Cap comprising a guide ramp for a boss

Abstract

The present invention relates to an assembly comprising a threaded neck (10) of a container (12) and a cap mounted on the neck (10), the cap comprising frangible bridges connecting a cap body to a tamper-proof ring and intended to break definitively during a first opening of the cap, the assembly being characterised in that the cap comprises at least one boss formed protruding from an inner side of the tamper-proof ring comprising at least one guide portion (30) inclined with respect to a plane perpendicular to an axis of revolution (R) and forming a ramp (30) configured to come into contact with the boss during a first opening of the cap and so as to axially guide the boss to break at least one of the frangible bridges.

Description

[0001] DESCRIPTION

[0002] TITLE: PLUG COMPRISING A GUIDE RAMP

[0003] FOR A BOSSAGE

[0004] Technical field of the invention

[0005] The present invention relates to an assembly comprising a container with a threaded neck and a cap intended to close this container.

[0006] Technical background

[0007] It is known that a container with a threaded neck such as a bottle can be provided with a neck onto which a plastic cap is screwed. The term container here refers to any type of container, without limitation of shape or use. The cap includes in particular a body delimiting a space for receiving the neck of the bottle, and a thread capable of cooperating with the threaded neck to close said neck of the container. Typically, the cap also includes a tamper-evident ring intended to engage with a bearing surface of the neck. The tamper-evident ring is in particular connected to the body of the cap by frangible bridges between which through-partitions extend. Thus, when the cap is opened, the tamper-evident ring remains attached to the neck via the bearing surface and is detached from the body by the breaking of the frangible bridges, thus informing a user that the cap has already been opened for the first time.

[0008] In order to address new climate challenges, new European directives have introduced a new standard requiring that the various parts of the cap, particularly the body and the tamper-evident ring, remain integral when the cap is opened. These caps are then called integral caps.

[0009] Some containers, particularly cardboard cartons, include a membrane that extends into the opening, and which must be broken when opening the cap via an intermediate member called a striker. The cap then includes a mechanism that allows the striker to be actuated when the cap is rotated by a user, during the first opening. Within inseparable caps, breaking the frangible bridges can be complicated by the narrowness of the grip on the body of the cap, making this operation difficult for a user. Furthermore, current systems for separating frangible bridges can be complex to manufacture, which increases the production costs of such inseparable caps.

[0010] For assemblies comprising a membrane piercing mechanism such as a striker, it is necessary for a user to be able to reliably visualise whether said membrane has been pierced, particularly in the case of a previous rotation of the cap to a degree of rotation low but sufficient to damage said membrane.

[0011] Thus, an aim of the present invention is to propose an inseparable stopper that is simple to manufacture and simple to use for a consumer, allowing, among other things, optimal breaking of frangible bridges. Furthermore, the invention proposes a stopper offering reliable and clear visualization of a first opening of the stopper, from the first degrees of rotation of the stopper.

[0012] Summary of the invention

[0013] The invention provides an assembly comprising a threaded neck of a container and a cap mounted on the neck to close the container, the threaded neck and the cap extending around an axis of revolution, the neck comprising: an opening; at least one helical thread made on an external face of the neck] a bearing surface configured to axially retain a tamper-evident ring of the cap; the cap comprising: a cylindrical cap body centered on the axis of revolution and comprising at least one helical rib intended to engage with the helical thread of the neck; the tamper-evident ring centered on the axis of revolution; frangible bridges connecting the cap body to the tamper-evident ring and intended to break definitively upon a first opening of the cap; at least one articulated connecting member intended to connect the tamper-evident ring and the body to each other independently of the first opening of the cap;at least one lug formed projecting from an internal side of the tamper-evident ring and intended to come into axial abutment against the bearing surface of the neck during a first opening of the cap; the assembly being characterized in that the cap comprises at least one boss formed projecting from the internal side of the tamper-evident ring and axially offset relative to the lug, the bearing surface comprising at least one guide portion inclined relative to a plane perpendicular to the axis of revolution and forming a ramp configured to come into contact with the boss during a first opening of the cap and in such a way as to axially guide said boss to break at least one of the frangible bridges.;

[0014] According to other characteristics of the invention:

[0015] - the neck comprises a membrane which extends into the opening, the stopper comprising at least one intermediate member participating in breaking the membrane during a first opening of the stopper, the assembly being configured so that at least one of the frangible bridges breaks before the membrane breaks;

[0016] - the support surface has a second angle of inclination between 20° and 50° relative to a plane perpendicular to the axis of revolution;

[0017] - the bearing surface forms a shoulder on the external face of the neck and in such a way that the bearing surface faces away from the helical thread;

[0018] - the boss is formed radially opposite the articulated connecting member;

[0019] - the tamper-evident ring comprises a tab which extends axially towards the cap body, the boss being formed on the internal side of the tamper-evident ring at the level of the tab; - the boss comprises a bearing face intended to come into contact with the bearing surface of the neck, the bearing face having a profile inclined relative to a plane perpendicular to the axis of revolution;

[0020] - the bearing surface extends radially at a first angle of inclination of between 90° and 120° relative to the external face of the neck;

[0021] - the bearing surface comprises two guide portions which form ramps which extend in a mirror image of one another along an axial plane and in such a way that a free end of each of the ramps is at a first non-zero distance from one another, the free ends delimiting a passage without a bearing surface making it easier to position the boss when mounting the cap on the neck;

[0022] - the bearing surface comprises at least one main portion from which the at least one guide portion extends, the main portion extending in a plane substantially perpendicular to the axis of revolution and substantially over the entire circumference of the neck devoid of a guide portion.

[0023] Brief description of the figures

[0024] Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear during the reading of the detailed description which follows for the understanding of which reference will be made to the appended drawings in which:

[0025] [Fig.1] is a perspective view of a threaded neck of a container capable of receiving a stopper according to the invention and comprising a bearing surface;

[0026] [Fig.2] is a close-up view of the bearing surface of the threaded neck of Figure 1 according to a first example of the invention;

[0027] [Fig.3] is a close-up view of the bearing surface of the threaded neck of Figure 1 according to a second example of the invention;

[0028] [Fig.4] is a perspective view of a stopper according to the invention showing a space for receiving the neck of the container of Figure 1;

[0029] [Fig.5] is a perspective view of the cap of Figure 4 showing a tamper-evident ring provided with a tab;

[0030] [Fig.6] is a close-up view of a boss projecting from the tamper-evident ring; [Fig.7] is a schematic view of the cap mounted on the neck in an initial closed condition;

[0031] [Fig.8] is a schematic view of the stopper mounted on the neck and rotated at an angle C;

[0032] [Fig.9] is a schematic view of the stopper mounted on the neck and rotated at an angle G;

[0033] [Fig.10] is a schematic side view of the cap of Figure 9;

[0034] [Fig.11] is an exploded view of the container which includes a membrane which covers an opening, a striker, the neck of the stopper and the stopper including an opening member intended to cooperate with the striker.

[0035] Detailed description of the invention

[0036] In the following description, identical, similar or analogous elements will be designated by the same reference numbers.

[0037] Figure 1 illustrates a threaded neck 10 of a container 12 intended to cooperate with a stopper 14, visible in Figures 4 to 9, so as to close an opening 16 of the neck 10 of said container 12.

[0038] According to an example of the invention shown in Figure 11, when the container 12 is a cardboard brick, a membrane 13 can extend into the opening 16. The membrane 13 can be made of aluminum and then constitutes an internal layer of the container 12 which it is necessary to break at the neck 10, during a first opening of the cap 14 via an intermediate member 15 called a striker 15.

[0039] More specifically, in this example of the invention, the cap 14 comprises an opening member 63 cooperating with the striker 15 when the cap 14 is rotated and such that said striker 15 breaks the membrane 13 when the cap 14 is first opened. Even more specifically, the striker 15 comprises an external thread which cooperates with an internal thread of the neck 10, making it possible to move said striker 15 towards the membrane 13 under the effect of the opening member 63 of the cap 14 which cooperates with said striker 15. According to an example of the invention, the rotation of the cap 14 by an angle of between 30° and 60° minimum around an axis of revolution R of the neck 10, relative to a closed position of the cap 14 visible in FIG. 7, causes the membrane 13 to be broken by the striker 15.

[0040] The neck 10 of the container 12 visible in Figure 1 has a cylindrical shape around its axis of revolution R and delimits the opening 16 through which a liquid can flow into or out of the container 12. The neck 10 of the container 12 comprises at least one helical thread 18 made on an external face 20 of said neck 10. More particularly, the at least one helical thread 18 projects from the external face 20 of the neck 10. In the remainder of the description, the intermediate portion 22 will be used to refer to the portion of the neck 10 which carries the helical thread 18.

[0041] The neck 10 of the container 12 also comprises at least one bearing surface 24, visible in FIGS. 1 to 3, configured to axially retain a tamper-evident ring 26 of the cap 14 visible in FIG. 4, the tamper-evident ring 26 as well as its cooperation with the bearing surface 24 being detailed later in the description.

[0042] The bearing surface 24 extends radially around the external face 20 of the neck 10. Furthermore, the bearing surface 24 extends at least partially around the external face 20 of the neck 10 along the axis of revolution R.

[0043] It is understood in particular that the bearing surface 24 extends in projection from the external face 20 of the neck 10.

[0044] The bearing surface 24 also has a first angle of inclination A relative to the external face 20 of the neck 10, visible in FIG. 2, of between 90° and 120°.

[0045] In relation to Figure 2, a main portion 28 of the bearing surface 24 is defined, and a guide portion 30 which extends the main portion 28. The main portion 28 is, according to this illustrated example of the invention, characterized in that it extends in a common plane perpendicular to the axis of revolution R of the plug 14.

[0046] The guide portion 30 extends in a plane intersecting the common plane in which the main portion 28 of the bearing surface 24 is included, and in such a way that the guide portion 30 forms a guide ramp 30. The guide portion 30 of the bearing surface 24 then extends axially in the direction of the helical thread 18. A second angle of inclination B of the guide portion 30 is defined relative to a plane perpendicular to the axis of revolution R, the angle of inclination B being between 20° and 50°.

[0047] According to the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 to 3, the bearing surface 24 is formed in such a way as to form a shoulder 32 in the external face 20 of the neck. In other words, in this example of the invention, the bearing surface 24 projects from the external face 20 of the neck 10.

[0048] Thus, the bearing surface 24 helps to separate the intermediate portion 22 of the neck 10 of the stopper 14 from a basal portion 34 of said neck 10 axially opposite the intermediate portion 22. In other words, the basal portion 34 and the intermediate portion 22 of the neck 10 extend axially on either side of the bearing surface 24.

[0049] The basal portion 34 of the neck 10 is intended to receive at least in part the tamper-evident ring 26 of the cap 14 mentioned previously.

[0050] The bearing surface 24 forming the shoulder 32 of the external face 20 is thus turned away from the helical thread 18 of the intermediate portion 22 of the neck, that is to say towards the basal portion 34 of the neck 10 intended to receive the tamper-evident ring 26 of the cap 14.

[0051] Such an arrangement of the bearing surface 24 forming the shoulder 32 ensures optimal solidity of said bearing surface 24, in particular when the latter comes into contact with the tamper-evident ring 26. In other words, the bearing surface 24 formed by the shoulder 32 of the external face 20 offers optimal resistance to axial pressure exerted by the tamper-evident ring 26 during a first opening of the cap.

[0052] According to an embodiment of the invention particularly visible in figures 1 and 3, the bearing surface 24 comprises two guide portions 30 which form ramps 30 which extend in mirror image of one another along an axial plane of the plug 14.

[0053] According to this example of the invention, the two guide portions 30 extend at a first non-zero distance D1 from each other, the first distance D1 being taken along the periphery of the external face 20 of the neck 10, around the axis of revolution R. In other words, each of the guide portions 30 comprises a free end 36, said free ends 36 extending at the first non-zero distance D1 from each other. In other words, the bearing surface 24 may be discontinuous.

[0054] Such a first non-zero distance D1 between the free ends 36 of the guide portions 30 is advantageous when mounting the stopper on the neck 10, such an advantage being detailed later in the rest of the description.

[0055] Furthermore, as visible in Figure 1, a clearance of material from the helical thread can be formed axially at the spacing between the two free ends 36 of the guide portions 30, so as to facilitate the mounting of the cap on the neck as mentioned above. In other words, the clearance of material from the helical thread and the spacing between the two free ends 36 of the guide portions 30 are formed on the same angular portion.

[0056] According to an embodiment of the invention visible in Figure 3, the guide portions 30 of the bearing surface 24 are connected to each other by an additional portion 38. The additional portion 38 extends substantially in a plane perpendicular to the axis of revolution R of the plug 14. It is understood that the additional portion 38 connects the two guide portions 30 at their free ends 36.

[0057] According to one embodiment of the invention, the neck 10 of the stopper 14 comprises a platform 40 which extends radially around the external face 20 of the neck 10 along the axis of revolution R. The platform 40 is in particular presented as a substantially flat surface intended to cooperate with the container 12. Thus, according to this example of the invention, the basal portion 34 of the neck 10 is delimited axially by the bearing surface 24 and the platform 40.

[0058] The plug 14 will now be described in more detail by means of figures 4 to 6.

[0059] The cap 14 is for example made of a plastic material such as polypropylene or high-density polyethylene. Such a plastic cap is then manufactured by molding, for example by injection into a mold. The cap 14 extends around the axis of revolution R and has a substantially cylindrical shape. It is then understood that, when the cap 14 closes the opening 16 of the neck 10 of the container 12, visible in FIG. 1, the axis of revolution R is common for the cap 14 and the neck 10 of the container 12.

[0060] The stopper 14 comprises at least one body 42 of the stopper 14 centered on the axis of revolution R, the body 42 of the stopper 14 delimiting a receiving space 44 of the neck of the container.

[0061] More particularly, the body 42 of the stopper 14 comprises at least one peripheral skirt 46 having the shape of a right cylinder relative to the axis of revolution R of the stopper 14, and which extends from a periphery of a plate 48 oriented perpendicular to the axis of revolution R of the stopper 14. It is then understood that the plate 48 of the stopper 14 is arranged to cover the opening 16 of the neck 10 of the container 12 when said stopper 14 is arranged on said neck 10 of the container 12 of FIG. 1.

[0062] According to the embodiment of the invention illustrated, impressions 50 are made on an external surface 52 of the peripheral skirt 46, radially opposite the receiving space 44, in order to allow better gripping of the body 42 of the cap 14 by a user when the latter wishes to open or close the cap 14.

[0063] According to the illustrated example of the invention and in a non-limiting manner, the impressions 50 have an oblong shape projecting from the external surface 52 of the peripheral skirt 46 and extend along a plurality of straight lines at least partly parallel to the axis of revolution R of the plug 14.

[0064] The body 42 of the cap 14 further comprises at least one helical rib 54, visible in FIG. 4, which extends into the receiving space 44 delimited by the body 42. More precisely, the helical rib 54 is formed as a projection from an internal surface 56 of the peripheral skirt 46, opposite its external surface 52. It is then understood that the helical rib 54 is formed in such a way that it has a complementary shape with the helical thread 18 of the neck 10, mentioned previously in FIG. 1. Such a complementary shape between the helical rib 54 and the helical thread 18 allows the cap 14 to be screwed and unscrewed by a rotational movement around its axis of revolution R, thus closing or clearing the opening of the neck of the container.

[0065] According to the embodiment shown, the cap 14 also comprises the tamper-evident ring 26 centered on the axis of revolution R of the cap 14 and mentioned previously.

[0066] In particular, the tamper-evident ring 26 is arranged in the extension of the peripheral skirt 46. Breakable bridges 58 then extend between the body 42 of the cap 14 and the tamper-evident ring 26 such that they connect them before a state of first opening of the cap 14.

[0067] More precisely, the frangible bridges 58 extend between a free side 60 of the peripheral skirt 46 and the tamper-evident ring 26.

[0068] The frangible bridges 58 are thus configured to break definitively when the cap 4 is first opened.

[0069] According to one embodiment of the invention, the tamper-evident ring 26 comprises a tab 62 which extends axially towards the peripheral skirt 46 of the body 42 of the cap 14.

[0070] It should be considered that the tongue 62 here has a substantially rounded shape at a free end edge but that such a shape is not exclusive, the tongue 62 being able to take any other shape, for example trapezoid, without this shape departing from the scope of the invention.

[0071] It is then understood from the above that when the stopper 14 is mounted on the neck 10 of the container 12, visible in FIG. 1, the peripheral skirt 46 of the body 42 of the stopper 14 extends around the intermediate portion 22 of the neck 10 and the tamper-evident ring 26 extends around the basal portion 34 of said neck 10.

[0072] According to an example of the invention and visible in Figure 4, the stopper comprises the opening member 63 mentioned above and participating in breaking the membrane which extends into the opening by cooperation with the striker. According to an example of the invention, a rotation of the cap of the stopper by an angle between 30° and 60° around the axis of revolution R initiates the breaking of the membrane.

[0073] The cap 14 further comprises at least one articulated connecting member 64 intended to connect the tamper-evident ring 26 and the body 42 to each other independently of the first opening of the cap 14, that is to say before and after a first opening of the cap 14. In the illustrated example of the invention, the cap 14 comprises two articulated connecting members 64 visible in FIG. 4.

[0074] The at least one articulated connecting member 64 here takes the form of a hinge and ensures the pivoting of the body 42 relative to the tamper-evident ring 26 when the cap 14 is opened. The connecting member 64 also comprises a stop member 66 intended to come into abutment against the helical thread, so as to block the body 42 of the cap 14 at a predetermined angle relative to the tamper-evident ring 26 when the cap 14 is opened. Such holding of the body 42 of the cap 14 relative to the tamper-evident ring 26 facilitates the use of the cap 14 for a user.

[0075] The cap 14 comprises at least one lug 68 formed as a projection from an internal side 70 of the tamper-evident ring 26, and intended to come into axial abutment against the bearing surface 24 of the neck 10 described previously, when the cap 14 is first opened.

[0076] Such a lug 68 thus helps to maintain the tamper-evident ring 26 around the basal portion 34 of the neck 10 during the first opening of the cap 14, thus also maintaining the body 42 of the cap 14 to the neck 10 at least via the frangible bridges before the first opening of the cap and via the connecting member 64 after a first opening of the cap.

[0077] The stopper 14 further comprises at least one boss 72 formed projecting from the internal side 70 of the tamper-evident ring 26 and such that it is axially offset relative to the lug 68. It is understood by the axial offset that the boss 72 is axially closer to the body 42 of the stopper 14 than the lug 68.

[0078] According to the example of the invention in which the tamper-evident ring 26 comprises the tab 62, the boss 72 is formed as a projection from the internal side 70 of the tamper-evident ring 26 at the level of the tab 62. This facilitates the axial offset of the boss 72 relative to the lug 68.

[0079] In relation to what has been previously described, the boss 72 is intended to come into contact with the ramp 30 formed by the guide portion 30 of the bearing surface 24 of the neck 10, when the cap 14 is first opened.

[0080] Furthermore, at least one primary frangible bridge 58a is defined as a frangible bridge 58 which extends directly on either side of the tongue 62, and visible in Figures 7 to 10. In other words, the primary frangible bridge 58a corresponds to a frangible bridge 58 which extends around the tongue 62, and therefore the boss 72, or directly between the tongue 62 and the body 42 of the plug 14. In the illustrated example of the invention, the plug 14 comprises two primary frangible bridges 58a arranged on either side of the tongue 62.

[0081] It is then understood that when the cap 14 is first opened, the body 42 of the cap 14, driven in rotation, will drive the boss 72 formed on the tamper-evident ring 26 in rotation, in contact with the ramp 30 formed by the guide portion 30 of the bearing surface 24 so that said guide portion 30 axially moves the boss 72 in a direction opposite to the helical thread 18.

[0082] In other words, when the cap is first opened, the guide ramp formed by the guide portion 30 of the bearing surface 24 is intended to guide the boss 72 to the main portion 28 of said bearing surface 24. The inclined profile of the guide ramp 30 as described previously notably allows this guidance of the boss 72 axially opposite the helical thread 18 of the neck 10.

[0083] Thus, such an axial displacement of the boss 72 causes an increase in an axial distance between the tamper-evident ring 26 and the body 42 of the cap 14, thus generating a tension on the at least one primary frangible bridge 58a which consequently causes it to break.

[0084] Indeed, it should be considered that during the axial displacement of the boss 72, the tamper-evident ring 26 of the cap 14 will first be displaced axially only at the level of the tab 62, such that said tamper-evident ring 26 extends partially in a plane inclined relative to a plane perpendicular to the axis of revolution R, as visible in FIG. 10. Thus, it is understood that initially, only the at least one primary frangible bridge 58a breaks during the axial displacement of the boss 72.

[0085] According to an example of the invention, the boss 72 is intended to come into contact with the ramp 30 of the bearing surface 24 when the plug 14 is rotated through an angle C, visible in FIG. 8, of between 5° and 10° relative to a closed position of the plug 14 visible in FIG. 7, and the boss is intended to be axially offset via the ramp 30 when the plug 14 reaches a rotation through an angle G of between 10° and 30° around the axis of revolution R relative to the closed position of said plug 14, as visible in FIG. 9.

[0086] It is then understood that the rupture of the at least one primary frangible bridge 58a occurs when the plug 14 reaches a rotation along the angle G of between 10° and 30° around the axis of revolution R relative to the closed position of said plug 14, such that this rupture is prior to the rupture of the membrane described previously and occurring during a rotation of the plug 14 along an angle of between 30° and 60° around the axis of revolution R.

[0087] Such a feature is advantageous in that it allows a user to be reliably and visually informed that the membrane has been damaged and thus the container has already been opened once.

[0088] In other words, the rupture of the at least one primary frangible bridge 58a during a rotation of the body 42 of the stopper 14 along the angle G of between 10° and 30° around the axis of revolution R makes it possible to reliably indicate to a user that the membrane has been ruptured even if the rotation of the stopper has not been beyond 60°. Thus, the user is reliably indicated that the membrane has been ruptured even in the event of partial rotation of the stopper.

[0089] A main elongation dimension L of the boss 72 is defined, hereinafter called the main dimension L of the boss 72, taken along a perimeter of the tamper-evident ring 26, around the axis of revolution R, said main dimension L being between 1 mm and 5 mm.

[0090] According to an advantageous embodiment of the plug 14, the main dimension L of the boss 72 is less than the first distance D1 between the two guide portions 30 of the bearing surface 24, mentioned previously in FIG. 1. Such a characteristic makes it easier to mount the plug 14 on the neck 10 by forming a clearance for the passage in axial translation of the boss 72 along the external face 20 of the neck 10.

[0091] The boss further comprises a thickness P taken along a straight line parallel to a radial axis of the plug 14, between 0.4 mm and 1.2 mm. Such a thickness P corresponds to a maximum thickness of the boss 72 taken between two points furthest radially from each other on said boss 72. Such a thickness P of the boss 72 allows, among other things, the latter to engage against an end edge of the bearing surface 24 and to be guided by the guide portion 30 forming the guide ramp 30.

[0092] A bearing face 74 of the boss is defined, intended to come into contact with the end edge of the bearing surface 24 of the neck 10. The bearing face 74 is in particular turned towards the helical rib 54 of the cap 14.

[0093] According to the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the bearing face 74 has a profile inclined relative to a plane perpendicular to the axis of revolution R of the plug 14.

[0094] In other words, the bearing face 74 of the boss 72 forms a chamfered angle of attack of said boss 72. Such a configuration of the bearing face 74 improves, among other things, the guidance and sliding of the latter against the end edge of the bearing surface 24.

[0095] The method of first opening the cap 14 will now be described in detail using figures 1 to 11.

[0096] When the cap 14 is first opened, a consumer grasps the cap 14 at the body 42, the grip being facilitated by the impressions 50 formed on the latter.

[0097] The consumer can then rotate the body 42 of the cap 14 which, attached to the tamper-evident ring 26 at least via the frangible bridges 58, rotates said tamper-evident ring 26. A first rotation of the body 42 is then defined along the angle C around the axis of revolution R visible in Figure 8, relative to an initial closed position of the cap 14 visible in Figure 7.

[0098] The rotational drive of the cap according to the angle C will then, on the one hand, axially move the body 42 of the cap 14 opposite the tamper-evident ring 26 via the various threads made on the neck and the cap, and on the other hand, direct the boss 72 towards the guide portion 30 of the bearing surface 24 and in such a way that it comes into contact with said guide portion 30.

[0099] Subsequently, the continued rotation of the body 42 of the plug 14 according to the angle G causes the axial displacement of the boss 72 by means of the guide portion 30, as visible in FIG. 9. In particular, the boss 72 is directed by the ramp 30 opposite the body 42 of the plug 14.

[0100] Such axial separation of the body 42 and the tamper-evident ring 26 then breaks the at least one primary frangible bridge 58a, here the two primary frangible bridges 58a, as visible in figures 9 and 10.

[0101] Subsequently, the rotation of the cap of the stopper by the angle between 30° and 60° around the axis of revolution R initiates the rupture of the membrane 13 via the striker 15 driven axially towards said membrane 13 by means of the opening member 63 of the stopper 14 and the cooperation between the external thread of said striker 15 with the internal thread of the neck 10, as described in relation to FIG. 11.

[0102] Furthermore, the at least one lug 68 ensures that the tamper-evident ring 26 is held around the basal portion 34 of the neck 10, by axial contact with the bearing surface 24 during this first opening of the cap.

[0103] Once the membrane is ruptured, the cap of the stopper continues its rotation beyond 60° around the axis of revolution R, so as to break all of the frangible bridges 58.

[0104] Thus, once the frangible bridges 58 are broken and the rotation around the helical thread is complete, the body 42 of the cap 14 can pivot relative to the tamper-evident ring 26 via the at least one connecting member 64 described previously, the tamper-evident ring 26 and the body 42 still being secured to one another. It is thus understood that, in a state after a first opening of the cap 14, the boss 72 extends at least partly against the bearing surface 24 at its main portion 28. Furthermore, at the end of the first opening of the cap 14, the body 42 of the cap 14 and the tamper-evident ring 26 are secured to one another by means of the connecting member 64 despite the breaking of the frangible bridges 58.

[0105] Such a cap is advantageous in that it facilitates the rupture of the frangible bridges by the double axial separation of the body and the tamper-evident ring brought about by the helical rib and the boss. Furthermore, the assembly according to the invention is particularly advantageous in that it allows early rupture of the primary frangible bridges, i.e. at a very low degree of rotation of the cap, thus reliably indicating to the user whether the member presents a risk of damage even without complete rotation of said cap. In other words, the assembly according to the invention has advantageously sequenced the rupture of the primary frangible bridges and the damage to the membrane.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. Assembly comprising a threaded neck (10) of a container (12) and a cap (14) mounted on the neck (10) to close the container (12), the threaded neck (10) and the cap (14) extending around an axis of revolution (R), the neck (10) comprising: - an opening (16); - at least one helical thread (18) made on an external face (20) of the neck (10); - a bearing surface (24) configured to axially retain a tamper-evident ring (26) of the cap (14); the cap (14) comprising: - a cylindrical body (42) of a stopper (14) centered on the axis of revolution (R) and comprising at least one helical rib (54) intended to engage with the helical thread (18) of the neck (10); - the tamper-evident ring (26) centered on the axis of revolution (R); - frangible bridges (58, 58a) connecting the body (42) of the cap (14) to the tamper-evident ring (26) and intended to break definitively when the cap (14) is first opened; - at least one articulated connecting member (64) intended to connect the tamper-evident ring (26) and the body (42) to each other independently of the first opening of the cap (14); - at least one lug (68) formed projecting from an internal side (70) of the tamper-evident ring (26) and intended to come into axial abutment against the bearing surface (24) of the neck (10) during a first opening of the cap (14); the assembly being characterized in that the cap (14) comprises at least one boss (72) formed projecting from the internal side (70) of the tamper-evident ring (26) and axially offset relative to the lug (68), the bearing surface (24) comprising at least one guide portion (30) inclined relative to a plane perpendicular to the axis of revolution (R) and forming a ramp (30) configured to come into contact with the boss (72) during a first opening of the cap (14) and so as to axially guide said boss (72) to break at least one of the frangible bridges (58, 58a).

2. Assembly according to the preceding claim, in which the neck (10) comprises a membrane (13) which extends into the opening (16), the cap (14) comprising at least one intermediate member (15) participating in breaking the membrane (13) during a first opening of the cap (14), the assembly being configured so that at least one of the frangible bridges (58, 58a) breaks before the membrane (13) breaks.

3. Assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the bearing surface (24) has a second angle of inclination (B) of between 20° and 50° relative to a plane perpendicular to the axis of revolution (R).

4. Assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the bearing surface (24) forms a shoulder (32) on the external face (20) of the neck (10) and such that the bearing surface (24) faces away from the helical thread (18).

5. Assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the boss (72) is formed radially opposite the articulated connecting member (64).

6. An assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein the tamper-evident ring (26) comprises a tab (62) which extends axially towards the body (42) of the cap (14), the boss (72) being formed on the inner side (70) of the tamper-evident ring (26) at the tab (62).

7. Assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the boss (72) comprises a bearing face (74) intended to come into contact with the bearing surface (24) of the neck (10), the bearing face (74) having a profile inclined relative to a plane perpendicular to the axis of revolution (R).

8. Assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the bearing surface (24) extends radially at a first angle of inclination (A) of between 90° and 120° relative to the external face (20) of the neck (10).

9. Assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the bearing surface (24) comprises two guide portions (30) which form ramps (30) which extend in a mirror image of one another along an axial plane and in such a way that a free end (36) of each of the ramps (30) are at a first non-zero distance (D1) from one another, the free ends (36) delimiting a passage without a bearing surface (24) making it easier to position the boss (72) when mounting the cap (14) on the neck (10).

10. Assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the bearing surface (24) comprises at least one main portion (28) from which the at least one guide portion (30) extends, the main portion (28) extending in a plane substantially perpendicular to the axis of revolution (R) and substantially over the entire circumference of the neck (10) devoid of a guide portion (30).

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