Safety cap suitable for attachment to a bottle fitted with a closure cap

Abstract

The invention provides a safety cap (50) adapted to be fixed to a bottle (10) having an upper axial neck (12) of tubular shape having at least one external radial ring (18) and a bottle closure cap (14) arranged above this ring (18) and fixed to the neck (12), to prevent the unintentional or accidental opening of the closure cap (14), the safety cap (50) having a body delimiting a housing adapted to receive the ring (18) and the closure cap (14), characterized in that the cap (50) is made in one piece, and in that the housing is radially open and dimensioned to allow the safety cap (50) to be mounted on the bottle (10) by laterally inserting the upper neck (12) into the housing (52) and securing it by elastic clamping of the upper neck (12) in the housing (52). Abstract figure: Fig. 9

Description

Title of the invention: Safety cap suitable for attachment to a bottle fitted with a closure cap Technical field of the invention

[0001] The invention relates to a safety cap suitable for being fixed on a bottle having an upper axial neck of tubular shape having at least one external radial ring and a bottle closure cap. Technical background of the invention

[0002] The invention relates to bottles having an upper axial neck of tubular shape comprising at least one external radial ring and a bottle closure cap arranged above this ring.

[0003] The invention relates in particular to so-called "unlosable" closure caps which remain connected to the bottle after their first opening in order in particular to constitute a "whole" during the use of the bottle and its contents as well as a single overall waste.

[0004] Such an example of a closure plug is described and shown for example in document EP3305680B1.

[0005] Depending on the use of the bottle and the care taken, for example, in closing it, some users may have experienced untimely, unintentional or accidental openings of the closure cap.

[0006] The invention aims to provide a simple, cheap and reusable solution enabling the consumer to remedy such risks and inconveniences. Summary of the invention

[0007] The invention proposes a safety cap suitable for being fixed to a bottle having an upper axial neck of tubular shape having at least one external radial ring and a bottle closure cap arranged above this ring and fixed to the neck, to prevent the unintentional or accidental opening of the closure cap, the safety cap comprising a body in which a lower wall element and an upper wall element axially define a housing suitable for receiving the ring and the closing cap, characterized in that the cap is made in one piece, and in that the housing is radially open and is dimensioned to allow the safety cap to be mounted on the bottle by laterally inserting the upper neck into the housing and securing it by elastic tightening of the upper neck into the housing.

[0008] According to other features of the safety cap: - the housing is axially dimensioned to allow its fixing by elastic tightening of the upper neck in the housing; - the housing is dimensioned radially to allow its fixing by elastic tightening of the upper neck in the housing; - the lower wall element of the body is a semi-annular element, each of whose two opposite ends extends into an arm, and the distance separating the free ends of the two arms defines an insertion inlet whose width is less than the inner diameter of the semi-annular element; - the body has an internal radial groove which is radially open to receive a complementary external radial collar belonging to the closing cap; - the internal radial groove is a semi-annular groove, each of whose two opposite ends extends into a section of groove for guiding the introduction of the collar into the groove; - the body includes a top base plate; - the internal radial groove is axially delimited upwards by a portion of the internal face of the upper bottom plate; - the body includes a flange suitable for receiving an attachment element, such as for example a shoelace or a shackle.

[0009] The invention also proposes an assembly comprising: - a bottle having an upper axial neck of tubular shape having at least one external radial ring; - a bottle closure cap arranged above this ring and fixed to the neck; - and a safety cap fixed to the bottle to prevent unintentional or accidental opening of the closure cap, characterized in that the safety cap is made according to the invention.

[0010] According to another feature of the assembly, the closure cap comprises a lower part including means for its retention on the neck above the ring, and an upper part connected to the lower part by a joint enabling it to occupy a closing position of the bottle in which it is superimposed on the lower part. Brief description of the Figures

[0011] [Fig-1] - [Fig.1] is a partial cross-sectional view through an axial plane passing through the articulation hinge of an example of an embodiment of the upper end portion of a bottle whose neck is fitted with a two-part closure cap ar- ticulates and which is represented in the closed position;

[0012] [Fig.2] - [Fig.2] is a perspective view of the closing cap of [Fig.1] which is represented in a closed position;

[0013] [Fig.3] - [Fig.3] is another perspective view of the closure cap of the [Fig.2] which is shown in the open position and mounted on the upper end neck of the bottle;

[0014] [Fig.4] - [Fig.4] is a perspective view of an example of an embodiment of safety cap according to the invention adapted to cooperate with the upper neck and the closing cap which are shown in figures 1 and 3;

[0015] [Fig.5] - [Fig.5] is a cross-sectional view along plane 5-5 of [Fig.4];

[0016] [Fig.6] - [Fig.6] is a cross-sectional view along plane 6-6 of [Fig.4];

[0017] [Fig.7] - [Fig.7] is a cross-sectional view through a horizontal plane orthogonal to the axis Al illustrating the lower part of the safety cap body;

[0018] [Fig.8] - [Fig.8] is a detailed cross-sectional view through a vertical axial plane illustrating including the upper base plate of the safety cap;

[0019] [Fig.9] - [Fig.9] is a side view illustrating a first step in the implementation place of the safety cap on the upper end part of the bottle whose upper neck is fitted with the closing cap in the closed position;

[0020] [Fig. 10] - [Fig. 10] is a front view illustrating the safety cap mounted on the upper end part of the bottle;

[0021] [Fig. 11] - the [Fig. 11] is a top view of the safety cap mounted on the upper end part of the bottle. Detailed description of the figures

[0022] For the description of the invention and the understanding of the claims, the vertical, longitudinal and transverse orientations according to the V, L, T reference frame indicated in the figures shall be adopted without limitation, the longitudinal L and transverse T axes extending in a horizontal plane.

[0023] In the description that follows, identical, similar or analogous elements will be designated by the same reference numerals.

[0024] Figures 1, 3 and 9 show the upper end part 10 of a bottle which is of general axial tubular shape with axis Al (Oriented on the figures according to the vertical orientation and corresponding to the vertical orientation of the bottle resting by its base on a horizontal plane) of substantially constant section of external diameter Dext and internal diameter Dint.

[0025] This upper part 10 has an upper neck 12 which is axially delimited downwards by a radially external ring 18 and upwards by a free end upper edge 20.

[0026] The radially outer ring 18 has an oriented annular shoulder 22 axially downwards.

[0027] By way of non-limiting example, the upper neck 12 here comprises an intermediate radially external ring 26.

[0028] Below the radially outer ring 18, the upper part 10 of the bottle extends axially downwards by a lower axial section 24.

[0029] The upper neck 12 is here equipped with a closing plug 14 which is arranged axially above the radially external ring 18.

[0030] In a known manner, and as illustrated in document EP3305680B1, the closure cap 14 comprises two hinged parts, including a lower part or base 30 and an upper part 32 forming a stopper or lid, which can be removed and replaced several times to pour all or part of the contents of the bottle.

[0031] The lower part 30 is here in the form of a ring which is arranged above the radially external ring 18 and which is retained on the upper neck 12 by the intermediate radially external ring 26.

[0032] The upper part 32 of the closure cap 14 has a ring 34 which, in the closed position, is superimposed on the lower part 30 to which it is connected by a thinned joint 36 so as to be able to pivot around a transverse axis A2.

[0033] As can be seen in [Fig.2], to ensure the attachment of the upper part 32 to the lower part 30 of the closure cap 14, a flap 36 is provided with a notch which cooperates with the external intermediate ring 26 in the closed position.

[0034] The upper part 32 comprises a flat upper plate 40 which, at its periphery, extends into an external radial collar 42.

[0035] The safety cap 50 according to the invention, which is illustrated in particular in the figures, will now be described, in cooperation with the upper end part 10 of the bottle and with the closing cap 14.

[0036] The function of the safety cap 50, when fixed to the bottle as illustrated in figures 10 and 11, is to prevent any unintentional or accidental opening of the closure cap 14.

[0037] For this purpose, the safety cap 50 has an internal housing 52 which is suitable for receiving the upper end portion 10 of the bottle with the radially external ring 18 above which the closing cap 14 is arranged in the closed position.

[0038] The retention of the closing cap 14 in the closed position is ensured by housing the stack consisting of the radially external ring 18 and the closed closing cap 14 between two opposite wall elements, respectively a lower wall element 56 and an upper wall element 58 belonging to the safety cap 50.

[0039] This principle of retaining the closure cap by a safety cap according to The invention is applicable regardless of the design of the closure cap arranged above a radially external ring 18, the latter being an element which is found to be present in an almost general way, regardless of the design and type of the bottle.

[0040] In particular, regardless of the design of the means for retaining the lower part of the closure cap on the upper neck, above the radially external ring 18, the principle of implementing a safety cap according to the invention consists of making the lower wall element 56 cooperate with the radially external ring 18, and note.

[0041] In particular with its downward-oriented annular shoulder 22 which is presented in the form of an available clear surface.

[0042] The principle is similarly applicable when the lower part of the closure cap is screwed onto the upper neck above the radially external ring 18, as well as when the lower part is held by fitting between the two radially external rings 18 and 26 and when the upper part opens and closes by screwing onto the upper neck while remaining connected, or not, to the lower part when it is in the open position.

[0043] In the embodiment illustrated in the figures, the body 54 of the safety cap 50 has at its lower part a semi-annular stirrup 60 whose upper transverse semi-annular wall 56 constitutes here the lower wall element which axially delimits downwards the housing 52.

[0044] Each free end 62 of the semi-annular stirrup 60 extends into a wider arm 64 such that, as can be seen in [Fig.7], the distance D2 separating the opposite inner faces 66 of the two arms 64 is less than the inner diameter DI of the semi-annular stirrup 60. The inner diameter DI is substantially equal to the outer diameter Dext of the upper neck 12.

[0045] Thus, the two arms 64, which are elastically deformable, constitute a radial insertion entry of the lower section 24 of the upper neck 12 into the stirrup 60.

[0046] The crossing of the arms 64 constitutes a step called elastically tight mounting of the safety cap 50 on the upper neck 12.

[0047] In this same embodiment, the body 54 includes a bottom top plate 68 here in the shape of a half-disc which is delimited downwards by an internal wall 58 which constitute the upper wall element which vertically delimits the housing 52 upwards.

[0048] Beyond its diameter limit 72, the upper bottom plate 68 is extended by a thicker end portion 74 whose internal wall 76 is inclined downwards to form an insertion ramp.

[0049] To receive the peripheral collar 42 of the upper part 32 of the cap closure 14, the body 54 here has a radially internal semi-annular groove 80 which extends the plane of the internal wall 58.

[0050] To facilitate the guiding and introduction of the peripheral collar 42 into the internal radial groove 80, and of the plate 40 under the plate 68, at each of its two ends, the internal semi-annular radial groove 80 is extended by a section of guide grooves 84.

[0051] In addition, and as can be seen in particular in figures 4, 5 and 11, at its upper part, the safety cap 50 has a flange 90 which is made in one piece with the body 54 in the shape of a half-ring which allows its user to avoid losing the safety cap 50 when not in use and to have it easily available.

[0052] Indeed, the flange 90 allows a lace or strap, or a shackle, to be passed through it in order to connect the safety cap 50 for example to a container such as a bag.

[0053] By way of non-limiting example, the safety cap 50 is made in one piece with its one-piece body 54 made by molding in plastic material.

[0054] The mounting of the safety cap 50 in the safety position on the upper part of a bottle whose upper neck 10 is equipped with a closing cap 14 in the closed position is illustrated with reference to figures 9 to 11.

[0055] As can be seen in figure nine, the safety cap 50 is put in place by positioning it laterally in relation to the closing cap 14 and, initially, by inserting the lower section 24 of the upper neck 12 between the arms 64 and by positioning the peripheral collar 42 of the upper part 32 of the closing cap 14 in the guide grooves 84.

[0056] Considering [Fig.9], the assembly continues by fitting the closing plug 54 into place by elastic deformation, moving the latter from right to left in such a way that, on the one hand, the lower section 24 comes to be housed inside the stirrup 60 and in such a way that the upper plate 40, after having run along the ramp 76, comes to be housed under the inner wall 58 of the upper bottom plate 68 with the corresponding portion of the peripheral collar 42 received in the inner radial groove 80.

[0057] The assembly thus produced is an elastically tight assembly which ensures that the safety cap 50 is held in its functional position.

[0058] The elastic clamping or elastic interlocking effect is achieved in different functional areas, some of which have been described previously.

[0059] The dimensions of the safety cap 50 and in particular of its housing 52 with the various functional parts thereof are such that its fixing in functional position is ensured by elastic tightening of the upper neck 12 with its radially external ring 18 axially and / or radially.

[0060] To use the bottle again by opening it, simply remove the safety cap 50 by acting again by elastic deformation in order to be able to freely access the closing cap 14 again.

[0061] The safety cap according to the invention can be marketed or distributed as a promotional item, for example with a batch of bottles.

Claims

Demands

1. A safety cap (50) adapted to be fixed on a bottle (10) having an upper axial neck (12) of tubular shape having at least one external radial ring (18) and a bottle closure cap (14) arranged above this ring (18) and fixed on the neck (12), to prevent the unintentional or accidental opening of the closure cap (14), the safety cap (50) having a body (54) of which a lower wall element (56) and an upper wall element (58) axially delimit a housing (52) adapted to receive the ring (18) and the closure cap (14), characterized in that the cap (50) is made in one piece,and in that the housing (52) is radially open and dimensioned to allow the safety cap (50) to be mounted on the bottle (10) by laterally inserting the upper neck (12) into the housing (52) and securing it by elastic clamping of the upper neck (12) into the housing (52).

2. Safety cap (50) according to claim 1, characterized in that the housing (52) is axially dimensioned to allow its fixing by elastic tightening of the upper neck (12) in the housing (52).

3. Safety cap (50) according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the housing (52) is dimensioned radially to allow its fixing by elastic tightening of the upper neck (12) in the housing (52).

4. Safety cap (50) according to claim any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lower wall element (56, 60) of the body (54) is a semi-annular element, each of whose two opposite ends (62) extends into an arm (64), and in that the distance (D2) separating the free ends of the two arms (64) defines an insertion entry whose width (D2) is less than the inner diameter (Dl) of the semi-annular element.

5. Safety cap (50) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the body (54) has an internal radial groove (80) which is radially open to receive a complementary external radial collar (42) belonging to the closing cap (14).

6. Safety cap (50) according to claim 5, characterized in that the inner radial groove (80) is a semi-annular groove of which each of the two opposite ends (82) is extended by a section of groove (84) for guiding the introduction of the outer radial collar (42) into the inner radial groove (80).

7. Safety cap (50) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the body (54) comprises a bottom upper plate (68).

8. Safety cap (50) according to the preceding claim taken in combination with one of claims 5 or 6, characterized in that the internal radial groove (80) is axially delimited upwards by a portion of the internal face (58) of the upper bottom plate (68).

9. Safety cap (50) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the body (54) has a flange (90) suitable for receiving an attachment element, such as for example a shoelace or a shackle.

10. Assembly comprising: - a bottle (10) having an upper axial neck (12) of tubular shape having at least one external radial ring (18); - a bottle (14) closure cap (10) arranged above this ring (18) and fixed to the neck (12); - and a safety cap (50) fixed to the bottle (10) to prevent the unintentional or accidental opening of the closure cap (14), characterized in that the safety cap (50) is made according to any one of the preceding claims.

11. Assembly according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the closure cap (14) comprises a lower part (30) including means for its retention on the neck (12) above said ring (18), and an upper part (32) connected to the lower part by a joint (36) enabling it to occupy a closing position of the bottle (10) in which it is superimposed on the lower part (30).

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