Hinged capsule equipped with an tamper-evident device

Abstract

A capsule includes a cap pivotally attached to a base by means of a hinge, and a tamper-evident device. The tamper-evident device includes a radial lug; an orifice for housing the lug, one contour of which is closed by a tongue, a first end of which is connected by a frangible bridge and a second end of which is connected by a flexible bridge, so that when the cap is opened for the first time, a retention face for retaining the lug hooks onto the tongue and causes the breakage of the frangible bridge and the pivoting of the tongue about the flexible bridge. The retention face for retaining the lug extends radially so that the tongue pivots about a radial axis.

1 . A capsule, for a tube, having a main axis and comprising a cap pivotally attached to a base by means of a hinge, the capsule being equipped with a tamper-evident device comprising:
 a lug projecting radially with respect to the main axis carried by a first associated element among the base or the cap;   an orifice for housing the lug made in a second associated element among the base or the cap, and a contour of which is closed in an axial direction by a tongue, a first end of the tongue being connected to the second associated element by a frangible bridge of material and a second end of the tongue being connected to the second associated element by a flexible bridge of material, so that when the cap is opened for a first time, a retention face for retaining the lug hooks onto the tongue and causes breakage of the frangible bridge and the pivoting of the tongue about the flexible bridge;   
       wherein the retention face for retaining the lug extends radially so that the tongue pivots about an axis oriented radially with respect to the main axis of the capsule. 
     
     
         2 . The capsule according to  claim 1 , wherein the retention face for retaining the lug is inclined so as to be turned towards the flexible bridge when the cap is closed in order to promote the pivoting of the tongue when the cap is opened. 
     
     
         3 . The capsule according to  claim 1 , wherein the tongue is connected to the second element by a stretchable tab which is oriented generally parallel to the main axis. 
     
     
         4 . The capsule according to  claim 3 , wherein the stretchable tab is interposed in the orifice between the flexible bridge and the lug in the closed position of the cap. 
     
     
         5 . The capsule according to  claim 3 , wherein the stretchable tab is designed to be stretched plastically under an effect of a tensile force produced by the pivoting of the tongue when the cap is opened for the first time, so as to impede return of the tongue to its original position. 
     
     
         6 . The capsule according to  claim 5 , wherein the stretchable tab is capable of breaking after being stretched during the pivoting of the tongue. 
     
     
         7 . The capsule according to  claim 3 , wherein the stretchable tab still connects the tongue to the second element when the cap is fully open. 
     
     
         8 . The capsule with hinge according to  claim 1 , wherein the capsule is made in one-part from a plastic material. 
     
     
         9 . The capsule according to  claim 8 , wherein the capsule is made of high density polyethylene (HDPE). 
     
     
         10 . The capsule according to  claim 1 , wherein the first element is formed by an external skirt of the base, while the second element is formed by a peripheral wall of the cap.