Closure device intended to be fixed to the neck of a container

Abstract

The invention relates to a closure device comprising:—a lower ring ( 9 ) having a first portion ( 16 ) and a second portion ( 17 ), which are articulated relative to each other in such a way that the second portion ( 17 ) pivots relative to the first portion ( 16 ), •a plug ( 1 ); —and an articulating device that connects the plug ( 1 ) to the second portion ( 17 ) of the lower ring ( 9 ), the second portion ( 17 ) of the lower ring ( 9 ) having an inner face which has at least one recess ( 32 ).

1 . A closure device intended to be fixed to a neck of a container comprising an orifice, a neck ring and an attachment flange, the closure device comprising:
 a lower ring fixed axially to the neck and able to rotate on the neck about said axis X, said lower ring comprising a first sector which comprises attachment elements which project radially towards the inside of the lower ring and are intended to be positioned beneath the attachment flange so as to hold the lower ring axially on the neck of the container, and a second sector, the first sector and the second sector of the lower ring being articulated to one another so that the second sector pivots with respect to the first sector between a lowered position in which the second sector is positioned beneath the attachment flange and a raised position in which the second sector is positioned at least partially above the attachment flange,
 a cap comprising an upper wall and an external peripheral skirt, the external peripheral skirt having a helical screw thread intended to collaborate with a helical screw thread of the neck so as to allow the cap to be moved between a closed position and a released position in which the helical screw thread of the cap is no longer in engagement with the helical screw thread of the neck; 
   an articulation device which connects the cap to the second sector of the lower ring and is configured to allow the cap to pivot between the released position and a flipped open position in which the cap is clear of the orifice of the neck;   
       the second sector of the lower ring comprising an internal face which exhibits at least one recess; 
       characterized in that the internal face of the second sector comprises two recesses which extend respectively from a central zone of the second sector as far as each of the two ends of the second sector. 
     
     
         2 . The closure device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the central zone of the second sector has no recess. 
     
     
         3 . The closure device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one recess extends from a lower edge of the second sector as far as an upper portion of the second sector which portion is intended to be positioned facing the attachment flange when the second sector is in the lowered position. 
     
     
         4 . The closure device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first sector comprises a front zone which is diametrically opposite the second sector, and two attachment zones in which the attachment elements are positioned and which are situated respectively one on each side of the front zone, between said front zone and the second sector. 
     
     
         5 . The closure device as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the front zone of the first sector has a height smaller than that of the two attachment zones of the first sector and than that of the second sector and being able and intended to become lodged between the neck ring and the attachment flange as the second sector moves between the lowered position and the released position so as to allow the lower ring to move radially. 
     
     
         6 . The closure device as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the front zone of the first sector extends over an angular range of between 4° and 150°. 
     
     
         7 . An assembly comprising a closure device as claimed in  claim 1  and a container comprising a neck comprising an orifice, a neck ring and an attachment flange positioned axially between the neck ring and the attachment flange, the attachment elements of the two attachment zones of the lower ring being positioned beneath the attachment flange so as to hold the lower ring axially on the neck of the container. 
     
     
         8 . The assembly as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the height of the front zone of the first sector is less than a separation between the neck ring and the attachment flange. 
     
     
         9 . The assembly as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the articulation device comprises two leaves connecting the external peripheral skirt and the second sector, the closure device further comprising an immobilizing device configured to immobilize the cap when it is in the flipped open position, said immobilizing device comprising a spur which projects axially, from the external peripheral skirt, between the two leaves of the articulation device and which comprises a stud which projects radially toward the outside and a projecting portion which projects axially from the second sector of the lower ring between the two leaves of the articulation device;
 the stud and the projecting portion being configured in such a way that when the cap is in the flipped open position and the second sector of the lower ring is in the lowered position, the projecting portion is clamped between the stud and the attachment flange.   
     
     
         10 . The assembly as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein e1>L−e2, where:
 L is the length of the leaves in an initial state in which the cap is in the closed position; e1 is a radial distance between a contact zone of the stud which zone is intended to come into contact with the projecting portion when the cap is in the flipped open position, and an intersection between a straight line passing through upper ends of the leaves and a plane of symmetry of the leaves with respect to one another; and 
 e2 is a radial distance between a contact zone of the projecting portion which zone is intended to come into contact with the stud when the cap is in the flipped open position, and an intersection between a straight line passing through lower ends of the leaves and the plane of symmetry. 
 
     
     
         11 . The assembly as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein e1>L−e2+e3+e4, where:
 e3 is a radial clearance between the lower ring and the neck in a direction radial to the axis X and inscribed within the plane of symmetry P; and 
 e4 is a radial clearance between the projecting portion and the attachment flange. 
 
     
     
         12 . The assembly as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein e1=L−e2+e3+e4+Δ where Δ is comprised between 0.05 and 2 mm.