Bottles and jars – Neck – Frangible neck
Reexamination Certificate
2000-11-27
2002-05-07
Young, Lee (Department: 3727)
Bottles and jars
Neck
Frangible neck
C215S050000, C215S250000, C215S253000, C215S296000, C220S266000, C220S270000, C220S276000, C222S154000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06382438
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to the manufacture of a molded plastic top comprising an outlet opening connected by a tearable ring-shaped part to a cover serving as an impervious stopper prior to breaking. In the case of multi-dose packaging, this cover is used for the recapping of the opening. The top may be affixed to the open end of any container the opening of which is to be hermetically sealed prior to initial use and then be covered by a cap between uses.
The implementation of such tops avoids manufacturing caps separately and positioning these on the containers through costly industrial means. Any container for which the cost of manufacture constitutes an essential factor is particularly affected by this invention. It specifically involves producing flexible tubes intended to contain health products for mass consumption or even producing small-size containers, holding samples of cosmetic, health or parapharmacy products, often distributed free of charge.
The invention thus relates to two quite distinct fields in mass distribution, but for which packaging cost is an essential factor: the supplying of the general-consumption product at the lowest price and the supplying of samples, of cosmetic products for example, free of charge.
STATE OF THE ART
In the field of products for mass consumption, it has been sought for a long time to develop economical tops for flexible tubes intended, for example, to contain tooth paste. With the tube described in FR-A-2,712,258, the applicant has developed a top for a tube having a cover in the form of an easily-tearable inverted cap. The neck has a thick, ring-shaped inner rim which defines its opening and, on the other side of the tearable ring-shaped part, the part blocking the opening of the neck extends outward, forming a thick base which is joined to an outer cylindrical skirt.
Even if it resolves the economic problem initially posed, the tube according to FR 2,712,258 cannot be used completely under satisfactory conditions of convenience, cleanliness and hygiene. As a matter of fact, the product which was in contact with the surface of the cover is, immediately upon tearing of the ring-shaped part, on top of what has become a cap, which compels the user to begin by washing this cap if he does not wish to soil his hands. Moreover, this tube being intended for lower-cost distribution is not individually protected by an overwrap. Thus it is directly exposed to the open air in warehouses or on shelves and, in the course of this storage, the cover in the form of an inverted cap is likely to collect dust which adheres to the inner surface of the outer cylindrical skirt.
When the cover is used as a cap after tearing, this inner surface enters directly into contact with the outer surface of the neck, which itself has been exposed to dust throughout the storage period of the tube. There is a significant risk of tainting of the product which is close to the opening of the neck, which is prejudicial to the conditions of cleanliness customarily expected from the use of a tube, and in certain cases even may lead to non-conformity with health standards, since there is risk of product contamination.
In the second field of application, that of containers for samples, cosmetic-product samples currently are largely presented in the form of simple packets, difficult to tear and non-reusable. Unlike these simple packets, the contemplated sample is a true container, easy to uncap and reusable several times. In addition, it offers the advantage of having a form close to the packaging of the product actually marketed. Containers for samples certainly exist at the present time, but their embodiment does not differ from that of the commercial container: it requires separate manufacturing of the container and the cap, with a specific costly tamper-proofing device. The cost of manufacture of such containers for samples is justified only in the luxury trade. Now, it is sought here to propose containers for cosmetic-product samples for mass distribution, or even for small amounts of health or grooming products offered in the hotel trade.
Whether flexible tubes or containers for samples are involved, it thus is a question of producing them at a lower costs, whatever their form or material, but meeting the following criteria: preserving the cleanliness of the product contained at all times, in storage as well as in dispensing through the opening; having a tamper-proofing indicator and a cover reusable as a cap after tearing.
PROBLEM POSED
The applicant thus has sought to produce an economical top for a flexible tube or for any other container, easy to attach to the flexible tube or the container, comprising a neck always protected from dust, provided with a tamper-proofing indicator and topped with a cover which, after easy tearing, may be used as a cap sealing the tube hermetically and efficiently all throughout its use.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
An initial purpose of the invention relates to a manufacturing process which results in the production of a top provided with at least a skirt, this either alone or attached to the main portion of a cap, being joined permanently by a ratchet mechanism on the top, near the cover.
This process comprises a step for manufacturing of the plastic top by any known molding technique (injection, compression, etc...), the top comprising an open end intended to be attached subsequently to the open end of the container or the flexible tube and comprising at its other end a neck the outlet opening of which is joined by a tearable ring-shaped part to a cover serving as an impervious stopper prior to breaking and then being used for recapping of the opening. The process also comprises a step for manufacturing of a plastic skirt by any known molding technique, the skirt being able to be alone or integral with a complete cap, and it is characterized in that:
said cover is extended beyond the outer surface of the neck by a plate the periphery of which is defined by a contour which has a common axis of symmetry with said tearable ring-shaped portion and is provided with at least three lugs;
said skirt is open at one end and its inner surface is at least partially cylindrical, its section following the exact shape of the periphery, except for the lugs, of the plate extending from the cover, the cylindrical portion of the inner surface being provided with at least three cavities intended to accommodate said lugs;
after formation of the top and the skirt, said skirt is guided along with respect to said plate, then drawn by its first end around same to the point of immobilization, this being brought about by the insertion of the lugs on the plate into the cavities on the inner surface of the skirt.
The top is molded with a lower central mold which defines its inner surface and a set of upper molds, central and peripheral, which define its outer surface. The top is composed of a shoulder and a neck. The shoulder has an open end intended to be attached by any known means to the open end of the container. If the latter is a flexible-tube body or any other container of a plastic compatible in fusion with the plastic of the top, fastening is achieved preferably by fusion: overmolding, mold compression, thermal welding, high-frequency or any other suitable welding method. If the container is another material, glass, metal or a plastic not compatible in fusion, fastening may be effected by gluing but, preferably, the shoulder is extended by joining means complementary to those of the container, such as screwing means or a ratchet mechanism.
The neck has any form whatever. It possesses, near the opening, a ring-shaped inner rim, delimited on its upper end by a tearable ring-shaped part which connects it to a cover topping the neck opening.
The plate, located in the extension of the cover, is molded in continuity of material with the latter. The plate and the cover extend appreciably perpendicularly to the axis of the opening. The peripheral contour of the plate, except for the lugs, embodies the outer contour of the upper section o
Meausoone Jean-Paul
Schneider Bernard
Cebal SA
Hylton Robin
Oblon & Spivak, McClelland, Maier & Neustadt P.C.
Young Lee
LandOfFree
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