EP3621892B1 - Stopper for receptacle and assembly comprising a receptacle, particularly a tube, and such a stopper - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a stopper and to an assembly comprising a receptacle, in particular a tube, in particular a flexible tube for a cosmetic product, and such a stopper.

Tubes are known provided with a cover associated with a perforating cap comprising a punch suitable for perforating said cover when the tube is used for the first time. The patent application EP2749505 discloses such a plug.

The cap makes it possible to keep the product contained in the tube hermetically during its storage prior to its first use, which represents a very important part of the overall lifespan of the tube.

Many solutions have been presented in this direction. In particular, plugs are known comprising a punch, suitable for cutting and / or piercing the cover, said plugs being configured to be positioned on a neck of the tube, in a standby position leaving the cover intact, and in a position of 'use in which the cover has been cut and / or pierced by said punch. The passage from one position to another is effected, for example, by removing a spacer ring arranged on the tube to keep the stopper in the standby position. During the first use, the user removes the cap then the ring. He can then reposition the stopper which, in the absence of the ring, penetrates sufficiently into the tube for the punch to pierce the seal.

To allow better protection of the product, it has already been proposed to arrange the lids at one end of the neck opening into the internal volume of the tube, that is to say at the end of the neck opposite to that opening towards the tube. outside.

Such a configuration requires the production of punches having a sufficient longitudinal extension to reach the cap so as to cut during the first use and the punch must penetrate inside the neck, including in the standby position.

However, after piercing the cap during the first use, it is preferable that a good seal is maintained between the different uses or even after having discarded the tube so that the risks of degradation of the product are delayed or to prevent 'a product residue does not flow out.

The object of the invention is to overcome the aforementioned problems and for this purpose proposes a stopper for a receptacle, in particular a tube, in particular a flexible tube of cosmetic product, as described in claim 1.

Such a sealing ring, in particular thanks to its positioning, is particularly effective. Indeed, it takes advantage of the connection between the upper wall and the punch which makes it possible to exert a counter force on the ring, during the fixing of the stopper on the receptacle, so that when an upper end of a neck of the receptacle bears against the ring, the ring is compressed rather than simply deformed, thereby optimizing a sealed contact between said ring and said neck.

• ladite paroi supérieure est concave,
• ladite paroi supérieure présente un fond plat,
• le jonc est formé d'une surépaisseur de matière d'une base du poinçon,
• ladite surépaisseur de matière comprend une base d'épaisseur décroissante,
• ladite surépaisseur de matière comprend une partie intermédiaire d'épaisseur constante,
• ladite surépaisseur de matière comprend une partie d'extrémité chanfreinée,
• ledit bouchon est adapté pour être positionné sur ledit goulot dans une position d'attente dans laquelle le poinçon est dans le goulot en laissant l'opercule intact et dans une position d'utilisation dans laquelle l'opercule a été découpé et/ou percé par ledit poinçon,
• ledit poinçon comprend un corps en forme de fût configuré pour découper et/ou percer ledit opercule,
• ledit fût présente sensiblement la forme d'un cylindre, creux,
• ledit fût présente une extrémité distale munie de moyens de découpe,
• lesdits moyens de découpe comprennent au moins une dent de découpe,
• ledit fût est configuré pour réaliser une découpe partielle de l'insert afin d'ouvrir ledit goulot de manière à ce que l'opercule reste lié à la partie non découpée de l'insert par un pont de matière, dans ladite position d'utilisation du bouchon,
• ledit bouchon est adapté pour être vissé sur ledit goulot,
• ledit bouchon est monobloc.

According to various additional characteristics of the invention which can be taken together or separately:

• said upper wall is concave,
• said upper wall has a flat bottom,
• the ring is formed of an extra thickness of material of a base of the punch,
• said extra thickness of material comprises a base of decreasing thickness,
• said extra thickness of material comprises an intermediate part of constant thickness,
• said extra thickness of material comprises a chamfered end portion,
• said stopper is adapted to be positioned on said neck in a standby position in which the punch is in the neck leaving the cover intact and in a position of use in which the cover has been cut and / or pierced by said punch,
• said punch comprises a barrel-shaped body configured to cut and / or pierce said cover,
• said barrel has substantially the shape of a hollow cylinder,
• said barrel has a distal end provided with cutting means,
• said cutting means comprise at least one cutting tooth,
• said barrel is configured to produce a partial cut of the insert in order to open said neck so that the cover remains linked to the uncut part of the insert by a bridge of material, in said position of use the cap,
• said stopper is adapted to be screwed onto said neck,
• said stopper is in one piece.

The invention also relates to an assembly comprising a receptacle, in particular a tube, in particular a cosmetic product tube. It is, for example, a flexible tube. Said assembly further comprises a stopper as described above.

As already stated, said receptacle comprises a neck and a solid insert forming a cap closing off one end of the neck opening into an interior volume of the receptacle.

• ledit insert est rapporté sur une paroi interne d'un corps dudit réceptacle,
• ledit ensemble comprend une bague d'espacement amovible disposée en appui sur le corps du réceptacle autour du goulot, en position d'attente,
• ladite bague d'espacement comprend une pluralité de nervures adaptées pour centrer la bague d'espacement autour du goulot.

According to various additional characteristics of the invention which can be taken together or separately:

• said insert is attached to an internal wall of a body of said receptacle,
• said assembly comprises a removable spacer ring placed to bear on the body of the receptacle around the neck, in the standby position,
• said spacer ring comprises a plurality of ribs adapted to center the spacer ring around the neck.

In the case of an application to a tube, said tube may comprise a tube head comprising said neck, a shoulder and said insert. Said removable spacer ring is advantageously disposed resting on the shoulder.

• La figure 1 présente en vue de coupe, selon un plan diamétral, un exemple d'une partie de réceptacle, en l'occurrence une tête de tube, destiné à être fermé par un bouchon conforme à l'invention ;
• La figure 2 illustre selon un plan de coupe longitudinal un exemple de bouchon conforme à l'invention ;
• La figure 3 est une vue de détail d'après la figure 2 ;
• La figure 4 illustre en perspective une bague d'espacement destinée à être utilisée avec un bouchon conforme à l'invention.

Other characteristics, aims and advantages of the invention will emerge from the following description, which is purely illustrative and non-limiting, and which should be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

• The figure 1 presents in sectional view, along a diametral plane, an example of a receptacle part, in this case a tube head, intended to be closed by a stopper according to the invention;
• The figure 2 illustrates in a longitudinal section plane an example of a plug according to the invention;
• The figure 3 is a detail view according to the figure 2 ;
• The figure 4 illustrates in perspective a spacer ring for use with a plug according to the invention.

In all of the figures, the elements in common are identified by identical numerical references.

The invention relates to an assembly comprising a receptacle, in particular a tube, in particular a tube for a cosmetic product, for example a flexible tube. This is understood to mean a tube, the body of which can be deformed, whether or not it returns to its initial shape. Said assembly also comprises a plug of the receptacle, in particular of said tube and / or of said tube head.

On the figure 1 , only one head 2 of said tube is shown. Said tube head 2 is intended to be linked to a skirt, not shown, of the tube, typically by overmolding the tube head 2 on the skirt, or for example by welding or gluing by assembling the skirt on the tube head 2 previously formed, in particular by injection or by compression injection, or by any other techniques. As a variant, the invention may thus relate to an assembly comprising a tube head rather than a complete tube.

Said receptacle, in particular said tube head 2, comprises a neck 3, defining a longitudinal axis Z-Z and opening on the one hand to the outside and on the other hand into an interior volume 4 of the receptacle. The neck 3 comprises, for example, a thread 6 on its outer periphery, adapted to allow the cap to be screwed onto the neck 3.

Said receptacle, in particular said tube head 2, further comprises a solid insert 8 forming a cover closing the end of the neck 3 facing the interior volume 4. In other words, said cover closes said interior volume 4. Said insert 8 is , for example, in contact, in particular in abutment, against an inner wall 11 of said receptacle. The insert 8 comprises, for example, a peripheral section 10 and a central section 12, defining said cap, the diameter of which corresponds to the internal diameter of the neck 3. Said insert 8 is typically in the form of a disc. Alternatively, its peripheral section 10 could be slightly frustoconical or comprise a flat zone, surrounding the neck and, around said flat zone, one or more successive slightly frustoconical zones up to its periphery which could be formed, for example, of a folded edge 13.

Said insert 8 is preferably a multilayer insert comprising a barrier layer, for example formed of EVOH or metal, in particular aluminum, coated on each of its faces with one or more protective layers, in particular of polymerized materials.

Here, said neck 3 and said insert 4 are provided at the level of said tube head 2. The latter may further comprise, for example, a shoulder 20, coming from said neck 3. The material of the tube head 2 surrounds at least partially said folded edge 13 of insert 8 in order to protect it, in particular to protect the metal layer of said insert 8.

As visible to figures 2 and 3 , said stopper 1 is here adapted to be screwed onto said neck 3. More precisely, said stopper 1 may comprise an internal thread 16 adapted to cooperate with the thread 6 of the neck 3. Said stopper has a longitudinal direction, corresponding to the axis longitudinal ZZ of the neck 3 when the stopper 1 is screwed onto the neck 3.

Said stopper 1 comprises a peripheral wall 15 suitable for fixing the stopper to the receptacle provided internally with said internal thread 16. Said peripheral wall 15 may be provided with flat surfaces, located on the outside, in order to facilitate handling of the stopper 1.

Said stopper 1 comprises a punch 14, suitable for cutting and / or piercing the cover. Said stopper 1 is configured to be positioned on said neck 3, in a standby position in which the punch 14 is at least partly in the neck 3, leaving the cover intact.

As shown in figure 4 , said assembly may comprise a removable spacer 22, intended to be placed in abutment on a body of the receptacle, here on the shoulder 20 of said tube head 2, around the neck 3, in the standby position. It thus maintains a spacing between the stopper 1 and the shoulder 20 when the stopper 1 is screwed onto the neck 3 while waiting for the first use. The punch 14 then extends inside the neck 3, at a non-zero distance from the insert 8, thus preserving the cover from any cutout or perforation. Said spacer ring 22 may comprise a plurality of ribs 70 adapted to allow its centering around the neck 3. Said ring 22 is preferably independent of said plug 1 so that said plug 1 can be removed from said receptacle without said ring 22 being so. .

Said spacer ring 22 is, for example, annular. As a variant, it may have the shape of a portion of a circle, a free end of which forms a tab that can be gripped by a user.

Said stopper 1 is further adapted to be positioned on said neck 3, in a position of use in which the cover has been cut and / or pierced by said punch 14.

During the first use, the user unscrews the stopper 1 from the neck 3, then removes the spacer ring 22, and screw the stopper 1 back onto the neck 3 until it abuts against the neck 3 or against the shoulder 20. The punch 14 has then produced a cutout or a perforation of the insert 8, and more precisely of its central section 12 forming the cover of the tube head 2.

If we refer again to figures 2 and 3 , it is noted that, according to the invention, the stopper 1 comprises a wall 17, said to be upper, closing the punch at one of the longitudinal ends of said punch. The wall 17 is said to be upper because in vertical use of the receptacle, stopper up, it will form the upper wall of the stopper. Uses in any other orientation are however possible without departing from the scope of the invention. Said upper wall 17 connects the punch to the peripheral wall 15. Here, said upper wall 17 connects a so-called upper edge of the peripheral wall 15 and a so-called upper edge of the punch 14.

Said plug 1 further comprises a sealing ring 50 at the level of a connection between the punch 14 and the peripheral wall 15. Such a configuration makes it possible to obtain a good level of sealing, in the event of closure of the receptacle after first use, by an arching effect of the ring against the connection, favoring the compression of the ring rather than a simple deformation.

Advantageously, said upper wall 17 is concave. In this way, if the receptacle is placed upside down on a support which has slight bumps, the concave shape will allow the bumps not to be in contact with the stopper. The receptacle can therefore be placed vertically on the support because the stopper rests thereon in a flat manner, by a peripheral edge 60 of the upper wall 17. In fact, the surface of the peripheral edge 60 being limited, the risks are reduced. 'it is in contact with the support at a place where roughness is present.

Said top wall 17 locally has a flat bottom, in particular in line with the punch 14. Said flat bottom may have a point 62 for injecting the stopper.

The rod 50 is formed, for example, of an extra thickness of material of a base 52 of the punch 14. Said extra thickness of material here comprises a base 54 of decreasing thickness, forming an inclined ramp, an intermediate part 56 of thickness. constant, forming an annular portion, and a chamfered end portion 58.

Advantageously, said punch 14 comprises a barrel-shaped body 30 configured to cut and / or pierce said cover. Said barrel present substantially the shape of a cylinder, hollow. By "substantially the shape of a cylinder", it is understood, in particular, that said body may have a very slightly frustoconical shape for the needs of demolding, that is to say with an angle at the top of less than 2, or even 1. °. In other words, the punch 14 has a substantially annular cross section of revolution. The wall thickness of said punch 14 may be between 10 and 20% of its outside diameter. Said barrel-shaped body 30 may extend all along said punch 14.

Said stopper 1 is formed, for example, by injection, in particular of plastic material.

Said punch 14 is advantageously configured so that the cutting of the cover is partial, so that the portion or portions of the cover having been cut remain linked to the rest of the insert 8, in the position of use, thus preventing any mixing of the material forming the insert 8 with a product contained in the associated receptacle.

By way of example, considering that a complete cutout is a 360 ° cutout of the cover, that is to say a circular cutout made by rotating the stopper 1, a cutout is advantageously made leaving a sufficient bond. to ensure cohesion between the central section 12 having been cut, and the peripheral section 10.

Said shank has a distal end 32 advantageously provided with cutting means such as teeth 40.

Said barrel is advantageously configured to penetrate into said internal volume 4, in the position of use, by a distance greater than the distance necessary to achieve a deformation of the insert 8 going beyond the elastic deformation capacities of said insert 8.

Claims (10)

1. Stopper for a receptacle, particularly a tube, more particularly a flexible tube for a cosmetic product, said receptacle comprising a neck (3) and a full insert (8) forming a seal closing an end of the neck (3) opening onto an inner volume (4) of the receptacle, said stopper (1) comprising a peripheral wall (15) adapted to attach the stopper to the receptacle, a punch (14) adapted to cut and/or pierce the seal, and a wall (17), referred to as the upper wall, connecting an upper edge of the punch and an upper edge of the peripheral wall (15), characterised in that said stopper further comprises a sealing strip (50) at the level of a connection between the punch (14) and the peripheral wall (15), said upper wall (17) closing the punch at one of its longitudinal ends.
2. Stopper according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said upper wall (17) is concave.
3. Stopper according to claim 2, wherein said upper wall (17) has a flat bottom.
4. Stopper according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the strip (50) is formed of an excess thickness of material of a base (52) of the punch (14).
5. Stopper according to the preceding claim, wherein said excess thickness of material comprises a base (54) of decreasing thickness, an intermediate portion (56) of constant thickness and a chamfered end portion (58).
6. Stopper according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said stopper (1) is adapted to be positioned on said neck (3), in a waiting position wherein the punch (14) is in the neck (3) while leaving the seal intact and in a position of use wherein the seal has been cut and/or pierced by said punch (14).
7. Stopper according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said punch (14) comprises a barrel-shaped body (30) configured to cut and/or pierce said seal.
8. Stopper according to the preceding claim, wherein said barrel has a distal end (32), provided with cutting means.
9. Stopper according to the preceding claim, wherein said cutting means comprise at least one cutting tooth (40).
10. Assembly comprising a receptacle, particularly a tube, more particularly a flexible tube for a cosmetic product, said receptacle comprising a neck (3) and a full insert (8) forming a seal closing an end of the neck (3) opening onto an inner volume (4) of the receptacle, and a stopper (1) according to any one of the preceding claims.

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