Device for closing a container neck, container equipped with such a device and process for manufacturing such a device

Abstract

This closure device comprises a removable closure for closing the neck of the container and a sealing piece adapted to be applied in tight abutment on the pouring edge of the neck by the closure. The sealing piece defines, on its side intended to be turned towards the pouring edge, a first surface for tight abutment on the pouring edge and, on the opposite side, a second surface for pressing abutment of the closure, the respective contact properties of these first and second bearing surfaces being adapted to provoke, upon application of an effort of pressure on the sealing piece by the closure, a rotational connection of the sealing piece and of the neck at the level of the first bearing surface and a sliding contact between the sealing piece and the closure at the level of the second bearing surface. The invention is more particularly applicable to the closure of containers made of glass or a similar fragile material.

1 . Device for closing the neck of a container, particularly made of glass, comprising a removable closure for closing the neck and a sealing piece adapted to be applied in tight abutment on the pouring edge of the neck by the closure, wherein the sealing piece defines, on its side intended to be turned towards the pouring edge of the neck, a first surface for tight abutment on the pouring edge and, on the opposite side, a second surface for pressing abutment of the closure, the respective contact properties of these first and second bearing surfaces being adapted to provoke, upon application of an effort of pressure on the sealing piece by the closure, a rotational connection of the sealing piece and of the neck at the level of the first bearing surface and a sliding contact between the sealing piece and the closure at the level of the second bearing surface.  
   
   
       2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the closure comprises a cap and a globally tubular piece open at at least one of its axial ends, adapted to be connected both around the neck of the container in removable manner and inside the cap in fixed manner and provided, on its inner face with means for axially supporting the sealing piece.  
   
   
       3 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the outer face of the tubular piece bears first means for blocking in axial translation and first means for blocking in rotation, respectively associated with corresponding second means for blocking in translation and with corresponding second means for blocking in rotation, in particular complementary, borne by the inner face of the cap.  
   
   
       4 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the means for axial support define at least one surface for axially retaining the sealing piece, spaced from one of the ends of the tubular piece by a distance strictly less than the axial thickness of the sealing piece when the tubular piece is outside the cap.  
   
   
       5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the sealing piece comprises at least on the side facing towards the pouring edge of the neck when the device closes the container, a first tight layer and, on the opposite side, a second layer which is elastically deformable.  
   
   
       6 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein the closure device is provided with means indicating the first use of the device, adapted to cooperate with a corresponding part of the neck when the container is first unstopped and in that the amplitude of elastic deformation of the second layer of the sealing piece and/or the amplitude of elastic deformation of the elastically deformable element of the closure are greater than the clearance between these indicating means and this part of the neck.  
   
   
       7 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the closure comprises an elastically deformable element, fast with another part of the closure and adapted to abut against the sealing piece.  
   
   
       8 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein the closure device is provided with means indicating the first use of the device, adapted to cooperate with a corresponding part of the neck when the container is first unstopped and in that the amplitude of elastic deformation of the second layer of the sealing piece and/or the amplitude of elastic deformation of the elastically deformable element of the closure are greater than the clearance between these indicating means and this part of the neck.  
   
   
       9 . Container, particularly made of glass, comprising a neck and equipped with a device for closing this neck comprising a removable closure for closing the neck and a sealing piece adapted to be applied in tight abutment on the pouring edge of the neck, 
 wherein the coefficient of friction between the sealing piece and the pouring edge of the neck is strictly higher than the coefficient of friction between the sealing piece and the closure.    
   
   
       10 . The container of  claim 9 , wherein the closure comprises a cap and a globally tubular piece open at at least one of its axial ends, adapted to be connected both around the neck of the container in removable manner and inside the cap in fixed manner and provided, on its inner face with means for axially supporting the sealing piece.  
   
   
       11 . The container of  claim 10 , wherein the outer face of the tubular piece bears first means for blocking in axial translation and first means for blocking in rotation, respectively associated with corresponding second means for blocking in translation and with corresponding second means for blocking in rotation, in particular complementary, borne by the inner face of the cap.  
   
   
       12 . The container of  claim 10 , wherein the means for axial support define at least one surface for axially retaining the sealing piece, spaced from one of the ends of the tubular piece by a distance strictly less than the axial thickness of the sealing piece when the tubular piece is outside the cap.  
   
   
       13 . The container of  claim 9 , wherein the sealing piece comprises at least on the side facing towards the pouring edge of the neck when the device closes the container, a first tight layer and, on the opposite side, a second layer which is elastically deformable.  
   
   
       14 . The container of  claim 13 , wherein the closure device is provided with means indicating the first use of the device, adapted to cooperate with a corresponding part of the neck when the container is first unstopped and in that the amplitude of elastic deformation of the second layer of the sealing piece and/or the amplitude of elastic deformation of the elastically deformable element of the closure are greater than the clearance between these indicating means and this part of the neck.  
   
   
       15 . The container of  claim 9 , wherein the closure comprises an elastically deformable element, fast with another part of the closure and adapted to abut against the sealing piece.  
   
   
       16 . The container of  claim 15 , wherein the closure device is provided with means indicating the first use of the device, adapted to cooperate with a corresponding part of the neck when the container is first unstopped and in that the amplitude of elastic deformation of the second layer of the sealing piece and/or the amplitude of elastic deformation of the elastically deformable element of the closure are greater than the clearance between these indicating means and this part of the neck.  
   
   
       17 . Process for manufacturing a device for closing the neck of a container, particularly made of glass, in which a sealing piece is available, adapted to be applied in tight abutment on the pouring edge of the neck, 
 wherein there are further available a cap and a globally tubular piece open at at least one of its axial ends and provided, on its inner face, with means for axially supporting the sealing piece, and    wherein the process comprises the following steps of: 
 a) placing the sealing piece inside the tubular piece, in axial abutment on the support means, and  
 b) introducing and immobilizing the tubular piece inside the cap so as to obtain a removable closure for closing the neck, adapted to apply the sealing piece against the pouring edge of the neck.  
   
   
   
       18 . The process of  claim 17 , wherein the tubular piece used is a sleeve open at its two axial ends, 
 step a) for positioning the sealing piece is effected before step b) of introduction and immobilization of this sleeve, and,    during step a), the sealing piece is placed in axial abutment on the support means, being introduced in the sleeve from its axial end which will be closest to the bottom wall of the cap at the end of step b).    
   
   
       19 . The process of  claim 17 , wherein, during step b) of introduction and immobilization of the tubular piece, a tongue projecting from the inner face of the cap and adapted to be in mesh with a corresponding axial stop of the neck when the container is first unstopped, is folded towards the bottom wall of the cap.