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[0001] The invention aims in particular to propose a cap, known as a service cap, which is to prevent or permit the discharge of a fluid cosmetic product contained in a bottle or the like.
[0002] To be more precise, the invention relates to a cap of the type comprising:
[0003] a base surface having a dispensing opening,
[0004] closure means enabling the dispensing opening to be closed or opened,
[0005] retaining means for holding the cap in position relative to a bottle or the like having a filling opening.
[0006] The object of the invention is to propose a solution which is simple, reliable, inexpensive, easy to use, compact, discreet and aesthetic.
[0007] EP-A-0 791 542 discloses a dispensing package for viscous liquid products including a plastic container having a finish defining an opening in a surface recessed in a portion of the container and a cap of the aforementioned type. The cap includes a skirt extending along an axial direction and inserted in the opening of the plastic container. The cap comprises retaining means including axial slits and annular portions of a retaining wall interrupted by the slits. The cap snaps below the finish, the annular wall being in contact with a flange of the finish, in order to hold the cap in position.
[0008] However, the embodiments described in that document are not entirely satisfactory. The slits ensure that the skirt is flexible, so that the shoulder can be inserted in the opening of the bottle. However, they constitute a weakness as regards radial leak-tightness between the opening and the skirt. To ensure leak-tightness between the bottle and the cap, the shoulder has to come firmly into contact with the finish in order to provide axial leak-tightness between the cap and the finish. This complicates production of the cap by moulding, especially as the shoulder forms an undercut. In addition, the leak-tightness is hardly satisfactory.
[0009] FR-A-2 728 543 describes a cap secured to the finish of a bottle. The cap comprises a skirt which is inserted in an opening formed in the finish, and a cylindrical portion extending around and along the finish and having, at its free end, a resiliently deformable bead which is inserted in a recessed portion formed in the outer surface of the finish of the bottle.
[0010] The presence of the cylindrical portion around the finish, which is necessary in order to retain the cap on the bottle, increases the size and the complexity of the cap, and consequently its cost.
[0011] In order to overcome those disadvantages, the invention proposes that the skirt also have a substantially cylindrical outer surface extending continuously around the entire skirt and that the retaining means comprise a resiliently deformable rounded peripheral boss arranged in the vicinity of the free end of the skirt. Furthermore, with the exception of the skirt, the whole of the cap extends on the same side relative to a plane which is perpendicular to the direction of extension of the skirt and which passes through the retaining means.
[0012] Thus, the skirt provides radial leak-tightness between the cap and the bottle, the retaining means can be removed from the mould by resilient deformation without having to provide a secondary mould joint in order to remove them from the mould, and the cap, which is reduced in size, will cover only a small portion of the bottle.
[0013] One feature of the invention aims to produce a cap which is reduced in size and the closure means of which comprise a plug integrated in a cover which is articulated relative to the base surface by means of an almost invisible film hinge.
[0014] In order to do that, according to the invention, the base surface and/or the cover has (have) on the inside, in the immediate vicinity of the hinge, a bevel shape providing clearance.
[0015] Thus the cap is very compact and free from protuberances due to the hinge, in particular when it is in the closed position.
[0016] The invention relates also to an assembly comprising a cap and a bottle, in which the skirt has a substantially cylindrical outer surface extending continuously around the entire skirt and coming into close contact with an inner surface of the filling opening, over an annular contact region, in order to provide leak-tightness between the skirt and the bottle. In addition, the retaining means comprise a resiliently deformable protuberance arranged apart from the said annular contact region, in other words the retaining means are not in contact with the inner surface of the filling opening.
[0017] Thus there is no risk of the retaining means influencing contact between the outer surface of the skirt and the inner surface of the filling opening and, consequently, influencing the leak-tightness between the cap and the bottle, especially by deforming the outer surface of the skirt. Furthermore, the dimensional constraints concerning the production of the protuberance are reduced.
[0018] Other objects and features of the present invention will become more readily apparent from a better understanding of the preferred embodiments described below with reference to the following drawings.
[0019]
[0020]
[0021]
[0022] FIGS.
[0023] The cap
[0024] The substantially tubular non-slit skirt
[0025] Near its free end
[0026] The inner surface
[0027] The cap
[0028] The outer surface
[0029] The cap is then retained on the bottle
[0030] The boss
[0031] Moreover, the cover
[0032] The cover also carries a plug
[0033] In addition, the base surface
[0034] As illustrated in
[0035] In addition, as illustrated in
[0036] Furthermore, as illustrated in FIGS.
[0037] Finally, it will be appreciated that, although the inner surface
[0038] The descriptions above and the accompanying drawings should be interpreted in the illustrative and not the limited sense. While the invention has been disclosed in connection with the preferred embodiment or embodiments thereof, it should be understood that there may be other embodiments which fall within the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims. Where a claim, if any, is expressed as a means or step for performing a specified function it is intended that such claim be construed to cover the corresponding structure, material, or acts described in the specification and equivalents thereof, including both structural equivalents and equivalent structures, material-based equivalents and equivalent materials, and act-based equivalents and equivalent acts.