EP3288844B1 - Device for the secure closure of a container by screwing, with retractable tab - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a closure device to be carried by a reservoir container. The container is for example intended to receive a pharmaceutical product in the form of fluid and may be provided with a dispensing pump, optionally metered.

In known manner, it is proposed commercially pharmaceutical products sold in bottles, usually comprising a reservoir container on which is attached a dispensing tip forming for example a dosing pump.

Conventionally, the dispensing tip is protected by a closure device comprising a cap intended to be placed on the container or be removed from this container by a screwing movement / unscrewing of the cap on the container.

As regulations evolve, more and more countries are demanding that pharmaceutical products in bottles sold on their territories have secure means of closure, commonly known as CRC in accordance with the English acronym for "Child Resistant Closure Packaging".

Such secure means provide, for example, to allow the removal of a cap only by movements a priori contradictory between them.

The documents US 6,112,921 and US 7,641,064 disclose in this regard closure devices having a cap to be screwed onto a connecting neck integral with a tank. The disclosed closure systems also include locking tabs that a user must compress to allow unscrewing of the screw cap on the neck connection and thus gain access to the drug product. These locking tabs, carried by the cap, have the disadvantage of being in the usual zone of gripping of the cap.

This type of closure device is effective in operation but, as a child grasping the bottle is likely to grab it by the cap, the positioning of the locking tabs on the cap may be inconvenient in some circumstances.

The object of the invention is to propose a device for closing a container provided with secure closure means that are effective and simple to use but that move the locking tabs away from the usual gripping zone of the closure device.

• un organe de raccordement comportant un filetage externe et destiné à être porté par le réservoir,
• un capuchon comportant un filetage interne et destiné à être mis en place sur l'organe de raccordement ou à être retiré de cet organe de raccordement par vissage ou dévissage,
• des moyens de sécurité comprenant :
  • au moins une butée circonférentielle de verrouillage, et
  • au moins une languette de verrouillage élastiquement déformable radialement entre une position de repos dans laquelle la languette de verrouillage coopère avec la butée circonférentielle de verrouillage pour s'opposer au dévissage du capuchon et au moins une position escamotée de libération de la languette de verrouillage par rapport à la butée circonférentielle,

la languette de verrouillage étant portée par l'organe de raccordement et la butée circonférentielle de verrouillage étant portée par le capuchon, caractérisé en ce que la butée circonférentielle de verrouillage forme une extrémité circonférentielle d'un créneau ménagé dans un bord du capuchon délimitant une extrémité ouverte de ce capuchon, le bord de cette extrémité étant délimitée par deux contours, un contour radialement externe et un contour radialement interne, formant respectivement :

• un profil de came externe destiné à coopérer, lors du vissage, avec la languette de verrouillage pour la déplacer de la position de repos vers une position escamotée de libération radialement externe, et
• un profil de came interne destiné à coopérer, lors du dévissage, avec la languette de verrouillage pour la maintenir dans une position escamotée de libération radialement interne.

For this purpose, the subject of the invention is a device for closing a container forming a reservoir, of the type comprising:

• a connection member comprising an external thread and intended to be carried by the reservoir,
• a cap having an internal thread and intended to be put in place on the connecting member or to be removed from this connection member by screwing or unscrewing,
• security means comprising:
  • at least one circumferential locking stop, and
  • at least one locking tongue that is elastically deformable radially between a rest position in which the locking tab cooperates with the circumferential locking stop to oppose the unscrewing of the cap and at least one retracted position of release of the locking tab relative to at the circumferential stop,

the locking tongue being carried by the connecting member and the locking circumferential abutment being carried by the cap, characterized in that the circumferential locking abutment forms a circumferential end of a slot formed in an edge of the cap delimiting an end open of this cap, the edge of this end being delimited by two contours, a radially outer contour and a radially inner contour, forming respectively:

• an external cam profile intended to cooperate, during screwing, with the locking tab to move it from the rest position to a retracted position of radially external release, and
• an internal cam profile intended to cooperate, during unscrewing, with the locking tongue to maintain it in a retracted radially internal release position.

Thus, to separate the cap of the retaining member, the user presses with a first hand on the locking tab to retract radially. This frees the locking tab of the circumferential locking stop. With a second hand, the user can then unscrew the cap of the container in a usual gesture. Generally a child does not coordinate these two gestures spontaneously, so that the closure of the container is effectively secured against accidental manipulation by a child.

Thanks to the invention, the locking tongue is, in addition, outside the likely gripping area of the cap by a child, because it is carried by the connecting member.

In addition, the slot forms a housing for the locking tongue in the rest position, when the cap is fully screwed onto the connecting member.

The invention may also include the following optional features.

The circumferential locking stop may comprise a notch promoting the contact between the locking tab and the circumferential locking stop by partially fitting this locking tab into the notch.

The locking tongue may comprise at least one radially inner chamfer and a radially outer chamfer to facilitate the partial engagement of the locking tongue in the notch.

The locking tab may include at least one radially inner chamfer and a radially outer chamfer to facilitate cooperation with the camming contours of the cap.

Advantageously, the locking tongue comprises a first axial end of connection with the connecting member forming a hinge pin of the locking tongue, this hinge axis being substantially tangential to the rotational movement of the cap during its screwing / unscrewing.

Preferably, the locking tongue has a second axial end which is free, this second free axial end being less remote from the cap than the first axial end of connection by considering the cap in the screwed position.

The connecting member may comprise ribs for protecting the locking tongue which are radially projecting and intended to prevent inadvertent radial tightening of this locking tongue by a hand of a user enveloping the connecting member.

The connecting member may carry circumferential stabilizing stops to prevent deformation of the locking tongue in the rest position in case of attempted unscrewing.

Preferably, the closure device comprises two substantially diametrically opposed locking tabs and two locking circumferential stops associated with these two locking tabs.

The invention also relates to a medical device comprising a container and a closure device of this container, characterized in that the closure device is according to the invention.

• le récipient comporte un réservoir ayant un col, l'organe de raccordement étant monté en libre rotation autour du col du réservoir, ou bien
• le récipient comporte un réservoir ayant un col, l'organe de raccordement étant venu de matière avec le réservoir du récipient ;
• le récipient comporte un réservoir ayant un col, l'organe de raccordement étant monté sur le réservoir par vissage.

The medical device according to the invention may also include the following optional features:

• the container comprises a reservoir having a neck, the connecting member being mounted for free rotation around the neck of the reservoir, or
• the container comprises a reservoir having a neck, the connecting member being integral with the tank of the container;
• the container comprises a reservoir having a neck, the connecting member being mounted on the reservoir by screwing.

In the case where the connecting member is mounted for free rotation around the neck of the reservoir, any attempt to unscrew the cap without radial retraction of the locking tongue causes a rotation of the entire closure device around the neck of the reservoir. container, decreasing the risk of applying inappropriate forces on the locking tongue and the circumferential locking stop.

• la figure 1 est une vue partielle en perspective d'un dispositif médical comportant un dispositif de fermeture muni d'un capuchon en position vissée, selon l'invention;
• la figure 2 est une vue éclatée montrant une partie des éléments du dispositif médical de la figure 1 ;
• la figure 3 est une vue en perspective du capuchon du dispositif médical de la figure 1 ;
• la figure 4 est une vue partielle en coupe axiale du dispositif médical de la figure 1 ;
• la figure 5 est une vue en élévation du dispositif médical de la figure 1, le capuchon étant en cours de vissage ;
• la figure 6 est une vue de dessus du dispositif médical de la figure 1 en cours de vissage ;
• la figure 7 est une vue similaire à la figure 5, le capuchon étant en cours de vissage ;
• les figures 8 à 10 sont des vues partielles en coupe transversale du dispositif médical de la figure 1 montrant différentes positions susceptibles d'être prises par la languette de verrouillage du dispositif de fermeture lorsque le capuchon est en position vissée ;
• les figures 11 à 13 sont des vues similaires aux figures 8 à 10 montrant différentes positions relatives de la languette de verrouillage du dispositif de fermeture lorsque le capuchon est en cours de dévissage ;
• la figure 14 représente une vue en coupe semblable à la figure 4 d'un dispositif médical comportant un dispositif de fermeture selon un second mode de réalisation de l'invention.

The invention will be better understood on reading the description which follows, given solely by way of example and with reference to the appended figures, in which:

• the figure 1 is a partial perspective view of a medical device comprising a closure device provided with a cap in the screwed position, according to the invention;
• the figure 2 is an exploded view showing some of the elements of the medical device of the figure 1 ;
• the figure 3 is a perspective view of the cap of the medical device of the figure 1 ;
• the figure 4 is a partial view in axial section of the medical device of the figure 1 ;
• the figure 5 is an elevation view of the medical device of the figure 1 , the cap being being screwed;
• the figure 6 is a top view of the medical device of the figure 1 during screwing;
• the figure 7 is a view similar to the figure 5 , the cap being being screwed;
• the Figures 8 to 10 are partial cross-sectional views of the medical device of the figure 1 showing different positions that can be taken by the locking tab of the closure device when the cap is in the screwed position;
• the Figures 11 to 13 are similar views to Figures 8 to 10 showing different relative positions of the locking tab of the closure device when the cap is being unscrewed;
• the figure 14 represents a sectional view similar to the figure 4 of a medical device comprising a closure device according to a second embodiment of the invention.

We now refer to Figures 1 and 2 . These figures show a medical device 20 according to the invention. This medical device 20 comprises a container forming tank 21 of general shape of revolution about an axis A.

In what follows, any reference to an axial direction will be made with reference to the axis A.

This reservoir 21 has a neck. On the neck of the tank 21 is attached a nozzle 22 for dispensing a product contained in the tank 21. In a variant, this dispensing nozzle 22 could be integral with the neck of the tank 21.

The medical device 20 also comprises a device 24 for closing the reservoir 21.

This closure device 24 comprises a cap 26 of generally elliptical outer profile and having an open end 27, a connection member 28 forming a generally elliptical outer profile ring and safety means.

As shown in the figure figure 2 , the connecting member 28 is intended to be carried by the neck of the container 21. In the embodiment described, the connecting member 28 is mounted for free rotation around the neck of the reservoir 21.

Alternatively, the connecting member 28 could be integral with the tank 21.

The container 21 and the connecting member 28 are for example made of polypropylene (PP). The cap 26 is for example made of Polypropylene (PP) or High Density Polyethylene (HDPE).

The connecting member 28 comprises a substantially cylindrical portion provided with an external thread 30 intended to cooperate with the cap 26. Indeed, as visible on the figure 3 , the cap 26 has a substantially cylindrical portion provided with an internal thread 32 to allow its establishment on the connecting member 28 by screwing or to be removed from the connecting member 28 by unscrewing. Preferably, the cap 26 comprises an annular gripping zone 33, including axial grooves, for example equidistributed around the circumference of the cap 26, on which a user can place his fingers to screw or unscrew the cap 26.

The connecting member 28 comprises, after the external thread 30 while considering the axial screwing direction, a flange 34 forming a screw end stop. As visible on the figure 6 this flange 34 has a generally elliptical outer profile. As visible on the figure 4 in particular, this screw end stop is intended to cooperate with a complementary surface 36 formed by the edge of the cap 26 defining the open end 27 thereof.

According to another embodiment not shown, the screw end stop can be defined by stops provided at the end of external and internal threads, or by any other equivalent means.

As visible on the figure 3 , two substantially radially opposite crenellations 37 are formed in the edge of the cap 26 delimiting its open end 27 at the ends farthest from its generally elliptical outer profile. Each slot is overhung by an inclined edge 39, connecting the generally elliptical outer profile of the open end 27 to the rest of the cap 26, and thus preventing access, after screwing the cap 26, to the second free axial end 44 of the corresponding locking tab 40.

• quatre butées circonférentielles de verrouillage 38 portées par le capuchon 26, et
• deux languettes de verrouillage 40 sensiblement diamétralement opposées portées par l'organe de raccordement 28 aux extrémités les plus éloignées de son profil extérieur globalement elliptique.

In addition, the security means include:

• four circumferential locking stops 38 carried by the cap 26, and
• two substantially diametrically opposed locking tongues 40 carried by the connecting member 28 at the ends farthest from its generally elliptical outer profile.

Each locking tongue 40 is associated with an active circumferential locking stop 38. It will be noted that only two circumferential locking stops 38 are active, the two others being essentially justified for reasons of symmetry of the cap 26.

• une position escamotée radialement externe (comme visible sur la figure 6 notamment), et
• une position escamotée radialement interne (comme visible sur la figure 11 notamment).

The locking tongues 40 of the connecting member 28 are each elastically deformable radially between a rest position and two different retracted release positions:

• a retracted position radially external (as visible on the figure 6 in particular), and
• a retracted position radially internal (as visible on the figure 11 especially).

These different retracted positions will be described in more detail later.

The locking tabs 40 protrude axially from the complementary surface 36 so that, during its screwing, the cap 26 cooperates with the locking tabs 40 before cooperating with the complementary surface 36.

When the cap 26 is screwed onto the connecting member 28, a wafer 41 of each locking tab 40 in the rest position cooperates with a corresponding circumferential locking stop 38 to oppose the unscrewing of the cap 26, as illustrated in FIG. figure 1 .

Indeed, each circumferential locking stopper 38 forms a circumferential end of a slot 37 (see FIG. figures 3 and 4 ).

As visible on the figure 2 each locking tab 40 carried by the connecting member 28 has a first axial end 42 of connection with the connecting member 28. This axial connecting end 42 thus forms an axis of articulation of the locking tongue 40 and this axis of articulation is substantially tangential to the rotational movement of the cap 26 during its screwing / unscrewing according to axis A.

Each locking tongue 40 also has a second axial end 44 which is free. As visible on Figures 1 and 2 , the first axial connecting end 42 is further away from the reservoir 21 than the second free axial end 44 by considering the cap 26 in the screwed position.

Each locking tab 40 further comprises, on its circumferential face, a recess 45 for positioning a finger of a user.

The open end edge 27 of the cap 26 is further delimited by two outlines: a radially outer contour 46 and a radially inner contour 48.

The radially outer contour 46 forms an outer cam profile 46 intended to cooperate, during screwing, with the locking tabs 40 to move them from their rest position to their retracted radially external release position.

The radially inner contour 48 forms an internal cam profile 48 intended to cooperate, during unscrewing, with the locking tabs 40 to maintain them in their retracted radially internal release position.

To promote contact between each circumferential locking stop 38 carried by the cap 26 and the slots 41 of the locking tongues 40 in the rest position, a notch 50 is formed in each circumferential locking stop 38. These notches 50 promote contact between the slices 41 of the locking tongues 40 of the connecting member 28 and the circumferential locking stops 38 of the cap 26 by partially fitting each locking tongue 40 in the notches 50.

Moreover, and as visible on the figure 8 in order to facilitate the cooperation between each locking tab 40 and the outward and inner cam profile contours 46, 48 of the cap 26, each locking tab 40 has two radially inner chamfers 51 and two radially outer chamfers 52.

In order to prevent an inadvertent radial clamping of the locking tongues 40 by the hand of a user enveloping the connecting member 28, the connecting member 28 has protective ribs 54 of the locking tabs 40. These protective ribs 54 are radially protruding and thus prevent inadvertent radial clamping, in particular by the palm of a child's hand.

In addition to these protective ribs 54, the connecting member 28 carries circumferential stabilizing stops 56 intended to prevent deformation of the locking tabs 40 in the rest position in case of attempted unscrewing. These circumferential stabilizing stops 56 correspond to the protective ribs 54 disposed on either side of each locking tab 40. For the user's comfort, the circumferential stabilizing stops 56 have a rounded profile, visible on the Figures 8 to 13 oriented towards the corresponding locking tab 40.

The main steps of handling the medical device 20 according to the invention will be described below.

Firstly, the medical device 20 being screwed as shown in FIGS. Figures 5, 6 and 7 . In this case, the two locking tongues 40 substantially diametrically opposed are in the rest position. A user wishing to close the medical device 20 screws the cap 26 on the connecting member 28 in a usual gesture.

When the cap 26 is, axially (parallel to the axis A), sufficiently close to the reservoir 21 so that the outer contour 46 of the cap 26, in the flattened portions of its generally elliptical outer profile, comes into contact with the locking tabs 40, there is ramping cooperation between the radially inner chamfers 51 of the locking tabs 40 and the outer cam profile 46 of the cap 26. Due to the generally elliptical outer profile of the outer contour 46 of the cap 26, this cooperation moves radially, by elastic deformation and pivoting about the hinge axis, each locking tab 40 to its retracted position of external release (see Figures 6 and 7 ) and thus allows the user to finish screwing the cap 26 on the connecting member 28. The screwing is completed when the complementary surface 36 of the edge of the cap 26 comes into contact with the screw end stop of the screw. the collar 34.

When the screwing of the cap 26 on the connecting member 28 is completed, each locking tab 40 is found opposite a slot 37 and, as the contact with the outer contour 46 of the cap 26 is broken, each locking tab 40 can rotate again around its axis of articulation and resume its rest position by elastic deformation.

As can be seen on the Figures 8, 9 and 10 when the locking tongues 40 are in the rest position, the cap 26 of the connecting member 28 can not be unscrewed. In this configuration, any attempt to circumferentially move the cap 26 around the connection 28 results in the interlocking of the locking tongues 40 in the notches 50 formed in the circumferential locking stops 38 carried by the cap 26.

Indeed, the notch 50 of each circumferential locking stopper 38 is able to receive the corresponding locking tab 40 and to lock it circumferentially in its rest position in the event of inadvertent initiation of unscrewing of the cap 26; to say without prior displacement, by a user, of the locking tab 40 to its retracted radially internal release position.

In case of an attempt to circumferentially move the cap 26 around the connecting member 28 with the locking tabs 40 in the rest position, the radially inner and outer chamfers 51, 52 promote the engagement of the locking tabs 40 in the notches 50, thus preventing the locking tabs 40 from escaping from the notches 50. Moreover, in such a configuration, the circumferential stabilizing stops 56 limit the torsional deformation of the notches 50 which can not be released from the notches 50.

Furthermore, when the connecting member 28 is mounted for free rotation about the neck of the reservoir 21, the attempt to unscrew may cause the rotation of the connecting member 28 relative to the neck of the reservoir 21, limiting all the points of support for opening the medical device 20.

To open the medical device 20 and separate the cap 26 from the connecting member 28, a user must first radially retract the locking tabs 40.

To do this, as illustrated on the figure 11 , the user places two fingers around the connecting member 28, one on each locking tab 40. The positioning recesses 45 allow the user to position his fingers easily.

The user then presses on each locking tab 40 to deform it elastically and thus rotate it each around its axis of articulation and move it towards its radially internal retracted position as illustrated on FIG. figure 11 . With his free hand, the user can then seize the cap 26 by the gripping zone 33 and begin to unscrew it by a usual gesture. When the unscrewing is initiated, the inner contour 48 of the end edge of the cap 26 comes into contact with the radially outer chamfers 52 of each locking tab 40. The inner contour 48 then co-operates by ramp effect with the radially outer chamfers 52 (see figure 12 ) and holds each locking tongue 40 in its radially internal retracted position during the beginning of the unscrewing of the cap 26, as visible on the figure 13 , until the cap 26 is beyond the second free axial ends 44 of the locking tabs 40. Once released, the locking tabs 40 return to the rest position by elastic deformation.

We will describe below, referring to the figure 14 , a medical device 20 according to a second embodiment of the invention. In this case, elements similar to those of the preceding figures are designated by identical references.

In this embodiment, the closure device 24 is mounted on the reservoir 21 by screwing. The screwing means of the closure device on the reservoir 21 comprise first and second threads 58 and 58 formed respectively on the reservoir 21 and the closure device 24.

Claims (13)

1. Device (24) for closing a container forming a reservoir (21), of the type comprising

   - a connecting member (28) having an external thread (30) and intended to be carried by the reservoir (21), a cap (26) having an internal thread (32) and intended to be placed on the connecting member (28) or to be removed from this connecting member (28) by screwing or unscrewing,

   - security means comprising

   - at least one circumferential locking stop (38), and

   - at least one locking tab (40) elastically deformable radially between a rest position in which the locking tab (40) cooperates with the circumferential locking stop (38) to oppose the unscrewing of the cap (26) and at least one retracted position releasing the locking tab (40) relative to the circumferential stop (38),

   the locking tab (40) being carried by the connecting member (28) and the circumferential locking stop (38) being carried by the cap (26), characterised in that the circumferential locking stop (38) forms a circumferential end of an indent (37) formed in an edge of the cap (26) defining an open end (27) of this cap (26), the edge of this end being defined by two contours (46, 48), a radially external contour (46) and a radially internal contour (48), forming respectively

   - an external cam profile (46) intended to cooperate, when screwing, with the locking tab (40) to move it from the rest position to a retracted radially external release position, and

   - an internal cam profile (48) intended to cooperate, when unscrewing, with the locking tab (40) to hold it in a retracted radially internal release position
2. Closing device (24) according to claim 1, wherein the circumferential locking stop (38) comprises a notch (50) favouring the contact between the locking tab (40) and the circumferential locking stop (38) by partial insertion of this locking tab (40) into the notch (50)
3. Closing device (24) according to the preceding claim, wherein the locking tab (40) comprises at least a radially internal chamfer (51) and a radially external chamfer (52) to facilitate the partial insertion of the locking tab (40) into the notch (50)
4. Closing device (24) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the locking tab (40) comprises at least a radially internal chamfer (51) and a radially external chamfer (52) to facilitate the cooperation with the contours forming cam profiles (46, 48) of the cap (26)
5. Closing device (24) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the locking tab (40) comprises a first axial end (42) for connecting with the connecting member (28) forming a hinge pin of this locking tab (40), this hinge pin being substantially tangential to the rotation movement of the cap (26) when it is screwed/unscrewed
6. Closing device (24) according to the preceding claim, wherein the locking tab (40) comprises a second axial end (44) which is free, this second free axial end (44) being closer to the cap (26) than the first axial connecting end (42) considering the cap (26) in screwed position
7. Closing device (24) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the connecting member (28) comprises ribs (54) for protecting the locking tab (40) which project radially and are intended to prevent accidental radial tightening of this locking tab (40) by the hand of a user around the connecting member (28)
8. Closing device (24) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the connecting member (28) carries circumferential stabilisation stops (56) intended to prevent deformation of the locking tab (40) in the rest position in case of a forced unscrewing attempt
9. Closing device (24) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising two substantially diametrically opposed locking tabs (40) and two circumferential locking stops (38) associated with these two locking tabs (40)
10. Medical device (20) comprising a container and a device (24) for closing this container, characterised in that the closing device (24) is according to any one of claims 1 to 9
11. Medical device (20) according to the preceding claim, wherein the container comprises a reservoir (21) having a neck and wherein the connecting member (28) is mounted so as to rotate freely about the neck of the reservoir (21)
12. Medical device (20) according to claim 10, wherein the container comprises a reservoir (21) having a neck and wherein the connecting member (28) is made in one piece with the reservoir (21) of the container.
13. Medical device (20) according to claim 10, wherein the container comprises a reservoir (21) having a neck and wherein the connecting member (28) is mounted on the container by screwing.

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