Opening/closing device for a container for pourable products

Abstract

An opening/closing device for a container for pourable products is disclosed. The device has a perforable portion and a base combinable with the container at the perforable portion, and a cutting element having a sharp end arranged on its lower side. The base also has first and second passages located in a region of the base spaced from the upper surface of the perforable portion when the base is combined with the container and define a cavity between the lower surface of the region and the upper surface of the perforable portion. The cutting element is shaped to impede when it moves from a first position to a second position, allowing passage of the pourable product through the first passage from the container to the second passage through the cavity.

1 . An opening closing device for a container for pourable products, having a perforable portion, said opening/closing device comprising a base combinable with said container at said perforable portion, a cutting element provided with a sharp end arranged on the lower side of said cutting element, and a first passage in said base, said cutting element being constrained translatably to said base inside said first passage between a first position (P 1 ), in which said cutting element is combined separably with said base, and a second position (P 2 ), in which said cutting element has reached and perforated said perforable portion, wherein said base comprises a second passage for pouring a pourable product when contained in said container, and wherein said first passage and said second passage are in a region of said base spaced from the upper surface of said perforable portion when said base is combined with said container, so as to define a cavity between the lower surface of said region and the upper surface of said perforable portion, said cutting element being shaped to impede, when it has reached said second position (P 2 ), the passage of said pourable product through said first passage and to allow the outflow of said pourable product from said container to said second passage through said cavity. 
     
     
         2 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein said cutting element is provided with a third passage shaped so that, when said cutting element has reached said second position, said third passage allows the fluidic communication between said second passage and said container through said cavity. 
     
     
         3 . The device according to  claim 2 , wherein said cutting element is provided with a hollow tubular side surface having a base surface closed at the top, said third passage being obtained on said tubular surface of said cutting element. 
     
     
         4 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein said base is substantially plate-shaped. 
     
     
         5 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein said base comprises a first collar provided with said first passage and adapted to guide the displacement of said cutting element between said first position and said second position. 
     
     
         6 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein said base comprises a second collar provided with said second passage for pouring said pourable product. 
     
     
         7 . The device according to  claim 1 , further comprising a cap for the removable covering of said second passage, said cap being made in one piece with said base and being constrained integrally with said base by a plastic hinge. 
     
     
         8 . The device according to  claim 7 , wherein said cap comprises means for combining/separating said cap with/from said second collar of said base so that to close/open said second passage. 
     
     
         9 . The device according to  claim 7 , wherein said cutting element is made in one piece with said cap and is separably connected with said cap by a plurality of frangible bridges arranged at said upper base surface of said cutting element, said frangible bridges being sized to be broken when said cap is separated for the first time from said second collar. 
     
     
         10 . The device according to  claim 7 , wherein said cutting element is made in one piece with said cap and is separably connected to said cap by a plurality of frangible bridges arranged at said upper base surface of said cutting element, said frangible bridges being sized so that to be broken when said cutting element is displaced for the first time from said first position to said second position. 
     
     
         11 . The device according to  claim 7 , wherein said cutting element is made in one piece with said first collar and is separable from said first collar by a plurality of frangible bridges said frangible bridges being sized to be broken when said cutting element is displaced for the first time from said first position (P 1 ) to said second position (P 2 ). 
     
     
         12 . The device according to  claim 1 , further comprising locking means to lock said cutting element to said first collar in said first position (P 1 ) and in said second position (P 2 ), said locking means being shaped to allow the translation of said cutting element only in direction of said perforable portion. 
     
     
         13 . The device according to  claim 12 , wherein locking means comprise two hooking holes and a protrusion that is combinable with said hooking holes, said hooking holes being integral with said cutting element and a protrusion being integral with the inner surface of said first collar, said two hooking holes being spaced from one another longitudinally with respect to said cutting element so that, when they are combined with said protrusion, said cutting element is at said first position (P 1 ) and said second position (P 2 ). 
     
     
         14 . A method for closing/opening a container for pourable products, the container being provided with an opening/closing device according to  claim 1 , comprising the steps of:
 a) causing the translation of said cutting element inside said first passage from said first position (P 1 ) to said second position (P 2 );   b) causing, when said cutting element reaches said second position (P 2 ), the breaking of said perforable portion; and   c) pouring said pourable product outside of said container through said second passage, wherein said first passage and said second passage are located in a region of said base spaced from the upper surface of said perforable portion when said base is combined with said container, so that to define a cavity between the lower surface of said region and the upper surface of said perforable portion, said cutting element being shaped so that to impede, when it has reached said second position (P 2 ) during said step a), the passage of said pourable product through said first passage and to allow the outflow of said pourable product from said container to said second passage through said cavity during said step c) of the method.   
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 14 , further comprising, before said step a), the step of d) removably combining said cap with said second collar of said base for the removable covering of said second passage. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein said cutting element is made in one piece with said cap and is separably connected with said cap by a plurality of frangible bridges arranged at said upper base surface of said cutting element, further comprising the step of e) causing the breaking of said frangible bridges when said cap is separated for the first time from said second collar. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein said cutting element is made in one piece with said cap and is separably connected with said cap by a plurality of frangible bridges arranged at said upper base surface of said cutting element, further comprising the step of e′) causing the breaking of said frangible bridges by said step a) of the method when said cap has not yet been separated for the time from said second collar. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein said cutting element is made in one piece with said first collar and is separable from said first collar by a plurality of frangible bridges, further comprising the step of e″) causing the breaking of said frangible bridges when said cutting element is displaced for the first time from said first position to said second position during said step a) of the method. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said cutting element, said base and said cap are molded in one piece, wherein said cap is constrained integrally to said base by a plastic hinge. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 19 , wherein said cutting element is made in one piece with said cap and is separably connected with said cap by a plurality of frangible bridges, wherein said frangible bridges are sized to be broken when said cap is separated for the first time from said second collar. 
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 19 , wherein said cutting element is made in one piece with said cap and is separably connected with said cap by a plurality of frangible bridges, wherein said frangible bridges are sized to be broken when said cutting element is displaced for the first time from said first position to said second position. 
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 19 , wherein said cutting element is made in one piece with said first collar and is separable from said first collar by a plurality of frangible bridges, wherein said frangible bridges are sized to be broken when said cutting element is displaced for the first time from said first position to said second position.