WO1999062784A1 - Opening/closing device in particular for a container with flexible wall and container with flexible wall associated with said device - Google Patents

Abstract

When it is in the closed position, the cover (2) closes the upper opening of the tubular guide (1). The nozzle (3) fixed by its base to a container or bag containing the liquid, is engaged in the guide (1) and fixed to the latter by its base by means of the bayonet fixing (21, 22) by clamping between the two parts the neck (5) of the support. By pivoting around the crossed ribs (10) the cover (2) swings so that its cam surface (13) then its locking surface (20) press laterally on the end piece (3) and hold the lips (19) in open position.

Description

 In particular opening / closing device for flexible wall container and flexible wall container associated with such a device

The present invention relates to an opening / closing device, in particular for a container with a flexible wall, comprising a tubular end piece of deformable material, integral with the container at one end and having at the other end two parallel lips defining a rectilinear discharge slot. It also relates to a flexible wall container associated with such a device.

Manufacturers are currently making an effort to reduce the quantity of packaging material, for not only economic but also ecological reasons. The introduction of flexible refill packaging goes in this direction.

However, flexible packaging has certain disadvantages for the consumer. In particular, the consumer must either transfer the contents of the flexible packaging to a primary packaging, or accommodate the impractical characteristics of this type of packaging: risk of accident when full and sagging when it is started, questionable aesthetics, etc.

On the other hand, the closure devices of these packages are generally ill-suited to the use of its contents directly from the flexible packaging, in particular when it is a question of liquid or pasty contents.

The object of the present invention is to provide an opening / closing device, in particular for a container with a flexible wall, which responds better than the known devices to the conditions indicated above, in a simple and rapid handling, sparing a flow quick and easy, with good sealing in the closed position and a reduced cost price. For this purpose, the present invention relates to an opening / closing device, in particular for a container with a flexible wall, comprising a tubular end piece of deformable material, integral with the container at one end and having at the other end two parallel lips determining a straight spill slot, this device further comprising a rigid tubular guide associated with the end piece, a cover pivoting on the tubular guide and cooperating in the open position with the wall of the end piece to force the lips of the slot into spaced positions , and means for rigidly and removably fixing the guide and the nozzle to one another by their bases.

Preferably, the lips of the nozzle are sealed so that the container is perfectly sealed before the first opening of the nozzle.

Various embodiments of the device are the subject of claims 3 to 12.

The subject of the invention is also a container with a flexible wall associated with such a device, as claimed in claim 13.

There will be described below by way of examples of the preferred embodiments and different variants of the subject of the invention with reference to the appended drawing, in which:

FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 are views in lateral and front section, and in plan view of a first embodiment, respectively,

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of part of the device of FIGS. 1 to 3,

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the end piece and of the tubular guide according to FIGS. 1 to 4 with different auxiliary elements, FIGS. 6 and 7 are views corresponding to FIGS. 1 and 2 showing the nozzle provided with a siphon,

FIGS. 8, 9 and 10 are respectively side and front section views, and in top plan of a second embodiment,

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of part of the device from FIGS. 8 to 10, and

Figures 12, 13, 14 and 15 are perspective views of different embodiments of a container support.

In general, the device represented in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 comprises a rigid tubular guide 1 carrying a tilting cover 2, and a nozzle 3, also of tubular shape, engaged in the guide 1 and fixed to the latter. The end piece 3 is in one piece, made of a thin and flexible plastic material, firm at its upper part. It extends downwards, outside the guide 1, by a fluted structure 4, shown in FIGS. 3 in the form of a diamond, used for fixing by welding a container or a sachet with a flexible wall (FIGS. 12 to 15). The guide 1 and the end piece 3 integral with the container are connected to each other in a removable manner, these connecting means ensuring at the same time the assembly of the assembly on a support or rigid suspension collar 5.

The tubular guide 1 with its cover 2, and the support 5, are elements intended to be used permanently, while end pieces 3 fixed by the base 4 to containers or sachets will be sold separately as refills intended to be reported on items 1 and 5.

More specifically, the tubular guide 1 has two parallel wings 6 between which is formed a notch 7 and which are provided with cylindrical housings or bosses 8 cooperating with complementary means 9, for example two perpendicular ribs 10 (Figure l ^λ formed in the tilting cover 2 to ensure its pivoting and constituting three privileged positions of the cover, namely a closed position, an open position at 180 ° relative to the closed position and an intermediate position at 90 ° allowing the positioning of the tubular guide on the end piece.

The cover 2 is an elongated piece, of rectangular section, integral with a rounded lower part (see FIG. 4) with a spout 11 at the front to facilitate the closing movement, with an extension 12 behind the axis of pivoting to facilitate the opening movement, this extension having on its lower side in FIG. 1 a curved surface 13 playing the role of cam. The lower faces of the cover 2 have a housing 14 laterally bounded by two beads 15, and inclined faces 16 which are applied in the closed position against corresponding faces 17 of the upper end of the guide 1.

The flexible tubular part of the end piece 3 is cylindrical at its base and tapers on either side of a median plane upwards so as to form two symmetrical sections connected by a rectilinear edge 18 at its top. This edge extends between two parallel lips 19, sealed at their upper edges before the first opening of the container, and which, in the closed position of the lid, are engaged between the beads 15.

In Figure 1, the cover 2 is shown in phantom in the open position. The rear extension 12 engages between the wings 6, the cam surface 13 presses against the end piece 3 in a direction parallel to the edge 18 which presses the end piece against the opposite line of the guide 1. When the position d complete opening is achieved, the flat part 20 of the rear face of the cover bears against the end piece. The edge 18, which tore during the first opening, is then split and the two lips 19 are open as can be seen according to the quadrilateral trace re drawn in phantom in Figure 3, which allows a convenient pouring of the contents of the container. It will be noted that the longitudinal beads of the lips 19 are interrupted in line with the middle of the edge 18 to allow the lips to take the shape visible in dashed lines in FIG. 3

As has already been said, the base 4 of the end piece 3 is designed to be welded to the upper part of a container or bag with a flexible wall while the guide 1 is connected by removable fixing means to this base. In FIGS. 1 and 2 are shown bayonet fixing means 21 and 22 which ensure that the notch 7 of the guide 1 is oriented correctly relative to the edge 8 of the end piece 3. Other fixing means can be foreseen, for example notch engagement, screwing, clipping. Initially a fixed tip on a container is closed, the lips 19 being joined in a sealed manner. During the first use, these open by tearing off and then return to the ηointive position under the effect of beads 15. At its base, the guide 1 has a flange 23 (FIG. 4) which bears against the edge of an opening of the support 5 when the device is put in place.

The emoout 3 can be fitted with certain auxiliary means such as those represented in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7. Thus in FIG. 5 a segment of tube 24 with deformable membranes, in arcs, forms a valve which can regulate the return of the product in the container. This element 24 is engaged in a housing 25 at the base of the nozzle. Another auxiliary element is a siphon 26 with a flange 27 which can also engage in the housing 25 so that the body of the siphon is located inside the container. The siphon 26 is in the form of two parts as seen in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7. It retains the remains of liquid contained in the nozzle and thus prevents air from entering when the container is straightened during use. As another item auxiliary (not shown) include for example a dip tube ensuring that the liquid flowing through the opening of the lips 19 comes from the bottom of the container.

A second embodiment of the device is shown in FIGS. 8 to 11, using the same references as for FIGS. 1 to 4.

In this embodiment, the pivot axis of the cover 2, also shown in the vertical position in FIG. 8, is arranged lower than in the embodiment described, which allows the cam 13 of the cover to attack the tip in a lower position, which results in a higher attack force. It is thus possible to provide a more solid sealing of the lips of the end piece, which avoids, for example, that the end piece unwittingly loosens when the container is grasped by the end piece.

In addition, the tip of this embodiment has two lateral ribs 40 extending in the upper middle part of the tip. These ribs have the effect of forcing the lips 19 to close properly when the lid is closed, which in particular has the effect of cutting off the flow of content when it is a pasty product.

The device shown on FIGS. 12 and 13 is provided with a siphon 44 comprising a cup 45 and a brake sleeve arranged to slide vertically inside a tubular lower part 47 of the end piece 3, so to prevent the return of the liquid.

The device and the container according to the invention are thus particularly well suited for containing liquid products (for example fruit juice) or pasty products (for example ketchup, mustard), whether or not they are food products. Figures 12 to 15 show different forms of containers or sachets and supports. The containers can be of different shapes or capacity and the supports of different structures. However in all cases the support comprises a neck 5 with an opening capable of being clamped between the flange 23 of the guide and the base 4 of the end piece. In FIG. 8, the support 28 comprises two flaps 29 which, in the rest position, are oblique to one another so that the support can be placed in the upright position. The container 30 with flexible wall is housed between the sides 29 so that by pressure on the latter, the liquid or the pasty product is poured out.

FIG. 13 shows a support 31 with a rear upright in the form of a blade provided with an eyelet 32 and a rigid connection at the neck 5. The base of the upright forms a sleeve 33 conforming to the shape of the container 34. In this case when the cover 2 is in the open position, the support 31 must be inclined so that the liquid can spill. It is a self-pressing system which prevents the product contained from going back down into the container.

In FIG. 14, the support 35 is reduced to a single bracket, with a flat base and an upper part forming a handle. The container 36 which can be of any shape is suspended, like the other supports, under the neck 5 of the bracket by the connection of the emout with the tubular guide.

Finally, FIG. 15 shows a pressure support 37 similar to the support 28 but of smaller dimensions in height and a container 38 adapted to these dimensions. The described containers can contain any liquid, in particular beverages or other food liquids or not, but also fluid products like sauces, condiments, etc. The present invention thus makes it possible to offer liquid or pasty products packaged in containers with flexible walls, using a minimum of material and a minimum bulk, similar to refill sachets, practical to use and which can be used as such, without transfer beforehand into a standard container of the rigid wall type. As we have seen, the containers according to the invention provide complete protection of the product they contain, even when the packaging is started, in particular thanks to the fact that the container is flexible, therefore deformable, and that it is arranged to be suspended. In addition, as has also been described, its aesthetics can easily be personalized. On the other hand, both the container and the tip of its closure system are designed so as to use a minimum of material, which is advantageous for both the producer and the consumer, the rigid tubular guide 1, as well as the supports 29, 34, 35 and 37 are not intended to be thrown away, but can be reused with a new container.

Claims

claims 1. An opening / closing device, in particular for a container with a flexible wall, comprising a tubular end piece of deformable material, integral with the container at one end and having at the other end two parallel lips determining a rectilinear discharge slot, characterized in that that it further comprises a rigid tubular guide associated with the end piece, a cover pivoting on the tubular guide and cooperating in the open position with the wall of the end piece to force the lips of the slot into spaced positions, and means to rigidly and removably fix the guide and the end piece to each other by their bases. 2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the lips of the nozzle are sealed so that the container is perfectly sealed before the first opening of the nozzle. 3. Device according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the tubular guide (1) and the tilting cover (2) comprise means (8, 9) for pivoting the cover and the members (10) arranged to constitute three privileged positions of the cover, namely a closed position, an open position at 180 ° relative to the closed position and an intermediate position at 90 ° allowing the positioning of the tubular guide on the end piece . 4. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cover has on one side of its pivot axis and in its face which is folded down on the guide in the closed position, a cavity whose edges engage on the lips of the nozzle so as to keep them in the closed position. 5. Device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the guide has two lateral wings parallel provided with pivoting means and the cover has between its two ends pivoting means complementary to those of the wings, which cooperate with them. 6. Device according to claim 5, characterized in that the guide has a notch between said wings. 7. Device according to claim 5, characterized in that the cover has, at its end located beyond the pivoting means, a cam-shaped surface which at the time of the opening rotation comes into contact with the wall of the 'tip in the vicinity of one end of the lips and forces the latter in the spacing position by maintaining them in this position. 8. Closure device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the means for fixing the tubular guide to the nozzle are means for screwing, clipping, notch engagement, driving, or bayonet fixing. 9. Device according to claim 8, characterized in that said fixing means are arranged to mount the container-tip and tubular guide assembly on a rigid support or clamp, covering the flexible walls of the container. 10. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the end piece has at its base a shape facilitating its connection to the container by welding. 11. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that an auxiliary element is attached to the end piece so as to be inside the container, this auxiliary element being a segment of bent tube forming a siphon, with or without membrane retaining liquid in the container, a tube immersed in the liquid, an inner membrane functioning as a valve. 12. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the end piece comprises on its outer surface at least two lateral ribs. 13. Container with flexible wall, characterized in that it is associated with an opening / closing device according to one of the preceding claims.