to a closure device, according to the preamble of claim 1, in at least two parts, comprising a base having a function of attachment to a container neck and / or a pourer function, and a cap articulated to This base.

STATE OF THE PRIOR ART

0002There are known hinged caps in one, two or three plastic pieces, commonly called sports caps, enabling a consumer to directly drink the contents of a container and close it again. In the document<patcit id="pcit0001" dnum="WO2004007313A"><text>WO 2004/007313</text></patcit> There is illustrated a plug of this type made in two parts, with a first piece constituting both a base for fixing to a neck of a container and a pourer allowing a setting in the mouth, and a second part forming a cap that covers and closes the cap The second part further comprising a fastening ring and a flexible hinge strap connecting the fastening ring to the cap. An advantage of this type of stopper is that it can be manufactured in a closed position, that is to say without closing operation by pivoting the cap on its articulation, the assembly of the two parts being made by a simple movement of During which the ring is inserted by its lower part into a fixing groove provided for this purpose in the base. The ring is also provided in its upper part with one or more indentations each accommodating a first opening indicator linked on the one hand to the bottom of the notch and on the other hand to a rim of the cap. The desired effect is to achieve, upon opening, a breaking of the first opening indicator in two parts, one connected to the cap and the other to the ring, and by displacement or deformation of the l At least one of these two parts, to make the opening detectable by the consumer. In practice, however, it is difficult, on small plugs, to obtain displacement or deformation that can be detected by the consumer. That is why, for its marketing, A breakable tongue serving as a first opening indicator. Precautions must then be taken so that this breakable tongue does not separate from the stopper after opening, which would be penalizing from the point of view of respect for the environment.

0003In the document <patcit id="pcit0002" dnum="EP1892194A"><text>EP 1 892 194</text></patcit> Has been proposed a two-piece sports cap, namely a first part forming a base and a cap articulated to the base by a hinge, and a second part constituting a pourer inserted in the base. This plug can also be manufactured in the closed position, by axial assembly of the two parts. An annular dead volume is preserved between the two assembled parts, which volume serves to accommodate, after opening, a first opening indicator which separates from a peripheral wall of the cap. For a good assembly preserving this annular dead volume, it is necessary to provide stops projecting axially from the base of the base and against which the pourer is positioned. The result is once again a considerable axial size. Moreover, the disappearance of the first opening indicator does not necessarily make it possible for a consumer unfamiliar with the cap in question to visually recognize if the latter has already been opened. Finally, the fact that the base and the cap belong to the same part limits the color and material variations for the externally visible part, except to make this part by bi-injection, which increases the cost thereof.

0004In the document <patcit id="pcit0003" dnum="WO2007006892A"><text>WO2007 / 006892</text></patcit> Is described a stopper comprising a first part and a second part, rigidly associated with each other. The first part forms a peripheral base and a pouring means. It also includes first peripheral fixing means for the second part. The second part forms a cover, means for pivoting the cover and second peripheral fixing means complementary to the first fixing means, these second means being constituted by a ring. The stopper thus comprises two parts, one that can be described as fixed - in the sense that it is fixed rigidly on the neck of the container - and the other which can be qualified as movable, To-one by the pivot means. The fixed part comprises the first part and the ring, while the movable part is formed by the single cover. The plug also comprises external means ensuring the tamperability before a first opening, interposed between the fixed part and the mobile part. These means are made in the form of frangible bridges connecting a lower free edge of the skirt of the hood to an adjacent upper edge of the ring. The frangible bridges are designed to be broken when, on first opening of the hood, the user pulls axially upwards on the hood opposite the pivoting means. According to another variant embodiment, the frangible bridges can be replaced by a line or a zone of lower resistance. In practice, the change in state of the tamper-proofing means is hardly visible when the cover, after first opening, is returned to the closed position. The consumer must therefore rely on the resistance of the cap before the first opening to detect the condition of the stopper.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

0005The invention aims to remedy some or all of the disadvantages of the prior art identified above.

0006According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a closure device for securing to a container neck, the closure device comprising: a first part forming a base for fixing to the container neck and having a peripheral fixing groove ; And a second cap-forming part, a fixing ring defining a reference geometric axis, and a hinge connecting the fixing ring to the cap for guiding the cap relative to the ring between a closed position and an open position, The fastening ring being engaged by snap-fastening in the fixing groove of the first part. The second part also forms a first opening indicator and a breakable connection between the first opening indicator and a peripheral edge of the cap, a free space being preserved in the axial direction between the ring and the first opening indicator in the forward closed position The first opening indicator being retained by at least one attachment zone of the first part so as to be separated from the cap and falling into the clearance during the first opening.

0007The closure device thus defined can be manufactured in the closed position by axial assembly and offers a very good visibility of the indicator of first opening, while avoiding that the indicator of first opening is separated from the closure device, opening.

0008The two parts, which in practice are made of plastic, can be manufactured, if necessary, with different materials, for example more flexible for the base and more rigid for the cap. It is also possible to choose for the two parts different colors, which makes it easier to visualize the indicator of first opening and, by providing several combinations of colors, makes it possible to identify different beverages of a given range, each by a given color pair . One of the two pieces can be transparent.

0009The peripheral groove is preferably annular and the ring closed so as to maximize the contact surfaces between the ring and the groove and thus promote good snap-fastening without requiring dimensional tolerances and assembly which are expensive to meet under industrial conditions .

0010Preferably, the first part is shaped so as to make visible in the closed position before first opening the indicator of first opening as well as the free space. Thus, the first opening indicator is visible before and after the first opening, so that the consumer, even if he is not familiar with the closure device, can not mistake his condition. More specifically, the first opening indicator has a face turned radially towards the outside, visible before first opening and remaining fully visible after first opening. No other surface of the first opening indicator turned radially towards the outside and which would be invisible before first opening does not appear after the first opening. It is therefore essentially the release and the movement of the first opening indicator that make it possible to identify that the first opening has taken place.

0011According to one embodiment, the first part comprises at least two attachment zones and at least one visual notch separating the two attachment zones, making it possible to see the first opening indicator as well as the space in the closed position before first opening free.

0012According to one embodiment, the attachment zones are more than two in number, are distributed preferably over the entire periphery of the first part, preferably evenly spaced apart and are separated in pairs by notches, of which at least one is A visualization indentation making the first opening indicator and the clearance visible, before first opening. Thus, an angular indexing stress of the first part is dispensed with relative to the second part during assembly. Preferably, the notches have a longer arc length than the hooking zones which they separate, for a good visualization of the first opening indicator

0013Preferably, the hooking zone or zones oppose an extraction of the first opening indicator from the open space after first opening, thus avoiding any risk of ingestion of the first opening indicator by a child, and Risk of pollution.

0014According to one embodiment, the first opening indicator has a shape in the shape of an arc of a circle about the reference axis. The angle covered by this arc of circle can be important, which is favorable to good visualization. According to one embodiment, the arc of a circle runs over an angular sector greater than 45 °, preferably greater than 60 °, and preferably less than 180 °, for example of the order of 60 °, 90 ° or 120 °. According to another embodiment, the arc of a circle runs over an angular sector greater than 180 °, preferably from a first lateral edge of the hinge to a second opposite lateral edge of the hinge. Naturally, angles less than 45 ° are also conceivable, for example of the order of 30 °, and in particular if the shape, size and / or color of the indicator allows good visualization of the change of position.

0015Preferably, the hinge is a reactive hinge, stable at least in the open position, which facilitates its use in the open position, in particular for drinking directly from the container, but also for pouring the contents of the container without the risk of the cap closing . Preferably, the hinge has at least two stable positions, corresponding respectively to the open position and the closed position of the cap, which also promotes a good closure of the cap.

0016According to one embodiment, the hinge comprises a strip of material connected by an upper end to a connection zone of the cap and by a lower end to the ring and opposite lateral edges facing corresponding lateral edges of the cap. Preferably, the hinge in the closed position does not protrude from a peripheral wall of the cap. Because it does not protrude from the cap in the closed position, the hinge can not be damaged by handling shocks. In addition, it does not provide dust or other contamination during storage.

0017The cap preferably has a tongue projecting radially outwardly radially away from the hinge to facilitate opening. Preferably, this tongue remains inside a cylinder tangent to an outer periphery of the ring, in order to prevent it from receiving shocks during handling and storage. Preferably, this tongue is disposed in an upper region located in the closed position opposite the ring with respect to a plane perpendicular to the reference axis and not cutting the hinge.

0018The cap has a preferably planar top wall and a height measured in closed position between a lower peripheral edge of the cap and the top wall, the height preferably being less than the outside diameter of the ring, preferably less than 2/3 of the top Diameter of the ring.

0019According to a preferred embodiment, the first part forms a pouring portion projecting in the axial direction with respect to the fixing groove, the pourer preferably having an external surface having a symmetry of revolution about the reference axis. In this case, the cap preferably has an inner sealing skirt, which comes into elastic interference with an inside or outside face of the pourer.

0020Preferably, the closure device consists only of the two parts defined above, although it is possible to envisage, as a variant, a third part, for example an elastic valve disposed in an opening in the base or its pourer , Or an added pourer. If necessary, a lamp intended to identify an attempt to separate the base and the neck of the receptacle is provided on the base.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

0021BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will become apparent on reading the following description, with reference to the appended figures, which illustrate:<ul><li>the <figref idrefs="f0001">figure 1</figref>, An isometric view of a two-piece closure device, after assembly and in the closed position before a first opening, according to a first embodiment of the invention;</li><li>the <figref idrefs="f0001">Figure 2</figref>, An isometric view of the closure device of the <figref idrefs="f0001">figure 1</figref>, In the open position;</li><li>the <figref idrefs="f0001">Figure 3</figref>, A rear view of the two parts of the closure device of FIG. <figref idrefs="f0001">figure 1</figref>, Before assembly;</li><li>the <figref idrefs="f0001">FIG. 4</figref>, A side view of the two parts of the closure device of FIG. <figref idrefs="f0001">figure 1</figref>, Before assembly;</li><li>the <figref idrefs="f0002">FIG. 5</figref>, A sectional view of a detail of the closure device of FIG. <figref idrefs="f0001">figure 1</figref>, In the closed position before first opening;</li><li>the <figref idrefs="f0002">Figure 6</figref>, A sectional view of a detail of the closure device of FIG. <figref idrefs="f0001">figure 1</figref>, In the closed position before first opening;</li><li>the <figref idrefs="f0002">Figure 7</figref>, A view in the plane of section of the <figref idrefs="f0002">FIG. 5</figref> Of a detail of the closure device of the <figref idrefs="f0001">figure 1</figref>, In the closed position after first opening;</li><li>the <figref idrefs="f0002">Figure 8</figref>, A view in the plane of section of the <figref idrefs="f0002">Figure 6</figref> Of a detail of the closure device of the <figref idrefs="f0001">figure 1</figref>, In the closed position after first opening;</li><li>the <figref idrefs="f0003">Figure 9</figref>, An isometric view of a two-piece closure device according to a second embodiment of the invention, before assembly in the closed position;</li><li>the <figref idrefs="f0003">Figure 10</figref>, An isometric view of the closure device of the <figref idrefs="f0003">Figure 9</figref>, After assembly, in the closed position, before first opening;</li><li>the <figref idrefs="f0003">Figure 11</figref>, An isometric view of the closure device of the <figref idrefs="f0003">Figure 9</figref>, In the open position;</li><li>the <figref idrefs="f0004">Figure 12</figref>, A sectional view of a detail of the closure device of FIG. <figref idrefs="f0003">Figure 9</figref>, In the closed position before first opening;</li><li>the <figref idrefs="f0004">Figure 13</figref>, A sectional view of a detail of the closure device of FIG. <figref idrefs="f0003">Figure 9</figref>, In the closed position before first opening;</li><li>the <figref idrefs="f0004">Figure 14</figref>, A sectional view of a detail of the closure device of FIG. <figref idrefs="f0003">Figure 9</figref>, In the closed position before first opening;</li><li>the <figref idrefs="f0004">FIG. 15</figref>, A view in the plane of section of the <figref idrefs="f0004">Figure 12</figref> Of a detail of the closure device of the <figref idrefs="f0003">Figure 9</figref>, In the closed position after first opening;</li><li>the <figref idrefs="f0004">Figure 16</figref>, A view in the plane of section of the <figref idrefs="f0004">Figure 13</figref> Of a detail of the closure device of the <figref idrefs="f0003">Figure 9</figref>, In the closed position after first opening;</li><li>the <figref idrefs="f0004">Figure 17</figref>, A view in the plane of section of the <figref idrefs="f0004">Figure 14</figref> Of a detail of the closure device of the <figref idrefs="f0003">Figure 9</figref>, In the closed position after first opening;</li></ul>

0022For the sake of clarity, identical or similar elements are identified by identical reference signs throughout the figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT

0023The capping device 10 shown on the <figref idrefs="f0001 f0002">Figures 1 to 8</figref> Is made up of two parts 12, 14 made of plastic material and assembled to one another.

0024The first part 12 comprises a base 16 provided with a relief (not shown) for fixing to a receptacle, which may be constituted, for example, and in known manner, by one or more threads enabling the base to be screwed to a neck of container. In a known manner, this base may also be equipped at its lower end with a tamper-evident ring cooperating with the neck of the container in order to make visible any attempt to separate the first part from the neck of the container. The first part 12 also comprises a pourer 18 projecting in the axial direction with respect to the base 16, this pourer having here an external surface having a symmetry of revolution about a reference axis 100 of the first part 12 and a Central opening 19.

0025The first part 12 also has a peripheral annular fixing groove 20 visible on the <figref idrefs="f0002">FIGS. 5 to 8</figref>, Constituted in the base and surrounding the pourer 18. This groove 20 is partially closed by an annular fixing relief 22 projecting radially towards the inside of the groove 20 and towards the pourer 18.

0026The first piece 12 also has retaining tabs 24, in this case six in number, separated in pairs by notches 26 and projecting from the base 12 in the axial direction facing and at a short distance from a cylindrical wall 28 of the pourer 18. Each of the retaining tabs 24 forms a hooking zone with a hook 30 projecting radially inwards and towards the pourer 18.

0027The second piece 14 forms a cap 32, a closed fixing ring 34 defining a reference axis 200 and a hinge 36 connecting the fixing ring 34 to the cap 32 to guide the cap 32 relative to the ring 34 between a position Closed on the <figref idrefs="f0001">figure 1</figref>, And an open position illustrated on the <figref idrefs="f0001">Figure 2</figref>, By rotation about an orthoradial axis 300 with respect to the reference axis 200. The cap 32 has a preferably planar top wall 38 and a peripheral wall 40. The inside face of the top wall may be provided, Known, of a sealing skirt (not shown) coming into axial or preferably radial contact with an inner or outer wall of the opening 19. The cap 32 has a height H, measured in closed position between a peripheral rim Lower wall 42 of the peripheral wall 40 and the top wall 38, which in this embodiment is smaller than the outside diameter D of the ring 34 and in this case less than 2/3 of the outside diameter of the ring . The top wall forms a tongue 44 projecting radially outwards radially away from the hinge 36. This tongue 44 is preferably located inside a cylinder tangent to an outer periphery of the ring 34, preferably in an upper region located in a closed position opposite the ring and the hinge 36 with respect to a plane perpendicular to the reference axis 200.

0028The hinge 36 comprises a strip of material connected by an upper end to a connection zone of the cap 32 and by a lower end to the ring 34 and opposite lateral edges 46, 48 facing corresponding lateral edges of the cap 32. In at least one zone situated axially between on the one hand a first plane perpendicular to the reference axis 200 and intersecting the upper end of the strip and on the other hand a second plane perpendicular to the reference axis 200 and cutting The lower end of the strip and extending angularly about the reference axis at 60 ° on either side of the lateral edges of the strip, the hinge and the cap in the closed position have a common outer envelope, Which means that the hinge does not protrude from the adjacent surface of the peripheral wall of the cap.

0029It is possible to define a geometric plane P perpendicular to the reference axis 200 situated between the top wall 38 and the ring 34 and below which the peripheral wall 40 has a spherical outer envelope or more generally constituted by a surface of revolution Around the reference axis 200, in particular a surface of revolution having a generatrix having a concavity facing the axis of revolution 200. This plane P is preferably located above the hinge 36 between the latter and the wall 38. Preferably, the peripheral wall 40 of the cap at its lower end is tangent or substantially tangential to a cylinder of revolution about the reference axis 200.

0030The second part 14 also comprises a first opening indicator 50 in the form of an arc of a circle extending substantially over an angular sector greater than 180 ° about the reference axis 200, preferably from a first lateral edge 46 of the Hinge 36 to a second opposite side edge 48 of the hinge, without being connected thereto. The first opening indicator 50 is connected to the peripheral rim 42 of the peripheral wall 40 of the cap by breakable bridges 52 and is positioned axially between the peripheral rim 42 and the fixing ring 34. As illustrated in particular in FIGS.<figref idrefs="f0001">Figures 3 and 4</figref>, A free space 54 is preserved in the axial direction between the ring 34 and the first opening indicator 50 in the closed position before first opening.

0031The two pieces 12, 14 are assembled to constitute the closure device, making the reference axes 100, 200 coincide in the position illustrated in FIGS. <figref idrefs="f0001">Figures 3 and 4</figref>, And then moving the two parts 12, 14 towards each other by axial translation. It should be noted that it is not necessary to provide an angular indexing of the parts around the axes of rotation 100, 200 due to the symmetry of revolution of the first part. The fastening ring 34, which is provided with an attachment relief 56 projecting radially outwards, is elastically deformed as the fastening relief 22 of the groove 20 passes, and then irreversibly engages in the Fixing groove 20, the fixing reliefs 22 and 56 being opposed to the separation of the two parts. The first opening indicator 50 for its part has an attachment relief 58 which, after elastic deformation when the hooks 30 pass, is snap-fastened under the hooks 30 of the retaining tabs 24, as illustrated in FIGS.<figref idrefs="f0002">Figures 5 and 6</figref>.

0032At the first opening of the cap 32, the first opening indicator 50 is retained by the hooks 30 of the tabs 24, and the bridges 52 are broken away, separating the first opening indicator 50 from the cap 32. The first opening indicator 50 then falls By gravity in the free space 54 and comes to rest against the ring 34. This position is preserved when the cap 32 is closed, as illustrated in FIGS. <figref idrefs="f0002">Figures 7 and 8</figref>.

0033The drop of the first opening indicator 50 gives rise to a space 58 (<figref idrefs="f0002">Figure 8</figref>) Between the cap 32 and the first opening indicator 50, which space is perfectly visible from all angles and indicates to the consumer that the closure device 10 has been opened. Remarkably, this space runs along the entire periphery of the cap, from one lateral edge of the hinge to the other. Also remarkably, there is neither appearance nor disappearance of the first opening indicator 50, but merely displacement of the latter. Even if he is unfamiliar with the capping device 10, the consumer observing the positioning of the first opening indicator 50 on the closed closure device can easily verify whether or not there was opening by shaking or turning the container And observing whether there is displacement of the first opening indicator, or by listening to the sound of the first opening indicator moving with respect to the first part.

0034It should also be noted that insofar as the first opening indicator 50 remains trapped by the tabs 24, the release into the environment of a plastic part which could be a source of pollution or present a danger in the event of ingestion by a child.

0035The open position illustrated on the <figref idrefs="f0001">Figure 2</figref> Is preferably a stable position, and the hinge 36 is preferably a reactive hinge in the sense that, after breaking of the bridges 52, the hinge 36 tends by itself to drive the cap 32 towards the open position. If necessary, the hinge is reactive only after an angular neutral point position has been exceeded about the axis 300. It is then possible to speak of a bistable hinge, in the sense that, according to the angular positioning of the cap 32 of a On either side of the dead center, the hinge 36 recalls the cap 32 towards the closed position or the open position.

0036A second embodiment of the invention will now be described in connection with the <figref idrefs="f0003 f0004">FIGS. 9 to 17</figref>. This corking device is largely similar to that of<figref idrefs="f0001 f0002">Figures 1 to 8</figref>, And to avoid repetition, reference will be made to the above description for the common points.

0037As illustrated in the figures, the first part 12 of the closure device 10 according to the second embodiment comprises only a notch 26 extending over an angle of less than 180 °, and preferably of approximately 60 to 120 ° , Preferably diametrically opposite the hinge 36. On either side of this notch 26 is constituted a groove 20 which runs in the peripheral direction from one edge of the notch 26 to the other, An angular sector of more than 180 ° complementary to that of the notch 26. The groove 20 is provided with a fixing relief 22 projecting radially inwards and towards a cylindrical wall 28 of the pourer 18.

0038The second part 14 comprises a cap 32 whose peripheral wall 40 has an indentation 41 for at least partially accommodating a first opening indicator 50 which is connected to the peripheral wall 40 by divisible bridges 52 located at this notch 41. The fixing ring 34 of the second part 14 comprises a segment 35 of reduced height at the level of the first opening indicator 50 in order to leave a sufficient space 54 visible between the first opening indicator 50 and the fixing ring 34 On both sides of the segment 35, the fixing ring 34 has a greater height and is provided with an attachment relief 56 projecting radially outwards, which runs substantially to the edge The first opening indicator 50 has in the circumferential direction a length slightly greater than the notch 26 and has at its ends two attachment reliefs 58 situated in the extension of the reliefs of Fastening ring 56 of the fastening ring 34. The ends of the fixing groove 20 are thus disposed opposite the two fastening projections 58 and constitute two fastening zones for the first opening indicator 50. Apart from these Two attachment zones, the fixing groove 20 makes it possible to accommodate and retain the fixing ring 34.

0039At assembly, the reference axes 100, 200 of the two parts 12, 14 are aligned and angularly positioned with respect to one another before being brought closer together. The ring 34 snaps into the groove 20 and the fixing reliefs 58 snap into the hooking zones at the two ends of the groove 20.

0040At the first opening, the first opening indicator 50 is blocked at the hooking zones, the bridges 52 are broken off and the cap 32 is opened while the first opening indicator 50 falls by gravity into the free space 54 , In contact with the tapered segment 35 of the fixing ring 34, as illustrated in FIGS. <figref idrefs="f0003">Figures 11</figref> and <figref idrefs="f0004">15 to 17</figref>. This position is retained when the cap 32 is subsequently closed, so as to inform the consumer of the opening of the container.

0041Naturally, many variants are possible. In order to limit the flexural deformation of the first opening indicator 50 during the removal of the bridges 52, it may be advantageous to position the latter only in the vicinity of the ends of the first opening indicator and of the attachment reliefs 58.

0042The shape of the hinge 36 and that of the cap 32, which in the embodiments presented have been chosen to impart good mechanical strength to the second part 14 and to minimize the consumption of material, can however vary, in particular from aesthetic considerations. The pourer 18 can be of any type and is not necessarily centered on the reference axis 200 of the second part.

0043In a variant of the first embodiment, provision may be made for the annular fastening relief 22 provided on the first part 12 for fixing the ring 34 to project radially outwards from the cylindrical wall 28 of the pourer. Similarly, the hooking hooks 30 can be disposed on the cylindrical wall 28 of the pourer and oriented radially outwards. The retaining tongues 24 then have only a function of retaining the ring 34 and the first opening indicator 50. This remark applies similarly to the second embodiment.

0044Naturally, the invention, as defined by the claims, is applicable to stoppers having various exterior shapes.