Sealing device for sealing a container

Abstract

Described is a sealing device for sealing a container, including a body to be fixed and secured on a neck of a container, the body having a top roof and including a spout upwardly extending from the top roof, a cover with a top wall and a shutter downwardly extending from the top wall, the cover being movable regarding the body from a closing position wherein the shutter in hermetically inserted into the spout, to an opening position wherein the cover is moved away from the body, and reversely, wherein the sealing device further comprises at least one inner / radial lip which inwardly extends between a peripheral wall of the spout and an inner wall of the cover, in the closing position, each of the at least one inner lip leaning against the spout peripheral wall or against the inner wall of the cover along an hermetic annular area.

Description

[0001] SEALING DEVICE FOR SEALING A CONTAINER

[0002] The present invention relates to a sealing device for sealing a container.

[0003] Technical Field

[0004] The present invention relates to the field of liquid packaging, wherein it is very common to seal the aperture of a container with a sealing device, so-called “stopper”.

[0005] Such container is an individual object. The container is usually made of plastic, glass or metal material. For example, the container can be a bottle or a carton, a pouch or even a tube. The container can be filled with a fluid or a liquid, especially of a food product, or of a cosmetic or pharmaceutical product, or of a chemical product.

[0006] Moreover, such a container comprises a neck at a top part. The container neck comprises a peripheral wall and at a top end an aperture through which the container can be emptied. The container aperture can also be used to fill the container, especially in the case of a bottle or a carton. In the case of a pouch or a tube, the container can be filled through an opening part located at the opposite end of the aperture which is sealed before the filling; then said opposite opening is sealed, especially through a fixing operation, such as heat sealing operation. Moreover, the neck can be part of the container body, especially for a bottle or for a tube. The neck can also be fixed on the container, especially on a carton or a pouch, through a heat sealing or a gluing operation. Especially, the pouch is sealed on a neck made in a plastic material, such as a Polyethylene (PE), High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) or LLDEP (Linear low-density polyethylene), and also the stopper in screwed on such a pouch neck.

[0007] So said container aperture is aimed to be sealed by a sealing device, such as a stopper. Such stopper can be made of metal or plastic material. The stopper is made of one or several piece(s). A plastic stopper is mainly obtained through a molding process. Other parts or elements of the stopper can be created into the plastic piece through a cutting or slitting step during the manufacturing process.

[0008] Such stopper body globally has a tubular or cylindrical shaped body closed at its top edge by a roof wall.

[0009] In order to secure the stopper on the container neck, to seal the aperture, the stopper body comprises retaining features, designed to cooperate with an outer annular ring outwardly managed on the peripheral wall of the container neck.

[0010] Such retaining features can comprise molded-in bridges and beads located inside and around a bottom part of the stopper.

[0011] The retaining features can also comprise an inwardly folded band made of separated or linked tabs, or also made of an annular ring with beads distributed all around. So, due to the stopper fabrication process by molding, the stopper is released from a central core of a mold and the annular ring of the retaining features downwardly extends relative to the body. Then, the retaining features must be reverted inside the stopper, from bottom to top, to get into an inward position, where the retaining features will cooperate with the container neck outer annular ring when the stopper is engaged to seal the container. Once the retaining feature are in the inward position, the stopper can be placed on the container neck in order to seal its aperture.

[0012] Such first sealing can be operated by vertically plugging the stopper on the container neck or by screwing. Such sealing operation includes a step when the retaining features must go from top to bottom through the outer annular ring of the neck. During the passage of the ring, the retaining features are pushed outwardly until they come back inwardly and secure the stopper on the bottle neck. Then, as the retaining features are locked under the ring, when opening the stopper, the top edge of the retaining features vertically move till being in contact under the ring and lock the body on the container neck.

[0013] Moreover, the stopper body can be integrally made of one element or several parts.

[0014] In the case of several parts, the body comprises a closure shell with sealing mean, such as sealing lips which downwardly extends relative to the top roof inside the stopper. Such sealing lips are designed to cooperate with the top end of the peripheral wall of the bottle neck, in order to tightly close the aperture.

[0015] The stopper body also comprises a tamper band (also called “tamper evident ring”). The bottom edge of the closure shell is attached to the top edge of the tamper band through at least one weakness line. Such weakness line is made of bridges, distributed around the closure shell and the tamper band. So the bridges link the closure shell and the tamper band together. Moreover, the bridges are made when molding the stopper or after molding through a cutting step. Such weakness lines are a visual indicator for the consumer and guarantee that the container was not previously unsealing.

[0016] In this configuration, the tamper band comprises the retaining features.

[0017] So, during container opening, the consumer first unseals the stopper, and the retaining features secure the tamper band on the container neck so that the weakness line is broken to separate the closure shell from the tamper band.

[0018] According to a screw type stopper, the closure shell comprises inner thread(s) arranged on the inner side walls.

[0019] In order to engage the stopper to seal the container, the peripheral wall of the neck comprises outer complementary fixation features, such as outer thread(s). The combination of outer and inner thread(s) allows the stopper to be screwed on the container neck to seal the aperture and unscrewed for container opening. Background Art

[0020] As known, a specific type of the stopper comprises a cover, such as a cap. Such a cover is movable regarding the stopper body, from a closing position to an opening position, and reversely. In the closing position, the cover is covering part of the body, especially of the closure shell, and is sealing the aperture. In the opening position, the cover is moved away from the aperture, allowing the fluid or liquid in the container to flow through said aperture.

[0021] The cover can also be fixed on the stopper body through at least one weakness line.

[0022] Moreover, the cover (or the closure shell) can be linked to the stopper body through a link or a hinge. Such a stopper is co-called “tethered stopper”, as the cover (or the closure shell) remains linked to the body after opening.

[0023] According to a snap type a stopper, the cover can be clipped on the stopper body in the closing position. Such a cover clipping allows the consumer to easily open the cover by a simple hand move, for example with a pressure applied by the thumb on the cover.

[0024] It is to be noticed that a screw type and a snap type of stopper can be combined. According to an embodiment, when opening the container, the closure shell is unscrewed from the tamper band, in order to allow the cover to be moved. In other words, the unsnapping of the cover is locked into the screwing position of the closure shell.

[0025] According to a particular type of stopper, the body comprises a spout, which has globally a tubular shape upwardly extending from the top roof. The aperture of the stopper is located at the top of the spout, downwardly communicating to the inside of the stopper body through the tubular spout.

[0026] In this embodiment, the cover comprises a shutter of the spout. Such a shutter has a complementary cylindrical shape and downwardly extends from the bottom face of the cover, in order to hermetically cooperate inside the spout tube in the closing position of the cover on the stopper body.

[0027] It is to be noticed that some seal means can be managed on the bottom face of the cover, such as lips, to allow or to increase the sealing of the cover on the stopper body, especially of the shutter inserted into the spout aperture.

[0028] If such a closing allows the cover to almost hermetically closes the stopper opening and so the container aperture, there still remains a lack of efficiency regarding some intrusive particles, such as dust, that can insert between the cover and the body, especially around the spout, or even at its top end around the opening. Such particles can also limit or avoid the hermeticity of the cover. Especially for a cosmetic, aseptic filled package or pharmaceutical product, some micro-organisms intrusive particles can spoil the content of the container. Summary of Invention

[0029] An object of the present invention is to improve a sealing device for sealing a container, comprising at least an inner lip to confer a hermetic closing between the spout and the cover. Such an inner lip is configured to ensure sealed contact between the spout and the cover, said inner lip leaning against the peripheral wall of the spout or against the inner wall of the cover, creating a hermetic contact area around the spout, in the closing position of the cover on the stopper body. In particular, the leaning of said inner lip between the inner wall of the cover and the circumference of the spout compresses said lip, providing a sealed contact area.

[0030] In other words, in the context of the invention, “hermetic" refers to a perfectly sealed closure.

[0031] Therefore, the invention claims a sealing device for sealing a container, comprising

[0032] - a body to be fixed and secured on a neck of a container, the body having a top roof and comprising a spout upwardly extending from the top roof,

[0033] - a cover with a top wall and a shutter downwardly extending from the top wall, the cover being movable regarding the body from a closing position wherein the shutter is hermetically inserted into the spout, to an opening position wherein the cover is moved away from the body, and reversely.

[0034] According to the invention, the sealing device further comprises

[0035] - at least one inner lip which inwardly extends between a peripheral wall of the spout and an inner wall of the cover,

[0036] - in the closing position, each of the at least one inner lip leaning against the spout peripheral wall or against the inner wall of the cover along an hermetic annular area.

[0037] According to an embodiment, the at least one inner lip inwardly extends from the inner wall of the cover, in the closing position, the at least one inner lip is leaning against the spout peripheral wall along the hermetic annular area.

[0038] According to an embodiment, the at least one inner lip outwardly extends from the peripheral wall of the spout, in the closing position, the at least one inner lip is leaning against the cover inner wall along the hermetic annular area.

[0039] According to an embodiment, the at least one inner lip has a downwardly diverging shape. According to an embodiment, at least one lug extending inwardly from the inner wall of the cover.

[0040] According to an embodiment, several lugs angularly located around the inner wall of the cover. According to an embodiment, at least one top lug located over the at least inner lip and extending inwardly relative to the inner wall of the cover. According to an embodiment, at least one bottom lug located under the at least inner lip and extending inwardly relative to the inner wall of the cover.

[0041] According to an embodiment, at least one top lug located over the at least inner lip and extending inwardly relative to the inner wall of the cover,

[0042] - at least one bottom lug located under the at least inner lip and extending inwardly relative to the inner wall of the cover.

[0043] According to an embodiment, the spout further comprises

[0044] - a top part and a bottom part, the bottom part having a greater diameter than the top part,

[0045] - an overflow between the top part and the bottom part, the cover further comprises

[0046] - an top inner diameter and a bottom inner diameter, the top inner diameter being smaller than the bottom inner diameter,

[0047] - a shoulder between the top inner diameter and the bottom inner diameter, wherein the at least one bottom lug extending downwardly regarding the shoulder in front of the overflow, the at least one bottom lug being in contact on the overflow in a closing position. According to an embodiment, the body further comprises a tamper band, a closure shell, wherein the tamper band being upwardly connected to a bottom of the closure shell.

[0048] Brief description of the Drawings

[0049] The invention can be better understood on reading the following description given merely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0050] FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a sealing device according to an embodiment, in an opening position of a cover linked to the body through a hinge, the body comprising a closure shell downwardly linked to a tamper band;

[0051] FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a detail of the cover of a preferred embodiment, wherein the cover comprises an inner lip and also a top lug and a bottom lug, especially showing an enlargement of the inner lip extending in a deployed configuration from the inner wall of the cover;

[0052] FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic cross section view along a longitudinal median plan of an embodiment in an opening position of the cover regarding the body;

[0053] FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic cross section along a longitudinal median plan of a detail of an embodiment, in a closing position, wherein the inner wall of the cover comprises an inner lip in a compressed configuration against the peripheral wall of the spout;

[0054] FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic view similar to figure 4 of an embodiment, wherein the inner wall of the cover comprises an inner lip and a top lug;

[0055] FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic view similar to figure 4 of an embodiment, wherein the inner wall of the cover comprises an inner lip and a bottom lug;

[0056] FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic view similar to figure 4 of an embodiment, wherein the inner wall of the cover comprises an inner lip and also a top lug and a bottom lug;

[0057] FIG. 8 is a diagrammatic view similar to figure 4 of an embodiment, wherein the periphery of the spout comprises an inner lip, a top lug and a bottom lug;

[0058] FIG. 9 is a diagrammatic view similar to figure 4 of an embodiment, wherein the inner wall of the cover comprises an inner lip and a top lug, with a specific straight configuration of the inner lip, and especially showing an enlargement of a beading recess of the inner lip;

[0059] FIG. 10 is a diagrammatic view similar to figure 4 of an embodiment, wherein the inner wall of the cover comprises an inner lip and a top lug, with the inner lip shaped as an annular bead.

[0060] Description of Embodiments

[0061] As required, detailed embodiments of the present disclosure are disclosed herein. The disclosed embodiments are merely examples that may be embodied in various and alternative forms, and combinations thereof. As used herein, for example, exemplary, and similar terms, refer expansively to embodiments that serve as an illustration, specimen, model or pattern.

[0062] In some instances, well-known components, systems, materials or methods have not been described in detail in order to avoid obscuring the present disclosure. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present disclosure.

[0063] Phrasing such as 'configured to' perform a function, including in the claims, can include any or all of being sized, shaped, positioned in the arrangement, and comprising material to perform the function.

[0064] Terms indicating quantity, such as first’ or ‘second’ are used for exemplary and explanation purposes and are not intended to dictate the specific ordering of a component with respect to other components. Terms indicating position such as ‘upper ’ and ‘lower ’ or f ‘ ront ’ and ‘back ’ are used to indicate components relation to one another. One of skill in the art would recognize other configurations are possible.

[0065] Various embodiments of the present disclosure are disclosed herein. The described embodiments are merely exemplary illustrations of implementations set for a clear understanding of the principles of the disclosure. Variations, modifications, and combinations may be made to the described embodiments without departing from the scope of the claims. All such variations, modifications, and combinations are included herein by the scope of this disclosure and the claims.

[0066] First the invention relates to the closing of the aperture of a container.

[0067] As previously mentioned, such as container can be a bottle or a carton, a pouch or even a tube. The container can be filled with a fluid or a liquid, especially of a food product, or of a cosmetic or pharmaceutical product, or of a chemical product.

[0068] Moreover such a container comprises a neck and an aperture to be sealed by the sealing device 1.

[0069] Therefore, the invention relates to a sealing device 1 for sealing a container, especially for sealing the aperture of the container neck.

[0070] Such a sealing device 1, also called “stopper”, globally has a cylindrical or tronconical shape, which is inwardly hollowed to cover the container neck and its aperture.

[0071] Such a sealing device 1 is made of a plastic material, such as polypropylene (PP) or polyethylene (PE). Such a plastic stopper is obtained through a molding operation, eventually through a cutting or slitting step during a manufacturing process.

[0072] According to the invention, the sealing device 1 comprises a body 2. Such a body 2 is made of an integral element or several parts.

[0073] According to an embodiment, the body 2 comprises a tamper band 20 and a closure shell 21. Moreover, the tamper band 20 is upwardly connected to a bottom of the closure shell 21. According to an embodiment, the closure shell 21 is separable from the tamper band 20.

[0074] Therefore, the body 2 comprises at least one weakness line 22 between the tamper band 20 and the closure shell 21.

[0075] Such a weakness line 22 can be made of bridge(s) distributed around the closure shell 21 and the tamper band 20. So the bridges link the closure shell 21 and the tamper band 20 together. Such a weakness line 22 can also be made of at least a slitting or a heat sealing line.

[0076] Moreover the weakness line 22 is made when molding the stopper or after molding through a cutting step. Such weakness line 22 is a visual indicator for the consumer and guarantee that the container was not previously unsealed.

[0077] According to another embodiment, the weakness line 22 comprises an overwrap shrink band, that joints the closure shell 21 and the tamper band 20 together. Such shrink band is removed by the consumer when unsealing the container.

[0078] So, during container opening, the consumer first unseals the stopper, the weakness line 22 is broken to unseal the container, especially to separate the closure shell 21 from the tamper band 20 which remains locked on the container neck.

[0079] According to the invention, the body 2 is designed to be fixed and secured on the container neck.

[0080] Therefore, according to an embodiment, the body 2 comprises retaining features 3 located at a bottom edge (especially at a bottom edge of the tamper band 20). As previously mentioned, the retaining features 3 are designed to cooperate with an outer annular ring outwardly managed on the peripheral wall of the container neck.

[0081] According to an embodiment, the retaining features 3 comprises an annular band 30. According to another embodiment, the retaining features 3 can comprise several flaps, separated or linked together.

[0082] Moreover, the annular band 30 or the flaps are folded inside the body 2, so that they upwardly diverge from bottom to top.

[0083] According to another embodiment, the retaining features 3 comprise an annular bead.

[0084] So when unsealing the container, the retaining features 3 secure the body 2, especially the tamper band 20, on the container neck, so that another part of the stopper can be moved away for opening the aperture, especially by moving the closure shell 21.

[0085] Thus being, according to the invention, the body 2 has a top roof and comprises a spout 4 upwardly extending from the top roof. Such a spout 4 globally has a tubular shaped, with a top opening 40, so that the opening 40 downwardly communicates along the spout 4 to the inside of the body 2 (i.e. the spout 4 links the outside and the inside of the container, in order to allow the fluid or liquid to flow through said spout 4 through the opening 40 in the opening position. Therefore, according to the invention, the sealing device 1 also comprises a cover 5, such as a cap.

[0086] Such a cover 5 is movable regarding the body 2 from a closing position wherein the opening 40 is hermetically closed, to an opening position wherein the cover 5 is moved away from the body 2, and reversely.

[0087] It is to be noticed that the sealing device 1 can comprise a tamper evident feature, such as similar weakness line(s), to separably link the cover 5 to the body 2, especially to the closure shell 21. Such weakness line(s) are separated when the first opening of the cover 5.

[0088] According to an embodiment, the cover 5 can be totally removed from the body 2.

[0089] According to another embodiment, the cover 5 is connected to the body 2, especially the closure shell 21, through a link 6, such as a hinge 60, so that the cover 5 remains attached to the body 2 in the opening position.

[0090] Moreover, with a hinge 60, the opening of the cover 5 is operated globally by a rotation along an axis extending horizontally or almost horizontally.

[0091] So the opening of the cover 5 can be operated by a simple pressure of a finger by the consumer, which confers the snap type configuration to the stopper. In order to facilitate the snap opening, the cover 5 can comprise a lifting edge 50, which extends radially outside a peripheral wall of the cover 5 at the opposite side of the link 6, especially at the opposite side of the hinge 60.

[0092] According to an embodiment, the cover 5 comprises atop wall 51 and peripheral wall 52 located under and around the top wall 51. Moreover, the cover 5 comprises a shutter 53 extending downwardly relative the bottom face of the top wall 51. Such a shutter 53 is shaped and dimensioned to hermetically cooperate into the opening 40, by inserting inside the spout 4, in the closing position.

[0093] According to an embodiment, the shutter 53 globally has a tubular shape.

[0094] According to the invention, to improve the hermeticity of the stopper, especially to avoid any intrusive particles, the sealing device 1 comprises at least one inner lip 7 extending inwardly between the periphery of the spout 4 and the inner side of the peripheral wall 52 of the cover 5. In other words, at least one lip 7 is managed along the circumference inside the stopper, to fill the space between the spout 4 and the cover 5. So the lip 7 is alike an inner annular ring, which extends continuously or is uninterrupted around the cover 5 and the spout 4.

[0095] According to an embodiment, the lip 7 has a thickness (i.e. a radial distance extending to the center of the stopper) that is comprised between 0,1 mm and 5 mm (millimeter). According to an embodiment, the thickness of the lip 7 is less than 1 mm, preferably less than 0,5 mm (plus or minus 0,1 mm).

[0096] Moreover, each of the lip 7 is configured to lean along a hermetic area in the closing position of the cover 5 on the body 2. In other words, at least a part of the lip 7 gets into contact either with the inner side of the peripheral wall 52 of the cover 5 or the periphery of the spout 4. In other words, in the closing position, the lip 7 acts as a seal between the cover 5 and the spout 4, providing a perfect seal between these elements, preventing any quantity of fluid or particle from passing beyond said lip 7, from the outside to the inside, or vice versa. So, in the closing position, each of the at least one inner lip 7 ensures a hermetic contact by pressing at least part of said lip 7 against said periphery of the spout 4 or against the inner wall 52 of the cover 5. It is to be noticed that the lip 7 is configured, with a shape and / or dimensions and / or a material, to allow a bending into a compressed configuration when closing to a deployed configuration when opening, and reversely. In other words, lip 7 is in a compressed position when the cover 5 is closed on body 2, and conversely in a deployed position when the cover 5 is in open position. According to an embodiment, the lip 7 is flexible or semi-rigid, especially the lip 7 can be elastic. For example, the lip 7 is in a plastic material, such as Polyethylene (PE), High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) or polypropylene (PP).

[0097] According to an embodiment, the lip 7 comprises an annular ring. Such an embodiment of a lip 7 configured in an annular ring extending from the cover 5 is shown in figure 10. According to another embodiments, such some shown in figures 4 to 8, the lip 7 has an elongated shape with a smaller thickness along a part to a distal end. Such a smaller thickness confers a flexion area of the lip 7, allowing its beading.

[0098] It is to be noticed that such flexion area can be located at the junction of the lip 7 with the inner side of the peripheral wall 52 of the cover 5 or of the junction with the periphery of the spout 4. According to some embodiments, the lip 7 is globally straight or linear, with a polygonal crosssection, or the lip 7 is partially round or curved.

[0099] According to an embodiment, the lip 7 is configured, regarding the wall where the lip 7 is connected, to create a bending recess 55, which facilitates the lip bending into the compressed configuration. Moreover, the bending recess 55 can also allow a part of the lip 7 to insert inside in the compressed configuration.

[0100] According to an embodiment, the distal end of the lip 7 can be round or can comprise a bevel. According to an embodiment, the lip 7 can comprise a straight or linear cross-section, and / or a divergent cross-section, and / or convergent cross-section, regarding the vertical median plan of the stopper. In other words, the thickness of the lip 7 can vary or not according to its length (i.e. to a radial direction).

[0101] According to an embodiment, the distal end of the lip 7 has a linear portion located in front of the wall to lean against (i.e. the periphery of the spout 4 or the inner side of the peripheral wall 52 of the cover 5).

[0102] According to an embodiment, the lip 7 has a downwardly diverging shape. In other words, the lip 7 is inclined moving away from the wall from top to bottom of the stopper (i.e. from the cover 5 to the body 2). Reversely, the lip 7 can have a downwardly converging shape. In other words, the lip 7 is inclined moving close from the wall from top to bottom of the stopper. According to an embodiment, the lip 7 extends horizontally or almost horizontally (i.e. along a plan which is orthogonal to the median longitudinal axis of the stopper).

[0103] According to a preferred embodiment, the lip 7 inwardly extends from the inner side of the peripheral wall 52 of the cover 5, so that in the closing position, the at least one inner lip 7 leans against the periphery of the spout 4 along the hermetic annular area.

[0104] According another embodiment, such as visible in figure 8, the lip 7 outwardly extends from the periphery of the spout 4, so that in the closing position, the lip 7 leans against the inner side of the peripheral wall 52 of the cover 5 along the hermetic annular area.

[0105] It is to be noticed that is some embodiments with several lips 7, some of the lips 7 can extend from the cover 5 and others can extend from the spout 4. Thus, the lips 7 can be located at different heights. According to a specific embodiment, a couple of lips 7 can be located in front of each other, one of the lips 7 extending from the spout 4 while the other of the lips 7 extending from the cover 5. So, the contact area is created by the part of said two lips 7 which get into contact and lean with each other’s in the closing position.

[0106] In a specific configuration, the two lips 7 are inclined and inverted. In other words, one of the two lips 7 is divergent (i.e. V shaped) and the other of the two lips 7 is convergent.

[0107] According to an embodiment, to facilitate the closing of the cover 5 equipped with at least one lip 7, the sealing device 1 comprises at least one lug. Such a lug is extending inside the stopper, in order to center the cover 5.

[0108] According to a preferred embodiment, the sealing device 1 comprises at least one lug extending inwardly from the inner side of the peripheral wall 52 of the cover 5. According to another embodiment, the sealing device 1 comprises at least one lug extending outwardly from the periphery of the spout 4.

[0109] According to an embodiment, several lugs are angularly located inside and around the stopper, especially around the inner side of the peripheral wall 52 of the cover 5.

[0110] According to an embodiment, the sealing device 1 comprises at least one top lug 8 located over the at least inner lip 7.

[0111] According to an embodiment, the top lug 8 extends inwardly relative to the inner side of the peripheral wall 52 wall of the cover 5. Especially, the top lug 8 is located at the junction between the top wall 51 and the inner side of the peripheral wall 52 of the cover 5.

[0112] According to another embodiment, the top lug 8 can be managed from the periphery of the spout 4.

[0113] According to an embodiment, the bottom part of the top lug 8 comprises a bevel, to facilitate the insertion of the cover 5 during closing.

[0114] According to a preferred embodiment, the thickness of the top lug 8 is less than the thickness of the lip 7 in the compressed configuration. In other words, the top lug 8 is shorter than the lip 7 along a radial direction. Such difference confers a functional gap to allow the insertion of the cover 5 when closing, and reversely when opening, but also the space required for the compression of the lip 7 which gives its hermetic characteristic.

[0115] According to an embodiment, the thickness of the top lug 8 is comprises between 0,05 mm and 4 mm, in order to manage a gap at minimum of 0,05 mm and at maximum of 4 mm. According to a preferred embodiment, the thickness of the top lug 8 is about 0,2 mm.

[0116] So the lateral overflow of the top lug(s) 8 allows, when closing the cover 5, that said top lug(s) 8 get into contact with the spout 4 (and / or with the inner wall 52 of the cover 5), with a sliding contact which reposition the cover 5 into a centered way around the spout 4. According to an embodiment, the sealing device 1 comprises at least one bottom lug 9 located under the at least inner lip 7.

[0117] According to a preferred embodiment, the bottom lug 9 is extending inwardly relative to the inner side of the peripheral wall 52 of the cover 5.

[0118] According to another embodiment, the bottom lug 9 can extend from the spout 4.

[0119] Such as for the top lugs 8, several bottom lugs 9 can be managed around the stopper, especially around the inner of the wall 52 of the cover 5.

[0120] Such as for the top lug 8, the bottom lug 9 can have almost the same dimensions.

[0121] According to a preferred embodiment, the spout 4 comprises a top part 41 and a bottom part 42, the bottom part 42 having a greater diameter than the top part 41. Moreover, the spout 4 comprises a step 43 between the top part 41 and the bottom part 42.

[0122] Then the cover 5 comprises a top inner diameter and a bottom inner diameter, the top inner diameter being smaller than the bottom inner diameter. Moreover, the cover 5 comprises a shoulder 54 between the top inner diameter and the bottom inner diameter.

[0123] So, the at least one bottom lug 9 is extending downwardly regarding the shoulder 54 in front of the step 43, so that the at least one bottom lug 9 is in contact on the step 43 in a closing position. In other words, the bottom lug(s) 9 confer a contact vertical blocking of the cover 5. Such a vertical blocking allows a better tightening of the lip(s) 7. The vertical blocking is also useful when several containers are stacked on each other’s, which is usually the case when palletizing.

[0124] According to an embodiment, the sealing device 1 can comprise both at least one top lug 8 and at least one bottom lug 9.

[0125] So the lip(s) 7 (combined or not with the top lug(s) 8 and / or the bottom lug(s) 9) confers an improved hermeticity around the spout 4, avoiding any intrusion of particles, so that the opening 40 stays clean for the consumer. Especially, the sealing device 1 prevents the container content to be spoiled by micro-organisms, which increases an aseptic characteristic of the stopper according to the invention.

Claims

ClaimsThe invention claimed is:

1. A sealing device for sealing a container, comprising- a body to be fixed and secured on a neck of a container, the body having a top roof and comprising a spout upwardly extending from the top roof,- a cover with a top wall and a shutter downwardly extending from the top wall, the cover being movable regarding the body from a closing position wherein the shutter is hermetically inserted into the spout, to an opening position wherein the cover is moved away from the body, and reversely, wherein the sealing device further comprises- at least one inner lip which inwardly extends between a peripheral wall of the spout and an inner wall of the cover,- in the closing position, each of the at least one inner lip leaning against the spout peripheral wall or against the inner wall of the cover along an hermetic annular area.

2. Sealing device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one inner lip inwardly extends from the inner wall of the cover, in the closing position, the at least one inner lip is leaning against the spout peripheral wall along the hermetic annular area.

3. Sealing device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one inner lip outwardly extends from the peripheral wall of the spout, in the closing position, the at least one inner lip is leaning against the cover inner wall along the hermetic annular area.

4. Sealing device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one inner lip has a downwardly diverging shape.

5. Sealing device according to claim 2, further comprising- at least one lug extending inwardly from the inner wall of the cover.

6. Sealing device according to claim 5, further comprising- several lugs angularly located around the inner wall of the cover.

7. Sealing device according to claim 5, further comprising- at least one top lug located over the at least inner lip and extending inwardly relative to the inner wall of the cover.

8. Sealing device according to claim 5, further comprising- at least one bottom lug located under the at least inner lip and extending inwardly relative to the inner wall of the cover.

9. Sealing device according to claim 5, further comprising- at least one top lug located over the at least inner lip and extending inwardly relative to the inner wall of the cover,- at least one bottom lug located under the at least inner lip and extending inwardly relative to the inner wall of the cover.

10. Sealing device according to claim 8, wherein the spout further comprises- a top part and a bottom part, the bottom part having a greater diameter than the top part,- an overflow between the top part and the bottom part, the cover further comprises- an top inner diameter and a bottom inner diameter, the top inner diameter being smaller than the bottom inner diameter,- a shoulder between the top inner diameter and the bottom inner diameter, wherein the at least one bottom lug extending downwardly regarding the shoulder in front of the overflow, the at least one bottom lug being in contact on the overflow in a closing position.

11. Sealing device according to claim 5, wherein the body further comprises- a tamper band,- a closure shell, wherein the tamper band being upwardly connected to a bottom of the closure shell.

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