Divisible locking cap for a container with a neck

Abstract

The invention relates to a locking cap (100) for a necked container comprising: - an external body (30), defined by an upper face and a cylindrical wall, and including a breakable band (35) extending from the upper face to a free end of the cylindrical wall, - a capsule (40), disposed on the upper face and integral with the breakable band (35), - a cage (20), locked in the external body (30), having a generally cylindrical shape, and comprising a plurality of bridges connecting adjacent branches, and a flexible member (27), one end of which is integral with a bridge and the other, free end is oriented upwards, said flexible member (27) being adjacent to a weak point of said bridge. The cap (100) is notable in that the flexible member (27) of the cage (20) is integral with the breakable band (35) of the external body (30).

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a cap for a necked container, intended to lock a stopper in the neck of said container. The invention relates in particular to a locking cap suitable for bottles, for example for pharmaceutical products, requiring the complete removal of the cap and then the stopper, for the extraction or reconstitution of the product. TECHNOLOGICAL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Document EP2814752 is known, which proposes a device for locking a cap on a container with a neck, which is completely removable. This device comprises an outer ring shaped to cover the cap and surround the upper collar of the neck of the container. It also comprises an inner ring in the form of a ring, capable of being secured in the outer ring and provided with lower internal notches intended to bear under said collar to be fixed on the container. Such a cap makes it possible to lock a cap in the neck of the container and thus keep the container hermetically sealed.

[0003] These locking devices are typically used to store pharmaceutical products in vial-type containers. Some products are withdrawn using a syringe, inserted through the elastomer stopper, after removing a protective cap from the top of the locking device. Other products require the bottle to be completely opened for extraction or reconstitution.

[0004] Addressing this latter scenario, the aforementioned document provides a frangible zone, at the level of the external ring of the locking device, capable of being broken to allow the opening of said ring and its removal from the collar of the bottle. The internal ring is provided with a deformable and breakable bridge, capable of being broken to allow the removal of said ring, thus allowing access to the stopper and its removal from the neck of the container. A disadvantage of this solution comes from the lack of repeatability and ergonomics of the opening, linked to the difficulty of pulling repeatedly on the internal ring until the deformable and breakable bridge breaks.

[0005] Document EP3763635, which discloses a locking cap according to the preamble of claim 1, at least partially addresses this problem by implementing a locking cap provided with an external body having a breakable portion and a cage configured to fit and lock axially in the external body, and also adapted to surround the collar of the neck of the container in a locked position of the cap. The cage comprises a breakable zone and a flexible opening tab, adjacent to said breakable zone; the application of a tensile force to the tab makes it possible to cause, in a reproducible manner, breakage at the breakable zone.

[0006] However, it is sometimes difficult to grip and hold a thin opening tab firmly, especially when wearing gloves (which is typically the case for personnel opening the bottle for the purpose of using the product contained in said bottle). There is therefore a need to simplify and make more ergonomic the complete opening of the locking cap of a bottle for a pharmaceutical product. SUBJECT OF THE INVENTION

[0007] The present invention provides a solution aimed at overcoming all or part of the drawbacks of the prior art. The invention relates to a locking cap allowing ergonomic, secure and repeatable removal of said cap, so as to allow extraction of the elastomer stopper and access to the contents of the container. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0008] The invention relates to a locking cap for a necked container, intended to lock a stopper in the neck of the container and comprising: an external body, defined by an upper face and a cylindrical wall centered on a main axis, the external body having a breakable strip extending from the upper face to a free end of the cylindrical wall, a capsule, arranged on the upper face and secured to the breakable strip, a cage locked in the external body, and intended to surround a collar of the neck of the container in a locking position of the cap; the cage comprising an upper ring, against which the cap is intended to bear when it is arranged in the cage, a plurality of branches connected to the upper ring and defining therewith a general cylindrical shape of the cage, a plurality of bridges, each connecting two neighboring branches together, and a flexible member, one end of which is secured to a bridge and another free end is oriented towards the upper ring, said flexible member being adjacent to a fragile point of said bridge..

[0009] The locking cap is remarkable in that the flexible member of the cage is integral with the breakable band of the external body.

[0010] According to other advantageous and non-limiting characteristics of the invention, taken alone or in any technically feasible combination: the fragile point corresponds to a notch or a slot provided on the bridge supporting the flexible member; the capsule is secured to the breakable strip at a first fixing zone, the flexible member is secured to the breakable strip at a second fixing zone, the first and / or second fixing zone(s) is / are formed by mechanical retaining means arranged on each element to be secured and cooperating with each other, the first and / or second fixing zone(s) involve chemical adhesion between the materials of the elements to be secured, the mechanical retaining means comprise a rim, a shoulder or a dovetail system, the second fixing zone is located, in height along the main axis, between the upper face of the external body and halfway up the cylindrical wall of the external body, the external body is made from a first material and a second material,the first material forming the breakable strip and the second material forming the remainder of the outer body, and the capsule is made from the first material, the capsule is formed from polypropylene, the outer body is formed from one or more materials chosen from polypropylene and polybutylene terephthalate, the cage is formed from polycarbonate.

[0011] The invention also relates to a method for manufacturing a locking cap such as above, comprising at least one overmolding step for molding and securing together: the capsule and the outer body, and the outer body and the cage. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0012] Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge from the detailed description of the invention which follows with reference to the appended figures in which: [ Fig. 1a ] [ Fig. 1b ] THE figures 1a et 1b show sectional views of a necked container with respectively: (a) a stopper partially inserted into the neck and a locking cap according to the present invention, in an intermediate holding position, and (b) a stopper inserted into the neck and a locking cap according to the present invention, in a locking position; [ Fig. 2a ] [ Fig. 2b ] THE figures 2a et 2b respectively present (a) an “exploded” view of the elements of a locking cap according to the present invention, and (b) a sectional view of a locking cap according to the invention with its secured elements (capsule, external body and cage); [ Fig. 3a ] [ Fig. 3b ] THE figures 3a, 3b show perspective views of cages of a locking cap according to the present invention; [ Fig. 4a ] [ Fig. 4b ] [ Fig. 4c ] [ Fig. 4d ] [ Fig. 4e ] THE figures 4a, 4b, 4c , 4d et 4e show the steps of the separation process between a locking cap according to the present invention and the container on which it is locked.

[0013] In the descriptive part, the same references in the figures may be used for elements of the same type. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0014] The present invention relates to a locking cap 100 for a container 200 with a neck, intended to block a stopper 10 in the neck 201 of said container 200. The container 200 may in particular adopt the shape of a bottle, having a neck 201 with a circular opening, ending in a collar 202 which flares relative to the outer perimeter of the neck 201 ( figure 1a ). In the field of pharmaceutical applications, there are standards in terms of the internal diameter of the neck 201 of the container 200: 13mm and 20mm are examples.

[0015] The stopper 10 has a circular section and a T shape with a head 11 and a foot 12, the head 11 being of a diameter greater than the foot 12. Thus, when the foot 12 of the stopper 10 is completely pushed into the neck 201, the head 11 locks against the collar 202.

[0016] Note that when the contents of the bottle are intended to be freeze-dried, the stopper 10 has an opening in its foot 12, to allow the passage of evaporative flows as long as the foot 12 of the stopper 10 is not completely pushed into the neck 202.

[0017] The locking cap 100, when associated with the stopper 10, is capable of adopting two positions on the container 200: a first position, called intermediate holding, in which the stopper 10 is partially pushed into the neck 201 ( figure 1a ). It is in this position that the container 200 can be subjected to a freeze-drying step, because the partial depression of the stopper 10 allows the evaporative flows to pass through the opening provided in the foot 12 of said stopper.

[0018] The cap 100 associated with the stopper 10 can also adopt a second position, called locking, in which the stopper 10 is completely pushed in, and locked in the neck 201 by the cap 100 ( figure 1b ). In this position, the stopper 10 hermetically closes the container 200, the foot 12 being completely surrounded by the neck 201 of the container 200.

[0019] The locking cap 100 comprises a capsule 40, an outer body 30 and a cage 20 ( figure 2a, figure 2b ). The outer body 30 is configured to completely surround the cage 20, so as to prevent any access to said cage 20 from the outside, when the cap 100 locks the cap 10 on the container 200.

[0020] The external body 30 has a generally cylindrical shape; it is defined by an upper face 30a and a cylindrical wall 30b centered on a main axis z. The free end of the cylindrical wall 30b defines an opening, adapted to accommodate the cage 20, and the stopper 10 before the positioning of the cap 100 on the neck of the container 200.

[0021] The outer body 30 has a breakable strip 35, visible on the figure 4b and the figure 4c The breakable strip 35 extends from the upper face 30a to the free end of the cylindrical wall 30b. It may for example consist of a radial portion of the upper face 30a, continuing over a portion of the cylindrical wall 30b, said portions being delimited by a double groove at the level of which the thickness of the external body 30 is reduced.

[0022] Capsule 40 ( figure 2a ) is arranged on the upper face 30a of the external body 30 and secured to the breakable strip 35 at the level of a first fixing zone F1 ( figure 1a, figure 1b , figure 2b ).

[0023] To achieve this fixing, the elements to be secured, namely the capsule 40 and the external body 30, may comprise mechanical retaining means capable of cooperating to form the first fixing zone F1. The mechanical retaining means may in particular consist of a rim or shoulder, a dovetail system, etc. ( figure 2b ). For example, the capsule 40 may comprise a tenon intended to pass through an orifice present on the upper face 30a of the external body 30, and in particular in the portion belonging to the breakable strip 35. The fixing between the capsule 40 and the external body 30 may be done by riveting. It may also be obtained by forming the capsule 40 and the external body 30 by an overmolding technique.

[0024] The first fixing zone F1 may involve chemical adhesion between the materials of the elements to be secured. For example, the capsule 40 and the external body 30 may be formed by an overmolding technique, from identical or different plastic materials, but capable of adhering to each other.

[0025] These two options for securing (mechanical and chemical) the capsule 40 and the external body 30 can of course be implemented jointly to form the first fixing zone F1.

[0026] The cage 20 of the locking cap 100 comprises an upper ring 21 and a plurality of branches 22 connected to the upper ring 21 and defining therewith a generally cylindrical shape of the cage 20, the central axis of which is the main axis z ( figure 3a, figure 3b ). When the cage 20 is locked inside the outer body 30, the upper ring 21 is pressed against an internal surface of the upper face 30a. The plug 10 is intended to bear against the other side of the upper ring 21, as can be seen in the figure 1a and the figure 1b . The locking of the cage 20 in the body 30 is done, for example, by cooperation of lugs 221 in a complementary groove 301 arranged in the internal wall of the body 30 ( figure 2a, figure 2b ).

[0027] The cage 20 also comprises a plurality of bridges 25, 26, each connecting two neighboring branches 22 to each other. In the examples illustrated in the figures 3a et 3b , the cage has six branches 22 and six bridges 25, but a different number could of course be implemented.

[0028] Note that two types of bridges 25, 26 are preferentially present on the periphery of the cage 20: first bridges 25 are positioned at or reach an intermediate altitude between the upper ring 21 and the end of the branches 22; second bridges 26 connect the ends of neighboring branches 22 and are positioned at or reach an altitude lower than the aforementioned intermediate altitude ( figure 3a, figure 3b ). There is preferably an alternation of first and second bridges (25, 26) on the periphery of the cage 20. Advantageously, the first bridges 25 occupy between 20% and 40% of the perimeter of the cage 20, for example 30%; and the second bridges 26 occupy between 40% and 70% of said perimeter, for example 60%. The residual perimeter to reach 100% is occupied by the branches 22.

[0029] According to an embodiment particularly suited to the implementation of freeze-drying steps, each first bridge 25 is designed to provide an open space 251 between it and the collar 202, when the cap 100 is in its intermediate holding position ( figure 3b ). The cage 20 thus has open spaces 251, distributed around the perimeter of the cage 20, allowing efficient evacuation of evaporative flows during freeze-drying steps.

[0030] The first bridges 25 can alternatively be devoid of the open space 251 (therefore be full up to the free end of the branches 22) or provided with a much more restricted space, not effective for evacuation of gas flow but useful, for example for mechanical reasons or part design or even gripping.

[0031] Preferably, the cage 20 comprises a plurality of first tabs 23, each being supported by a first bridge 25. Each first tab 23 is flexible and inclined relative to the branches 22 towards the inside of the cage 20, at an angle of between 20° and 60°, advantageously around 45°, towards the upper ring 21. These first tabs 23 are intended to block the plug 10 inside the cage 20, against the upper ring 21, when the plug 10 is associated with the cap 100. The first tabs 23 flex to allow the head 11 of the plug 10 to pass when the latter is introduced into the cage 20, and come to be blocked under the head 11, to prevent the plug 10 from being extracted from said cage 20.

[0032] Thanks to these first tabs 23, the stopper 10 remains firmly attached to the cover 100 and no accidental separation between the stopper 10 and the cover 100 can occur, in particular, when the cover 100 is in its intermediate holding position on the container 200.

[0033] The cage 20 advantageously comprises a plurality of second tabs 24, each supported by a second bridge 26. Each second tab 24 is flexible and inclined relative to the branches 22 towards the inside of the cage 20, at an angle of between 20° and 60°, advantageously around 30°, in the direction of the upper ring 21. These second tabs 24 are intended to remain above the collar 202, slightly raised or in contact with it, when the cap 100 is in the intermediate holding position ( figure 1a ). In this intermediate holding position, the second bridges 26 and the branches 22 are intended to at least partially surround the collar 202. This configuration allows for more stable and secure mechanical holding of the cap 10 - cover 100 assembly, during potential freeze-drying steps.

[0034] Furthermore, the second tabs 24 are intended to bear under the collar 202 of the neck 201 of the container 200, when the cap 100 is in the locking position ( figures 1b ). Indeed, when moving into the locked position, the cap 10 - cap 100 assembly will descend into / around the neck 201 of the container 200, so as to completely push the foot 12 of the cap 10 into the neck 201, until its head 11 rests on the collar 202. When pushing in, the second tabs 24 flex and move back to allow the collar 202 to pass, and come to block under the latter, thus locking the cap 10 on the container 200. Note that, in the locked position, the first tabs 23 move back because they are resting against the peripheral edge of the collar 202. They therefore do not remain under the head 11 of the cap 10 and allow the latter to rest on the collar 202. The first bridges 25 then surround the peripheral edge of the collar 202.

[0035] The cage 20 comprises at least one flexible member 27, one end of which is secured to a bridge 25, 26 and another free end is oriented towards the upper ring 21. The flexible member 27 is capable of flexing towards the outside of the cage 20. In the examples illustrated, it is secured to a second bridge 26 but this configuration is not limiting; it is entirely possible for the flexible member 27 to be supported by a first bridge 25. The flexible member 27 is furthermore adjacent to a fragile point 28 arranged in the bridge 25, 26 supporting said member 27. The fragile point 28 may correspond to a notch ( figure 3a ) or to a partial or total split ( figure 3b ), arranged on said bridge 25,26. This fragile point 28 constitutes a privileged breaking point when a force is applied to said bridge 25,26, in particular via the flexible member 27.

[0036] According to the present invention, the flexible member 27 of the cage 20 is secured to the breakable strip 35 of the external body 30 at a second fixing zone F2 ( figure 2b ).

[0037] To carry out this fixing, the elements to be secured, namely the flexible member 27 and the external body 30, may comprise mechanical retaining means capable of cooperating to form the second fixing zone F2. For example, the mechanical retaining means may consist of a rim, a shoulder 271 (arranged on the flexible member 27 to cooperate with a complementary hollow in the external body 30) or even a dovetail system, obtained by forming the flexible member 27 and the external body 30 using an overmolding technique.

[0038] As stated with reference to the first attachment zone F1, the second attachment zone F2 may involve chemical adhesion between the materials of the elements to be secured. For example, the flexible member 27 and the external body 30 may be formed by an overmolding technique, from identical or different plastic materials, but capable of adhering to each other.

[0039] These two options for securing (mechanical and chemical) the flexible member 27 and the external body 30 can of course be implemented jointly to form the second fixing zone F2.

[0040] Advantageously, the second fixing zone F2 is located, in altitude along the main axis z, between the upper face 30a of the external body 30 and a mid-height of the cylindrical wall 30b of the external body 30, which brings the advantages of a lever arm during the process of total removal of the locking cap 100. Of course, the second fixing zone F2 could alternatively be located at any altitude between the bridge 25, 26 supporting the flexible member 27 and the upper ring 21.

[0041] The locking cap 100 according to the present invention is completely removable and therefore allows the removal of the cap 10 with a view to completely opening the container 200.

[0042] In practice, when one wishes to access the contents of the container 200, one lifts an edge of the capsule 40 to grasp it and exert a tearing force. Advantageously, as illustrated in particular in the figure 2b and the figure 4a , a local gripping zone 43 is defined by the mutual shape of the capsule 40 and the body 30 in a peripheral part of the cap 100. This force is transmitted from the capsule 40 to the breakable strip 35, these two elements being integral ( figure 4b ). The tearing force, if sufficient, will induce a break between the breakable strip 35 and the rest of the external body 30 (for example, at the level of the double groove of reduced thickness) over the entire extent of the breakable strip 35 ( figure 4c ). The external body 30 is then open, the breakable strip 25 being completely separated from the rest of said body 30. Thus, the rest of the body 30 can easily be separated from the other elements of the locking cap 100 (cap 40, breakable strip 35 and cage 20) and from the container 200. Advantageously, a hinge or flexible articulation zone 32 can be arranged in the cylindrical wall 30b of the body 30, in a region diametrically opposite the portion of cylindrical wall 30b corresponding to the breakable strip 35; this facilitates the separation into two parts of the external body 30 and consequently its separation from the container 200.

[0043] The capsule 40 and the breakable strip 35, for their part, remain integral with the flexible member 27 of the cage 20, at the level of the second fixing point F2 ( figure 4d ). The continued application of a force to the capsule 40 - breakable strip 35 - flexible member 27 assembly, oriented towards the outside of the cage 20, transmits a tearing stress at the fragile point 28 of the bridge 25, 26 supporting the flexible member 27. If the fragile point 28 is a notch or a partial split, the applied force causes the bridge 25, 26 to break 28' in the extension of said notch or partial split, and the deformation of the broken bridge 26' towards the outside of the cage 20. If the fragile point 28 is a total split, the applied force induces the deformation of the bridge 26' and its separation towards the outside of the cage 20.

[0044] In all cases, the cage 20 can then be easily detached from the neck 201 of the container 200, leaving free access to the stopper 10 ( figure 4e ), which can, in turn, be removed to access the pharmaceutical product.

[0045] Thanks to the characteristics of the locking cap 100 according to the invention, it is easy to remove it from the container 200 when the cap 10 must be opened to access the pharmaceutical product. Gripping the capsule 40 is simple and ergonomic, and the fact that this capsule 40 is not only integral with the breakable strip 35 of the external body 30 but also with the flexible member 27 of the cage 20, facilitates the successive separation of the body 30 and the cage 20. Gripping the capsule 40, then potentially the capsule 40 and the breakable strip 35, is practical and well suited to operators wearing gloves, because the gripping surface is relatively large, compared to a flexible member 27 taken in isolation. The application of a force and its reproducibility are facilitated by this gripping ergonomics.

[0046] The various elements forming the cap 100 according to the present invention (cage 20, external body 30, capsule 40) are preferably produced by molding plastic materials compatible with the intended medical applications and other sterilization constraints.

[0047] As mentioned above, these three elements can advantageously be manufactured during one or more overmolding steps, to mold them and secure them directly to each other at the first F1 and second F2 fixing zones. For example, the capsule 40 can be overmolded on the external body 30; then the body 30 - capsule 40 assembly can be overmolded on the cage 20. Of course, the overmolding steps could also be carried out in another order, by any method known from the state of the art.

[0048] The cage 20, the outer body 30 and the capsule 32 may be formed from materials such as polycarbonate (PC), polypropylene (PP) or polybutylene terephthalate (PBT). Advantageously, the capsule 40 may be formed from flexible plastic materials such as, for example, polypropylene (PP), to facilitate its gripping. It may also be chosen to produce the outer body 30 from two different materials: a first material to form the breakable strip 35, said first material also being able to be chosen to form the capsule 40; and a second material to form the rest of the outer body 30, possibly more rigid. For example, the first material may be polypropylene, and the second material may be polybutylene terephthalate.

[0049] Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiments and examples described, and variant embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the claims.

Claims

1. Locking cap (100) for a container (200) comprising a neck, said cap being intended to block a stopper (10) in the neck (201) of the container (200) and comprising: - an outer body (30), defined by an upper face (30a) and a cylindrical wall (30b) centered on a main axis (z), the outer body (30) having a breakable strip (35) extending from the upper face (30a) to a free end of the cylindrical wall (30b), - a capsule (40), arranged on the upper face (30a) and rigidly connected to the breakable strip (35), - a cage (20) locked in the outer body (30), and intended to surround a collar (202) of the neck (201) of the container (200) in a locking position of the cap (100); the cage (20) comprising an upper ring (21), against which the stopper (10) is intended to bear when it is arranged in the cage (20), a plurality of branches (22) connected to the upper ring (21) and defining therewith a generally cylindrical shape of the cage (20), a plurality of bridges (25, 26), each interconnecting two adjacent branches (22), and a flexible member (27), one end of which is rigidly connected to a bridge (25, 26) and another free end of which is oriented toward the upper ring (21), said flexible member (27) being adjacent to a weak point (28) of said bridge (25, 26); the locking cap (100) being characterized in that the flexible member (27) of the cage (20) is rigidly connected to the breakable strip (35) of the outer body (30).

2. Locking cap (100) according to the preceding claim, wherein the weak point (28) corresponds to a notch or a slot provided on the bridge (25, 26) supporting the flexible member (27).

3. Locking cap (100) according to either of the preceding claims, wherein: - the capsule (40) is rigidly connected to the breakable strip (35) at a first fixing zone (F1), - the flexible member (27) is rigidly connected to the breakable strip (35) at a second fixing zone (F2), and - the first fixing zone (F1) and / or the second fixing zone (F2) is (are) formed by mechanical retaining means arranged on each element to be rigidly connected and engaging with one another.

4. Locking cap (100) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein: - the capsule (40) is rigidly connected to the breakable strip (35) at a first fixing zone (F1), - the flexible member (27) is rigidly connected to the breakable strip (35) at a second fixing zone (F2), and - the first fixing zone (F1) and / or the second fixing zone (F2) involve(s) chemical adhesion between the materials of the elements to be rigidly connected.

5. Locking cap (100) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the mechanical retaining means comprise a flange, a shoulder, or a dovetail system.

6. Locking cap (100) according to any of claims 3 to 5, wherein the second fixing zone (F2) is located, in height along the main axis (z), between the upper face (30a) of the outer body (30) and half the height of the cylindrical wall (30b) of the outer body (30).

7. Locking cap (100) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein: - the outer body (30) is made from a first material and a second material, the first material forming the breakable strip (35) and the second material forming the rest of the outer body (30), - the capsule (40) is produced from the first material.

8. Locking cap (100) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the capsule (40) is formed of polypropylene.

9. Locking cap (100) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the outer body (30) is formed of one or more material(s) chosen from among polypropylene and polybutylene terephthalate.

10. Locking cap (100) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the cage (20) is formed of polycarbonate.

11. Method for manufacturing a locking cap (100) according to any of the preceding claims, comprising at least one overmolding step for molding and rigidly connecting to one another: - the capsule (40) and the outer body (30), and - the outer body (30) and the cage (20).

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