EP1069052B1 - Bottle with a closure cap and an orienting abutment for the cap - Google Patents

Abstract

The bottle has a threaded neck which is covered by a top which consists of an inner seal cap and an outer trim cap (6) fixed to it. The bottle is made with a projecting stop adjacent to its neck, and the outer cap has at least one inner surface (30) shaped to engage with it to position the cap symmetrically with the bottle when closed. The shaped inner surface (30) of the cap is formed in the thickness of a tubular skirt (22) made in one piece with the outer cap and designed for fixing it to the inner seal cap. The skirt's lower edge is covered by a metal ring (12).

Description

The present invention relates to a bottle of the type comprising, on the one hand, a reservoir portion comprising a threaded neck connecting to a body, and on the other hand a stopper comprising an inner sealing capsule to be screwed onto the neck and an outer cover fixed immobile on this inner capsule.

When the body of the reservoir portion and the cap have non-symmetrical external shapes of revolution, for example sections transverse polygonal, it is desirable for aesthetic reasons that bottle closed position the cap is in an angular position predetermined with respect to said body.

European patent application EP-A-007 274 has proposed make the outer cover with a stop surface suitable for cooperating with a stop orientation formed on the neck to immobilize the stopper in a position predetermined angular with respect to the body of the reservoir part at the end screwing the cap.

A stopper is inserted in the outer cover to constitute this stop surface.

The plug, by the use of this stopper, is of manufacture relatively complex and expensive.

We also know by European patent application EP-A-179 706 a bottle having a threaded neck provided with an orientation stop and a boss of anti-unscrewing carried out on the collar.

Finally, we know from patent application EP-A-0 004 501 (corresponding to the preamble to the claim 1), a device closure for a threaded neck container which has a cylindrical cap internally threaded, arranged inside an external cover. The cap and the hubcap are partially separated in axial displacement and, optionally, in rotation.

Stop surfaces are made in only part of the thickness of the hubcap.

Such a device has a relatively complex structure.

The present invention aims to improve the means used to immobilize the plug in a predetermined position in the closed position.

It does this through a bottle with a reservoir portion comprising a threaded neck connecting to a body and a plug comprising a inner sealing capsule and an outer cover, the tank part comprising at least one stop orientation and the outer cover at least one stop surface capable of cooperating with said orientation stop at the end of screwing the cap so as to immobilize the latter rotating in a predetermined angular position relative to said body, said stop surface being made in the thickness a tubular skirt made in one piece with the outer cover, characterized in that the outer cover is fixed immobile on the inner capsule.

The manufacture of the plug is simplified thanks to the invention since, at the Unlike that described in application EP-A-007 274, it is not necessary to bring back a stopper in the outer cover.

The aforementioned tubular skirt can be an outer skirt of the outer cover or alternatively an inner skirt, which can be used to fix the outer cover to the inner sealing capsule.

Preferably, the stop surface is made throughout the thickness of this tubular skirt.

Advantageously, the outer cover includes an anti-unscrewability boss, this boss being able to elastically cross the orientation stop before the stop surface comes to bear on the latter, at the end of the screwing of the plug.

Advantageously, the plug has at its lower end a ring attached to the outer cover, intended to hide the lower end of the tubular skirt on which the stop surface is made.

This ring advantageously has inscriptions on its surface exterior, inscriptions which it would be difficult, if necessary, to include directly on the outer cover given its geometry.

It may also have a different color from that of the outer cover.

This body can be made of plastic or glass.

Advantageously, the inner capsule is made of a material semi-rigid plastic, such as polypropylene copolymer.

Advantageously, the outer cover is made of a plastic material having a tensile elasticity module greater than or equal to 100 kg f / mm ² , preferably a thermoplastic or thermosetting material.

The bottle may have two diametrically oriented stops opposite to the collar.

The outer cover may have two stop surfaces and two bosses anti-unscrewing.

• réaliser un col avec une paraison,
• réaliser par soufflage de la paraison le corps de la partie formant réservoir avec au moins une butée d'orientation à proximité du col.

The subject of the invention is also a method of manufacturing a bottle as defined above, comprising the steps consisting in:

• make a collar with a parison,
• make the body of the reservoir part by blowing the parison with at least one orientation stop near the neck.

After completion of the tank portion, the latter can be filled with a liquid such as a perfume, then closed with a stopper comprising an inner sealing capsule and an outer cover provided with minus a clean stop surface to cooperate with the orientation stop.

The outer cover is preferably attached to the inner capsule sealing after screwing the latter onto the neck.

The outer cover is advantageously made by molding of material plastic by being unmolded only from below, the stop surface being produced in the thickness of a tubular skirt of the outer cover.

• la figure 1 est une vue schématique éclatée d'un flacon conforme à un premier exemple de réalisation de l'invention,
• la figure 2 est une vue partielle en perspective de l'extrémité inférieure du bouchon, la bague étant enlevée,
• la figure 3 est une vue de côté de l'extrémité inférieure du bouchon, la bague étant enlevée, et
• la figure 4 est une vue analogue à la figure 2, illustrant une variante de réalisation du bouchon.

Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will emerge on reading the detailed description which follows, of nonlimiting examples of implementation, and on examining the appended drawing in which:

• FIG. 1 is an exploded schematic view of a bottle according to a first embodiment of the invention,
• FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view of the lower end of the plug, the ring being removed,
• FIG. 3 is a side view of the lower end of the plug, the ring being removed, and
• Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 2, illustrating an alternative embodiment of the plug.

The bottle 1 shown in Figure 1 has a portion forming tank 9 and a cap 4.

The reservoir portion 9 comprises a body 2 surmounted by a neck threaded 3 of axis X, onto which the plug 4 can be screwed.

The latter is composed of an inner sealing capsule 5, a cover outer 6 fixed on the inner sealing capsule 5, and a metal ring 12 attached to the lower end of the outer cover 6.

The tank portion 9 is made of glass or plastic rigid or semi-rigid, in two stages.

We start by making the collar 3 with a parison then we blow the parison to form the body 2, in a manner known per se.

The body 2 is produced, in the example described, with a cross section substantially rectangular defining two main faces 10 substantially planar and parallel and two shoulders 13 on each side of the neck 3 in the upper part of the body 2.

The joint plane 11 of the body 2 extends along a diagonal of the bottle, as shown.

The outer cover 6 is made by molding plastic material, same as the inner sealing capsule 5.

Two orientation stops 15, only one of which is visible in FIG. 1, diametrically opposite with respect to the X axis of the neck 3 and located in the plane of seal 11, are made on the shoulders 13 of the bottle near the neck 3, during the body blowing 2.

Thus, the positioning of these orientation stops 15 on the body 2 is constant.

In a variant not illustrated, a single orientation stop 15 is performed on the body 2.

The cover 6 has in the upper part 20 an elongated shape according to a Y axis extending perpendicular to the X axis.

We want the Y axis to be parallel to the main faces 10 of the body 2 when the bottle is closed.

The outer cover 6 has at the bottom 21, as can be seen. see in Figure 2, an outer skirt 22 and an inner skirt 23 cylindrical and coaxial made in one piece by plastic molding with the part upper 20.

The inner skirt 23 has a substantially cross section circular and used for fixing the outer cover 6 to the inner capsule seal 5, which preferably has on its periphery grooves of axis X intended to frictionally secure the inner capsule 5 with the outer cover 6.

The outer skirt 22 present in the example describes a section substantially square transverse, the inner skirt 23 joining in four locations 24 of its periphery the inner surface of the four sides of the skirt outer 22 and sparing with the four inner angles of the outer skirt 22 cavities 25.

The lower end of the outer skirt 22 is profiled so as to constitute at least one stop surface 30, preferably two as in the example shown in the figures, each intended to cooperate with an orientation stop 15 to immobilize the plug in the desired angular position in the position of closing.

The stop surfaces 30 are made throughout the thickness of the skirt 22 and extend parallel to the X axis, as can be seen in the figure 3.

An anti-unscrewability boss 31, of lower height than the surface stop 30, is made at a certain distance from the stop surface 30, in the thickness of the outer skirt 22, to avoid self-unscrewing of the plug.

More particularly, the anti-unscrewability boss 31 and the surface stop 30 provide between them an interval 36, of width slightly greater than that of the orientation stop 15.

When screwing the cap 4 onto the neck 3, the anti-unscrewability boss 31 passes by elastic deformation, the orientation stop 15 before the surface 30 does not come to rest on it, giving the user a feeling of hard point, confirming the correct closure of the bottle.

A movement in the opposite direction of the plug itself, due for example elastic deformation of the inner sealing capsule 5, is prevented by the presence of the anti-unscrewability boss 31.

The user must therefore exert a relatively large force to make the anti-unscrewing boss 31 pass the orientation stop 15 during unscrewing the cap.

The metal ring 12 is attached to the lower end of the skirt outer 22, which has on its outer surface a shoulder 35 provided at this effect.

The ring 12 is intended to hide the irregular profile of the end lower of the outer skirt 22 when the bottle is closed, and comprises advantageously inscriptions on its external surface, such as for example a perfume brand.

The ring 12 also acts as a belt to strengthen the mechanical strength of the lower end of the outer cover 6.

It is fixed to the latter by any known means, for example by Tightening.

The production of stop surfaces 30 and anti-unscrewability bosses 31 in the thickness of the outer skirt 22 of the outer cover 6 makes it possible to demold the outer skirt 22, from below in FIG. 1.

The entire outer cover 6 is advantageously removed from the bottom, which allows to have an upper wall 29 without opening or hiding which can be aesthetically advantageous.

The stop surface (s), as well as the anti-unscrewability boss (es) can be made on an inner skirt of the outer cover.

By way of example, FIG. 4 shows the lower end 21 ' an outer cover 6 ′ which differs from that described above in that the stop surfaces 30 ′ and anti-unscrewing bosses 31 ′ are made on all the thickness of the inner skirt 23 'and not on the outer skirt 22'.

The positioning of the orientation stop (s) 15 on the body of the tank forming part is chosen according to the location of the surface (s) 30 or 30 'stop on the outer cover.

After filling the body 2, the plug 4 is put in place preferably as follows.

We start by screwing the inner sealing capsule 5 with a predetermined tightening torque ensuring tight closure.

Then, the outer cover 6 or 6 ′, provided with the ring 12, is lowered vertically so that the inner skirt 23 or 23 'engages with friction on the inner capsule 5.

The axis Y can then be parallel to the main faces 10 of the body 2, each stopping surface 30 or 30 'coming to be positioned directly in contact with a orientation stop 15.

Alternatively, the outer cover 6 or 6 'can be lowered with the Y axis forming an angle with the main faces 10 of the body 2, and then the cap, after fixing the outer cover to the inner capsule, a rotation additional intended to bring the stopping surfaces 30 or 30 'to bear on the orientation stops 15.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments which have just been described.

One can in particular modify the geometry of the body of the bottle and that of the outer cover.

Claims (19)

1. A flask including a part (9) forming a reservoir comprising a threaded neck (3) joined to a body (2) and a stopper comprising an inner sealing capsule (5) and an outer cap (6; 6'), the part (9) forming the reservoir including at least one orientation abutment and the outer cap (6; 6') including at least one abutment surface (30; 30') adapted to co-operate with said orientation abutment at the end of screwing on the stopper so as to immobilize the stopper against rotation in a predetermined angular position relative to said body (2), said abutment surface (30; 30') being formed in the thickness of a tubular skirt (22; 23') made in one piece with the outer cap (6; 6'), characterized by the fact that the outer cap is fixed in immobile manner to the inner capsule (5).
2. A flask according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the whole of the outer cap (6; 6') is removed from the mold from below.
3. A flask according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized by the fact that the tubular skirt is an outer skirt (22') of the outer cap (6') and said abutment surface is preferably formed throughout the thickness of said tubular skirt.
4. A flask according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized by the fact that the tubular skirt is an inner skirt (23') of the outer cap (6'), which it fixes to the inner sealing capsule (5), and said abutment surface is preferably formed throughout the thickness of said tubular skirt.
5. A flask according to any preceding claim, characterized by the fact that the outer cap (6; 6') includes a boss (31; 31') for preventing unscrewing which is adapted to move elastically past the orientation abutment (15) before the abutment surface (30; 30') comes to bear on it at the end of screwing on the stopper.
6. A flask according to any preceding claim, characterized by the fact that the stopper has a ring (12), preferably a metal ring, at its lower end and attached to the outer cap (6; 6').
7. A flask according to the preceding claim, characterized by the fact that said ring has inscriptions on its outer surface or is a different color to the outer cap.
8. A flask according to any preceding claim, characterized by the fact that the orientation abutment (15) is in a junction plane (11) of the body (2) of the part (9) forming the reservoir, preferably in the vicinity of the neck.
9. A flask according to any preceding claim, characterized by the fact that the orientation abutment is blow molded with the body (2) of the part (9) forming the reservoir.
10. A flask according to any preceding claim, characterized by the fact that the part (9) forming the reservoir is made of plastics material.
11. A flask according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized by the fact that the part (9) forming the reservoir is made of glass.
12. A flask according to any preceding claim, characterized by the fact that the body of the part forming the reservoir includes two orientation abutments diametrally opposed with respect to the neck and by the fact that the outer cap (6; 6') includes two abutment surfaces (30; 30') and two bosses (31; 31') for preventing unscrewing.
13. A flask according to any preceding claim, characterized by the fact that the inner capsule is made from a semi-rigid plastics material such as polypropylene copolymer.
14. A flask according to any preceding claim, characterized by the fact that the outer cap is made from a plastics material having a modulus of elasticity in tension not less than 100 kg/mm², preferably a thermoplastics or thermosetting material.
15. A flask recording to any preceding claim, characterized by the fact that the outer cap (6; 6') is attached to the inner sealing capsule (5).
16. A method of manufacturing a flask as defined in any preceding claim, including the steps of:

    forming a neck (3) with a parison, and

    forming the body (2) of the part forming the reservoir of the flask by blow molding the parison with at least one orientation abutment (15) in the vicinity of the neck (3).
17. A method according to the preceding claim, characterized by the fact that after forming the part (9) forming the reservoir, the reservoir is filled with a liquid and then closed by means of the stopper (4) including an inner sealing capsule (5) and an outer cap (6; 6') provided with at least one abutment surface (30; 30') adapted to co-operate with said orientation abutment (12).
18. A method according to the preceding claim, characterized by the fact that the outer cap (6; 6') is attached to the inner sealing capsule (5) after the capsule has been screwed onto the neck of the part forming the reservoir.
19. A method according to either of the preceding two claims, characterized by the fact that the outer cap (6; 6') is removed from the mold entirely from below.

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