CAP FOR CLOSING THE OPENING OF A CONTAINER SUCH AS A CAN

Abstract

The present invention relates to a cap for closing the opening of a container, such as a can, in which the cap comprises an assembly comprising a sealing element made of flexible material and a support element made of rigid material, in which the sealing element is adapted to fill said opening of the container, the sealing element having a sealing wall with an outer surface intended to bear against the inner wall of the opening of the container and an inner surface, and in which the support element has a support wall having an outer surface adapted to bear against the inner surface of the sealing wall, the flexible material of the sealing wall being adapted to be deformed by the application of a clamping force exerted on said sealing wall, on the one hand, by the inner wall of the opening of the container and, on the other hand, by the outer surface of the support wall of the support element.Abstract figure: 1.

Description

Title of the invention: CAP FOR CLOSING THE OPENING OF A CONTAINER SUCH AS A CAN Field of the invention

[0001] The invention relates to a cap for closing the opening of a container, such as a can, in which the cap comprises an assembly comprising a sealing element made of flexible material and a support element made of rigid material.

[0002] The invention relates in particular to a cap for closing the opening of a metal can, such as an aluminum can. State of the art

[0003] A stopper according to the introduction is known in the prior art. Such a stopper is made of a single piece and comprises, for example, a synthetic rubber such as chlorobutylene.

[0004] The cap according to the state of the art is particularly suitable for closing containers used in particular in the chemical and pharmaceutical industry and having a relatively large opening.

[0005] In use, the cap is pushed with a certain force into the opening of a container. During this step, the material of the cap deforms elastically. Due to this elastic deformation, the cap can seal the opening of the can properly by using the elastic energy stored in the cap. This elastic energy is used to push the outer wall of the cap against the inner wall of the opening of the container.

[0006] The elastic energy stored in the stopper is applied against the inner wall of the container opening to ensure a good seal of the container.

[0007] In view of the above, according to the prior art, the cap fulfills several functions simultaneously. To ensure a good seal of the relatively large opening of a container, the cap comprises a relatively large volume. Despite this large volume, the cap must, on the one hand, be sufficiently flexible to deform elastically when the cap is placed in the container and, on the other hand, sufficiently rigid to guarantee the clamping force of the cap against the inner wall of the opening of the container. For the same reason, relatively high requirements are also imposed during the manufacture of the cap concerning the accuracy of the dimensions of said cap.

[0008] According to the prior art, the cap is obtained using well-known techniques, such as compression molding. In practice, the combination of the above-mentioned requirements for caps makes the cap manufacturing process re- relatively complex and expensive.

[0009] Furthermore, the manufacture of a cap requires a relatively large volume of plastic material. In practice, the aforementioned caps are often used as disposable items. This means that the use of caps according to the state of the art creates a relatively large volume of waste.

[0010] In view of the aforementioned disadvantages of the caps according to the prior art, it appears that there is a need to provide a cap which can be used to close the opening of a container, and which can be manufactured more easily and at a lower cost, while reducing the volume of waste produced.

[0011] In view of the above, the object of the invention is to provide a stopper which can at least reduce the aforementioned disadvantages of known stoppers. Subject of the invention

[0012] The subject of the present invention is a cap for closing the opening of a container, such as a can, in which the cap comprises an assembly comprising a sealing element made of flexible material and a support element made of rigid material, in which the sealing element is adapted to close said opening of the container, the sealing element having a sealing wall with an outer surface intended to bear against the inner wall of the opening of the container and an inner surface, and in which the support element has a support wall having an outer surface adapted to bear against the inner surface of the sealing wall, the flexible material of the sealing wall being adapted to be deformed by the application of a clamping force exerted on said sealing wall, on the one hand, by the inner wall of the opening of the container and, on the other hand,by the outer surface of the supporting wall of the support element.

[0013] According to one embodiment, the sealing wall has an essentially cylindrical shape.

[0014] According to one embodiment, the sealing wall is provided at its upper end with a body extending substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the sealing wall, the body being provided with a contact surface adapted to engage against the upper surface of the opening of the container.

[0015] According to one embodiment, the sealing wall is provided, at its lower end, with a lower wall making it possible to form a bowl-shaped sealing element.

[0016] According to one embodiment, the support element is essentially in the form of a bowl with a cylindrical support wall comprising, at its lower end, a lower wall.

[0017] According to one embodiment, the lower wall of the support element is shaped concave.

[0018] According to one embodiment the support element is connected to a locking element, adapted to fix the cap on the outside of the container.

[0019] According to one embodiment, the locking element is connected to the support element in a frangible manner to allow separation of the support element and the locking element.

[0020] According to one embodiment, the sealing element comprises a material composed of elastomers.

[0021] According to one embodiment, the support element comprises a metal or a rigid composite. Brief description of the drawings

[0022] The aims, object and characteristics of the invention will appear more clearly on reading the following description given with reference to the figures in which:

[0023] [Fig. 1] shows an embodiment of a cap according to the invention for closing the opening of a container, separately comprising a sealing element and a support element;

[0024] [Fig.2] represents a sectional view of a part of the cap according to [Fig.l], the sealing element and the support element being in an assembled state;

[0025] [Fig.3] schematically shows the insertion of a stopper into the opening of a container, according to one embodiment of the invention;

[0026] [Fig.4] shows a cap fixed on a container, according to one embodiment of the invention;

[0027] [Fig.5] represents a sectional view of a part of the cap and a part of the container according to [Fig.4];

[0028] [Fig.6] shows the cap according to the invention, once the locking element 50 has been removed.

[0029] [Fig.7] schematically shows the separation of the sealing element and the support element of the container to allow the recycling of said elements. Detailed description of the invention

[0030] The detailed description below aims to set out the invention in a sufficiently clear and complete manner, in particular with the aid of examples, but should in no case be regarded as limiting the scope of the protection to the particular embodiments and examples presented below.

[0031] The term "bowl-shaped" is used in the present specification. In the context of the specification, the term "bowl-shaped" refers to a shape comprising a first substantially cylindrical body with an upper end and a lower end and a second substantially circular body used to close the lower end of the cylinder. This results in a geometric shape with a cylindrical outer wall and a cylindrical inner wall, the cylinder being open at one end and closed at the second end using said circular body.

[0032] [Fig. 1] shows an embodiment of a cap 30 for closing the opening of a container, such as a can. [Fig.l] does not show such a container, but an example of such a can is shown in Figures 3-5. [Fig.l] shows the sealing member 10 and the support member 20 separately, before assembly of the support member 20 into the sealing member 10.

[0033] The plug 30 comprises an assembly of a sealing element 10 made of flexible material and a support element 20 made of rigid material such as a metal or a rigid composite. [Fig.l] shows the sealing element 10 and the support element 20 separately, before the assembly of the support element 20 in the sealing element 10.

[0034] The cap 30 according to the invention is particularly suitable, but not limited, to sealing a metal container, the container being suitable for industrial use for the storage and transport of liquids, such as liquids from the chemical industry.

[0035] The can 40 shown in Figures 3 - 5 is made of a suitable material, such as aluminum, for example. Aluminum is ideally suited for the storage and transport of liquids for the chemical industry because this material is lightweight and withstands a wide range of chemical liquids well. In addition, aluminum has the advantage of being easily recyclable.

[0036] As shown in [Fig. 3], the container 40 has a relatively wide and large diameter opening 41. This large diameter facilitates the filling and emptying of the container 40.

[0037] The large diameter of the opening 41 has the disadvantage of requiring a relatively large plug to fill such an opening 4L

[0038] According to the prior art, stoppers made of a suitable plastic material are used to close the opening 41 of the container 40. In the prior art, it is known to use an artificially manufactured rubber, such as chlorobutyl or chlorobutylene, for said stoppers.

[0039] Chlorobutyl rubber is an isobutylene-isoprene copolymer derived from the reaction of butyl rubber with chlorine in a continuous process. Compared to ordinary butyl rubber, chlorobutyl rubber offers better compression set and better resistance to heat, ozone, and flexural fatigue. In addition, chlorobutyl has low permeability to air, gases, and moisture. This material also provides vibration damping. For these reasons, chlorobutyl is particularly suitable for forming stoppers.

[0040] Generally, materials composed of elastomers can also suitable for forming the caps.

[0041] However, chlorobutylene caps according to the prior art are generally used as disposable items. This means that using a large cap requires a large amount of plastic material that must be discarded after use. It is obvious that disposing of a large volume of chlorobutylene is not ideal for environmental reasons.

[0042] Furthermore, manufacturing a relatively large chlorobutylene cap is not an easy task. Manufacturing a large cap requires good control of the cap manufacturing process, since the cap must fit well inside the opening 41. Dimensional accuracy when manufacturing the cap is therefore very important.

[0043] To avoid the problems associated with caps according to the prior art, the cap 30 according to the invention comprises, as shown in [Fig. 1], two parts. Firstly, the cap 30 comprises a sealing element 10 made of a flexible material, such as, for example, chlorobutylene. The sealing element 10 has, as explained in more detail with reference to [Fig. 2], essentially the shape of a bowl. This means that inside this bowl, a space is formed to receive the support element 20.

[0044] [Fig.2] shows a section of the cap 30, with the sealing element 10 and the support element 20 in their assembled state.

[0045] [Fig. 2] shows that the sealing element 10 comprises a sealing wall 11 whose outer surface 110 is intended to adhere to the inner wall of the opening 41 of the support 40. In addition, the outer surface 110 of the sealing wall 11 is provided with one or more ridges 112, 113. These ridges 112, 113 can easily deform under the effect of pressure due to their limited volume. Consequently, when using the cap 30, the ridges 112, 113 ensure a very good seal between the inner surface of the opening 41 of the container 40 and the sealing element 10. The inner surface 111 of the sealing wall 11 is adapted to cooperate with a support element 20, as described below.

[0046] The sealing wall 11 forms an essentially cylindrical body capable of cooperating with the cylindrical interior surface of the opening 41 of a container 40.

[0047] The sealing element 10 is further provided, on the lower side of the sealing wall 11, with a lower wall 12. This lower wall 12 forms the bottom of the bowl-shaped sealing element 10 and is intended to close the lower side of the sealing wall 11.

[0048] Around the upper face of the sealing wall 11, the sealing element 10 is provided with a body 13 located essentially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the sealing wall 11. The body 13 is provided with a contact surface 130 intended to engage against the upper face of the opening 41 of the support 40.

[0049] This means that the body 13 acts as a stopper and the cap 30 can be inserted into the opening 41 of the can until the contact surface 130 of the body 13 is in contact with the upper side of the opening 41 of the can 40.

[0050] The contact surface 130 is provided with one or more gadroons 131, 132 whose function, during use, is to improve, by their deformation, the contact between the contact surface 130 and the upper face of the opening 41.

[0051] [Fig.2] also shows that the plug 30 is provided with a support element 20 comprising a support wall 21 having an outer surface 210 adapted to bear against the inner surface 111 of the sealing wall 11 of the sealing element 10 and to provide support to said inner surface 111 of the sealing wall 11.

[0052] The technical effect of the cap 30 according to the invention is that, during its use, the flexible material of the sealing wall 11 can be deformed by the clamping force exerted on said sealing wall 11 on the one hand, by the inner wall of the opening 41 of the container 40 and, on the other hand, by the outer surface 210 of the support wall 21 of the support element 20.

[0053] The presence of the support element 20 makes it possible to use a relatively small volume of flexible material for the cap 30. In addition, despite this relatively small volume of flexible material, the sealing function of the cap 30 is ensured by the combination of the flexibility of the sealing element 10 and the rigidity of the support element 20. The use of the support element 20 makes it possible to sandwich or interpose the flexible material of the sealing element 10 between the support element 20 and the inner wall of the opening 41 of the can 40.

[0054] [Fig. 2] shows that the support wall 21 is provided with a slot 211 intended to receive a groove 115 of the sealing element 10 in order to facilitate the assembly of the sealing element 10 and the support element 20 and to ensure that the sealing element 10 is held in the support element 20 after assembly.

[0055] [Fig. 2] further shows that the support element 20, at the lower end of the support wall 21, is provided with a lower wall 22 intended to cooperate with the lower wall 12 of the sealing element 10. The form and function of said lower wall 22 will be explained in more detail with reference to [Fig. 5].

[0056] The support wall 21 is provided at its upper end with a body 23 extending substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the support wall 21. The body 23 is provided with a contact surface 230 intended to engage against the upper face of the body 13 of the sealing element 10. The function of the body 23 of the support element 20 is to allow the body 13 to be sandwiched or interposed between the upper face of an opening 41 and the body 23 so as to deform the body 13 and press it against the upper face of the opening 41 in order to ensure the sealing of the opening 41.

[0057] The body 13 is connected to a locking element 50. The function of the locking element 50 is to hold the cap 30 in position in the opening 41 allowing it to be sealed.

[0058] The locking element 50 is used during the insertion of the cap 30 into the opening 41 of the container 40 to lock the cap 30 in said opening 4L. In the example of Figures 2-5, the locking element 50 is provided with two eyelets 51, 52, which can be engaged by a user to allow the locking element 50 to be removed. Once removed, the cap 30 can be removed from the can 40, thereby allowing the emptying of said can 40.

[0059] To enable removal of the locking element 50, the locking element 50 is, according to the example of Figures 2-5, made as an integral part of the support element 20. In addition, a frangible notch or pre-cut 25 is provided (see [Fig.5]) to serve as a tear line to facilitate removal of the locking element 50 and separation of the locking element 50 from the support element 20.

[0060] [Fig. 3] schematically shows the insertion of the stopper 30 into the opening 41 of a container 40. The stopper 30 is introduced into the opening 41 using an instrument 60, specially designed for this purpose, which has the form of pliers, with two rotating arms 61, 62.

[0061] In the example of [Fig. 3], when the cap 30 is placed in the opening 41, the locking element 50 is simultaneously fixed on the container 40. The function of the locking element 50 is to hold the cap 30 in position in the opening 41 allowing it to be sealed. This makes it possible to guarantee sealing and good compression of the cap 30 on the container 40.

[0062] [Fig. 4] shows a container 40 closed using the cap 30, in which the locking element 50 fixes the cap 30 on the container 40. The locking element 50 comprises, for example, a metal such as aluminum. This makes it possible to guarantee a seal and good compression of the assembly on the container.

[0063] [Fig. 5] shows in a sectional view the cap 30 according to the invention with its sealing element 10 and its support element 20 fixed on the can 40 using the locking element 50. [Fig. 5] shows that the lower wall 22 of the support element 20 has a concave shape. In other words, the lower wall 22 is curved towards the inside of the cylinder formed by the support wall 21.

[0064] The stopper 30 may be placed in a container 40 which will be at least partially filled with a fluid, such as a liquid. A certain volume of gas, such as air, will also be present in the container 40. Upon insertion of the stopper 30 into the opening 41 of the container 40, this gas will be compressed. This compression increases the pressure of the gas inside the container 40. This compression causes a deformation of the lower wall 12 of the sealing element 10.

[0065] With reference to [Fig.5], it is clear that the deformation of the lower wall 12 is possible because before inserting the plug 30 into the opening 41, there is a certain distance between the lower wall 12 and the concave-shaped lower wall 22 of the support element 20 of the plug 30.

[0066] The possibility for the lower wall 12 to deform during the introduction of the stopper 30 into the opening 41 of the container 40, facilitates said introduction of the stopper 20 into said opening 41.

[0067] [Fig. 6] shows the cap 30 according to the invention, once the locking element 50 has been removed. The cap 30 comprises an assembly of a rigid part, formed by the support element 20 and a flexible part, formed by the sealing element 10. The cap 30 according to [Fig. 6] can be positioned, removed and repositioned in the opening 41 of the container 40 according to the wishes of the user. The user can, if desired, clean and / or sterilize the cap 30 between the different uses of the cap 30.

[0068] After use, the cap 30 according to the invention allows easy recycling. The two parts, respectively rigid 20 and flexible 10, of the cap 30 can be disassembled and separately transported to a suitable recycling location. Said disassembly step is schematically shown in [Fig.7].

[0069] It should be noted that, according to one embodiment of the invention, before assembly, the support element 20 and the sealing element are sterilized individually.

[0070] The cap 30 according to the invention can be of any size, but is particularly suitable for neck openings with a diameter of 101 mm to 135 mm.

[0071] The cap 30 as described above is an ecological cap if one considers the significant reduction in the total mass of said cap compared with the total mass of a cap according to the prior art. This reduction in mass can represent a reduction of the order of 70%. In particular, the reduction in mass in flexible material, such as chlorobutyl, must be emphasized. This reduction is of the order of 80% compared to a cap according to the prior art.

[0072] The percentage (mass) of aluminum is approximately 30%.

[0073] This significant reduction in terms of weight and volume, as well as the introduction of recyclable aluminium material, makes it possible, in this technical field, to move in the direction of the trend of regulations not yet fixed to date.

[0074] Thanks to the fact that the flexible material part of the stopper 30 has a reduced thickness compared to the stoppers according to the prior art, the manufacture of said flexible material part by compression is simpler to control and for this reason less expensive.

[0075] The embodiments previously described are indicated as examples. uniquely.

Claims

Claims

1. Cap (30) for closing the opening (41) of a container (40), such as a can, wherein the cap (30) comprises an assembly comprising a sealing element (10) of flexible material and a support element (20) of rigid material, wherein the sealing element (10) is adapted to close said opening (41) of the container (40), the sealing element (10) having a sealing wall (11) with an outer surface (110) intended to bear against the inner opening wall (41) of the container (40) and an inner surface (111), and wherein the support element (20) has a support wall (21) having an outer surface (210) adapted to bear against the inner surface (111) of the sealing wall (11), the flexible material of the sealing wall (11) being adapted to be deformed by the application of a clamping force exerted on said sealing wall (11), on the one hand,by the inner wall of the opening (41) of the container (40) and, on the other hand, by the outer surface (210) of the support wall (21) of the support element (20).,

2. A plug (30) according to claim 1, wherein the sealing wall (11) has a substantially cylindrical shape.

3. A cap (30) according to claim 2, wherein the sealing wall (11) is provided at its upper end with a body (13) extending substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the sealing wall (11), the body (13) being provided with a contact surface (130) adapted to engage against the upper surface of the opening (41) of the container (40).

4. A plug (30) according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the sealing wall (11) is provided, at its lower end, with a bottom wall (12) for forming a bowl-shaped sealing element (10).

5. Cap (30) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the support element (20) is essentially in the form of a bowl with a cylindrical support wall (21) comprising, at its lower end, a lower wall (22).

6. A plug (30) according to claim 5, wherein the bottom wall (22) of the support member (20) is concave in shape.

7. A cap (30) according to any preceding claim, wherein the support member (20) is connected to a locking member (50), adapted to fix the cap (30) on the outside of the container (40).

8. A cap (30) according to claim 7, wherein the locking member (50) is frangibly connected to the support member (20) to allow separation of the support member (20) and the locking member (50).

9. A cap (30) according to any preceding claim, wherein the sealing member (10) comprises a material composed of elastomers.

10. A cap (30) according to any preceding claim, wherein the support member (20) comprises a metal or a rigid composite.

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