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The present invention relates to the capping of a container, particularly of the one-use or disposable type, the internal volume of which may contain contents or a filling, particularly a filling capable of flowing, for example liquid, fluid or pasty contents.
More specifically, the present invention relates to a cap intended to be mounted on a container as previously defined, particularly in a sealed manner with respect to the contents of the container.
The invention also relates to a container comprising or incorporating such a cap, empty or full, that is to say in the latter case filled with or containing contents as defined previously.
The present invention relates most specifically to caps allowing concomitantly, both the grasping of the container with which it is associated, using one hand, and the complete opening of the cap, using a digit of the same hand, for example the thumb, specifically to gain direct access for the user's mouth to the neck of the container.
Document FR-A-2 855 815 describes and proposes such a cap, comprising:
Such a cap may be embodied in the following two ways.
In a first scenario, and as depicted in the drawings of document FR-A-2 855 815:
In a second scenario, not depicted in the drawings of FR-A-2 855 815:
Embodying such a cap requires the shaping, for example by injection molding, of at least two plastics, the first, thermoplastic, that makes up the structure of the cap, and the second, elastomeric plastic, that constitutes the elastic return means. For certain applications, this two-shot injection molding may constitute a disadvantage, particularly in terms of cost.
Document EP-A-0547978 describes in particular with reference to FIGS. 6 to 8, a cap comprising:
These single means for unlocking and actuating comprise:
In practice, it seems difficult, if not, impossible, to close the lid again, from its open position obtained under the effect of the push-button, because the friction of the branches against the flanges, then the bearing surfaces, generates, in the direction of rotationally returning the lid to the folded-down position, jammings or even breakages definitively damaging the cap so that the latter may remain permanently open after it has first been opened.
In a similar way to document EP-A-0547978, document EP-A-1129959 proposes, as shown in particular by its FIG. 2, a cap comprising:
With reference to FIGS. 4 to 6, these single means for unlocking and actuating comprise:
This solution exhibits disadvantages of the same kind as those set out with regard to EP-A-0547978.
The subject of the present invention is a cap allowing the lid to be brought automatically into an open position by simple pressure on a push-button as soon as the locking means have been released when said lid is in the folded-down position, and for this to be done, on the one hand, entirely reversibly, that is to say with the possibility of closing and, locking the lid again as many times as this lid has been opened automatically and, on the other hand, without any elastic means of rotational return to the open position, inserted or added into the cap.
According to the present invention, the overall structure or construction of the cap according to FR-A-2 855 815 is retained, and the following modifications or additions are made to it, in combination or in collaboration:
The physical and/or mechanical principles supporting the technical features listed hereinabove will be illustrated hereinafter with reference to the diagram according to FIG. 19, once an exemplary embodiment according to FIGS. 1 to 9 has been fully described.
According to the present invention it must be understood that:
The present invention also comprises the following variants:
In total, the present invention culminates in a cap which is particularly simple to produce or obtain industrially, for example by injection molding a single plastic, and this can be done as appropriate in a one-piece style, the opening of this cap in particular not being dependent on the phenomena of creep of the plastic employed, for example at the articulation means or the hinge between the base and the lid.
Two preferred embodiments of the invention are considered, the first depicted and described with reference to the attached drawing, and the second not depicted.
According to the first embodiment:
According to the second embodiment, not depicted:
By way of example, not depicted, the hinge comprises at least one element connecting the base and the lid, for example a thin web, formed integrally with the lid and the base, arranged, for example sufficiently thin, to allow the rotational movement of the lid from its folded-down position to its open position, with a limited intrinsic resistance to rotation.
The present invention is now described with reference to the attached drawing, in which:
FIGS. 1 and 2 depict, in perspective, a first embodiment of a cap according to the invention, in the open position and in the folded-down or closed position, respectively;
FIG. 3 depicts a view in axial section of the cap according to FIGS. 1 and 2;
FIG. 4 depicts, on a larger scale and in section, two details of the cap according to FIGS. 1 to 3, relating to the locking and unlocking means, the latter being in an intermediate position between their original position depicted in FIG. 3 and their final position in which the locking means of the cap are released;
FIGS. 5 to 7 depict three phases respectively leading to the complete opening of the cap, from its folded-down or closed position shown in FIG. 3;
FIGS. 8 and 9 depict, respectively in perspective and in an exploded view and in axial. section, the means of articulation between the base and the lid;
just like FIGS. 1 and 2, FIGS. 10 and 11 depict a second embodiment of a cap according to the invention, in the open position and in the folded-down or closed position, respectively;
FIG. 12 depicts a view in axial section of the cap depicted in FIGS. 10 and 11;
FIGS. 13 to 15 depict, starting from the folded-down or closed position of FIG. 12, three phases respectively leading to the complete opening of the cap according to FIGS. 10 to 12;
FIGS. 16 and 17 depict, respectively in perspective and in an exploded view, and in axial section, the articulation means belonging to the cap depicted according to FIGS. 10 to 12,
FIG. 18 depicts, in perspective and with partial cutaway, a cap according to a third embodiment of the invention, shown in a position mounted on the neck of a container,
FIG. 19 depicts a conceptional and/or explanatory diagram of a cap according to the present invention, respectively in three relative configurations, the first in the folded-down and locked position, the second in the process of being opened, and the third in the completely open position.
According to FIGS. 1 to 3, a cap according to the invention is intended to be mounted (cf. FIG. 3) on a container 2, the internal volume of which may contain contents able to flow, for example liquid.
Basically, such a cap comprises:
The base 3 is mounted in a sealed manner with respect to the liquids and/or gases with respect to the contents of the container 2, on the neck 2a of the latter, and comprises a discharge duct 5 arranged to discharge the aforementioned contents, and comprising an outlet orifice 5a. The stoppering means 7 of the lid 6 are arranged to close the outlet orifice 5a of the base 3, in a sealed manner with respect to the contents of the container 2. When the lid 6 is in the open position (cf. FIG. 7), the outlet orifice 5a of the base 3 is completely uncovered, for example to allow it to access the mouth, and when the lid 6 is in the folded-down or closed position (cf. FIG. 3), the outlet orifice 5a is closed.
The lid 6 and the base 3 are two separate parts connected to one another, freely in rotation, by the articulation means with hinge 10.
As shown more particularly by FIGS. 8 and 9, the hinge 10 is composed, on the one hand, of at least two female elements 13, arranged along the axis of rotation 11 of the hinge 10, belonging respectively to the lid 6 or to the base 3 and, on the other hand, of at least two complementary male elements 14, mounted to rotate freely in the two aforementioned female elements respectively, for their part arranged along the axis of rotation 11, belonging respectively to the base 3 or to the lid 6.
The two male elements 14 and/or the two female elements 13 of the hinge 10 comprise or are associated with means allowing them to be wedged in (cf. FIG. 8) by simple pressure or translational movement of the lid 6 with respect to the base 3, the lid 6 and the base 3 being arranged parallel one above the other.
More specifically, as shown by FIG. 8, on one side, the lid 6 comprises a barrel 15 provided with two pegs 14 opposed along its axis, corresponding to the axis of rotation 11 of the hinge 10, forming the two male elements thereof; and, on the other side, the base 3 comprises, on the one hand, a cradle 16 for accepting the barrel 15 such that it can rotate freely and, on the other hand, on each side of said cradle, two lugs 17 comprising two housings 13 for accepting the two pegs 14 respectively such that they can rotate freely, these housings 13 forming the two female elements of the hinge 10. The two pegs 14 and/or the two lugs 17 comprise means, for example cut facets or flats, allowing their respective clip-fastening, for example by simple pressure of the lid 6 on the base 3 (cf. FIG. 8).
As a consequence of the articulation means 10 described hereinabove, there is admittedly some intrinsic resistance to rotation of the lid 6, both toward the open position and toward the folded-down position, as a result in particular of friction of the hinge; however, the energy required to pivot the lid 6 from its folded-down position into its open position remains reasonable, and can easily be determined.
As shown more particularly in FIG. 4, the locking means 8 between the base 3 and the lid 6 comprise two bearing surfaces 26 and 27 in gliding contact with one another, these belonging respectively to the base 3 and to the lid 6. The curved profile of these two bearing surfaces respectively is determined to allow, during the relative movement of one over the other toward a final position, firstly, as appropriate, a relative and limited movement of the lid 6 with respect to the base 3, but without releasing the locking means 8, with, correspondingly, resistance offered by elastic deformation of the cap 1 and, in particular, of the base 3 and/or of the lid 6 and more specifically in this case plastic deformation of the discharge duct 5 at its outlet orifice 5a and/or of a pip constituting the bearing surface 26 belonging to the lid 6 and finally, in the final relative position of the bearing surfaces 26 and 27, complete and abrupt release of the lid 6 with respect to the base 3, the base and/or the lid, in this instance the discharge duct 5 at its outlet orifice 5a, and the pip constituting the bearing surface 26, then resuming their initial respective shapes.
The means 8 of locking the lid 6 on the base 3 are therefore of the clip-fastening type, when the lid 6 is in the folded-down position, and are arranged between the lid and-the base at the opposite side to the hinge 10 with respect to the axis of rotation 11 thereof.
Because of the locking means 8 described hereinabove and the choices made by construction to localize the elastic deformation of the cap 1 to certain parts thereof, on the one hand, the energy or force imparted hereinafter to the unlocking means 9 described hereinafter will need to overcome the resistance offered by the locking means 8 and the discharge duct 5 and, on the other hand, this force, greater than this resistance, will lead to the storage of the mechanical energy in these parts (pip 26 and duct 5) because of their deformation.
The unlocking means 9, antagonist to the locking means 8, are also arranged between the lid 6 and the base 3 and comprise:
As depicted in FIG. 3, the ramp 22 belongs to the lid 6 and the flap 23 to the base 3.
By molding or injection molding a single same plastic, the flap 23 is formed integrally with the base 3, and the ramp 22 is formed integrally with the lid 6 and is directed, when the lid 6 is in the folded-down position, toward the outside and away from the base 3 (cf. FIG. 3).
As best depicted in FIG. 1, the base 3 comprises two more or less parallel external wings 24 extending obliquely, forming between them a protected volume within which the flap 23 is able to pivot about its end 23b secured to the base 3, the opposite end to the free end 23a.
Because of the unlocking means 9 described hereinabove, it is the latter which are driving and, by applying the force developed by the user's thumb over the entire length of the travel of the flap 23 along the ramp 22 impart the energy or force required firstly to overcome the resistance of the cap 1 to opening, because of the resistance put up by the locking means 8 and, as appropriate, other parts of the cap such as the discharge duct 5 in relation to the stoppering means 7, then to store the mechanical or return energy required for, when the time comes, propelling the lid 6 in rotation toward its open position through elastic deformation of all or part of said cap.
According to the first embodiment of the present invention:
As a preference, the open position of the lid 6 with respect to the base 3 is at least at 100°, for example at 180° or a 190°, from the folded-down or closed position (cf. FIG. 2) with respect to the axis of rotation 11 of the hinge 10.
According to the present invention, it must be understood that the spring or return effect allowing the mechanical energy to be formed and stored for propelling the lid 6 in rotation with respect to the base 3 may be obtained in any region whatsoever or in several regions of the cap 1, particularly of said lid in contact with the base 3, provided that the elastic deformation of said regions, in practice of the lid and/or of the base, under the effect of the actuation of the unlocking means 9, is able to store mechanical energy that is instantly releasable when said unlocking means are in the final position to propel the lid 6 in rotation toward its open position, and to do so without any other mechanical or manual influence on this lid.
In certain cases, for example when the cap allows the container 2 to be drunk from directly, means 18 of halting or slowing the rotational return of the lid 6 from its open position to its folded-down or closed position are formed between the base 3 and the lid 6. As best shown by FIGS. 8 and 9, these halting or slowing means 18 comprise:
The flexible meshing in any event makes it possible, via an additional force, to disengage the serrations 21 from the tooth 19 and fold the lid 6 down.
Definitively speaking, the design and operation of a cap according to the present invention can be modeled as described hereinafter with reference to FIG. 19.
In general, according to the invention, on one side, the “drive” means that the unlocking means 9 constitute generate energy (E) more or less equal to the force applied to the flap 23 multiplied by the length of the travel of the flap against the ramp 22, as far as the final position in which the locking means 8 are released.
On the other side, with respect to the axis of the articulation means 10, there is resistance, and therefore energy required to release this resistance, namely (E1) to release the locking means 8 or 26/27 and/or (E2) to release the stoppering means 7 with respect to the outlet orifice 5a.
As mentioned, through design and/or construction, the cap 1, that is to say all or part thereof, for example the lid 6 and/or the base 3, are arranged to be able to deform elastically, when the lid 6 is in the folded-down and locked position and the cap 1 is therefore closed, and correspondingly by deformation absorb at least the energy (E) developed at the push-button.
Bearing in mind the freedom of the lid 6 to rotate with respect to the base 3 about the articulation means 10, give or take the rotational friction, kinetic energy (E3) needs to be applied in order to propel the lid 6 in rotation toward its open position.
According to the present invention, the energy (E) is at least equal to (E1)+(E2)+(E3). This energy is stored, when the lid is in the same locked position, in all or part of the elastically deformed cap 1 and released as soon as the locking means 8 and/or the stoppering means 7 is/are released. The energy thus released then allows the lid 6 to be propelled into the open position, automatically rearward.
The second embodiment of the invention, depicted with reference to FIGS. 10 to 18, unlike the first embodiment, also has the following characteristics:
Furthermore, the discharge duct 5 is closed by a cup 50 forming, at its center, along the axis of the discharge duct 5, a straight-edged opening 50a (see FIGS. 13, 14, 15) collaborating in a sealed manner, when the lid 6 is in the folded-down position, with the stoppering means 7 which consist of a cylindrical finger 7. This arrangement has the advantage of combining, on the one side, the bearing of the lips against the base of the cap in the cup 50, to encourage air to return into the container 2 and, on the other side, good sealing, notwithstanding the internal pressure exerted on the base 3 from the container 2.
According to FIG. 18, the third embodiment of the invention differs from the first embodiment or from the second embodiment in that: