Abstract:
The invention relates to a device for stopping a container ( 1 ) having a neck ( 12 ), said device comprising a stopper ( 51 ) and a cap ( 52 ) consisting of a plastic material and able to surround both the stopper ( 51 ) and the neck ( 12 ). The cap ( 52 ) comprises a ring ( 53 ) that can surround the stopper and the neck when mounted and is provided with means ( 537 ) for locking onto the neck, and a body ( 54 ) for handling the ring, provided with first means for transmitting a thrust force to the ring and second means ( 541 ) for activating means for locking the ring. The ring ( 53 ) is provided with a continuous outer peripheral collar ( 5311 ), and the handling body ( 54 ) is provided with at least one raised element ( 5431 ) designed to abut (E 4 ) against the continuous outer peripheral collar ( 5311 ) when it activates the locking means ( 537 ).

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a section 371 of International Application No. PCT/EP2011/070609, filed Nov. 22, 2011, which was published in the French language on May 31, 2012 under International Publication No. WO 2012/069436 which claims the benefit of French Patent Application No. 1059683, filed Nov. 24, 2010, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The invention relates to a device for stopping a container with a neck, as well as a container equipped with such a device. 
         [0003]    With regards to containers for medication, a glass bottle is normally used to keep an active ingredient in the form of lyophilisat, in powder form or in a liquid solution. This type of bottle should be watertight to preserve the contents in a satisfactory condition, until its date of use. To hermetically seal a bottle, a device with an elastomer stopper is used which has a plastic cap placed around the stopping device to isolate the contents from the exterior. 
         [0004]    WO-A-2007/063218 relates to a stopping device whose cap comprises a ring and a body allowing the locking means to manoeuvre the ring onto the neck of the container. It is also known as WO-A-2008/129144 for integrating a malleable component for transmission of a thrust force to a stopping device, this malleable component is destined to wear off when the thrust force has been effectively transmitted to lead a body into a position where it activates the locking means of a cap on the neck of a container. These known containers are completely satisfactory; in particular when they are used on bottles whose neck has a diameter of 20 mm. 
         [0005]    When a stopping device has been led to a configuration where it activates its locking means, it is important that it remains on the neck of the container, without being moved other than in such a way as to clearly show that the contents of the bottle have been made accessible. This is necessary to avoid the risks of wrongful manipulation of the contents of the bottle. 
         [0006]    It is this problem that the present invention deals with by proposing a stopping device which, when locking means are activated, is firmly held in position on the neck of a container, without any risk of untimely dismantling. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    To this effect, the invention concerns a device for stopping a container with a neck, this device comprises a stopper and a plastic cap, capable of surrounding both the stopper and the neck, the cap comprises a ring, which can surround the stopper and the neck in a raised position and has locking means on the neck, as well as a handling body for the ring provided with the first means for transmitting a thrust force to the ring and second means of activating the locking means of the ring with a thrust force and the second methods of activating the locking mechanism of the ring, this handling body surrounds the ring when it activates its locking means. This device is characterised in that the ring is provided with a continuous outer peripheral collar and the handling body is provided with at least one raised element designed to abut against the continuous outer peripheral collar when it activates the locking means. 
         [0008]    Thanks to this invention, the cooperation between the peripheral collar on the one hand, and the raised handling body, on the other hand, guarantees that the handling body is maintained in a position where it activates the locking means, at the point where these locking means remain effective to firmly immobilise the cap onto the neck of a container and prevent any wrongful access of the contents of the container. 
         [0009]    According to the beneficial, but not mandatory, aspects of the invention, such a device can incorporate one or several of the following characteristics, taken in any technically admissible combination: 
         [0010]    The raised handling body is formed using through an edge with an opening arranged through a peripheral partition of this body, this partition surrounding the ring when the handling body activates the locking means. We can anticipate that this opening abuts one part of the peripheral partition which is concave as seen from the exterior. 
         [0011]    The locking means of the ring comprise locking tabs, which extend from an edge of this ring, towards the continuous outer peripheral collar. 
         [0012]    The diameter of a circle passing by the external radial parts of the locking tabs has a greater external diameter of the edge from which these tabs extend. 
         [0013]    The edge from which the locking tabs extend is continuous and each locking tab is used in an opening with a closed outline, which crosses the ring according to a radial direction in relation to the longitudinal and central axis of the ring. 
         [0014]    The ring and the handling body are respectively provided with the first means of retaining and second methods of retaining which work together to hold the handling body in relation to the ring in a waiting position where it does not activate the locking means. 
         [0015]    The first means of retaining the ring are arranged on the malleable bands which extend, in a parallel direction to the longitudinal and central axis of the ring, between the continuous outer peripheral collar and the annular edge of the ring from which the locking means extend. 
         [0016]    The handling body comprises several raised sections aimed at simultaneously abutting against the continuous outer peripheral collar and are divided around a longitudinal and central axis of the handling body. 
         [0017]    The maximum diameter of the continuous outer peripheral collar has a value greater than that of the diameter of an imaginary circle centered on the longitudinal and central axis of the handling body and crossing, on the inside, the raised parts. 
         [0018]    The invention also relates to a container, especially a bottle for medications, equipped with a device for stopping such a container as mentioned above. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0019]    The invention will be better understood and other benefits of this will appear more clearly in light of the following description of a development method for a stopping device and of a container in compliance with its principle, given solely as an example, and with reference to the attached drawings in which: 
           [0020]      FIGS. 1 to 5  as shown in the diagram, an axial cross-section and a sectional perspective of  FIGS. 1 and 2 , several stages of packaging a product in containers which are in compliance with the invention, 
           [0021]      FIG. 6  is a large scale view of the detail VI in  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0022]      FIG. 7  is an axial cross-section and a much larger scale sectional perspective, of the cap of the devices for stopping containers in  FIGS. 1 to 5 , 
           [0023]      FIGS. 8 and 9  are fragmented perspectives, according to two different angles, of the cap in  FIG. 7 , 
           [0024]      FIG. 10  is a larger scale view of the detail X in  FIG. 4 , 
           [0025]      FIG. 11  is a cross section according to the line XI-XI in  FIG. 10 , 
           [0026]      FIG. 12  is a cross section similar to  FIG. 11  during an intermediary stage between the configurations of  FIGS. 4 and 5 , 
           [0027]      FIG. 13  is larger scale view of the detail XIII of  FIG. 5  and 
           [0028]      FIG. 14  is a cross section according to the line XIV-XIII of  FIG. 13 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0029]      FIGS. 1 to 5  represent different stages of packaging a product P in glass bottles constituting the containers. 
         [0030]    In  FIG. 1 , bottle  1  is in the process of being filled with product P, for example, a medication. Pipette  2  is introduced into bottle  1  through its mouth  11  which is defined by a neck  12  presenting an outer collar  13 . X 1  shows the symmetrical axis of bottle  1 . 
         [0031]    When a predetermined quantity of product P has been introduced into bottle  1 , pipette  2  is withdrawn and a stopping device,  50 , is placed on neck  12 . 
         [0032]    The device  50 , comprises an elastomeric stopper  51  adapted to be partially introduced into the mouth  11 , while remaining on the side  121  of the collar  13  opposite the bottom  14  of the bottle  1 . Once in place in the neck  12 , the stopper  51  isolates the contents of the bottle  1  from the exterior. 
         [0033]    The device  50  also comprises a cap  52  aimed at recovering and isolating the stopper  51  and the neck  12  in a closed configuration of the stopping device  50 . 
         [0034]    As shown most particularly in  FIGS. 7 to 9 , the cap  52  comprises a plastic ring  53 , which is circular on the interior section and whose internal diameter is sufficient to allow it to surround the collar  13 . The cap  52  also comprises a handling body for the ring  53 , constituted by a plastic crown  54  which is intended to constitute the external peripheral envelope of the cap  52 . The cap  52  further comprises a cover  56  also made of plastic. This cover  56  has complete rotational symmetry around a central axis X 56 . 
         [0035]      541  shows the edge of the crown  54  which is oriented towards the bottle  1  in an installed configuration of the cap  52  on this bottle. This edge  541  can be qualified as &lt;&lt;inferior&gt;&gt; in as much as it is oriented towards the bottom in the configuration of  FIGS. 2 to 5 . In this description, the spatial orientation of the different elements mentioned is considered where a device  50  is mounted on a bottle  1  which rests on a flat surface by its base  14 . One section is called &lt;&lt;lower&gt;&gt; when it is oriented towards the bottom in this configuration and &lt;&lt;higher&gt;&gt; when it is oriented towards the top. 
         [0036]      542  shows the upper edge of the crown  54  which is opposed to the section  541 . This edge is cut into four openings  543  which cross a cap  544  in the form of a collar which makes up the section of the crown  54  which is intended to surround the ring  53  in a mounted configuration of the cap  52 . In practice, the partition  544  comprises one cylindrical section  5441  with a circular section which extends between the edge  541  and a front face rib  5442 . Between the edge  542  and the front face rib  5442 , the partition  544  is provided with four zones  5443  which are concave seen from the exterior and which are each edged with an opening  543 . 
         [0037]      5431  shows the edge of an opening  543  which joins zone  5443 . Each edge  5431  constitutes a raised section which extends from an area  5443  in direction of the axis X 53 . 
         [0038]    The crown  54  also shows a central opening  545  centred on an axis X 54 , which is made up of a symmetrical axis for the crown  54 , with the exception of its parts formed by the openings  543  and by the zones  5443 .  547  shows the edge of opening  545 . 
         [0039]    The openings  543  have the same geometry and are regularly distributed around the axis X 54 , with an angular gap of 90°. 
         [0040]    The ring  53  is centred on an axis X 53  which is aligned with axis X 54  and X 56  in configuration with the cap  52 , this axis being merged with a central axis X 52  of the cap  52 . 
         [0041]    The ring  53  comprises an annular section  531  which defines a central opening  532  through which the upper surface  511  of the stopper  51  can be accessed where needed. 
         [0042]      561  shows the internal surface of the cover  56 , that is to say its surface turned towards the stopper  51  in a raised configuration of the device  50  on the bottle  1 . The cover  56  has two collars  562  and  563  which are centred on the axis X 56  and which extend parallel to this axis, each one from the surface  561 . The collar  562  has an axial length, measured parallel to axis X 56 , greater than that of the collar  563 . 
         [0043]    During the manufacture of the cap  52 , the cover  56  is placed on the crown  54  by closing the surface  561  of the edge  542 , by introducing collars  562  and  563  in the opening  545  and in joining the cover  56  on the crown  54 , next to the edge  542 , by fusing several units  564  arranged for this reason on the surface  561  and equally divided around the collar  563 . During this operation, the collar  563  is brought into contact with the edge  547 . 
         [0044]    The cover  56  is provided with a central rigid section  565  surrounded by, a peripheral section  566 , also rigid, so that a malleable net  567  connects parts  565  and  566 . 
         [0045]    When the cover  56  has been fixed onto the crown  54 , the crown  54  is covered around the ring  53 , in such a way that it delimits the maximum radial boundary of the cap  52 , in relation to its central axis X 52 . 
         [0046]    In practice, the geometry of parts  53 ,  54  and  56  is chosen in such a way that the maximum exterior diameter D 54  of the crown  54  has a value less than 16.5 mm, preferably between 15.8 and 16.2 mm, preferably again being equal to 16 mm. In these conditions, when one uses a bottle  1  whose body  16  has a diameter equal to 16 mm, what is normal for certain medications, the cap  52  mounted onto bottle  1  does not exceed or slightly exceeds the body of bottle  1 , according to a radial direction in relation to the axis X 1 . This allows the bottles  1 , pre-equipped with stopping devices  50  to be juxtaposed on a shelf of a lyophilisator, with a high density, from a relatively small diameter of the bodies of these bottles, without there being any risk of the bottles being unbalanced by the stopping divides that they support. 
         [0047]    The ring  53  comprises five bands  533  which extend from the section  531  to the lower edge of the ring  53  which is formed by a continuous ring pull  534  around the axis X 53 . 
         [0048]    Section  531  comprises a continuous collar  5311 , which extends peripherally and externally, in relation to the rest of section  531  and which defines a second edge, or superior edge of the ring  53 . The collar  5311  is shown between an upper surface  5312  oriented to the opposite of edge  534  and an inferior surface  5313  oriented towards the edge  534 , each of these surfaces being perpendicular to the axis X 53 . The collar  5311  is edged, radially on the exterior, by a tapered surface  5314  which converges opposite the edge  534 . 
         [0049]    Each band  533  has an external rib  535  which stands out radially towards the exterior in relation to axis X 53  in relation to this tab. Between each pair of two adjacent bands  533  is a window  536 , or an open area at a fixed edge, connecting the interior volume of the ring  53  to the exterior. 
         [0050]    A locking tab  537  extends from the ring  534  in each window  536 . Taking into consideration the intrinsic suppleness of the material constituting the ring  53 , each tab  537  can pivot, around its base, in relation to the edge  534 . In other words, each tab  537  is in the form of a rib of a ribbed surface, centred on the axis X 53  and converging in the direction of the edge  5371 . Opposite the edge  5371 , centred on the axis X 53  and converging in the direction of the edge  534 . Thus, the surface  5372  constitutes the outer peripheral upper surface of a tab  537 , so that its surface  5373  constitutes an outer, inferior peripheral surface. The respective diameters of the surfaces  5372  and  5373  of a tab are chosen so that a semi-circular spout  5374  is formed at the junction between these surfaces. The spouts  5374  constitute the external radial parts of the tabs  537 . 
         [0051]    D 534  shows the exterior diameter of the edge  534 . D 537  is the diameter of an imaginary circle C 537  centred on the axis X 53  and passing through the spouts  5374 . In an unconstrained position of the locking tabs  537 , the value of the diameter D 537  is greater than that of the diameter D 534 , by at least 1.5 mm. Even when the crown  54  surrounds the locking tabs  537 , as seen above, the diameter D 537  has a greater value than diameter D 534 , the difference between these values thus being reduced. 
         [0052]    On the interior of the junction between a band  533  and part  531 , the ring  53  is provided with ribs  538  for superficially penetrating the stopper  51  to immobilise this stopper in the ring  53  and in the cap  52 . 
         [0053]      546  shows the internal radial surface of the partition  544 . This surface is provided with a peripheral mouth  5461  which extends around the perimeter of the surface  546  and which is intended to receive the ribs  535  of the ring  53  in a holding configuration represented in  FIGS. 3 and 6 . In this configuration, the crown  54  is mounted on the ring  53 , without interacting with the locking tabs 
         [0054]    The configuration of  FIG. 7  can be achieved by sliding the crown  54  around the ring  53  thanks to the preassembly force which is axial, that is to say, parallel to the axes X 52 , X 53 , X 54  and X 56  which are staggered. The effect of this is to lead the cap or collar  544  around the bands  533  and this movement is continued until the ribs  535  enter the mouth  5461  and are locked there. The sliding of the crown  54  in relation to the ring  53  takes, place thanks to the elasticity of the bands  533  which can change their shape elastically when their respective ribs slide along the surface  546  of the crown  54  before joining at the mouth  5461 . In other words, the geometry of the ring  53  gives the bands  533  sufficient suppleness so that the crown  54  can be easily set up around the ring  53 . In practice, the bands  53  each extend, in relation to axis X 53  onto an angular section of an angle at the top which is less than 30°, preferably at 25°, which gives them good elasticity. 
         [0055]    When the cap  52  has been thus pre-assembled, it is possible to place the stopper  51  here by introducing it to the interior of the ring  53 , until the ribs  538  superficially penetrate the stopper  51 , which will ensure that the position of the stopper in the ring is maintained. As a variant, the stopper  51  can be placed on the neck  12  of the bottle  1 , as represented in  FIG. 2 , before the cap  52  is placed on the stopper thanks to an axial stress E 1 . In all cases, the configuration of  FIG. 3  is reached, where the stopper  51  does not completely fill the mouth  11  as this stopper is provided with a lateral cut  512  which communicates with a slot  200  at one part of the upper face  131  of the mouth  13 . 
         [0056]    The bottle  1  equipped with the device  50  can therefore be introduced into, a lyophiliser  300 , in one lot of bottles  1 . In  FIGS. 3 to 5 , three bottles represent one lot which can comprise several hundred, or even several million, bottles used in the lyophiliser  300 . Moreover, the bottles can be used in this lyophiliser on several stacked shelves. In this lyophiliser, the water molecules present in each bottle  1  are moved towards the exterior, as represented by the arrows F 1  in  FIGS. 3 and 6 , through the slots which remain between cap  52  and the collar  13 . 
         [0057]    Inside the lyophiliser, we can then, as represented in  FIG. 4 , push E 2  on the devices  50  parallel to the longitudinal axis X 1  of the bottles  1  and the necks  11 , an axis with which is also joined the axes X 52  of the different caps  52 . This axial stress E 2  is exerted by a mobile tray  301  inside the lyophiliser and controlled by a jack  302 . The tray  301  at the same time sensitively exerts the same unitary stress R 2  on the cap  52  of each bottle  1  of a row of bottles used at the same level, on the same tray  303  in the lyophiliser. The sum of the efforts E 2  is equal to the effort E 2 . 
         [0058]    In the configuration in  FIGS. 4 and 10 , the crown  54  is in a second holding configuration where the ribs  535  remain inserted in the mouth  5461 . In this configuration, the crown does not interact with the locking tabs  537 . 
         [0059]    Applying stress E′ 2  has the effect of making the crown  54  of each cap  52  move in the direction of the bottom  14  of each of the bottles  1 , as represented by the passage from the configuration in,  FIGS. 3 and 6  to that of  FIGS. 4 and 10 . The E′ 2  stress is transmitted from the crown  54  to the ring  53  through the intermediary of the mouth  5461  and the ribs  535  which cooperate. Thus, components  535  and  5461  constitute the stress transmission means E′ 2  from the crown  54  to the ring  53 . The stress E′ 2  exerted on each device  50  has the effect of leading the tabs  537  of its ring  53  along the axis X  1 , between the collar  13  and the body  16  of the bottle around the part of the neck  12  which is not provided with a collar  13 . 
         [0060]    The annular section  531  thus makes contact with the upper surface  511  of the stopper  5   1  which halts the progression of the ring  53  in the direction of the base  14 . The continued application of the stress E 2  on the crown  54  of each device  50  has the effect of driving the rib  535  of each band  533  to the exterior of the mouth  5461  by elastic deformation of the bands  533 , which allows the crown  54  to successively attain the position of  FIG. 12 , then that of  FIGS. 13 and 14 . Firstly, this allows the edge  541  of the crown  54  to make contact with the surfaces  5372  of the different locking tabs  537 , as represented in  FIG. 12 . The continuation of this movement has the effect of making the surfaces  5372  slide against the side  541 , which flaps the tabs  537  radially towards the axis X 1 , by moving their free side  5371  against the inferior peripheral surface  132  of the collar  13 , as represented in  FIG. 14 . Thus, the edge  541  allows the locking tabs  537  to be put into an active configuration where they immobilise the cap  52  on the neck  12 . 
         [0061]    This movement also has the effect of causing the edges  5431  of the notches or openings  543  to abut against the surface  5313  of the collar  5311  which is oriented towards the edge  534 . D 531  shows the maximum diameter of the continuous outer peripheral collar  5311 . This diameter is that of the edge of the junction between the surfaces  5313  and  5314 . C 543  shows an imaginary circle centred on an axis X 54  and close, on the interior, to the edges  5431  of the notches or openings  543 . When the zones  5443  of the partition  544  are not subject to any action by the collar  5311 , the value of the diameter D 543  is less than the value of the diameter D 531 . The zones  5443  are elastically deformed by sliding against the surface  5314 , while passing from the configuration of  FIG. 12  to the configuration of  FIGS. 13 and 14 . Finally, by elasticity, the parts of the partition  544  which make up zones  5443  have the tendency to fall back towards the axis X 52 , in such a way that the sides  5431  join below the continuous outer peripheral collar  5311 . 
         [0062]    If a withdrawal stress E 3  of the crown  54  is exerted on this, as represented in  FIG. 14 , this effort is transmitted in the form of abutting E 4  the sides  431  against the collar  5311  which opposes this and blocks the crown  54  in its position where it maintains the tabs  537  in configuration of entering the collar  13 . 
         [0063]    The result of this is a particularly effective locking of the crown  54  around the ring  53 , in the configuration of  FIGS. 13 and 14 . Indeed, once the device for stopping  54  is mounted on the neck  12  of a bottle  1 , it is not possible to remove the crown  54  because the sides  5431  of the openings  543  are supporting the collar  5311  which is rigid and solid because of its continuous character around the axis X 53 . The only way to access the stopper  51 , and through this, the contents of the bottle  1 , is to take the cover off  56  by breaking the contacts  564 . 
         [0064]    In the configuration of  FIGS. 13 and 14 , the crown  54  is in its locking configuration in which it ensures, by the reinforcement that it exerts on the tabs  537 , that these tabs are held in a configuration which is connected to the surface  132  of the collar  13 . The crown  54  therefore constitutes a handling body of the ring  53 , this handling body activates the locking means constituted by the tabs  537 . The components  53 ,  54  and  56  are each compact and can be moulded into polyoxymethylene (POM) or into an equivalent material. 
         [0065]    It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes could be made to the embodiments described above without departing from the broad inventive concept thereof. It is understood, therefore, that this invention is not limited to the particular embodiments disclosed, but it is intended to cover modifications within the spirit and, scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.