Patent Publication Number: US-7717281-B2

Title: Closure cap with a sealing stud having increased deformability and a receptacle fitted with such a cap

Description:
This non-provisional application claims the benefit of French Application No. 04 50219 filed on Feb. 6, 2004 and U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/551,810 filed on Mar. 11, 2004, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated by reference herein. 

   BACKGROUND 
   The present invention relates to improving closure caps. 
   Some substances, in particular cosmetics, are made available in receptacles fitted with closure caps comprising a base portion fixed by snap-fastening on a neck of the receptacle, and a lid hinged onto the base portion. Said base portion includes a dispenser orifice, and the lid is provided with a sealing stud that becomes engaged in the dispenser orifice when the lid is closed. In order to produce a click when the lid is opened or closed, two diametrally opposite bumps are formed on the outside surface of the sealing stud. 
   SUMMARY 
   Such a sealing stud is subjected to wear as a result of the lid being opened and closed many times, such that the bumps are no longer capable of fulfilling their function in a satisfactory manner as the receptacle reaches the end of its lifetime. 
   Exemplary embodiments of the present invention provide a closure cap comprising a base portion and a lid, the base portion including a dispenser orifice, and the lid including a sealing stud arranged to be engaged in the dispenser orifice when the lid is closed. In exemplary embodiments, the sealing stud comprises at least one portion in relief arranged to snap-fasten in the base portion. 
   In exemplary embodiments, in the closure cap, the sealing stud may include an elastically deformable zone of increased deformability, in which at least part of the portion in relief may be formed. 
   For example, said portion in relief may comprise a bump, which may be formed on an outside surface of the sealing stud, for example. 
   According to exemplary embodiments of the invention, the amount of wear on the portion in relief is small, since said portion in relief is subjected to smaller stresses when the lid is opened and closed, for example, as a result of said portion in relief being located on the zone of increased deformability. 
   Exemplary embodiment of the invention may apply, for example, to closure caps in which the lid is hinged to the base portion. Exemplary embodiment of the invention may also be used when the lid is arranged to be mounted onto the base portion in some other way, for example, by screw fastening. 
   In exemplary embodiments, the dispenser orifice may be defined by an annular lip situated inside the base portion. 
   In exemplary embodiments, the zone of increased deformability may extend over less than one complete turn about a longitudinal axis of the sealing stud. 
   In exemplary embodiments, the zone of increased deformability may be defined by a relatively thin region of the sealing stud. For example, said sealing stud may include an internal or external groove which defines the relatively thin region. For example, said relatively thin region may have a thickness that is less than an average thickness of the stud excluding (outside) the relatively thin region, for example, substantially equal to or less than half the average thickness of the stud excluding the relatively thin region. 
   In exemplary embodiments, the sealing stud may include two diametrally opposite zones of increased deformability. Each zone of increased deformability may have a thickness that is less than a thickness of the stud between the two zones of increased deformability, for example, less than half of said thickness. Each zone of increased deformability may be defined by a groove on a radially inside surface of the stud. 
   In other exemplary embodiments, the zone of increased deformability may also be defined by a tongue. For example, said tongue may be connected to a remainder of the sealing stud in such a manner as to include a free edge at an end via which the sealing stud is inserted into the dispenser orifice. For example, a thickness of the tongue may be substantially equal to a thickness of a remainder of a wall of the sealing stud. 
   In exemplary embodiments, the sealing stud may include a plurality of tongues, for example, three tongues, that are evenly distributed angularly around a longitudinal axis of the sealing stud. For example, each tongue may include, on a radially outside surface thereof, a step that serves as a portion in relief arranged to snap-fasten in the base portion. 
   In exemplary embodiments, the dispenser orifice may include a first portion and a second portion that is greater in section than the first portion. The portion in relief may be positioned facing the second portion when the lid is closed, with the cap being sealed by contact between the sealing stud and a wall defining the first portion, when the cap is closed. The first and second portions may be connected together by a shoulder. The second portion may have a cross-section that is large enough to ensure that, when the lid is closed, the portion in relief is substantially not compressed against a wall defining the dispenser orifice. 
   In exemplary embodiments, the stud and the dispenser orifice may be arranged in such a manner that the portion in relief snap-fastens below the dispenser orifice. 
   For example, the sealing stud may have a length that is greater than a length of the dispenser orifice. 
   In exemplary embodiments, the sealing stud may include a beveled end, and the portion in relief may be situated set back from said beveled end. 
   In exemplary embodiments, the portion in relief may comprise a substantially spherically-shaped bump, for example. An apparent thickness of the portion in relief at a surface of the sealing stud may lie in a range of about 0.03 millimeters (mm) to about 0.3 mm, for example. Preferably, the apparent thickness may lie in a range of about 0.1 mm to about 0.15 mm. 
   In exemplary embodiments in which the sealing stud includes two diametrally opposite zones of increased deformability, each portion in relief may comprise a substantially spherically-shaped bump, for example. The bump may project about 0.15 mm from a radially outside surface of the stud, for example. 
   In exemplary embodiments, the base portion may include a mounting skirt for mounting onto a neck of a receptacle. The mounting skirt may be configured to snap-fasten on the neck, for example. 
   In exemplary embodiments, the closure cap may be advantageously a single piece, for example, being made by injection molding a plastics material. 
   A non-limiting list of materials which may be used to make the closure cap includes: polypropylene homopolymer or copolymer, high-density or medium-density polyethylene. Medium-density polyethylene is a mixture of high-density and low-density polyethylene. 
   In exemplary embodiments, the closure cap may also be dual-injected. The sealing stud may be made of a first material, and a remainder of the cap may be made of a second material that is different from the first. For example, the first and second materials may have different hardness. 
   For example, the sealing stud may be made of polypropylene homopolymer, and the remainder of the closure cap may be made of polypropylene copolymer, or vice versa. 
   The sealing stud may also be made of polypropylene, and the remainder of the closure cap may be made of a mixture of polypropylene and an elastomer, or vice versa. 
   In embodiments in which the lid is hinged onto the base portion, the closure cap may include at least one resilient strip connecting the lid to the base portion. 
   In exemplary embodiments, the portion in relief may be disposed facing a film-hinge connecting the lid to the base portion. 
   In exemplary embodiments, the sealing stud may include two portions in relief, one above the other along a longitudinal axis of the sealing stud, so as to generate two clicks. 
   Exemplary embodiments of the invention may also provide a receptacle fitted with such a closure cap. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention will be better understood on reading the following detailed description of non-limiting embodiments thereof, and on examining the accompanying drawings, in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a fragmentary, longitudinal cross sectional view of a known sealing stud; 
       FIG. 2  is a cross sectional view taken along II-II in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is a diagrammatic, perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a closure cap, the lid being open; 
       FIG. 4  is a plan view of the cap of  FIG. 3 ; 
       FIG. 5  is a cross sectional view in a mid-plane taken along V-V in  FIG. 4 ; 
       FIG. 6  is a larger-scale view of a detail VI in  FIG. 5 ; 
       FIG. 7  is a perspective view showing the sealing stud in isolation; 
       FIG. 8  is a fragmentary cross sectional view of the sealing stud of  FIG. 7 ; 
       FIG. 9  is a fragmentary and diagrammatic cross sectional view showing the sealing stud engaged inside the dispenser orifice when the lid is closed; 
       FIG. 10  is a view similar to  FIG. 7 , showing another exemplary embodiment of a sealing stud; 
       FIG. 11  is a view similar to  FIG. 8  showing the sealing stud of  FIG. 10 ; 
       FIG. 12  shows a tongue including two bumps, one above the other along a longitudinal axis of the sealing stud; 
       FIG. 13  is a view similar to  FIG. 3 , showing another exemplary embodiment; 
       FIG. 14  is a plan view of the cap of  FIG. 13 ; 
       FIG. 15  is a view from below showing, in isolation, the sealing stud of the cap of  FIGS. 13 and 14 ; 
       FIG. 16  is a fragmentary and diagrammatic axial cross sectional view showing the sealing stud after it has been inserted into the base portion of the cap; 
       FIG. 17  is a view similar to  FIG. 3 , showing another variant embodiment; 
       FIG. 18  is a plan view of the  FIG. 17  cap; 
       FIG. 19  is a view from below showing, in isolation, the sealing stud of the cap in  FIGS. 17 and 18 ; and 
       FIG. 20  is a fragmentary and diagrammatic axial section showing the sealing stud inserted into the base portion. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     FIGS. 1 and 2  show a sealing stud  102  of a known closure cap. The sealing stud  102  includes two diametrally opposite bumps  100  projecting from an outside surface  101  thereof. Each bump  100  extends over a 60° angular sector β around the longitudinal axis of the stud. In the section plane in  FIG. 2 , the tubular wall of the sealing stud has a constant thickness c outside the bumps  100 . 
   An exemplary closure cap  1  in accordance exemplary embodiments of the invention is shown in  FIGS. 3 to 9 . The closure cap  1  may comprise a base portion  2  for fixing onto a receptacle (not shown), and a lid  3  hinged onto the base portion  2  by a film-hinge  24 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 5 , for example, the base portion  2  may include a mounting skirt  5  arranged to snap-fasten on a neck of the receptacle. For this purpose, the mounting skirt  5  may include projections  6  on an inside surface thereof. 
   The base portion  2  may also include a first annular sealing lip  7  of axis X arranged to bear in a leaktight manner against an inside surface of the neck, and a second annular sealing lip  8  that is coaxial inside the first annular sealing lip  7  and that defines a dispenser orifice  10  through which the substance contained in the receptacle can be dispensed. 
   A top of the mounting skirt  5  and tops of the sealing lips  7  and  8  may be connected to a top wall  11  constituting a top of the base portion  2 . 
   The lid  3  may comprise a dish-shaped wall  14  that comes to cover the base portion  2  in the closed position, and a sealing stud  12  for closing the dispenser orifice  10  in a sealed manner. 
   A recess  13  may be formed on the base portion  5 , on the side that is opposite the film-hinge  24 , so as to make it easier for a user to lift up the lid  3  by a thumb, for example. 
   With reference to  FIGS. 6 to 8 , the sealing stud  12  may comprise a tubular wall of axis Y, said tubular wall being substantially perpendicular to the wall  14  of the lid  6 . On an outside surface  15  of said tubular wall, there may be a bump  16 , which, in the exemplary embodiment, may be in the shape of a portion of a sphere having an apparent thickness e that lies in a range of about 0.03 mm to about 0.3 mm, and, for example, about 0.1 mm. 
   As shown in  FIG. 5 , for example, the bump  16  may be preferably formed facing the film-hinge  24 . 
   The sealing stud  12  may include a groove  19  which extends along an inside surface  20 , parallel to the axis Y, and which defines a relatively thin region  18 . 
   The relatively thin region  18  may constitute a zone of the stud that is of increased deformability. The bump  16  may be situated in this zone. 
   A thickness a of the relatively thin region  18  may be less than an average thickness b of the tubular wall of the stud outside (excluding) the relatively thin region  18 . For example, the thickness a may be about b/2 or less than b/2. The thickness a may be about 0.25 mm, for example, and the thickness b may be about 0.6 mm. 
   In the vicinity of a free end  23  thereof, the sealing stud  12  may include a conical surface  22 , converging in a direction away from the wall  14  of the lid  3 . 
   The film-hinge  24  may be provided on either side of an elastically deformable strip  25 , which, by accumulating energy by elastic deformation, makes it possible to assist the closing and opening movements of the lid in a manner known per se. 
   The dispenser orifice  10  may include two portions: namely, a first portion  30  which opens out to the outside of the closure cap when the lid  3  is open; and, a second portion  31  that is wider than the first portion, and that opens out to the inside of the closure cap  1 . The two portions  30  and  31  may be interconnected, for example, by an annular shoulder  32  of the second sealing lip  8 . 
   When the lid  3  is in the closed position, the sealing stud  12  may bear in a sealed manner against the wall of the base portion in which the first portion  30  of the orifice is defined. 
   The bump  16  may be positioned on the sealing stud  12  in such a manner that it is then situated in the second portion  31 . As shown, the diameter of the second portion  31  may be large enough to prevent the bump  16  from coming substantially into contact with the second sealing lip  8 . Thus, the bump  16  may not be compressed against the second sealing lip  8 . 
   When the lid  3  is opened or closed, the bump  16  may clear the first portion  30  of the dispenser orifice  10  by elastic deformation of at least a portion of the relatively thin region  18 , thereby generating a click. 
   Exemplary embodiments of the invention make it possible to reduce the amount of wear on the bump  16  by reducing the stresses exerted thereon while the closure cap  1  is being used. Furthermore, as a result of the presence of the relatively thin region, the closure cap may be unmolded with less risk of damaging the bump  16 . 
   The zone of increased deformability may be provided in ways other than by a relatively thin region  18  of the sealing stud  12 . 
   For example,  FIGS. 10 to 12  show another exemplary embodiment which differs from the above-described embodiment by the absence of the relatively thin region  18 . The relatively thin region  18  may be is replaced by two slots  42  extending parallel to the axis Y as far as the free end  23  of the sealing stud  12 . The slots  42  may define a tongue  40  therebetween on which the bump  16  may be formed. 
   The tongue  40  may flex resiliently while the lid is being opened or closed so as to enable the bump  16  to clear the first portion  30 . 
   Naturally, the invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments described above. 
   The zone of increased deformability may be made in still other ways, for example, by making the relatively thin region by a groove extending along the outside of the sealing stud  12 . 
     FIGS. 13 to 16  show the possibility of making the sealing stud  12  with two diametrally opposite and substantially spherically-shaped bumps  16  projecting about 0.15 mm from the radially outside surface of the stud. In this exemplary embodiment, the diametral plane containing the tops of the two bumps  16  may be substantially perpendicular to the hinge pin of the lid  3 . 
   The bumps  16  may be formed on relatively thin regions  18  constituting the bottoms of grooves  19  formed in the radially inside surface of the stud  12 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 16 , the bumps  16  may come to be snap-fastened below the sealing lip  8  when the cap  1  is closed. 
     FIGS. 17 to 20  show the possibility of making the sealing stud  12  with a plurality of tongues  40 , for example, three tongues  40 , that are evenly distributed angularly around the longitudinal axis of the stud  12 . 
   Each tongue  40  may include, on a radially outside surface thereof, a step  50  serving to snap-fasten the stud  12  below the sealing lip  8 , as shown in  FIG. 20 . 
   The sealing stud  12  may also be made with two bumps  16 , one above the other along the axis Y, as shown in  FIG. 12 . The bumps  16  may be carried by the same tongue  40 , as shown in  FIG. 12 , or be formed on the same relatively thin region (not shown), for example. The presence of two superposed bumps  16  makes it possible to generate two clicks. 
   Where appropriate, the bump  16  may have an annular shape, and the zone of increased deformability may extend over one complete turn about the longitudinal axis of the sealing stud  12 . 
   The dispenser orifice may be formed by an annular lip that is outside the base portion, and the sealing stud may engage the inside or the outside of said annular lip. 
   The sealing cap may be made entirely of the same material, or may be made of at least two different materials, as described above. 
   Throughout the description, including in the claims, the term “comprising a” should be understood as being synonymous with “comprising at least one”, unless specified to the contrary. 
   Although the present invention herein has been described with reference to particular embodiments, it is to be understood that these embodiments are merely illustrative of the principles and applications of the present invention. It is therefore to be understood that numerous modifications may be made to the illustrative embodiments and that other arrangements may be devised without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.