Stopping capsule incorporating a self-retracting spout

• US 6,059,154 A
• Filed: 07/09/1998
• Issued: 05/09/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Niob Plastique
• Original Assignee: Niob Plastique
• Inventors: Bigotte, Fran.cedilla.ois, Tatin, Christian
• Primary Examiner(s): Huson, Gregory L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): QUINALTY, KEATS ALAN
• Application Number:
  US09/112,568
• Time in Patent Office: 670 Days
• Field of Search: 222/507, 222/212, 222/153.04, 222/153.13, 222/206, 222/215, 222/528, 222/529, 222/538, 222/533, 222/549
• US Class Current: 222/507
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 47/2012 formed by a rigid spout outlet and an overcap, the spout outlet being either pushed into alignment with, or pushed through an opening in the overcap, upon rotation of the latter
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 47/2043 the separate element being formed by an overcap which constricts a spout, the spout being either pushed into alignment with, or pushed through, an opening in the overcap upon rotation of the latter

Abstract

The invention relates to a stopping capsule with self-retracting spout which comprises a capsule body with a central orifice, a mobile spout and a rotating lid which controls the emergence and retraction of the spout. The capsule body comprises a shaft which communicates with the spout by a supple, elastically deformable, hollow body, and the lid comprises a sleeve fitted in the shaft and presenting a lateral hole capable of being opposite the pipe of the spout.

Claims

1. Stopping capsule incorporating a self-retracting spout, comprising a cylindrical capsule body presenting a central orifice opening out in an end face of said body, a spout mounted on the capsule body, so as to be mobile in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the central orifice, a pipe arranged in the spout, capable of being in communication with the central orifice of the capsule body in the position of use of said capsule, a rotating lid covering the capsule body and the spout and presenting a lateral window through which the front of the spout emerges when said capsule is in position of use, and means for displacing the spout with respect to the capsule body during rotation of the lid wherein:

a) the capsule body presents on its end face a hollow, cylindrical shaft which defines the central orifice,

b) the spout is joined to said shaft by an elastically deformable supple body,

c) the pipe communicates with the interior of the shaft by a conduit made in the supple body and the wall of the shaft,

d) the lid comprises a cylindrical axial sleeve which fits inside the shaft and which presents a lateral hole provided to be opposite the conduit made in the wall of the shaft when said capsule is in position of use.

2. The capsule of claim 1, wherein the supple body is made in the form of bellows and the spout is mobile radially.

3. The capsule of claim 2, wherein the means for radially displacing the spout comprise a catch formed on the spout and extending parallel to the axis of the central orifice and a guide ramp fast with the lid and cooperating with said catch during rotation of the lid.

4. The capsule of claim 3, wherein the guide ramp is fast with the central plate of the lid and extends circumferentially from the periphery of the lid towards the centre, its shape being such that, by rotation of the lid towards the position of use, the spout remains firstly immobile with respect to the capsule body, until the front of the spout is entirely visible through the window, and then moves axially until the front of the spout emerges through the window.

5. The capsule of claim 4, wherein, in the first phase of rotation of the lid towards the position of use, the front of the spout is adjacent a peripheral wall portion of the lid.

6. The capsule of claim 5, wherein the means for pivoting the spout comprise a vertical catch formed on the central plate of the lid and abutting on a lateral face of the spout.

7. The capsule of claim 1, wherein the supple body is made in the form of a hollow flexible pipe and the spout pivots during rotation of the lid about a median portion of said flexible pipe.

8. The capsule of claim 7, wherein the end face of the capsule body comprises axial stop walls in order to limit pivoting of the spout.

9. The capsule of claim 8, wherein the axial stop walls are shaped as a two-armed square of which one arm obturates the pipe of the spout when the spout is in retracted position.