Abstract:
A stopping device, comprising a stopper and a plastic cap to cover a container&#39;s neck with the stopper in the neck, the cap comprising a cover and a ring surrounding the stopper and the neck when mounted onto the neck, the ring and cover being produced as a single component connected by at least one part breakable by a force parallel to a central axis of the ring directed towards the stopper, the cover having an element resting against the stopper, the breakable part having bridges extending between an outer radial edge of the cover and an inner radial edge of the ring, and a channel in an arc of a circle defined between two adjacent bridges, the length of the cover&#39;s outer radial edge and the length of the rings inner radial edge, the channel having radial width smaller than 0.3 mm and axial height more than 0.15 mm.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority benefit under 35 U.S.C. §371 to International Patent Application No. PCT/EP2012/060788 entitled STOPPING DEVICE AND CONTAINER COMPRISING SUCH A DEVICE, and filed by inventor Antoine Aneas on Jun. 7, 2012. International Patent Application No. PCT/EP2012/060788 claims priority to French Patent Application No. 11 55015, filed by inventor Antoine Aneas on Jun. 8, 2011. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to a stopping device for a container, said device comprising a stopper provided to close the neck of the container, as well as a cap. The invention also relates to a container, for example a medicine bottle, equipped with such a stopping device. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In the field of medicine containers, it is known to use a glass bottle to store an active ingredient in freeze-dried, powdered or liquid solution form. Such a bottle must be closed sealably so as to keep its contents under satisfactory storage conditions, until its use-by date. To hermetically seal such a bottle, it is known to use a stopping device that comprises a cylindrical stopper made from elastomer provided to close the neck of the bottle. The purpose of the stopper is to ensure the most complete sealing possible against gases, liquids and bacteria. It is known to combine such a stopper with a metal capsule with a membrane. The container is opened by tearing the metal capsule by pulling on the membrane. This may be problematic inasmuch as the metal capsule, which is most often made from aluminum, may break, which requires that it be removed by hand, resulting in a risk of cutting and, most often, the use of the small disassembly tool. 
     It is known from WO-A 94/04424 to use a plastic capsule that is intended to be immobilized around the stopper to isolate it from the outside. The multi-part structure of this known device makes it expensive. Furthermore, the capsule limits access to the stopper, which cannot be removed, unless the capsule is destroyed, which is not the normal operation of the device. 
     It is known from WO-A-2008/129144 to use a cover secured to a key for maneuvering a ring intended to be locked on the neck of a glass bottle. This cover is removed by lateral tearing when one wishes to access the contents of the bottle. This maneuver may be delicate for an inexperienced user or an elderly person. 
     Furthermore, DE-A-195 32 980 teaches forming a continuous rupture line between a cover and a ring belonging to the cap of a stopping device. This continuous line may be difficult for an inexperienced user or an elderly person. 
     SUMMARY 
     The invention more particularly aims to resolve these drawbacks by proposing a new stopping device that is particularly simple and intuitive to use and that allows, inter alia, quick and easy removal of the cover for easy access to the contents of a container. 
     To that end, the invention relates to a stopping device for a container provided with a neck, said device comprising a stopper and a plastic cap able to cover both the neck and the stopper placed in that neck, the cap comprising a ring, capable of surrounding the stopper and the neck in the mounted configuration and being provided with means for locking on the neck, as well as with a cover. The ring and the cover are made as a single component and connected by at least one part that is breakable using a force parallel to a central axis of the ring and oriented toward the stopper, while the cover is equipped with an element bearing against the stopper. This stopping device is characterized in that the breakable part is formed by bridges that extend radially between an outer radial edge of the cover and an inner radial edge of the ring, in that an arc-of-circle-shaped lumen is defined between two adjacent bridges, along the outer radial edge of the cover and the inner radial edge of the ring, and in that said lumen has a radial width smaller than 0.3 mm and an axial height greater than 0.15 mm. 
     Owing to the invention, the stopper is particularly easy to remove, since it suffices to exert a force thereon oriented toward the stopper, i.e., in practice toward the bottom of a bottle equipped with the stopping device, to break the bridges of the breakable zone. Furthermore, since the cover rests against the stopper owing to its bearing element, the cover undergoes an elastic deformation force by the stopper, which makes it possible to eject the cover from the ring of the cap easily once the breakable part is broken, thereby freeing access to the stopper. The invention uses an atypical approach in the field of medicament packaging, where users are accustomed to covers that can be removed by a lateral force (called “flip off” covers), a pulling force (called “tear off” covers) or a rotational force (in the case of a screw cap). On the contrary, the removal of the inventive stopper requires only a thrust force toward the bottom of the cover, which is particularly simple to do. Furthermore, the dimensions of the lumen defined between two adjacent bridges prevent any fraudulent manipulation of the contents of the container before the cover is removed. In fact, these dimensions are incompatible with the insertion of a needle from the outside of the stopping device into the neck of the container. Lastly, connecting the cover to the ring by bridges makes it possible to calibrate the axial force necessary to break them, with a value lower than that needed to break a continuous line, which makes the cover easier to remove. 
     According to advantageous but optional aspects of the invention, such a stopping device may incorporate one or more of the following features, considered in any technically allowable combination:
         Each bridge has a favored break zone that is closer to the attachment zone of the bridge on the ring than the attachment zone of the bridge on the cover.   The locking means comprise teeth each defining a locking surface perpendicular to a central axis and the ring and intended to bear against a surface of a collar outside the neck.   An annular part of the ring, which covers an upper surface of the stopper in the configuration where the stopping device is mounted on the container, is pierced with passage openings for pins to strip the locking surfaces from the teeth.   The transverse section of a passage opening of a stripping pin has an area larger than the area of the locking surface situated across from that opening, in a direction parallel to the central axis of the ring.   Each tooth defines a surface sliding against the collar, that surface being in the form of a tapered cone portion and diverging opposite the cover relative to the central axis of the ring.   The bridges have an axial thickness, measured parallel to the central axis of the cover, comprised between 0.1 mm and 0.3 mm, preferably between 0.2 mm and 0.25 mm.   The cover extends, along the central axis of the ring, protruding relative to one edge of the ring opposite the locking means. Preferably, the cover extends, relative to the aforementioned edge of the ring, over an axial height greater than or equal to two times the axial thickness of the bridges, preferably greater than or equal to three times that thickness, still more preferably equal to four times that thickness.   The bearing element of the cover on the stopper is formed by a pin that extends, along the central axis of the cover, toward the stopper, until coming into contact therewith.   In the configuration where the stopping device is mounted on the container, the bearing element of the cover exerts a force on the stopper causing elastic deformation of the central part of the stopper aligned on the neck of the container.   When the bridges break, the stopper exerts an elastic force on the bearing element causing ejection of the stopper, said elastic force resulting from the elastic deformation force of the central part of the stopper previously exerted by the bearing element.   The cover is connected by the breakable part to an annular part of the ring that is perpendicular to a skirt of said ring, intended to surround the neck of the container and equipped with locking means, while the annular part is provided with at least one opening and each opening is bordered, on the side of the stopper, by a rib intended to penetrate the surface of the stopper, radially on the inside of the opening.       

     The invention also relates to a container, in particular a medicament bottle, that is equipped with a stopping device as described above. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention will be better understood and other advantages thereof will appear more clearly upon reading the following description of one embodiment of a stopping device and a container according to its principle, provided solely as an example and done in reference to the appended drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a medicine bottle provided with a stopping device according to the invention, 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view, with a partial cutaway, of the upper part of the bottle of  FIG. 1 , 
         FIG. 3  is a partial cross-sectional view along plane III of  FIG. 2  and shows intrusion attempts on the bottle, 
         FIG. 4  is a partial cross-sectional view along plane IV of  FIG. 2 , 
         FIG. 5  is an exploded axial cross-sectional view, in the same plane as  FIG. 3 , of the stopping device alone, 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the cap of the device of  FIG. 5 , from a first angle, 
         FIG. 7  is a view of the cap of  FIG. 6  from another angle, 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the cover, after it has been separated from the ring, 
         FIG. 9  is a bottom view of the bottle of  FIG. 1 , on the scale of  FIG. 3 , where III-III and IV-IV show the cutting planes of  FIGS. 3 and 4 , 
         FIGS. 10 to 13  show several successive steps of the use of the bottle from the preceding figures, and 
         FIG. 14  is an illustration comparable to  FIG. 12  that corresponds to another manner of using the bottle. 
     
    
    
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                 Table of elements in the figures 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 Element 
                 Description 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 1 
                 bottle 
               
               
                   
                 X1 
                 axis of symmetry of bottle 
               
               
                   
                 11 
                 bottleneck 
               
               
                   
                 12 
                 neck of bottle 
               
               
                   
                 13 
                 collar of bottle 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 132 
                   
                 upper surface of collar 
               
               
                   
                 134 
                   
                 lower surface of collar 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 14 
                 bottom of bottle 
               
               
                   
                 20 
                 device (stopper + cap) 
               
               
                   
                 21 
                 stopper 
               
               
                   
                 X21 
                 axis of symmetry of stopper 
               
               
                   
                 211 
                 disc-shaped plate 
               
               
                   
                 212 
                 hollow rod 
               
               
                   
                 213 
                 upper surface of stopper 
               
               
                   
                 214 
                 part of stopper 
               
               
                   
                 24 
                 cap (ring + cover) 
               
               
                   
                 25 
                 ring 
               
               
                   
                 X25 
                 central axis of ring 
               
               
                   
                 251A  
                 outer peripheral skirt of ring: inner surface 
               
               
                   
                 251B  
                 outer peripheral skirt of ring: outer surface 
               
               
                   
                 H251  
                 axial height of skirt 
               
               
                   
                 253A  
                 tooth: locking surface 
               
               
                   
                 253B  
                 tooth: sliding surface 
               
               
                   
                 254 
                 annular part of ring 
               
               
                   
                 255 
                 opening 
               
               
                   
                 256 
                 orifice 
               
               
                   
                 d256  
                 diameter of orifice 
               
               
                   
                 257 
                 edge of ring 
               
               
                   
                 258 
                 upper annular surface of ring 
               
               
                   
                 259 
                 rib 
               
               
                   
                 26 
                 cover 
               
               
                   
                 D26 
                 maximum outer diameter of cover 
               
               
                   
                 X26 
                 central axis of cover 
               
               
                   
                 261 
                 outer radial edge of cover 
               
               
                   
                 262 
                 pin 
               
               
                   
                 268 
                 surface of cover opposite pin 
               
               
                   
                 27 
                 bridge 
               
               
                   
                 e27 
                 axial thickness of bridge 
               
               
                   
                 271 
                 base of bridge 
               
               
                   
                 28 
                 arc-of-circle-shaped lumen 
               
               
                   
                 I28 
                 width of lumen 
               
               
                   
                 H28 
                 axial height of lumen 
               
               
                   
                 200 
                 pipette 
               
               
                   
                 300A/B/C 
                 needle 
               
               
                   
                 E1, E1′, E2 
                 force 
               
               
                   
                 H 
                 protrusion of cover beyond surface of ring 
               
               
                   
                 S 
                 horizontal planar surface 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The bottle  1  shown in the figures is made from glass and comprises a bottleneck  11  defined by a neck  12  having an outer collar  13 . X 1  denotes the axis of symmetry of the bottle  1 , which is also a central axis of the neck  12  and the collar  13 . The bottom of the bottle  1  opposite the neck  11  is denoted  14 . Reference  132  and  134  denote the surfaces of the collar  13  oriented across from the bottom  14  and toward said bottom, respectively. In other words, the surfaces  132  and  134  respectively make up the upper and lower surfaces of the collar  13  when the bottle  1  rests by its bottom  14  on a horizontal planar surface S, as shown in  FIGS. 10 to 13 . 
     When the bottle  1  is to be filled, a pipette  200  is inserted therein, through its bottleneck  11 , as shown in  FIG. 10 . When a predetermined quantity of product has been inserted into the bottle  1 , the pipette  200  is removed and a stopping device  20  is placed on the neck  12 . The device  20  comprises an elastomer stopper  21  with a shape suitable for being partially inserted into the bottleneck  11 , while resting on the face  132  of the collar  13 . The stopper  21  is a single component and comprises a disc-shaped plate  211  intended to rest on the surface  132  as well as a hollow rod  212  intended to penetrate the bottleneck  11 . Once placed on the neck  12 , the stopper  21  isolates the contents of the bottle  1  from the outside. X 21  denotes a central axis of symmetry of the stopper  21 . In the configuration where the stopper  21  is assembled on the bottle  1 , the axes X 1  and X 21  are superimposed. 
     The device  20  also comprises a cap  24  intended to cover and isolate the stopper  21  and the neck  12  from the outside in the closed configuration of the stopping device. 
     The cap  24  comprises a ring  25  and a cover  26  that are molded together and form a single component as cap  24 . In other words, continuous material exists between the elements  25  and  26 , within the cap  24 . 
     The ring  25  is provided with five locking teeth  253  below the surface  134  of the collar  13 . 
     Reference  251  denotes an outer peripheral skirt of the ring  25 , and X 25  denotes a central axis of that ring. This skirt is equipped, on its inner radial surface  251 A, with teeth  253  with a triangular section. Each tooth  253  defines a locking surface  253 A perpendicular to the axis X 25  and intended to bear against the surface  134  when the cap  24  is placed around the neck  12  of the bottle  1 . Each tooth  253  also defines a sliding surface  253 B that is provided to slide over a junction zone between the surface  132  and the outer radial surface of the collar  13  when the cap  24  is placed on the neck  12 . 
     During that placement, the skirt  251  expands radially, elastically, when the teeth  253  pass by the collar  13 , along the axis X 1 , before the teeth  253  are locked below the collar  13 , the surfaces  253 A then arriving across from the surface  134  of the collar  13 . Thus, the teeth  253  form the locking means of the ring  25  on the neck  12  of the bottle  1 . The surfaces  253 B are in the shape of a tapered cone portion and diverge downward, which ensures that the elastic radial expansion of the skirt  251  upon passage of the collar  13  is gradual. 
     Reference  254  denotes the annular part of the ring  25  that partially covers the upper surface  213  of the stopper  21  in the configuration where the device  20  is mounted on the bottle  1 , i.e., the surface of the plate  211  opposite the rod  212 . The part  254  is perpendicular to the skirt  251  and is pierced with five passage openings  255  for a molding drawer of the surfaces  253 A. The surface  213  is accessible through those openings  255 . 
     Each opening  255  has, in transverse section relative to the axis X 25 , an area sufficient to allow the passage of stripping pins for the locking surfaces  253 A of the teeth  253 . This area is therefore larger than the area of the surface  253 A positioned across from the opening  255 , in a direction parallel to the axis X 25 . 
     The cover  26  is circular and centered on an axis X 26  that is combined with the axis X 25  when the elements  25  and  26  of the cap  24  are secured. Reference  261  denotes the outer radial edge of the cover  26 , and D 26  denotes its maximum outer diameter. 
     The part  254  is provided with a circular central orifice  256  centered on the axis X 25  and whereof the diameter is denoted d 256 . 
     The diameter D 26  is strictly smaller than the diameter d 256  and the edge  261  is positioned, along combined axes X 25  and X 26 , at the height of the edge  257  of the part  254  that defines the orifice  256 , radially inside that edge. 
     During the manufacture of the cap  24  in a single-component piece, the elements  25  and  26  are connected by four bridges  27  that extend, radially relative to the axes X 25  and X 26 , between the edges  261  and  257 , and which are in the shape of a trapezoid with their smallest base  271  on the side of the edge  257 . 
     The cover  26  also comprises a pin  262  centered on the axis X 26  and turned toward the edge  251 B of the skirt  251  situated near the teeth  253 . In other words, the pin  262  is turned toward the stopper  21  in the mounted configuration of the device  20 . 
     Reference e 27  denotes the axial thickness of the bridges  27 , i.e., the thickness measured parallel to the axis X 26 . This thickness e 27  is chosen so that the bridges  27  can be broken under the effect of a force E 1  parallel to the axes X 25  and X 26  and oriented toward the stopper  21 , i.e., toward the bottom  14  of a bottle  1  on which the device  20  is mounted. In practice, the value of the thickness e 27  is chosen between 0.1 mm and 0.3 mm, preferably between 0.2 mm and 0.25 mm to allow effective immobilization of the cover  26  relative to the ring  25  before breaking of the bridges, and easy breaking under the effect of an axial force, when necessary. 
     Thus, when the device  20  has been placed on the bottle  1 , i.e., when the configuration of  FIGS. 1 to 4 and 12  is present, it is possible to exert a force E 1  on the stopper  26 , which results in a shearing force on the bridges  27 , which break at their respective small bases  271 . 
       FIGS. 2 to 4  show that, in the configuration where the device  20  is mounted on the bottle  1 , the pin  262  of the cover  26  exerts a force deforming the central part  214  of the plate  211  situated across from the hollow inner volume of the rod  212 . This deformation is elastic, such that when the bridges  27  are broken, an elastic force E 2  exerted by the stopper  21  on the pin  262  of the cover  26  ejects the latter from the orifice  256 . In other words, the user is not required to pull on the cover  26  to separate it from the parts  21  and  24  of the device  20 , which remain in place on the bottle  1 , since the elastic force E 2  performs that function. It will be noted that the force E 2  exists before breaking of the bridges  27 , since the pin  262  elastically deforms the part  214  when the device  20  is placed on the bottle  1 , which uses an approach different from that of DE-A-195 32 980, where, before the breakable zone is broken, the cover does not deform the stopper. By manipulating the dimensions of the pin  262 , it is possible to calibrate the elastic deformation of the part  214  before breaking the bridges, and as a result, to calibrate the intensity of the force E 2 . 
     Reference  258  denotes the upper annular surface of the part  254 . This surface  258  constitutes the edge of the ring  25  that is opposite the locking teeth  253 . In the mounted configuration of the device  20 , as in particular shown in  FIGS. 2 to 4 , the cover  26  protrudes beyond the surface  258  relative to the ring  25  over a height H measured parallel to the axis X 26  that is at least two times larger than the thickness e 27 . 
     Reference  268  further denotes the surface of the cover  26  that is opposite the pin  262 . The surface is planar over an annular part, with a central recess corresponding to the base of the pin  262 . 
     In practice, the force E 1  is exerted on the cover  26  until the annular part of the surface  268  and the surface  258  is brought to the same axial level, along the axes X 25  and X 26 , which are then superimposed. This causes a sudden and definite break of the bridges  27  inasmuch as this corresponds to an axial movement of the cover  26  over the height H that is at least two times greater than the thickness e 27 . In fact, the bridges  27  cannot withstand a shearing force causing a movement two times greater than the thickness. In practice, the value 2 of the ratio H/e 27  is increased by a safety coefficient, such that that ratio is greater than or equal to three. Particularly satisfactory results may be obtained with a ratio H/e 27  equal to four. 
     As emerges more particularly from  FIG. 9 , four arc-of-circle-shaped lumens  28  are defined between the edges  261  and  257 , between two adjacent bridges  27 . Before removing the cover  26 , these lumens constitute the only non-solid part of the orifice  256 . Reference l 28  denotes the width of these lumens measured, between the edges  261  and  257 , radially relative to the axes X 25  and X 26 . H 28  denotes the axial height of these lumens measured parallel to the axes X 25  and X 26 . 
     These dimensions l 28  and H 28  are chosen so as to prevent the insertion of a slender tool, such as the needle  300 A of a hypodermic syringe, into one of the lumens  28 , in a position making it possible to access the contents of the bottle  1  without removing the cover  26 . To that end, the width en is chosen to be smaller than 0.3 mm, preferably equal to 0.2 mm, while the height H 28  is chosen to be greater than 0.15 mm, preferably equal to 0.2 mm. As shown in  FIG. 3 , a needle  300 A can only be inserted in a direction globally parallel to the axes X 25  and X 26 , in which position it abuts against the surface  132  if it has been driven deeply into the plate  211 . 
     To protect the contents of the bottle  1  from a fraudulent manipulation attempt as well, each opening  255  is bordered, radially on the inside and on the side opposite the surface  258 , by a rib  259  that superficially penetrates the surface  213 . Thus, as shown in the upper left part of  FIG. 3 , inserting a needle  300 B into one of the openings  255  does not make it possible to access the contents of the bottle  1 , through the inner stopper  21 , whereas the openings each have a transverse section with a relatively large area for the passage of the stripping pins, as explained above. It will be understood that the issue of protecting the contents of the bottle  1  from fraudulent manipulation using the needle  300 B is related to the existence and the size of the openings  255 , which are necessary to mold the surfaces  253 A of the teeth  253 , which constitute the means for effective locking on the neck  12 , unlike the bead known from DE-A-195 32 980. In other words, the presence and the function of the ribs  259  indirectly results from the use of the teeth  253 . 
     Furthermore, the axial height H 251  of the skirt  251 , in the part thereof that protrudes below the surface  134 , is chosen as a function of the dimensions of the neck  12  such that the annular space E that remains between the edge  251 B and the body of the bottle  1  only allows the insertion of a needle  300 C in a position where it abuts against the neck  12 , without any possibility of acting on the teeth  253 . This thereby prevents fraudulent manipulation by preventing a dishonest user from removing the ring  25  from the neck  12 . 
     Thus, once placed on the neck  12 , the device  20  guarantees the integrity of the contents of the bottle  1 . 
     The operation of the device  20  is as follows: 
     When this device is placed on the bottle  1  and after the stopper  21  and the cap  24  are placed on the bottle  1 , as shown by arrows F 1  and F 2  in  FIG. 11 , and when a force E 1  is exerted parallel to the axes X 25  and X 26  and bringing the annular part of the surface  268  to the surface  258 , the bridges  27  are broken, without having to exert a rotational or pulling force, and the configuration of  FIG. 13  is achieved where the cover  26  is separated from the ring  25 , allowing access to the upper surface  213  of the stopper  21 , through the orifice  256 . 
     The separation of the cover  26  from the bottle  1  occurs owing to the elastic force E 2  exerted on the cover by the stopper  21 . 
     After removal of the cover, it is possible to use the needle of a syringe to inject a liquid into the bottle for reconstituting a medicament, then to withdraw the reconstituted medicament. 
     Alternatively, and as shown in  FIG. 14 , it is possible to place the bottle  1  equipped with the device  20  upside down on the planar surface  2  and to exert a force E 1 ′ oriented toward the surface Son the bottom  14  of the bottle  1 . This also results in moving the cover  26  toward the stopper  1  and breaking the bridges. The second manner of applying the force on the cover  26  amounts to using a reaction force E 1  exerted by the surface S on which the device  20  rests to break the bridges  27 . 
     The material used to mold the cap  24  may be a polyoxyethylene or a polypropylene, and it is chosen to cause a clean break at the small bases  271  of the bridges  27 . 
       FIG. 13  shows that, since the small bases  271  of the bridges  27  are situated on the edge  257 , the bridge  27  does not allow any irregularities to remain on that edge after the stopper  26  is removed. 
     According to one alternative of the invention that is not shown, the favored breaks zones of the bridges  27  may be formed not in contact with the edge  257 , but at a small radial distance therefrom. In practice, the radial distance between these favored breaks zones and the edge  257  is smaller than the radial distance between these favored breaks zones and the fastening zones of the bridges  27  on the edge  261 . This relationship is also verified in the case shown in the figures, since in that case, the axial distance between the small bases  271  and the edge  257  is zero, therefore smaller than the radial length of the bridges  27 . 
     The number of bridges used in the invention is not necessarily equal to four. It is chosen based on the desired resistance to the pushing in force of the cover  26  against the elastic force E 2 . 
     Alternatively, irrespective of the number of bridges  27 , said bridges may be replaced by a continuous breakable zone, in the form of a membrane.