CAP FOR SEALING A LIQUID PRODUCT CONTAINER

CAPSULE POUR LE BOUCHAGE D'UN RECIPIENT DE PRODUIT LIQUIDE

Abrégé français

L'invention concerne une capsule pour le bouchage d'un récipient (R) de produit liquide et la distribution dudit produit, caractérisée en ce qu'elle comprend: un élément de support interne (1) destiné à être fixé sur le col (C) du récipient (R) et qui comporte une douille centrale (11) dont la paroi latérale est pourvue d'un orifice d'éjection (10), et un élément d'obturation externe (2) accroché sur ledit élément interne (1) et qui comporte une couronne centrale (21) pourvue d'un conduit d'évacuation (20) destinée à coiffer ladite douille (11) de manière coaxiale et rotative, de façon à établir au moins une position de fermeture étanche de l'orifice d'éjection (10) et au moins une position de distribution dans laquelle ledit orifice est en communication avec le conduit d'évacuation (20).

Abrégé anglais

The invention concerns a cap for sealing a liquid product container (R) and for dispensing said product, characterised in that it comprises: an inner support element (1) designed to be fixed on the container (R) neck (C) and including a central insert (11) whereof the side wall is provided with an ejection orifice (10), and an outer closure element (2) caught on said inner element (1) and comprising a central ring (21) provided with a discharge conduit (20) designed to cap said insert (11) coaxially in rotation, so as to constitute at least a sealed closure position for the ejection orifice (10) and at least a dispensing position wherein said orifice communicates with the discharge conduit (20).

Revendications

7
CLAIMS
1/ A capsule for closing a receptacle (R) for a liquid
and for dispensing said liquid, said capsule comprising:
- an inner support element (1) designed to be fixed
on the neck (C) of the receptacle (R) and including a
central bushing (11) having a side wall provided with an
ejection orifice (10); and
an outer closure element (2) that is fastened onto
laid inner element (1) so that it cannot be displaced
axially and which includes a central ring (21) provided
with an outlet duct (20), said central ring (21) being
designed to surround said bushing (11) in coaxial and
rotary manner so as to establish at least one closed
position in which the ejection orifice (10) is sealed and
at least one dispensing position in which said orifice is
in communication with the outlet duct (20),
said capsule being characterized in that the inside wall
of said ring (21) is provided, over an angular sector
(.alpha.), with a recess (21a) having both side edges that
respectively form two abutments designed to co-operate
with a bulge (13) carried by the outside wall of said
bushing (11) and also a ridge (23) suitable for co-
operating resiliently with said bulge (13) to produce a
snap action corresponding to the outer element (2)
passing into the closed position in which the outlet duct
(20) defined by said recess is sealed.
2/ A capsule according to claim 1, characterized in that
on either ride of the dispensing position, the inside
wall of said ring (21) is in sealed sliding contact with
the outside wall of the bushing (11).
3/ A capsule according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in
that the angular distance on the bushing (11) between the
bulge (13) and the ejection orifice (10) is not greater
than the angular length of the sector (.alpha.) forming the
outlet duct (20) of the ring (21).

8
4/ A capsule according to any preceding claim,
characterized in that said ring (21) is extended axially
by an annular lip (26) defining a substantially tapering
conial tip (30).
5/ A capsule according to any preceding claim,
characterized in that the inner element (1) includes a
peripheral collar (12) of U-shaped section that is fitted
over and that locks onto the neck (C) of the receptacle
(R).
6/ A capsule according to claim 5, characterized in that
the central bushing (11) is fully received inside the
neck (C) of the receptacle (R) by being fastened by a
spacer (14) to the inner branch of said collar (12).
7/ A capsule according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in
that the inside wall of said collar (12) is provided with
anti-rotation locking splines (16).
8/ A capsule according to any preceding claim,
characterized in that the central ring (21) is fastened
laterally, via a shoulder (22), to a peripheral skirt
(24) provided with a fastening member (25) for fastening
onto the inner element (1).
9/ A capsule according to any preceding claim,
characterized in that said ejection orifice (10) is
formed by a loophole made in the side wall of the central
bushing (11).

Description

' CA 02345141 2001-03-22
1
A CAPSULE FOR CLOSING A RECEPTACLE F'OR A LIQUID
The present invention relates t.o a capsule for
closing a receptacle for a liquid and for dispensing said
liquid. More precisely, the invention relates to closing
flexible and elastically deformable receptacles.
Closing receptacles for liquide and, in particular,
for cosmetics (milks, gels, creams ...? is conventionally
ensured by means of a removable cap screwed or snap-
fastened on the neck of a receptacle that can be flexible
or rigid. However, that method of c:losure requires the
cap to be put back on systematically after each occasion
on which liquid is removed.
Unfortunately, in nome circumst:ances, the user does
not carry out that operation and/or loses the cap, thus
leaving the receptacle permanently open, and thereby
leading to a serious risk of the quality of the liquid
deteriorating.
Furthermore, it is sometimes d~_fficult to close the
receptacle when too much liquid is deposited around the
neck of the receptacle and can interfere with the cap
being screwed-on or snap-fastened. It is thus necessary
to clean the neck before closing the receptacle.
In addition, conventional closure methods require
the neck of the receptacle to be provided with cap-
retaining members such as threads or fastening lugs,
thereby complicating the manufactur_Lng process.
In a variant, the cap is const_Ltuted by a fixed
portion provided with an outlet duct=, and a moving
portion connected to the fixed portion by means of a
hinge and forming means for closing said duct.
However, that variant is very bulky since the two
portions are disposed outside the receptacle and, in the
open position, the moving portion projects from the neck.
Furthermore, dispensing of the liquid can be
hindered by the moving portion which remains fixed to the
fixed portion.

CA 02345141 2001-03-22
2
In embodiments having threads, t~he cap is sometimes
constituted by a portion that is movE'd axially by being
screwed onto a fixed portion.
The cap is thus closed by co-ope~ration between the
ejection orifice of the outlet duct and a pin.
However, during axial displacement of the moving
portion to the closed position, an additional and
unwanted quantity of liquid is ejected.
A variant also exists to the embodiment described in
EP 0 452 196, the variant comprising;,
an inner support element desicfined to be fixed on
the neck of the receptacle and including a central
bushing having a side wall provided with an ejection
orifice; and
~ an outer closure element Chat is fastened onto
said inner element so that it cannot be displaced axially
and which includes a central ring provided with an outlet
duct, said central ring being designe~d to surround said
bushing in coaxial and rotary manner so as to establish
at least one closed position in which the ejection
orifice is sealed and at least one di.spensing position in
which laid orifice is in communicatic>n with the outlet
duct.
However, that variant does not rnake it possible to
ensure that the~outer closure element. is locked 'in a
position in which the outlet duct is closed and sealed.
An object of the present invention is to resolve the
technical problems posed by previous closure methods.
This object of the invention is achieved by means of
a capsule of the above-mentioned type, said capsule being
characterized in that the inside wall of laid ring is
provided, over an angular sector, with a recess having
both ride edges that respectively form two abutments
designed to co-operate with a bulge carried-by the
outside wall of said bushing and also a ridge suitable
for co-operating resiliently with said bulge to produce a
snap action corresponding to the outer element passing

CA 02345141 2001-03-22
3
into the closed position in which the outlet duct defined
by said recess is sealed.
According to an advantageous characteristic, on
either side of the dispensing position, the inside wall
of said ring is in sealed sliding contact with the
outside wall of the bushing.
In these conditions, the angular distance on the
bushing between the bulge and the ejection orifice is not
greater than the angular length of t:he sector forming the
outlet duct of the ring.
Aceording to yet another characteristic, said ring
is extended axially by an annular lisp defining a
substantially tapering conial tip.
According to other characteristics, the inner
element includes a peripheral collar of U-shaped section
that is fitted over and that looks o:nto the neck of the
receptacle.
In a particularly advantageous 'Variant, the central
bushing is fully received inside the neck of the
receptacle by being fastened by a sp,acer to the inner
branch of said collar.
In another variant, the inside wall of said collar
is provided with splines ensuring lo~~king of the inner
element against rotation.
In addition, the central ring i;s fastened~~âterally,
via a shoulder, to a peripheral skirt provided with a
fastening member for fastening onto the inner element.
In an advantageous variant, said ejection orifice is
formed by a loophole made in the side wall of the central
bushing.
The capsule of the invention is ergonomic by
offering compactness, and it adapts very easily to
standard receptacle necks.
In the closed position it ensurc~s perfect sealing
and in the open position it ensures c=ven and accurate
dispensing.

CA 02345141 2001-03-22
4
The sealed closed position is <~chieved by rotating
the outer element on the inner elemf=nt and is accompanied
by a snap action which ensures that the closure is locked
and sealed.
In addition, operations of assE=_mbling together the
inner and outer elements and of mounting the assembly on
the neck of the receptacle are quiclc and very easy and
they can easily be automated.
The invention will be better understood on reading
the following description accompanied by the drawing, in
which:
Figure 1 is an axial section v_Lew of an embodiment
of the capsule of the invention; and
Figure 2 is a view partially in section on II-II of
the embodiment of Figure 1, in the open position.
The capsule shown in Figures 1 and 2 is designed to
ensure the closure of a receptacle R for liquid and, more
particularly, for cosmetics of the milk, gel, or cream
type, and, in the open position, it also enables the
liquid to be dispensed.
The capsule comprises a support; element 1 designed
to be fixed on the neck C of the receptacle R and
including a central bushing ll having a ride wall
provided with an ejection orifice 10 for ejecting the
liquid. The capsule also comprises a closure element 2
which is designed to be mounted by f:astening onto the
outside of the support element. However, the element 2
cannot be displaced axially relatives to the support 1.
To this end, the outer closure eleme~nt 2 includes a
central ring 21 surrounding the bushing 11 in coaxial and
rotary manner in a single transverse: plane. The ring 21
includes an outlet duct 20 that is capable of being put
into communication with the ejection orifice 10 in at
least one "dispensing" position. On. either ride of this
position, the inside wall of the ring is in sealed
sliding contact with the outside wall of the bushing and
closes the orifice 10 is sealed mann.er.

CA 02345141 2001-03-22
The inner element 1 also includes a peripheral
collar 12 of U-shaped section that :is fitted over and
that locks onto the rim of the neck C of the receptacle
R.
5 To this end, the collar 12 is fitted with fastening
members 12a designed to co-operate with the lip B of the
neck C.
The central bushing 11 is fullv received inside the
neck C by being fastened by a spacer 14 to the inner
branch of the collar 12, thereby preserving the
appearance of the receptacle and offering compactness.
In the embodiment shown, the outside wall of the
ring 21 is in contact with the wall of the inner branch
of the collar 12.
In addition, the inside edge oi= the ring 21 is
chamfered to enable it to be inserted in the annular
housing situated between the bushinc~ 11 and the collar
12.
To prevent the bushing 11 from rotating relative to
the neck C, the inside wall of the collar 12 is provided
with splines 16 which clamp radially against the inside
wall of laid neck thereby ensuring rotary locking of the
inner element 1. Consequently, only the outer element 2
with its ring 21 can moue.
The ring 21 can be turned through 360° or, as in the
embodiment shown, through at least a portion B of the
circumference.
In Figure 2, the outer element 2 is shown in the
open position after having been turned in the direction
of arrow O. From this position, it is possible to close
the ejection orifice 10 of the bushi.ng 11 by turning the
ring 21 in the direction of arrow F.
In this case, an angular sector a is defined by the
ride edges forming abutments with a recess 21a defining
the duct 20. The abutments are desi.gned to co-operate
with a bulge 13 carried by the outsi.de wall of said
bushing 11 so as to establish respectively a sealed

' CA 02345141 2001-03-22
w
6
closed position of the capsule, and a fully open position
of the ejection orifice 10 for dispensing the liquid.
The width of the bulge 13 defines the size of the
portion 8 over which the ring 21 can turn freely within
the sector a.
The angular distance on the bu~~hing 11 between the
bulge 13 and the ejection orifice 10 is thus not greater
than the angular length of the sector a forming the duct
20.
The recels 21a is provided with a ridge 23 extending
parallel to the generator fines of t:he bushing 21. The
ridge 23 is suitable for co-operating by resilient
deformation with the bulge 13 to produce a snap action
corresponding to the ejection orifice 10 passing into the
sealed closed position.
The central ring 21 is fastened laterally, via a
shoulder 22, to a peripheral skirt 24.
The skirt 24 is provided with a fastening member 25
co-operating with a radial projection 15 carried by the
outer branch of the collar l2 of the~ inner element 1 in
order to secure the outer element 2 thereon.
The skirt 24 is preferably provided with fluting 27
to improve manual grip while turninc~ the outer element 2.
The outlet duct 20 opens out longitudinally to the
outside (i.e. downwards in Figures 1 and 2) and is
suitable for being fed transversely with liquid via the
ejection orifice 10 which is formed in the ride wall of
the bushing 11 in the form of a loophole. The ring 21 is
extended axially, beyond the shoulder 22, by an annular
lip 26. The lip 26 defines a tapering conial tip 30
enabling the liquid to be made to flow one way in
funneled manner, and thus enabling accurate dispensing to
be achieved.

Dessin représentatif