Device for closing and sealing the nozzle of a container enclosing a fluid product, and container equipped therewith

Abstract

The invention relates in particular to a device (4) for closing and sealing the nozzle of a container enclosing a fluid product and comprising an outlet orifice, characterized in that the device comprises: • - an annular sealing ring (40) shaped to be placed at the base of said nozzle, interposed between said orifice and said nozzle; • - a plug (3) for plugging the dispensing end of the nozzle, which is opposite said base; • - said annular sealing ring (40) and plug (3) being connected to each other by two symmetrical and elastically deformable arms (5), the modulus of elasticity of said arms being sufficient to allow said plug to be positioned on said dispensing end without the arms breaking.

Description

[0001] DESCRIPTION

[0002] TITLE: Device for closing and sealing the nozzle of a container closing a fluid product and container equipped with it

[0003] GENERAL TECHNICAL FIELD

[0004] The present invention relates to the field of closing containers of a fluid product, which are provided with a nozzle for flowing and discharging this product.

[0005] STATE OF THE ART

[0006] Particularly in the DIY sector for individuals or professionals, it is common to offer for sale fluid products such as silicone sealants, wood paste, glue, etc. in containers which, for the most part, have a cylindrical shape, generally called cartridges, and which are provided with an outlet orifice closed by a cover.

[0007] Such containers may be offered for sale with a truncated cone-shaped nozzle for discharging and evacuating the product, at the end of which, in some cases, a closing cap is engaged. Most often, this nozzle is integral with a tab attached to an annular ring.

[0008] In the shelves of shops where this type of product is available, the annular ring is engaged around the capped opening of the container, so that the nozzle extends parallel to the longitudinal axis of the container and against it.

[0009] When a user plans to use such a device, he places the container on a dispensing gun which has the function of exerting pressure against the bottom of the latter.

[0010] The user then removes the seal to reveal the outlet of the container. He then folds the tab and screws on the nozzle, which has a helical thread at its base that complements the thread on the outlet on its outer periphery.

[0011] At the end of this operation, we find ourselves in the situation illustrated in Figure 1.

[0012] In this figure, the container is referenced 1 and its outlet orifice 10, the actual opening of the latter being referenced 11.

[0013] The aforementioned tab bears the reference 20, while the annular ring is referenced 21. Before first using the device, the user removes the cap 3 (if it exists) positioned at the upper end of the nozzle 2.

[0014] In some cases, instead of folding the tab as indicated above, some users leave it free on the side of the nozzle, so that the ring 21 can then serve as a means of retaining the cap 3.

[0015] After use, the user repositions the cap 3 on the top of the nozzle 2, until the next use.

[0016] In many cases, sealing problems have been observed with this type of device.

[0017] A sealing problem is encountered at the level of the screwing area of ​​nozzle 2 on orifice 10, which causes premature drying of the fluid and the clogging of the nozzle which becomes unusable.

[0018] Furthermore, if the cap is not properly closed, residual pressure inside the container 1 causes a small expulsion of the fluid contained therein, so that the latter tends to push back the cap 3, thus leaving the nozzle 2 open, which can also cause premature drying of the fluid and clogging of the nozzle.

[0019] The state of the art in this area can be illustrated by documents BE514673 and CH309878.

[0020] The present invention therefore aims to propose a solution which makes it possible to overcome the difficulties set out above.

[0021] PRESENTATION OF THE INVENTION

[0022] Thus, a first aspect of the invention relates to a device for closing and sealing the nozzle of a container closing a fluid product and comprising an outlet orifice, characterized in that it comprises:

[0023] - an annular sealing ring shaped to be placed at the base of said nozzle, interposed between said orifice and said nozzle;

[0024] - a plug for closing the dispensing end of the nozzle which is opposite said base;

[0025] - said annular sealing ring and closure plug being connected to each other by two symmetrical and elastically deformable arms, the modulus of elasticity of said arms being sufficient to allow said plug to be positioned on said dispensing end without them breaking, and in the non-elastically deformed state, said arms and said plug are inscribed in an oblong shape, said plug extending opposite and in the immediate vicinity of said ring.

[0026] Thanks to these characteristics, a single device is provided which ensures a double seal of the nozzle, on the one hand at its base, between it and the orifice of the container, and on the other hand at its top, by retaining the sealing cap.

[0027] In addition, the device occupies little space. This is advantageous in terms of the size of the manufacturing mold and, in use, this "squeezed" shape of the device means that in the relaxed state of the arms, the device extends and remains in the vicinity of the base of the nozzle, without risk of discomfort for a user. Furthermore, the ring integral with the nozzle forms a support for the cap, so that the latter is firmly held in place.

[0028] According to other advantageous and non-limiting characteristics of this device, taken alone or according to a technically compatible combination of at least two of them:

[0029] - it forms a single piece;

[0030] - it is made of a single material;

[0031] - it is made of two different materials;

[0032] - one of said materials is chosen from the group formed by thermoplastic elastomers, silicones, natural rubbers, synthetic rubbers;

[0033] - it is integral with the said nozzle.

[0034] The technical advantages and effects linked to these advantageous and non-mandatory characteristics are as follows:

[0035] When the device is a single piece, it prevents its constituent elements from getting lost. In addition, its manufacture is facilitated since it only requires a single mold.

[0036] When the device is made of a single material, this has a positive impact on its cost price.

[0037] The device can be made of thermoplastic elastomers, silicone, natural rubber or synthetic rubber, the main advantage of these materials being their widespread availability. When the device is attached to the cannula, it has the advantage of being one with the latter, without the risk of losing one or the other.

[0038] Another aspect of the invention relates to a container containing a fluid product, which is provided with an outlet orifice, which is equipped with a nozzle for discharging and dispensing said product, characterized in that it comprises a device according to one of the preceding characteristics, said annular sealing ring being placed at the base of said nozzle, interposed between said orifice and said nozzle, said arms being deformable between two extreme positions, namely a first position in which they are completely released and a second position where they are elastically deformed and allow said cap to be positioned on the dispensing end of said nozzle.

[0039] The effects and benefits associated with this container are the same as those detailed above.

[0040] DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

[0041] Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear from the description which will now be given, with reference to the appended drawings, which represent, for informational but non-limiting purposes, a possible embodiment.

[0042] On these drawings:

[0043] Figure 1 is, as indicated above, a diagram intended to illustrate the state of the art closest to the invention, as known to the present applicant;

[0044] Figure 2 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the device according to the invention;

[0045] Figure 3 is a view similar to the previous figure, the device being seen from an opposite direction;

[0046] Figure 4 is a perspective view, along a median and vertical section plane, of the device of Figures 2 and 3;

[0047] Figure 5 is a view similar to the previous one, but from the front;

[0048] Figure 6 is a perspective view of the device according to the invention, in place on the nozzle of a container, this device being shown as “inactive”; Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 6, the different elements being shown in section;

[0049] Figure 8 is a perspective view of the device according to the invention, in place on the nozzle of a container, this device being represented as “active”;

[0050] Figure 9 is a view similar to Figure 8, the different elements being shown in section.

[0051] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0052] In the detailed description which follows, the numerical references common to those used in reference to Figure 1 designate the same or similar elements, unless otherwise stated.

[0053] Detailed views of a possible embodiment of the device according to the invention are shown in the attached figures 2 to 5.

[0054] Here we are dealing with a device 4 which is formed from a single piece and from a single material. However, in variants not shown here, the device 4 could be formed from several separate elements fixed to each other.

[0055] This device 4 is for example made of thermoplastic elastomers, silicones, or natural or synthetic rubber.

[0056] It essentially consists of a ring 40, a plug 3 and two arms 5.

[0057] The ring 40 is an annular ring whose circular opening is referenced 41. The function of this opening will be explained later in the description. As is clearly visible in Figure 4, the upper face 43 of the ring 40 is strictly flat and perpendicular to the axis of the opening 41. On the other hand, its lower face 42 has a slope of a few degrees, so that the thickness of the ring decreases as one approaches the opening 41. The interest and usefulness of this characteristic will be explained later in the description.

[0058] Opposite the ring 40 stands a plug 3 of the same type as that described with reference to FIG. 1. This plug 3 comprises a hollow body 30 whose interior space 33 is fitted with a projecting stud 34. On the outside, the body 30 is surrounded by regularly equidistant walls 31, intended to give the plug a certain rigidity. Their number is four, but it could be different, that is to say lower or higher.

[0059] Finally, the body 30 is surmounted by a tab 32 which is intended to facilitate the gripping of the cap.

[0060] This ring 40 and this plug 3 are connected to each other by two symmetrical arms 5, which have the particularity of being elastically deformable. They have the overall shape of the letter "U", with two parallel wings of different lengths, connected by a curved section.

[0061] In the embodiments in which the device 1 is made of a single material, the elastically deformable nature of the arms 5 is mainly conferred by their thickness, which is less than that of the ring 40.

[0062] The arms 5 and the plug 3 are inscribed in an oblong shape, and the plug 3 extends opposite and in the immediate vicinity of the ring 40. This gives the device 4 a compact shape which proves to be particularly advantageous during its manufacture, since it requires a mold of reasonable dimensions.

[0063] Of course, in other embodiments not shown, the shape of the arms could be different, so that a less compact device would be obtained overall.

[0064] We will explain below how the device 4 according to the invention is used, more particularly with reference to figures 6 to 9.

[0065] First, the user takes hold of the container 1 and removes the cover which closes the orifice 10. When the nozzle 2 is suspended from the container 1 by the ring 21, he extracts the latter in order to leave the orifice 10 completely clear.

[0066] The opening 41 of the ring 40 of the device 4 is sized such that it is possible to fit this ring onto the orifice 10, so that the lower face 42 comes to bear against the top of the container 1. This top having a slightly truncated shape, this lower face bears perfectly against the container.

[0067] It is then possible to put the nozzle 2 in place by screwing it onto the orifice 10. Thus inserted between the orifice 10 and the nozzle 2, the ring 40 fully fulfills its sealing function at the base 22 of the nozzle. Due to the particularly compact shape of the device 4 and the position of the arms 5 which are completely released, it can be seen in particular in Figure 6 that the device extends in the immediate vicinity of the base 22 of the nozzle 2.

[0068] Thus, by a small manipulation, it is possible to engage the plug 3 in the ring 21 of the nozzle 2. It will be noted that the walls 31 make it possible to hold the plug 3 by tightening in the ring 21.

[0069] According to a characteristic of the invention, the symmetrical and elastically deformable arms 5 have a sufficient modulus of elasticity to allow the cap 3 to be positioned on the dispensing end 23 of the nozzle 2.

[0070] This operation is carried out very simply, by extracting the plug 3 from the ring 21 and exerting an upward pull on the arms 5 until it is possible to engage the plug 3 on the top of the cannula 2, so that the nipple 34 engages in the latter.

[0071] Thus, there is no risk of fluid material escaping from the nozzle since the cap is held firmly on the latter by the arms 5.

[0072] In an embodiment not shown, the nozzle as well as the ring 21 and the tab 20 could be integral with the device 4. In such a case, this device would be made of a flexible thermoplastic material, the rest being made of a rigid thermoplastic material.

[0073] It is clear from the above that the device according to the invention is part of the measures relating to sustainable development. Indeed, thanks to this device, the loss of fluid present in the container through the nozzle is reduced to zero. In addition, the cap always remains attached to the rest of the device, so that it cannot be lost.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. Device (4) for closing and sealing the nozzle (2) of a container (1) closing a fluid product and comprising an outlet orifice (10), characterized in that it comprises: - an annular sealing ring (40) shaped to be placed at the base (22) of said nozzle (2), interposed between said orifice (10) and said nozzle (2); - a plug (3) for closing the dispensing end (23) of the nozzle (2) which is opposite said base (21); - said annular sealing ring (40) and closure plug (3) being connected to each other by two symmetrical and elastically deformable arms (5), the modulus of elasticity of said arms (5) being sufficient to allow said plug (3) to be positioned on said dispensing end (23) without them breaking, and that in the non-elastically deformed state, said arms (5) and said plug (3) are inscribed in an oblong shape, and said plug (3) extends opposite and in the immediate vicinity of said ring (4).

2. Device (4) according to claim 1, characterized in that it forms a single piece.

3. Device (4) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it is formed from a single material.

4. Device (4) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it is formed from two different materials.

5. Device (4) according to one of claims 3 or 4, characterized in that one of said materials is chosen from the group formed by thermoplastic elastomers, silicones, natural and synthetic rubbers.

6. Device (4) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is integral with said nozzle (2).

7. Container (1) containing a fluid product, which is provided with an outlet orifice (10), which is equipped with a nozzle (2) for evacuating and dispensing said product, characterized in that it comprises a device (4) according to one of claims 1 to 5, said annular sealing ring (40) being placed at the base (22) of said nozzle, interposed between said orifice (10) and said nozzle (2), said arms (5) being deformable between two extreme positions, namely a first position in which they are completely released and a second position where they are elastically deformed and allow said cap (3) to be positioned on the dispensing end (23) of said nozzle (2).

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