Closure device for a carbody, provided with retaining and catching means for a cast or moulded joint, and method for making same

Abstract

The invention concerns a closure device for a carboy designed for a liquid dispenser of the water fountain type. The device comprises a cap ( 3 ) including a transverse wall ( 5 ) wherefrom projects an outer skirt ( 6 ). The transverse wall has, on its inner surface ( 29 ), an annular groove ( 30 ) coaxial with the cap, delimited by two ribs ( 31, 32 ) projecting from the transverse wall. The groove is designed to receive a cast or moulded joint ( 34 ), and to prevent the displacement thereof parallel to the transverse wall. The groove can also include on its inner surface means for catching said joint.

1 . A stopper device for a bottle comprising a neck ( 1 ) provided with an external protrusion ( 2 ) at its free end part and intended for a liquid dispenser of the water fountain type, the said device comprising a cap ( 3 ) made from plastics material comprising a transverse end wall ( 5 ) from which a substantially cylindrical external skirt ( 6 ) projects, provided with an internal rim ( 8 ) for attachment behind the rim ( 2 ) on the neck ( 1 ) of the bottle, characterised in that the transverse wall ( 5 ) has, on its internal face ( 29 ), an annular groove ( 30 ) with its axis substantially merged with the axis ( 4 ) of the said cap ( 3 ), delimited by two ribs ( 31 ,  32 ) projecting substantially perpendicular to the said transverse wall ( 5 ), the said groove ( 30 ) being situated, when the device is mounted on the neck ( 1 ) of the bottle, opposite the rim ( 33 ) of the said neck ( 1 ), and being intended to receive a cast or moulded seal ( 34 ) and to prevent the movement thereof parallel to the transverse wall ( 5 ).  
     
     
         2 . A stopper device according to  claim 1 , characterised in that it also comprises a substantially cylindrical internal shaft ( 7 ), projecting from the transverse end wall ( 5 ) in the same direction as the external skirt ( 6 ) so that the groove ( 30 ) is situated between the skirt ( 6 ) and the shaft ( 7 ), the said shaft ( 7 ) being intended to receive a take-off cannula ( 25 ) provided on the dispenser so as to come to fit in the shaft ( 7 ) from the transverse end wall ( 5 ) of the cap ( 3 ), when the bottle is placed on the dispenser, and in that it comprises a tamper-evident cover ( 20 ) moulded in a single piece with the cap ( 3 ) and situated at the beginning of the shaft ( 7 ), on the transverse wall ( 5 ) side, so as to close off the shaft ( 7 ), the said cover ( 20 ) being intended to be irremediably and visibly destroyed when the take-off cannula ( 25 ) is fitted in the shaft ( 7 ).  
     
     
         3 . A stopper device according to  claim 1  or  2 , characterised in that the axial height of the ribs ( 31 ,  32 ) is less than the thickness of the seal ( 34 ) when it is not compressed.  
     
     
         4 . A stopper device according to any one of  claims 1  to  3 , characterised in that the ends of the two ribs ( 31 ,  32 ) are offset axially with respect to each other.  
     
     
         5 . A stopper device according to any one of  claims 1  to  4 , characterised in that a first rib ( 31 ) is situated axially, with respect to the axis of the cap ( 3 ), substantially two thirds of the way across the diameter of the said cap ( 3 ), a second rib ( 32 ) being situated substantially at the same distance from the axis ( 4 ) of the cap ( 3 ) as the internal end of the internal protrusion ( 8 ) on the skirt ( 6 ).  
     
     
         6 . A stopper device according to any one of  claims 1  to  5 , characterised in that the groove ( 30 ) comprises, on its internal face, at least one means of attaching the said seal ( 34 ), thus preventing the movement of the seal ( 34 ) out of the groove ( 30 ).  
     
     
         7 . A stopper device according to  claim 6 , characterised in that the groove ( 30 ) comprises, on its internal face, at least one projection ( 35 ,  37 ) forming an attachment means for the said seal ( 34 ).  
     
     
         8 . A stopper device according to  claim 7 , characterised in that at least one rib ( 31 ,  32 ) comprises a projection ( 35 ) extending substantially radially towards the inside of the groove ( 30 ).  
     
     
         9 . A stopper device according to  claim 8 , characterised in that the axial height of the projection ( 35 ) decreases from the rib ( 31 ,  32 ) as far as the end of the said projection ( 35 ), so as to form a spike able to penetrate the seal ( 34 ).  
     
     
         10 . A stopper device according to any one of  claims 7  to  9 , characterised in that the projection ( 35 ) is situated towards the free end part of the rib ( 31 ,  32 ).  
     
     
         11 . A stopper device according to any one of  claims 7  to  10 , characterised in that each of the two ribs ( 31 ,  32 ) comprises a projection ( 35 ) extending substantially radially towards the inside of the groove ( 30 ).  
     
     
         12 . A stopper device according to  claim 7 , characterised in that the bottom ( 36 ) of the groove ( 30 ) comprises at least one projection ( 37 ) extending substantially axially towards the inside of the cap ( 3 ).  
     
     
         13 . A stopper device according to  claim 12 , characterised in that the projection ( 37 ) comprises at least one face inclined by an acute angle with respect to the axis ( 4 ) of the cap ( 3 ) so that, when the seal ( 34 ) is placed in the groove ( 30 ), at least one area of the said seal ( 34 ) is included in an attachment area ( 41 ) situated, axially, between the bottom ( 36 ) of the groove ( 30 ) and part of the said projection ( 37 ).  
     
     
         14 . A stopper device according to  claim 12  or  13 , characterised in that the projection ( 37 ) has, in axial section, the shape of at least one trapezium whose large base is situated towards the free end of the said projection ( 37 ).  
     
     
         15 . A stopper device according to  claim 14 , characterised in that the said trapezium has an axis of symmetry ( 40 ) substantially parallel to the axis ( 4 ) of the cap ( 3 ).  
     
     
         16 . A stopper device according to any one of  claims 12  to  15 , characterised in that the axial height of the projection ( 37 ) is less than the axial height of the ribs ( 31 ,  32 ).  
     
     
         17 . A stopper device according to any one of  claims 7  to  16 , characterised in that the projection ( 35 ,  37 ) is annular, the axis of the said projection ( 35 ,  37 ) being substantially merged with the axis ( 4 ) of the cap ( 3 ).  
     
     
         18 . A stopper device according to  claim 6 , characterised in that the internal face of the groove ( 30 ) comprises localised reliefs such as serrations, roughnesses or equivalent, forming an attachment means for the said seal ( 34 ).  
     
     
         19 . An assembly comprising a stopper device according to any one of  claims 1  to  18  and a seal ( 34 ) placed in the groove ( 30 ) in the transverse wall ( 5 ) of the said cap ( 3 ), the seal ( 34 ) being put in place by casting or moulding.  
     
     
         20 . An assembly comprising a stopper device according to any one of  claims 1  to  18 , a seal ( 34 ) placed in the groove ( 30 ) in the transverse wall ( 5 ) of the said cap ( 3 ), the seal ( 34 ) having been put in place by casting or moulding, and a bottle, the said bottle being empty or at least partially filled with a certain content.  
     
     
         21 . An assembly according to  claim 20 , characterised in that, when the cap ( 3 ) is mounted on the neck ( 1 ) of the bottle, the groove ( 30 ) is situated opposite the rim ( 33 ) of the said neck ( 1 ), the seal ( 34 ) being compressed, in the groove ( 30 ), between the transverse wall ( 5 ) of the cap ( 3 ) and the rim ( 33 ) of the neck ( 1 ) of the bottle.  
     
     
         22 . A method for producing an assembly according to  claim 19 , characterised in that the seal ( 34 ) is cast in the groove ( 30 ) in the cap ( 3 ), the said cap ( 3 ) having previously been injection moulded.  
     
     
         23 . A method for producing an assembly according to  claim 19 , characterised in that the cap ( 3 ) and the seal ( 34 ) are produced by bi-injection moulding.