Dispensing cap with improved tightness

• US 6,257,431 B1
• Filed: 08/10/1998
• Issued: 07/10/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: L'Oreal SA
• Original Assignee: L'Oreal SA
• Inventors: Baudin, Gilles
• Primary Examiner(s): Garbe, Stephen P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MEREK, JOSEPH C
• Application Number:
  US09/065,095
• Time in Patent Office: 1,065 Days
• Field of Search: 220/838, 220/849, 215/235, 215/237, 215/341, 215/342, 215/352, 215/303-305, 222/546, 222/556, 264/328.8
• US Class Current: 215/237
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 47/0814 by at least three hinge sections, at least one having a length different from the others

Abstract

A dispensing cap which fits on a container containing a fluid product. The cap includes a body provided with a dispensing orifice and a hinged lid which is hinged to the body about an axis. The body and lid are made of a rigid or semi-rigid material. The lid includes a plugging pip for plugging the dispensing orifice when the lid is closed. A coating of elastomeric material is arranged on the outer wall of the pip to produce a seal between the pip and the orifice when the lid is closed.

Claims

1. Dispensing cap intended to be fitted to a container containing a fluid product, comprising:

a body provided with a dispensing orifice;

a hinged lid articulated to the body about an axis, the body and the lid being made of a rigid or semi-rigid material, said lid being provided with a plugging pip intended to plug the dispensing orifice, when the lid is closed; and

a coating of elastomeric material arranged on the outer wall of the pip, to product a seal between the pip and the orifice when the lid is closed, wherein the pip is hollow and full of elastomeric material.

2. Cap according to claim 1, wherein the orifice has a cross-sectional shape taken from the group consisting of circular, oval, polygonal and elongate the cross-section of the pip complementing that of the orifice.

3. Cap according to claim 1, wherein the rigid or semi-rigid material is chosen from the group consisting of polypropylenes and polyethylenes.

4. Cap according to claim 1, characterized in that the elastomeric material is a thermoplastic elastomer physico-chemically compatible with the rigid or semi-rigid material, so as to allow a link by fusion with the rigid or semi-rigid material, the said coating being deposited on the outer wall of the pip by dual injection or overmoulding.

5. Cap according to claim 1, characterized in that the elastomeric material is chosen from the group of elastomers of propylene/ethylene copolymers;

polyether block amides;

polyvinyls;

terpolymers of ethylene, propylene and a diene;

styrene-butadiene block copolymers;

styrene-ethylene-butadiene block copolymers;

thermoplastic polyurethanes;

blends of polypropylene with one of the following elastomers;

styrene-ethylene-butadiene block polymers;

terpolymers of ethylene, propylene and a diene;

styrene-butadiene block copolymers.

6. Cap according to claim 1, characterized in that the said coating forms an attached part deposited on the outer wall of the pip by assembly.

7. Cap according to claim 6, wherein the attached part is mounted by one from the group consisting of snap-fastening, bonding, welding, drawing and upset heading.

8. Cap according to claim 1, characterized in that the said coating has a thickness of from 0.1 mn to 3 mn.

9. Cap according to claim 1, wherein the coating has a hardness from 20 Shore A to 90 Shore A.

10. Cap according to claim 1, characterized in that the body and/or the lid is provided a gripping region covered with a layer of elastomeric material.

11. Cap according to claim 1, characterized in that the body comprises an annular gasket made of flexible material, in sealed contact with a peripheral edge of the lid, when the lid is flipped down.

12. Cap according to claim 1, characterized in that the lid is articulated to the body by means of a hinge.

13. Cap according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises at least one connecting element made of elastomeric material, forming a spring, one of the ends of the connecting element being connected to the body, the other being connected to the lid, the connecting element being mounted in such a way that it lies on one side of the axis A when the lid is open, and on the other side of the axis A when the lid is closed, the connecting element undergoing elongation as it changes from one position to the other, the maximum extension being reached as the connecting element crosses the axis.

14. Assembly for dispensing a fluid product, comprising a container containing a fluid product, equipped with a dispensing cap, characterized in that the cap is a cap in accordance with claim 1.

15. Cap according to claim 2, characterized in that the rigid or semi-rigid material is chosen from polypropylenes or polyethylenes.

16. Cap according to claim 2, characterized in that the elastomeric material is a thermoplastic elastomer physico-chemically compatible with the rigid or semi-rigid material, so as to allow a link by fusion with the rigid or semi-rigid material, the said coating being deposited on the outer wall of the pip by dual injection or overmoulding.

17. Cap according to claim 3, characterized in that the elastomeric material is a thermoplastic elastomer physico-chemically compatible with the rigid or semi-rigid material, so as to allow a link by fusion with the rigid or semi-rigid material, the said coating being deposited on the outer wall of the pip by dual injection or overmoulding.

18. Cap according to claim 2, characterized in that the elastomeric material is chosen from the group of elastomers of propylene/ethylene copolymers;

polyether block amides;

polyvinyls;

terpolymers of ethylene, propylene and a diene;

styrene-butadiene block copolymers;

styrene-ethylene-butadiene block copolymers;

thermoplastic polyurethanes;

blends of polypropylene with one of the following elastomers;

styrene-ethylene-butadiene block polymers;

terpolymers of ethylene, propylene and a diene;

styrene-butadiene block copolymers.

19. Cap according to claim 3, characterized in that the elastomeric material is chosen from the group of elastomers of propylene/ethylene copolymers;

polyether block amides;

polyvinyls;

terpolymers of ethylene, propylene and a diene;

styrene-butadiene block copolymers;

styrene-ethylene-butadiene block copolymers;

thermoplastic polyurethanes;

blends of polypropylene with one of the following elastomers;

styrene-ethylene-butadiene block polymers;

terpolymers of ethylene, propylene and a diene;

styrene-butadiene block copolymers.

20. Dispensing cap intended to be fitted to a container containing a fluid product, comprising:

a body provided with a dispensing orifice;

a hinged lid articulated to the body about an axis, the body and the lid being made of a rigid or semi-rigid material, said lid being provided with a plugging pip sized and configured to enter with friction into the dispensing orifice so as to plug said orifice, when the lid is closed; and

a coating of elastomeric material arranged on at least the outer wall of the pip, to produce a seal between the pip and the orifice when the lid is closed,

wherein the coating of the outer wall of the pip is made by dual injection or overmolding, said elastomeric material being selected from the group of elastic materials physicochemically compatible with said rigid or semi-rigid material.

21. Dispensing cap according to claim 20, wherein said elastic material forms a link with said rigid or semi-rigid material by thermo-fusion.

22. Dispensing cap according to claim 20, wherein said dispensing cap is molded in a single molding cycle.