SYSTEM FOR ATTACHING TWO TUBULAR MEMBERS AND CONTAINER FOR LIQUIDS EQUIPPED WITH SAID ATTACHMENT SYSTEM

• US 20150321800A1
• Filed: 12/13/2013
• Published: 11/12/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Guala Closures S.P.A.
• Original Assignee: Guala Closures S.P.A.
• Inventors: Viale, Luca, Giovannini, Marco
• Granted Patent: US 10,099,825 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 1/0246 Closure retaining means, e.g. beads, screw-threads
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 41/16 Snap-on caps or cap-like covers
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 47/06 with pouring spouts or tubes; with discharge nozzles or passages with slidable spouts B65D47/26
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 21/00 Joints with sleeve or socket F16L13/00, F16L15/00, F16L17/00, F16L19/00, F16L25/0027, F16L27/00, F16L37/00 take precedence ; specially adapted to be made of plastics or to be used with pipes made of plastics F16L47/06; specially adapted for pipes of brittle material F16L49/02
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 37/084 combined with automatic locking

Abstract

The present invention relates to an attachment system for attaching together two tubular members comprising two tubular members, rotational attachment members and longitudinal attachment members. The rotational attachment members comprise a plurality of attachment elements which are disposed in angularly spaced relationship along the first tubular member to define a plurality of seats between two successive attachment elements and a plurality of reference elements disposed in angularly spaced relationship along the second tubular member and at least partially accommodated in respective seats. The longitudinal attachment members comprise a plurality of stop surfaces disposed in angularly spaced relationship along the first tubular member and a plurality of abutment elements formed on the second tubular member, each abutment element extending in the longitudinal direction and cooperating with a respective stop surface. The invention also relates to a liquid container having said attachment system.

Claims

1. An attachment system for attaching two tubular members, comprising:

a first tubular member extending along a longitudinal axis,

a second tubular member extending along said longitudinal axis, and attached to said first tubular member,

rotational attachment members for rotatably attaching said first tubular member to said second tubular member,

longitudinal attachment members for attaching said first tubular member to said second tubular member in said longitudinal axis,

wherein;

said rotational attachment members comprise;

a plurality of attachment elements formed on said first tubular member and arranged in angularly spaced relationship along said first tubular member to define a plurality of seats between two successive attachment elements, each seat being angularly delimited at its opposite sides by two successive attachment elements,

a plurality of reference elements formed on said second tubular member, and arranged in angularly spaced relationship along said second tubular member and at least partially housed in respective seats of the attachment elements, each reference element cooperating with the two successive attachment elements defining the seat in which said reference element is at least partially housed, for rotatably attaching said first tubular member to said second tubular member,

said longitudinal attachment members comprise;

a plurality of stop surfaces formed on said first tubular member and arranged in angularly spaced relationship along said first tubular member,

a plurality of abutment elements formed on said second tubular member, each abutment element extending along the longitudinal axis and cooperating with a respective stop surface for longitudinally attaching said first tubular member and said second tubular member, each abutment element being defined by a tab attached to the second tubular member at a base portion thereof, said tab radially extending from the base portion to an end portion, at least part of the tab being elastically deformable along an axis transverse to the longitudinal axis.

3. The attachment system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least part of the tab comprises at least said end portion.

4. The attachment system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said tab extends along the longitudinal axis between an upper portion and a lower portion, said upper portion of the tab engaging with a respective stop surface.

6. The attachment system as claimed in claim 4 wherein, from a configuration in which said second tubular member is released from said first tubular member, said second tubular member is coupled to said first tubular member by a coupling movement along said longitudinal axis and in a coupling direction, said tab progressively bending from the lower portion toward the upper portion during said coupling movement.

8. The attachment system as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said attachment elements project out of the first tubular member toward said second tubular member and comprise two opposed attachment surfaces,

said reference elements project out of the second tubular member toward said first tubular member, each reference element having two opposed reference surfaces engaging with respective attachment surfaces of two successive attachment elements.

10. The attachment system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the stop surfaces are arranged in longitudinally offset relationship to said attachment elements.

12. The attachment system as claimed in claim 1, wherein each attachment element comprises two opposed lead-in surfaces.

15. The attachment system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first tubular member and said second tubular member define parts of a closure for a liquid container.

16. The attachment system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said longitudinal attachment members are designed to provide an irreversible attachment along the longitudinal axis in the direction of separation of said first tubular member from said second tubular member and vice versa.

2. (canceled)

5. (canceled)

7. (canceled)

9. (canceled)

11. (canceled)

13-14. -14. (canceled)

17. A liquid container comprising:

a container body having a neck, said neck extending from the container body along a longitudinal axis and ending with a mouth that defines an orifice,

a tubular member, particularly of a closure or a pourer, disposed around said neck, attached to said neck and having an inner surface facing said neck and an outer surface,

rotational attachment members for rotatably attaching said tubular member to said neck,

longitudinal attachment members for attachment of said tubular member to said neck along said longitudinal axis, characterized in that;

said rotational attachment members comprise;

a plurality of attachment elements formed on said neck and arranged in angularly spaced relationship along said neck to define a plurality of seats between two successive attachment elements, each seat being angularly delimited at its opposite sides by two successive attachment elements,

a plurality of reference elements fowled on said inner surface of the tubular member, and arranged in angularly spaced relationship along said tubular member and at least partially housed in respective seats of the attachment elements, each reference element cooperating with the two successive attachment elements that define the seat in which said reference element is at least partially housed, for rotatably attaching said tubular member to said neck,

said longitudinal attachment members comprise;

a plurality of stop surfaces formed on said neck and arranged in angularly spaced relationship along said neck,

a plurality of abutment elements formed on said inner surface of the tubular member, each abutment element extending along the longitudinal axis and cooperating with a respective stop surface for longitudinally attaching said tubular member to said neck, each abutment element being defined by a tab attached to the inner surface of the tubular member at a base portion thereof, said tab radially extending from the base portion to an end portion, at least part of the tab being elastically deformable along an axis transverse to the longitudinal axis.

19. The container as claimed in claim 17, wherein said at least part of the tab comprises at least said end portion.

20. The container as claimed in claim 17, wherein said tab extends along the longitudinal axis between an upper portion and a lower portion, said upper portion of the tab engaging with a respective stop surface.

22. The container as claimed in claim 20 wherein, from a configuration in which said tubular member is released from said neck, said tubular member is coupled to said neck by a coupling movement along said longitudinal axis and in a coupling direction, said tab progressively bending from the lower portion toward the upper portion during said coupling movement.

24. The container as claimed in claim 17, wherein:

said attachment elements project out of the neck toward said tubular member and comprise two opposed attachment surfaces, lying on planes parallel to the longitudinal axis,

said reference elements project out of the inner surface of the tubular member toward said neck, each reference element having two opposed reference surfaces, engaging with respective attachment surfaces of two successive attachment elements.

30. The container as claimed in claim 17, wherein said longitudinal attachment members are designed to provide an irreversible attachment in the longitudinal direction in the direction of separation of the tubular member from the neck and vice versa.

18. (canceled)

21. (canceled)

23. (canceled)

25-29. -29. (canceled)