LU88845A1 - Packaging for liquid products and in particular for food products - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to packaging for liquid products and in particular for food products.

There are already packagings comprising, on the one hand, a container with a threaded neck, the opening of which is possibly sealed with a seal, and, on the other hand, a stopper, the body of which, intended to be screwed onto said neck, is suitable to allow the distribution of the product via a tubular nozzle whose evacuation orifice opening to the outside is capable of being closed by a cover and whose supply orifice is capable of communicating with the container.

However, after opening the container, the seal is only ensured by the removable cover of the tubular endpiece, which is insufficient especially in the presence of very fluid liquid products.

However, in the case of food products, a leaking seal involves additional risks of bacterial contamination.

In fact, liquid can very well intrude into the free space situated between the body of the stopper and the neck of the container and flow out through the thread. These leaks are all the more likely since the packaging is often intended to be tilted, in particular when it comes to drinks to dispense the product in the inverted position with the stopper at the bottom.

In addition, these packages do not include any means making it possible to directly obtain the opening of the container in the case where the latter is sealed by a seal and it is therefore the responsibility of the user to remove or at the rupture of this seal, which presupposes a prior unscrewing of the cap then a screwing up after opening.

The present invention aims to solve these technical problems satisfactorily.

This object is achieved according to the invention by means of packaging, in particular for liquid food products, comprising a container with a threaded neck, the opening of which is optionally sealed with a seal, and a cap, the body of which intended to be screwed onto said neck is suitable. to allow the distribution of said product via a tubular endpiece whose discharge opening opening to the outside is capable of being closed by a cover and whose supply orifice is capable of communicating with the container, characterized in that that said body carries a peripheral sealing member and in that the container neck comprises means for wedging the body of the stopper in predetermined screwing positions in the form of at least a first series of stops intended to maintain the peripheral sealing member in bearing contact with the neck of the container around its opening.

According to an advantageous characteristic, the container neck has an upper thread with direct pitch bringing the plug to the pre-assembly position and a lower thread with retrograde pitch, separated from the upper thread by a second series of stops and leading to the sealing of the plug after crossing the first series of stops.

According to a particular embodiment, said stops are formed by bosses arranged between the threads.

Preferably, the internal side wall of said body is provided with two elastically deformable and diametrically opposite helical ribs whose inclination corresponds to the pitch of the lower thread of said neck.

According to a variant, the second series of stops comprises a low stop arranged under the lower end of the upper thread and a high stop formed by the upper end of the lower thread; said low and high stops delimiting between them an inclined groove extending in the extension of the lower thread and in which comes to lock, in the plug pre-assembly position, one of the ribs of the body.

According to another characteristic, said tip protrudes on either side of the body and carries in its internal part, a cutting member ensuring the opening of the lid when the body of the stopper is screwed in block to the neck of the container. .

Preferably, said cutting member is carried by the edge of the supply orifice of the tubular end piece.

According to another embodiment, said cutting member is formed by a helical section of the internal end of the end piece defining at least one sharp edge and at least one adjacent leading edge.

According to yet another variant, said peripheral sealing member consists of an elastically deformable annular lip carried by the bottom of the body of the plug coaxially with the tubular end piece.

According to yet another characteristic, said cover of the tubular end piece is carried by a cover intended to cover the body of the plug.

Alternatively, said cover is attached to the body of the cap by at least one hinge.

According to another variant, the cover comprises means for locking in the open position.

Preferably, said locking means consist of a protruding member intended to engage by elastic deformation in a housing of conjugate profile; said member and said housing being carried by the respective side walls of the body and of the cap cover which are intended to come opposite.

The packaging of the invention offers simple and effective means of opening the container by cutting or drilling the lid and without the risk of obstruction of the tubular end piece.

In addition, the presence of two complementary sealing means (end cap and peripheral sealing member) limits the risks of bacterial contamination of the packaged product.

In addition, the cover is protected from accidental destruction by stops made directly on the thread of the neck. This arrangement makes it possible to overcome the presence of a tamper-evident band which simplifies the manufacture of the stopper and in particular the demolding operations.

It can be used to condition drinks and in this case the tubular tip which projects beyond the body of the cap can then be brought directly to the mouth without the tilting of the container causing leakage.

Another advantage of the invention lies in the possibility of locking the cover in the open position. This arrangement makes it possible to retract the cover and thus prevent the user from being hindered in the event of use by tilting the container.

Finally, the shape of the stopper and in particular the complementary profiles of the body and of the cover trapping the endpiece between them, allow easy stacking of the packaging of the invention.

The invention will be better understood on reading the description which follows, accompanied by the drawings in which: FIGS. 1 a and 1 b represent perspective views of an embodiment of the packaging of the invention respectively in the closed position and in the open position; - Figures 2a and 2b show sectional views of the upper part of the packaging of Figures la and lb respectively in the closed and open positions; - Figures 3a and 2b show detailed sectional views of the sealing member respectively in the closed position and in the open position of the cover; - Figures 4a and 4b show partial perspective and front views, respectively, of an embodiment of the cutting member used in the packaging of the invention; - Figure 5 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the container neck used in the packaging of the invention with an offset cap; - Figure 6 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the lid locking means in the open position.

The packaging embodiment shown in Figures la and lb is more particularly intended for liquid food products such as milk drinks.

It comprises a container 1 with a threaded neck 11, the opening of which is sealed by a cover A (see FIGS. 2a and 2b) and a stopper 2, the body 2a of which is intended to be screwed onto the neck of the container 1. The body 2a of the plug 2 is substantially cylindrical and consists, on the one hand, of a side skirt 27 provided on its internal wall with a thread or of discontinuous helical ribs 29 and, on the other hand, of an upper flange 28 ( see Figures 2a and 2b).

The plug 2 is able to allow the product to be dispensed via a tubular end piece 20. The end piece 20 projects on either side of the flange 28 of the body 2a. On the outside of the body 2a, it has a discharge orifice 20a and on the inside, it has a supply orifice 20b (see FIGS. 2a and 2b).

The discharge orifice 20a therefore opens to the outside and is closed off by a cover 21 carried here by a cylindrical hood or cap 2b intended to cover the body 2a by resting on the edge of the upper flange 28. It is possible to provide a peripheral snap-fitting of the cover 2b on the body 2a.

The cover 2b is attached to the body 2a of the plug 2 by at least one hinge 22 and comprises locking means 23 in the open position. The cover 2b is here made in one piece with the body 2a. The cover 2b also includes a transverse tab 24 to facilitate its gripping and its opening. The cover 2b and the body 2a are provided, on their side wall, with grooves C.

The cap is brought from the pre-mounting position on the container 1, closed by the cover A, to its position of use where the cover A is open, by forced screwing in the retrograde direction, that is to say - say clockwise.

2a shows a sectional view of the upper part of the packaging of the invention in the position of Figure la.

The body 2a of the plug 2 is crossed by the end piece 20 and its supply orifice 20b is capable of communicating with the container 1 after opening of the cover A. The cover A is generally made of aluminum and sealed by conduction or induction. The various treatments carried out on the packaging after filling and sealing can have an influence on the state of the cover which can thus be under tension (cover A) or relaxed by forming a bowl (cover A 'dotted in FIG. 2a ).

The plug 2 comprises a cutting member 25 carried by the internal end of the end piece 20 to ensure the opening of the cover A, when the body 2a is screwed in block on the threaded neck 11.

The plug 2 also includes a peripheral sealing member 26 intended to come into tight support contact with the neck 11 around the cover A after it has opened and possibly even from the start of the cutting phase.

In FIG. 2b, the cover 2b has been lifted, folded down on the outside and then immobilized in this latter position by the locking means 23 which will be described later with reference to FIG. 6. The plug 2 has been screwed in firmly on the neck 11 of the container 1 which has led, on the one hand, to the opening of the cover A by means of the cutting member 25 and, on the other hand, the sealing of the support 11 of the neck the peripheral sealing member 26. The packaging is then ready for the distribution of the product.

FIG. 3a represents a detailed view in section of the peripheral sealing member before the opening of the cover A or A '.

The sealing member consists of an annular, elastically deformable lip 26 carried by the internal face of the collar 28 forming the bottom 28a of the body 2a. The annular lip 26 extends coaxially to the tubular end piece 20.

The lip 26 is preferably oriented towards the central axis in a direction which makes in the free state an average angle a of between 30 ° and 40 ° relative to the normal N to the plane of the bottom 28a.

The lip 26 is tapered and therefore ends with an end 26 a of reduced thickness.

The lip 26 is intended to come into bearing contact with the rim 11a of the neck 11 of the container 1 in the immediate vicinity of the cover A, A 'as shown in FIG. 3b.

The thinned end 26a of the lip 26 is slightly deformed under the effect of the compression due to the forced screwing of the body 2a on the neck IL

This deformation results in a flattening of the lip which provides a peripheral contact surface with the rim 11a thus guaranteeing a satisfactory seal.

Figures 4a and 4b show the inner end of the tubular end piece 20 with its supply orifice 20b. The cutting member 25 is carried by the edge of the orifice 20b. The cutting member 25 is preferably formed by a helical section of the internal end of the end piece 20 delimiting at least one sharp edge 25a and at least one adjacent leading edge 25b forming a blade.

In Figure 5 is shown another embodiment of the cutting member 25 with two sharp edges 25a and two leading edges 25b.

From the pre-assembly position and after crossing the stop 13b (shown in FIG. 5), screwing the body 2a of the plug 2 onto the threaded neck 11 of the container 1, in the retrograde direction, lowers the body 2a onto said neck, until one of the ribs 29 comes into contact with the stop 12 (also shown in FIG. 5). The crossing of this new stop then brings the lower edge of the internal end of the end piece 20 into contact with the cover A, A '.

By forced screwing, the sharp edge 25a of the cutting member 25 then perforates the cover AA '.

The continuation of the screwing in block, always in the same direction, then causes the circular cutting of the cover thanks to the helical movement (rotation and axial translation) of the cutting edge 25b which extends in a plane substantially perpendicular to the plane of the '' seal.

Of course, the height of the internal part of the end piece 20 and the geometry of the thread of the neck 11 are determined one as a function of the other, so that the cutting member 25 and the sealing member 26 can perform their respective functions correctly and efficiently. Thus, the length of the circular cutout of the cover A, A ′ can be adjusted by adopting a useful thread height, limited, if necessary, by the stops 12, 13b. It is thus possible to avoid a complete cutting of the cover which would produce the fall of a foreign body in the container.

The functions of the stops are described in more detail with reference to FIG. 5 which represents a perspective view of the threaded neck 11 of the container 1. The neck 11 comprises means for wedging the plug 1 in predetermined positions as well as a double thread 10 with inverted steps onto which the body 2a of the plug 2 is screwed. The skirt 27 of the body 2a is provided on its internal wall with two discontinuous and helical ribs 29 which are diametrically opposite.

The ribs 29 are elastically deformable and their inclination is a function of the pitch of the thread of the neck 11.

The upper thread 10a is a direct pitch, that is to say in the anticlockwise direction, and brings the plug 2 in the pre-assembly position on the container 1 after filling and sealing.

As the ribs 29 are inclined in the direction and according to the pitch of the lower thread 10b, the screwing on the upper thread 10a causes elastic deformation of said ribs.

The lower thread 10b has a retrograde pitch, that is to say in the clockwise direction and is therefore reversed with respect to the upper thread 10a.

It first leads to the opening of the cover A by the cutting member 25 and then or jointly to the sealing of the plug by contact of support of the peripheral sealing member 26 on the flange 11a neck opening 11.

The lower thread includes a first series of stops 12 placed at an intermediate level and intended to retain the plug 2 downwards in a position where the peripheral member 26 is in sealed contact against the edge 11a of the neck 11. After opening, this sealing position corresponds to the product distribution phase during which the packaging is generally tilted between 90 ° and 180 ° relative to its vertical storage position.

The lower thread 10b is delimited upwards by wedging means constituted by a second series of stops 13 which separates it from the upper thread 10a.

The second series of stops 13 includes a low stop 13b disposed under the lower end of the upper thread 10a and a high stop 13a formed by the upper end of the lower thread 10b. The upper stops 13a and lower 13b define between them an inclined groove 14, extending in the extension of the lower thread 10b and in which comes to lock, in the pre-assembly position of the plug 2, one of the ribs 29 of the body 2a after forced screwing on the upper thread 10a.

Preferably, the rib 29 is no longer under deformation stress when it is engaged by snap-fastening in the groove 14.

The stops 13a, 13b thus prohibit any accidental separation of the plug 2, for example, during transport or handling.

The lower stop 13b limits the descent of the stopper and thus makes it possible to protect the cover A against accidental perforation insofar as crossing it towards the lower thread 10b requires forced screwing.

Generally, each series of stops comprises one or more stops. These stops are formed, for example as shown in Figure 5, bosses disposed directly between the threads.

These bosses cause, in contact with the ribs 29 when the body 2a is screwed, an elastic deformation of said ribs and / or of its lateral skirt 27.

FIG. 6 represents a detailed perspective view of an embodiment of the locking means 26 of the cover 2b of the plug 2 in the open position.

In this position, the cover 2b is pivoted about 180 ° from its initial position (see FIGS. 2a and 2b) and around the axis of the hinge 22.

The locking means consist of a projecting member 26a, integral here with the side wall 27 of the body 2a, and intended to engage by elastic deformation in a housing 26b of conjugate profile, formed here on the side wall of the cover. 2b coming opposite.

Of course, it is possible to reverse this arrangement by making the protruding member 26a on the cover and the housing 26b on the body.

This locking mode proceeds from a reversible latching.

Claims (13)

1. Packaging, in particular for liquid food products, comprising a container (1) with a threaded neck (11), the opening of which is optionally sealed by a cover (Α, Α ') and a stopper (2), the body (2a) of which is intended to being screwed onto said neck (11) is capable of allowing the distribution of said product via a tubular end piece (20), the evacuation orifice (20a) of which opens to the outside is capable of being closed by a cover (21) and whose supply orifice (20b) is capable of communicating with the container (1), characterized in that said body (2a) carries a peripheral sealing member (26) and in that the neck (11 ) of the container (1) comprises means for wedging the body (2a) of the plug in predetermined screwing positions in the form of at least a first series of stops (12) intended to hold the peripheral sealing member (26 ) in bearing contact with the neck (11) of the container (1) around its opening erture. 2. Packaging according to claim 1, characterized in that the neck (11) of the container has an upper thread (10a) with direct pitch bringing the plug (2) in the pre-assembly position and a lower thread (10b) with pitch retrograde, separated from the upper thread (10a) by a second series of stops (13) and leading to the sealing of the plug (2) after crossing the first series of stops (12). 3. Packaging according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said stops (12,13) are formed of bosses disposed between the threads. 4. Packaging according to claim 2, characterized in that the internal side wall of said body (2a) is provided with two helical ribs (29) elastically deformable and diametrically opposed whose inclination corresponds to the pitch of the lower thread (10b) of said neck (11). 5. Packaging according to claim 4, characterized in that the second series of stops (13) comprises a low stop (13b) disposed under the lower end of the upper thread (10a) and a high stop (13a) formed by upper end of the lower thread (10b), said lower (13b) and upper (13a) stops delimiting between them an inclined groove (14) extending in the extension of the lower thread (10b) and in which comes to lock in the pre-assembly position of the plug (2) one of the ribs (29) of the body (2a). 6 Packaging according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said end piece (20) projects from either side of the body (2a) and carries in its internal part, a cutting member (25) ensuring the opening of the cover (Α, Α1) when the body (2a) of the stopper (2) is screwed firmly onto the neck (11) of the container (1). 7. Packaging according to claim 6, characterized in that said cutting member (25) is carried by the edge of the supply orifice (20b) of the tubular end piece (20). 8. Packaging according to claim 7, characterized in that said cutting member (25) is formed by a helical section of the internal end of the end piece defining at least one sharp edge (25a) and at least one edge of adjacent attack (25b). 9. Packaging according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said peripheral sealing member (26) consists of an elastically deformable annular lip carried by the bottom (28a) of the body (2a) of the plug (2) coaxially with the tubular end piece (2a). 10. Packaging according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said cover (21) of the tubular end piece (20) is carried by a cover (2b) intended to cover the body (2a) of the plug (2). 11. Packaging according to claim 10, characterized in that said cover (2b) is attached to the body (2a) of the plug (2) by at least one hinge (22). 12. Packaging according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that the cover (2b) comprises locking means (26) in the open position. 13. Packaging according to claim 12, characterized in that said locking means (26) consist of a projecting member (26a) intended to engage by elastic deformation in a housing (26b) of conjugate profile; said member and said housing being carried by the respective side walls of the body (2a) and of the cover (2b) of the plug (2) which are intended to come opposite. The present invention relates to a packaging, in particular for liquid food products, comprising a container (1) whose threaded neck (11) is sealed with a seal (A, A ') and a plug (2) whose body (2a) intended to be screwed onto said neck (11) is capable of allowing the distribution of said product via a tubular nozzle (20), the evacuation orifice (20a) of which opens out to the exterior is capable of being closed off by a cover (21) and the supply orifice (20b) of which is capable of communicating with the container (1) after opening the cover (A, A '), characterized in that that said end piece (20) projects from either side of the body (2a) and carries in its internal part, a cutting member (25) ensuring the opening of the cover (A, A ') when the body (2a) of the stopper (2) is screwed to the neck (11) of the container (1) and in this that said body (2a) carries a peripheral sealing member (26) coming into bearing contact with the neck (11) of the container (1) around the cover (A, A ') after and possibly during its opening . Figure 2b