EP0119237A1

EP0119237A1 - Receptacle with automatic sealed closure after use.

Info

Publication number: EP0119237A1
Application number: EP19830902951
Authority: EP
Inventors: Gerard Etchebarne
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1982-09-17
Filing date: 1983-09-19
Publication date: 1984-09-26
Also published as: WO1984001143A1; EP0119237B1; FR2533196A1; FR2533196B1; DE3374857D1

Abstract

Récipient ou bouteille ou container ou emballage ou tube à refermeture automatique pour tout solide, liquide, gaz, pâte caractérisé par un dispositif fermé par une fente rendue hermétique à l'état de repos, située en quelque partie que ce soit, et réalisée en matière plastique ou élastique matricée pour s'élargir lors de la préhension par une déformation déclenchant l'ouverture de la fente, et permettre de verser le contenu de la bouteille ou du récipient, avant de reprendre automatiquement sa position permanente d'étanchéité. Le dispositif s'applique à tout récipient, bouteille, container, emballage ou tube pour contenir tout solide, liquide, pâte.Container or bottle or container or packaging or tube with automatic reclosing for any solid, liquid, gas, paste characterized by a device closed by a slot made hermetic in the state of rest, located in any part whatsoever, and made of material plastic or elastic stamped to widen during gripping by a deformation triggering the opening of the slot, and allow pouring the contents of the bottle or container, before automatically returning to its permanent sealing position. The device applies to any container, bottle, container, packaging or tube to contain any solid, liquid, paste.

Description

The present invention belongs to the category of devices for opening and closing a container (or bottle, packaging, container or tube) containing any liquid, any solid, any gas, any powder or paste without the need for remove or replace a shutter on the opening of the container (the shutter system closing alone and being an integral part of the container, but can be built and attached to any existing receptacle).

The opening and closing of a container is traditionally done by removing or putting back a shutter (this represents effort and time) and when it is forgotten, the content can be spilled or spoiled. Earlier patents CILIBKHTI 2,937,795, COONEY US 1,889,693 included two or more crossed slits and because of the shape of the deformation could not be hermetic or remain it as a result of the acquisition of a permanent deformation which at l 'usare condemns the conservation of the product and condemns the viability of the invention unfit by degradable products.

The patents 3,110,335 US AKTONIUS and 3,176,743 US BUNDY cannot be built in a single blow molding or injection molding operation and are complex. Their structural elements make them unsuitable and not airtight for use in liquids and pastes as mentioned by HELLSTROM in a later patent for the ANTONTUS patent. US Patent 3,595,446 HELLSTROM includes a reinforcement ring which is complex and is not necessary in my invention; nor can it be constructed in a single blow molding or injection molding operation.

It was not easy for a professional to shorten the path leading to these complex implementations to collect a part of a whole that simplifies the problem and makes it viable by its simplicity, and its real hermeticity in common use. In fact, the object of the invention is not to replace plugs for transport security and existing inviolability which can be adopted without particular difficulties.

This simplification makes the invention technically simple to carry out and economical.

However, in certain particular cases, a plastic wire or else an adhesive patch sealed on the slot can ensure its inviolability; the user by pulling one or the other ensures the loosening of the two lips.

In another improvement, a partially removable tongue in the same way can allow, after the first use, to be reapplied by friction and to allow the user a perfect skinning; likewise for a jumper remaining attached to the receptacle by an extension. fig. 5, fig. 6

The device according to the invention is characterized by a single slot made hermetic by various characteristics:

it is curvilinear in the horizontal plane 11 this promoting the opening of the lips,

-it is oblique in the vertical direction fig2 to ensure a large contact surface between the two lips,

-view in section, the flexible wall comprising the slot is bi-concave, for by contact pressure to oppose the flow of the product, -the edge of each lip can be increased on the internal side and up to the edge of the slot to ensure a large contact surface and without thickening the entire surface of the wall which is expensive. 21 It includes a receptacle or receptacle or tube closed by a a slot 11 at its top or laterally, or in any part whatsoever in the rest state; the device is made of elastic materials or molded plastics, to react thanks to their elasticity or also to ancillary systems for the same purpose described below, during direct or indirect gripping support, by a deformation causing a protruding movement allowing the opening of the slot by deformation of the two lips to be able to pour the content. Fig8.9 The support tension of the two lips can be, but not necessarily improved by the following improvements: 1 / pins and reinforcements bulges, ribs12

2 / or rods, or tongues, activated like a spring 13 or not or plastic springs or jumpers with inverted supports Fig 4 integral with the structure or non-integral and attached, oriented in all planes. When the user has separated the two lips, the inclusion of a single plastic rod 13 and stamped in one of the edges of the slot will increase the effect of return spring when closing.

For tube receptacles, it is possible to produce a single flexible wall on the obturator side which comes crashing down on the opposite edge of the more or less ririd tube and which, by design, has a lug area against the leg support, flexible wall by calculating this counter-support location the flexible wall will operate as a doseor V system. Fig 7

3 / support zones are indirectly supported, that is to say that they actuate other zones, themselves triggering the opening Figures 8 - 9 - 10 - 11

As soon as the user support stops, the shutter alone returns to its original permanent shape closed by the slot.

The edges of the opening or two or more openings are hermetic by any existing mechanical, physical, or chemical adhesion effect for example and are in position:

- either edge to edge, horizontal, roof, concavity,

- either by overlapping from one edge to the other in the same shapes as edge to edge.

A / Either an edge is embedded in a double wall Fig. 3 opposite female hollow or a male press button in a female press button

B / Either that this embedding arrangement is reproduced several times, two or three times in lamination in different planes, in series of male edges coming to interpenetrate in a series of double female walls,

C / Or that the two edges of the slot are made contiguous by two edges of Velcros (registered trademark) is an example of a possible product

D / Or made hermetic by a slightly sticky or slightly adherent coating, Liner, Silicone, plastic, composite on the edges retaining its properties after several uses, so that the automatic reclosing movement recreates a hermetic seal, or a capillary seal at each time.

The Scel-o-frais product (registered trademark) is an example of a possible product.

These different processes can be combined with each other for the same purpose of a contiguous or hermetic closure. Methods A, B, C, D as hermeticity methods can be sufficient in themselves without being associated with stampings for closing containers, bottles, containers with incorporated shutter.

Alternatively, the container, bottle or container can present an elastic tension of the material exactly opposite to the first dies tending to the separation in the area of the opening As soon as a cap or other safety means ensuring the closing of the edges is removed, the rest of the opening is done automatically. tick of the propensity of the material helped by aros ribs included or reported to return to its initial equilibrium position which, there is characterized by an open position of the edges Fig.12 This variant would find applications, in particular to facilitate the opening of all cans of food or all boxes, containers, containers, bottles.

The closure would be made by an effort of the user to bring the edges of the opening closer and possibly to reattach them by one of the means described or by any means of attachment or attachment in order to allow or not, depending on the product, a possible re-use.

In another improvement, the opening may be blocked in the open position if necessary for the user. This blocking can be achieved for any blocking, retaining, locking, hooking device, incorporated or not, inside or outside the bottle, tending to keep the two edges of the opening apart. The device is made of a semi-rigid elastic material made of plastic, silicone, rubber, aluminum, flexible metal or any material meeting the elasticity and plasticity characteristics, applicable for part or all of the container.

One of the embodiments of the device is by a blow molding or plastic injection molding operation:

-the slot can be made afterwards by an operation incision,

- The slot can be pre-cut, so as to be carried out during the molding operation, or blowing-injection, having a weak area of 2 to 2/10 th of mm which will open on the first press, or mechanically or of the first user.

By another improvement, if the outer wall is in a rounded shape, or then covered with a soft plastic film of contact, the dispcritif can be used as an applicator for cosmetic cream, shaving, sunscreen.

Claims

CLAIMS 1 / Receptacle in a plastic or rubber material (container bottle, tube) with automatic closure for all solids, liquids, pastes, characterized in that it comprises a single slit fig.1 hermetic for current use, the said slit may have, or a curvilinear line, or a concave or bi-concave shape fig.2 of the wall to oppose any leakage, or an increase in the contact surface of the two lips by internal extension 21; responding to areas indirect supports, fie.8.9 achievable for a reportable part or for the entire receptacle including the device in a single blow-molding or injection-molding operation. Said slot can be located in any part whatsoever. gripping by a deformation triggering its opening, allowing the contents of the receptacle to be poured before automatically resuming, once released from its hermetically sealed position. 2 / Device according to claim No. 1 characterized in that it comprises a single concave slot technically sufficiently airtight to dispense with all ancillary devices, aimed only at current use and not the safety closure, and can be manufactured in a single time in the right material. 3 / Device according to claims No. 1 and 2 characterized in that said slot is technically cut with a curvilinear line horizontally, or is oblique in the vertical fig.2 or in that the flexible wall where the slot is located is concave externally or bi-concave or in that the edge of each lip can be increased on the internal side 21 and up to the edge of the slot to ensure a large contact surface and without thickening the entire surface of the wall which is expensive.

4 / Device according to claim No. 1 characterized by zones of indirect support fig8.9 same parallel to the slot, that is to say that they actuate other zones, these actuating the opening itself, this can constitute a metering system when one of the walls is more rigid; this characteristic of indirect support can also make it possible to locate the device in any part whatsoever, direct support on a slot placed laterally would make it unattractive and impractical to grasp the receptacle and deliver the content. For tube receptacles, it is possible to produce a single flexible wall on the obturator side which comes crashing down on the opposite edge of the more or less rigid tube and which, by virtue of its design, has a lug-shaped area 71 against which it is crushed. the flexible wall; by calculating this counter-support location the flexible wall will operate as a metering system V. Fig 7

5 / Device according to claims 1 and 2 usable with all plastic or elastic materials (EVA, Silicone, rubber, PVC), applicable either for part of the receptacle with the device and reportable on any receptacle, or for the entire receptacle characterized in that it is feasible in a single blowing operation or injection-molding if the location of the slot a small area of _1/10 to _2/10 mm was provided which will tear on the first support mechanical (for example for filling) or manual; the slit incision can also be made mechanically after fabrication. 6 / Device according to one of claims 1,2,3 characterized by the following improvements in that the edges of the opening in the rest state are hermetic by any process, mechanical, physical, chemical: The bearing tension of two lips can be, but not necessarily improved by the following improvements:

1 / reinforcing pins and bulges, ribs 12

2 / or rods, or tongues, a spring or not 13 or plastic springs or jumpers with reverse support fig. 4 attached to the structure or not attached and attached, oriented in all planes. When the user spreads the two lips, the inclusion of a single plastic rod 13 and stamped in one of the two edges of the slot will increase the effect of return spring when closing.

3 / either that an edge is embedded in a double wall opposite female edge fig.3 or a male snap in a female snap fig.3

4 / or that this embedding arrangement is reproduced several times, two or three times in laminating in all planes, horizontally, vertically, obliquely, in a series of male borders coming to interpenetrate in a series of hollowed double walls in puff pastry.

5 / either that the edges of the slot end with two edges of Velcros (registered trademark) or similar products,

6 / or that the edges of the opening in the rest state are hermetic by any chemical adhesion effect process. Or in general, any device or product, Liner, silicone, composite plastic, adherent making the edges of the openings contiguous or hermetic, such as a coating slightly adherent on the edges retaining its properties, after several uses, so that the automatic reclosing movement recreates each time a hermetic seal or a capillary seal.

The seal-o-fresh product (registered trademark) is an example of a possible product.

7 / Device according to one of claims 1,3,4,6 characterized by the following improvements:

A / a plastic wire or an adhesive pellet fig.5 sealed on the slot can ensure inviolability; the user by tearing off one or the other ensures the loosening of the two lips.

B / characterized by another improvement in that a partially removable tongue ⁵ in the same way can allow, after the first use, to be reapplied by friction and to allow the user a perfect seal; the same for a jumper remaining attached to the receptacle by an extension V. Fig 6

8 / Arrangement according to claim No. 1, characterized in that if the outer wall is in a rounded shape, fig.10 or then covered with a soft plastic film of contact, the device allows it to be used as an applicator for cosmetic creams, shaving, sunscreen.

9 / Device according to one of claims 1 to 9 characterized in that in a variant, the receptacle or container or packaging or box can have an elastic tension of the material exactly opposite to the first stamping tending to the spacing in the area of the opening Fig 12 As soon as a plug or other safety device ensuring the closure of the edges is removed, the rest of the opening is done automatically due to the propensity of the material to return to its initial equilibrium position which is characterized by a edge opening position.

This variant would find applications, in particular to facilitate the opening of all cans of food or all boxes, receptacles, containers, in particular as an improvement of cans of cans with manual openings, by tearing off the opening serpentine, forging in tension like an arc possibly, but not necessarily, aided by axes or grooves would make it very easy to open.

10 / Device according to one of claims 1 to 9, the invention is characterized in that the opening can be locked in position

open if necessary for the user.

This blocking can be achieved by any blocking device;

retaining, locking, hooking, incorporated or not, inside or outside the receptacle tending to hold the two edges of

the opening apart.

A predetermined location for the fingers or a privileged grip location may be provided.